HI I have a real dilemma and wouldappreciate some feedback advice.I currently have a bridge camera a Fuji finepix S3400.I have loved learning how to expand my skills using it but I am starting to reach limits.I get frusrated that it wont do things I ask of it.I cant do long shutter low exposure for example so misty water shots and night shots prove problematic.My Beloved long suffering hubby has worked day and night to save up to get me something that will do what I ask of it.Now here is the question should I go for the LumixD3 which is light and will do all I ask BUT will cost me a fortune in extra lenses or do go down the cannon or Nikon route which are heavier( weight is an issue I have a dodgy neck!) but I can buy generic lenses (so I am told) Any comments greatly appreciated!
I'm not familiar with the Lumix D3, or how much you are looking to spend, but if weight is a concern then maybe consider Canon's new mirrorless EOS M camera?
Your Fuji weighs 540g, where the EOS M weighs 298g, and the 18-55mm lens adds 120g for a total of 418g. You can also get an adapter to fit any Canon or Canon-compatible lenses (but be aware they want $200 for it!)
its hard to give any advice not knowing where your photos are gonna go in the future. For me you have two options the heavier canon or nikon, or the Lumix. decide and don't worry too much about lenses. how many you gonna need? If you shoot wildlife maybe a big zoom, but apart from that a kit zoom and a 50mm will be fine. the Canon 50mm is on ebay always for £70 new. check out how much a 50mm is for your lumix idea, they usually have nice lenses. If it came with a kit lens and 50mm for around £500 I'd get the lumix. I just bought the Canon t2i, kit lens and 50mm for £440 off ebay all new. If the lumix is silly over that price then maybe not.
@abirkill Is that the canon micro four thirds that is supposed to be coming in October? Or something else? Someone posted that the micro four thirds isn't getting good reviews, but I haven't done any research yet... I love my t2i but it's getting tough to lug it to work and back every day - been thinking about something smaller/lighter but still fairly versatile as an alternate camera...
@sueh - Regarding camera weight around your neck. There is a whole world of camera carrying accessories to lighten the load so to speak. From the wonderful OpTech line of neoprene straps to something like the Cotton Carrier. Another tip is to carry the camera across your body so it doesn't hang from your neck.
@northy Yes, it's not actually micro four-thirds (that's a different, proprietary system) but uses a new Canon lens mount (EF-M). It's being released with two EF-M lenses (an 18-55mm and a 22mm) and an adapter is available that makes it work with any lens that fits a standard Canon DSLR.
There are no reviews of the final production model, as far as I'm aware, as it's not released until October. There are previews but they are not using the final camera.
The main concerns are usability and responsiveness -- unlike Canon's DSLRs which have physical buttons for almost all functions, the EOS-M uses a touch screen interface which tries to simplify controlling it. This has pros and cons -- for new photographers, it can remove the complexity of picking up a camera with 20+ buttons and dials on it, but for people who use DSLRs, it means that normally quick adjustments are made much slower (and can't be done 'blind'). There are also autofocus limitations in a mirrorless camera that are not present in a normal DSLR, so autofocus speed will probably take a hit.
The imaging system (sensor and processing chip) is taken straight from the T4i/650D so regardless of potential usability issues, the actual image quality should be virtually identical (i.e. extremely high).
There is a lot of disappointment around from people using high-end consumer cameras like the 60D and 7D, as they were hoping for something more in line with those, and I think that's causing it to get an unnecessarily bad rap -- that wasn't the market it was aimed at, it's aimed at people who want to move up from a bridge camera to DSLR image quality without DSLR size or complexity. There will almost certainly be a second mirrorless camera announced by Canon in the next year or so which is aimed (and priced) higher.
@abirkill Hmmm.... Tx! Good to know! I also recall something about it not having a view finder but having to compose on the LCD screen - and I'm not sure I could go back to that... Especially on top of touch screen controls which I wld probably find frustrating too...
@northy Yes, unfortunately the lack of a optical viewfinder is a necessary tradeoff with any mirrorless camera like this (it's also this that makes them so thin and light). Some have electronic viewfinders, but they are generally worse than using the LCD screen in anything other than extremely bright sunlight, and certainly no comparison to looking through a proper optical viewfinder.
Sue, do not discount the Sony cameras. Their lack of a traditional shutter gives them some advantages over other cameras when it comes to video. I am a Canon person myself. I find their controls much more intuitive and easy to use. I agree with @mikehamm that there are many options to keep the wieght off of your neck. I personally use a sling bag that can also be used like a fanny pack.
My real advice is to buy the best camera that you can afford because you will regret it very quickly if you don't. Lenses do not cost much to rent so avoid spending a lot on a lens that will not be as versatile as you want.
@abirkill To add on your comments Alexis, indeed the EOS-M reviews have been preproduction models, but one of the main issues have been autofocus speed, which should be similar to 650D in live view. Autofocus is supposed to be slower than the micro-four-thirds offerings from Olympus and Panasonic.
@sueh I assume you mean Lumix G3? Micro-four third lenses are pricier than e.g. Nikon's Dx lenses, but in my opinion makes up for it in size/portability. I've a G3 on order, but would have gone with the G5 if I could have afforded it due to more available controls. If you don't need the EVF is the Lumix GX1 a good alternative.
@brumbe Maybe when it came out, certainly not now. The E-620 is 533g with battery and card compared to 530g for the Canon 550D/T2i, 505g for the Nikon D3200 and 506g for the Sony SLT-A37. Obviously any mirrorless camera should weigh even less. The Olympus 35mm Macro is 165g vs. 122g for the Canon 50mm f/1.8 or 157g for the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 D.
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Your Fuji weighs 540g, where the EOS M weighs 298g, and the 18-55mm lens adds 120g for a total of 418g. You can also get an adapter to fit any Canon or Canon-compatible lenses (but be aware they want $200 for it!)
There are no reviews of the final production model, as far as I'm aware, as it's not released until October. There are previews but they are not using the final camera.
The main concerns are usability and responsiveness -- unlike Canon's DSLRs which have physical buttons for almost all functions, the EOS-M uses a touch screen interface which tries to simplify controlling it. This has pros and cons -- for new photographers, it can remove the complexity of picking up a camera with 20+ buttons and dials on it, but for people who use DSLRs, it means that normally quick adjustments are made much slower (and can't be done 'blind'). There are also autofocus limitations in a mirrorless camera that are not present in a normal DSLR, so autofocus speed will probably take a hit.
The imaging system (sensor and processing chip) is taken straight from the T4i/650D so regardless of potential usability issues, the actual image quality should be virtually identical (i.e. extremely high).
There is a lot of disappointment around from people using high-end consumer cameras like the 60D and 7D, as they were hoping for something more in line with those, and I think that's causing it to get an unnecessarily bad rap -- that wasn't the market it was aimed at, it's aimed at people who want to move up from a bridge camera to DSLR image quality without DSLR size or complexity. There will almost certainly be a second mirrorless camera announced by Canon in the next year or so which is aimed (and priced) higher.
My real advice is to buy the best camera that you can afford because you will regret it very quickly if you don't. Lenses do not cost much to rent so avoid spending a lot on a lens that will not be as versatile as you want.
@sueh I assume you mean Lumix G3? Micro-four third lenses are pricier than e.g. Nikon's Dx lenses, but in my opinion makes up for it in size/portability. I've a G3 on order, but would have gone with the G5 if I could have afforded it due to more available controls. If you don't need the EVF is the Lumix GX1 a good alternative.