collven

Hi. I am shopping for a small, lightweight camera to take to Italy in April. On previous travel camera posts, I didn't see anything about the Canon Rebel SL1. I also know that the SL2 may be released soon. I am holding out to see if that materializes, but does anyone have experience with this camera? I must have a viewfinder and I am most concerned with image quality and battery life. The Sony RX100 III looks good, too but I am used to DSLR and having some of its flexible options. Any commentary would be appreciated!

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Look at the Sony a6000, it is a marvelous 12 oz. dslr camera using cmos sensors...this same sensor is also used in my Nikon D7100. Marvelous photo IQ! Their 16-50mm kit lens may be the best of any kit lens on the market. You can get a6000 and 16-500 combo for $700.

Check out the reviews on this combo at Amazon, Adorama and BHPhoto...you will be amazed.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

Check out the Nikon P/520 :thumbup:

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Also, check out my a6000 16-50mm photos at:

http://uglyhedgehog.com/t-281455-1.html

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

Hi welcome to the Hog, you will get much advice from many owners who have Sony, Nikon, Canon, Fuji, and many others Pentax has just came out with a smaller apc sensor camera that is being touted as the smallest weatherproof camera to date , for the travel you will do if it were me I would go with Fuji, they seem to be everywhere like the Nikon and Canon places. and they are very lightweight and from what I have seen and heard durable. Best bet would be find a local camera store and go check out what they have, hold them, if they let you do some shots to see if it is compatible with what you like, ask questions then decide.

castor canadensis

I am replying because I went through the same choices lately. You say small. How small is small? Shirt-pocket size? If so, you do not have many choices. There are lots of high end pocketable cameras in the 12 mp range with many of the shooting modes that you will find on a basic DSLR . Most have decent glass & zoom capabilities, but only one of these in my price range had a viewfinder, the Lumix LF1. The viewfinder is far from HD, but is perfectly adequate for framing and composing photos when the screen washes our in sunlight. It will shoot RAW, has an f2 to f 5.9 lens and all the bells and whistles of its competitors. It's a great backup camera when you do not want to carry the DSLR for serious photography.

MarkD Loc: NYC

I live in and do a lot of shooting in NYC. My travel light outfit is a Nikon D5200 (19.5 oz.), Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6 (18.2 oz.), and Sigma 18-200 Macro OS HSM (15.2 oz.). Altogether that's 3.3 pounds plus the bag, an extra battery, a lens pen, a microfiber cloth, and a few index cards and pencil to take notes.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Skip the sl1 while the body is small, the lenses are still the same ol dslr lenses. Be sure you look at both the body and lenses. I'm particuar to olympus, but Sony, fuji, and panasonic make some great small gear. That exceeds the quality of the sl1.

Jcmarino

Sony a6000 gets my vote!

tomcat

I have one of these and love it. Make sure to program that front camera lens ring so that you can guickly change your f/stops, shutter speed, and ISO values on the fly. Using the ring is almost as fast as making the changes with my Nikon DSLR. Did I tell you that I really like this camera? The video is superb. I recommend this.

Quayne L. Sherwood

I recently purchased a Canon Rebel SL1. Walking around Disney World. I found it to be very easy to carry. It is the lightest weight camera in the Canon field, which I chose for my arthritic Hans and elbows. The 18-55 mm lens has been sufficient for me. Although I also use a 55-250 zoom, I did not make use of it there. The lenses are the weightiest part of the camera.

lloydl2 Loc: Gilbert, AZ

My main camera is a sony a99 (full frame). I recently picked up a sony rx100 m3 and LOVE IT! It has all the features of a full dslr, raw, multiple shooting modes including all manual, a view finder the ability to select from focus modes and exposure modes. I have mine set up pretty much the way my a99 is that is spot metering, center focus raw, and shoot in full manual. I've set up buttons on the back that allow me to easily adjust shutter, aperature and ISO and drop into manual focus once I've focused for either fine tuning or to lock the focus so it doesn't hunt on me. It even has a pop up flash that can be bounced off the ceiling.. The picture quality is outstanding and I love the pop up viewfinder.

sample rx100 m3 photo hit download for full size

(Download)

Sony rx100 m3 and the rising sun

(Download)

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

How much camera gear do you want to carry around with you over there is my question. A camera bag with a body and several lenses and accessories can be a bother, as is having to stop to change lenses all the time. For traveling, I would choose a compact camera with a decent zoom range, one that would zoom out to at least a 200mm (35mm equivalent) range, allow at least some degree of manual control and, if possible, have an EVF. At least with this type of camera you have great flexibility without having a lot of extra stuff to lug around, and it all fits in a shirt or jacket pocket. Some of the suggestions made are excellent choices, especially the Sony RX 100 III. It has an EVF, and even though it's a bit on the spendy side, it is worth it in terms of image IQ and flexibility. If you can afford that one, it's the way I'd go.

I have a Sony A6000 and it is a super good camera, but it's far from compact and pocketable, but a worthy traveling companion if you only take the kit 16--50mm lens. If you want greater focal length, you'll have to take (for simplicity's sake) the Sony 50--210 zoom, which, although not the best lens available, it is a decent lens, and not too expensive. And you can have this package for around $800.00--just a fraction more than the RX100 III, which, I believe is around $799.00. But personally, if I didn't have a camera I'd want to take traveling, I'd go for the RX100 III, or Canon equivalent.

NeilL Loc: British-born Canadian

Check out Panasonic's LX 100.

Jim Ermer

I have the Sony RX 100 III and like it a lot. Great view finder. Only problem for you maybe the reach as it only goes out 70mm. battery life has been good. View finder only comes on when you get you eye close to it.