Camera Labs

Strange question this but here goes...

I use an E-450, on a neck strap, when I me and my wife go out walking (Abbeys, Stately homes, Parks etc).

But we also like mountain / hill walking, for which I find having the camera round my neck a bit of a bind, and as I have small hands, it's a little awkward for me to carry in one hand. Manageable but a little heavy (I considered getting a 25mm pancake but am not impressed with the CA problem).

Last year I had the E-PL1 which I carried with the back of the camera aginst my palm, gripping the top and bottom with my fingers, with the lens pointing outwards, obviously.

For various reasons I got rid of the E-PL1, and am saving up for a replacement for this Summer's hill walks.

I'd much prefer an E-PM1 or E-PL3 but am concerned about the bulk of the flash as it joins with the accessory port. And I like to have flash easily available for the odd fill-in.

My question to anyone who has one of the above models, if you carry the camera with the flash in place in the manner described above, does the back of the flash feel awkward against the palm, and does it fix securely into the hotshoe / port?

I really don't want to make the wrong decision, if I'm carrying a camera for hours on end in sweltering British heat(1) I really want it to feel comfortable in the hand.

By the way, this is just the last on my list of needs, I've already studied IQ, handling, menu systems etc, and it's down to the EPM1, EPL3 and the Pannys GF2 &3.

Any replies welcome.

Thanks to everyone who looked at this question. I realise it was tricky to answer.

After studying video reviews of the PM1 and PL3 I decided I prefer an integral flash so have ordered a Panasonic GF2 from Amazon.

Mark

Hi Mark, good to hear you narrowed it down to a camera that will suit you, now would like to see some pics of the sweltering British heat.

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Canon Powershot S95, Canon 7D, 15-85, Canon 85 1.8 USM, Sigma 30 1.4, 50mm 1.8, Canon 100 2.8L IS Macro, Canon 70-300L IS USM+Kenko 1.4 Pro 300DGX, Canon 430EX II and RS 4 Classic

There was supposed to be a (!) rather than a (1) after my mention of the great British heatwave we get each summer (hot is over 15 degrees, right?)

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Olympus E-450 with ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6
Panasonic Lumix GF2 with 14-42mm lens
Canon Powershot SX130