Good mirrorless camera (GX1 or NEX 5)

Amp34

Amp34

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My parents are looking to get my sister a new camera. She wants something she can play with when needed and to "shoot birds". My parents have come up with somethink like the NEX5 and the GX1, which I broadly agree but not having done much research on this sort of camera don't necessarily know the pros and cons.

Which would be the better all round camera? Are both likely to be able to provide a good selection of lenses to shoot with if she starts collecting?

Thanks
 
Both are decent cameras, but I would say that the GX1 would possibly be a better all round camera than the Nex and better value for money (currently £250 for the body at SRS after cashback). The Nex cameras are great but compared to micro four thirds cameras they are lacking in lens selection and the AF is slow(er). Even the GX1 AF may be too slow for birds in flight though - not that you cannot do it but it may be more difficult to do it vs a dslr.

With the GX1 you would probably be looking at adding the Panasonic 100-300 at some stage for birds/wildlife - you are looking at around £400 for that lens though.

There is no stabilisation in Panasonic bodies so you are limited to Panasonic m43 telephoto zooms if you want stabilisation, whereas with an Olympus body (with IBIS) you can use Olympus or Panasonic lenses. There is £50 cashback on most (all?) Panasonic lenses at the moment - other cheaper telephoto zooms with less reach would be the 45-175mm f4.0-5.6 (£300); the 45-150mm (£219.00) and the 45-200mm F4-5.6 ASPH Mega O.I.S lens (£200) - all prices are before cashback.

Also see: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=5125880&postcount=4
 
Thanks, interesting post. I think the GX1 is erring towards being my favourite choice, partly because of that Panasonic lens she can get in future.
 
If your sister is happy shooting with the back screen all well and good, personally I hate it, if she does too she may like a camera with a VF or at least an add on VF for either of these.
 
Take a look at the Panasonic G3...nice little camera which could well suit your sister.
 
Yes, good point about about a viewfinder - either an add on one for the GX1 or the built in one of the G3 for example would help a lot when using long lenses for birds etc.

The G3 is good value at the moment at around £300 after cashback with 14-42 kit lens. The G3 is a dslr styled camera (kind of like a mini dslr) whereas the GX1 is shaped more like a rangefinder or compact.

(You would need the Panasonic DMW LVF 2 add on viewfinder for the GX1, which costs a hefty £200).

The micro four thirds cameras with built in viewfinders are: Olympus: OMD, Panasonic: G3, G5, GH2, GH3 and the Sony Nex cameras with built in viewfinders are the Nex 6 and Nex 7. Of these, the G3 is by far the cheapest as it's been replaced by the G5.

Another slightly different option might be the Sony A37 dslr (technically an SLT) at just over £300 with 18-55 kit lens after cashback. Yes it's a dslr/slt but it's not actually that much bigger than the G3: http://camerasize.com/compare/#326,185 and could be paired with the Tamron SP 70-300 for birds etc: http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/detail.asp?IDLens=595

It has fast AF and a nicer evf than the G3 and you can also use any of the older Minolta AF lenses many of which can be bought used at reasonable prices. Tamron and Sony also make a budget 55-220 lens (£89/£120ish) which is excellent for the price. Dslr/Slt Lenses will be significantly bigger and heavier than micro four thirds lenses though - although some of the plastic Minolta lenses are light and suprisingly good. I got a 35-70 Minolta lens on ebay for £10 which is just as good as the Sony kit lens (if not better) and just as light, although much noisier!
 
I think my parents have now decided on the GX1, the G3 is a nice camera but my sister would want something small enough to take around day to day and the GX1 with (potentially) the 14-42 PZ lens is tiny and suits the bill nicely. She can then buy the 100-300 for birds and wildlife is/when she wants (I doubt it will be BIF, more sat in trees etc.), She is in Australia at the moment travelling round, hence the small size being a benefit, her current compact doesn't really have any manual controls on it. If she decided at some point she wants a viewfinder then she can get one of those as well however I don't think she has ever really used a camera with a viewfinder so not a huge loss for her (once you start you never go back I agree :p).

Overall though the GX1 just seems to fit size wise more than the rest. Thanks for the help and suggestions. :)
 
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