Travel Camera - Mirrorless or high end point and shoot

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338 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2166607 24-Jan-2019 04:06

As a couple with SLR backgrounds, we now travel with two differently purposed cameras.

My wife loves her Lumix FT6 (aka TS6) for everyday, surf and rainy days.
Fits in all pockets, tough, submersible & takes good pictures.

I carry the Lumix Fz-1000 for its telephoto, low-light and stabilisation.
I also really like the viewfinder (95% of shots) and the angle-able screen for crowds.
This gets used in the car and tourist destinations where I can hand-carry or keep it on my belt.

For more active hikes / biking, I carry its smaller brother - the ZS100 (aka TZ100) which is pocketable.

Both of these take great pictures.

Some pictures get taken with our Note 9 & S8 phones - but the cameras still do it better.

We didn't set out to be Panasonic fanbois - but have taken a silly number of good photos with these Lumix.

Handle9

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#2166609 24-Jan-2019 04:32

Our use case today is take good photos with minimal effort. We would like a device that gives us more room to grow. My wife has decided she would like to get more into photography so she'll do some workshops and learn how to drive a more manual device properly.

We spend a lot of time travelling (I live in Dubai and currently I'm in Nuremberg) so something that can take nice photos and capture this time while we're overseas is pretty important to us.

It's good advice that we go and spend some quality time in the shop. I had read that the Sony system isn't the most user friendly.

kiwi_64

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#2166696 24-Jan-2019 09:32

I've just returned from a couple of months in SE Asia. I didn't want to take my DSLR, and wanted something a little more substantial than my RX100.

Given most of the photography I planned to do on that trip was street (rather than landscape), I ended up picking up a cheap(ish) 2nd hand RX1.

For a camera that's a few years old now, what an awesome little piece of kit! The lens and FF sensor combination give stunning results, particularly in low light.

allan

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#2166790 24-Jan-2019 11:07

I've been using a Canon "point and shoot" SX30 which was relatively "high end" when it was first released, although getting on a bit now. I'm all in favour of that approach for travelling. You can still get some decent shots, with a good optical zoom function and with sufficient manual control when needed, but without the bulk of of a DSLR. Used it extensively on a five week trip overseas last year.

rayonline

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#2170657 31-Jan-2019 11:48

It depends on you ...

Speaking for myself. I got a used Ricoh GR pocket size APS-C sensor and a fixed 28mm full frame equiv. Works great, wished I got earlier. The other one was debating with was the Fuji X100 series but it was larger. My definition of family is that you are walking around with the parents doing normal things where you don't have the time for real photog. Taking pictures of the family inside the plane, of the airline food, family photo at the mall, at the tourist site, maybe of your dinner. For me pocket cam, absolutely fantastic. 2 or so months ago I did get a used Fuji XT1 mirrorless can change lenses, but in no way would I use that with the family. Actually I could use the mirrorless with 1 lens walking around etc ... but for me I don't see the point I could do the same thing with a pocket cam and if I wanted a zoom lens the yeah the Sony RX100 maybe the Mark III, IV and V because the aperture is better and the Mark VI is the latest one right? The latest one has a longer lens but the aperture is a bit slower. The cheaper route is the Canon G7X. No 4k video though.

In the past I did go on a family overseas holiday outside 35 degrees. My Nikon D600 digital. My Nikon F100 slide film and my Nikon FM2N b/w film haha a few lenses, a flash and a tripod on selected evenings. No more. After 3 days I left everything in the hotel and only took the FM2N because it was the smallest and my 50mm F1.8D prime lens. Unfortunately I only had one (large) camera bag.

What I intend to do now is just use my Ricoh for everyday and when on selected nights I excuse myself and take my Fuji XT1 out with me. I could use the Nikon dSLR but the Fuji is just that bit more compact.

To me the difference with the Ricoh to the Fuji X100 or to a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera is the Ricoh you could go out put it in your jacket pocket or cargo pants pocket. No bags. The jeans might work but tight.

Batman

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#2216689 13-Apr-2019 22:29

back from a trip with multiple kids in tow. left the full frame DSLR and 10 lenses at home*, took a nikon J1 and the s10 512gb and the photos and videos are leaps and bounds better than the Nikon J1 so the J1 is donated to the kids as their toy.

wide angle covered. night time f/1.5 covered - photo and video 4K. zoom 2x for undistorted perspective covered - doesn't work well in low light (well if i needed creep mode I could have also carry the P30 pro in the future but i'm no creep).

(have done that for trips for the past 3 years unless a baby sitter is travelling with us - ie grand parents lol)

but i can see that one day i will consider a smaller pro camera if I want to take pro level photos but we'll see.

rayonline

1734 posts

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#2221426 20-Apr-2019 12:05

well on a quiet Good Friday here in Wellington between the 2 lanes beside the tree etc .. I was having some fun with a Mamiya RB67 - 2.7kg with additionally a bag of stuff and tripod LOL. I don't imagine doing this on travel although anything is possible. If one get their own little spot.

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MadEngineer

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#2221450 20-Apr-2019 13:13

Zoom and size tends to be an important factor for a travel camera. Use phone cameras alongside for convenience. If you know your SLR takes amazeballs photos in certain situations for example indoors like a church then consider packing it for when you know in advance that you want a nice shot.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

tehgerbil

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#2221456 20-Apr-2019 13:32

What is your purpose of travel snaps? Given most travel snaps are stored and occasionally looked at, or shared once or twice on social media is a dedicated camera worth a grand or two worth it?

Or just throwing it out there why not get a second hand Go-Pro Black? - Small videos provide immersive experience with your watchers (family?) and it's obviously smaller and easier to carry. It doesn't take great photos, but again they're adequate for sharing on social media and with the wifi function you can zap pics/videos to your phone when you're back at your hotel.

The other benefits are things like extreme water-proofing, slow-mo and timelapse functions which are much easier to use than a dedicated camera.

Just an idea anyway :)

rayonline

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#2221471 20-Apr-2019 14:21

tehgerbil:

What is your purpose of travel snaps? Given most travel snaps are stored and occasionally looked at, or shared once or twice on social media is a dedicated camera worth a grand or two worth it?

Just an idea anyway :)

Yep. Before we only had dSLRs and point and shoots. I got a Ricoh GR APS-C sensor pocket camera. With my travels, even looking back if it was available this does most of my travel images. It is also interesting with the NZ camera clubs like the PSNZ they did an article on the demographics of members and 86% where older than 50yrs old but they were mainly into landscapes, travel, nature and people photography. 78.5% of members have also travelled overseas in the last 12 months. Fewer members were into sports / wildlife photography, street and photojournalism. To me it is a hobby that people are into their own things, happy wandering around and snaps.

To me at least with a real camera, with most things people encounter sensor size isn't that important now, 2 or so lenses does it. I just prefer prime lenses because it cuts the load down. Plus I imagine most people travelling are for enjoyment rather than a photo expedition or hoping to nail some excellent images for their exhibition / photo competition.

Handle9

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#2243893 23-May-2019 16:04

We ended up buying the new Fuji X-T30 with the 18-55mm kit lens and 35mm prime. It arrived this week so should be able to have a good play but out of the box it is a beautiful bit of kit. It's also much more compact than the SLR although still pretty heavy.

Watching face detect autofocus work is a little bit addictive...

Jogre

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#2269017 3-Jul-2019 08:55

Heard amazing things about the Sony RX100's but +1 (+100 really) on the interface+general Sony Hardware. It was what made me wait for 6Dmk2 instead of getting an A7 was the fact that over my lifetime I've had lots of Sony devices that look amazing (Z2, Z-tab, MiniDisc, Walkman, Discman etc) and are designed really well, absolutely and completely let down by the software and updates (updates for a Walkman you say?)

It's good that you got something. Took the 6D2 + camera kit across to the UK, predominantly used my 16-35 F4L as it's a great landscape lens, has great IS, and is comparatively light compared to my Tamron 24-70. Editing all the photos, I think something like the RX100 would have done just as well (I think I did a piss poor job of taking photos, wife during early pregnancy, little time spent researching, we crammed lots of places in during the three weeks and it was winter so bugger all daylight hours).

qwertee

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#2269035 3-Jul-2019 09:39

timmmay:

I have the RX100 Mk1. Since I got that I stopped carrying the DSLR on holiday, and I rarely get the DSLR out even at home. It fits into any pocket, takes good photos, and I'm sure the Mk6 is fairly amazing. I also use my phone for day to day stuff.

The DSLR with fast lenses does make nicer photos than the RX100 and much better than the phone, but it's not very practical to take about with you when you have kids.

As above . After reading comments from other forum users , ended up with a older Canon G16. Ideal for travel and glad that I didnt buy an SLR.

rayonline

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#2297640 13-Aug-2019 17:09

Handle9: We've come to the conclusion that our DSLR is pretty hopeless for travelling, especially with the kids.

We are looking at getting something a bit more appropriate for traveling. Something like a Canon M50 or maybe a Sony DSC-RX100.

Uses are for general photography, especially of the kids. Good video performance would be a bonus.

We're in the Canon world for our low end DSLR but not married to it. I'm interested in people's opinions.

If that resonates with me with family some that are retired ages or equally with 10 or 16 others in a big group within NZ who has absolutely no interest in photography. Between the M50 (with an approp lens) or the RX100, it is completely up to you. They are for me both within the accepted parameters. For me it is the Fuji XT1 used cos I am over buying new stuff or the Ricoh GR. I picked the Ricoh GR over the Fuji X100 due to being smaller and I picked it over the RX100 cos I wanted a larger sensor and I am ok I can live with a single focal length. But for more the RX100 is prob the better choice over the GR.

To me I got pocket compact because it fits in the pocket. So I am not chained to a camera bag or a camera pouch bag. Esp when you are with others. Also to me, having a interchangeable lens camera mirrorless even at home here walking around the city myself is pretty good because why the bulk of an SLR. With a compact camera and the IlC mirrorless it was inevitable.

UncleArk

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#2297646 13-Aug-2019 17:40

I'm still using an older iPhone 6 which is OK as the camera in the pocket when you need one... but... like other's have suggested the last major overseas holiday we did find that the "pro" DSLR and it's army of lenses became a bit of a hindrance to enjoying the actual surroundings of being away.

I jumped ship (and sold my Canon gear) to the Olympus OM-D micro four thirds system, and, having travelled with it a number of times, have more recently opted to simply leave my lenses behind. My telephoto lens really needs a tripod and the 60mm macro lens can be problematic at closer material.
I now travel with only a 25mm prime lens attached and it works well as a "workhorse". Over the years I've tended to buy jackets and vests (Swandri comes to mind in particular) that have pockets large enough to accommodate this setup - even with a lens hood attached to the prime lens.

It's a comprimise that works for me when travelling.

On saying that... my wife and I are off on a Pacific cruise at the end of this year and I intend to take my hard-case of lenses on that trip as well as a waterproof Go-Pro for snorkeling and beach life and watery stuff and my new much-loved toy, my Osmo Pocket for "B Roll" video footage.

Yes, I do, on occasion miss my pro level DSLR gear... I invested many thousands of dollars on gear over a number of years... but really only used that gear for planned events - even locally... I haven't regretted going to the smaller sized and "less pro" Olympus MFT and have been happy to travel with it.

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