Second camera for travel when the DSLR is too big

[wirezz]

I always take along my DSLR when I travel. It's a canon FF so I have a 24-105 and usually a 50mm 1.4 with me as I prefer to travel as light as possible.

However frequently during the evenings when I head out to dinner and stuff I never can justify dragging along the DSLR as it is just too intrusive.

Do you guys face the same situation? What do you guys do?

Bring along a seperate m43/nex/fuji x pro system (+ lenses and charger) or just get by with an iphone ?

 

[flipfreak]

i bought a m43 camera for leisure but realise i don't love the images from it. switched to a fuji. nicer pics but terrible to use. lucky its leisure so im not too upset.

 

[macaroni]

I got myself a fuji X-E1

 

[swifty]

Everyone will have their own limits as to what they consider too big/heavy/bulky to carry for certain occasions.
For me, I found myself in a very similar situation to you (except I used Nikon FF as oppose to Canon).
I subsequently bought the original E-M5 with kit lens and a 75mm/1.8 prime (150mm FF equiv).
I find there's a world of difference when packing for travel but I still find it troublesome to bring even my m43 to dinners or social outings. Having said that, the smallest m43 outfit eg. The Panasonic GM1/5 with a pancake prime is still substantially smaller than my existing kit.

Whilst I don't mind my kit lens, I generally dislike variable aperture zooms and if the 12-40/2.8 kit was available when I purchased my E-M5, I would have done so.

Best thing is to check out the various systems in store and play around with it. Only you can decide what's acceptable to you from a lighter camera system.
Camera ability wise, I find you don't loose out much (and gain some) compared to DSLRs but of course this will largely depend on what you shoot and what lens you need.

 

[Kisuke]

i switched to Mirrorless due to this reason.

dumped the DSLR at home. now it's on loan to a friend for his professional work.

so much more convenient

then i can buy small to big bags and then it will depend on how many lens i bring out on that day.

 

[wirezz]

Maybe I should stop being fussy and just travel with a mirror-less next time. Seems to be the modern thing to do

 

[brapodam]

If you want mirrorless for the small size, also take note of what lenses you want to get. You can definitely get a smaller and lighter system, but depending on what lenses you use, the system can be quite large e.g. most Sony E-mount zooms apart from 16-50 and 18-55 are quite large, Oly 12-50 is light but very long

 

[wirezz]

If you want mirrorless for the small size, also take note of what lenses you want to get. You can definitely get a smaller and lighter system, but depending on what lenses you use, the system can be quite large e.g. most Sony E-mount zooms apart from 16-50 and 18-55 are quite large, Oly 12-50 is light but very long

I agree with you man!
With my old nex 7 I used to have the sigma 19 and 30mm primes which I thought were great, but they were also quite bulky. The Fuji pancakes (18/27) seem to be a better idea.

 

[Thks77]

The 6d with 40mm pancake combo feel best when not having the mood to carry those heavy lens around. : )

 

[wirezz]

The 6d with 40mm pancake combo feel best when not having the mood to carry those heavy lens around. : )

Problem with 6D is you always have to carry a flash around... don't understand why they can't put in a simple pop up flash.

 

[dniwkh]

iPhone 6plus is really good

 

[JacePhoto]

As age is catching up w me, the spine and shoulders are giving way...

Changed from D800 to Sony a7r. Served me well as I still get the IQ. Now I have a back up Panasonic LX-100 that shoots 4K video.

This my set up.

 

[Octarine]

EOS-M, 22mm and 40mm STM lenses. EF-M to EF adapter for the latter or other Canon lenses.

 

[daredevil123]

Was using the Nikon V1 for a couple of years. Now switched to XT-1.

One thing to note, for APSC or FF mirrorless systems, the lenses are not exactly small and light.

 

[lucifer06]

7D to m43 for me. Using EM1 with P15 and O25.

 

[Reportage]

It all depends on what you consider acceptable quality vs bulk. I use an Xperia phone as camera for trips when the last thing I want to do is fuss over camera settings when I should be enjoying the trip.

 

[ortega]

why not bring a smaller canon body that can mount the same lenses.


eg. Nikon D800 and D3XXX
already big difference in size and weight

 

[pinholecam]

I use a Sigma DP1m as a back up on my trips.
Its for the specific purpose of a backup and catered for IQ and IQ only.
Big sacrifice on versatility, but for my needs it has done well.

Others I know of, opt for more versatility and use the Ricoh GR.

If I don't go for the Sigma DP1m, I'd bring a Pentax Q7 as my 'light use' camera.


Options abound nowadays.
A 2nd hand m4/3 with 20/1.8 or a cheap NEX5+Sigma 30/2.8 would suffice for your needs while being light and cheap.

 

[keithwee]

Its an expected want, as we age lol.

I have a X100T just for this purpose when I don't wish to lug the larger interchangeable lens system out. I wouldn't really go for a smaller body within the same system as if i wish to travel lighter- it really means light as in 1 body.

 

[wirezz]

I use a Sigma DP1m as a back up on my trips.
Its for the specific purpose of a backup and catered for IQ and IQ only.
Big sacrifice on versatility, but for my needs it has done well.

Others I know of, opt for more versatility and use the Ricoh GR.

If I don't go for the Sigma DP1m, I'd bring a Pentax Q7 as my 'light use' camera.


Options abound nowadays.
A 2nd hand m4/3 with 20/1.8 or a cheap NEX5+Sigma 30/2.8 would suffice for your needs while being light and cheap.

Any comments on the Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7? That and a GX7 seems like quite a slim combo.