A smaller camera system - your views please!

Excellent post, informative. What did / do you think of the Canon kit, RobL?

Thank you for all the additional comments, I think they've reinforced the view I was heading towards and that is that none of the options I mentioned will satisfy me properly. There's plenty of information in this thread from users with experience of other systems and you've all appreciated what I want out of a system and nobody has say "my system fulfils all/most of your needs!".

I'm pretty certain that this flight of fancy is going nowhere for me at present - what I have gives me the quality and flexibility I want, the only real negative is the size and weight, so I just need to be more careful and selective about my choices!

I have reflected on my photographic past and one interesting thing stood out. Many years ago I managed a Camera shop and was able to try quite a few cameras out, when it came to compact cameras I was not happy (in comparison to my MX) with any model - until I took an expensive punt on an expensive little system, the Minolta CLE along with the 28mm, 40mm and 90mm. It was brilliant, I took photos at my own wedding that were better than the official photographers, I took it on our honeymoon to Amsterdam and it's diminutive size made it unobtrusive and delivered lovely results, But we had some expensive months soon after and I had to part with it
So what does this tell me? I think it's telling me that the only alternative compact system that I would be happy with (probably) is a Leica M system

I'm going for a lie down now

Technically brilliant and very robust, I dropped the R6II and lens onto a stone floor (expensive way to discover that not all Arca-Swiss plates and heads are compatible!) but the lens just suffered a minor dent and the camera had no marks at all. I quickly got to appreciate mirrorless technology, i shoot in Manual mode so seeing in the viewfinder what you normally see on the rear screen is great. There is something though I miss about Pentax that I can’t put my finger on, calling it ‘soul’ or ‘character’ seems a bit far-fetched for a piece of technology but I bet you know what I mean, especially the Limited lenses. Do I regret the change? Not at all but had Ricoh shown more commitment to Pentax it might not have been necessary to change.

RobL

I completely, repeat, completely, understand your comment about 'soul' and 'character'. It's NOT 'a bit far fetched', and yes I do know what you mean. Your other comments also make sense. Thank you for your response. Top man.

Or use the money you would have spent on a new system to buy a gym membership - and use it

Steve

If it’s any consolation LennyBloke I know of a (wealthy) photographer who swopped all his kit for Leica only for a year or so later to change back again!

BAD! Shouldn't laugh, Steve. (fail).

This resonates. At one stage some time ago I 'tried out' Leica. Didn't work for me. Reverted to Pentax.

Thanks Guys - I wouldn't go "all in" on a system changeover, I'd probably start with an older model body and a relatively cheap lens to see whether the feel and results were to my liking

I think more than anything this goes to show that no camera system is perfect, at least in the vast majority of cases. All we can do is try to use systems where it's weaknesses are things we're prepared to live with.

My small & light camera option is a Fujifilm X-T20, usually with a 35mm f/1.4. It's biggest weakness is a lack of IBIS but the sharp-when-wide-open lens partially makes up for that, I knew it would be there going in, have learned to accept it and enjoy using that combo.

I admit I'm late in contributing to this thread, although I've followed it from the start, I've 4 x Pentax cameras and take out generally what I expect to use on the expected target shoot.

The heaviest is the 645z bag at iro 15kg to 18kg and cos of the nature of when I use the 645z it's generally carried most of the day but the weight is spread over the shoulders / back and the camera / lens is then handheld to remove some of the weight from the bag.

Then it's the K1 or K3iii option's, the 3 has a 150 - 450 permanently attached and will be carried on wildlife or action shoots again most of the day, a sling type shoulder strap helps to distribute the weight evenly, the same with the K1 which with either the 70 -200 or the 24 - 70 with the other lens in the bag.

The oddball is the K5ii IR which gets chucked into various bags depending on the weather on offer.

Lennybloke - good luck in reaching a compromise to suit you, there's a good selection of suggestion in this thread.

I've been mulling over whether to post this or not since it's a bit 'out there.' Anyhoo, here goes...

If I have it right the concern is about size and weight. Sometimes the smaller models can be 'finicky'. So maybe, just maybe, the issue is camera weight rather than size. Additionally, and has already been mentioned, another weight is the lens.

I'm just wondering if there's a value in going for a medium format system such as a Hasselblad X1D and a single lens(?) They are becoming less expensive as newer models arrive.

To quote from a quick check online the Hasselblad X1D weighs 725 grams (1.60 lbs) including the battery, while the updated X1D II 50C weighs 766 grams (1.69 lbs) with the battery and SD card installed. As for the lens: Hasselblad XCD 4/45P lens, weighs 320g (0.7 lbs).

There are benefits to MF as many on this site know. Clearly there are positives and negatives in every system but this might be worth considering?

I did say it was a 'bit out there', John.

The ideal opportunity / reason / excuse to try out a 645z with a lens or 2 Lennybloke.

645 lenses can be had relatively cheaply on fleybay via Japan, I've purchased 2 that route, both boxed and described spot on and a vastly reduced ££ than in the UK Inc shipping and any customs charges.

You're both right Kevin and Chris - I have thought about medium format based on one of the biggest reasons I like the K1 so much, and that is I can crop significantly and still retain an image with good IQ!

But Chris, a 15Kg plus bag of stuff I couldn't cope with anything like that now. The Hasselblad that Kevin suggested does sound a more workable solution though - a bigger, more croppable sensor for a bit less weight. I did briefly look at the big Fujifilm GFX100RF, but some reports suggest the lens isn't quite as good as it should be for a model of this price point

Lots of thinking to be done