A risky decission?. (To bring the DP1s as only camera)

Jesito · Expire: 2015-01-07

I haven't finished my holidays yet, but I've comeback home for a couple of days to take my son to the airport. (He's going to visit our US relatives in Louisiana for three weeks). So I've just downloaded the pics from the camera for our one week trip along France: Lyon, Annecy, Aix Les Bains, Chambery, Grenoble, Montelimar, Poet Laval, Dieulefit, Grignan, La Garde Adhemar, Avignon and back home.

Since I wanted to keep the luggage at minimum I took a risky decission: Not to take any other cam than the small DP1s with its Foveon sensor and 16.6mm lens (roughly equivalent to a 28mm lens in FF). I have to admit the 28mm focal lens is not my favourite one, I do prefer very much the 35mm (equivalent), but for the sake of the space and weight I put the DP1s in a small bag, with four 4Gig memory cards, one spare battery and the battery charger.

Not to take the NEX-7 was a hard decission, but I'm still unconfortable with it and I didn't want to have to fight against the unknown.

At the end, I'm more than satisfied with the decission: Even the DP1s is like a crazy cow in terms of ergonomy and light metering, and I miss the ability of having the histogram on screen. But otherwise is the perfect camera for traveling: sharp lens, nice clean colours and really good B&W from the RAW shots.

I'm a bit biased with this cam, so I'd appreciate your comments.

These are some samples from our first stop, Annecy:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Jes.

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Wow, Jes, you're a brave man!

Although I really like the DP1s and often bring it when going on holiday (I LOVE the results in sunny weather!), I would not use it as my only cam.

But your images show that you made it! Well done!

My minimum set at the moment would be:

NEX-7
SEL 2.8/16 + wide-angle-converter (for wide angle shots)....equiv. 18mm /24mm
SEL 18-55 OSS (as a universal zoom)................................equiv. 28 - 80 mm
Sigma EX 2.8/30 (as a universal prime).............................equiv. 45mm
either SEL 55-210 OSS or Hektor 4.5/135 (as a tele)...........equiv. 90-300mm or 200mm
Zuiko 1.8/38 or Hexanon 1.4/57 (for low light)....................equiv. 57mm or 85mm

Sigma DP1s or Leica Digilux 2 (as a "compact" P'n'S)..........equiv. 28mm or 28-90 mm
Canon G3 IR (for infrared)

rbelyell · Expire: 2014-01-31

jes i think it was a good decision judging from the results, which are excellent on my screen. i am very surprised by what apoears to be very good handling by foveon of low light conditions of last picture as my sd12 sucked in this regard. the color and depth of the shots are excellent. i assume you cropped them, and if this is true you didnt lose much in IQ. certainly this is a camera you can feel good about taking anywhere as your only.

i did exactly the same thing when my wife and i visited france a few weeks ago, only i brought just the x100. i loved the simplicity of the setup, not having to think about what lenses to bring, just concentrating on learning how to get the most out of what i had. i think it makes one a better photographer, certainly a more thoughtful one. i posted my holiday images here also on the AF section and would be curious about your thoughts on them.
tony

Lena · Joined: 24 Apr 2012 Posts: 495 Location: Pl

I should learn from your wisdom Jes and Tony and stop dragging the Nikon and 3 lenses with me all over Europe Wink

So far I've learnt that France is a beauty and hope to explore some of it myself when circumstances permit.

Many thanks for the pictures.

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Tony: I would consider the X100 a much more versatile cam than the DP1s, due to the longer FL and the faster lens (and the higher resolution). Just with an X100? I could imagine that!

Lena: One Nikon and 3 lenses? That's not much. You should be proud of yourself because you can live with restrictions! Wink