Advice needed on "large-sensor" compact

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

Normally i would never be in the market for such a camera, but now i need some surgery to be done in my right arm and i won't be able to pick up heavy cameras for quite a few weeks after that.

So i thought it would be nice to buy something a lot lighter but which gives great pictures nevertheless!
No new ones, i'm looking to buy second hand, as it will be for temporary use, but i have not got a single clue on what is good and what not and whatever is available!

Some net-surfing pointed me to a Sigma DP1s (or DP1x) which can be had for around 160 euros, which is a nice price-tag. It's quite a rare one on the second hand market so i wondered if anybody here knew any alternatives to this one??
It has a (nearly) APS-C sensor and a 28mm equiv. prime lens.

Thanks a lot!!
René.

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7552 Location: Hong Kong

Nikon Coolpix A will be a good alternative.

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-coolpix-a

tb_a · Expire: 2019-08-28

Ricoh GR 16MP/APS-C is most probably best in this class. However, the used price might be still a little bit higher. The "28mm" lens is really excellent (actually 18.3mm on APS-C). I have the A12/28mm (12MP/APS-C) lens module for my Ricoh GXR which is equipped with the same lens and know what I am talking about. I am using it preferably as typical holiday camera when I don't want to carry heavy equipment. If you find a GXR with this module for a reasonable price this would be also a nice little camera and would give you the option to take another module later on as well.
The GXR with the M-mount module is still my preferred camera. That's the reason why I have two of them. Wink

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9097 Location: Houston, Texas

One of the later G-series Canons would be my choice. Say a G10 or later. They're solid, good cameras and take great photos. They also have a Canon-dedicated hot shoe, an uncommon feature on this type of camera.

Second choice would be one of the later Fujifilm digital single zoom lens "slrs". I like Fuji because they have great glass and the form factor is comfortable.

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

Well, i looked at the Coolpix A and he GXR, but both are well over 200 euros, which was not my intention on spending.

A Canon G12 fits the bill though, it's a zoom and the sensor is not as big as the DP1 but from what i read it's pretty good.

dickb · Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 821

Alternatively, a Sony Nex camera might be light enough. I like to take a Nex5 with its 16mm fi for ultimate light weight, or a Nex5n with EVF and say a rokkor-m 40/2. The body is about 250g, so if you can live without big zoom lenses it may fit your requirements.

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

The Sigma DP1s - as much as I like my copy - offers a rather limited resolution and a very poor low light performance. It's a fun cam, though.

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9097 Location: Houston, Texas

Yeah, well, the great thing about any NEX, besides their large APS-C sensor, is their interchangeable lens capability. It would bust your budget, but eventually you can add lenses like some of the Leica-thread wide angles that are very compact. I have a Canon Serenar 35mm f/3.2 that is quite compact, and when mounted to my NEX 7 makes the camera easily pocketable. With a 35mm equivalent of about 62mm, it would function well as a bit of a long "normal" lens.

tb_a · Expire: 2019-08-28

I have the NEX-C3 which is astonishingly nice working with all of my M39 RF super wide and wide lenses from Voigtlander. No color shift or smeared edged like on some other NEX and A7 types. Such lenses are very small and make the combination really pocket-able.
Especially the 15/4.5, 21/4 and 25/4 are very nice little lenses. If your budget is allowing this I would strongly recommend to consider such a combination as well.

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

Well, compactness is not important. The weight is.
So buying L39 lenses for it's size is not what i'm after, besides the fact that i have many (really, a lot!) lenses around already. Some of them i bought and never used, so maybe this is the time to try some of them on the old NEX3, which is indeed lightweigth, how could i forget?

It also popped my mind to load some film in various compacts i still have around, could be fun as well!

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9097 Location: Houston, Texas

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

buerokratiehasser · Joined: 12 Jun 2011 Posts: 470

Sigma DP reputed to be slow, hassly handling. Not sure about weight.

All plastic DSLR and lens maybe? SonyA plastic bomber and 35-80N.. Probably still too heavy.

Panasonic FZ4/5 (7 probably too) plasticy, very light, super zoom. P&s sensor = barely usable at iso 80, less light = pain, also megapixel limited

Other than that the Sony luxury compacts .. S95, S100, RX100 .. not optimised for weight but small thus cannot drag you down much. Can read up at Rockwell.