The technology is moving fast. I’m not always as quick to realize what’s happening as I want. I rely on good reviewers to keep me on my game! Here’s an excellent roundup of the latest, greatest mirrorless cameras. My favorites have been the PEN line of Olympus cameras, which I expect will continue since I have acquired a pretty nice selection of lenses for it.
However, if I was going to invest in another system, it might be the Pentax Q. The tiny Pentax sounds really intriguing. I looked it up online. It’s a lot of camera in an incredibly small package … an interchangeable lens system that is genuinely pocketable. It’s actually smaller, at least the camera body and basic lens, than my Panasonic Lumix compact. Lighter too.
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Categories: #Photography, Cameras, Reviews, Technology
SERENDIPITY: SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
You know my preferences in gear by now Marilyn. I went to the writer’s blog site and shared my thoughts on the state of equipment. The small Pentax you mentioned is very interesting. The A6000 Sony is as well. It seems Fuji has expanded its X system by adding the new camera that again resembles a DSLR. I fins it fascinating that small compact cameras, cellphones, tablets, cars and laptops always seem to eventually get bigger and bigger getting away from the small size buyers loved. My Fuji X-E1 with the new 27mm pancake lens will fit in my jacket pocket. Carrying two bodies and 6 lenses in my Think Tank Retrospective 20 bag will fit but the weight is on the very edge of comfort. Thank goodness the heavy duty strap and gel shoulder pad is super comfortable.
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Well, Olympus has stuck to the plan and it is one of the things I like about it, though the PENs are on the large side of compact and always were. The Pentax IS interesting. If I had a spare $500, I’d buy one, just because it looks so cute and it’s surprisingly fast. I’m doing a swap of my P-3 for a friend’s PL-5. He just bought the OM-D 10. He likes the heavier body of the P-3. I like the flip screen on the PL-5. Life is good.
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Indeed. I offered my 60mm macro to my student for $250. It costs $650. She’s a bit maxed out for now due to Christmas. Aren’t we all. I’m patient.
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Yes. That’s why we are swapping. We are both retired and it’s January.
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I have never heard of the description “mirrorless” but get what you mean. The big camera here, the DSLR ones, are known as “spiegelreflex” meaning mirror reflex literally translated. I always had a lumix as a point and shoot digital, but decided last year to treat myself to a new one and got a Canon G15. I love it and it is the one I always have in my handbag. If I go on safari, or something special, I have my Nikon D7000. I also have a Bridge camera, a Lumix FZ38, but do not use it very much.
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The G15 has an excellent reputation. It was a little pricey for me and I got one of a Lumix DMC DZ 25 compacts to replace the DZ 19 t hat I had before it (it suffered a sad fate, getting bashed on a rock). I also have the big FZ 200 which is the best (in my opinion anyway) of their bridge cameras and I use it a lot, though it is big and bulky. I probably would use my Olympus cameras more, but I’ve gotten lazy about changing lenses. I use the Olympuses a lot indoors because I have really fast lenses for them … but when I’m out and about, I tend to take a camera with a superzoom. Pure lazy.
I bought the P3 — the oldest of my Olympus PEN cameras — a few years ago and it was the best camera in the world for my needs at the time. But a lot of cameras have come out since then and I’m tending towards lighter, smaller cameras, especially as the arthritis in my hands gets more problematic. That little Pentax Q is adorable. If I had any money (HA!) that would be the one I’d go for.
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I like my Lumix… but the best compact I ever had for macro was an old Pentax.
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I have a Lumix compact and a larger, super zoom to go with my set of Olympus PENs. But back in the film days, I had a couple of Pentax and they were always very underrated. Especially the quality of the lenses, which is much better than people seem to realize.
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The little Pentax RZ10 was amazing for a compact for close up shots of wildlife. I have the Lumix superzoom bridge now… but I miss the little one. My spare was donated to make sure there were plaenty of pics of my granddaughter.
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I have that big bridge camera too. Not so compact, but the lens is really outstanding. My little Pentax compact (twas also a “tough” camera) went to the granddaughter too 🙂
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Yes, the zoom on it is superb… but I still miss the Pentax in the handbag. I bet I could pick up a second-hand one for next to nothing one of these days though…
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I bet you can. I’ve picked up more than half my equipment secondhand and most of was barely used. I’m currently trying to do some horse-trading — well camera trading — with a friend who just moved from the PEN PL-5 to the OMD 10. His PL-5 is virtually unused while I have a nearly new P-3. Horse trading 🙂
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Best way to do it if you can 🙂
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Especially when the car is in the shop and the tooth needs filling. I don’t have money, but I do have some “stuff” 🙂
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I ran out of ‘stuff’ some time ago… even the decent clothes went on ebay 🙂 And don’t mention teeth.. I’m ignoring the needs of mine studiously… 😉
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I got rid of tons of stuff. I mean literally tons. Books, clothing (lots of clothing), doodads and knick-knacks. Cameras and computers are the two things to which I tend to hang on. I hate letting them go. This time, it seems silly. I haven’t used it for more than a year and I think it unlikely I’ll suddenly decide I need it at this late date.
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Camera, computer and books … they are my downfall in the non-attachment thing.
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