mdundovi Loc: Philadelphia, PA

I have a Nikon D7100 and D300, along with a significant amount of accumulated lenses and gear. When I am out and about, or traveling I am discouraged to bring my equipment with me because of the weight, complexity, and frustration in capturing what I see. Years ago, I used a Pentax film camera and I feel like I haven't captured a more beautiful photo since. I am thinking about scaling down to a simpler but excellent camera, but I don't know what could be a replacement of sorts. A while ago, I was thinking about one of the Olympus four thirds cameras, but I have been out of touch and don't know if they turned out to be all that was expected. I also have a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III Digital Camera that I purchased in 2014 thinking it would be a good travel camera, but I have been disappointed by the results. I think I fell for the hype which is why I want to ask you all what thoughts you might have for a replacement camera. I like taking micro shots, but I enjoy more taking street and people shots. Any suggestions would surely be appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

Well I have probably said this before but the bridge cameras are great. And mine the RX10 III is amazing. But pretty heavy can get in a small bag.
I have had 3 of the RX100 camera from the original which I had. I still think they are amazing. One issue is the 70mm. Not enough reach. The original
was about 100mm. You are going through what many have had. Love my Nikons and 3-4 lens but wouldn't take with me most times.
Another thought is the Sony a6300 or a6500 which is 3-4 hundred dollars more. I bought the a6300 gave the a6000 to my son.
I like FF and the an a7sII but I really love the a6300. When I first got is I didn't really have many cropped frame lens.
When I started using it more with a new 16- 70 zeiss lens I took it everywhere. It has 4k video. Is very good in low light and
forgiving at a higher ISO. The image quality is just amazing. Someone asked me to get some shots at a school event by surprise.
I had no flash (hate flash) and shot with the natural lighting in the theater. Also the lens helps. 16mm is great for group shots
I would buy a a6300 or a6500 and a lens or two.

note: The 6500 adds 5-axis stabilization, touchscreen and processing power. 24MP A larger buffer. This is a big deal.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

I did make that transition, about three years ago. I went from D7100 and D7200, first to a Sony a6000, which I chose because it has an aps-c sensor, among other things. It also had the fastest focus on the market then. After six months of getting used to it, I spent two weeks running around the Mediterranean and getting quite excellent results. I looked at other options with "1 inch" and 4/3s sensors, but a photograph that won't print to 11x14 or better, 16x24, is just a snapshot. In March of 2016, I bought an a6300 with even better results.

I have also owned a Fuji x-e1 and liked it. Also an aps-c sensor.

Just came back from Mexico. I was able to shoot inside dark churches at ISO 6400 and 12800 with my a6300. The first with little to no perceptible noise, the latter with only a small amount. Also helpful was the silent shutter. (If you didn't have to actually touch the shutter button, you might not even know that you had a shot, it is so quiet.
Two Other important, to me, features are the Eyefocus and the face registration. They both help me get great shots of my four yo grand daughter who never stops moving.

Excellent video for those occasional moments, like the parade in San Miguel de Allende. The only thing I miss is the dual card slot. Years ago I had a card go bad after a day of shooting. It was an expensive loss as it included paying for location and model. Haven't lost one in 5-6 years, but I also don't want to.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

You probable had a 50mm "normal" lens on your Pentax. You may want to get a 35mm lens and use it on your choice of cameras that you have. When I did this with my D7100 it was like coming home. It has the same field of view that your 50mm has on your Pentax. In my not so humble opinion you are not going to be happy with a smaller sensor than the crop cameras you have. - Dave

Sheila Loc: Arizona or New York

Sometimes I have the same problem when using my DSLR and use a luggage trolley with my camera bag. For times I really have to carry the bag or want to travel with less weight and don't have my husband nearby to carry my equipment, I use a Sony a6000 that I purchased with two kit lenses a couple of years ago. Since then I have added a macro lens. This combination is very light weight even for a 78 year old female with a pacemaker and will fit in pockets of a travel vest. You can also use your Nikon lenses with an adapter. This set up requires manual focusing. I especially like that the camera has a viewfinder as well as a tilting LCD screen.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Fuji X-T2 with Fuji 18-135 zoom lens. Fast autofocus, brightest and best EVF (viewfinder), LCD can be flipped out, dual card slots, most controls accessible without going into a menu and without taking your eye away from the viewfinder, fairly light weight and compact. For street photography some people like to use a prime lens, either the 27mm, f/2, the 35mm f/2, or the 50mm f/2. All are weather resistant, small, and lightweight and very sharp.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

For the times you want to go light-
Be careful about "replacing". Think about supplementing in addition to what you now have. And then consider buying used until you find find the one that "fits" well. It's kind of like "Goldilocks and The Three Bears"- this one is too big, this one is too small and you know the rest.
I have the Fuji X-T2. It's not one of the light weight mirrorless cameras but it fits well and with a small prime lens it is quite compact. I also have the Nikon d7500 and with the 50 mm f 1.8 D lens it is quite compact as well. Prime lenses will most always be smaller, lighter, less expensive and sharper than zooms and they travel well.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Nothin' wrong with m4/3. A pen-f or em10ii (or iii) would cut a significant amount of weight.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

A third vote for Fuji, but I have their fabulous compact, the X100F which has an APS-C sensor, just like the X-T2 and a fixed 35mm equivalent lens. Easy to customize. Many creative options.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I have the same two Nikons and I recently picked up a Fuji XE2s. The 18-55 will be the only lens I take to France to visit some WWII sites in October. So far it's a great camera and the OIS (think VR) is fabulous. Better than Nikon's in my opinion. I've hand-held down to 1/2 second something I could not do with the Nikons....but it may be the lighter, better balance that helps with this. I picked up my D300 last night. The size-weight difference to the Fuji is huge. The one thing I have not been able to do with the Fuji is macro. The new 80/2.8 macro is $1200, so beyond my means for now. And it's heavier than my 105 micro Nikkor VRG.

mdundovi Loc: Philadelphia, PA

I should add that I also prefer some of the latest technology such as wifi and 4k video.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

The Fuji X-T2 has both.

mdundovi Loc: Philadelphia, PA

Wow! You guys/gals are great! Thank you for all the wonderful advise! I hate adding flash too. I was trying to "supplement" my Nikon with the Sony rx100, but wasn't really thrilled with the overall quality. It seems the Fuji X-T2 is coming up fairly frequently in this discussion. What do you think about the Sony as6500 vs the Fuji X-T2?

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Are Fuji lenses that much smaller than nikon aps-c lenses? I'm not as familiar with their lenses as other brands.

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

You don't have to bring all your equipment. Just take one or two small prime lenses with you and shoot with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-V8uxO1cNI

"I shot 1 mile for 1 year with 1 lens. Part of this was to challenge my creativity, to liberate my vision by limiting it."- quote from the video.