Pocket camera holidays recommendation?

KIPAX

KIPAX

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KIPAX Lancashire UK
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I have searched these forums for pocket camera and for holiday camera nothing comes up

OK so last holiday I used my samsung phone and it worked great for what i did.. But there a bit skewif when used anyhting above square. also a bit of zoom and night ability would be nice.. Flip screen would be nice :)

Looking for a pocket camera not a bridge camera ... happy for used and budget up to say 500

I do have a lumix dmc-lx7 but its showing its age a bit now. would suffice if nothing better but could do with more umph! :)
 
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The compact camera market has been decimated by mobile phones which has pushed the market upwards, new models are expensive and even older ones now can be surprisingly expensive because they've been discontinued.

I think something with a 1in sensor is a good starting point because these cameras can be small but their sensor is still substantially larger than a mobile phone sensor. Within the budget you could maybe squeeze in an RX100mk4 with the 24-70mm lens and high speed stacked sensor, a TZ100 with a longer 25-250mm lens or a Canon G7 X II with a 24-100mm lens (all second hand):

www.dpreview.com

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100/TZ100 Review

We've posted our review of Panasonic's Lumix DMC-ZS100 (TZ100 outside of North America), which is the first travel zoom to sport a 1"-type sensor. Featuring a 25-250mm equivalent lens, the ZS100 also offers 4K video capture, Post Focus, an EVF and Panasonic's Depth from Defocus AF system. Learn more
www.dpreview.com www.dpreview.com

I realise these aren't ideal options and both older cameras but that's where we are with the market, the RX100mk7 which I'd say is a fantastic pocket camera and still for sale is hugely expensive at £1050. I've used the RX100 mk1, mk4 and mk7 which I've found to be very capable little cameras and while the 1in sensor is a good bit smaller than 4/3, APS-C or FF sensors there's still a reasonable amount of latitude in processing the raw files which smaller sensors don't offer.
 
I still use a Panasonic TZ60, and I used a TZ10 and TZ1 before that.
They take excellent stills and very good videos.

Inexpensive enough not to be a disaster if lost, liberated or damaged, spare batteries are cheap.

They have a proper viewfinder, so easy to use in bright sun, and they can shoot RAW.

Later versions may be better, even with a 1" sensor (but then with less zoom) but are obviously more expensive.

I have tried other makes, but always ended up back with Panasonic.

Another plus for me is the menu system is good and easy to use, and the same format as other Panasonics, up to the G9.

Both the below have been resized to fit here, the first was taken at the widest zoom setting, and the second was a crop from the first. If I had wanted just the centre section when i took the photo I would have used the zoom and the quality would have been better, but this just shows how the quality is. Much better than any phone I have used.P1020754.jpgP1020754c.jpg
 
Thank you for the responses @JohnMcL7 & @Sangoma it really is appreciated :)

I think I need to up my budget for what i want.. i really do want a flip screen the more i think about it.. I like going for odd angles.. shooting from the floor and above and maybe selfies on holiday.. It's how much I want to spend for 2 holidays a year :)

Next holiday is march so time to look

Many thanks :)
 
I think you want an Olympus E-PL7 or 8 with 14-42 pancake lens. Flip screen, pocketable, decent image quality.

onecameraonelens.com

Olympus Pen E-PL8 2022 new camera review.

I like to make sure I really know a camera before I make a review on it, as I know that reviews can influence others. I’ve had the camera for exactly a month now, and I’ve used it almos…
onecameraonelens.com onecameraonelens.com

E-PL7 new £549 from Cotswold https://www.cotswoldcameras.co.uk/O...-Digital-Camera---14-42mm-f-35-56-Lens-Silver
£649 from Olympus https://explore.omsystem.com/gb/en/cameras/pen
 
ancient_mariner said:
I think you want an Olympus E-PL7 or 8 with 14-42 pancake lens. Flip screen, pocketable, decent image quality.

onecameraonelens.com

Olympus Pen E-PL8 2022 new camera review.

I like to make sure I really know a camera before I make a review on it, as I know that reviews can influence others. I’ve had the camera for exactly a month now, and I’ve used it almos…
onecameraonelens.com onecameraonelens.com

E-PL7 new £549 from Cotswold https://www.cotswoldcameras.co.uk/O...-Digital-Camera---14-42mm-f-35-56-Lens-Silver
£649 from Olympus https://explore.omsystem.com/gb/en/cameras/pen
Click to expand...


Thanks but maybe a bit more zoom? something better than the phone :)

edging towards Canon G7 X II but 850 quid
 
Also looking at Canon PowerShot SX740 HS
 
KIPAX said:
Thanks but maybe a bit more zoom? something better than the phone :)

edging towards Canon G7 X II but 850 quid
Click to expand...

There is a kit with 80-300mm equivalent lens as well as the 14-42 from Cotswold for £650, but it's no longer compact.

Sony RX10?
 
Brand new Om tg-7 for £338 on Amazon.Thinking of getting one myself, weather sealed and a macro/microscope mode too.
 
sorry about removing the link #here it is in my small hands to give a better idea of size


P1003818.jpg



one feature I love whith this camera is the panning up/down/left/right several shots stitched together in camera. I remember a time when one had to do this manually

P1070345.jpg

What I don't like to even the balance is how the sensitive the menu usage is . But on the other hand it is packed full with everything one could ask for. 4K RAW/Jpeg -snap movie Iiand digital zoom -wifi/bluetooth- travel date-3 custom setting- time lapse are a fraction in the menue not forgetting-varible flash power output

P1003819.jpgP1003820.aaaJPG.JPG



Ideal for blogging as well. that is depending on how ugly/good looking you are

definately worth having 2/3 spare batteries as as well if doing videos etc
 
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I use a Sony RX100 mk 1 for holiday family snaps better quality than a phone and can shoot in raw
The more recent versions have a flippy screen I think but not 100 percent sure
 
LCpete
i was not over happy with another camera in the Sony range the AX53 for various reasons. so got rid of fairly quickly

The reason I prefer Panasonic is because all my other gear is Panasonic such as the G9 and G9ii ,also the panasonic HC-X1500 camcorder.
this compact Panasonic in the picture is for me ideal if going into "dodgy" places :cool: abroad. I generally then keep in in my pocket with my hand on top .
 
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(Just) one of the reasons I dislike the TZ100 is the touch screen. I very rarely want the focus point in the bottom left of the image despite what my nose has told the camera...

IMO&E the images from the Sony RX100 series are nicer too.
 
I’ve tried a lot of different cameras for this purpose over the years. They have included Panasonic TZ 100, LX100, Sony RX100VA and Rx100vi, RX10 iii, HX90, Sony A6700, Fuji X100 and X100v1.

Obviously the larger Sonys for carrying around I discounted for my purposes. I enjoyed the old Panasonic LX100 but the zoom range was very limiting. The camera that gave acceptable zoom range, a viewfinder, pocketable and far better image quality than I expected was the Sony RX100vi.

But like many often on holidays I just use my iPhone
 
I have a Sony A6000 as my travel camera - I had been intending to get a RX100, but when I went to try one it just felt too small - controls were to small and close, picked up the A6000 and it felt a lot better - large enough to give access to the controls, but small and light enough (with appropriate lenses) to not take up too much space when travelling.
 
Out of pure interest I would love to see some photos unedited Jpeg taken with Sony compact cameras mentioned. This should give me a better idea of picture colour and quality
Here is one from my pana, Jpeg unedited of a hose reel. Accurate colour reproduction, photo resized only to be able to post on here.
fo often I read about this or that camera produces great photos, but rarely do the posters give examples, which respectively makes me wonder?

[xxx.jpg
 
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Nod said:
(Just) one of the reasons I dislike the TZ100 is the touch screen. I very rarely want the focus point in the bottom left of the image despite what my nose has told the camera...

IMO&E the images from the Sony RX100 series are nicer too.
Click to expand...

I very rarely use the touch screen, so I just turn it off, never had any nose focus :)

My son has a Canon G7, and the image quality and colour doesn't come close to the TZ60, just not as sharp (focus is OK) and nice to look at.
Shouldn't be the case judging by what I think he paid for it!
 
My Bro has a SOny RX100 MKIII and he's very happy with it.
THe Panasonic TZ99 is also popular with a 30x zoom. Aparently they have been hard to fine in shops latley owing to popularity ut seem to be abundant now:-
www.photosoundcameras.co.uk

Panasonic TZ-99 Camera (Black) | Photosound Vantage LTD

Compact and feature-packed, the LUMIX TZ99 travel zoom camera is perfect for capturing life's adventures
www.photosoundcameras.co.uk www.photosoundcameras.co.uk
 
JohnMcL7 said:
You've mentioned wanting a pocket camera but named a few other bigger solutions, how big a camera would suit you? Going bigger than pocket sized obviously opens up the options.
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who me? I havent mentioned antyhing bigger.. I want a pocket camera :) Its not about luggage its about walking round... 100% pocket use so to speak :)
 
KIPAX said:
who me? I havent mentioned antyhing bigger.. I want a pocket camera :) Its not about luggage its about walking round... 100% pocket use so to speak :)
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Sorry, I misread the posts above and mixed them up - that makes more sense now. I've deleted my post to avoid further confusion
 
So .. Many thnaks for the input everyone.. I have done a LOT of googling different cameras.. What started as an afterthought became a deal breaker that i wanted a back screen not just flip but i could use holding above my head as well as on the floor so a multi directional one , A bit of usable zoom nice but not so important..

without really knowing anyhting i started with a budjet of around 500 which I thought would be enough for a pocket camera.. Silly me

I saw good ones at 550 ish and thought for another 100 I could get even better,, the more i looked at 650 i thought.. another hunderd and ?

So I have finally decided on a Sony RX100 VII

Its mostly for holidays but at £800+ used it will get a lot more use I think.. I am going on 2 major holidays a year.. next in march to austria and hungary so I ahve time.. I will look out for black friday then maybe January sales

I know I will need time to get used to a new camera so i can use it instinctively on hols so will purchase by end of jan sales at latest. if not before :)

This aftre retireing and telling my wife no more money on photo equipment.. I have a 1dx mk3 and two 1dx and a load of L lenses .. just too big for suitcases for train journeys :)
 
Enjoy it when you get it!

I compared the specs between the vi and viii then decided that the vi did everything I wanted it to do and saved a few hundred quid.
 
I've got a TZ80 panasonic, it doesnt have the flip screen though. It does have a good long zoom range, that said if your shooting in low light, I'd go for a 1" sensor or above.
I take my TZ80 and a Sony ZV1, the ZV1 has a flip screen and 24-70 eqv lens, it's miles better in low light, but I have the TZ80 for reach if someting is far away.
 
KIPAX said:
Git! :)

i was all set

but i wont be using it for video and theres one on MPB for £659

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/sony-cyber-shot-rx100-mark-vi/sku-3288219

can you charge it wiht a usb.. i have a battery grip for gopro i could use and usb charge/use on go
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Yes, you can charge it via USB although it's the older micro USB. The only RX100 you can't charge via USB I believe is the RX100VIIA, this version ships with an external battery charger instead to get around the EU rules on devices having to use USB-C for charging.
 
JohnMcL7 said:
Yes, you can charge it via USB although it's the older micro USB. The only RX100 you can't charge via USB I believe is the RX100VIIA, this version ships with an external battery charger instead to get around the EU rules on devices having to use USB-C for charging.
Click to expand...


Usb to micro short cable then :)
 
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I have an EX-Pro spare as well as a genuine Sony one. Can't say I've seen any difference between them. I try to remember to start the day with all 3 fully charged - I have a 2 battery charger as well as charging one in the camera (with, as mentioned, a USB Micro lead.)
 
I have Ex-pro / Sony / Enegon for my RX100 VI and don’t notice any difference in battery life. They all run down quite quickly which is why I carry spares in the camera pouch
 
Those look to be the right ones for the RX-100 series.

The little charger and cable are a bonus at that price too! However, I'd do the first couple of charges under supervision (of the batteries and charger) just in case.
 
That is a great price for a RX100VI. ;)

With your original budget, I didn't think to post about the VI or VII, even though I think they are the best compact cameras.

I have found the viewfinders more useful than the adjustable screens on these cameras, but hopefully you will get more use out of it than I have. :)

I think the RX100's are the best quality compact cameras at various level of features depending on what one finds important. I went for the VII because I wanted the intervalometer for time lapses, which the VI doesn't have, other wise I would have gone for that.

For these cameras, multiple batteries and a charger that can charge multiple batteries is a must imho, especially on holiday. I went for one that charges 3 at time, but you should be OK with a two battery charger. ;)

I have the RX100III, V and VII, and have found the small add on Sony AGR2 grip good for making them a bit more holdable. I have a leather case I got with one of the cameras (they were all bought used) but I went for neoprene case by MegaGear from Amazon. These give a bit of padding, and are comfortable in the pocket.

Btw, with the AF, fps and the 200mm focal length of the RX100VII, I sometimes shoot cricket in the park over the summer. Just in case you get the itch again while you're out and about. ;):LOL:
 
redhed17 said:
I have found the viewfinders more useful than the adjustable screens on these cameras,
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I use the VF much more than I do the rear screen - mainly because I use the VF up switch as a turn on camera switch! The flippy both ways screen is very handy though for both overhead and "underarm" shots.
No case or grip keeps the thing small enough to slip easily into a shirt pocket.
VERY rarely find myself needing the third battery TBH.
 
redhed17 said:
That is a great price for a RX100VI. ;)

With your original budget, I didn't think to post about the VI or VII, even though I think they are the best compact cameras.

I have found the viewfinders more useful than the adjustable screens on these cameras, but hopefully you will get more use out of it than I have. :)

I think the RX100's are the best quality compact cameras at various level of features depending on what one finds important. I went for the VII because I wanted the intervalometer for time lapses, which the VI doesn't have, other wise I would have gone for that.

For these cameras, multiple batteries and a charger that can charge multiple batteries is a must imho, especially on holiday. I went for one that charges 3 at time, but you should be OK with a two battery charger. ;)

I have the RX100III, V and VII, and have found the small add on Sony AGR2 grip good for making them a bit more holdable. I have a leather case I got with one of the cameras (they were all bought used) but I went for neoprene case by MegaGear from Amazon. These give a bit of padding, and are comfortable in the pocket.

Btw, with the AF, fps and the 200mm focal length of the RX100VII, I sometimes shoot cricket in the park over the summer. Just in case you get the itch again while you're out and about. ;):LOL:
Click to expand...


Yeah I soon realised I had to up the budget :)

My usage is going to be photos. Very little if any video. Juts need a good holiday / day out camera then i dont have to lug a dirty great DSLR and various lens about :) I still have a lot of dslr and L lenses ..

Hoping as only used for photos the battery life will be decent enough but as per pic theres 2 extra plus the one it comes with

According to DPD delivery between 14.50 and 15.50 am hoping late as I ahve an MRI at 1.50 :(
 
My preference for travelling light is the Panasonic TZ100. Compromised in may ways admittedly but consistent and acceptable results in a tiny package.P1020066.jpeg
 
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