Could you help suggest a camera for me

[jbuckent]

I just sold my Nikon D7000 and all gear! I haven't used it in over 6 months. I never wanted to lug it around when my iphone 6 was usually good enough. The printing I do of my photos is typically only a shutterfly photobook (I don't need amazing resolution), max size 8X10, or if my kids need to bring a photo to school I'll do a 4X6 from Target.

I know I will want something better for indoors, when I take my kids Christmas photos in my small living room, their school perfomances where I am usually far away in a poorly lit room.

I used a 35mm lens 95% of the time with my D7000 and would crop to get a better zoom which sometimes worked and sometimes didn't.

When I sold my gear the sales people asked what I was thinking about instead and I mentioned the Fuji X100t. I like the size, I like that it has manual controls, reviews are good, photos I've seen with it are good, what I'm nervous about is there is no zoom. They tried stearing me to to Fuji X1 and X10 and were doing a good job. I went home and was thinking about it, reading reviews, looking at prices, and I don't think that is for me. I know I would want a prime similar to my 35mm and I would probably want a zoom as well, now I'm back to the issue I had with my D7000, it would all sit in my camera bag and not get used other than very specific times like the Christmas card photo. I'd also like to keep the price down and a body with lenses starts adding up.

My research has also lead me to look at the Sony RX100 II. This one gives me the zoom that I might like having, the examples I've seen with it look nice, and the price is great but it looks like it will be kind of cumbersome to shoot in manual.

Any opinions for me on the Fuji x100t vs Sony Rx100? Anything else you think I should look at?

 

[redkel]

Sounds like you want a decent p&s with some manual control. Since you sold all of your DSLR gear, you don't want to go down that road again.

I'm a professional photographer and never haul my gear to WDW or to DD's school events. I use a couple different Nikon Coolpix point and shoots. I shoot 5-10k pictures a month with my DSLR gear, so dealing with that while on vacation or having family time is not my idea of fun.

There are plenty P&S options out there -- Fuji X series (you've looked at a couple, but the 30 is a good option also). If you're a Nikon fan -- the Coolpix P7800 is worth a look. No gear to haul and will get you good, creative shots with some practice. Those are two that I've personally held in my hands and experimented with. You can rent cameras also -- a quick google search will come up with a couple options for you and depending on your area, you may have a local camera co-op that will rent gear as well.

 

[havoc315]

Actually, the manual controls on the rx100 are pretty decent. Better than some dslrs.

Image quality can't quite compare in large low light prints, but the quality is shockingly good for smaller prints and/or better light.

But I would look at the rx100iii or iv for the faster lens and EVF.

 

[bob100]

I just sold my Nikon D7000 and all gear! I haven't used it in over 6 months. I never wanted to lug it around when my iphone 6 was usually good enough. The printing I do of my photos is typically only a shutterfly photobook (I don't need amazing resolution), max size 8X10, or if my kids need to bring a photo to school I'll do a 4X6 from Target.

I know I will want something better for indoors, when I take my kids Christmas photos in my small living room, their school perfomances where I am usually far away in a poorly lit room.

I used a 35mm lens 95% of the time with my D7000 and would crop to get a better zoom which sometimes worked and sometimes didn't.

When I sold my gear the sales people asked what I was thinking about instead and I mentioned the Fuji X100t. I like the size, I like that it has manual controls, reviews are good, photos I've seen with it are good, what I'm nervous about is there is no zoom. They tried stearing me to to Fuji X1 and X10 and were doing a good job. I went home and was thinking about it, reading reviews, looking at prices, and I don't think that is for me. I know I would want a prime similar to my 35mm and I would probably want a zoom as well, now I'm back to the issue I had with my D7000, it would all sit in my camera bag and not get used other than very specific times like the Christmas card photo. I'd also like to keep the price down and a body with lenses starts adding up.

My research has also lead me to look at the Sony RX100 II. This one gives me the zoom that I might like having, the examples I've seen with it look nice, and the price is great but it looks like it will be kind of cumbersome to shoot in manual.

Any opinions for me on the Fuji x100t vs Sony Rx100? Anything else you think I should look at?

I guess I would pick the Sony but really (for me) I would never go back to a fixed lens camera. Photos quality is enhanced by the ability to change lens and portraits, landscapes, sports all require different lens. Perhaps increase the budget and look at a Sony mirrorless with the ability to change lens. I use a light weight mirrorless for family, travel and events. For other things like birds, sports and wildlife I use the DSLR


www.flickr.com/photos/mmirrorless

 

[manning]

How much information do I need?
To figure out how much information you need for a specific print size all you need do is multiply the print size by the resolution desired. For example, with the 300dpi rule in mind, to print an 8x10 photo you would need 2400 pixels by 3000 pixels of information. If you were displaying an image on the internet (where 72 pixels per inch is acceptable) you would only need 576 pixels by 720 pixels.

So how many megapixels do I need?
Each camera displays data in slightly different ratios but there are some "rules of thumb" you can follow. Decide what the largest size image you will want to print. For most people this will be an 8x10 image. Determine the number of pixels needed for a 300dpi print (2400x3000 for an 8x10). Next multiply the two pixel dimensions together. For an 8x10 this comes out to 7.2 million pixels, or 7.2 megapixels. This is the preferred number of MP you need if an 8x10 print is the largest you are likely to print.

A smaller pixel count means better light gathering. Sensors are small usually 1/2.3. A large pixel can gather more light than a small pixel. The more pixels you try to pack into the sensor the smaller the pixel gets.

Chart of common prints and preferred MP
4x6 2.1MP
5x7 3.1MP
8x10 7.2MP


I just got a Panasonic FZ300. It has 12MP. It zooms 24mm to 600mm with f/2.8 to f/8.0 and the f-stop is continuous I.E. Makes no difference whether you shooting at 24mm or 600mm the f-stop can be f2.8

The lens is a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit, 14 elements in 11 groups
5 Aspherical, 3 ED
EFL: 4.5-108mm (35 mm equivalent: 25-600mm)
Aperture: f/2.8 to f/8

This happens to be the brand I got. I have owned other brands and been happy

The two things that sold me on it is 25-600mm zoom and it is splash proof/dust proof. That means you can shoot in the rain. Just don't submerge it. I believe
it will survive a drop into a water puddle if you retrieve it right away.

 

[jbuckent]

I'm really having a hard time deciding what to do. For a compact camera I'm pretty settled on the Sony RX100 III. But I do wonder if I'd be happier with a mirror less. If I went with the A6000, I found an excellent rated used at my local store for $399, any suggestions on a lens. I was happy with my 35mm 1.8 on my D7000, what would be comparable? Any decent zoom?

 

[havoc315]

I'm really having a hard time deciding what to do. For a compact camera I'm pretty settled on the Sony RX100 III. But I do wonder if I'd be happier with a mirror less. If I went with the A6000, I found an excellent rated used at my local store for $399, any suggestions on a lens. I was happy with my 35mm 1.8 on my D7000, what would be comparable? Any decent zoom?

There are several very good 35mm primes for the A6000. There are some exceptional primes for the Sony mirrorless, the zooms are more mediocre, but capable of very good results.

The question, as is often the case, is size/convenience versus quality/flexibility.

The RX100 is very very good for its size. But its sensor is still much smaller than the D7000/A6000. You can get exceptional shots with the RX100 up to ISO 800/1600 (good enough for very large prints)... and get perfectly usable shots at ISO 6400 (by usable, I mean they still look very good as 4X6 prints or web images). The camera will fit in a jacket pocket easily. It's very easy to carry everywhere, you will never notice the weight. It has a very good lens, with a fast aperture, but you are limited to 24-70mm.

The A6000 is much smaller than the D7000, but certainly larger than the RX100. Especially once you start adding various lenses. It isn't necessarily a pocket camera.. you will want a small camera bag in all likelihood. So you might still find it "too big" or you might find it to be a nice compromise size. It will give even better image quality than the D7000. Same size sensor, but newer technology. You'll get exceptional shots into the ISO 1600/3200 range, and usable shots at 12800. The RX100 with built-in lens may actually be a better overall package than the A6000+kit lens, but once you start putting primes on the A6000, you have much higher potential in your images. Of course, that means you may be carrying multiple lenses, but that will give you greater flexibility than you'd have with the RX100.

I own both a full dSLR set-up (D750), along with the RX100 (original version still). If I really want to go light, I just carry the RX100. So I might take the RX100 to dinner, or just for a casual walk. Maybe I'll take it when I know I'll be somewhere interesting, but where photography is not central to my trip. (For example, if work brings me into Manhattan, I might just slip my RX100 into my bag). I carry my large camera bag when getting the best images is important to me, when photography is the purpose of my outing.

 

[jbuckent]

I decided to go with the A6000 and the 35mm 1.8 lens! The Rx100 III feels too small and had some awkward things like needing to reach over the EVF to bounce the flash.

 

[havoc315]

I decided to go with the A6000 and the 35mm 1.8 lens! The Rx100 III feels too small and had some awkward things like needing to reach over the EVF to bounce the flash.

Congratulations. I think you'll be happy with it.

 

[fractal]

I decided to go with the A6000 and the 35mm 1.8 lens! The Rx100 III feels too small and had some awkward things like needing to reach over the EVF to bounce the flash.

Great combo and congrats.

Don't forget to post some shots in the Sony Alpha thread!