lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I considering a MILC too, like Fuji or Sony. Would really not consider smaller than APS-C. Even FF MILC might be too bulky and $$$. The only "FF" I have now is Film, 35mm and 4x5" cameras. All my DSLRs are APS-C. FF too heavy for my arthritis.

BobT Loc: southern Minnesota

I would also suggest you consider at least a serious look at a Panasonic M43rds. I used a Canon T2i for a couple years before cashing it in for a Panasonic GX85 and a few lenses; a move I have not regretted in the least. Has dual IS and can use both Panasonic and Olympus lenses(without any lens adapters).

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

The latest APC-S Sony is the a6400. I suggest you read carefully the specifications for all of the 6000 series Sonys. The 18-136 lens would make a good walk around lens. But it does stick out about 3-4 inches of the front. I have the a6300 and am satisfied.

JimRPhoto Loc: Raleigh NC

It's amazing. I just got back from three weeks in Europe, and my entire Olympus kit fit in one medium innocent-looking handbag size crossbody black bag. That was the Olympus OMD 5 Mark ii, a (50mm equivalent) 24 to 300 zoom walking around Oly lens, a (50 mm equivalent) 24 to 80 f 2.8 faster lens, a prime 1.8 lens, all in one bag. I have no intention of getting rid of my Canon full frame gear, but that would have never done for Europe and lots of walking. The photos are the best. Also Olympus has built in HDR, and built in perspective control, which my Canon camera does not. I'm very satisfied with the decision my local camera store recommended to me, and suggest you consider it as well. Good luck with your decision. JimR

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

PANASONIC LUMIX.

Both Panasonic Lumix and Olympus make Micro 4/3 cameras and compatible lenses. Over 100 lenses are available for them. With minor exceptions, you can use Panasonic lenses on Olympus bodies, and vice-versa. Several other manufacturers make Micro 4/3 lenses, too. The Micro 4/3 market has been around for 11 years, so cameras are robust and mature with lots of great innovations.

The ONLY camera SYSTEM that will save you significant size, bulk, and weight over full frame/FX or APS-C/DX is Micro 4/3. By system, I mean body plus lenses and accessories. Micro 4/3 lenses are much lighter, because they are shorter for any given field of view, and therefore contain less heavy glass.

I would certainly LOOK at Olympus gear. They make excellent stuff, but the usability factor isn't there for me. Panasonic's ergonomics and menus are much easier for most people to adapt to than Olympus's.

I would look at the Lumix G95, G9, and GH5. They are most like your Nikon D7500. The G95 is the all-around balance of reasonable price, great stills, great video. The G9 is the flagship stills camera that also records great video. The GH5 is a great video camera first, but delivers excellent stills, too. (As an aside, I have two last-generation GH4s that my son and I use to make short films.

If you can afford them, get the Panasonic Leica lenses. Made by Panasonic, they use Leica glass and Leica optical designs, and they provide that superb Leica bokeh and color subtlety.

I used Canons and Nikons from 1968 to 2012. I fell in love with Lumix gear the first time I used it. My kit includes two GH4s, plus Lumix GX Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 and 35-100mm f/2.8 zooms, and a Lumix G Macro 30mm f/2.8, all of which are optically stabilized.

I bought Nikon F to Micro 4/3 and Canon FD/FL to Micro 4/3 adapters for my ancient Nikkor and Canon FD lenses. After using them, I DO NOT recommend adapters for older lenses unless you are comfortable working with full manual controls. We use those old primes sparingly for video filmmaking work. They work, but are manual in *every* respect.

My advice would be different if you had Canon EF lenses. But you have Nikon gear. You should probably get new or used *native* Micro 4/3 lenses for your new camera. They're made to work with it, and will provide all the automation features adapters don't (automatic diaphragm, automatic focus, optical image stabilization, EXIF data transfer, automatic distortion correction for JPEGs, focus by wire, diaphragm control from the camera...).

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Hi Jim - if you posted any of your trip pics I missed them. If you haven't then nothing would convince these guys better than seeing is believing.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

One more note... Although equivalent lenses are 1/4 to 1/3 the weight of full frame lenses, and 1/3 to 1/2 the weight of APS-C lenses, the bodies are perhaps just a little lighter. The more lenses — and longer lenses — you carry, the more dramatic the weight savings will be.

Check out Dan Cox's blog: https://naturalexposures.com/corkboard/

Dan's a Lumix Luminary (a company representative of sorts), but he's known for honest assessments of all gear. He used to use Nikons.

sabfish

I just moved from the Nikon D7100; a wonderful camera to the Fuji X-T30, because I wanted something lighter. So far I have been pleased with the Fuji, although it has taken some time to get used to the entirely different menu set and controls. The lenses are not much lighter than those for the Nikon, but the body is substantially lighter.

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

Switching to Sony, Fuji, or Olympus/Panasonic will reduce camera weight. But lenses of the same quality won't weigh much less. If you don't print, there is no penalty to going to the smallest cameras. If you get f/4 lenses instead of f/2.8 or f/1.4, you can reduce weight significantly.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I assure you, my Micro 4/3 lenses weigh 1/3 to 1/4 what my equivalent field of view full frame lenses weighed. But you're right... full frame/FX and APS-C DX lenses are roughly the same size, bulk, and weight across the brands that make them.

If you want to reduce weight, the laws of physics favor lenses made for smaller sensors.

denwin580 Loc: Kettering, Ohio

Get a Fuji X 10 and never look back !!! This is what you want small , light weight all the control that you want, cool retro looking, un-noticable , 28-112 lens. I have Canons, NIKON’s, Sony and this is my favorite unless you want something to shoot birds in flight !!

gwestfall Loc: Calabasas, Ca

I made the same change for the same reasons. Consider a Leica M series. It is small. Lenses, in comparison to Canon or Nikon, are tiny, yet they are quite fast. Consider buying used equipment.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Take a serious look at the Sony RX10 IV. Smaller, superb ZEISS 24-600mm zoom, fast focus, etc. Or even the RX10 III; a bit older but with the same great zoom lens.

bwa

radiojohn

Finally, the right thing to ask before suggesting!

radiojohn

I was using my X10 recently and had forgotton how "natural" it handles for a guy who grew up with film and cameras with optical eyepieces.