A Camera for when I put my iPhone down?

Ask a hundred people and you will get a hundred different responses. I think you will have to do some leg work yourself, identify what your passion is, then search and review the cameras. Make sure that when you have decided on a few that you think will fit the bill, go and hold them, get a feel for how they work etc. A camera can be quite a personal thing. Sorry I don't mean to teach you to suck eggs, but the camera is just the beginning, lenses, tripod, bags, computer, printer - the list goes on. Canon and Nikon are the usual big hitters.

As RubyOptics suggested, don't write off mirrorless. I'm a Fuji fan (XT3) myself.

Enjoy your journey, you will be gobsmacked at the changes if you haven't picked a camera up for a while. All the best.
 
I have a Nikon D800 which is great, I have several lenses mainly f2.8 but it’s heavy and bulky.

My everyday carry is a Leica D-Lux great bit of kit

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I had Canon gear for years but went to Sony mirrorless a couple of years ago because I was finding the Canon kit too heavy. I also have a compact Panasonic Lumix TZ90 that does the job very well when away in the van.
Fuji seem to be well regarded for mirrorless at the moment, quite a few members in my camera club use them and the image quality is very good. Canon and Nikon still seem to dominate the traditional dslr market, but both have mirrorless options on the market, Canon lenses are still very heavy though.
Main thing is to get a camera that feels "right" in your hand. If you haven't picked up a dslr since the days of film it can be a bit daunting as many functions are menu driven, so a camera with customisable function buttons is useful.
I find Techradar is a very helpful review site, and there are still camera magazines around.
 
Like Devon Sue I like Techradar review & info site.

I’ve always had Canon DSLR for my larger cameras. Great low light performance and lens choice. My current is the EOS 760D from their budget series but this one came with the two info panels like the dearer models.
Weight is an issue & if mirrorless helps with that OK, but are those minus a viewfinder? Maybe.
Lately I use a Canon compact for gigs & snapshots. I already know the menus from the DSLR 😂
 
I have spent a lot of money over the years buying numerous cameras and lenses.
Had too much stuff and it usually ended up being left at home.
I sold it all two yeas ago and bought a bridge camera - Sony RX10iv.
Excellent image quality with its 1" sensor and no messing about changing lenses.
Unless you are intending to print very large prints or do professional work, the RX10iv is perfect.
 
Look at the Wexphoto website, they have an excellent range of 2nd hand cameras I have bought 3 DLSR's cameras from them in the last few years all in excellent condition 2 of them looked brand new, excellent service.
I would point you towards the Canon range, easy to use set up systems and a huge range of aftermarket lenses.
 
Another vote for one of the top of the range bridge cameras from either Sony or Panasonic. Nearly as good as a DSLR and a lot less gear to cart around i.e. you'll actually bother to take it with you and use it 😁

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After lugging different lenses around for years I plumbed for a Sony RX10 bridge camera 20mp with 25x zoom etc but never leave home without my little Sony WX 350 on a belt hook for sheer convenience wherever I am, 18mp 20x zoom.
 
Agree with above , never use my Nikon DSLR camera just carry my Panasonic Lumix FZ82, amazing Zoom, great for wildlife photography.
4K video recording is stunning.
I purchased it from Amazon and it came from Italy with no fewer than eight instruction books, unfortunately not one in English.
 
EuroTrotters said:
Well, I still have my Pentax ME super from 1980. I had, until around 7 years ago been using a Nikon digital SLR, 5MP. I just can’t remember the model it’s that long since I. Bothered with it.

Thanks everyone
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I've still got my Canon A1 from around the same time along with several lenses,flashgun and filters. The Billingham bag that it sits in is worth more than all the bits.
 
bigtree said:
I've still got my Canon A1 from around the same time along with several lenses,flashgun and filters. The Billingham bag that it sits in is worth more than all the bits.
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Yup I had one as well in 2019 I managed to sell the body to a Camera exchange, the lens's I thought were all good but apparently they degrade particularly when stored in a bag they do like to see sunlight
 
Got a bag full of cameras including PentaxK1000, Yashica FX3 plus loads of lenses. But now use SonyA6000 mirrorless (recommended by a professional photographer) and a Leica D Lux 3. Would never go back to a SLR digital or otherwise. The Fujifilm mirrorless range get consistently good reviews.
Recent review of the Sony A6000
shotkit.com

ULTIMATE Sony a6000 Review [Updated for 2024]

The newest Sony a6000 review you’re likely to read! A pro photographer puts the Sony a6000 to the test - Is it still the most popular mirrorless camera in 2024?!
shotkit.com shotkit.com
 
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We are struggling with the same decision to be honest with you. Our needs are slightly different (we want one for filming rather than stills) but most of the other considerations are still the same. I don't know what your budget is, but at the lower end (around 250 ish) we're looking at the Sony A5100 or Canon M100. Both look really good cameras. Canon has better colour and auto-focus, Sony has better video quality. Mid-range, we're looking at the Panasonic G7 (around 450 ish). Big, but has 4k video. Still auto-focus is great, video auto-focus is pretty bad. High end we are considering the Sony A6100 or the Canon M6 (both around 6-700). Both really good and really comes down to the lens environment you want to buy into. Personally I wouldn't go with the A6000, the auto-focus isn't good compared to the A6100 which has AI eye-tracking.
 
Have a look at the Olympus OM-D range. They are compact mirror less and have some excellent lenses. If you have deep pockets they have a couple of superb telephoto lenses. Jim has one these. :)

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I went from Canon to Micro Four Thirds and it was the best move I ever made. Small light and very capaple with pro quality optics that don't cost the earth. This week I bought the 17mm f1.2. to add to the 6 other lenses in my collection I don't think Ive ever seen a sharper lens when wide open, and the out of focus highlights are just so creamy.
 
It's Sony for me, moved from Canon to go full frame and save size/weight. Canon and Nikon are now catching up in the mirrorless game, but not caught Sony yet. Sony technology is tried and tested.

As already said though, the RX10 Sony"s are fantastic. My go to travel camera is an RX10iii bought secondhand from a retailer with a warranty for under £800. Absolutely cracking camera.
My advice is to go to a good specialist camera retailer and ask to see some different ranges. Don't feel you need to get the latest model as the older cameras are still brilliant.
 
Jim said:
I went from Canon to Micro Four Thirds and it was the best move I ever made. Small light and very capaple with pro quality optics that don't cost the earth. This week I bought the 17mm f1.2. to add to the 6 other lenses in my collection I don't think Ive ever seen a sharper lens when wide open, and the out of focus highlights are just so creamy.
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Would love to hear how you got on with the switch Jim. Has there been any appreciable difference in low-light shooting ability? Really torn between a couple of the canon aps-c bodies (M100 or M6 mk1) or the M4/3 system. In an ideal world, Panasonic would adopt the two pixel auto-focus system that Canon uses, but for some reason they seem grimly determined to hang on to their contrast based system.
 
RubyOptics said:
Has there been any appreciable difference in low-light shooting ability?
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A jaw-dropping 7.5 EV steps of compensation (image stabilisation) coupled with light ultra-fast lenses all weather-sealed, You can almost shoot handheld in the dark and in the rain.
 
The best camera is the one you've got with you
I have a Canon 1D mkiii a 7D mkii a fuji X100 which I love and a sony compact for when I can't be bothered to carry a DSLR

My advice would be to go to a camera shop and find one you feel comfortable with

I had a fuji XT3 which is a good choice , get a small pancake lens and it'll fit in your pocket , add a battery grip and their excellent 100-400 and you can do pretty much anything with it from wildlife to motorsports

It's lenses most of your budget needs to be spent on
 
EuroTrotters said:
very confused but I do like the look of something like these

www.panasonic.com

Light 4K Travel Camera | DC-TZ90 | Panasonic UK & Ireland

Capture your favourite travel moments in the exact form you want with the LUMIX TZ90 superzoom camera, the perfect pocket-sized travel companion. Discover more here.
www.panasonic.com www.panasonic.com

Amazon product ASIN B010DE7ET2
Amazon product ASIN B00NLFJ2KU
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I didn't like my Panny Lumix
But I have a DSLR and Compact. = #7

I didn't mention the Canon compact model. It's the SX620 HS
It was bought on a "last year's model" deal. i.e. Canon had released the replacement so stock was being cleared.
That's a good way to get a decent camera.
Look at the model one before the current one.
Often the improvements are gradual and you can skip needing the latest & greatest release.

If you're set on replacing your camera & not adding a handy "take anywhere compact" then you'll prob. need to spend the ££ on one of those you chose above (y)
 
I'll be brave.... GoPro Hero 9. Take no space, waterproof (I can film when swimming, kayaking, etc), cheapish, indestructible, infinite amount of mounts that will actually make you use it when you are having fun, best digital stabilisation on its class (no gimbal need it), 5k video (so you can edit/stabilise and still get 4k), 2.7k 120fps, wide angle...
 
EuroTrotters said:
very confused
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Well, go for the Panasonic, enjoy it and you will be impressed with the images compared to a phone. Try it in the various modes and if it does what you like, stick with it. If it has limitations, consider moving on, but I wouldn't rush into that.

One thing I would say is, print. Print your images and frame them. You can have the best camera in the World taking the best pictures, but if they're stuck on a hard drive, what's the point? Maybe make a book of a trip?

Get the Panasonic and enjoy your photograpy.
 
You didn't mention a budget but if you were thinking of a DSLR and want the image quality a DSLR gives you in a compact camera you won't go wrong with the Sony RX10 IV

It really is an all in one camera but expensive and as big as a DSLR , I bought one used, had it for 6 months then sold it for what I paid for it , I've never bought anything new , the most expensive purchase is a new budget lens or camera,buy pro lenses and the ownership cost can be zero, bodies are released every 3 months but lenses stay unchanged for years

I had ever more expensive lenses that went unnoticed by mrs wack because they were all black , then I changed to canon and bought a white 300mm f/2.8

Is that new, it looks expensive

er

it was expensive but when I decided I was too old to be carrying Thor's hammer around a racetrack I sold it for what I paid for it.

Make a shortlist and read some reviews before you take the leap
Screenshot_2021-05-06 Best enthusiast long zoom cameras in 2021.png

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