Advice requested (Page 7): Have a great trip! Let’s see some photos too. Although I shoot Canon, the D850 is a reliable camera. Don’t lug around an overweight bag with lots of gear to...

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Jgrosso wrote:

In 2021 my wife and I are planning to take a 2-3 week trip to Europe. I’d like to focus on the trip, and not lug my overweight bag with my Nikon D850, lenses, flash, etc. Can anyone suggest a single camera, that’s easy to carry with good image quality? I’d prefer a camera with a viewfinder and one lens, preferably zoom. I’ve had pocket Canon and Nikon cameras, but not in the last 10 years or so. Not sure what the current state of that art is. Please give me your thoughts. Thank you!

Have a great trip! Let’s see some photos too.
Although I shoot Canon, the D850 is a reliable camera. Don’t lug around an overweight bag with lots of gear to impress your shoulders with. Try a sling over the shoulder bag ($50 tops) that won’t hold a lot of stuff. Perhaps the one body and a short zoom lens and perhaps a wide angle lens (not too much distortion). I did Barcelona and London with minimal equipment and never had a though wishing I brought that thing along too.

Photocraig

larryepage wrote:

Not if he just takes the camera, one lens, a battery, and a charger. No flash is needed with the D850, nor is a whole bag of "stuff." There are always other options. The big one that D850 shooters block out is the possibility of putting something other than an "ultimate" lens of some sort on the camera. It doesn't have to be a 10 pound albatross.

On aa similar, but downsized scale, I travel with my EOS 77D and a 24mm f2.8 pancake lens. That's about the same size that I started with 6-+ years ago with my Kodak and Canon fixed lens rangefinder cameras. Despite the loss of Kodachrome, this 24mp APS-C rig delivers excellent photos beyond the IQ of those film cameras. None of 'em ever fit in a pocket, but they were easily hidden under a jacket of over-shirt.

Being a Senior refugee from heavy camera (or any other) loads, I find I, and we, posses the secret weapon. Knowledge on how to zoom with our feet, how to compose with a "crop" in mind. And the old sports standby, zone focusing, still outperforms frame and focus in many, especially dim lit places.

Experiencing a "later in life" budget leads to multi-purposing. That best of a sensor on your 850 should give you at least a 3X crop room, making your 35mm able to capture an effective 100+mm field of view with plenty of MP's left for an excellent--if not billboard image. Mid day, think B&W. The light is usually too harsh for Scenic shots, and the contrast will enhance the B&W effect.

Most of all, enjoy the trip. Make time for some quality photography while, "others" are primping or whatever before breakfast and dinner. Remember, most of us avoid serious photography mid day, anyway. Stay safe, wash your hands, wear a mask and have fun.
C

hrblaine

bsprague wrote:

Cameras we have successfully traveled with:

Sony RX100 (Original version). Wouldn't shoot 4K video.
Panasonic LX100 -- Shoots 4K video, has a larger sensor and a Leica lens. There is a newer version.
Panasonic ZS100 -- My wife's camera. Has a 1" sensor and good zoom range. Her images are all very good. There is a newer model

Small cameras can provide better travel photos because they are unobtrusive. Point a big DSLR at people and watch them run or hide.

I travel with my camera, a Canon 5Dc and a 35mm lens. I might even stick a 70-300 in my wife's purse just in case I want some distance between my camera and "people". My old friend pro Charlie Harbutt always used a Leica with a normal lens.

I'm 90 and when that gets to be too heavy, I'll stay home! Harry

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

So we did 2 weeks in Ireland in 2019. I packed my Nikon D5200 and bought a Tamron 18-400 lens to go on it. I allowed myself to pack one extra lens. Compared to what I might have normally wanted I really scaled back with what I took and then I also managed to get a monopod in my luggage. I didn't ever change out the lens on the camera with the extra one I took and I have no regrets about making sure to get a good all around lens that I could just keep on the camera the entire time.

Leo_B Loc: Houston suburb

Jgrosso wrote:

In 2021 my wife and I are planning to take a 2-3 week trip to Europe. I’d like to focus on the trip, and not lug my overweight bag with my Nikon D850, lenses, flash, etc. Can anyone suggest a single camera, that’s easy to carry with good image quality? I’d prefer a camera with a viewfinder and one lens, preferably zoom. I’ve had pocket Canon and Nikon cameras, but not in the last 10 years or so. Not sure what the current state of that art is. Please give me your thoughts. Thank you!

I admit to not reading all 7 pages so it may already be covered but what is your camera budget for this? You could get a great, easy to carry rig with an Olympus body and any one of the 12-100, 12-200 or 14-150 lenses.

Your D850 body only weighs 1005gr or 35.45oz. The Olympus E-M10 MkIV body weighs 383gr or 13.5oz.

The heaviest Olympus lens, 12-100f4PRO weighs 561gr or 19.8oz.
The 12-200f3.5-6.3 weighs 355gr or 16oz.
The 14-150f4-5.6 weighs only 285gr or 10oz.

The crop factor is double on Olympus so those are equivalent to 24-200, 24-400 and 28-300 respectively. If 28-300 equivalent range satisfies you you could have a very nice rig ready to go at 668gr or 23.5oz including built in flash saving 337gr or 11.9oz compared to your D850 body only. A much easier lug it around all day option not really requiring any lugging at all. Good luck with your decision and safe travels.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Jgrosso wrote:

In 2021 my wife and I are planning to take a 2-3 week trip to Europe. I’d like to focus on the trip, and not lug my overweight bag with my Nikon D850, lenses, flash, etc. Can anyone suggest a single camera, that’s easy to carry with good image quality? I’d prefer a camera with a viewfinder and one lens, preferably zoom. I’ve had pocket Canon and Nikon cameras, but not in the last 10 years or so. Not sure what the current state of that art is. Please give me your thoughts. Thank you!

I still think renting will be the best way to go whether you rent a point and shoot (they're usually without a viewfinder) or anything else. Leo B's suggestion is a weatherproof setup and definitely worth considering. Personally, I would go the next higher body with the E-M5 mkIII. It has a slightly better grip and a few more features.

Leo_B Loc: Houston suburb

wdross wrote:

I still think renting will be the best way to go whether you rent a point and shoot (they're usually without a viewfinder) or anything else. Leo B's suggestion is a weatherproof setup and definitely worth considering. Personally, I would go the next higher body with the E-M5 mkIII. It has a slightly better grip and a few more features.

Yes, I meant to close with the option to move up the line to either the M5 MkIII or even M1 MkIII depending on budget constraints and weight preferences. Those options add 31gr or 1.1oz and 197gr or 7oz respectively. The heaviest combination using the 14-150 lens is still 140gr lighter than your D850 body alone. One thing to note is with either of these two you lose the built in flash. The M5 includes a small Olympus flash. I'm not sure if the M1 does or not.

Leo_B Loc: Houston suburb

One more point to consider, the M10 is not weather sealed. Both the M5 and M1 are weather sealed. I hate that we can't edit our posts here. Here's a look at the 3 lenses on the M10 plus a look at the M5 and M1 with the 14-150 lens.

https://camerasize.com/compact/#856.613,856.818,856.918,835.918,840.918,ha,t

Nantahalan Loc: Savannah originally; western NC now

In retrospect, wish i’d asked:

Upper weight limit?

Carry camera etc in a case or not?

Does it need to be weather sealed?

Anticipated uses for photos?

Budget?

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Leo_B wrote:

One more point to consider, the M10 is not weather sealed. Both the M5 and M1 are weather sealed. I hate that we can't edit our posts here. Here's a look at the 3 lenses on the M10 plus a look at the M5 and M1 with the 14-150 lens.

https://camerasize.com/compact/#856.613,856.818,856.918,835.918,840.918,ha,t

The newest E-M10 mkIV is weatherproof, but not the earlier mkIII. That now means anyone, beginner or pro, buying or renting the present configuration of Olympus camera bodies will have a weatherproof system with the use of a weatherproof lens.

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

CWGordon wrote:

Though I no longer have one, I thought the Olympus OM-D line was awesome. High quality of build, reasonable new and used prices, good variety of lenses from which to choose, decent amount of pixels and a sensor of a larger size than the pocket cameras offer. Very reliable cameras you can count on to finish the trip.

I did a Sicily tour with an Olympus OM D M10 Mark ii and a 14-42 pancake lens. I also waisted carrying the 150-400 because I never used it. I carried it on a small belt clip. I had both hands free and security. If you don't have a dislike of 4/3, it is perfect.

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

latebloomer wrote:

I did a Sicily tour with an Olympus OM D M10 Mark ii and a 14-42 pancake lens. I also waisted carrying the 150-400 because I never used it. I carried it on a small belt clip. I had both hands free and security. If you don't have a dislike of 4/3, it is perfect.

I upgraded to the MD E MI Mark II and III and other lenses. (I also have Nikon F100 and equipment).I gave my Olympus M 10 to my granddaughter. At times I miss it.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

latebloomer wrote:

I upgraded to the MD E MI Mark II and III and other lenses. (I also have Nikon F100 and equipment).I gave my Olympus M 10 to my granddaughter. At times I miss it.

I would still love to have my old E-M5. But I love it even better that I gave it to my grandson. He now shoots with my E-M5 with his purchaced 12-40 f2.8 Pro and then 40-150 f2.8 Pro lenses. And he has turned out to be a very good photographer. I hope your granddaughter eases the "pain of loss" by showing you how good a photographer she has become because of your "old" camera.

Leo_B Loc: Houston suburb

wdross wrote:

The newest E-M10 mkIV is weatherproof, but not the earlier mkIII. That now means anyone, beginner or pro, buying or renting the present configuration of Olympus camera bodies will have a weatherproof system with the use of a weatherproof lens.

Where can you find that info? On Olympus website doing a comparison of the M5 mkIII and M10mkIV this is what Olympus says about the 2 cameras.

Weathersealing Yes, IPX1 Rating No

The Yes, IPX1 is for the M5 and the No is for the M10, specifically the mkIV. It's difficult to imagine Olympus making such a big mistake on their site when it negatively impacts their product but it's possible of course.

lloydl2 Loc: Gilbert, AZ

i use a sony rx100 m7 which has a 24 -200 zoom and it is a fixed (not changeable) lens. It fits in a shirt pocket has a 1 inch sensor which produces a 20 meg image shoots 20 frames/sec raw or jpg and all the flexibility of a dslr. If that is 2 small. Sony just came out with a full frame 24 meg interchangeable lenses COMPACT sony a7C

I get amazing photos with the rx100 m7 with fine detail and it is an absolute pleasure to carry around fits in a shirt pocket.