Digital camera size (SLR) Forums

ActiveCampers

Silly quesiton....

In the next year or so I'm going to get a decent digital camera. I'd prefer SLR - but they are too big and I'm not going to become someone who carries a man-bag full of lenses.

Some compact digitals have decent zoom/features, and if I learned photoshop I'm sure the results would be the same (for someone who takes photos they want rather than any artistic quality)

So anyway, now 35mm is long gone, why are SLRs so big? Will there ever be "compact SLRs"? OK none of the original lenses people have will fit but when has that stopped people changing standards?

The only downside is with a smaller zoom lense the movement will be a lot more like calling your subjects a dick-head Wink

Thoughts welcome!!

Zebedee · Moderator

Hi Ryan and Mel

Have a look at a Pentax DSLR body and a Sigma (or Tamron) 18-200mm lens.

Still bigger than a compact of course, but one of the smallest and lightest SLRs by quite a bit, and you may find that one lens will do everything you want.

Wait a while and you will get loads of advice from the real experts, which I am not, but the Pentax/Sigma combination works for me!

At the other end of the scale entirely, my wife's Ricoh Caplio R6 is really quite excellent. So much so that I often don't bother with the Pentax any more. (Talk about destroying one's own argument!) Embarassed

Cheers - hope this helps

ksebruce

Haven't seen any compacts with a zoom above 100mm. Remember if you go the compact route ignore "digital zoom" you can do that on the PC. Optical zoom is the one that matters. Very Happy

DABurleigh

See the other thread about a Lumix TZ3 Smile

Just PMed Scotjimland about it. PM us for sourcing recommendations .... Smile

Dave

artona · Moderator

Hi Ryan and Mel

Some compact digitals have decent zoom/features, and if I learned photoshop I'm sure the results would be the same (for someone who takes photos they want rather than any artistic quality)

Not in a million years but it really depends on what you want to do. Guess what I ended up using to shoot this.

Drew

Hi,

Have you had a look at the Panasonic Lumix TZ3?

This camera has a 28mm wide angle Leica lens, 10x optical zoom and in SLR terms is the equivalent to an SLR camera with a 28 - 300 zoom lens.

Believe me when I say it is a camera well worth looking at. Like yourself I was fed up with carting a SLR with numerous lenses around, and then I was introduced to this little pocket sized gem that is never out of my pocket.

Regards

Drew

Batch

The cheaper D40 and the entry level Canons aren't big and the new lenses are very light

ScotJimland

silversurfa

Have a look at Kodak . I have a z740. 10xzoom as many programs as you want. and good video . nobody beats kodak for colour. any more than 5meg and your wasting your money , for email 1.8 is good enough.