Looking for a small, light weight DSLR...
 

I'm a bit obsessive and carry a camera everywhere with me (DLSR and two lenses went shopping with me today), a 1D with lenses and a flash gun is a bit of a bulk to lug about. So I decided to get a compact (I'd not had one for a while) so bought a Panasonic TZ5 for the odd grab shot and for snaps of my kids when visiting friends. It's a nice camera but the lack of manual controls (and RAW) have been a real issue, it also have a habit of oversaturating shots (esp indoors with flash).

So I'm toying with selling it and buying either a decent compact (like a G10 or a P6000) or a small, light weight DSLR. I tried a Panasonic G1 today and was very impressed with it, the twin lens kit would be the ideal solution for me, but at nearly £700 it's a lot more than I'd like to spend. I've been offered a used (but good nick) Olympus E410 with two lenses for a reasonable price but don't know much about it. Does anyone have any experience with either the G1 or the E410 or know anyother reasonably priced DSLRs or compacts that would fit the bill?

NIKON d40..fo sho

I use a 400D as a casual camera - often with the 28-300 lens, which is also quite small and light - or as a back-up body on long trips. It's a flexible body, has surprisingly good image quality, and has the advantage of working with all your good glass too.
There are also quite a few around secondhand still - and likely to be a few more as people upgrade to the 500D!

Canon 450D - nice camera; Olympus E-420 - not sure, but still it's small..

would perhaps make sense to go for a 350,400 or 450d. Great lightweight cameras, with the very light std 18-55mm lens, and with an added bonus could take your canon lenses if needed.

Thanks for the feedback - I do think that going for a small Canon body would make sense, I could use other lenses with it if needed and the controls (and RAW files) would be familiar. I guess a 350D/400D with my 50 f1.8 would be a nice light set up, I would probably add a zoom too, something like the Sigma 18-200 perhaps... I reckon that would be fun for snapping shots of the kids. I'm hoping to get along to WHE in the next weeks or so and try this set up along side the Olympus E420 and the Panasonic G1. From what I've been reading the Panasonic LX3 compact will also be worth a look.

I popped into the WHE showroom today and had a play with both the G1 and the E420, both seem like nice little cameras. For me the G1 had the edge in handling (the lack of grip on the E420 felt a bit odd) and I liked the articulated LCD. The EVF on the G1 was better than any other I'd tried, but still not as nice to use as the viewfinder on the E420. The kit lens on the Panasonic was much smaller than the Olympus, but the Oly 40-150 was tiny compared to the Panasonic 45-200. Both seemed to AF quickly enough and the live view AF seemed to work well on the Olympus. Given the huge price difference (E420 twin lens kit ~£380, G1 twin lens kit ~£625) and just how close they are to each other in size and performance I can't see e buying a G1. Sure it's a very nice camera and the gadget lover in me wants one, but I think for once common sense will win out and I'll resist it.

I then tested the Olympus E520 against the E410, they really are very similar cameras, but the grip on the E520 makes it nicer in the hand. Coupled with the addition on in camera IS and the extra cost of only ~£80 the E520 is probably a better buy. The only way I could get a similar Canon set up for the same price would be to go for a used 350/400D and a Sigma 18-200. It is amazing to me that you can get the Olympus twin lens kit for less than a Canon 450D body only!

Yeah, the same goes for the entry level Sony SLR kits too. I think like Sony Olympus is trying to get a better foothold into the market.
True also, that when I worked selling cameras some of the kits sold with very little or no margin......When the older E400 went on a special deal I think it actually made a loss for the shop (which of course was always tried to be regained with the addition of bags, cards, batteries and extra warranties where the profit was.......personally I don't think the company buyers at headoffice could negociate themselves out of a paper bag, but thats another story)

personally, as long as you choose the seller wisely, a s/h 350d can be had for next to nothing on ebay (buy on a weekday, sell at the weekend ;) ). We got Jacky's (wisher) with an 18-55mm lens for £150 !!!....and it was complete, boxed and in mint condition. We sold the older 300d for nearer £180!!!! .....We still can't believe our luck with that even now.

yeah a used 350D is tempting too, I was always happy with it when I used it as my main camera so I know I'd be happy with it. My local camera shop has a couple in used for ~£150, they're in excellent nick and would come with a warranty. It seems that I can pick up a Sigma 18-200 for ~£220 so that set up would be similar price to the Olympus E420 kit. The Canon would clearly be familiar and thus easy to use, but it would be interesting to try another system... I did have a look at the Sony's today too but didn't like the feel of them for some reason.

The canon 450d with the new much better 18-55mm IS lens would be a good bet.

After much pondering I finally reached a decision... much as all the small DSLR options appeal (especially the little Oly) they are not pocketable so I've ordered a G9 instead. I toyed with getting a G10 but review sugget that there is little to chose in terms of IQ and I like the wider zoom range on the G9 (better for snaps of the kids). The other big advantage to a G9 (over a G10) is the price... for the difference in price I can pick up a used 350D (or possibly a 20D) which I can use with my 50 f1.8 when I want to take out something smaller than my 1D but faster than the G9.

To late I see, I was going to say the E-420 and two kit lenses are my exclusive travel light kit when i do not want the weight and image quality is outstanding.:)

I am too late too but Your homework seems paid off and you DID the best you could!

Why?
Well I fall in your shoe too. I am having 1Ds (Plural s) and yes with flash and at least 2 attractive and must have lens, and 3 extra battery, they can break your back on a long day. They literary did for me and I do have a spine in need of a lot of TLC now a days! Then with a 1D and a nice lipstick wearing fair skin lens attached, you are surely to receive especial attention like near by whispers point to you with the not so welcoming word "Paparazzi" or a sure way to have your return back at the check point of a concert or sportive event unless you have a Press card hanging on you neck.

On the other side, after having taste of 1D, your buds won't settle for some entry level DSLRs. Just No way.

Considering all the manual over ridings and features, the famous G series of Canon are and have been the best substitute for professional grade DSLR. They take the same expensive flash line in TTL mode as their king size cousin and though the lens is not changeable but who needs to change it anyway with the range they offer.
Now here goes what makes you even more happy: As a owner of G10, I now prefer to sell it and buy a G9... I really do not look at a few extra Mega bit added to picture file size as a big plus (That is one of the features G10 has over G9). Of course bigger LCD is always nice but when I have my eyeglass, both size LCD are readable! and when not, None!!
The thing that makes G9 a definite better deal is what appears to be a better IQ and lower noise (G10 does have it) and many other tiny features that can make a big leap in picture taking that are cut off in new G10. For eg that "Time elapse" feature that is built in on G9 and you can set up the camera on a steady shoe and let it take a long time, pictured in constant intervals and thus an excellent Wow bringing motion picture in high rez at the end. I don't know why Canon made the mistake of taking such features stripping down in new line. Well I might know and probably Cost is the keyword.

Of course if I had noticed this theread before might have confused you a bit further and being a Canonist, it would have been a shame in my part to suggest Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 but I know for a fact that many of first-G10-buyer did the switch to LX3. Well then you need to start with buying accessories especially biger flash etc one more time as your current Canon line won't fit. Or the other option would be to go with a 20D second hand. This would not be as small but then IQ is exceptional and that camera is rough like a tank to serve you for a long time to come and then, after 1D you cannot simply find yourself happy to hold any small DSLR like 350 D60 etc etc when point and shot is a totally different class with a totally different feel and touch.

So be happy and have a lot of fun with the right choice you made.

I did consider the LX3, it looks to be an excellent camera, I know a guy with the LX2 who swears by it... but I was put of by the limited range of focal length, I'm sure it's fine for some but for snapping the kids a wider, longer range helps.

Well my G9 arrived yesterday, it looks like a very nice camera... I also took a trip to my local camera shop and picked up a secondhand 30D at a good price. Here's my new toys - http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...hp?photo=39527

Good news. Glad you got the cameras you were after. G9 is a bit of a legend (so's the 30D for that matter) The s/h market is quite diverse at the moment, and there's some real bargains to be had

Hi, you may want to consider a Canon 5D Mark II which is smaller than 1D series of cameras and full-frame so when you use with your EF 50 f/1.8 lens it will give you exactly 50mm not like 550D or 7D giving you 80mm instead?

Try getting the new Canon 550D lens kit with the new 18-55mm IS lens, it's lighter compared to it's previous models

Had you thought about a bridge camera?.........or is that like swearing on here?

I have a Panasonic FZ45 which I can easily take anywhere, has a 24X zoom and lets me shoot in RAW. Maybe something to look at?

If your after a lightweight dSLR, and don't want to spend £700, then the Pentax Kr might be well worth considering. I believe it's significantly smaller than most APS competition and is around £350 new with the kit lens.

Oops - I missed the original post date! I guess this is no longer relevant.

I've carry a canon G11 everywhere. It's bulky for a compact, buch much less than a DSLR. Most of the controls of a DSLR. Particular points that I like:-
Shoots RAW.
Dials on top to adjust ISO and EV (I use these a lot and think that all cameras should have dials to adjust these settings).
Small but usable optical viewfinder (holding close to face and not at arms' length is useful for street shots).
Articulated screen (you can get high, low, and even around corners; also good for discreet street candids when holding close to body, waist-high).

Nothing wrong with the bridge cameras, thankfully in general here people understand that the photographer is more important than the camera.

Unfortunately I like new toys so tend to chop and change my gear quite a lot, so although I still have the G9 that I mentioned earlier in this thread I have tried some other options too. Personally I've not got on too well with the bridge cameras that I've tried (the shutter lag was an issue for me), but my wife loves hers and wouldn't change to a DSLR.

I have also tried a couple of the micro 4/3rds cameras and am really impressed with the system. I currently have a Panasonic GF1 with the 20mm lens, it's a fairly compact set up and delivers great results. Due to the larger senser I can shoot at higher ISOs than I would get away with on the G9.