DSLR / Mirrorless? / Compact? - For Holidays

[FlexRay]

Hi,

I have dipped into photography many years ago having bought several Canon DSLR's, at the moment I have a Cannon 700D with a 18-135 Lens installed.

Being honest with myself...I dont really need something that big additionally technology has improved so much when i bought it (2014) so I have been looking at something new.

I am away on a family holiday next month, can anyone advise on something a bit more compact with a good long distance lens like i have?

I know its a mine field and there is probably no right answer but if anyone has something they are happy with and would recommend ill have a look!

Thanks

Craig

[Derek Smith]

If going for a compact, I'd try second hand. Their prices seem to drop rapidly.

If you want new, I've had a Pansonic TZ for years. It has 12mp and a 10x zoom. Modern ones' norm is 20mp and 15x zoom. Some are 30x. Bit excessive? Light to carry, fits in a pocket. The quality of mine, with its Leica-badged lens is great. The Lumix stabilising is remarkable. I had a friend with a compact/bridge that had a massive zoom. After exhausting the possibilities of the Moon, he tended to use the extreme end rarely.

I've got two Lumix 4/3rds cameras, a GH2 and a G9. I normally take my TZ with me on a shoot. Just in case.

All/most manufacturers offer pocket compacts. I have had a Cannon and a Nikon. Both did what it said on the tin. Pay your money, etc.

I'd go to a camera shop and look for one that 'fits your hands'.

[Deltic]

This was taken on a Samsung compact (12mp & 10x zoom) which I brought on ebay for about £25
Like you I've got a DSLR, but having the Samsung does mean that I can just slip it in my pocket.
Holidays I usually take both, but the compact is great for carrying around and much better than the phone.
As Derek says above, have a look around as there very few bad cameras from the major brands

[FlexRay]

Hi,

Thanks for the advice, I agree a visit to a Camera shop will be a good start!

Thanks

[Derek Smith]

FlexRay said:

Hi,

Thanks for the advice, I agree a visit to a Camera shop will be a good start!

Thanks

Could you let us know what you decided? Then we can all tell you why you are wrong.

One further bit of advice: enjoy the choosing and buying process. I love it.

[wyson]

One of the Samsung Galaxy Ultra phones. I’ve totally ditched my DSLR too and just use a phone. Always make sure to prioritise the camera with a phone purchase. Found its all I need for casual snapping and viewing photos on a phone, laptop or tablet.

Look at the pics below from the x10 zoom lens (230mm equivalent). Sure if you pixel peep or need to create large prints you will be able to tell vs a DSLR but I reckon for casual use, its really good enough.

https://amateurphotographer.com/review/samsung-gal...

Edited by wyson on Monday 30th October 08:12

[isaldiri]

FlexRay said:

Hi,

Thanks for the advice, I agree a visit to a Camera shop will be a good start!

Thanks

How much zoom capability would you need? If something like your old setup, perhaps try one of the newer sony RX100s. Since the mk vi, it's picked up a 24-200mm equivalent (iirc) lens and it's small enough to be popped into a pocket.

[Riley Blue]

Though not a current model, this would seem to be a steal:

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/panasonic-lumix-...

[havoc]

I think the short answer is "it depends what photography you want to do"

If it's just 'holiday snaps', arguably a top-end phone camera now does most of what a compact camera can do, and if it's only for sharing on social media that may well be enough. But there are limitations - low light performance is still poor in comparison, fast-moving objects are still difficult to capture, there is a lag between pressing the screen and a photo being taken, depth of field is still difficult to control. And a proper camera will still give your photos more 'punch'.

So if you need any of that, in increasing order of price:-
- A 4/3rds will give you nearly all the functionality of your old DSLR in a smaller package, and probably with a better sensor.
- A modern DSLR will give you a much better sensor, better low-light performance and better frames-per-second if you want to shoot activity (sports/wildlife/etc)
- A mirrorless will do all the DSLR does and more, in a smaller package, but for a price.
...but with all 3 you'd be recommended to get a few good lenses, not just 1 all-round superzoom/kit lens.

[FlexRay]

Great advice everyone.

Thanks for taking time to respond.

[Halmyre]

Riley Blue said:

Though not a current model, this would seem to be a steal:

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/panasonic-lumix-...

It would be if the buggers had any in stock

[LunarOne]

I studied Photography and electronic imaging science at university, and have a Nikon DSLR and Sony Alpha 7RIII, but 99% of the time I just use my phone - especially when on holiday, when I don't want to be faffing and when I'm not on a photography mission that involves waiting for the right light.

Just happened to watch this guy compare his Canon Pro mirrorless cameras with the iPhone 15 and I'm stunned by how well the iPhone did. If you're not going to be hanging the photos in a gallery, and you don't need the control over shutter speed/iso/depth of field that a proper camera gives, and you can do without long lenses, then a modern phone might do exactly what you need.

[wyson]

They recorded the latest Apple ‘spooky’ presentation using the iPhone 15 Max Plus Super Duper Ultra. I would never have known if it wasn’t for MKBHD on youtube highlighting a caption at the end. To all intents and purposes it looked like it was recorded using professional video equipment.

[Easternlight]

Halmyre said:

Riley Blue said:

Though not a current model, this would seem to be a steal:

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/panasonic-lumix-...

It would be if the buggers had any in stock

That model is exactly what I was going to suggest, I bought one 3/4 years ago and my DSLR has hardly seen the light of day since.
As a privious poster said the zoom and stabilization are brilliant.
I'd buy a spare if they had any.

[C4ME]

I have had a Fujifilm X100T for quite a long period now. Found carrying a Nikon DSLR around all the time too inconvenient. It is never going to replace the DSLR, with all the specialised lenses you can attach, but for everyday use / street photography / holiday / social events then I have become very attached to it.

[Bungleaio]

The Sony RX100 line is really good, they are quite a bit more then the lumix that's been posted though.

[andburg]

I have 3 cameras

iPhone 11
Sony a57 dslr
Panasonic tz100

Bought the Panasonic for holidays rather than taking the dslr. It’s been on one trip and then sat idle. Truth is that it’s still another thing to carry, too big for jeans pocket. Add a case and a spare battery as powered optical zoom is thirsty and it’s in a bag. Without using the zoom it’s hard to tell the difference between camera and iPhone pictures.

When my phone dies I’ll get an iPhone pro.

DSLR is staying for anything where focal length or zoom is needed.

[havoc]

LunarOne said:

Just happened to watch this guy compare his Canon Pro mirrorless cameras with the iPhone 15 and I'm stunned by how well the iPhone did. If you're not going to be hanging the photos in a gallery, and you don't need the control over shutter speed/iso/depth of field that a proper camera gives, and you can do without long lenses, then a modern phone might do exactly what you need.

I sort of agree...but I'm also of the opinion that if it's somewhere/something important (a holiday, a family event, somewhere you won't be going back to), then you probably DO want control over shutter release / shutter speed / DoF as a bare minimum. The plus side is that the phone lenses are all primes, so CA and distortion should be better than cheap SLR lenses.

You don't need to have an all-singing / all-dancing SLR, but something that you can drive properly (4/3rds?) doesn't feel like a big problem.


Final thought - if you're shelling out £1k every couple of years on a phone just to get good camera performance, think how much proper photography kit you could accumulate over 5 or 6 years...

[Riley Blue]

Easternlight said:

That model is exactly what I was going to suggest, I bought one 3/4 years ago and my DSLR has hardly seen the light of day since.
As a privious poster said the zoom and stabilization are brilliant.
I'd buy a spare if they had any.

I'm waiting for the latest version, the Lumix DC-TZ95D or the Sony DSC-HX99 to drop below £400 again. If anyone has a suggestion for others with a similar spec and price, please share.

[funinhounslow]

Riley Blue said:

I'm waiting for the latest version, the Lumix DC-TZ95D or the Sony DSC-HX99 to drop below £400 again. If anyone has a suggestion for others with a similar spec and price, please share.

I’ve just purchased a Panasonic LX-15. It doesn’t have the long zoom but is £100 less and I thought the 1” sensor and bright lens will be of more use day to day. If I need a long zoom I’ll get my DSLR out.