Moving on from RX100. Need more range.

Forums › Digital Imaging › Moving on from RX100. Need more range.

mudguard

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#236456 3-Jun-2018 17:11

Where to after a Sony RX100? I need a bigger range than the 70mm. I like to take photo and videos mainly of mates riding bikes or playing golf. So the extra range would be useful.

I'm not tied into Sony by any means, and have used a Canon 750D with the kit lens (I think 18-55mm and 75-200?). I've been looking at the Sony A6000/6300/6500 but they are pricey. I haven't really decided budget wise. Just had a golf trip away and would've liked a bit more flexibility in terms of not having to be so close to the action.

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#2027920 3-Jun-2018 18:49

I'm distinctly in the amateur rather than professional photography camp.

It sounds to me like you need an SLR, then you can get the lenses you need. Personally, I'm a Canon fan, and I suspect that one of the Canon twin lens kits (an 18-55 and a 55-250 lens) will do what you want. However, Nikon and Sony are probably equally good, and it depends on personal preference and budget. Then, if budget permits and you have the need, add more lenses later.

From there, the sky is the limit. I would say, whatever you get, make sure to get a spare battery at the outset. The best camera in the world won't help you if the battery is flat, and running out of juice halfway through photographing something is a really annoying experience.

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danielparker

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#2027954 3-Jun-2018 20:16

RX10 Mark III or IV

(I have a Mark III.. Awesome Camera)

3puttssuck

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#2027966 3-Jun-2018 20:46

https://www.photo.co.nz/online-store/categories/digital-cameras/mirrorless-system-cameras/olympus-om-d-e-m10-mark-ii-14-42ez-40-150-silver/

I've just got one of these, awesome piece of kit.

mudguard

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#2029233 4-Jun-2018 14:36

3puttssuck:

https://www.photo.co.nz/online-store/categories/digital-cameras/mirrorless-system-cameras/olympus-om-d-e-m10-mark-ii-14-42ez-40-150-silver/

I've just got one of these, awesome piece of kit.

Funnily enough I walk past that shop once a month when I'm in Christchurch for work. I've been looking at the Canon 80D, but part of what I enjoyed about the RX100 was its size, so I take it everywhere. I am leaning towards the A6***, but even after a year with their menu system I still scratch my head!

As for RX10, I think I'd prefer interchangeable lenses now.

Technofreak

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#2029284 4-Jun-2018 15:00

My wife has a Sony A57. I am in the Canon camp but the Sony does a good job both still and video. I'd happy with Sony's latest iteration.

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jarledb

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#2029286 4-Jun-2018 15:03

mudguard:

Funnily enough I walk past that shop once a month when I'm in Christchurch for work. I've been looking at the Canon 80D, but part of what I enjoyed about the RX100 was its size, so I take it everywhere. I am leaning towards the A6***, but even after a year with their menu system I still scratch my head!

As for RX10, I think I'd prefer interchangeable lenses now.

I think you want something of an impossibility: Good camera sensor + hefty zoom. And I am guessing good image quality as well?

Cheap zooms are not going to be very sharp, and they will also not let a lot of light in. Not optimal when you are going to do the kind of photos you want.

To get what you want, you might want to look at two cameras. One for the action photography, and one for casual on the move photography. The cheapest way to get a good tele lense is to keep to fixed lenses, instead of zooms.

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mudguard

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#2029291 4-Jun-2018 15:18

jarledb:

I think you want something of an impossibility: Good camera sensor + hefty zoom. And I am guessing good image quality as well?

Cheap zooms are not going to be very sharp, and they will also not let a lot of light in. Not optimal when you are going to do the kind of photos you want.

To get what you want, you might want to look at two cameras. One for the action photography, and one for casual on the move photography. The cheapest way to get a good tele lense is to keep to fixed lenses, instead of zooms.

I'm not adverse to fixed lenses. The thing that puts me off with Sony is the cost of some of their lenses. I'd rather not use take two cameras, but I don't mind taking say two lenses like the A6500 with the two kit lenses (16-50mm and 55-210mm). To be honest it's becoming more about video as well!

rb99

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#2029318 4-Jun-2018 16:16

Have an A6000 and the two kit lens combo. Works fine for me taking kids soccer and stuff. Mostly in focus but some not. Getting a 6500 would be nice but can't justify replacing a working camera with one that costs twice as much.

OTOH there is this https://www.jbhifi.co.nz/cameras/dslr/nikon/nikon-d5600-dslr-with-af-p-dx-18-55mm-vr-lens/328027/ which is a good price, got one as a birthday / study aid for No. 1 son when it was this price a month or two ago. You'd have to get the longer lens somewhere else though. Gets good reviews but never used it myself.

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rb99

jarledb

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#2029328 4-Jun-2018 16:58

mudguard:

I'm not adverse to fixed lenses. The thing that puts me off with Sony is the cost of some of their lenses. I'd rather not use take two cameras, but I don't mind taking say two lenses like the A6500 with the two kit lenses (16-50mm and 55-210mm). To be honest it's becoming more about video as well!

The 55 - 210 mm lense is quite big. And not unsurprisingly has a few downsides. Apparently surprisingly sharp for what it is, but..

"At 210mm, the only aperture that yields consistently sharp shots is f/8. The lens struggles both wide open at f/6.3 and at smaller apertures from f/11 to f/22. That's a pretty tight window if you want high-quality shots at full telephoto, and it means you'll need quite a bit of light to get the job done."

[...]

"Like all affordable zoom lenses, it makes compromises to keep the size and cost down, but for the most part they're smart choices. The limited maximum aperture is the biggest issue, starting at f/4.5 and shrinking to f/6.3 at full extension. That limits the amount of light that hits your sensor, meaning you'll often need slower shutter speeds or higher ISO sensitivity, which degrades image quality."

Source

mudguard

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#2029751 5-Jun-2018 12:12

jarledb:

The 55 - 210 mm lense is quite big. And not unsurprisingly has a few downsides. Apparently surprisingly sharp for what it is, but..

"At 210mm, the only aperture that yields consistently sharp shots is f/8. The lens struggles both wide open at f/6.3 and at smaller apertures from f/11 to f/22. That's a pretty tight window if you want high-quality shots at full telephoto, and it means you'll need quite a bit of light to get the job done."

Cool, thanks for that. I thought there would always be a compromise with a zoom. Ultra sharp images aren't my highest priority.

rb99:

Have an A6000 and the two kit lens combo. Works fine for me taking kids soccer and stuff. Mostly in focus but some not. Getting a 6500 would be nice but can't justify replacing a working camera with one that costs twice as much.

OTOH there is this https://www.jbhifi.co.nz/cameras/dslr/nikon/nikon-d5600-dslr-with-af-p-dx-18-55mm-vr-lens/328027/ which is a good price, got one as a birthday / study aid for No. 1 son when it was this price a month or two ago. You'd have to get the longer lens somewhere else though. Gets good reviews but never used it myself.

Yeah the cost of A6500 is up there, so I'm not ruling out the 6000 or 6300. Particularly on a kit deal.

maoriboy

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#2029776 5-Jun-2018 12:49

I've got the RX10 m3 and think it's an awesome piece of kit. Used it for the family trip to Japan and covered every single thing I wanted. Whether that was zooming in to capture details on the top of a pagoda, super slo-mo, time lapse recording of Shibuya crossing or just snaps of the kids being kids it performed flawlessly. Relatively bulky compared to the RX100 range but preferable, in my opinion, to carrying around multiple lenses. Point and shoot with the Manual options and no worrying about changing the lens and potentially missing a great shot. Pricey but worth it for me.

rayonline

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#2043211 24-Jun-2018 17:36

More zoom with a 1" sensor?

https://www.dpreview.com/products/panasonic/compacts/panasonic_dczs200

https://www.dpreview.com/products/sony/compacts/sony_dscrx100m6

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#2043212 24-Jun-2018 17:37

get a tamron 16-300mm. very sharp if you don't pixel peep or enlarge to wall mural size

Scott3

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#2043287 24-Jun-2018 20:39

mudguard:

Funnily enough I walk past that shop once a month when I'm in Christchurch for work. I've been looking at the Canon 80D, but part of what I enjoyed about the RX100 was its size, so I take it everywhere. I am leaning towards the A6***, but even after a year with their menu system I still scratch my head!

As for RX10, I think I'd prefer interchangeable lenses now.

Have you seen the RX100 VI. It has a 24mm-200mm zoom leans (35mm equivalency), but it lets in a little less light than the lens on the old RX100's.

Note with all the APS-C camara's talked about here, you need to mutiply the true focal length by the crop factors (1.6 for APS-C cannons) to get the true focal length.

I have a canon 800D (same sensor and faster processor compared to the 80D, but lacks weather proofing, and some enthusiast features). I have the canon 55-250mm lens (works out to 88-400 equivalent) that is really well reviewed. That lens is still to short for say shooting birds, but does most of what I need.

If you want smaller than the canon crop DSLR's, I would look at the canon or Sony.

Slightly smaller than that is the micro four thirds interchangeable cameras (such as olympus OM-D). These have quite a cult following.

If you want a massive zoom, some of the "compact" megazoom cameras can go out to 2000mm equivalent.

Beware that if you get an interchangeable lens camera, you will soon be wanting things like an ultra-wide lens, a fast prime or two, an external flash etc...

mudguard

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#2043348 25-Jun-2018 07:26

Scott3:

Have you seen the RX100 VI. It has a 24mm-200mm zoom leans (35mm equivalency), but it lets in a little less light than the lens on the old RX100's.

Note with all the APS-C camara's talked about here, you need to mutiply the true focal length by the crop factors (1.6 for APS-C cannons) to get the true focal length.

Beware that if you get an interchangeable lens camera, you will soon be wanting things like an ultra-wide lens, a fast prime or two, an external flash etc...

I am aware of the rabbit hole that is your last sentence! I have been reading the reviews of the RX100 VI, the longer lens would've been perfect, but it's about $2000 here so I may as well go to an interchangeable lens body.

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