DSLR / Mirrorless? / Compact? - For Holidays

[isaldiri]

havoc said:

<snipped for brevity>
Big lenses on SLRs will be here for a long while yet.

Camera bodies are shrinking, particularly with mirrorless. But I think limits are being reached there due to the combination of sensor size* and having enough 'real estate' to make holding the camera comfortable - I just couldn't get on with my Dad's Olympus 4/3rds as it was too small. A modern mid-range mirrorless feels like a natural end-state, ergonomically.

Agreed with that, for the sensor size required, lenses are always going to have to be big, especially for large zoom lenses and they are the constraining factor for how small one can shrink a mirrorless. In many respects as far as handling is concened, a APS-C already feels too small for a larger 400mm class lens imo rather than a 'normal' full frame.

[LunarOne]

For me, camera bodies are shrinking too much. I love a proper pentaprism viewfinder which I find infinitely preferable over digital viewfinders or rear screens. No matter how high resolution, they just don't show focus as sharply and resort to tricks like pixel-zooming as an alternative, which I accept some might prefer. My old Nikon D200 body was the best camera I've ever had in terms of handling, surpassing more modern stuff. It wasn't so complicated and nearly everything could be controlled by external buttons and dials. My Sony Alpha is an absolute ergonomic nightmare in comparison. It's too small so the controls are cramped, there's no top settings display, and nearly every setting has to be done in on-screen menus.

[Riley Blue]

Derek Smith said:

Riley Blue said:

I was talking to my sister yesterday in our weekly Zoom meeting and she has a Panasonic TZ camera (she's not sure of the model number) that she no longer uses since retiring from teaching and it's mine if I can use it.

I'd say give it a try. Out of all my cameras, my aged TZ is my favourite. It will have an automatic mode that you can start with, with only the choice of focal length to concern you. The power zoom is easy to use. Once you've got the hang of auto, you'll want to experiment, although you don't have to. Mine's 12mp with a good zoom.

It will fit in a shirt pocket or you can have a case fitted to your belt. It's a great starter camera and, if it doesn't fire you towards better cameras, it's a great camera.

As a conclusion to this aspect of the thread, my sister's camera arrived and is a TZ8. I've been using it on my daily walks and have been impressed except it doesn't have the RAW capability which I prefer and some of the controls are a bit fiddly for my arthritic fingers.

I discovered a TZ95D on sale at a good price. It should be here today and I have until January to return it if I can't get on with it.

[RosscoPCole]

I used to have a Nikon DSLR, but found it too bulky and got in the way of family life. I tried using just my phone and was disappointed with the results. Now I have a Panasonic TZ200 which fits in my pocket and I've started enjoying taking photos again without having to carry an extra bag for a camera.

[YorkshireStu]

LunarOne said:

For me, camera bodies are shrinking too much. I love a proper pentaprism viewfinder which I find infinitely preferable over digital viewfinders or rear screens. No matter how high resolution, they just don't show focus as sharply and resort to tricks like pixel-zooming as an alternative, which I accept some might prefer. My old Nikon D200 body was the best camera I've ever had in terms of handling, surpassing more modern stuff. It wasn't so complicated and nearly everything could be controlled by external buttons and dials. My Sony Alpha is an absolute ergonomic nightmare in comparison. It's too small so the controls are cramped, there's no top settings display, and nearly every setting has to be done in on-screen menus.

Maybe try the Canon R5?

It has none of the problems you have identified and is leaps and bounds ahead of any DSLR ever made in terms of getting the shot.

My pocketable camera though is a Fujifilm X100v.

[Phil.]

I’m thinking of buying a Sony RX100 Vii. I have an earlier version and like its size which is important to me but welcome the additional functionality of the later model.

Sony seem to have moved their compacts in to the Vlog market with the ZV models so I believe the RX100 Vii will be the last model of that range.

I’ve looked at the other compact models mentioned in this thread but prefer the Sony overall (there is always a compromise). The nearest alternative is the Fujifilm X100v but it’s virtually unobtainable or nearly twice the price of the RX100 Vii so not really an option presently.