Camera for travel etc. Mirrorless?

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Hammered
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#1313667 28-May-2015 19:17

shk292: I recently bought a Lumix G6 with twins lens kit - just under $1k. A noticeable step up in image quality from the small-sensor high quality compacts I've been using up to now

I was very keen to have an EVF, which limits options slightly

Cheers looking at this now also.

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#1313671 28-May-2015 19:37

Stu: I'm thinking of upgrading from the Canon SX50 HS superzoom, as we're looking at doing a bit of the tourist thing in the near-ish future. The SX50 is an okay camera, but perhaps it's time to look at something that'll take better pictures in more places/conditions.

Will obviously need to be able to take photographs of scenery, and that will include (importantly) photographs of land from sea. I would also like to be able to take decent photographs inside and in low light.

Should I be looking at mirrorless options?

Would a pocketable camera that I can change lenses on should the need arise, be asking for too much?

IMO, as soon as you start talking multiple lenses, 'pocketable' goes out the window.

Batman

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#1313735 28-May-2015 21:17

seriously, a tiny aps-c mirrorless body with a compact superzoom say 18-250mm is nearly "pocketable" and covers everything quite wide to quite telephoto. but that's me ...

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#1313757 28-May-2015 21:32

apparently this is 3.5" http://www.adorama.com/TM18270PEOSK.html

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#1313758 28-May-2015 21:32

and this looks tiny http://www.dpreview.com/articles/9290297376/sony-announces-alpha-a5100-compact-mirrorless-camera

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#1313764 28-May-2015 21:49

I'd be thinking about the Panasonic Lumix GM1 also. Infinitely pocketable, comes with a fair stock lens. Advantage over some others (RX100 etc) in that you are buying into a lens system. You can buy new/better lenses as time goes on, and then later if wanting to upgrade to a better body take the lenses with you.

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#1313821 29-May-2015 08:47

Haven't made any firm decisions, but quite liking the look of the Sony a6000 so far. Still more research to do!

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rb99

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#1313864 29-May-2015 09:57

Got an A6000 on Monday. Haven't played with it much yet but seems fine so far (don't suppose that helps much really).

Just to mention, ordered A6000 from Noel Leeming a month ago (Anzac Day Monday) but Sony were utterly incapable of providing any stock to them. In the end I asked nicely and they changed the original order from an A6000 single lens kit plus 55-210 lens to an A6000 twin lens kit (the same stuff but all in one box), which NL were able to get from another branch.

Seeing as Sony's website still shows zero stock available, you might need to think about that for a bit. Of course if you're not in a rush that's fine, and they might well be getting stock in by the truck load tomorrow, so might be no problem anyway. Also depends on were you shop I guess.

As an other thought, the best value (to me) water resistant SLR's around at the moment are Pentax (K-500, K-50, K-S2), though they are obviously SLR sized and you would need some pretty impressive pockets - just a thought.

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#1313867 29-May-2015 10:06

I read somewhere that Sony lenses are expensive and not very sharp and the sigma and tamron ones are far superior for half the price. That could just be one side of the story, but thought worth letting you know

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#1313877 29-May-2015 10:13

rb99: Got an A6000 on Monday. Haven't played with it much yet but seems fine so far (don't suppose that helps much really).

Just to mention, ordered A6000 from Noel Leeming a month ago (Anzac Day Monday) but Sony were utterly incapable of providing any stock to them. In the end I asked nicely and they changed the original order from an A6000 single lens kit plus 55-210 lens to an A6000 twin lens kit (the same stuff but all in one box), which NL were able to get from another branch.

Seeing as Sony's website still shows zero stock available, you might need to think about that for a bit. Of course if you're not in a rush that's fine, and they might well be getting stock in by the truck load tomorrow, so might be no problem anyway. Also depends on were you shop I guess.

As an other thought, the best value (to me) water resistant SLR's around at the moment are Pentax (K-500, K-50, K-S2), though they are obviously SLR sized and you would need some pretty impressive pockets - just a thought.

Thanks for that info. As luck would have it, Noel Leeming have 20% off the a6000 (and actually most cameras) this weekend. Includes the a6000 options. Which lense options is the next dilemma! Are the kit lenses likely to be any good?

Will still keep looking at other options, in case I've missed anything.

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#1313878 29-May-2015 10:13

Once you have narrowed down your different options, I would highly recommend going into one of the stores that stocks all the cameras (Photo Warehouse usually has everything and excellent service + advice). Sometimes the choice you pick may not be as good in hand compared to the other options. The placement of the controls, the comfort of holding the camera in hand does make a big difference - my personal opinion.

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#1313879 29-May-2015 10:14

joker97: I read somewhere that Sony lenses are expensive and not very sharp and the sigma and tamron ones are far superior for half the price. That could just be one side of the story, but thought worth letting you know

Interesting, thanks. So does that mean I should avoid the kit lenses and look at other options?

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#1313883 29-May-2015 10:17

Krishant007: Once you have narrowed down your different options, I would highly recommend going into one of the stores that stocks all the cameras (Photo Warehouse usually has everything and excellent service + advice). Sometimes the choice you pick may not be as good in hand compared to the other options. The placement of the controls, the comfort of holding the camera in hand does make a big difference - my personal opinion.

Understood. I'm not sure I'll make it into town, but I'll certainly check out as many options as I can first. I'll short-list a few different models I think, and see where that takes me.

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Krishant007

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#1313890 29-May-2015 10:26

joker97: I read somewhere that Sony lenses are expensive and not very sharp and the sigma and tamron ones are far superior for half the price. That could just be one side of the story, but thought worth letting you know

Generally I found that the twin lens kit + a prime lens is more than enough for 95% of the shooting any amateur photographer would be doing. I didnt know that Tamron/Sigma sell Sony mounts, if they do, that is a definite good thing!

When I had my Canon DSLR, I had the twin lens kit (I rarely used the Zoom lens, maybe 5 times in 3 years) and a prime lens. The prime was my favourite for most of the shoots. The 18-50 was awesome walk around lens but when I started to get serious with photography, it just didnt cut it anymore and I was looking at upgrading to an F2.8 18-55 by Tamron.

The type of photography you wish to do will dictate what lenses you need to get. I suggest getting the twin lens kit first and getting lots of hours in on the camera to discover what you enjoy and what you dont. Then depending on your interests, you can look into getting the specialised lenses. So that way, you dont go out and spend money getting lenses you will probably not have the need to use.

Having said that, I dont think I have met anyone who hasnt loved their prime lens (a typical 50mm F1.8 APS-C lens) - best bang for buck on most cameras.

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rb99

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#1313897 29-May-2015 10:35

Looking at NL website, they appear to have the A6000 twin lens kit (and only the twin lens kit) in stock at only five stores, though they can get stuff from other stores pretty quick. Again, if they have to get from Sony, don't hold your breath. Obviously depends on budget and stretchability thereof.

As far as I can see on't interweb, the 16-50 isn't that good really, but not bad for the price, while the 55-210 is generally considered decent. People say a 16-70 Zeiss with the A6000 is very good, but its way more expensive. Should imagine 16-50 is fine for memories of holidays and stuff like that, but if you're one of these pixel peeping chappies (or whatever they're called), probably not. Think other brands (Sigma etc) may well be better as mentioned, though don't think their lenses have in built image stabilisation, which the Sony's do.

As was mentioned, if you can go into a shop and actually have a play it'll really help, even with things like how easy it is to turns dials and stuff like that.

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