Am thinking to get a compact to complement my SLR and looks like the battle ground is getting more and more crowded as each day goes. The quality is getting from great to super too!
Bought my wife the S95 and that is quite a joy to use but I need one of my own because lugging a big camera everywhere is tedious. Heard the new S100 would be out anytime soon.
It's great that there are more choices in this category but also confusing at the same time. Being a A-mount user, waiting for the Nex-7 also sounds enticing with so much adaptors to choose from and also not to mention continue use of my current lenses. But guess the size factor and weight factor comes into this equation again.
But all in a pro compact still might not give me the same level of detail that a SLR would give. On the flip side compacts gives moderately great photos with the ease of convenience.
What would u guys think? Get a good pro compact or stay in the interchangeable lens system albeit in a smaller body.
Well, one has to ask oneself, if he/she needs a cam (whether a compact or a dSLR) for what purpose (other than to take pictures). Is it to take pictures for one's blog, or just "suka-suka" take pictures on daily happening, or potrait-taking, or taking macro world of insect and plants, or birding etc.
If one is a fashion photographer or a wedding photog or a nature photog, a dSLR with appropriate lenses is the way to go.
If one is like me, has a 9-6pm office job, and only do photography as a hobby, a compact + a dSLR with the basic kitlens will suffice. The compact is for daily thingy like children photos, colleagues birthday photo, site visits, holiday travels etc. The dSLR is for more serious stuff like nature (landscape) when I go jungle/hill trekking/hiking or mountain climbing. I remember I lug a tripod, 3 lenses, 1 dSLR and 1 SLR with 3 roll of films when I first ascend Mt Kinabalu.
Your question "Get a good pro compact or stay in the interchangeable lens system albeit in a smaller body" - my advice to you is get both(which I think you currently have them) unless you do not wish to continue with the dSLR. Nowadays there are compact with interchangeble lens available in the market, so this may be the one you are looking for.
Cheers.