Beginner All-round Compacts (beginner)

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stingy

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Hiya

Got a kid due soon, and always wanted to keep pictures, video for posterity or whatever. I'd perhaps like to see pictures printed/framed and would like the depth & low light quality that camera phones don't necessarily cover. Also don't want to flick a grand into Samsung's pocket tbh. A compact camera would be great.

What i'm after:
  • Something that lets me and wifey point and shoot but also explore what the camera can do as well, if I choose to
  • A compact all-rounder that will last me a good while
  • Preferably <£500
  • Video, but not necessarily bothered about 4k performance
  • Bluetooth/wifi - so I can transfer easily to my phone or Google photos etc without plugging in stuff (if poss)
I seem to land on Canon SX740, which I suppose is fine, but apparently performs badly in low light? Or Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II?

It can get a bit confusing and you all seem helpful. Can you help me with any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
 
Is it the size or cost that makes you want a compact?

For what you describe I'd look at a micro four thirds camera.
 
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ancient_mariner said:
Is it the size or cost that makes you want a compact?

For what you describe I'd look at a micro four thirds camera.
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TBH it's the size. I don't want something hanging around my neck on every journey. I don't carry a wallet so I have a free pocket.

Tjm2986 said:
I just brought a Panasonic Lumix LX100. Cost me £379.99.
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Looks beautiful. That level of quality is what i'm looking for. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
Use a Sony RX100Mk4 myself and find it perfect for my needs which is photo's of the 2 kids and wife and holidays. Really compact and easily fits in your pocket.
 
I used to own a LX100 it's a great camera, with good iso capability and nice fast lens at the wide end. Perfect to explore creativity and learn how a "real" camera work. All the same setting and option as in a DSLR.


Downside was it got dust in on the sensor after a while.
 
I have a sony rx100 mk 1 and mk 3 and used to have the mk 2 also.

I think they are the best for their small size but no low light king because the sensor is 1 inch.

But they will easily beat a smartphone to death in all areas except for gimmicks and they fit in an actual trouser pocket.
 
Lemaildetom said:
I used to own a LX100 it's a great camera, with good iso capability and nice fast lens at the wide end. Perfect to explore creativity and learn how a "real" camera work. All the same setting and option as in a DSLR.


Downside was it got dust in on the sensor after a while.
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The dust issue has got me a little worried. Seems to be a common issue with the lx100. I'm assuming it can be cleaned at a cost?
 
Tjm2986 said:
The dust issue has got me a little worried. Seems to be a common issue with the lx100. I'm assuming it can be cleaned at a cost?
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Lol, I killed mine trying to clean it myself. But maybe a shop could do it for you but it will be expensive because it needs to be totally dismantled to get to the sensor not an easy job! I remember I found a great tutorial at the time.

I loved my LX100 it really is a good camera. All the settings are just so easy to access. I got about 18 months life out of mine. Maybe I was just unlucky.

I've now got a panasonic GX9 which was about 400£ with cash back. With a couple of lenses: pana 15mm f1.7, 42.5mm f.17. Nice combo too not much bigger.
 
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My LX100 was a dust magnet and bad on me for not doing a bit more research before buying it, so I would be very wary before parting with your cash.

I replaced it with a GX9, which, with the standard zoom kit lens, is not much bigger than the LX100 and is a far superior set up (for me). Plus the ability to change lenses is a real bonus, the Olympus 45mm f1.8 is a cracking lens on the GX9.

The recent Sony promotion on Amazon had both the RX100 M3 and M4 at very good reductions so I bought an M4 and have been very impressed at its IQ. If you want a small fixed lens camera then it is a cracking bit of kit.
 
patr said:
My LX100 was a dust magnet and bad on me for not doing a bit more research before buying it, so I would be very wary before parting with your cash.

I replaced it with a GX9, which, with the standard zoom kit lens, is not much bigger than the LX100 and is a far superior set up (for me). Plus the ability to change lenses is a real bonus, the Olympus 45mm f1.8 is a cracking lens on the GX9.

The recent Sony promotion on Amazon had both the RX100 M3 and M4 at very good reductions so I bought an M4 and have been very impressed at its IQ. If you want a small fixed lens camera then it is a cracking bit of kit.
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Its a bit late now haha. I already have the LX100. It takes absolutely beautiful pictures. Suppose I'll just have to be careful with it and when the dust does make its way in get it cleaned. Funnily enough I have just had to send my DC-TZ90 away for dust issues in the lens.
 
patr said:
My LX100 was a dust magnet and bad on me for not doing a bit more research before buying it, so I would be very wary before parting with your cash.

I replaced it with a GX9, which, with the standard zoom kit lens, is not much bigger than the LX100 and is a far superior set up (for me). Plus the ability to change lenses is a real bonus, the Olympus 45mm f1.8 is a cracking lens on the GX9.

The recent Sony promotion on Amazon had both the RX100 M3 and M4 at very good reductions so I bought an M4 and have been very impressed at its IQ. If you want a small fixed lens camera then it is a cracking bit of kit.
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Thanks for the recommendation on the M4 RX100. Expensive, but great reviews. Will consider that one.

Tjm I suppose he might have been warning me :p rather than convincing you to buy another camera! Hope you don't have much trouble with it, but I have been suitably put off by the issue unfortunately.

Ps I was recommended the LX100 by a friend yesterday who had no problems with dust, so hopefully you'll be alright.
 
stingy said:
Thanks for the recommendation on the M4 RX100. Expensive, but great reviews. Will consider that one.

Tjm I suppose he might have been warning me :p rather than convincing you to buy another camera! Hope you don't have much trouble with it, but I have been suitably put off by the issue unfortunately.

Ps I was recommended the LX100 by a friend yesterday who had no problems with dust, so hopefully you'll be alright.
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I hope so. I am not too worried paying to get it cleaned if it does become an issue will be worth it for me. A compact camera with full manual controls at the price I paid for it is well worth it. It performs better than my DSLR which at the moment is only an entry level model.
 
As the father of a nearly 17 year old I'd strongly recommend you get a camera, carry it everywhere and use it often.
I'd also take video in the best quality you can as it will look old and dated before they're grown (I have Mini DV tapes of mine!).
It's a cliche but they really do grow up fast so take this final opportunity to buy a decent camera before the kid arrives and your wallet is empty for the next decade or two ;)

Any compact camera with a fixed collapsing zoom lens is going to be susceptible to dust.
The mechanisms can also be fragile. I gave up carrying a pocket camera after a two died with lens faults that were more expensive to repair than the camera was worth.
If you're going to carry the camera everywhere then get a good case to keep the pocket fluff out of it and provide a bit of physical protection from bumps.

An interchangeable lens camera will let you clean the sensor and generally should take better pictures but you pay a price in size and probably in price too.
Once you have a baby then you won't notice the difference in size given the mountains of stuff you're carrying everywhere all the time :)
 
stingy said:
Thanks for the recommendation on the M4 RX100. Expensive, but great reviews. Will consider that one.

Tjm I suppose he might have been warning me :p rather than convincing you to buy another camera! Hope you don't have much trouble with it, but I have been suitably put off by the issue unfortunately.

Ps I was recommended the LX100 by a friend yesterday who had no problems with dust, so hopefully you'll be alright.
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Stingy LOL, yes crossed posts as I was replying to you and it seems that some have been very impressed with their LX100's as was I till it vacuumed in dust!

If you do want a really superb compact camera and are happy to add lenses as and when then do have a look on EBay and the Panasonic Official Outlet. They have a brand new GX9 with the 16-32mm zoom lens for £499 less 15% which makes it £439.95.

That Sir, is a steal.
 
Don't dismiss 4k. Even if you dont want video, using it for burst shootings allows you to scan frame by frame and save the best frame as a picture. Great for photographing kids.
 
AMcUK said:
As the father of a nearly 17 year old I'd strongly recommend you get a camera, carry it everywhere and use it often...

...An interchangeable lens camera will let you clean the sensor and generally should take better pictures but you pay a price in size and probably in price too.
Once you have a baby then you won't notice the difference in size given the mountains of stuff you're carrying everywhere all the time :)
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I'm getting more and more convinced by your argument. Baby due soon, not enough time to research!

patr said:
Stingy LOL, yes crossed posts as I was replying to you and it seems that some have been very impressed with their LX100's as was I till it vacuumed in dust!

If you do want a really superb compact camera and are happy to add lenses as and when then do have a look on EBay and the Panasonic Official Outlet. They have a brand new GX9 with the 16-32mm zoom lens for £499 less 15% which makes it £439.95.

That Sir, is a steal.
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That Sir, has been sold :( at this point I was ready to click buy haha. Thank you again for advice. I don't really think I know what I want anymore but this has been fun.
 
OK I think i'm going to end up with an X-A7. Seems to have what I need and I can get it on Amazon for £550 inc. a lens. Hope i'm not doing anything stupid but as a beginner I think it's a great all-rounder and not too far from the compact I thought i'd end up with. It's fairly new and seems to match up fairly well stat-wise with something like the GX9. We'll see how it goes, and hopefully i'll pop a pic or two up and join in with you guys.

**got it for £500 from Amazon, new, inc, 15-45mm lens
 
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stingy said:
OK I think i'm going to end up with an X-A7. Seems to have what I need and I can get it on Amazon for £550 inc. a lens. Hope i'm not doing anything stupid but as a beginner I think it's a great all-rounder and not too far from the compact I thought i'd end up with. It's fairly new and seems to match up fairly well stat-wise with something like the GX9. We'll see how it goes, and hopefully i'll pop a pic or two up and join in with you guys.
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The X-A7 is a lovely camera, and I am a FujiFilm fan and user, but do remember that it doesn’t have a viewfinder. It’s sibling, the X-T200 does.

The X-T200 and lens is £599 on the FujiFilm Refurb store or £598 at UKCamerastore. I would add the extra £50 for the viewfinder on a heartbeat over the X-A7.

This may or may not be a deciding factor for your intended use but if you are spending that sort of money and would like to expand your photography in the future with larger lenses then you might find the lack of a viewfinder problematic.

Whichever one you go for will be an excellent choice!
 
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Thanks Patr, you've been a real help. I've stuck with the A7 as I ended up getting it for £500 which was my max budget (originally, despite these naturally stretching :p ), and the lack of a VF doesn't bother me much really. I can't really see me going deep into photography but i've still got interchangeable lenses etc if I do want to play :) it's also a new camera, coming out last year, so I know if I keep it a long while it won't be massively out of date or anything.

Anyway, i'll get snapping & hopefully share soon :)
 
stingy said:
Thanks Patr, you've been a real help. I've stuck with the A7 as I ended up getting it for £500 which was my max budget (originally, despite these naturally stretching :p ), and the lack of a VF doesn't bother me much really. I can't really see me going deep into photography but i've still got interchangeable lenses etc if I do want to play :) it's also a new camera, coming out last year, so I know if I keep it a long while it won't be massively out of date or anything.

Anyway, i'll get snapping & hopefully share soon :)
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A Viewfinder is not about getting deep into photography it's about taking pics outside in sunshine.
 
Well... I did end up going back for the x-t200. In the end it does matter, having a viewfinder, I was just trying to be stubborn after finally making a decision.
 
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