It's time to put your camera gear on a diet

PRIME July 2012 By Gary M. Kaye Special to PRIME For more than 30 years, every time I've gone on vacation, I toted a Nikon camera and lenses. At first it was a progression of 35 mm SLR (Single Lens Reflex). Then it was a series of Digital cameras (DSLR). On some trips I carried entire backpacks full of photo gear including lenses, tripods, and dozens of film cans. No more. This summer I'm slimming down. Well, at least my camera gear is slimming down. There's a whole new world of high-end photography out there, known as "mirrorless interchangeable lens" (MILC) cameras. Sometimes they are referred to as hybrids since they are something of a cross between a DSLR and a point and shoot. But by losing the mirror and prism that come in SLR cameras, they can be much smaller and much lighter. New players While some of the names in this space are familiar like Nikon and Pentax, other more recent entries into the world of photography are gaining market share and mindshare. Sony's 24.3 megapixel NEX-7 won the prestigious Popular Photography award as Best Camera of the Year in 2011. Other well reviewed offerings are the new Samsung NX20, as well as models from Fujifilm, Panasonic, and Olympus. Nikon's top of the line hybrid, the V1 has only about half the megapixels of Sony's NEX-7. The best of breed have a feature that I consider essential, an electronic viewfinder (EVF). Most point and shoot cameras, and many of the mirrorless cameras will only let you see your subject on an LCD screen. The problem with that is two-fold. First, these displays, even the best of them, will get washed out in bright sunlight. The second problem is that your shots are not as steady when held in two hands as they are supported by your face and two hands. Optical viewfinders don't necessarily show you what will appear in your picture, while the electronic viewfinders provide a very sharp image and allow you to make menu adjustments as you're getting ready to take your shot. The EVF's also have a diopter so you can adjust the viewfinder for your eyesight, making it easy to shoot with or without glasses. Ironically, Canon, one of the biggest players in both DSLRs and point and shoot cameras, so far has not entered this space. Not for the faint of heart I'm not going to kid you. Moving to one of these cameras is not for the faint of heart. If you're used to shooting with a high end DSLR, the move shouldn't be too challenging. If you've been happy snapping away with a point and shoot camera, these MILCs could present a real challenge. They have lots of menus, and lots of features, but if you're like most people, you will only end up using a handful. Sony's NEX-7 has three different wheels for navigating features. Its full guidebook is a 211-page PDF, though there is an abbreviated print version. You can shoot high definition video with them, as well as spectacular panorama shots. Among my favorite features in both the Sony NEX-7 and the Samsung NX20 is an electronic spirit level in the viewfinder that shows you when your shot is level both vertically and horizontally. Getting the shot lined up before you take it is easier than fixing it in an editing program. Other features include something called "High Dynamic Range" (HDR), which allows you to create some striking visual effects by combining multiple exposures of the same shot to achieve the best combination of scene lighting in a single frame. I've been able to play with both the Sony NEX-7 and the Samsung NX20. They are both great cameras, with huge feature sets. The Sony has a higher pixel count (24.3 compared to 20.3) and is slightly more compact. There are a wide variety of adapters on the market that will also allow you to use your legacy Nikon or Canon lenses on the Sony. The Samsung allows you to wirelessly send pictures to your Facebook or Twitter account or to your network. Not just cameras The folks who make accessories for cameras are also riding the weight loss wave. Traditional camera bag makers like Tamrac, Lowepro, and Kata have smaller holster style cases that will comfortably carry your camera and one or two lenses. The National Geographic line features bags ranging from a small knapsack that also functions as a daypack (my preference for touring), sliding down to shoulder bags, sling style bags, and holsters. Manfrotto is making a series of lightweight portable LED lights. And Tamrac distributes the ZipShot, an extremely lightweight tripod made from tentpoles that snaps together in seconds. Even the makers of memory cards are helping you slim down with fatter offerings. High end 64 GB cards from SanDisk and Monster will let you take more than a thousand pictures, so you don't have to worry about running out of memory on your trip. Bottom line If you're happy with your point and shoot camera, and don't really want to go to the next level, these cameras may not be for you. But if you're used to lugging a big DSLR and want less load without giving up quality, these may be just what the doctor ordered. The Samsung NX20 will cost you about $1,100 with the 18 to 55 mm kit lens. Sony's NEX-7 with a comparable lens is about $1350. Happy shooting. Gary M. Kaye is an award-winning journalist who has covered technology topics for more than 30 years. He writes and does radio pieces for AARP and is senior writer for Tech Toys Magazine. In addition, he runs a consulting business helping hi-tech companies with strategic communications. Visit his new boomer tech website, www.intheboombox.tv.