What small digital would you get today for street/travel?

One of the most underrated tools for street photography is the "lowly" compact super zoom class. Your Zeiss 35mm/f2 ain't gonna help you if the action it taking place across the street. You can also zoom with your feet, shoot macros, they're good in low light and also pocketable. - And most now shoot hi def video.

Consider --- you have a 28 to 420mm zoom that is image stabilized for hand-held, that is completely silent and fits in your pocket and can shoot a macro that can shoot a usable ISO1600 (if you're not too crazy about having a little digital grain in your shot).

A most underrated tool. And most are relatively inexpensive. Image quality is just fine.
 
I've bought a Panasonic Lumix LX7 and added the electronic viewfinder and still paid less than the cost of the Leica equivalent (D-Lux 6) without the viewfinder. It's a superb piece of kit. It has a 24-90mm f1.4 Leica lens, superb (if small) sensor, incredible macro, 16:9, 5:4, 3:2 and 1:1 crop formats, 10MP and very pocketable. The likes of Joe Cornish and Charlie Waite are using them as a "notebook" for their 5x4 work and, most of all, I love using it.

If you love your Leica, keep using it and, if you want a really tidy little point and shoot, I can definitely recommend the LX7.
 
I'd probably upgrade my E-PM1 to an E-PM2, weld it to the 25mm DG-Summilux, and keep my GRD4 in my back pocket. That's assuming a digital-only restriction.
 
Why not pick up any smaller Sony Nex with a Sigma 19/2.8 and/or 30/2.8. My Nex 5 (original) sings with these two. Pick up an adapter and you can use the lenses of your M4-P with a liveable 1.6 crop.

Unless you want it even smaller, in which case you should pick up a Sony RX100 like everybody is saying!
 
+1 for the RX100. I used to think that my Canon S90 was a good pocket camera, but the RX100 is seriously impressive.
 
For some reason the NEX series just doesn't make sense to me. Small bodies with giant lenses the size of Budweiser stubby cans.

I think the RX100 is where I'm headed if I don't just stick with the GRD III. Going on a trip in May, maybe if I see the prices come down a bit I leave.
 
nightfly said:
For some reason the NEX series just doesn't make sense to me. Small bodies with giant lenses the size of Budweiser stubby cans.
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It depends on which lens you mount on it. The Sigma 30mm is a decent reasonably-sized lens for well under $200. A perfect lens for street photography. Then there are the numerous small M-mount lenses that you mount on an NEX via an adapter. It works for me, but I get that it may not be for everyone.
 
nightfly said:
For some reason the NEX series just doesn't make sense to me. Small bodies with giant lenses the size of Budweiser stubby cans.
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The 16-50 pancake is very versatile and small. Mounted on a NEX-6, it's my take it everywhere package. In fact this package is so small and versatile, that I no longer feel the need for an additional P&S the way I did when I still shot with DSLRs..
 
My Canon S100 sits on the shelf waiting for a new home since I got the Sony RX100. It comes with me everywhere.
 
I've always been a fan of 28mm - so I would say that, if you can still get one, and only need it for daylight shooting the Ricoh GRD IV is a good option.

Right now, I would opt for the Nikon Coolpix A due to image quality and ease of use.

Cheers,
Dave
 
I really enjoy my used Lumix 5 ($170). I put an old Yashica Viewfinder on it to help me approximate focal lengths for fast shooting. The thing I like best beside the images it produces is that you can set the camera to predefined focal lengths of 24, 28,35, 50, 70,90. A touch of the button moves to the next 'lens' and you can set it to start where you left off each time. I went to key west recently and never missed a shot. I can view the images on a large 32" monitor or print them at 5x7 and they look stunning. Couple this with a Rolleicord/Yashicamat and, for me, you have best of both worlds on vacation; lightweight, compact and high quality digital and film.
 
Another vote for the RX100.

I have a Leica M9 and wanted something smaller for when I can't / don't want to carry it. I was tempted with a micro 4/3rds or updating my x100 to x100s ( Fuji ) but when I thought about it I realized there wasn't a great deal of size difference and if I can carry one of those then I can carry my Leica.

For me the Sony rx100 was the highest quality in the smallest package coupled with some versatility like high ISO and zoom.
 
I vote for compact point and shoots! Yup! The lowly ones..
Easy to carry, no worries about weather, risk factors of theft, dropping, immersion. Carried on a long cord on my chest, like a nerd!
Wonderful, everybody ignores the old idiot.
The quality is very good. Like who is going to do murals.
I've done lots 11x14" and slightly larger..
My main at moment Canon 1200 $70 taxes incl. 2 AA cells.
I am retired and require long walks or cycling for heart exercise.
I use the P/S every single day..
Street photography, nature,landscapes and people. Family gatherings.
 
I use my Canon G11 almost every day for this. It's small and discreet. But I'd much prefer a camera without the lens sticking out. My Olympus 35SP is better, because it's not obviously 'switched on', so I get more natural shots.
 
Good deals now to be had on the Lumix G5, now that rumors persist of a soon-to-be-released G6. The image quality of the G5 is just a half step below the top of the line GH3 and its Olympus counterpart.

A great lens selection in the micro-4/3 lineup, and the G5 sports the fully silent electronic shutter option that's only found elsewhere in the format with the GH3. My experience shooting on the street with the G5 set to e-shutter mode, and with all other sounds turned off, is that it's absolutely dead quiet and blazingly fast, the next best thing to a cell phone camera for street shooting, in terms of stealth.

I think the built-in hand grip and EVF are great features, too, along with the swiveling LCD screen. And a built-in flash, for when you need it.

Did I mention lenses? Both Oly and Panasonic make some great lenses, with Panasonic's new constant f/2.8 pro zoom lenses being an example of how they are constantly improving the format.

Heck, even the Olympus BCL-15 body cap lens (fixed f/8 aperture, manual focus, hyper focal detent, 15mm focal length - 30mm equiv. FOV) is great for daytime street photography.

Yea, sorry. I'm sold on micro-4/3, hence the enthusiasm. I think the format hits the sweet spot between portability, flexibility and performance, at a decent price.

~Joe
 
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