CSC’s - who is buying them?

K_user

I have to say I’m confused by them. I picked one up lately and it did nothing for me. Too small in the hand, with an odd lump of a lens. I couldn’t imagine using one in the same way I use my own camera, which does take a moderate beating. Yet all the brands seem to be spitting them out lately.

Anyone using one?

They are small, but not small enough to fit in your pocket because some have really chunky lenses. But they are a lot lighter than a DSLR.

They can be expensive, averaging somewhere around E800 (guesstimate). Some cost a lot more, such as the new x-pro1. So you aren’t making a saving compared to a DSLR.

Image wise, I’m sure they are as good as any other in a similar price range.

And they have a 30% market share.

So who is buying them?

I doubt it’s the random punter looking for a family camera. So it has to be the enthusiast up. But are they really a long term, build up over the years, investment in a brand, camera?

How do others view them?

bullpost

Bought a used one for street photography and taking on hikes. Also have a DSLR but the portability of the CSC is great.

K_user wrote: »

I have to say I’m confused by them. I picked one up lately and it did nothing for me. Too small in the hand, with an odd lump of a lens. I couldn’t imagine using one in the same way I use my own camera, which does take a moderate beating. Yet all the brands seem to be spitting them out lately.

Anyone using one?

They are small, but not small enough to fit in your pocket because some have really chunky lenses. But they are a lot lighter than a DSLR.

They can be expensive, averaging somewhere around E800 (guesstimate). Some cost a lot more, such as the new x-pro1. So you aren’t making a saving compared to a DSLR.

Image wise, I’m sure they are as good as any other in a similar price range.

And they have a 30% market share.

So who is buying them?

I doubt it’s the random punter looking for a family camera. So it has to be the enthusiast up. But are they really a long term, build up over the years, investment in a brand, camera?

How do others view them?

ScumLord

K_user wrote: »

I doubt it’s the random punter looking for a family camera.

I don't know about that, it all depends on their money to sense ratio.

Big pro cameras can be intimidating to a lot of people, so something more familiar to them might encourage them to take a smaller jump up the equipment ladder.

Gregor Samsa

K_user wrote: »

Anyone using one?

Me.

I got a Sony Nex7 a couple of weeks ago. My main camera is an Sony A77. The Nex7 with (kit lens) cost about the same as what I paid for the A77 body (about €1200), so it certainly wasn't a bargain. But it was a considered purchase that I'm very happy with.

I got it because I wanted second good quality camera to complement the A77, but didn't want it so big - and even the lesser Alpha SLT models (a57, A37) etc. were too big for my needs. The Nex7 and A77 have the same sensor and EVF, and the NEX7 is very configurable (three wheels for aperture/shutter speed and ISO) and customisable (the lack of controls and built in EVF is what stopped me going the the Nex3 and 5 ranges).

I wanted a second camera to use in a few situations:

1. When I have my 70-400G lens on the A77 (which is a beast of a thing), and I want to shoot something wider (changing that lens in the field isn't exactly a spontaneous experience). Same when I have a macro lens (and maybe ring flash) on the A77.

2. Traveling when I don't want to take the weight and bulk of my SLR kit. Recently went to Spain for two weeks, and all I could bring was hand luggage. Usually my camera bag is my hand luggage. The Nex7 and two lenses fit neatly in among my clothes in a small case, and did me for the two weeks.

3. Shooting in places that I feel an SLR is just too conspicuous. I hate bringing my SLR to weddings. Too big to be carrying around, leaving on (or under) tables, and you have to field stupid comments from drunken aunts comparing you to the photographer. Same with events in other people's houses. Whipping out an SLR sometimes takes the casual spontaneity out of the situation. Or out and about on the street (not that I'm really into street photography).

4. Tentative astrophotography. I've done a bit with my A77 attached to the eyepiece of my telescope, but it's heavy and unwieldy, and I'm afraid of dropping it in the dark (the mirror/sensor would be exposed in such a situation). The Nex7 will be much more manageable.

5. Fun. For anything serious (and I don't mean paid - I'm a 100% pleasure photographer), I'll reach for my a77. But for more casual fun stuff, it's really nice to lift a smaller camera to your eye - especially when there's no loss in quality or ergonomics from what you're used to. The only downsides to the Nex7 is focus - CDAF only (no PDAF), and image stabilisation (in-body on the Alpha, in lens on the Nex - and it's not in the lens I'm using most). But in most cases with those limitations, if you just take your time and consider the shot a bit more, you can get the result.

I brought the kit lens (18-55) on holidays and made some use of it, but I'll probably sell it on. I also picked up the really cool and fairly small Sigma 30mm 2.8, which is a cracking little lens. It's living on the Nex at the moment, and will probably be the only dedicated lens I buy for it. I might experiment with a few manual lenses/adapters just for the craic. I've got an old Industar 69 28mm 2.8, and I'm just waiting on the M39 adapter to arrive. I'll probably also pick up Sony's LA-EA2 adapter, so I can use all my A-Mount lenses on the Nex.

It's certainly a luxury, and I wouldn't go for it as my only camera, but it's a camera I'm really enjoying.

Also, my wife is mad about it. She's not so keen on picking up the A77 at all. She's into underwater photography, and is currently reaching the limitations of a compact system. So she's seriously considering a Nex (maybe not the 7) for good quality in a small package (adding a housing and two strobes onto an SLR makes for a bloody big camera to go diving with).

cnocbui

K_user wrote: »

I have to say I’m confused by them. I picked one up lately and it did nothing for me. Too small in the hand, with an odd lump of a lens. I couldn’t imagine using one in the same way I use my own camera, which does take a moderate beating. Yet all the brands seem to be spitting them out lately.

Anyone using one?

What does CSC mean? I am guessing Compact System Camera?

If so, then I recently acquired an Olympus OM-D EM-5.

They are small, but not small enough to fit in your pocket because some have really chunky lenses. But they are a lot lighter than a DSLR.

Not true. With a pancake lens they will fit in a pocket. With a larger lens you can get the body in one pocket and the lens in another.

They can be expensive, averaging somewhere around E800 (guesstimate). Some cost a lot more, such as the new x-pro1. So you aren’t making a saving compared to a DSLR.

Image wise, I’m sure they are as good as any other in a similar price range.

And they have a 30% market share.

So who is buying them?

Me . . . . people who are tired of lugging around hulking great quantities of gear. people who like to travel, hike, climb mountains, women.

It wasn't cheap, but I don't buy cameras very often so I don't mind shelling out every second decade or so.

I doubt it’s the random punter looking for a family camera. So it has to be the enthusiast up. But are they really a long term, build up over the years, investment in a brand, camera?

How do others view them?

They are the future and are certainly a long term proposition. I have some nice 35mm legacy glass and like that I can continue to use it as I always have, albeit with a cropped image circle.

These answer a lot of questions as to what people see in them: