Camera Reccomendations

[SenorGreg]

Hi all,
I am new here at DisBoards, so please be kind!

Amongst planning for some trips this year and next I thought it time to upgrade from my old Canon Elph (6+ years old) to something better. I thought that the boards might be able to provide some experienced help.

Quality
I am looking for the best photos I can get for my criteria, (obviously!). I would like something that could handle low light well too. I don't photograph action shots too much (no kids or sports).

Size and Weight:
I mainly would use this new camera when I travel, so size/weight/portability are important to me. I would like to be able to pocket it if possible. I have been looking at the low end Sony Nex cameras, but I think they may fail my portability criteria. When I go out for the day I always try to be as lightweight as possible. At WDW this usually means no wallet, just a room key, ID (to do room charges), a small camera and a credit card.

Price
I would like to spend less than $800.

Features
Having decent 1080 video available is handy.
GPS would be too, but I am not sure if this is poor for battery life??? I have noticed that GPS seems to disappear as a feature on higher end cameras, but I find it hand when I dump my photos back into iPhoto.

Summary:

Basically I am looking for the camera with the best quality photos in a range of situations in a size which I could stuff in a large pocket. I suppose these are pretty typical requirements, but I am trying to get out of the compact camera game into something which will produce better results, without having to carry a separate bag around. I am most interested in the Micro Four Thirds and equivalents, but I am not sure what to look for and who is producing the best cameras right now?

Thank you for any help you can provide,
Greg

 

[photo_chick]

Are you interested in changing lenses at all? Given your portability requirement it sounds like no, but I thought I'd ask.

 

[SenorGreg]

Are you interested in changing lenses at all? Given your portability requirement it sounds like no, but I thought I'd ask.

No, I don't think so, mainly because I don't know enough about photography yet to know what value I would get from each lens, and what research I have done tells me that would drive the price up with extra lenses.

Greg

 

[Pugrpooh]

Check out the Olympus E-PM1 (micro 4/3) http://www.cameta.com/Olympus-PEN-Mini-E-PM1-Micro-Digital-Camera-14-42mm-II-Lens-Black-Factory-Demo-65958.cfm This comes with the 14-42mm lens which is pretty small, but for this price you can also pick up the 17mm or 14mm pancake lens and be well under $800. Any of these would fit in a large pocket.

You could add the 14-150mm lens which is a great walk around lens, but is larger, but I keep mine around my neck when in WDW and you wouldn't have to change lenses.

I have the E-PL2 and the new Oly OM-D, both of which I like a lot.

I have bought refurbished cameras and lenses from Cameta and they come with a full warranty (which I've never had to use).

 

[SenorGreg]

That looks like a good size of camera at a great price.

I was kind of hoping for one with GPS tagging as well, but I have had trouble finding that in something with a larger sensor.

 

[toomanycars]

No, I don't think so, mainly because I don't know enough about photography yet to know what value I would get from each lens, and what research I have done tells me that would drive the price up with extra lenses.

Greg

Hi Greg, welcome

Have you looked at these?

Canon PowerShot G1 X

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong1x


Fujifilm X10

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2011/...eview-a-look-at-the-baby-brother-of-the-x100/

However if you wish to grow later, you may still want to look at interchangeable-lens cameras.

If smaller is driving, you may look at the Micro Four Thirds cameras from Olympus and Panasonic.

I have this camera

Olympus PEN E-P3

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusep3

or

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GX1

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_G3/http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcgx1

We all here on the Disboards have our picks, but you need to make the final choice. Do your research and make a informed one. Go to a local store if you can and see and compare.

 

[SenorGreg]

Thanks for the recommendations.

I had looked at the Canon G1 X, and feature wise and quality wise I did like it, but I just found it to be too chunky and if I may say, a little ugly.

I have also looked at the GX1, but I was a little worried about pocket-ability.


In your opinions, am I able to find good quality photos in a fixed lens (therefor more portable) or should I really be looking at interchangeable?

 

[toomanycars]

That looks like a good size of camera at a great price.

I was kind of hoping for one with GPS tagging as well, but I have had trouble finding that in something with a larger sensor.

You can get around not having a built in GPS and save your battery life too.

Read this.

http://www.macworld.com/article/1135225/geotagging.html

and the look at this

GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr Mini DPL900

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/656648-REG/GiSTEQ_C7_02DPL900_PhotoTrackr_Mini_DPL900.html

 

[SenorGreg]

You can get around not having a built in GPS and save your battery life too.

I had not heard of those, that sounds like an good and cheap solution, though it would be one more thing to carry around. Thanks again.

 

[toomanycars]

I had not heard of those, that sounds like an good and cheap solution, though it would be one more thing to carry around. Thanks again.

They are small, but you are right one more thing and a second step at home to tag.

Greg I spend too much money on camera gear each year, so my opinion. You can get better quality with interchangeable lenses. But you need to ask yourself what I am I doing with the final photos? If you are not making wall size prints you may never see the difference in the two side by side. You will be making some trade offs in keeping the size on the smaller side.

 

[toomanycars]

I had not heard of those, that sounds like an good and cheap solution, though it would be one more thing to carry around. Thanks again.

Sorry forgot if you have a smart phone you can use APP's like this one to tag the GPS info later.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/geotagr-a.k.a.-geologtag/id294194869?mt=8

 

[SenorGreg]

The Olympus Pen series seems like it might be a good mix of features and size...

I have been told that Canon is due to update their mirror less range this summer, is there any truth to this? If so I might wait to see what they release (just to confuse myself more!).

EDIT TO ADD:

As a complete newbie to interchangeable lenses, are the kit lenses usually supplied good enough to be an everyday lens that I could start with? I am thinking that later I could add another lens as needed...

 

[pantherlj]

I researched cameras for about a month and went back on forth on the small interchangables vs a high point and shoot. In the end, I decided portability was more important to me. I got the Panasonic ZS20 and am thrilled with it so far!
It's taking fantastic pictures and the video capture is amazing. Of course, I am coming from an old, old point and shoot so "fantastic" and "amazing" to me might not be true for someone coming from a DSLR.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Sen...ZBA2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338738006&sr=8-1

 

[photo_chick]

In your opinions, am I able to find good quality photos in a fixed lens (therefor more portable) or should I really be looking at interchangeable?

Consistently getting good technical quality image is pretty much dependent on the photographer. With any camera if you have a basic knowledge of photography you will be far more likely to end up with best images it can produce. And even cheap point and shoots today are capable of producing wonderful images. It's not so much what you use, but how you use it.

If you really don't want to change lenses then I'd look at some of the high end super zooms or bridge cameras. The kit lenses that come with most interchangeable lenses are good enough for everyday shooting but I've found they do come up short when compared to the lenses on some of the higher end fixed lens cameras. Also, when you're judging size are you doing so from what you see online or have you gotten your hands on them in the store?

 

[SenorGreg]

I think i am leaning more towards a high end fixed lens camera.
With that in mind the mentioned Panasonic sounds pretty good as does the Canon GX1.

Are there any other fixed lens models i should pay special attention to?

I will definitely go into a store to try these models hands on too, i just don't want to go in uninformed and be swayed by a salesman trying to offload a bad camera.

 

[BigOnDis]

You are in about the same situation as my daughter was. She wanted quality pictures, but wanted to be able to put it in her pocket. After looking at a ton of cameras she decided on an Olympus XZ-1. She has only had it for about a week, but has been very happy so far.

See review here http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/OlympusXZ1/

We leave for a two week Florida vacation including a week at Disney starting tomorrow so I can give a better review after that.

 

[SenorGreg]

You are in about the same situation as my daughter was. She wanted quality pictures, but wanted to be able to put it in her pocket. After looking at a ton of cameras she decided on an Olympus XZ-1. She has only had it for about a week, but has been very happy so far.

See review here http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/OlympusXZ1/

We leave for a two week Florida vacation including a week at Disney starting tomorrow so I can give a better review after that.

The review looked pretty good for the Olympus. My only concern is the difference in sensor size between this and say the Sony Nex style cameras. The review indicated that the lens seemed to make up for some of this on the Olympus. It will be really interesting to hear how you found it.

 

[SenorGreg]

I thought I would update everyone. I researched forever and was about to get the upcoming Sony RX100, until I found a great deal on a clearance Sony NEX-C3 with the twin lens kit. This gives me a compact 16mm lens and a zoom lens. With the compact lens attached I can fit it in a small belt clippable bag and be very portable.

I ended up picking up this kit with an bunch of accessories thrown in for $488, about $150 cheaper than the RX100 will be. Plus, since I doubt I will use all the include accessories, I hope to recover some of the cost by selling them on eBay. Especially the fish eye lens and Minolta lens adaptor.

Anyway, I have only had it one day, but I am very happy with the low light performance and overall picture quality. Thought I would mention the belt clip bag solution, as that is what made having the nice large image sensor and flexibility of an interchangeable lens camera possible.

Thanks again to all for your help!