Help with my budget Mirrorless choice please

BADGER.BRAD

BADGER.BRAD

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O.k so I've narrowed it down to 3 cameras ,mainly due to budget constraints ( to many hobbies and not enough cash) The Fugifilm X-A10 with a 16to50 mm lens a Panasonic DC-GX800 12 to 32 and at a stretch a Sony a5100
Has anyone any experience of these cameras ? What do you think of them ? I'm sort of leaning to the Panasonic as it has the slightly wider lens as standard ( something which seems to be a problem with my point and press cameras so I end up using my phone a lot for shots which need to be wide angle) then the intention was to use my film camera lenses giving to x2 crop factor. The main things are I would like to be able to attach filters to experiment with more creative photography and also would like to do square format shots from camera plus black and white,Aare most cameras capable of this now ? Also I'm a little worried about using the rear screen to set the shots up as previous experience in bright light has rendered my Digi cameras (admittedly older ones) useless, are the more modern screens better at this ? Having worked in electronics in the past I'm keen to buy new so at least I know I have some comeback should something go wrong.
 
I would opt for a used GX80 over the GX800, so much better. You get IBIS and dual IS with the 12-32, and you get a view finder.
 
Imo you’d be better buying used and getting a camera with a viewfinder. A used EM10-II and 14-42mm lens would be a good used option.

Of course we’re missing a couple of important things. What are you wanting to shoot, and how the camera feels in the hand and to use.
 
Brand new Olympus om.d-e10mkii can currently be bought from SRS Microsystems for just over £300 with a £65 cashback bringing them down to around £250 you can then find any lens you want from either the Olympus or panasonic MFT range there interchangeable . Can’t see the point of used at those prices


Check out both Panasonic an£ Olympus threads on here for views comments and photos
 
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the black fox said:
Brand new Olympus om.d-e10mkii can currently be bought from SRS Microsystems for just over £300 with a £65 cashback bringing them down to around £250 you can then find any lens you want from either the Olympus or panasonic MFT range there interchangeable . Can’t see the point of used at those prices


Check out both Panasonic an£ Olympus threads on here for views comments and photos
Click to expand...


Used but excellent condition from the likes of MPB, Panasonic GX80 can be had for £289, if that was the preference. With MPB you get 6mths warranty
 
the black fox said:
Brand new Olympus om.d-e10mkii can currently be bought from SRS Microsystems for just over £300 with a £65 cashback bringing them down to around £250 you can then find any lens you want from either the Olympus or panasonic MFT range there interchangeable . Can’t see the point of used at those prices


Check out both Panasonic an£ Olympus threads on here for views comments and photos
Click to expand...
Bargain :eek:
 
Is the 12-32mm the one without a focus ring? If it is I think that's something to think very carefully about. Personally I wouldn't be happy without the ability to focus accurately with a ring on the lens for when AF either doesn't lock on or locks onto the wrong thing.
 
woof woof said:
Is the 12-32mm the one without a focus ring? If it is I think that's something to think very carefully about. Personally I wouldn't be happy without the ability to focus accurately with a ring on the lens for when AF either doesn't lock on or locks onto the wrong thing.
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Yup, it's a teensy pancake style zoom, no frills. I was going to buy one just to have a cheap wide angle, but no MF is a turn off for me also. Most people probably don't mind, I believe the AF on it is very snappy and accurate

You can do MF within the camera menu, using a slider, but it looks painful
 
Maybe and I think I remember reading some good reviews but shooting through things like glass, foliage, fences, crowds etc can be a problem for AF as it can lock onto the wrong thing, ditto low light, low contrast subjects etc can also be problematic for AF. All in all I do think this is worth thinking about especially when there's always the more conventional 14-42mm Mega OIS with both zoom and focus rings. There seem to be a lot of similar spec and similar name kit lenses but the one I mean is the little zoom that's about the size of a 25mm f1.8 prime lens. I have one and it's useable from wide open.
 
the black fox said:
Brand new Olympus om.d-e10mkii can currently be bought from SRS Microsystems for just over £300 with a £65 cashback bringing them down to around £250 you can then find any lens you want from either the Olympus or panasonic MFT range there interchangeable . Can’t see the point of used at those prices
Click to expand...

Don't forget to mention the 30 months warranty if you register it.
 
Sorry I should have made you aware of my main purpose, landscapes ! but also really a general purpose camera that I can carry around with me whist out walking or mountain biking. I'm even more confused now ! Your point about lack of focus ring Woof Woof is a really good one which I hadn't even thought about , I do really enjoy using my manual film cameras and the mechanical nature of them rather than menu driven cameras which was one of the reasons I wished to use my film camera lenses. My ideal camera would be one on my old Prakitaca film cameras with a digital film type insert rather than film. As my washing machine has just given up today any decision may well be delayed ( the story of my life !)
 
@BADGER.BRAD I'm quite similar to you - I shoot a lot of manual mechanical film camera's. For digital I shoot micro 4/3rds.

From experience from shooting both, film is a lot different to digital (surprise !). With film I'll shoot aperture priority (for the cameras that have it) and switch to manual for high contrast photos. With digital I'll shoot.... in full auto. Matrix metering is very good in modern cameras, and the shadows don't drop off like with film. Shooting with a crop sensor camera means you don't really have to worry about depth of field either, mostly everything is going to be in focus. Auto focus is pretty darn good too.

So, I wouldn't base you experience on buying digital from your experience with shooting film. I'd buy second hand, and pretty much most stuff from Panasonic, Olympus, Sony and Fuji is pretty darn good.
For biggest bang for your second hand buck I'd look at a Panasonic G3 - its got an EVF, and an articulated touch screen. You can pick up an body and the perfectly fine 14-42mm (28-84mm equivalent) for £135 for an 'A' at CEX
 
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