smallest DSLR?
 

I don't want to carry multiple cameras, and I need something that fits in my jacket pocket.

What are the most compact DSLR's? Not worried about the latest and greatest. Seems Nikon D40 and D60 were pretty compact but aren't available now.

Thanks in advance.
Dave

D40 is small by SLR standards, but it's still not going in your jacket pocket. I do carry mine on the bike, but I tend to stick it in the main pocket of a Kriega R8 waistpack.

Mine's seen 5 years of abuse (including crashing while carrying it in said waistpack) and is still going strong. You do see the occasional refurbished one come up on eBay. The Nikon D3100 is the same body as the D40/D60, with different insides, and is still available.

Have a look a Lumix G3 with an X-Vario lens. The body is rangefinder style so not quite full DSLR but they have a good sensor and the lens is very good and crucially very short when not on zoom so fits in a pocket. I'm off to buy one for my RTW trip as soon as my better half is done faffing.

It is not a DSLR but a Nikon 1 may be the camera for you. It is small and it has interchangeable lenses.
I found this on the Nikon site: http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/acil/

Pentax Q must be the smallest dSLR yet.

http://www.selectism.com/news/wp-con...l-camera-1.jpg

Niklas

I'm in the same boat needing a new camera.

that Pentax isn't a DSLR and reviews say that image quality is not good (because the sensor is small along with the camera!).

I think that the interchangeable lens Micro 4/3 sensor cameras are the best compromise for image quality and compactness for travel these days. Not quite DSLR image quality, but some are quite small. Good options that I've looked at are the Lumix GX1, GF3 (now quite cheap), newer GF5, and the olympus E-P2, E-PL2. Sony makes them too, but fewer lens options.

http://www.photographyblog.com/image..._1-550x374.jpg

http://www.photographyblog.com/image...x1-550x378.jpg

http://cdn.asia.cnet.com/i/r/2011/dc...nt_500x375.jpg

Thing with the D40 is in may not auto focus with a af lens, you need a af-s lens and there bigger. You may want to take a Olympus Tough camera, there waterproof good idea for a camera that may be on you and get wet.

I keep my old D80 in a tank bag.

Then you need to think about what lens to take some of new lens may not take the road well my kit 50-200mm did not make it well on my last trip.

My girlfriend got the GX1 and I got the slightly cheaper G3 - I reckon the viewfinder will be dead useful in very high light, makes it a bit harder to pocket though

Everyone talks about this being an issue, but unless you have been shooting Nikon SLRs for 20 years and thus have a big pile of old lenses, it's not really a problem. There's plenty of AF-S lenses in the range, and they've been around long enough for there to be plenty of second hand ones as well. Certainly they will be more available than 4/3 system lenses.


The OP hasn't said why they are looking for a DSLR, but there are plenty of reasons why you might want one over a compact - battery life, taking photos of things that are moving, or the fact that even an obsolete SLR just feels nicer in your hands than a compact. If that's the case, then nothing but an SLR will do.

If you can compromise on some of those things, but still want interchangeable lenses, then the 4/3 type cameras are probably quite interesting.

My personal solution is usually to carry the SLR, plus a Kodak Playsport ZX3 - small, cheap enough to consider 'disposable', waterproof, the right form factor (cellphone-like, not traditional camera shape) to use one-handed with either hand, designed as a video camera but takes acceptable stills (better than not having a photo at all). Just hangs round my neck on a lanyard and tucks into the front of my jacket, can even take photos while riding along.

Doesn't adhere to the OP's 'only one camera' requirement, but for me, its not much extra to carry, for a lot of extra capability.

Here is a serious comparison of all mentioned cameras in this thread plus the Pentax K-30 that I would recommend as said to be the best camera presently.

Side by Side Comparison: Digital Photography Review

Niklas

Not the smallest, but has a 24-840mm equivalent :eek3: zoom range with the built in lens. £325 Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

Canon PowerShot SX40 HS Black Digital Camera (5251B011AA) - Wex Photographic

Any good?

:)

I would be inclined to ask yourself exactly what is is you want from you camera and what you plan to spend.

If you are hoping to achieve the best image quality then there is no doubt that a DSLR would be high on your shopping list but these tend to be bulky. Some space can be saved by opting for an interchangeable lens camera which are slightly smaller than DSLRs due to the lack of viewfinder. Many of them also have a slightly smaller sensor than the DSLRs which can reduce quality slightly.

With both of these options you should consider whether you intend to stick with the standard "kit" lens that comes with the camera or upgrade the lens. To be honest the kit lens that comes with DSLRs / interchangeable lens cameras is built to a price and the image quality is very little different to some of the more expensive enthusiast compacts like the Fuji X10 Lumix LX5, Canon XZ1 or the Canon G series. These are all smaller than DSLRs and can produce high quality images. The compromise with the size is that you may have to browse a menu to adjust settings rather than having a button or dial to access a function directly. If however you are going to be shooting in auto mode this is not a great issue.

My advice would be to visit a specialist camera shop where you can handle the cameras and go from there. You could also visit a camera specific website such as dpreview. Narrow it down to a couple of choices then come back here and ask whether anyone has any experience of longevity in the field. Adventure touring can be pretty touch on electronic equipment and I know more than one person who, despite owning and being able to get the best out of high quality camera equipment, takes only a waterproof compact on bike trips. These don't give the best image quality but are a lot more robust. Better a medium quality image than no photo at all because your camera has packed in.

Having said all that I have sigma dp1 and dp2 compacts - better image quality than most DSLRs but lack the flexibility a zoom lens as they have a fixed lens. They also have a few quirks which you have to get used to. Another quirky camera worth looking at is a Ricoh GXR; the lens change system is unique but means that dust cannot contaminate the sensor - a problem which can occur when swapping lenses in normal cameras.

sensational feedback, thanks to all the 'posters'.

i'm a lazy biker and even more lazy photographer. taking my gloves off to work the camera is all the work i want to do when i stop to take a shot. so if i have a 2nd camera on the rear rack (i don't use tank bags) the effort to unstrap, open the bag, remove the camera, assemble the camera, take the photo, pack it all up and tie back down would mean i would never use the equipment and it would be redundant.

i like gear that, if i broke it (far more likely than theft) i wouldn't be too concerned, as it was bought to use and did indeed get plenty of use. so the camera has to be utilitarian.

i like the dslr feature of being able to take multiple rapid photos. i also like the image quality, superior zoom etc.

however, i will never spend time with software 'enhancing' the images - i'd copy & backup the jpegs and delete the raw files.

all the above indicates i'm not much of a photographer, though i do appreciate great images - i'm after the equipment that will give me the best possible image with the least effort, and that means having the most compact and robust unit.

my last trip destroyed 2 canon ixus 110's over 15 months, though they were very well used. the picture quality however, was generally not great and not prolific due to the poor (3x) zoom and slow speed per shot.

the lumix dmc-gf3 looks like it could do the trick; i will have a look at one in-store.

thanks again for the feedback.
dave

I took a small Sony compact camera with me. You can watch some pictures in my Blog: Trans-Africa

Some of them looks very amazing. But when i watch other blogs - i often think that others get better pictures. I dont know - if they are more skilled photographers - or if the camera makes the difference.

One of mine
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v7wzgPe28b...0/DSC03087.jpg

A sample of another guy
http://up.picr.de/13510203af.jpg

That colors looks amazing in the 2nd sample. I guess that it may be worth to take some lessons, and invest money in a good equipment.

Unfortunately i don't had the time for looking to learn more about :(

Surfy

Big fan of the Panasonic GX1 interchangeable lens camera
 

Surfy, the difference between your shots is the lighting, not the camera or photographer specifically.
Your shot has an obvious lack of light, was shot at noon with overhead cloud cover giving a blue tint to the shot, whilst the other shot has bundles of sunlight and shot at dusk with warm angled lighting.

Then there are polarising filters and a multitude of other options which the camera doesnt control.
Worryingly you could have selected AdobeRGB, shot in jpg and not sRGB which will have a worse colour palate when viewed on a computer screen, but more dynamic colours when printed. (it is marginal and difficult to control)

On the camera front each brand offers a different take on colour representation, obviously theres some variation by brand, Olympus out the camera Jpeg's are awesome and I feel punchy but spot on, kind of like Astia film. Fujis's jpegs have deep rich tones, Sonys border on the soft gentle subtle colours, Canon and Nikon each have their own spin, also down to the effect on highlights caused by the number of aperture blades.
In short its doubtful that the camera is the differentiator, but there is an element to your photography. if you are shooting in RAW then the various editing software makes the difference.

There is also editing.

Personally I prefer the dynamic clouds that your shot has, and other than the really boring lighting you could tweak it to create the drama.
Adjust the white balance slightly towards the yellow and Magenta side. Increase the saturation. Darken the sky's, and adjust the levels to give the colour a bit more depth, and hey presto, all told - a flat image revitalised.

Also your shot would look great with a peppercorn grain effect to it

regards

Second photo was taken in the afternoon and light was warmer. May be a polariser also used.

To me your photo is very good too. It is not about the camera.

If you get a DSLR, don't get the smallest. They are less well protected for dust, water and shaking and the image quality is less. For an "in the pocket" camera, I recommend a Nikon P330, which is small and fits in a large pocket, shoots raw and jpeg and takes great pictures. It has a high quality fast zoom lens built in and would be my choice for a compact<; If you insist on changing lenses, buy the Nikon 1 V2, which has a nice viewfinder and takes phenomenal pictures and video.
Kind regards
SKPhoto13

What he said . . . excellent image quality, really small, completely pocketable with several of the pancake lenses and the 2.8 zooms are as good as my Canon L 2.8s (!) but far lighter.

I'll be using the GX1 on my KTM this summer in Siberia.

I'm currently looking around as I'm finding the EOS 50 d with a 200mm zoom too large and heavy to take around some times - as well as the size.

I've seen many excellent pics from some 4/3 compact cameras as am seriously looking at something like the Panasonic G5 for travel.

There is a compromise from APC to 4/3, but with teh current resolutions its a lot less than I expected

Has anyone used on of these travelling ? I'd be interested in their robustness

fz 200
 

check out the Panasonic lumix fz-200
great traveling camera
good luck
kp

I've just bought the FZ200... comparison to my old Olympus C5060.

Weights less - plastic body vs aluminum.
Zoom range - much more - why I bought it, missing out on shots of birds.

Feel - the olympus is much much better ... eg the shutter release button ... much better feel on the olympus to get that mid level focus/exposure setting done.

Settings .. The FZ200 when set to delayed release shutter ... only stays set to it for one shutter release.. if you want to take a series of delayed releases then you have to set it each time.

The remote shutter release is via cable. The olympus is infrared, a better system as you can be certain that any vibration is eliminated and you can be better placed into the shot.

--------- Despite the draw backs I'll be traveling with it. The weight and zoom range win. Note there are two versions of it - native video in either PAL or NTSCT, the PAL version is more expensive.

Neither of these is a SLR camera, they both have fixed lenses. The compromise on sensor size is not resolution so much as noise. The larger the sensor size the lager the lens has to be - so more weight.

=================
Old saying among racers - 90% rider, 10% bike. The same is true of photos.

I have to mention my camera. I've owned DSLRs for years, but I tended to not carry a DSLR with me. DSLRs are just generally too heavy once you add in the body, a lens or two, a flash. Ick! Very quickly you are carrying a LOT of weight.

I forget exactly how I learned of it, but I discovered the Fuji X-Pro1 about a year ago and bought one. It is an APS-C sized sensor camera, meaning it is the same sensor size as most of the consumer-grade Nikon and Canon DSLRs. It has a great lens lineup with absolutely wonderful glass and fast apertures like the 35mm f1.4 (50mm equivalent) and the 14mm f2.8 (21mm equivalent). Most importantly, the camera system is light, which means that I'm not nervous about carrying it around. In addition, Fuji did something unique with the sensor in this lineup. The important thing to know is that the image quality is stunning. I carry the camera everywhere, and I absolutely love it. I have a Canon 60D with nice lenses, and I never touch that camera.


Moreover, it's just darn sexy. :clap:

Alternative option for those, who still want DSLR, not CSC (Pen, Nikon 1, Nex...)

Canon 100d, one of the smallest dslr bodies built. With combination of Canon's 18-135mm, Sigma or Tamron 18-250mm should be one of the perfect all-rounders with high quality of pictures taken.

http://shrani.si/f/3J/OL/3DKAzCKD/img8962.jpg
Source: www.efotopotep.si

mirrorless cameras are getting pretty tiny, and most of them come with a digital eye piece now to. i have a Nikon J1, and am constantly impressed by the quality of images, and video it pumps out. it can shoot up to 1200FPS video to!

maybe this is an option, if size (or the lack of it) is important to you.

http://d1ax9dx3gero0.cloudfront.net/...smartphone.jpg

at Sony

It's a complete camera built into a lens, 1-inch sensor, and is (sort of remotely) operated by an app.

Video is great on the Lumix M4/3 series!
 

Another good thing about the Panasonic Lumix M4/3 cameras (for example) is great video, if you want that.

I used a cheap G3 with the powered zoom Lumix X lens to shoot this:



I think the new G6 will be even better, if you have some more money to spare!


Best regards,
Kristofer, Motonaut

I went for the olympus omd em5, as it's the only weather sealed mirrorless compact system camera. It's a bit pricey, but I'm hoping it will last me a good few years of use in tough environments. I'm still getting to grips with it but it seems good so far. The image stabilisation is amazing on the videos. I was surprised it didn't seem have been mentioned here on the hubb - I guess I'll have to report back after a bit more use and let you know how I'm getting on with it.

This is exactly the way I went after selling off my Canon DSLR and lenses about a year ago. The OMD EM-5 is weather sealed, pretty well made, is part of the rich micro four thirds system, has the best image stabilisation I've come across and delivers great image quality. My full system consists of OMD body, 7-14 Panasonic, 12-35 f2.8 Panasonic, 45 f1.8 Olympus and 75 f1.8 Olympus. The whole lot weighs less and packs smaller than my previous Canon DSLR and 28-70 f2.8 Canon zoom (for reference all this fits into a Billingham Hadley Digital bag and slots nicely into my tank bag). I may sell the 45mm after acquiring the stellar 75mm f1.8.

Couldn't be happier and would highly recommend the micro four thirds system.

I have a Pen E-PL5 which has the same sensor and processor as the OM-D. With a 17mm pancake lens it fits into the palm of my hand and is very umobtrusive. The tilting screen means I can take shots without holding it up to my eye which again is less obvious than waving around some massive DSLR and this is useful in some situations. My camera bag would never hold a DSLR body but I can get three lenses, the body, several filters and the flash in there and still leave plenty of room in my Wolfman Explorer Lite tankbag.

I'm no photographer. I have a Nikon Coolpix L120 and it serves me reasonably well but these pics are fabulous!