[edge]

The Answer = Leica. lol.

[thxbb12]

I'll only speak for the Pentax K5 as I don't own a Nikon, Canon or Olympus.



The K5 is probably the best choice for landscapes and street candids as it's the most compact of the bunch in terms of body and lenses (overall). Also, in term of build it's very sturdy and weather resistant (WR). Combine it with some WR lenses and you have a fantastic hiking, all weather, combo! (WR lenses: 16-50 f/2.8, 50-135 f/2.8, 55 f/1.4, 100 macro f/2.8, 60-250 f/4, 300 f/4, 18-55, 55-200, etc.)

If she's into primes, it's probably the best choice as well, notably for candids because the small form factor make it a very discreet package. Very small pancake (or almost) lenses are also unique to Pentax: 15 f/4, 21 f/3.2, 40 f/2.8, 43 f/1.9, 70 f/2.4.

Ergonomics are also arguably the best with Pentax too.



However, where Pentax is not great is for long lenses. There is nothing longer than 300mm unless you go with Sigma. I suspect autofocus is probably better with Nikon/Canon (not sure about Oly though).



I do a lot of landscape, nature, macro and portraits shots and I think for that purpose the K5 is the best camera. I just can't see myself carrying bricks in my backpack on hikes.



Finally, the K5 has the highest DR of the cameras in your list. In fact, it's got the highest DR of any APS-C and fullframe camera in the market today. At ISO 80, the DR is just incredible (check dxomark.com for a comparison). The Nikon is very close as they share the same sensor. However, the K5 goes down to ISO 80 which is a very nice addition.



You can check my blog entry [url="http://capturedbyflo.blogspot.com/2011/05/post-processing-magic.html"]here[/url] as an example of the recovery power you can get with almost no noise.

[Guest]

Subjective, of course, but how bright is the viewfinder?

There has been criticism by one major reviewer that the viewfinder is a bit on the dim side.



Thanks.





MP









[quote name='thxbb12' timestamp='1306136775' post='8766']

I'll only speak for the Pentax K5 as I don't own a Nikon, Canon or Olympus.



The K5 is probably the best choice for landscapes and street candids as it's the most compact of the bunch in terms of body and lenses (overall). Also, in term of build it's very sturdy and weather resistant (WR). Combine it with some WR lenses and you have a fantastic hiking, all weather, combo! (WR lenses: 16-50 f/2.8, 50-135 f/2.8, 55 f/1.4, 100 macro f/2.8, 60-250 f/4, 300 f/4, 18-55, 55-200, etc.)

If she's into primes, it's probably the best choice as well, notably for candids because the small form factor make it a very discreet package. Very small pancake (or almost) lenses are also unique to Pentax: 15 f/4, 21 f/3.2, 40 f/2.8, 43 f/1.9, 70 f/2.4.

Ergonomics are also arguably the best with Pentax too.



However, where Pentax is not great is for long lenses. There is nothing longer than 300mm unless you go with Sigma. I suspect autofocus is probably better with Nikon/Canon (not sure about Oly though).



I do a lot of landscape, nature, macro and portraits shots and I think for that purpose the K5 is the best camera. I just can't see myself carrying bricks in my backpack on hikes.



Finally, the K5 has the highest DR of the cameras in your list. In fact, it's got the highest DR of any APS-C and fullframe camera in the market today. At ISO 80, the DR is just incredible (check dxomark.com for a comparison). The Nikon is very close as they share the same sensor. However, the K5 goes down to ISO 80 which is a very nice addition.



You can check my blog entry [url="http://capturedbyflo.blogspot.com/2011/05/post-processing-magic.html"]here[/url] as an example of the recovery power you can get with almost no noise.

[/quote]

[wojtt]

Well, one of the requests for your target camera is contradictory, I'm afraid.. bright and large viewfinder vs. lightweight (you have to go full frame in digital to get same quality as film era finders), but in APS-C territory there's plenty to choose from <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />





I'd say :



Pentax if you prefer ruggedness and some nice pancake lenses great for candids - street shooting,



Nikon for overall better system and range of lenses available, sensor is the same as in Pentax, some of the best wide lenses available here including a great standard (travel) lens like the 16-85 ..



Canon as a great candidate IF you plan getting middle-range L class lenses (especially 70-200 f4 IS) but.. the 60D is less rugged then Pentax and Nikon. That said, in my last trip we were shooting both Nikon D7000 and Canon 60D in the rain and cold.. and both cameras survived, no issues at all <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



I'd also take into account Sony - look at the about to be released A77, might be a good contender and some of the Sony/Zeiss lenses are truly brilliant, although a bit expensive..



I know it's not in the short list, but, for landscape mainly I'd splurge for the Sony A 850, full format (heavy) gear, plenty of detail from that sensor, large viewfinder, and not so terribly expensive, with just one fault, lousy high ISO performance..

[Brightcolours]

[quote name='wojtt' timestamp='1306173668' post='8773']

Well, one of the requests for your target camera is contradictory, I'm afraid.. bright and large viewfinder vs. lightweight (you have to go full frame in digital to get same quality as film era finders), but in APS-C territory there's plenty to choose from <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />





I'd say :



Pentax if you prefer ruggedness and some nice pancake lenses great for candids - street shooting,



Nikon for overall better system and range of lenses available, sensor is the same as in Pentax, some of the best wide lenses available here including a great standard (travel) lens like the 16-85 ..



Canon as a great candidate IF you plan getting middle-range L class lenses (especially 70-200 f4 IS) but.. the 60D is less rugged then Pentax and Nikon. That said, in my last trip we were shooting both Nikon D7000 and Canon 60D in the rain and cold.. and both cameras survived, no issues at all <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



I'd also take into account Sony - look at the about to be released A77, might be a good contender and some of the Sony/Zeiss lenses are truly brilliant, although a bit expensive..



I know it's not in the short list, but, for landscape mainly I'd splurge for the Sony A 850, full format (heavy) gear, plenty of detail from that sensor, large viewfinder, and not so terribly expensive, with just one fault, lousy high ISO performance..

[/quote]

You can skip the A77 right away, as it will have an LCD instead of an optical view finder.



Canon has a better lens lineup than Nikon in this area, the 15-85 IS does not have to hide for the Nikon 16-85 VR, and the compact Canon primes are interesting too. No reason to just look at L-lenses, and the 70-200mm lenses do not really seem to fit the stated requirements.



For landscape I'd rather look at a Canon 5D mk II, as it offers live view, also brilliant lenses among its wider lens line up, and a bit better high ISO performance. But both FF cameras will result in much heavier set ups with a much higher price.

[thxbb12]

[quote name='markpsf' timestamp='1306158628' post='8770']

Subjective, of course, but how bright is the viewfinder?

There has been criticism by one major reviewer that the viewfinder is a bit on the dim side.



Thanks.





MP

[/quote]



The viewfinder is supposed to be slightly less bright than the one in the Pentax K20D (although it's got 100% coverage). To say the truth I didn't see a difference in brightness between my old K20 and the K5. I love the 100% VF as you get exactly what you see. With a 95% VF, you always have to guess what you're exactly gonna get or you have to crop afterwards.

Honestly, among APS-C the K5's VF is in the top of the list. If you want something noticeably better, your only choice is to go FF (and it of course means to carry a brick around).

[wojtt]

[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1306175806' post='8776']

You can skip the A77 right away, as it will have an LCD instead of an optical view finder.



Canon has a better lens lineup than Nikon in this area, the 15-85 IS does not have to hide for the Nikon 16-85 VR, and the compact Canon primes are interesting too. No reason to just look at L-lenses, and the 70-200mm lenses do not really seem to fit the stated requirements.



For landscape I'd rather look at a Canon 5D mk II, as it offers live view, also brilliant lenses among its wider lens line up, and a bit better high ISO performance. But both FF cameras will result in much heavier set ups with a much higher price.

[/quote]





I'd rather look at the A77 first, then think about skipping it or not <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Rumours about it are very interesting.



Canon's midrange L lenses are worth mentioning since they set apart that system, I believe this is about choosing the "right" system, so talking about camera bodies without the context of the lenses that can be used is a bit vague.. BTW the Canon 15-85 doesn't seem so well rounded as the Nikkor equivalent judging by photozone tests <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



I mentioned the full format A 850 since the main objective is landscape photog. - here the Sony works quite well while being much cheaper then Canon or Nikon FX bodies.. The weight and price penalty is still there, yet as an alternative solution to APS-C gang, is worth mentioning IMO.

[Steinar1]

I am surprised nobody has mentioned the D300s or the D700 (if video is not important) In spite of a12MP sensor, the D300s equals or betters all the cameras mentioned, maybe apart from the 5D markII. It is not the lightest of all, but certainly meets all the other requirements you have mentioned, is rugged and tropicalised, more so than the D7000, and has a great system with one SD and one CF card, which permits very good rafale shooting. The D700 is a D3 in smaller issue and has all what the D300s has, plus a super high ISO performance. Pricewise the D300s is appoaching 1000€ at the Dutch resellers and the D700 is about the same as the 5D MKII! Image quality wise, the D300s equals the best APC bodies and the D700 is equal or better than all the other FF mentioned and better than all the APC bodies. Both cameras are certainly worth a look! Obviously, she cannot go wrong with the choice of lenses from Nikon, Sigma, Tamron, Zeiss! A dream for landscapes, the D700 with the Zeiss 18mm A dream for candid/street photo; D300s with the Nikon 35mm f2! A dream for wildlife, aD300s with the Nikon or Tamron 70-300 or the D700 with a Nikon 300mmf4 with a Nikon converter.

[wojtt]

[quote name='Vieux loup' timestamp='1306225473' post='8779']

I am surprised nobody has mentioned the D300s or the D700 (if video is not important) In spite of a12MP sensor, the D300s equals or betters all the cameras mentioned, maybe apart from the 5D markII. It is not the lightest of all, but certainly meets all the other requirements you have mentioned, is rugged and tropicalised, more so than the D7000, and has a great system with one SD and one CF card, which permits very good rafale shooting. The D700 is a D3 in smaller issue and has all what the D300s has, plus a super high ISO performance. Pricewise the D300s is appoaching 1000€ at the Dutch resellers and the D700 is about the same as the 5D MKII! Image quality wise, the D300s equals the best APC bodies and the D700 is equal or better than all the other FF mentioned and better than all the APC bodies. Both cameras are certainly worth a look!

[/quote]





Well, I'd disagree here - the D300s is just a bit outdated in IQ when compared with D7000 and Pentax K-5, while still more expensive (at this moment). Its merits compared to the D7000 are buffer capacity in high speed shooting and ruggedness, but the sensor is really better in the newer cameras and not just at high ISO.. (I mean also in the Pentax and very likely in the new Sony).



The D700 as good as it is, is about to be replaced in a couple of months, and in the context of it's current price is not quite a best-buy.. Also, higher resolution pays off better in landscape then high ISO performance (and I'm saying this as a D700/D7000 user <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[Brightcolours]

[quote name='Vieux loup' timestamp='1306225473' post='8779']

I am surprised nobody has mentioned the D300s or the D700 (if video is not important) In spite of a12MP sensor, the D300s equals or betters all the cameras mentioned, maybe apart from the 5D markII. It is not the lightest of all, but certainly meets all the other requirements you have mentioned, is rugged and tropicalised, more so than the D7000, and has a great system with one SD and one CF card, which permits very good rafale shooting. The D700 is a D3 in smaller issue and has all what the D300s has, plus a super high ISO performance. Pricewise the D300s is appoaching 1000€ at the Dutch resellers and the D700 is about the same as the 5D MKII! Image quality wise, the D300s equals the best APC bodies and the D700 is equal or better than all the other FF mentioned and better than all the APC bodies. Both cameras are certainly worth a look! Obviously, she cannot go wrong with the choice of lenses from Nikon, Sigma, Tamron, Zeiss! A dream for landscapes, the D700 with the Zeiss 18mm A dream for candid/street photo; D300s with the Nikon 35mm f2! A dream for wildlife, aD300s with the Nikon or Tamron 70-300 or the D700 with a Nikon 300mmf4 with a Nikon converter.

[/quote]

The D300s is a nice camera, but does not better the cameras mentioned.

The

Nikon 35mm f2 is in areas not as good as the Canon 35mm f2 (wide open contrast for instance), so that lens does not set the D300s apart, really. And a 24mm lens is a bit more suited for street photography.



300mm is not optimal for wild life photography... The Tamron 70-300 VC is also available for Canon (and Sony).



All in all, you can mention the D300s in this group too, especially as it handles nicer than the D7000. But it does not better any of the rest.



The D700 will make the whole gear quite a bit more heavy and more espensive, just like a Sony A850 or Canon 5D mk II would.