Best bang for buck with 1k budget

Minstadave · 23 May 2016 at 18:01

Evening all, quick sanity check.

Currently have an NX300 with 12-24, 30 and 50-200 lenses. Does the job but no EVF, Samsung have left the camera market so no new lenses, 5 RAW buffer and rubbish c-AF performance.

I want a setup for family pics and a longer lens for birds/zoo.

My number one choice is:

Panasonic GX8 with 14-42 kit lens, a prime and a 100-300 lens. Plenty of scope to add more primes and the 100-400 if needed.

Otherwise I've considered a second hand XT-1 or XT-10, but lenses aren't cheap. An A6000 or A6300 but lens choice is poor on Sony. Panasonic GX80 is nice but the better EVF and extra controls on the GX8 are winning my over.

Anything else I should consider?

I've not really looked at DSLRs as they're bulky and I'll inevitably end up leaving it behind.

Minstadave · 23 May 2016 at 19:38

Thanks Andy, I had ruled out the mk2 RX10 because of it's poor c-AF but I'll have a look at the Panasonic.

I'd miss not having the option to change lenses, I quite like chopping and changing and upgrading.

Minstadave · 23 May 2016 at 20:26

There's a Panasonic Refurb GX8 with the 14-140 lens for £700 on the bay, very tempting.

Minstadave · 24 May 2016 at 12:12

Yup and my wife is sick of me talking about it too.

There's a compromise whichever I choose and I can't make my mind up. I'll probably spank 2k+ on at XT-2 or XPro-2 at this rate.

Edit - bought the GX8 with 14-140!

Minstadave · 24 May 2016 at 13:21

Yeah the 100-300 will be next, then a prime

The 14-140 looks like a very impressive lens given its zoom range.

Minstadave · 25 May 2016 at 10:03

Well it's here and it's a hefty, impressive bit of kit!

Just trudging through the 300+ page manual, going to take some learning this!

Massive improvement in focussing speed and accuracy over my NX300.