Am I crazy? AKA, thinking of ditching my DSLR...

After coming to the realization that I view using my 60D as work rather than fun, I have begun to think about moving to a point and shoot. I love the pictures I take and have spent A LOT of time learning how to use my 60D (AKA, never has been on Green Box).

I am wondeing if any of you have any advice on a P&S that would give the manual control of a DSLR, or close to that. I realize that the lens would be limited and shutter lag will be an issue.

Just thinking if it is time to switch to something that doesn't need a backpack to bring with.

Thanks

You might be served well by a G12

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=946289

Big for a P&S but smaller than a DSLR. Still have DSLR features & Quality.

A number of the current P&S cameras are stepping on the toes of the DSLR's, they're great little cameras. I spent about 1/2 time in Hawaii these days and really like that I can take one in the water without worrying about it.

What lenses are you using?

I have a super little Fiji finepix S5800 I am prepared to trade for your 60D, its got a fixed 10X zoom and a load of fiddly menus you can press button-navigate through to set manual modes. Its actually a super little camera but I am prepared to exchange for your own peace of mind.

I've never owned a P&S and don't think I could due to the lag. That said I'd look into a Olympus E-P3, from what I've read the focus speed is near Dslr speed(maybe not 1 series but it seems to be getting closer to the consumer/prosumer line of bodies).

Good luck.

Every once in a while I consider this too but the shutter lag brings me back . Get a good small prime when you want to go light and leave the backpack at home. Most of the time I take either my 60D with just a 24L or a 5D2 with 24 + 50 in a tiny retro 5 bag.

-Edit it is worthwhile to have a good point and shoot as an alternative. I have an S95 and its a great camera for the times a DSLR is not practical but I would not dump my DSLR for one.

The Canon S100. I want one of these as my "DSLR is not practical" backup camera. Or the camera for my wife to use.

Like if you are going to an amusement park or something and having the extra baggage just isn't a great option.

That said, I'd never dump my 60D.

al heeley wrote in post #13370526
I have a super little Fiji finepix S5800 I am prepared to trade for your 60D, its got a fixed 10X zoom and a load of fiddly menus you can press button-navigate through to set manual modes. Its actually a super little camera but I am prepared to exchange for your own peace of mind.

Lol

mjHession wrote in post #13370525
What lenses are you using?

I have a 70-200F4 and also a Tamron 17-50F2.8 normally. Also I use a Nifty 50 at times.

I can never ditch a DSLR just because of the shutter lag of p/s cameras as well. I try to bring a small SD870 when I cant bring any of my cameras, but unless its prohibited, I bring a DSLR everytime.

Maybe someone should ask why you feel like it is work? Post, remembering all the things to change? It maybe something that can be fixed with a smaller body or something that will still persist.

Your gear should fit in a pretty small bag, so travel shouldn't be the issue. Nor should weight.

I haul my gear everywhere - long multi-day backpacking trips, hunting, camping, fishing...you name it. And, I dont ever have a second thought about it - but thats because I dont mind the weight and more importantly, I ENJOY having it with me and having the files it creates afterward.

But, if you have thousands invested into a hobby that you dont find enjoyable or it feels like work then whats the point? In your case, I'd dump it in an instant and plop that money into a hobby I actually like.

A Panasonic Lumix LX5 would be on my short list if I were ever considering a P&S - its basically a re-badged leica so the quality speaks for itself. IQ is not really DSLR quality but its better than most P&S by far, shoots in RAW, 24mm equivalent, f 2.0 and has full manual control.

consider G12 which is close to DSLR...or S95 (which does raw).

P&S cameras have come a long, long way in the last few years...

But DSLRs in general still use much larger sensors and produce far better images.

If you only ever use the images for small to moderate size prints, at most, a P&S might be fine.

Pick up a cheap, used P&S to have some fun with... but keep your DSLR.

I've got a G5 (5MP, about 6 or 8 years old) that cost me all of $40 with the telephoto auxiliary lens and have since gotten a good deal on and added the wide angle aux lens as well. I also plan to pick up a small flash to use with it.

I like that the G5 can shoot RAW (a lot of the G series that came later couldn't, but the latest G models can... most of the other Canon P&S A and S series only do JPEGs, AFAIK). I also like that it shares memory cards (CF) with my other cameras... and even uses the same BP511 batteries some of my other cameras use. I agree, the shutter lag and slow AF is a bit of a pain some of the time. And ISO is limited... 50 to 400, and 400 is not really very usable. Later cameras improve on both of these.

There's no reason to feel like you are "working" with your 60D. Take it out with fewer lenses and accessories, when you don't want to haul around the whole kit... Use the highly automated modes it offers, when you feel like it.

Or just pick up a small P&S to use at times you don't want to hassle with the DSLR.