Need a friend for my DRebel... thoughts on this one?

[Adam Hicks]

I have a DRebel with battery grip, Speedlite flash and the Tamron 28-75 fixed ap. 2.8 which I've been happy with. Of course, with all of that on the camera it'll shoot all day, and do a great job, but I need a compact as a backup and for quick response shots.

I've been looking at this:

http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?displayTab=F&storeId=11251&catalogId=1 1005&itemId=65301&catGroupId=11056&modelNo=DMC-FZ10K&surfModel=DMC-FZ10K

Which looks interesting. I'd normally not care for a panasonic anything, but a fixed 35-420 f2.8 in a compact 4mpixel? Very cool!

Oh and for what it's worth here's a picture I took 10 minutes ago.. just found out that a dove was not only living in my bird feeder out back, but that she's already had little ones! I should pay better attention to these things!

http://www.golilm.com/images/potluck/doves.jpg

Adam

[Adam Hicks]

And for comparison sake, I took this picture with my S50 before I sold it, handheld in low light. Nothing too fancy, but if you click it to zoom in, it always amazed me that the little tiny S50 lense could gather this much detail in low light. Maybe I just need to buy another S50?

Adam


http://www.golilm.com/images/potluck/porchfrog.jpg

[defordphoto]

My only question on that Lumix thing is why?

Spend that $600 for some glass, not some point and shooter...

[Adam Hicks]

Well my point is when you stick a battery grip, a decent (heavy) lens, and a good flash on the Digital Rebel, it becomes a pretty good camera, but it's a pain in the butt to lug around if you're hiking or at a kid's soccer game, etc. Plus I don't want to be 'that' guy with the big camera rig and all the tripods just to catch a picture of my kid at the game ;)

It's certainly not unusual for photographers to carry a high quality compact for times when a full on SLR/DSLR isn't necessary. That's what I'm trying to decide on. The best $500 compact camera to complement the DSLR.

Adam

[rsnadel]

The S500 might be a good compromise for you. Pocket-sized, with pretty decent "innards". I recently bought an S400 to complement by dSLR setup for similar reasons to what you reference (size, intrusiveness, etc.). You could also get the S410...it's in the $350 range, while the S500 is roughly $100 more.

[tarves57]

My only question on that Lumix thing is why?

Spend that $600 for some glass, not some point and shooter...

It fits in a handbag....
Really, enough resolution and enough optical zoom for birders like myself who, yes, have the "big gear", but 1) don't want to be hauling it about every time they're out. 2) but don't want to miss an opportunity at other times.
Brilliant!

Susan

[tarves57]

Oh! and not to forget the IS!
Perfection.....

[Adam Hicks]

Popular Photography has a write up on Page 44 of this month's issue. They loved the IS and said they couldn't hardly get a shaky shot out of it.

Adam

[CyberDyneSystems]

The Panasonic/Leica's are fantastic camras.. were I at all interested in a fixed lens EVF camera,. it is exactly what I would own.. (nope,. no Pro 1 for me)

But,. as an SLR owner,. going to a fixed lens EVF to satisfy your long lens cravings is an odd compronise...

If you want a small shooter,. get a compact that will fit in a pocket. The Panasomic is HUGE for a fixed lens camera.. put a 50mm and take the battery grip off the Drebel and we are in the same size catagory.

If you want compact with long range.. maybe you want a lightweight 75-300mm or even a "superzoom" 28-300mm...

These lenses will sacrifice quality compared to your other lens.. but then.. so will any fixed lens EVF you buy.

Anyway,. I wanted to have a portable soluton too,. but since I knew that my SLR was the tool fo choice for anything that required precsion.. I was not willing to "compromise" on portability. I went with an S400.. it is either in a pocket or in a case on my belt virtually 100% of the time.

[Ballen Photo]

Adam, I've got to admit the specs on this camera looks pretty impressive, especially with an advertised straight F/2.8 from 35 to 420mm in terms of 35mm equivalent.
Not having heard anything prior about this camera though, I think I'll be sticking with my tried and true Canon systems for the time being.
.......Bruce

[Guillermo Freige]

Adam:
Just buy another S50 :). You already know the camera strenghts and limitations, and modes are very similar to the DRebel

[Ballen Photo]

If you want a small shooter,. get a compact that will fit in a pocket. The Panasomic is HUGE for a fixed lens camera.. put a 50mm and take the battery grip off the Drebel and we are in the same size catagory.

Anyway,. I wanted to have a portable soluton too,. but since I knew that my SLR was the tool fo choice for anything that required precsion.. I was not willing to "compromise" on portability. I went with an S400.. it is either in a pocket or in a case on my belt virtually 100% of the time.

This is why I got the G-5. :D While not quite as small as your S400, I can keep it with me on my belt via a semi small belt attached camera bag. :shock: :D
........Bruce

[defordphoto]

Well my point is when you stick a battery grip, a decent (heavy) lens, and a good flash on the Digital Rebel, it becomes a pretty good camera, but it's a pain in the butt to lug around if you're hiking or at a kid's soccer game, etc. Plus I don't want to be 'that' guy with the big camera rig and all the tripods just to catch a picture of my kid at the game ;)

If you want a small shooter,. get a compact that will fit in a pocket. The Panasomic is HUGE for a fixed lens camera.. put a 50mm and take the battery grip off the Drebel and we are in the same size catagory.

That is exactly what my reply was going to be as I expected that response. Get a Canon G5 if you want a P&S. It also shoots RAW and you use the same software and similar workflow.

I have found that now that I am used to Canon dSLR's that using anything else is quite challenging. I use a P&S at work and it drives me nuts with the slowness of everything.

And yes, Adam I know it's not unusual for an SLR photographer to have a P&S hanging around. I always have in the past and I still have two film P&S cams.

Of course, you can do what you want but I don't think this camera is the answer you're looking for. Good luck!

[Ballen Photo]

I still have two film P&S cams.


LOL! Me too! Olympus XA2, which is almost fully automatic, and an Olympus XA, which is fully manual. These were known to be the worlds smallest full frame 35mm range finder cameras in the world. :D :D :D
.........Bruce

[Bruce Hamilton]

Spend that $600 for some glass, not some point and shooter...
I agree... If you want a "backup" in case your Rebel somehow "dies" ie dead batteries or full CF cards, get a Rebel Ti body and shoot film. At least you'll still have use of your lenses.