p.2 #1 · What do you use when your beloved fullframe camera is not an option?
n8rv wrote:
Another plus one for GRIIIx
Me, too.
However, Adobe's new Project Indigo with a quick shuffle to Lightroom on an iPhone looks pretty good to me for times when even the little Ricoh might be too much.
p.2 #2 · What do you use when your beloved fullframe camera is not an option?
For multiple day hike in the mountains I would not want to leave without my beloved quality camera and lenses, but it means travel as light as possible and get a good (lightweight) backpack. Personally those trips in the mountains provide me the best photographic opportunities and best experiences, I wouldn't want to compromise too much on IQ.
Maybe limit yourself to one or 2 lenses only (for me that is Sony A7R III + FE 20-70 F4 + low light UWA prime).
In the past I did hiking trips (up to 2 weeks, incl. camping/backpacking gear) with A6500 + 18-135 lens which is a bit lighter than the FF gear. But I do value best IQ for landscape, and especially if you also shoot the night sky (mountain area's are great for that) FF does give a clear benefit.
For casual walks or family outings I don't always take my camera with me, which I regret a bit. I recently got a compact Sony Zeiss FE 35 F2.8 ZA to reduce size and weight as much as possible, which realy helps, but still it is often too large to just throw in a bag or pocket. I'm now looking for a pocketable secondary camera (maybe Sony RX100) just for those situations.
A phone is not a real option for me personally. Just for simple snapshot it is fine, but I realy dislike the shooting experience with a phone so I hardly ever use it for serious image making / photography. That's a personal thing, I know many others use phones a lot with great results.
p.2 #3 · What do you use when your beloved fullframe camera is not an option?
Lots of interesting answers. Thank-you.
The Canon Powershot V1 seems a decent solution for a modern compact camera with an ultra wide angle lens albeit you accept the lack of viewfinder. It could indeed be a good solution of ultralight hikers.
That is probably not a very pleasant camera to use (no EVF, no compensation dial...) It reminds me the Panasonic LX100 (same sensor area but I always disliked the 4:3 ratio) but this one has an EVF and a much better interface (dials). I really hate the fact that all those compacts are now dead (the V1 is not a photography oriented camera) and no innovation to be seen those last years (better sensor, APS-C compact cameras, usb-c charging, better EVF and battery life...)
The Ricoh GRIII/IIIx are also interesting, but it you need 2 cameras to cover the base focal range it starts to be expensive and a little bit of weight, around 600g, which is Sony APS-C camera + 10-20PZ (or 28-60) territory. And I'm not even talking extension lenses which increase the weight, bulk and alter the ease of use.
p.2 #4 · What do you use when your beloved fullframe camera is not an option?
multi-day hike in the mountains: Sony A7CR + 16-35/4 + Tamron 50-300
going outside at night to a fancy restaurant: Iphone 15 pro max in raw
Why? For the hiking scenario there is a chance I want to make a large print and landscape photography is my hobby. For going out at night, where I would only post to social media, Iphone camera is good enough.
p.2 #5 · What do you use when your beloved fullframe camera is not an option?
Depends: OM1 with 12-100mm f4, or (even smaller) Olympus EP7 with 10, 20, and 45mm lenses. These are often my preferred systems over FF for any circumstances.
p.2 #7 · What do you use when your beloved fullframe camera is not an option?
Hiking? Mountains?? IMO, that's a slam dunk case for a Q2M. I took mine on twotrips to Denali (the mountain), and if I do a third trip (very likely) it will again be my camera of choice.
p.2 #9 · What do you use when your beloved fullframe camera is not an option?
For me it is the Canon G7 X II, it has a 1" sensor and a zoom that covers 24-100mm f1/8 - f/2.8. Outside in decent light it takes nice photos. The main thing for it is it fits in a small bag that I wear on my belt, I can't even feel the weight and it doesn't get in the way of sitting or even seat belts.
If I was to do another purchase now I think I would look at the Sony RX100VA, faster stacked sensor, better focus, vs a smaller focal range 24-70mm but still starting at f/1.8.
p.2 #10 · What do you use when your beloved fullframe camera is not an option?
dieterson wrote:
Sony A5100 and SEL20F28 - light and compact!
a6700 and 20/2.8 for me. Not as small as the 5100, but it's more comfortable in my big hands. The 5100 (and RX1 and Ricoh GR) makes me feel like a giant.
p.2 #11 · What do you use when your beloved fullframe camera is not an option?
I'm another member of the Ricoh GRIIIx club: mine's pretty much always on my person. I've dabbled with several 1" cameras, but they really do seem to require good light, limiting their applicability.
As a minimal FF cary I've recently moved over to the Sony world and am enjoying my a7CII with the tidy/sharp 28-60/4-5.6 lens (tho this does also require good -ish light).
p.2 #13 · What do you use when your beloved fullframe camera is not an option?
Olympus/OM Systems. You can make it quite compact.
Jul 15, 2025 at 10:42 AM
AmbientMike Offline • • • • • • [X]
p.2 #14 · What do you use when your beloved fullframe camera is not an option?
moby59 wrote:
You are planning a multi-day hike in the mountains, or going outside at night to a fancy restaurant and don't want to bring a backpack but still want a high quality camera (or other situations like that), what do you bring, and why?
I'm still looking for solutions for example for long thru hikes, but still can't manage to decide what to buy/bring.
I would be happy to read your solutions (type of event, choice, and why). You can also explain what you've tried before and why it was not a good solution in your opinion.
I've used a Rebel SL2 + 55-250, for anything needing tele like birds or sheep, usually leaving it on the camera in case I dont have time to change lenses if a chipmunk starts posing. 11-16 (~18-25mm ff equivalent) works great on uwa, also 18-55 in the daypack
I've used this on 3000k+ vert day hikes but not multiday. The 11-16 got stuck on the camera one time, it was awful. I dont recommend a single lens
p.2 #15 · What do you use when your beloved fullframe camera is not an option?
for multi-day hikes, unless you like to carry a lot of weight, you often have to make hard choices and choose something lighter that you'd like...
I like A7Rx + 16-35PZ but is is 1000g + 80g of capture clip, which starts to really be on the heavy side when everything else is sub 5kg for example.
It also implies a bigger, heavier and sturdier backpack.
For hikes, I would really like to switch to a trail backpack, something around 20-25L, but that's clearly not an option with a fullframe camera.
RX1rIII -> more than $5000 it is really Leica Q3 territory. Not the same size/weight and FOV, but almost the same price on used market
p.2 #17 · What do you use when your beloved fullframe camera is not an option?
For multiday hikes I just use my iPhone 16 Pro and shoot ProRAW with the native app or I use the Leica Lux app. As much as love photography, even carrying my A7CR and 28-60 adds more weight to my pack than I want to carry. And I find I end up getting a little too into looking for compositions and not see the forest for the trees as they say. I like to use those times to enjoy nature and be in the moment, and for me at least having a camera in hand (or close to it) pulls me out of that.
