Hybrid system cameras, the new alternative to the DSLR?

[DPNow]

Here is a summary or excerpt from an article that has just been published on DPNow:

Samsung has just launched its NX10 hybrid system camera, following Panasonic Lumix and Olympus. Nikon is rumoured to be preparing to follow, and Sony has publicly voiced its interest in developing its own hybrid system. The hybrid market could be worth three times the total DSLR market of today, We find out why, and try to answer the question of whether you will be a hybrid user eventually.

Click here to read the whole article...

[Ian]

Re: Hybrid system cameras, the new alternative to the DSLR?

I can think of five regular posters on the DPNow forum who have embraced the hybrid camera concept; Josh Bear (Olympus Pen E-P1), Stephen (ditto), and DennisP (Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1), John Perriment (also a G1), and Peder Winger (who as ordered a Lumix DMC-GF1). But all four continue to use existing DSLR gear as well. So none of the above come from the target audience of compact users wishing to upgrade, but not to a DSLR.

Audrey is our most active compact camera user here - I wonder if she might be tempted to go hybrid?

Ian

[mike_j]

Re: Hybrid system cameras, the new alternative to the DSLR?

I have had a G1 for more than a year, it replaced an Olympus E510. It has it strong points but is not the camera for action and long tele lenses.

My son, who is a compact camera user, has borrowed it a few times and doesn't like it, he says it combines the drawbacks of both systems. Too big and complicated for a compact and doesn't give the performance of a full size DSLR.

I think hybrids (and we need a better name) is the way of the future for the majority. Mirrors flapping up and down and mechanical shutters will probably give way eventually to improved EVF/liveview systems with electronic shutters as video becomes more a standard feature.

Not to say that there won't be minority of diehards - after all, some of us still use rangefinder cameras

[Ian]

Re: Hybrid system cameras, the new alternative to the DSLR?

I have had a G1 for more than a year, it replaced an Olympus E510. It has it strong points but is not the camera for action and long tele lenses.

My son, who is a compact camera user, has borrowed it a few times and doesn't like it, he says it combines the drawbacks of both systems. Too big and complicated for a compact and doesn't give the performance of a full size DSLR.

I think hybrids (and we need a better name) is the way of the future for the majority. Mirrors flapping up and down and mechanical shutters will probably give way eventually to improved EVF/liveview systems with electronic shutters as video becomes more a standard feature.

Not to say that there won't be minority of diehards - after all, some of us still use rangefinder cameras

I'd be interested to know what the G1 strengths are in your view

Of course the G1 was the very first hybrid. Panasonic (and Samsung with the NX10) chose to produce a shrunken DSLR look. The other hybrid option, of course, is the GF1 and E-P1/2 style of 'grown-up' compact camera.

If your camera looks like a DSLR, you may have different expectations to if it looks like a big compact camera.

Ian

[devilgas]

Re: Hybrid system cameras, the new alternative to the DSLR?

i could see me replacing the compact with a hybrid, but don't see it replacing my dslr simply based on the kind of shooting i do. i used to have an electronic viewfinder camera where you needed to be predictive. don't relish going back to one for sports etc. sure, the tech has improved and the real-time lag has no doubt been shortened, but i like seeing real light rays

i do think that once someone has chosen a hybrid over an slr then they're far less likely to later jump to an slr due to the lenses etc they'll aquire for the hybrid in the meantime. same as me staying with canon...far too much invested in canon gear to swap it all over now.

[Ian]

Re: Hybrid system cameras, the new alternative to the DSLR?

i could see me replacing the compact with a hybrid, but don't see it replacing my dslr simply based on the kind of shooting i do. i used to have an electronic viewfinder camera where you needed to be predictive. don't relish going back to one for sports etc. sure, the tech has improved and the real-time lag has no doubt been shortened, but i like seeing real light rays

i do think that once someone has chosen a hybrid over an slr then they're far less likely to later jump to an slr due to the lenses etc they'll aquire for the hybrid in the meantime. same as me staying with canon...far too much invested in canon gear to swap it all over now.

You make some fair points there. The new EVFs from Panasonic, Olympus, and Samsung, even the new Ricoh GXR EVF, are all much improved over the ones we were used to and, fairly universally hated. I don't think there would be a problem for, say, bird photography, where the subject is stationary, but there might be some issues tracking a fast moving bird of prey. I will have to get out there and pu this to the test! But not today - which rhymes with 'grey' - how appropriate

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: Hybrid system cameras, the new alternative to the DSLR?

Audrey is our most active compact camera user here - I wonder if she might be tempted to go hybrid?

Ian

I am not really sure what a Hybrid is Ian and when people talk about a G1 I think of the Canon G1 like my Canon G3! What is a G1?

When I see you discuss the Hybrid camera, I just thought it was the same as my Fuji Finepix with the 300mm lens or my Canon Powershot G3 with the articulated viewfinder, but of course a much more up to date one. Actually, having only read about them, I just thought that Hybrid was another name for a Bridge camera.

Perhaps someone will enlighten me.

[Ian]

Re: Hybrid system cameras, the new alternative to the DSLR?

I am not really sure what a Hybrid is Ian and when people talk about a G1 I think of the Canon G1 like my Canon G3! What is a G1?

When I see you discuss the Hybrid camera, I just thought it was the same as my Fuji Finepix with the 300mm lens or my Canon Powershot G3 with the articulated viewfinder, but of course a much more up to date one. Actually, having only read about them, I just thought that Hybrid was another name for a Bridge camera.

Perhaps someone will enlighten me.

That's what my article tries to do!

Ian

[Pol]

Re: Hybrid system cameras, the new alternative to the DSLR?

I am not really sure what a Hybrid is Ian and when people talk about a G1 I think of the Canon G1 like my Canon G3! What is a G1?

When I see you discuss the Hybrid camera, I just thought it was the same as my Fuji Finepix with the 300mm lens or my Canon Powershot G3 with the articulated viewfinder, but of course a much more up to date one. Actually, having only read about them, I just thought that Hybrid was another name for a Bridge camera.

Perhaps someone will enlighten me.

Audrey,

In a simplistic nutshell - a hybrid camera is something between a compact and a dSLR - but it's a not a bridge camera - it's a system camera ( meaning it has interchangeable lenses). They're smaller and lighter than an SLR, less bulky, which is one of the advantages. They also have a larger sensor than a compact so they can give a better image quality - but there are also disadvantages for some types of photography - eg they can be slower and less able for action shots, also not so good for long lenses.

That's just a very brief description of hybrids. For a more detailed explanation, have a close look at Ian's article HERE

Hope that helps.

P.S... and here's a WHE link to the Panasonic G1 camera

Pol

[Ian]

Re: Hybrid system cameras, the new alternative to the DSLR?

Audrey,

In a simplistic nutshell - a hybrid camera is something between a compact and a dSLR - but it's a not a bridge camera - it's a system camera ( meaning it has interchangeable lenses). They're smaller and lighter than an SLR, less bulky, which is one of the advantages. They also have a larger sensor than a compact so they can give a better image quality - but there are also disadvantages for some types of photography - eg they can be slower and less able for action shots, also not so good for long lenses.

That's just a very brief description of hybrids. For a more detailed explanation, have a close look at Ian's article HERE

Hope that helps.

P.S... and here's a WHE link to the Panasonic G1 camera

Pol

Thanks Pol,

I think it's true to say that hybrids have some advantages and disadvantages over DSLRs. They offer much the same image quality because they have the same larger sensors as DSLRs (indeed, at the moment - exactly the same sensors as their respective DSLR models), in a smaller and lighter package, but as the reflex/prism viewfinder has been sacrificed, as Devilgas says, using an LCD screen or electronic viewfinder (even the much-improved ones you can now find in hybrids) is not something some experienced DSLR users are overly keen on. DSLRs are also slightly more responsive and can offer much higher frame-frame shooting rates. DSLRs do offer better continuous autofocus for action photography as well.

But from the perspective of someone upgrading to from a compact, including a superzoom or bridge camera, I can think of only a couple of disadvantages - the cost of upgrading (and most DSLRs share this point) and although hybrids are much smaller than DSLRs, they are bigger than compacts.

Audrey is a classic target for hybrid camera makers. She appreciates high quality images and is a compact camera user. And she has rejected a move to a DSLR. Correct me if I am wrong, Audrey, but I'm assuming you'd like many of the benefits of a DSLR but without the bulk?

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: Hybrid system cameras, the new alternative to the DSLR?

Thanks very much Pol and Ian for that very concise explanation.

There are so many "Latest DP Articles" and most of them I don't understand, because they are too technical that I think I must have missed Ian's former explanation!

I have been looking at DSLR's and then they keep improving them and then I am glad that I didn't go down that road.

I hardly ever go out for a "Shoot". My photography is just taking one of my cameras out and 98% of the time without additional lenses or filters.

For portability combined with ease of taking photographs at all angles, I love the G3, but it is only 4 MP and is slow to write up. The quality of the images is IMO very good, but I know there are better lenses and sensors that would capture more detail, but I am just an amateur and never want to be a professional photographer, although I would like to improve my photography.

Most of my best images have been captured because I had a camera handy. You remember the old Croatian lady ... ... that has done really well for me in Regional and National competitions, even though I did not personally submit it. It was submitted by our Club Committee along with our top international photographers' submissions. As you know that was taken with the Panny lumix Ultra Compact and was a grab shot. I have to say, had the light been poorer, this would not have happened, because this camera is dreadful in low light and produces a lot of noise. Just a bit of luck!

Although I am not seriously thinking of upgrading, I do keep looking. I feel I need to be able to justify it, and atm, cannot.