Pocketable Camera for Vacation

My 2c … I always take a digital backup to my Leica Ms (film or digital). Since 2019 it has been the tiny and powerful Canon G7X Mark II. This is still available new, not least because it has a better reputation than the version III that was released later, better autofocus or some such.
In any case, I’ve been more than satisfied with the G7X Mark II, with excellent image quality and 24-100 effective zoom. It also has an aperture ring, so I use it in AV mode, just as my M262. Highly recommended.
 
Godfrey said:
I have a couple of tabletop tripods but the one I use the most and nearly always carry when traveling with just the smartphone:

Tripod: ReallyRightStuff TFA-01 Pocket Tripod

Head: Sirui C-10S Ball Head with Quick Release Plate

Clamp: ReallyRightStuff Mobile Phone Clamp
This seems out of stock or out of production ... good alternative (I have one of these too):
Kirk Photo Mobile Phone Mount -Rotate MPM-1R

If I'm traveling with a camera as well, I also almost always carry a Peak Design Travel Tripod, which has built into it as standard a simple phone clamp. But i prefer to use the the RRS or Kirk phone clamps instead of its simple phone clamp as they allows both horizontal and vertical orientations with the ball head level. If I'm really in a fussy mood, or feel I need more precise positioning control, I exchange the standard PD TT ball head for the head mounting plate and use one of my other ball heads as well, usually fitted with an Arca-Swiss quick-release head mount so I can pack it more compactly in my luggage.

G

"My sharpest lens is a sturdy tripod."
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Thanks for the reply Godfrey. I'll check those out.
 
Excellent suggestions!

I’m now on the waiting list for a D-Lux 8 but also ordered a GR III and will keep the one I like better.

No love for the Nikon Z30 on this forum? The specs and form factor seem attractive.
 
Haven't used one yet but I am thinking that this new Pentax 17 looks like an ideal vacation camera. I know it is film half frame but that doesn't seem to be a bad thing. Most of my vacation shots are just snaps of the family anyway and a good color film can do wonders with those.
 
Ko.Fe. said:
Z30 is no ibis, no VF. Kind of weak for modern mirrorless.
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It has 4.5 stops optical vibration assistance, good enough for me — and an APS-C sensor, which is good. The Canon R50 is basically the same as the Z30 with an EV, but bigger (too big for me).

I thought the Z30 + DX 24/1.7 (35mm FF equivalent) lens could be a winning compact combo?
 
giganova said:
It has 4.5 stops optical vibration assistance, good enough for me — and an APS-C sensor, which is good. The Canon R50 is basically the same as the Z30 with an EV, but bigger (too big for me).

I thought the Z30 + DX 24/1.7 (35mm FF equivalent) lens could be a winning compact combo?
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Not a winner for me. Canon RP is almost identical. And works well with m-mount Nokton 35 1.4. No ibis, but FF. Compare camera dimensions side by side
 
The Leica TL-2 with either a TL 18 or 23 mm lens - equivalent ~ 28 and 35 mm - is a pocketable combo that I use. But not for everyone: Leica $$$, needs viewfinder if you don't want to shoot using the touch screen (more $$$ unless you already have one), which is hard to do in bright light. AF or MF and similar menu options as on the CL, but the TL-2 is smaller (the "plus") and lacks a built in viewfinder (the "minus"). Quirky.
 
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Godfrey said:
Pocket film camera and travel ... I always go straight to my Rollei 35S. I have had the one I currently have since about 1980: it has made thousands of photos for me, has been serviced twice, and still works as if new.
...
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Well shoot. I loaded up and took the Rollei 35S out for a walk the other day and the exposure meter coupling has gone wonky. Meter's still working but the exposure follower indicating arm seems to be all over the place depending on the position and direction of rotation of aperture and shutter time controls. I guess it goes in for service again ... It's been at least 18 years since it was last serviced so I don't feel too bad about it. It worked fine with respect to making photos, given that I guessed accurately or used a hand-held meter.. 😀

So the next day I pulled out the Minox 35GT-E. And I'd completely forgotten how nice a camera it really is: very easy to use, very easy to slip in a pocket, both lighter and more compact than the Rollei 35S. The meter is dead on accurate, the autoexposure works brilliantly, and it has just the right mix of controls to cover everything you need. Even the clip on flash is outstanding with a great big reflector/diffuser. Only thing it's missing is full manual exposure control, but with ISO and aperture controls, and the shutter time readout in the viewfinder, you can fudge it to do exactly what you want.

Fun fun fun ... 🙂

G
 
Godfrey said:
So the next day I pulled out the Minox 35GT-E. And I'd completely forgotten how nice a camera it really is: very easy to use, very easy to slip in a pocket, both lighter and more compact than the Rollei 35S. The meter is dead on accurate, the autoexposure works brilliantly, and it has just the right mix of controls to cover everything you need. Even the clip on flash is outstanding with a great big reflector/diffuser. Only thing it's missing is full manual exposure control, but with ISO and aperture controls, and the shutter time readout in the viewfinder, you can fudge it to do exactly what you want.
Click to expand...
The GT-E is a step above the Minoxes I have had. I had a 35ML or something thereabouts, I get the idea the GT-E was more robust. The model I had felt small and fiddly, particularly adjusting focus. But cameras of this size are always fiddly when they offer much in the way of controls. The Olympus XA was hard for me to focus and not end up knocking back out of focus as I was framing the shot.
 
Question about film cameras surfaced in post 37, and there are a total of 58 (including this one). It's thread drift, normal. I mean, really, how much is there to discuss past 37 post on which of the about ten or twelve compact digital cameras currently in production might be suitable? 😉

Regardless, it's hard to go far wrong if all you're looking for is a nice small digital camera that works for better-than-average snapshooting. The iPhone 15 Pro certainly passes the basic need already.

G
 
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