Help me choose a compact camera for travelling!

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sxz

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#164381 7-Feb-2015 19:27

We have a 2 month trip coming up later this year, and would like to avoid lugging our old Cannon 500d + lenses + bag, so we are toying with the idea of getting a new compact camera. There is way too much choice, so I thought someone out there might be able to recommend something! I love how the compact cameras appear to do a lot more stuff than the SLR's (despite being worse in quality)...

Ideally this is what I'm looking for:
1) Large zoom (at least 20x if possible, with OIS)
2) Wifi - control with phone (I like the idea of being able to upload to onedrive or facebook & control the camera)
3) 1080p video (preferably 60p)
4) Auto modes like Panorama, HRD, night shoot etc. (slowmo if possible!)
5) Waterproof (although as far as I can see I can't get waterproof & superzoom. In that case I'd prefer superzoom).
6) Excellent battery.
7) USB Charging (for ease!)
8) Not sure what else.

Any advice or recommendation would be cool!

I like the look of the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ55GN ...
https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/cameras/digital-cameras/panasonic-dmc-tz55gn-r-digital-camera-red/prod129813.html

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#1232676 7-Feb-2015 19:40

That's a lot of requirements. Superzooms are full of compromises. I use an RX100, awesome little camera, great in low light. Read up on dpreview.

TLD

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#1232744 7-Feb-2015 22:44

It's certainly a good approach to traveling. I used to lug a 1D body, two lenses, a 580EX and a tripod on overseas trips, and truth be told, I hated having to carry the weight all day. In my case I got a Canon G10 which my wife kind of nabbed, so I now use a G1X. You can still get the image quality, but things like shutter lag, and slow fps definitely compromise what shots you can get. But it is a compromise worth putting up with if you are traveling for fun and not specifically for photography.

Absolute must haves is Exposure Compensation so you can override the camera's exposure control.
Ability to shoot RAW files, because why wouldn't you?

I used to think optical viewfinder, but I wouldn't let that stop me buying a camera that was otherwise right for me.
A spare battery or even two. Especially if you shoot video which _really_ chews through your battery. Original manufactuer's batteries obviously last a bit longer, but if you put cost against battery life, I suspect after market batteries win hands down.
I would very much prefer to have some sort of built in flash. I know they are not very powerful, but they make a huge difference for something like a close in back lit portrait.

I've used video from the G1X for short clips in larger productions, and it looks surprisingly good — so long as you don't want to mess about with it too much.

DPReview did an article on Enthusiast Compact Cameras last year.

There are a number of videos online featuring Charlie Waite using compact cameras. Charlie is the best speaker I've ever heard at the many Photographic Conventions I've attended. If I was to take one thing on board from those videos, it would be to not over expose.

I have a few pictures here taken on The Isle of Man with the G1X.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

NZtechfreak

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#1232747 7-Feb-2015 22:53

Compact for travel? Lumix GM1.

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richms

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#1232753 7-Feb-2015 23:06

I had a olympus waterproof camera briefly. Cant recall the model number but I got it to take with me places where the mirrorless was too big.

It was aweful. Some pics looked like foliage etc had been photoshopped with the water colour filter almost.

So if you do get something. Go take photos of trees and beaches and rocks and stuff with texture but not much contrast and see if the processing in the camera makes a mess of it while you are in the return window for it.

Richard rich.ms

dman

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#1233508 9-Feb-2015 15:48

I love how the compact cameras appear to do a lot more stuff than the SLR's (despite being worse in quality)...

The problem is you have a Canon DSLR, which are dinosaurs.

Get a modern mirrorless camera (such as from Sony / Panasonic / Olympus) and you'll get not just a camera jam packed full of features, but better image quality too than your Canon 550D! Then you could sell off your 500D for good.

Anyway, if you don't go the path of mirrorless (which is what I'd highly recommend) then I'd suggest an awesome combo of a Panasonic LX100 + GoPro to go traveling with. As you get then the absolutely fantastic LX100 and also a GoPro for when you want to go into more dangerous/adventurous outings (such as snorkelling or MTBing). The Sony RX100 (any of mk/1mk2/mk3) would be my second place choice behind the LX100.

If you must go with a superzoom, the only two I'd consider at all would be the Panasonic FZ1000 or Sony RX10.

You'll find this blog post that I wrote in response to another poster here to be a very handy answer too: http://ironfilm.co.nz/which-first-camera-for-photography-for-a-newbie/

https://www.youtube.com/c/SoundSpeeding

jarledb

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#1233595 9-Feb-2015 17:19

dman:
The problem is you have a Canon DSLR, which are dinosaurs.

In which way are they dinosaurs?

Get a modern mirrorless camera (such as from Sony / Panasonic / Olympus) and you'll get not just a camera jam packed full of features, but better image quality too than your Canon 550D!

So how does that work? More pixels == better image quality?!

Usually more pixels on a smaller image sensor = more noise == worse image quality.

BUT, the real difference between good image quality and worse image quality is usually the lens. I would wager that you can take better pictures if you

1) Know what you are doing.
2) Have a Canon 550D with an expensive (and good) lens.

Then you would ever be able to do with a "modern mirrorless" from any producer with a cheap lens.

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dwl

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#1233746 9-Feb-2015 21:37

The travel superzooms each have compromises but can be a good choice. I went through this process in November and ended up with a Canon SX700 for trip in SE Asia in December - I have stuck with Canon and a special at $299 came along at right time. The Panasonic was another option but TZ60 significantly more expensive. Sony and Nikon also have rough equivalents. Had an interesting discussion overseas with enthusiast carrying large Canon DSLR and he was quite positive about the travelzooms giving results not that much worse than his but obviously lacking control.

Some more points:
- very compact (when off) and light weight for the capability - a real plus for travelling
- rapid turn on for quick first shot - you can get that fleeting moment
- picture quality improved a lot in the last few years - save at highest resolution and there is a lot of detail available
- the zoom is amazing - 30X optical with OIS - can almost read car number plate from 700m away with zoom of recorded image
- wide angle end may get used more than telephoto - wider now than my last camera and more useful - check the angle
- for low light the very high ISO settings give poor results
- on the SX700 videos are real memory hogs - if videos important check out the MB per minute needed
- I like the manual flash activation (need to pop up) so don't accidentally flash
- battery life reasonable for taking photos but watch the WiFi - it can really suck the battery
- USB charging might be nice (SX700 doesn't) - second battery may still be needed and SX700 one is expensive here
- some models will operate using power from USB and a portable USB power brick is worth considering
- remote control over WiFi worked well for SX700 with live preview on smartphone screen and zoom and shutter control
- watch out remote operating the zoom if camera not secured - lens extends, changes balance and you run to catch it as it falls over!!
- transfer of photos via WiFi to tablet worked just ok for me but a bit slow and I had issues with direct upload to Canon web site (regional issues)
- some people like GPS but it seems problematic (time to lock, battery use) - SX700 doesn't have GPS but you can set coords from phone GPS for geo-tagging

Whatever you get, there will be a newer better model coming soon. Make your choice and get familiar with the camera before you leave. Have a great trip !

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TLD

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#1233765 9-Feb-2015 22:13

Only as strong as the weakest link in the chain sort of thing. There's another adage about photographers, (the first one being that a great photographer keeps just one in a hundred shots).

A keen photographer concentrates most of their budget on a camera body.
A good photographer concentrates on their lenses.
A great photographer starts with a really good support system.

Something that has become clear to me over the years is that some of my very sharpest images have been with the camera firmly rested on a stone or brick wall. It's no coincidence that the new 50Mp 5DS and 5DR have redesigned mirror lock up systems. When the SloMoGuys pointed their 10,000fps Vision Research Phantom camera at an DSLR shutter recently, it was the mirror bounce that struck me the most!

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

jarledb

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#1233782 9-Feb-2015 22:41

I must admit I don't really get the urge to get a new camera body all the time. Especially for people starting out with photography they are much better off getting an older body and a great lens, than using all their money on the newest body out and then getting a sorry excuse of a kit lens in the package to keep within their budget.

I am loving my Canon 7D. I have lust for the lasted Canon 5s, but having gone for a lot of EF-S lenses I would have to basically start over with new lenses and the whole thing would get more expensive than I can stomach.

That said, I tend to be using my Canon S100 and the iPhone 6 Plus camera more than my 7D these days, unless I am on a specific quest or am doing product photography (at which point the 7D is far superior than the iPhone or the S100).

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#1233793 10-Feb-2015 00:33

jarledb:
1) Know what you are doing.
2) Have a Canon 550D with an expensive (and good) lens.

Then you would ever be able to do with a "modern mirrorless" from any producer with a cheap lens.

Ahem. Um. So you're going to compare the 550D with a good expensive lens, versus a mirror less with a cheap lens? Sorry, just wanting to point out that this isn't exactly an apples with apples comparison. The m43 system does have some superb lenses, and even some expensive ones.

Please note, I'm not trying to get into a "this system is better than that system" argument, each have their strong points. I think we're getting bogged down a bit with this, and moving a bit away from the OPs initial enquiry.

I think the main decisions for the OP here are megazoom, small M43 like the GM1, or another all-in-one like the RX100 II. From my point of view I think the cameras that are likely to hit most of his feature requirements are likely to be found amongst the megazooms (like the FZ1000 mentioned earlier), however they're going to be less portable than the other options and provide lower image quality. Between the RX100 II and GM1 I'd back the GM1, which has better image quality and of course the backing of a lens system, but with each of these options there are different compromises and really only the OP can determine which package presents the best balance of compromises with respects to their needs.

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dwl

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#1233918 10-Feb-2015 09:21

I don't think there is any argument that bigger better cameras will do a better job for getting that perfect shot. The challenge here is finding the best compromise for travel and I have many photos from our trip that are probably very close to what you would get with a much bigger more expensive setup that would have been less convenient. Even using the camera as a telescope for being able read a distant street sign (take photo at max zoom, expand on playback) was a plus and very portable.

The one feature missing for me is being more waterproof but it was only a factor once when in torrential rain and the small size of the camera in a small neoprene case means it isn't hard to keep it protected. Overall for me the travelzoom was the best compromise and I am very happy with the results. Each user will have a different set of priorities.

TLD

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#1233980 10-Feb-2015 10:30

I must say I'd like a mirrorless system along side my 1D gear. The image below is a 100% crop using a Fuji XT1 from the Trade Stand at the 2014 National Convention (in Marlborough). Not sure why the EXIF thinks it was taken in 2012, other than I expect the date/time was never set. Anyway, that's damn sharp for a 100% crop.

GZ has crushed the aspect ratio on the image. You might be able to see the original HERE

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

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#1234003 10-Feb-2015 11:06

A few years back I went the Panasonic (Zoom) option, the TZ20 at the time. Thought it was great, main function was zoom at the track. However, when the RX100 II came out I thought it might be time to spend a bit more. Pretty similar in size, or similar enough, the main downside was the lack of zoom. A trip to Europe and I was pleased with my decision, I found that while a significant zoom could be handy for shooting something across a lake, up a mountain or across a valley, the quality of the shots I got from the RX were significantly better that I didn't really feel upset that I couldn't zoom.

Obviously the model you're looking at in the OP should be significantly improved over my TZ20, but you might find the same result as I did. I guess weigh up the choice, are you wanting to Zoom to 20x often enough to warrant that model.

Edit: In addition, comparing your 500D photos with the TZ55, will you end up wishing you'd taken the 500D instead? Just my thoughts.

jarledb

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#1234004 10-Feb-2015 11:07

NZtechfreak:
Ahem. Um. So you're going to compare the 550D with a good expensive lens, versus a mirror less with a cheap lens? Sorry, just wanting to point out that this isn't exactly an apples with apples comparison.

The point I was trying to make is that its not possible to make a blanket statement saying this or that system is better, especially when you are not taking into consideration the lenses used.

The m43 system does have some superb lenses, and even some expensive ones.

And, as with dSLRs, you can buy m43 systems with cheap (and bad) kit lenses.

Please note, I'm not trying to get into a "this system is better than that system" argument, each have their strong points. I think we're getting bogged down a bit with this, and moving a bit away from the OPs initial enquiry.

I agree with that.

I think the main decisions for the OP here are megazoom, small M43 like the GM1, or another all-in-one like the RX100 II. From my point of view I think the cameras that are likely to hit most of his feature requirements are likely to be found amongst the megazooms (like the FZ1000 mentioned earlier), however they're going to be less portable than the other options and provide lower image quality. Between the RX100 II and GM1 I'd back the GM1, which has better image quality and of course the backing of a lens system, but with each of these options there are different compromises and really only the OP can determine which package presents the best balance of compromises with respects to their needs.

This was a bit of a surprise, and I don't know how sharp the lens is. But on the GM1 this lens actually gives you a 35mm equivalent of 208 - 624 mm zoom. Which is pretty amazing.

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#1234026 10-Feb-2015 11:44

I'd go with a Panasonic TZ series Lumix.

THey are compact, equipped with quality Leica lenses and my personal experience is that they take excellent travel photos.

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