What Camera please?

[Rob_RCF]

Spaceman3 said:

Thanks for all replies, I too got excited by Panasonic. I think I am aiming for something which just isn't there for ideal budget. Now looking into Nikon Z 6 ii...

I was going to suggest maybe a Z6 as they are quite cheap used. But a Z6 II is even better as it has lots of updates and fixes compared to the first version.

Not as bulky as a DSLR, but you still have a full frame sensor and can change lenses. If you can get one with the 24-70 lens as a kit that's a great start for landscape stuff.

Here's a shot of Tryfan I took with my Z6 and 24-70/2.8 a few weeks ago in Wales:

[isaldiri]

Technotronic said:

Spaceman3 said:

Everything really, but mainly landscapes, seascapes, street scenes.

Ricoh GR3.

You can thank me later.

^ this is a good shout for the intended purpose I think.

[Technotronic]

isaldiri said:

Technotronic said:

Spaceman3 said:

Everything really, but mainly landscapes, seascapes, street scenes.

Ricoh GR3.

You can thank me later.

^ this is a good shout for the intended purpose I think.

Given the use case by the OP, you would really struggle to beat a GR3.

It's a bonkers camera, and how they pack it all into something almost the size of a packet of cigarettes is crazy:

APS-C size Sony 24mp sensor with terrific dynamic range.
Optical stabilisation with 4 stops of shake reduction.
Touch screen.
Heaps of customisation, user presets, and features such as snap-focus.
F2.8 lens
Built in ND filter

etc etc. All of which contributes to one of the best pocket cameras you can buy. Price reflects that of course.

The most important thing is that it is tiny, and slips in almost any pocket. Like they always say, the best camera is the one you have with you, and since I bought the GR3 I have taken way more photos, and really good photos (IMO) since I ditched all my DLSR and Mirrorless.

Best pocket camera for travel, street, cityscape, architecture, landscape, and so on, The RAW files that this thing produces are staggering. The detail is razor sharp and the dynamic range is massive.

There are better cameras of course, but I'm a big fan of the GR3 for being a pocket rocket and actually encouraging you to get out there and take better photos.

[Craikeybaby]

The only thing that it misses is a viewfinder, which is where the Fuji X100 family come in, but then of course it is less pocketable.

Obviously with both of these options you need to be happy with a fixed focal length.

Edited by Craikeybaby on Sunday 26th May 16:30

[Itsallicanafford]

I’m a great fan of the Ricoh GR, I still use my GR digital which is about 10 years old.

Be careful buying the III, the IV should be out in 6-12 months time, the III is at the end of its product cycle now.

[Itsallicanafford]

Btw, the canon R8 with the 28mm pancake would make a great street shooter…

[Phil.]

Has anyone mentioned the Sony RX100 VII?

[Technotronic]

Phil. said:

Has anyone mentioned the Sony RX100 VII?

I had a Mk2 and Mk4.

Absolutely brilliant camera, and I enjoyed them a lot, but I much prefer my Ricoh GR3. Better/bigger sensor, sharper lens, bigger aperture, etc etc.

IMO the RX100 is only the better camera if you need zoom. I almost never need to zoom due to the type of images I shoot, so it was a wasted feature for me... and if you don't need zoom, then its better to have the bigger sensor, sharper/faster lens etc.

Again, just my opinion, but if you shoot landscape, travel, street scenes, architecture etc, then you never need zoom. You just need a fast, fixed, 28-35mm lens. You can always crop a bit in post if you need to trim the edges a bit.

[Tony1963]

Technotronic said:

I had a Mk2 and Mk4.

Absolutely brilliant camera, and I enjoyed them a lot, but I much prefer my Ricoh GR3. Better/bigger sensor, sharper lens, bigger aperture, etc etc.

IMO the RX100 is only the better camera if you need zoom. I almost never need to zoom due to the type of images I shoot, so it was a wasted feature for me... and if you don't need zoom, then its better to have the bigger sensor, sharper/faster lens etc.

Again, just my opinion, but if you shoot landscape, travel, street scenes, architecture etc, then you never need zoom. You just need a fast, fixed, 28-35mm lens. You can always crop a bit in post if you need to trim the edges a bit.

So nobody ever uses, for example, 200mm to shoot landscape? Of course they do. A fixed lens is extremely limiting, and for most people it just isn’t suitable. I love the idea of it, but it’s not for me.

The OP would need to think very hard about that, I’d say.

[Fordo]

Tony1963 said:

So nobody ever uses, for example, 200mm to shoot landscape? Of course they do. A fixed lens is extremely limiting, and for most people it just isn’t suitable. I love the idea of it, but it’s not for me.

The OP would need to think very hard about that, I’d say.

100% agree. To me, street photography, urban settings are the places id consider a fixed wide lens type of camera.

I have an RX100 mark 5, and always take it on hikes or holidays, as I dont want to lug about my big work kit for fun.

. Its the last one they made with an equivalent, 24-70mm f1.8-f2.8 lens. The combo of 1" sensor and relatively fast lens, make it great for night photography or a little shallow dof. The later RX100's shifted to a longer zoom ratio, but in the process of course, lost a stop.

There's times i'd like a little more zoom ratio from the later ones, like spotting some wildlife etc - but i do like that f1.8 on the wide end.

So of course, the answer with photography, is really is we need all the toys really!

I've also found, with the mark 5 at least, the sensor has quite a unique look - very slight glow on highlights (a bit like 1/8 black promist), and the noise at higher ISO's, is reasonably free of colour noise. So i find the combo of the two can give quite film like qualities.

To balance, the things i dont like about an y Sonhy camera - fiddly, non intuitive menus.

One thing i also notice when out and about with it - While it does, generally, take better photos than a phone (more detailed, less muddy and oversharpened than a phone), however it doesnt have the smarts of a phone. So in really challenging situations, like heavily backlit, a modern phone will do some clever in cam processing / fake hdr etc etc, and end up, with an out of the camera better photo. I've no doubt i could recreate simialr on the RX100, with bracketed exposures, bit of lightroom processing etc - but, for a quick snap and want to share it, you cant beat a modern phone. Also my phone has a mega wide angle lens, so i whip it out for wide angle holiday photos.

So to the OP, for me, its

A good modern phone - for snaps you want to share instantly, least thinking necessary. Modern phones do have some amazing 'computational photography' technology. (even if, to me, its getting away from what what photography really is about... but thats another convo!)

Sony RX100iv - 1" sensor 24-70 f1.8-f2.8, if you want a small pocket cam with manual controls, with a fast lenbs, that takes nicer photos than a phone.

RX100vi or vii - 1" sensor sensor 24-200mm f2.8-f4.5, hard to beat if you want a pocket cam with great zoom range

Canon G5xiii - Canons rival to the RX100 series. im not as familiar with Canon's cameras, but i do love Canon's colour rendering. The G5 has some great specs - 1 inch sensor and (equivalent) and an f1.8 to f2.8 24-120mm lens. Id consider one if i lost my little Rx100iv.

Ricoh - Hard to beat if you truely want DSLR performance in your pocket, with its APSC sized sensor. But only if the fixed lens suits your shooting style. I believe a few other makes do fixed lens APSC pocket-ish sized cams

Hope some of that helps!

[Phil.]

That’s a really good summary of the options currently available and their pros/cons

[MTK1919]

Fordo said:

100% agree. To me, street photography, urban settings are the places id consider a fixed wide lens type of camera.

I have an RX100 mark 5, and always take it on hikes or holidays, as I dont want to lug about my big work kit for fun.

. Its the last one they made with an equivalent, 24-70mm f1.8-f2.8 lens. The combo of 1" sensor and relatively fast lens, make it great for night photography or a little shallow dof. The later RX100's shifted to a longer zoom ratio, but in the process of course, lost a stop.

There's times i'd like a little more zoom ratio from the later ones, like spotting some wildlife etc - but i do like that f1.8 on the wide end.

So of course, the answer with photography, is really is we need all the toys really!

I've also found, with the mark 5 at least, the sensor has quite a unique look - very slight glow on highlights (a bit like 1/8 black promist), and the noise at higher ISO's, is reasonably free of colour noise. So i find the combo of the two can give quite film like qualities.

To balance, the things i dont like about an y Sonhy camera - fiddly, non intuitive menus.

One thing i also notice when out and about with it - While it does, generally, take better photos than a phone (more detailed, less muddy and oversharpened than a phone), however it doesnt have the smarts of a phone. So in really challenging situations, like heavily backlit, a modern phone will do some clever in cam processing / fake hdr etc etc, and end up, with an out of the camera better photo. I've no doubt i could recreate simialr on the RX100, with bracketed exposures, bit of lightroom processing etc - but, for a quick snap and want to share it, you cant beat a modern phone. Also my phone has a mega wide angle lens, so i whip it out for wide angle holiday photos.

So to the OP, for me, its

A good modern phone - for snaps you want to share instantly, least thinking necessary. Modern phones do have some amazing 'computational photography' technology. (even if, to me, its getting away from what what photography really is about... but thats another convo!)

Sony RX100iv - 1" sensor 24-70 f1.8-f2.8, if you want a small pocket cam with manual controls, with a fast lenbs, that takes nicer photos than a phone.

RX100vi or vii - 1" sensor sensor 24-200mm f2.8-f4.5, hard to beat if you want a pocket cam with great zoom range

Canon G5xiii - Canons rival to the RX100 series. im not as familiar with Canon's cameras, but i do love Canon's colour rendering. The G5 has some great specs - 1 inch sensor and (equivalent) and an f1.8 to f2.8 24-120mm lens. Id consider one if i lost my little Rx100iv.

Ricoh - Hard to beat if you truely want DSLR performance in your pocket, with its APSC sized sensor. But only if the fixed lens suits your shooting style. I believe a few other makes do fixed lens APSC pocket-ish sized cams

Hope some of that helps!

That’s fantastic advice!

I’ve recently purchased a RX100M7 to complement my X100v and I’m very impressed. Yes it’s a 5yr old camera now but the size and zoom capabilities make it ideal to have around whenever I’m travelling. It’s a decent chunk smaller than the Fujifilm and truly pocketable.

I considered a Ricoh GR iiix but unfortunately they were hard to come by where I’m based. I did manage to sample a demo model whilst in London recently though and you get a lot of bang for your buck……the only downside is it feels really cheap with lots of plastic.

Back to the M7, it takes some phenomenal pictures for the size of the thing. Handling is a bit tricky but you soon get used to it.