Travel Camera Help

[TroyPhotog]

Looking for a camera that I can take with me and leave the big bag at home.
I normally shoot Canon but am open to others as I want the best for the money.

Looking at:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 10.1 2.0 Ap.
Nikon Coolpix P7000 10.1 MP Ap. 2.8-5.6
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 10.1 MP
And Last the Canon G12, but think I would like to try one of the above.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Troy

[groovyone]

NEX-5?

I liked the LX-3 and would probably opt for the LX-5. Moose Peterson LOVED the P7000.

[Hanky]

I bought a G10 for my trip, no regrets other than on the next trip I will go full gear in the overhead. Damn the screeners! full speed ahead!

[humminboid]

Are you leaving the bag at home, or the camera, or both?

Lightweight Canon or Nikon of some flavor, Sigma 18-200 zoom. Light, and marvelously compact. My shooting buddy uses his for a '"waking around" lens, and has discovered that it will do for 90% of his race track shooting, too.

I'm considering one for my Nikon.

Of course, if you are just looking for an excuse to buy another camera, have at it!

[rfortson]

How small do you want to go? The mirrorless cameras are great small alternatives/supplements to the dSLR. I have the Pen, others use the GF-1. Keith has the NEX-5, plus Samsung has an APS-C offering as well.

I used to use a G9 as my backup. It's a great little camera, but the Pen is better on just about any level, except ultimate (small) size. My wife now uses the G9 and I have the Pen as my backup/travel camera.

Another alternative is to get a superzoom and travel with your dSLR and one lens. I have the Tamron-based 18-250 and it's my vacation lens (sometimes I'll cheat and also carry one of my small pancake primes). Despite some of the elitism you'll hear, the dSLR with a superzoom easily trumps any small sensor camera, regardless of how fast their lens is. I've had shots published with that 18-250 lens, and I've made trips to Peru and Europe with that as my only lens, and never felt like I was missing anything.