Fixed Lens APS-C camera - What would you buy?

[Etienne]

I would like a pocket camera with an APS-C sensor and a sharp and contrasty fixed FF equivalent 24mm f/2.8 lens, and a swivel screen.

Would you buy one of these?

What fixed focal length would you want? FF 16mm, 21mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm , or greater?

 

[Loswr]

35mm FF-eq. Thus, I now have the EOS-M + 22mm f/2.

 

[Etienne]

35mm FF-eq. Thus, I now have the EOS-M + 22mm f/2.

I just received mine today from the original $299 deal. B&H sent me the kit with the speedlite 90EX ... Bonus !

If Canon comes out with a nice little 15mm f/2.8, I'll have everything but the swivel screen . I sure would like a swivel screen, maybe the EOS-M II, if it comes, will have a swivel screen.

 

[northbyten]

pretty much what everyone else said.

although I would want better AF, battery life, ISO and a more efficient codec (maybe a bit too early for H.265 )

Their rebel line has barely been upgraded since the 550D and the EOS M was essentially a small Rebel so I want something that just isn't a rehash.

I've been eyeing the Olympus E-P5, other than the movie mode it seems to have excellent AF and image quality especially since it's got a 4/3 sensor.

I sometimes wish I worked with the Canon engineers just to see what they're developing

 

[Hannes]

I would like one with a 22mm f2.0 IS lens (so 35mm FF equiv), optical viewfinder and if there is a little flash for snapshots, perfect. If it was also weather sealed, that'd be amazing. Swivel screen would be less important to me.

 

[Hillsilly]

My last fixed lens camera was a Yashica Electo 35 GSN with a 45mm f/1.7 lens. If I was to choose another fixed lens camera, I'd probably want something similar, and would stay in the 40 - 50mm range. Occassionally I take a look at the Fuji x100s, but wonder if the 35mm (eq) is a little w - i - d - e for me to be using all of the time. I guess I can always crop.

 

[seamonster]

It would have to be reaaaally small for me to buy it. Like S100 sized. I could so without a viewfinder as long as live view is 100% (pretty much everything is these days).

 

[Loswr]

I just received mine today from the original $299 deal. B&H sent me the kit with the speedlite 90EX ... Bonus !

That was a sweet deal, and I'm glad that B&H honored their backorders, even if it meant providing a more expensive item to their customers, vs. cancelling their backorders as Adorama did.

Almost makes me wish I'd waited to order the M + 22 kit from B&H. But while I wouldn't have said no to a free 90EX, I'd likely not use it much or at all - I really prefer to bounce flash where possible, and even for outdoor fill the 90EX is pretty weak; I think the 270EX II is likely a better choice, although a little larger.

 

[paul13walnut5]

Modular is the way.

A GR Digital becomes obselete, you replace the whole camera.

An M becomes outdated, you replace the body...

Makes a whole lot more sense to me.

 

[paul13walnut5]

I'd likely not use it much or at all - I really prefer to bounce flash where possible, and even for outdoor fill the 90EX is pretty weak; I think the 270EX II is likely a better choice, although a little larger.

The 90EX does work as a wireless E-TTL master for optically triggered EX guns. Quite handy for some. I would rather use my T3i or 7D for wireless flash, but it might be handy function for somebody.

 

[Etienne]

I just received mine today from the original $299 deal. B&H sent me the kit with the speedlite 90EX ... Bonus !

That was a sweet deal, and I'm glad that B&H honored their backorders, even if it meant providing a more expensive item to their customers, vs. cancelling their backorders as Adorama did.

Almost makes me wish I'd waited to order the M + 22 kit from B&H. But while I wouldn't have said no to a free 90EX, I'd likely not use it much or at all - I really prefer to bounce flash where possible, and even for outdoor fill the 90EX is pretty weak; I think the 270EX II is likely a better choice, although a little larger.

I have always found B&H to have great service, and great prices, but this really surprised me ;D.

I took a few test shots with the little flash. It's not bad. Refresh was about 1 second (not from full power). The e-ttl works quite well, and it works as a controller of other canon flashes. It is tiny too, you can put it in your pocket and not even know it's there. My initial thought was that I'd sell it (I have the original 270, a 580, and a couple of other generics ) , but I'm going to give it a good try.

 

[Loswr]

The 90EX does work as a wireless E-TTL master for optically triggered EX guns. Quite handy for some. I would rather use my T3i or 7D for wireless flash, but it might be handy function for somebody.

True...and it's a great way to go if you want an optical master for a FF dSLR or an older APS-C that can't trigger with the popup flash.

But for somebody other than me, as I prefer the -RT setup.

 

[Etienne]

Modular is the way.

A GR Digital becomes obselete, you replace the whole camera.

An M becomes outdated, you replace the body...

Makes a whole lot more sense to me.

Agree, and if Canon comes out with a nice little 15mm f/2.8 prime I'll just have to learn to live without a swivel screen.

I have used swivel screens on a number of other cameras, and I love it! It saves your neck and your back sometimes, and you can get shots that you have to guess at with other cameras. We mounted a 60D upside down on an inside car windshield with a tokina 11-16 for video. That would have been next to impossible with a fixed screen. I shot a film on my 5DII a couple years ago. We had to use an external monitor on several shots because the camera was against a wall, or a ceiling, and I had to pull focus during the video.

The swivel screen has many many upsides, and the only potential downside is weather resistant (not applicable on EOS-M), and a possible point of failure. I've had several swivel's and haven't broken one even with fairly heavy use.

 

[dickgrafixstop]

I didn't care about a swivel screen but I did want a small, fixed lens camera for travel. I bought a Fuji X100s
and am delighted. As good or better image quality than my "travel" Rebel, lightweight but just a little larger
than I'd hoped. Very satisfied with it however - now if I could just put it in the microwave and set a dial for
75% size.

 

[AvTvM]

I would like a pocket camera with an APS-C sensor and a sharp and contrasty fixed FF equivalent 24mm f/2.8 lens, and a swivel screen.
Would you buy one of these?

definitely no. I will never let myself be constrained, limited and restricted by a single focal lens, one-trick pony camera.

That's why I refuse purchase of any and all cameras without lens mount from Sony RX-1 via Fuji-stuff all the way to Sigma's DP-Merry-thisandthat.

I want a full fledged, fully capable full-sensored mirrorless system camera the size of a Sony RX-1 with great sensor and processor, fast phase/hybrid AF and in-body IS and a range of hi-quality but affordable, ultracompact (fixed-focal) AF-lenses. Ideally as sharp an good and small and cheap as the EF 40/2.8. It could easily be done.

My preferred lens trio would be along the lines of 22mm/2.8, 40mm/2.0 (just make that front element somewhat larger), 70mm/2.4 [size exactly like the Pentax 70/2.4].

Maybe Sony will come up with something along these lines soon and force Canon and Nikon to move a bit quicker in the "mirrorless-and-fully-capable" direction.
http://photorumors.com/2013/07/16/sony-full-frame-nex-mirrorless-camera-rumors-intensify/

 

[Etienne]

The 90EX does work as a wireless E-TTL master for optically triggered EX guns. Quite handy for some. I would rather use my T3i or 7D for wireless flash, but it might be handy function for somebody.

True...and it's a great way to go if you want an optical master for a FF dSLR or an older APS-C that can't trigger with the popup flash.

But for somebody other than me, as I prefer the -RT setup.

I have RT now for my 580, and other generics.

Here's a little anecdote: I had the infrared ST-E2 when I was using the 5DII. Was photographing a corporate Santa Claus event. All set up, ready to go, with 20 or more people lined up waiting for portraits, and the ST-E2 wouldn't work. This would have been a disaster if I didn't have a back-up plan. I put the 270EX on the camera, and light trigger on the 580 (the generics have built in optical triggers, why not include that canon?), and I was in business. This little flash could save the day sometime too, at little cost for backup.

So now I have three ways for wireless flash: RT (full ettl or manual), optical ettl (or manual), and optical trigger. That is reassuring.

 

[sdsr]

Before buying the M + 22mm (and being very impressed by how accurate its focus is when you use the zoom thingy on the monitor for small objects) I thought I would never want a camera without a viewfinder and a fixed focal length (I realize it's not fixed on the M, but for me it is for now), especially one that's relatively wide. But as long as they're fairly inexpensive relative to the price of a lens by itself, it occurs to me - as it has to others - that they're a good alternative to carrying around another lens: if I have to carry another lens around, I might as well carry another camera if it's small enough and save myself the trouble of changing lenses. (If this M + 22 deal had been available when I bought the Olympus 17mm f/1.8 for my OM-D, I would have bought the M + 22 instead and saved myself $200!)

Two or three would probably suit me in addition to the M + 22 - 50mm equiv. & 70mm equiv, and maybe 24mm equiv for occasional use (more if a small longer lens were feasible). If just one, I guess 50mm equiv.