Holiday camera

Jackp93

Jackp93

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Hi all

It’s a bit long-winded but here is some background info. Next year I am on holiday to Rome with the family and want to take a camera and tripod with me but we will be walking a lot and taking hand luggage only so size is important. My current camera is a Olympus m10 mkiii for which I have the following lenses

Olympus 12-40
Olympus 40-150
Panasonic 120-300
Rokin 7.5

(Some of the focal lengths may be slightly wrong as I’m doing it from memory)

Even though this is a compact camera I do not find it easy to put in a pocket so it is either permanently being carried or in a bag, which isn't a problem in the uk. If I was to take this I was thinking of taking both Olympus and rokin lenses.

However I do like the look of the Panasonic GM1 which will also use my lenses but seems significantly smaller.

But whilst searching the internet for small holiday cameras, I have also come across a few from Sony with a fixed lens,

Sony rx100 either iii, iv or v
Sony rx1r

So long story short what would people suggest would be the most suitable camera for a week wandering around Rome.

Thanks in advance

Jack
 
The RX100 and RX1 are very different things. The former is a 1" sensor compact with a zoom lens and the latter is a FF camera with a fixed 35mm lens and it possibly costs a lot more. So the first thing to decide could well be the budget.

I'm quite lucky as a fast normal prime suits me so I'm happy enough with a 35mm or equivalent on a quality camera and when going on holiday I also like to take a 1" sensor compact with a zoom lens, in my case the Panasonic TZ100 which has a 25-250mm zoom. One thing the TZ100 has that I like is the fixed in place EVF whereas as far as I know the Sony RX100 has a pop up one and I think fiddling with that would annoy me. I do like to have an evf rather than just using the back screen so the GM1 wouldn't be on my list. I do have the similar to a GM1 but complete with an EVF GM5 but these are hard to find and possibly expensive. I have the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 on mine.

Another possibility for you could be a RF style MFT camera like the Panasonic GX80 as they are a touch less bulky than the SLR style cameras.

Good luck choosing.
 
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Fuji x100 - various models.

Used one as my only holiday camera a few times. Yes, 35mm can be a bit long at times and a bit short at times, but 95% of the time was fine, gives DSLR quality and is compact ish
 
cambsno said:
Fuji x100 - various models.

Used one as my only holiday camera a few times. Yes, 35mm can be a bit long at times and a bit short at times, but 95% of the time was fine, gives DSLR quality and is compact ish
Click to expand...

Although I've recently bought a X100s I didn't mention it in my post above as the OP seems to be veering away from bags for the trip to Rome and I think the X100 series really needs to be either in a bag or on a strap around the neck and I suppose the Panasonic GXxx cameras do too.

TBH when walking on holiday I normally have a man bag for water and snacks so maybe the OP wouldn't mind taking one and maybe a camera could sneak inside?
 
My X100V either goes in the pocket of my combat shorts or my jacket pocket, but most of the time when out and about it is in my hand, with a wrist strap.

camerasize.com is a really helpful site for comparing camera sizes, for example how much smaller the GM1 would actually be with a lens attached.
 
What do you plan on shooting?
If it's basically a city holiday I would happily walk around all day with the OM-10 and 12-40 ... should cover most 'tourist' options.
Unless of course you had a specific need for some reason.
 
Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I’m not adverse to taking a bag and in all honesty will probably have one with me anyway. The photos will mainly be the standard pictures of family and architectural so nothing ground breaking
 
Jackp93 said:
The photos will mainly be the standard pictures of family and architectural so nothing ground breaking
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Would have thought the 12-40 would have been fine for that ... wide angle for architecture and variable for family etc. :)
 
Just wondering why the tripod? A monopod with a stabilised camera should be adequate.
 
Jackp93 said:
Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I’m not adverse to taking a bag and in all honesty will probably have one with me anyway. The photos will mainly be the standard pictures of family and architectural so nothing ground breaking
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gramps said:
Would have thought the 12-40 would have been fine for that ... wide angle for architecture and variable for family etc. :)
Click to expand...

Yup. I like primes myself but a standard range zoom would suit a lot of people a lot of the time and doubly so if it's a f2.8.
 
I went to Rome armed with a Fuji X100F, Wide Angle Adapter, my homespun fisheye adapter and a Manfrotto Pixi. Never used the Pixi, so I wouldn't bother with a tripod. I only took the fisheye adapter for one shot (the double spiral in the Vatican, the rest of the time it stayed in the hotel). Mainly used the X100F (native 35mm FF equivalent) and the Wide Angle Adapter (FF 28mm equivalent), never felt the urge for anything else, though if I'd had a wide lens option I would have probably taken it.)

Rome in decent weather is hot, so travelling light is best. Architecture is difficult (unless you are up early) as there are tourists everywhere, I'm an early riser, and often went out at 6am for 2-3 hours before returning to the hotel for breakfast (by which time my wife would have risen!).

If you have the option to book an evening visit to the Vatican (its pre-booked only in the evenings), I would take it, as although not all the rooms are open, the key ones are and its deserted, as opposed to packed during normal time).

I would take your Olympus, the 12-40 and the 7.5mm if you think you'll need it. If you want something smaller just get a pancake lens for it (as a general walkabout)

For reference:-

The Pantheon early in the morning


Pantheon by David Yeoman, on Flickr

Gallery of Maps in the Vatican, normally this is wall to wall with people


Vatican Gallery Of Maps 01 2000px by David Yeoman, on Flickr

And the Double Spiral at the VAtican, again no people (evening visit)


Vatican Staircase 1600px by David Yeoman, on Flickr
 
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Mr Perceptive said:
I went to Rome armed with a Fuji X100F, Wide Angle Adapter, my homespun fisheye adapter and a Manfrotto Pixi. Never used the Pixi, so I wouldn't bother with a tripod. I only took the fisheye adapter for one shot (the double spiral in the Vatican, the rest of the time it stayed in the hotel). Mainly used the X100F (native 35mm FF equivalent) and the Wide Angle Adapter (FF 28mm equivalent), never felt the urge for anything else, though if I'd had a wide lens option I would have probably taken it.)

Rome in decent weather is hot, so travelling light is best. Architecture is difficult (unless you are up early) as there are tourists everywhere, I'm an early riser, and often went out at 6am for 2-3 hours before returning to the hotel for breakfast (by which time my wife would have risen!).

If you have the option to book an evening visit to the Vatican (its pre-booked only in the evenings), I would take it, as although not all the rooms are open, the key ones are and its deserted, as opposed to packed during normal time).

I would take your Olympus, the 12-40 and the 7.5mm if you think you'll need it. If you want something smaller just get a pancake lens for it (as a general walkabout)

For reference:-

The Pantheon early in the morning


Pantheon by David Yeoman, on Flickr

Gallery of Maps in the Vatican, normally this is wall to wall with people


Vatican Gallery Of Maps 01 2000px by David Yeoman, on Flickr

And the Double Spiral at the VAtican, again no people (evening visit)


Vatican Staircase 1600px by David Yeoman, on Flickr
Click to expand...
Agree with the X100 route. I did Oz and HK purely with a X100F and wide-angle attachment.
 
Stephen L said:
Just wondering why the tripod? A monopod with a stabilised camera should be adequate.
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It’s so that I can also jump into the odd family photo, but I do really hate being in photos hence why I normally take them
 
Jackp93 said:
It’s so that I can also jump into the odd family photo, but I do really hate being in photos hence why I normally take them
Click to expand...
Hmm, not sure that I would walk away from my camera and tripod in Rome!
:exit:
 
I have heard there may be some light-fingered individuals there
 
You could consider a pancake lens for your EM10 instead of the 12-40. When travelling, I take a GX80 with the small Panasonic 12-32mm & 35-100mm lenses and sometimes a 20mm prime for low light
 
My walk-about camera is a Sony A7 and 24-105. :ROFLMAO: My wife has the E-M10 and 14-42 pancake, and it's just a touch bigger than a typical compact.

I'd say no to a tripod, because often it would be a trip risk. If you must, take a beanag or a micro type, but I think I've used a tripod just once on holiday, trying to capture lightning on Crete.
 
Hi all

thanks for all the fantastic information, however im going to throw a bit of a curve ball in. Ive just seen that olympus are releasing a new m-5 so im hoping the m5 iii will drop in value second hand. So what im now thinking is to sell my m10 iii and get a m5 iii as that way I still only have one camera but i think it should be better for my wildlife photograph as well as walking round on holiday. What is peoples opinion on that or would i end up with a jack of all trades and master of none camera?

thanks in advance

Jack
 
To your first question I would just take the 12-40 and the E-M10 iii - forget the tripod.
Take the 40-150 but I'd probably end up leaving it in the hotel safe most days.

I use an E-M10ii and in a month in the USA I barely used another lens apart from the 12-40 f2.8 Pro.
Paris a couple of summers before was just the 12-40 - I took other lenses but didn't use them,
I wouldn't compromise on the smaller pancakes as the low light performance isn't close to the same.

I have the Olympus bodycap fisheye which is so small it's easy to slip in a pocket/bag. Worth £50 if you find it used but you already have the Rokin which I expect is a lot better!

Regarding the E-M5iii as a do it all. I believe if you want the faster AF performance you'd be better looking at the E-M1ii or iii.
The Olympus owners here will be happy to tell you.
www.talkphotography.co.uk

Olympus OM-D E-M5, E-M1, E-M10 - Mk1, Mk2 & Mk3 Owners Thread

Couple of good ideas in that article ,the off camera flash lead and the use of butter tubs as diffusers brilliant It seems the off camera cord JJC FC-03 is not sold by any UK retailers or online 'stores'. I could only find eBay ones :(
www.talkphotography.co.uk www.talkphotography.co.uk

Personally I don't want to carry anything bigger than the E-M10ii
 
@Jackp93 Have you been to Rome yet? If so, how did you get on?
 
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