Camera for September European vacation: Opinions please. I have a Canon 6D with battery grip, RSS mounting plate and 3 lenses that use up almost 1/2 of my max carryon weight. One...

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

Opinions please. I have a Canon 6D with battery grip, RSS mounting plate and 3 lenses that use up almost 1/2 of my max carryon weight. One alternative is to get a smaller camera. I’m inclined toward a full frame 20~ MP in the $1,000.00 range. Compact is good but would like superior IQ in that price range. I’m not wedded to a brand although I’ve used Canons for 50 years. So, brand, model, advantages/disadvantages, and opinions are appreciated. Open to used also. Thanks in advance.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Canon Eos M-50.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

clint f. wrote:

Opinions please. I have a Canon 6D with battery grip, RSS mounting plate and 3 lenses that use up almost 1/2 of my max carryon weight. One alternative is to get a smaller camera. I’m inclined toward a full frame 20~ MP in the $1,000.00 range. Compact is good but would like superior IQ in that price range. I’m not wedded to a brand although I’ve used Canons for 50 years. So, brand, model, advantages/disadvantages, and opinions are appreciated. Open to used also. Thanks in advance.

lowbone

I agree, the RX10 Mk lV is a great travel camera. If it is a little out of your budget you could get the Mk lll for about $400 less. Most of the improvements on the lV have been for video not that the video on the lll was bad.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

clint f. wrote:

I’m inclined toward a full frame 20~ MP in the $1,000.00 range.

You should be able to find a full-frame camera body for $1,000--probably used or refurbished. But if you have to buy even a single full-frame lens this is going to bust your budget--unless you buy a nifty fifty or a very cheap kit lens. But that flies in the face of the "superior IQ" you desire. This means that you will have to go with a Canon body as you already have the lenses. But then you are stuck with heavy lenses and probably a heavy camera body.

If you are serious about smaller and more lightweight equipment you need to look at mirrorless. But that means you also will have to buy new lenses. Sony at present makes the only full-frame mirrorless cameras, but just an A7 III with a 24-105 lens will set you back $3,300. While the 24-105 lens isn't a monster it isn't exactly lightweight either. Even with an older A7 model you will not get under $2,000.

This leaves APS-C or Micro 4/3 mirrorless systems. They provide great IQ, are small, compact, travel-friendly. If you are serious about downsizing this is the direction you should investigate.

Your task is a bit like squaring a circle. I don's see a good strategy, given your parameters. So you will have to decide where you want to compromise. Good luck with your decision!

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

Or, you could take off the battery grip, saving yourself a lot of weight right there, take a lightweight Canon 50mm 1.4 lens for shooting inside buildings and then a multi purpose zoom to cover outside. I found that while travelling Italy and France that I used the 24-105 F4 L lens the most. I use a Black Rapid strap to keep the weight off my neck and frankly don't notice the weight at all.

The 6d gives so many shots on one battery that you will not miss the battery grip (other than for balance, etc), just carry the extra battery in your pocket. I chose which lens I wanted each day and did not carry a camera bag around with me, left it at the hotel. Many of the mirrorless cameras do not get many shots on one battery, you would need three or more of their batteries to get as many shots as one battery on the 6d will give you.

Anyway that is what I did and it worked for me. Now at home, the battery grip is back on, mainly because I like the feel of the camera with it.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

camerapapi wrote:

Canon Eos M-50.

The Canon M5 (or M6) would be a fine choice. Also worthy of consideration, a used Fuji X100F. /Ralph

Baysitter11 Loc: Cincinnati

I just researched and decided on the Panasonic LUMIX ZS200.

https://m.dpreview.com/products/panasonic/compacts/panasonic_dczs200

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

clint f. wrote:

Opinions please. I have a Canon 6D with battery grip, RSS mounting plate and 3 lenses that use up almost 1/2 of my max carryon weight. One alternative is to get a smaller camera. I’m inclined toward a full frame 20~ MP in the $1,000.00 range. Compact is good but would like superior IQ in that price range. I’m not wedded to a brand although I’ve used Canons for 50 years. So, brand, model, advantages/disadvantages, and opinions are appreciated. Open to used also. Thanks in advance.

1. Compact is good
2. would like superior IQ
3. not wedded to a brand
4. opinions are appreciated

The most important part of my opinion is that, for travel, small is better. Larger cameras get in the way of the travel experience itself. They are awkward in small cafes, brand you as tourist, don't fit in the room safe, scare local people away, etc. In other words, you come home with more and better images with small gear.

I have experience traveling with a pocketable Sony RX100 (first version), Panasonic LX100 (larger sensor) and my wife's purse sized Panasonic ZS100.

All are compact and have image quality suitable for 13x19 prints.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV --> $800
Panasonic LX100 --> $600
Pansonic ZS100 --> $550

repleo Loc: Boston

clint f. wrote:

Opinions please. I have a Canon 6D with battery grip, RSS mounting plate and 3 lenses that use up almost 1/2 of my max carryon weight. One alternative is to get a smaller camera. I’m inclined toward a full frame 20~ MP in the $1,000.00 range. Compact is good but would like superior IQ in that price range. I’m not wedded to a brand although I’ve used Canons for 50 years. So, brand, model, advantages/disadvantages, and opinions are appreciated. Open to used also. Thanks in advance.

My Sony A6000 with the 18-105mm F4.0 OSS G lens has been my faithful companion on my last several trips to Europe and elsewhere. You should be able to get them for close to $1000 now or during a Sony sale. I will switch lenses to the kit 16-50 for when I want something to slip into a jacket pocket.

I have a FF A7Rii plus excellent FF lenses to choose from, but the A6000 / 18-105 is my preferred combo for travelling and is what I am planning on bringing to Sicily and Venice in October.

miked46 Loc: Winter Springs, Florida

I just bought the Canon M5 Mirrorless and adapter, going to Italy in October, will use this instead of larger body

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

I would bring the 6D and the 24-105l.
Thats what I have done in the past.

Does 95% of the job.

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

clint f. wrote:

Opinions please. I have a Canon 6D with battery grip, RSS mounting plate and 3 lenses that use up almost 1/2 of my max carryon weight. One alternative is to get a smaller camera. I’m inclined toward a full frame 20~ MP in the $1,000.00 range. Compact is good but would like superior IQ in that price range. I’m not wedded to a brand although I’ve used Canons for 50 years. So, brand, model, advantages/disadvantages, and opinions are appreciated. Open to used also. Thanks in advance.

The new Nikon Coolpix 1000!

ELNikkor

If you can wait 2 weeks, you might have a few more choices from Nikon or Canon...

traderjohn Loc: New York City

clint f. wrote:

Opinions please. I have a Canon 6D with battery grip, RSS mounting plate and 3 lenses that use up almost 1/2 of my max carryon weight. One alternative is to get a smaller camera. I’m inclined toward a full frame 20~ MP in the $1,000.00 range. Compact is good but would like superior IQ in that price range. I’m not wedded to a brand although I’ve used Canons for 50 years. So, brand, model, advantages/disadvantages, and opinions are appreciated. Open to used also. Thanks in advance.

So...how much "weight" will you save in spending the extra $$$. Is it really worth it.? Do you really need to take 3 lenses?