What takes great pics and fits in my pocket?

[numtumfutunch]

The answer to the above is probably a Sony RX100 VII but please hear me out

I have flirted with amateur photography since the days of Amateur Photographer if any of you get the reference

Over the years I have had a number of cameras and camera systems generally alternating between SLRs of various descriptions and compact cameras which have been superseded by digital cameras and now mobile phones

My SLRs have taken exceptional pictures from a technical point of view
Thats an old OM2, a purely mechanical and very satisfying FM2 and a D300 from the early digital era

As you know these take superb pics but are hard to carry for candids when youre down at the boozer with mates or something spontaneous happens unexpectedly day to day. In fact unless I knew I was in a target rich environment I wouldnt of taken any of the above with me when out and about as they are just too bulky

Ive had compacts in between all of the above in both 35mm and digital format and subsequently camera phones which are easily the best compromise in terms portability and spontaneity at the expense of absolute quality

We are embarking on the trip of a lifetime next month to Yosemite and the Grand Canyon

The question is shall I upgrade my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to a S26 Ultra or buy a camera that will take better pics but still be easily portable, if so what if not the RX100? The internet suggests the RX100 is about to be upgraded. My previous experience with a previous generation Canon G was that it was great but difficult to fit in a coat/jacket pocket so I rarely took it outside the house

Thanks for your patience in reading this.

[Derek Smith]

Just to be extremely helpful, I’d say it’s a question only you can answer.

I’ve worked my way up from a Pocket Kodak an uncle left me to my present selection of state-of-the-art cameras from a compact to ones with multiple lenses and accessories. I’ve got four tripods. I take local landscapes – woods, ponds and such, and also macro shots of insects, flowers, fungi and foliage. (I’m great company at a party.) As a background on my desktop I have a 100mp image of a mushroom.

I’ve also got a Pixel 8 Pro and a DJI Action Pro. I take the former everywhere and the latter on every photographic walk.

I can only say what I’d take on such a trip as you are proposing. The phone. That’s essential. The compact. That’s another requirement. I’d consider the DSLR, perhaps with my 28-280 zoom. I mean, this is a trip of a lifetime. I’d be worried that I might be standing somewhere that is just asking for a high quality image, one the phone and compact would struggle with. I’d beat myself up.

If limited to one; the phone.

[bcr5784]

While the rumours of the RX100viii are circulating again, there is no chance of you getting hold of one for your holiday. Of course if the rumours are correct it may impact the resale value of a vii.

If you do decide on a vii I would get one as soon as possible. The menu is system as owners (like me) will tell you, is crap, but can largely be overcome by personalisation - but that takes time and effort. Likewise the lack of buttons means customisation of the ones you have needs thought - the trash button, for example can serve as 3 separate menu options.

Good luck with your holiday.

[some bloke]

I have mentioned them before but I am a fan of the Panasonic Lumix TZ series. I have had several over the years, a TZ40, a couple of 80s and a 90.
They have a 24-720mm zoom (part digital but reasonable quality) shoot raw, video, and have aperture and shutter control. It'll fit in your pocket and do 90%+ of what a DSLR can do. Having said that, in big landscapes like the USA you may be ok with a phone. I find phone zooms can be a bit potato.

[Derek Smith]

I've got a 'bad' back. It is progressive, although it isn't going as fast as the doctor/physio suggested, and carrying a camera, even on a sling, can be a problem after the first three hours. I take video and stills with my Panasonic G9/G9ii MFT cameras, and small lens selection.

I went to a car show and because I'd been out filming the day before, limited myself to my DJI Action 5 camera and Pixel 8 Pro phone, the former for video and work out what I used the mobile for.

I am pleased with the results particularly of the video. While obviously inferior to an extent to my MFTs, once the video was prepped for YouTube, the loss of quality was minimal. The stills, not so much. Adequate for online, but I won't try it for prints. There was an interesting column in Digital Camera World this or last month on the progress made by mobile phone imaging and, by inference, on other hardware using smaller sensors, particularly of the in-camera processing. The author suggested the technology is advancing at such a rate, for the vast majority of photographers it will mean them ditching mirrorless as they won't need it.

My back will mean I'll soon have to make a decision on way to go, and, much as I'll hate to do it, ditching most of my MFT equipment might be the way. I do a bit of studio work and that means I'll keep my G9ii and a macro lens, plus one or two others (two in fact) and use the action camera and mobile for the rest.

[mattyn1]

You have an impending problem, a good problem but a problem none the less. A trip of a lifetime to Yosemite and the GC will be only the best trip so far I can almost guarantee this will mean you will want to do more, do higher and do higher in the US and add Canada into that mix!

I would seriously look at the latest iPhone (or the android equiv). We are on holiday currently with friends, he is a retired photographer who has A plethora of stuff. He has come on thanks trip with just his iPhone a 17 Pro Max . And is thinking of selling all his other gear.

I have brought my X-T3, a Sony ZV-E10 ii, and an Osmo Acton 4. And of course my iPhone 15 pro max. IMO the phone does everything mine are just snaps, like this one. The 17 is apparently
Streets ahead of the 15.

Not used the Sony enough to understand it properly and did buy it for my daughter to be honest. I love my X-T3 but lugging about is a pain!

Niagara tonight .



And earlier .



And they are just snaps. What one who knows what he is doing could do with the latest device has got to be worthy of consideration.

Also I have to say the video from my Action 4 is incredible, but again not used enough to properly exploit it. My thinking will be next trip, sell the Fujifilm, keep the Sony If Ella my daughter does not want it, , upgrade the Osmo Action 4 to the latest, and upgrade my phone to what I think will be the. 18 by then! Those, coupled with my Neo2 will be everything I need, and likely still overkill.

Edited by mattyn1 on Sunday 3rd May 03:22

[Craikeybaby]

It depends on how deep your pockets are, in both senses on the term...

Personally, if I want to travel light I take my Fuji X100V, I think it takes great pictures, and it fits in a jacket pocket.

However, for a once in a lifetime trip, I wouldn't want to be messing about with an unfamiliar camera system. Yosemite is great, but very well photographed. I had a Canon 5D and L lenses when I went - definitely not pocketable.


Tunnel View by Lewis Craik, on Flickr