Equipment Thinking of swapping SLR for compact... thoughts?

The NEX 7 isn't aimed at replacing a DSLR, more at complementing it IMO. It'd be an amazing camera for street photography in particular and I think it'd make a nice wedding photography camera (thinking how popular the Leica M6/M9 are with reportage wedding photographers). I'd be on the waiting list if I could justify the expense - and I don't think the price is at all unreasonable.

 

Complementing a dSLR at that price bracket? Err...

 

It has become abundantly clear that you're not Sony's target market, so don't worry about it

 

Not all dSLRs are the same price as the NEX-7 and, to flip it on the head, my 5D Mark II is a nice complement to my Chamonix 045N-2 - and it actually cost quite a bit more despite having about 1/10th the resolution.

My PEN is a nice complement to the 5D Mark II as well - I'd love a camera like the NEX-7 to act as a viewfinder for the 045N-2 and also stand up on its own two feet as a very capable street photography camera. While the PEN is a pretty good camera in that situation, it's not perfect and the controls could be further improved - I like the idea of the NEX-7 in that respect. My experiences with both the 3 and 5 were great, once you get used to their limitations and the 7 seems to correct a lot of them and has the bonus of a viewfinder.

FWIW, I don't always want to carry a 5D2 with a 28-70 2.8L and 70-200 2.8L - it's prohibitive, quite heavy and it's difficult to blend in with such a large camera. In fact, if I'm not shooting weddings, the 5D2 usually stays attached to the tripod in my studio.

 

Tim, I agree that dSLRs are too bulky for day to day - my 5DII and 1DIV stay at home unless I'm on a job, which is why I picked up the NEX-5. I simply baulk at the price of the NEX-7 for a tertiary use camera, when a NEX-5 does 90% of the same thing, just lacking the nicety of an OLED viewfinder.

Then again, I am lusting after an M9...

 

Complaining at the price of an NEX-7 when you want an M9 that cost 5+times the price, can anyone see the irony here ? :s


I agree with what Tim is saying it would compliment a DSLR and for what your getting its alot of bang per buck, once the hype has passed it will drop like the 5 and 3.
I would like an NEX-7 but then I still don't find my 5DII bulky enough to leave at home it hangs off my sling fine while i wonder around , takes a few knocks gets a bit damp but still keeps on kicking .

 

I've caved and ordered a NEX-5N, 18-55 kit, 16mm f2.8 pancake, 0.75x adaptor for the pancake and a 32GB MS Pro-HG-HX card

The high-ISO samples of the A77 just don't do it for me, and I can live with the compromises of the 5N for the sake of size, stellar low light performance and, of course... £500 extra in the pocket!

 

It is also a Cracking camera I want one but can't justify that sort of wedge on another system.

Let us know how you get on with it though (& make me want one even more lol).

 

One day you will regret it badly.

After graduation from college, I had 3x 35mm bodies (FM2 and two F5s), 2x Bronica SQ-A 6x6, Mamyia RB6x7, Linhoff Karden 5x4 monorail. I had tons of lenses for both too. I sold it all. I am a pancake. I regret it. Although that was all film equipment back then, I still regret it... especially the 5x4!!

Get a compact if you need one, but either keep the SLR or just unload some of the least used lenses, but don't get rid entirely.

 

How are you getting along with it?

 

I use my gear (fullframe sensor + prime lenses) because I love the limited depth of field and the image quality it offers me. I also do weddings from time to time and then the pro-gear does shows its quality's. Sure it big and heavy.. but I'm so used to it .. it's like it has become part of my hand/arm.

A lot of my friends buy a cheap dslr with the kitlens and expect miracles. Often they are dissapointed with the quality and end up not using it. It's to big, heavy and they don't want to mess with the lenses and definatly don't want to invest in a better lens.. then I think they should have gotten a top end compact instead! (Canon G1X or something similar of your brand of choice)

dslr aren't for everybody

But I would suggest keeping on to your dslr body (as it won't be worth much anymore) and sell your least used lenses. If you don't have one, then add a 50prime and keep this for when you do have the time/patience to compose and take some lovely shots. No compact can beat a cheap dslr with a prime.