Dewi Sant
Veteran
- Location
- Lancashire, England
- Name
- Guess?
Hi folks, new fella who signed up here earier today so go gentle.
If possible I'd like some feedback on a couple of cameras I've shortlisted. I've been using DSLR cameras for a good few years with a few digital compacts thrown into the mix along the way. I do a fair number of road trips - either by motorcycle ot sportscar, both of which are limited for luggage space and the last couple of trips in the car ( we get less in the boot / trunk of that than we do in the panniers of the bike) have been a bit of a struggle carrying the camera rucksack. It got to the point where I couldn't be bothered stopping to take photos because it was such a squash getting the camera back in the boot when I was done.
Recently I did a short trip over to Amsterdam - not by car or bike, I flew over this time. Instead of taking the DSLR I just popped a cheap and cheerful Panasonic P&S in my bag and walked around the city photographing everything I could - and had a great time doing it. I got me to thinking that maybe it was time to go for one the smaller compact, larger sensor cameras to take on my travels, it makes sense right? I drew up a list of requirements and it looked like I was going to have to go for an interchangeable lens jobbie. I'm not bothered about carryng the camera in my pocket, I just don't want to lug the DSLR around anymore, it's too cumbersome and heavy for travel photography andI I'm not getting any younger!
The short list got shorter and takes into consideration budget (important as I never spend a fortune on cameras) & size as well as camera specs and it came down to two: The Olympus E-PL5 or the Fuji X-M1 I originally said I wanted an APS-C sized sensor but seeing the quality of some of the latest Micro 4/3 camera images I have to say, I'm blown away by them - especially those produced by the little Olympus. So, my question is can anyone give me some insight into these two cameras on "What they're like to live with " basis? Or, indeed if anyone has any other suggestions I'm open to hear them. I shoot a bit motorsport for which I don't expect to be able to use either of these two cameras - I'll keep the Canon DSLR for that.
Just as a side note, I've not held or touched either of these two cameras as yet, because with the onset of the internet we've now lost all of our camera shops in the area so I have literally nowhere to go within easy striking distance to give them a proper look. I am aware that the X-M1 is a plastic body and kit lens & that for me could be a deal breaker - I am VERY hard on my gear. It has to withstand being dropped occasionally (I'm incurably clumsy), wet and exposed to extremes of temperature. Not to mention being stuffed into the bike panniers or the car boot. My present Canon 550D body is holding up well depspite being dropped down a small cliff in Iceland, soaked and covered in dust shooting several motorsport events, it was soaked again shooting a storm here in the UK (had to wash it under the tap to get the salt residue off it after that) and exposed to ultra high temps in the middle of an Andalucian heatwave! Miraculaoulsy it still works, and this was a camera that when I first picked it up I thought it felt flimsy and poorly made!
The kind of photography I do is pretty much covered here on my website: http://www.dewisant-photography.net/
And on my travel blog site: :http://www.dewisant-photography.net/y_ogb_travelsite_frontpage.htm
Any advice / help or suggestions to help me make a good choice of smaller camera will be greatly appreciated
Thanks, D
If possible I'd like some feedback on a couple of cameras I've shortlisted. I've been using DSLR cameras for a good few years with a few digital compacts thrown into the mix along the way. I do a fair number of road trips - either by motorcycle ot sportscar, both of which are limited for luggage space and the last couple of trips in the car ( we get less in the boot / trunk of that than we do in the panniers of the bike) have been a bit of a struggle carrying the camera rucksack. It got to the point where I couldn't be bothered stopping to take photos because it was such a squash getting the camera back in the boot when I was done.
Recently I did a short trip over to Amsterdam - not by car or bike, I flew over this time. Instead of taking the DSLR I just popped a cheap and cheerful Panasonic P&S in my bag and walked around the city photographing everything I could - and had a great time doing it. I got me to thinking that maybe it was time to go for one the smaller compact, larger sensor cameras to take on my travels, it makes sense right? I drew up a list of requirements and it looked like I was going to have to go for an interchangeable lens jobbie. I'm not bothered about carryng the camera in my pocket, I just don't want to lug the DSLR around anymore, it's too cumbersome and heavy for travel photography andI I'm not getting any younger!
The short list got shorter and takes into consideration budget (important as I never spend a fortune on cameras) & size as well as camera specs and it came down to two: The Olympus E-PL5 or the Fuji X-M1 I originally said I wanted an APS-C sized sensor but seeing the quality of some of the latest Micro 4/3 camera images I have to say, I'm blown away by them - especially those produced by the little Olympus. So, my question is can anyone give me some insight into these two cameras on "What they're like to live with " basis? Or, indeed if anyone has any other suggestions I'm open to hear them. I shoot a bit motorsport for which I don't expect to be able to use either of these two cameras - I'll keep the Canon DSLR for that.
Just as a side note, I've not held or touched either of these two cameras as yet, because with the onset of the internet we've now lost all of our camera shops in the area so I have literally nowhere to go within easy striking distance to give them a proper look. I am aware that the X-M1 is a plastic body and kit lens & that for me could be a deal breaker - I am VERY hard on my gear. It has to withstand being dropped occasionally (I'm incurably clumsy), wet and exposed to extremes of temperature. Not to mention being stuffed into the bike panniers or the car boot. My present Canon 550D body is holding up well depspite being dropped down a small cliff in Iceland, soaked and covered in dust shooting several motorsport events, it was soaked again shooting a storm here in the UK (had to wash it under the tap to get the salt residue off it after that) and exposed to ultra high temps in the middle of an Andalucian heatwave! Miraculaoulsy it still works, and this was a camera that when I first picked it up I thought it felt flimsy and poorly made!
The kind of photography I do is pretty much covered here on my website: http://www.dewisant-photography.net/
And on my travel blog site: :http://www.dewisant-photography.net/y_ogb_travelsite_frontpage.htm
Any advice / help or suggestions to help me make a good choice of smaller camera will be greatly appreciated
Thanks, D