Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

Newtophotos · 10-18-2015, 09:36 PM

My wife is finding her K-30/18-135mm combo too unwieldy. She is looking for something smaller while still capable of taking good pictures. What is a good sensor size and camera for her? She does like the range the 18-135mm offers.

calsan · 10-18-2015, 09:56 PM

Unwieldy to use or unwieldy to carry? I like using my k-3, but it's a pain to carry if you don't have a nice bag. Even mirrorless aren't much smaller and require a good bag. see where I'm going? ;-)

**RGlasel** · 10-18-2015, 09:59 PM

Originally posted by Newtophotos

She does like the range the 18-135mm offers

It's been a few years since I did any shopping for a 1/1.7 compact camera with a 20X zoom lens, but a top of the line Nikon Coolpix or a Panasonic Lumix would be my suggestion. I doubt if your wife is going to be happy with a K-S1 and an 18-50 zoom or a Q and a bag of prime lenses. The K-S1 package is slightly smaller and the Q system is much smaller, but at the expense of versatility/convenience. There are high end compact cameras with APS-C sensors, but fixed focal length lenses (like the Ricoh GR), so major versatility/convenience expense there.

nickthetasmaniac · 10-18-2015, 10:50 PM

Originally posted by Newtophotos

My wife is finding her K-30/18-135mm combo too unwieldy. She is looking for something smaller while still capable of taking good pictures. What is a good sensor size and camera for her? She does like the range the 18-135mm offers.

What does she like to shoot?

There's a lot of decent quality compacts these days if you're not interested in interchangeable lenses.

Adam · 10-18-2015, 11:50 PM

Originally posted by Newtophotos

My wife is finding her K-30/18-135mm combo too unwieldy. She is looking for something smaller while still capable of taking good pictures. What is a good sensor size and camera for her? She does like the range the 18-135mm offers.

And what's your budget? I'd say the premium 1" compacts are nice, like the Sony RX100. The higher your budget the newer of a model you can go for

mcgregni · 10-19-2015, 02:36 AM

A bag, definitely get a really nice camera bag. Unless your wife is determined to only go out with a handbag, then really there's not that much difference in the practical effect of slightly different sizes, at least for decent quality cameras. Having your gear at hand easily and being able to access it quickly when out, and carry comfortably, is often all that's needed to re-motivate.

johnmflores · 10-19-2015, 10:34 AM

1" sensor. Sony RX100 series. Canon GX7, GX9, GX3. Nikon 1 series.

Ivor K Ecks · 10-19-2015, 09:37 PM

Having bought one myself just a week ago, I can thoroughly recommend a Panasonic Lumix FZ1000. It is probably about the same size as your wife's camera but will be lighter.
It is probably one of the best bang for your buck 1" sensor cameras on the market. The picture quality is very good as long as you don't want to print bigger than A3.
24-400mm zoom, very fast auto focus ( I mean seriously very fast). 4K video , Wi-Fi (there is a remote app for android and ios) , nfc. Excellent EVF with face detection.
Buy one you wont regret it.

Peter

**clackers** · 10-19-2015, 09:44 PM

I actually have one of these:

NX System / NX Series / NXmini / Features

I've got a wide angle pancake prime, a normal zoom, and an f1.8 normal prime for it.

surfar · 10-19-2015, 11:27 PM

Samsung nx500, with 18-200....not weather sealed, but same size sensor with 28mp....4k video and a few other neat bells and whistles....option of the 30mm pancake f2.8

LilithBaerchen · 10-19-2015, 11:45 PM

Originally posted by Adam

And what's your budget? I'd say the premium 1" compacts are nice, like the Sony RX100. The higher your budget the newer of a model you can go for

Yep I can say the RX 100 (for zoom range M1?) is really nice. BUT beware, go to a shop with your wife and let her try it ^^

I got this cam, used, to try to give my girlfriend a bit more fun back to photography - and give me more time to take photos when we do things together

but she thinks the cam is TOO BIG

On the other hand, my mother (mid/end 40 years), said the cam is too small for her taste

For me it´s just the right size. It fits in my jeans pockets and I can always carry it with me. Nice image quality, solid build quality, okay focus, RAW,... I just like it!

Sandy Hancock · 10-20-2015, 12:26 AM

No love for the Q?

**clackers** · 10-20-2015, 12:59 AM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

No love for the Q?

Ooh, very, very good point!

sherrvonne · 10-20-2015, 05:57 AM

Originally posted by mcgregni

A bag, definitely get a really nice camera bag. Unless your wife is determined to only go out with a handbag, then really there's not that much difference in the practical effect of slightly different sizes, at least for decent quality cameras. Having your gear at hand easily and being able to access it quickly when out, and carry comfortably, is often all that's needed to re-motivate.

I often switch some of my purse contents to my K3 camera bag.... Priorities you know.... Lol.

johnmflores · 10-20-2015, 08:25 AM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

No love for the Q?

Originally posted by clackers

Ooh, very, very good point!

True, but the Q struggles indoors in typical indoor lighting, so it may not be the right tool.

10-18-2015, 09:36 PM	#1
Newtophotos Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 439	Good camera/sensory size for wife? My wife is finding her K-30/18-135mm combo too unwieldy. She is looking for something smaller while still capable of taking good pictures. What is a good sensor size and camera for her? She does like the range the 18-135mm offers.

10-18-2015, 11:50 PM	#5
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,609	Originally posted by Newtophotos My wife is finding her K-30/18-135mm combo too unwieldy. She is looking for something smaller while still capable of taking good pictures. What is a good sensor size and camera for her? She does like the range the 18-135mm offers. And what's your budget? I'd say the premium 1" compacts are nice, like the Sony RX100. The higher your budget the newer of a model you can go for Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
good 67mm-filter-size lenses?	MJSfoto1956	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	20	07-07-2015 05:03 AM
Mirror less camera options for wife?	Newtophotos	General Photography	16	11-09-2014 08:14 PM
What made for a good FILM camera?	MadMathMind	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	23	03-25-2014 03:14 PM
What is the optimal size for a camera sensor?	asw66	Photographic Technique	24	05-27-2009 10:36 AM
Help me choose a camera for my wife	sholtzma	Pentax DSLR Discussion	15	02-16-2009 05:37 PM

10-18-2015, 09:56 PM	#2
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,549	Unwieldy to use or unwieldy to carry? I like using my k-3, but it's a pain to carry if you don't have a nice bag. Even mirrorless aren't much smaller and require a good bag. see where I'm going? ;-)

10-18-2015, 09:59 PM	#3
RGlasel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Saskatoon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,229	Originally posted by Newtophotos She does like the range the 18-135mm offers It's been a few years since I did any shopping for a 1/1.7 compact camera with a 20X zoom lens, but a top of the line Nikon Coolpix or a Panasonic Lumix would be my suggestion. I doubt if your wife is going to be happy with a K-S1 and an 18-50 zoom or a Q and a bag of prime lenses. The K-S1 package is slightly smaller and the Q system is much smaller, but at the expense of versatility/convenience. There are high end compact cameras with APS-C sensors, but fixed focal length lenses (like the Ricoh GR), so major versatility/convenience expense there.

10-18-2015, 10:50 PM	#4
nickthetasmaniac Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,361	Originally posted by Newtophotos My wife is finding her K-30/18-135mm combo too unwieldy. She is looking for something smaller while still capable of taking good pictures. What is a good sensor size and camera for her? She does like the range the 18-135mm offers. What does she like to shoot? There's a lot of decent quality compacts these days if you're not interested in interchangeable lenses.

10-19-2015, 02:36 AM	#6
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	A bag, definitely get a really nice camera bag. Unless your wife is determined to only go out with a handbag, then really there's not that much difference in the practical effect of slightly different sizes, at least for decent quality cameras. Having your gear at hand easily and being able to access it quickly when out, and carry comfortably, is often all that's needed to re-motivate.

10-19-2015, 10:34 AM	#7
johnmflores Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somerville, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,361	1" sensor. Sony RX100 series. Canon GX7, GX9, GX3. Nikon 1 series.

10-19-2015, 09:37 PM	#8
Ivor K Ecks Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Photos: Albums Posts: 294	Having bought one myself just a week ago, I can thoroughly recommend a Panasonic Lumix FZ1000. It is probably about the same size as your wife's camera but will be lighter. It is probably one of the best bang for your buck 1" sensor cameras on the market. The picture quality is very good as long as you don't want to print bigger than A3. 24-400mm zoom, very fast auto focus ( I mean seriously very fast). 4K video , Wi-Fi (there is a remote app for android and ios) , nfc. Excellent EVF with face detection. Buy one you wont regret it. Peter

10-19-2015, 09:44 PM	#9
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	I actually have one of these: NX System / NX Series / NXmini / Features I've got a wide angle pancake prime, a normal zoom, and an f1.8 normal prime for it.

10-19-2015, 11:27 PM	#10
surfar Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: mid nth coast,nsw Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,147	Samsung nx500, with 18-200....not weather sealed, but same size sensor with 28mp....4k video and a few other neat bells and whistles....option of the 30mm pancake f2.8

10-19-2015, 11:45 PM	#11
LilithBaerchen Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 80	Originally posted by Adam And what's your budget? I'd say the premium 1" compacts are nice, like the Sony RX100. The higher your budget the newer of a model you can go for Yep I can say the RX 100 (for zoom range M1?) is really nice. BUT beware, go to a shop with your wife and let her try it ^^ I got this cam, used, to try to give my girlfriend a bit more fun back to photography - and give me more time to take photos when we do things together but she thinks the cam is TOO BIG On the other hand, my mother (mid/end 40 years), said the cam is too small for her taste For me it´s just the right size. It fits in my jeans pockets and I can always carry it with me. Nice image quality, solid build quality, okay focus, RAW,... I just like it!

10-20-2015, 12:26 AM	#12
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,276	No love for the Q?

10-20-2015, 12:59 AM	#13
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock No love for the Q? Ooh, very, very good point!

10-20-2015, 05:57 AM	#14
sherrvonne Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,975	Originally posted by mcgregni A bag, definitely get a really nice camera bag. Unless your wife is determined to only go out with a handbag, then really there's not that much difference in the practical effect of slightly different sizes, at least for decent quality cameras. Having your gear at hand easily and being able to access it quickly when out, and carry comfortably, is often all that's needed to re-motivate. I often switch some of my purse contents to my K3 camera bag.... Priorities you know.... Lol.

10-20-2015, 08:25 AM	#15
johnmflores Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somerville, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,361	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock No love for the Q? Originally posted by clackers Ooh, very, very good point! True, but the Q struggles indoors in typical indoor lighting, so it may not be the right tool.

Good camera/sensory size for wife?

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!