Most ideal street/travel/everyday camera

antc · 24 Oct 2015 at 15:42

Hi All,

Thought it would be a cool idea to start a thread about this as there was a bit of discussion the new gear thread. Would be cool to get a discussion going and peoples experiences of various cameras etc.

I have been looking for something for a little while now and I would really like to hear your opinions and thoughts.

The camera so far I have been looking at are -

1. Fuji X100s/t - Nice and small, good quality images, good lens, covers a lot of bases. No folding screen which I find useful sometimes.

2. Sony Rx1R 2 - This looks like a stunner, full frame, 35mm f2, good image quality, massive price though (subjective I guess as to if you think its expensive)

3. Sony Rx1R - Can be had for around £1200-1400 second hand, still quite expensive, good image quality, same great lens as the new one I believe.

4. Sony RX100 1,2,3,4 - Looked at these today in a local camera shop, seem nice and well built, folding screen, mk3 and 4 have a viewfinder which I think is something you can't do without, mk1 and 2 don't have one, can add as option but is expensive.

5. OMD EM-5 + 17mm F1.8 - I used to own this combination some while back before selling it and moving back to full frame dslr. It was pretty good, has the 5 axis image stabiliser, folding screen, good image quality, good lens. Not sure if the newer versions of the camera, em5 mk2, or even em10 or em10 mk2 have any better features than the original em5. Aditional benefit of this combination is you could, if you wished be able to swap lenses etc......

6. Use my dslr (5dmk3) and just buy a 35mm lens for it, Canon 35f2IS, Sigma 35 Art or Canon 35mm L

7. Fuji X30 - Tillable screen, qood IQ, has zoom, wifi, small.

8. Panasonic GX7 - Tiltable EVF, tillable screen, similar in features to other m4/3 cameras above.

Things I was particularly looking for that I would find useful myself are -

1. Tilt able screen, if it rotates then cool but ideally at least tiltable
2. Smaller, easier to carry, more covert, weighs less, maybe pocketable
3. IS - Image stabiliser would be excellent, the 5 axis that I have experienced before was rather good.
4. Undecided on fixed lens or zoom, I do quite like the 35mm focal length, so if it was a fixed length lens this is perhaps what I would look for.
5. Wifi - Ideal for getting images onto mobile devices or printers.

So what do you guys and girls all think, what do you/are you looking for in a smaller camera perhaps for the above type of uses or even others.

antc · 28 Oct 2015 at 20:24

Some super interesting thoughts and suggestions so far, exactly what I was hoping this thread would turn into.

My list was by no means a definitive list, it would be fairly long I guess if it was. To clarify when I said smaller I just meant smaller than my 5D3. Something more convenient to take out, on trips, holidays etc when I don't want to take the 5d. But whilst also making sure its capable of shooting high quality images.

There is certainly a distinct lack of full frame options, not saying I need full frame, but its interesting to note. Not sure how many APS-C there are either, few I think. Always had a liking for the Fuji cameras, but never managed to convince myself the X100 series was the way to go, although I have previously listed over that camera LOL!

But ultimately, I have looked at many, and never come to a conclusion. Had a good look at the RX100 series last weekend while in a local store, couldn't believe how small they were, for me it would need to be a mk3 or 4 for the EVF if I was to go with one, but what about the 1 inch sensor? Any good? Better or worse than M4/3 or APS-C?

I think this market in particular is a tough one to make a choice from, especially when some or may be all of us are looking at this as a second camera, already owning other cameras that are pretty awesome......

antc · 30 Oct 2015 at 13:03

Been thinking about this on and off all week. Still not come to a solid decision but I think I have reduced the candidates a little. I am thinking the following at this point -

1. Sony RX1R2 - Awesome full frame goodness, would be my first choice money no object but for what I want at this point for the budget I want to spend its sadly too expensive.

2. Fuji X100S/T - Seriously looking at this, I like the 35mm focal length for street work, is there much real world difference between an S and T? Never really owned a camera with a fixed focal length before, so wondering if I could live with this only.

3. OMD EM1/EM5 MK2 - From these two thinking perhaps the EM5 MK2, had a MK1 a long time ago and as I understand the MK2 is a big upgrade to that. But, is there a lot of difference between the EM5 MK2 and EM1? I think I prefer the size, slight less build of the EM5 MK2. I would potentially couple that with a 17mm 1.8 and 45mm 1.8 for street work and street portraits, seems a very flexible combination.

4. Fuji X30 - Owned an X10 before, has a lot of decent features to it and good IQ.

So I guess thats down to three LOL! Just need to try and decide really

antc · 30 Oct 2015 at 16:32

Greebo said:
The only thing the EM1 has that the EM5 II doesnt have is phase detection AF so better for fast moving objects.

Apart from that the EM5 II has features the EM1 doesnt and also is smaller/lighter to boot!

The EM5 II even gets a 40mega pixel super pic where the camera takes 8 pictures, half a pixel shifted and merges them into one giant pic (for totally stationery objects only).

As for the difference between the Mark 1 and Mark 2, there is quite a massive boost as follows. I would never get a mark 1 over a mark 2.

http://www.amateurphotographer.co.u...pus-om-d-e-m5-mark-ii-and-the-om-d-e-m5-44571

Also the em5 Mark 2 gets a massive firmware upgrade this month (so does the 1 btw) which gives the em5 all the extra features they put in the recent em10 Mark 2.(http://www.getolympus.com/upgrade)

And Olympus (and panasonic) make some of the best, sharpest lens in any camera range. I am enjoying the f1.8 45mm and 25mm enourmously.

45mm is effective 90mm so you would not be ideal for street work IMO, its more a head portrait lens only.

I would think the 17mm and/or 25mm (34mm and 50mm effective) would be best.

And best news is both lens are tiny and light. If they are not small enough then you can get pancake versions.

Thanks

Just found there is an Olympus photowalk near where I live tomorrow so I am going to go along and try out some kit. 17mm 1.8 would be a definite if I go this way, i prefer an effect 35mm to 50mm. The reason I mentioned the 45mm 1.8, would be for street portraits, like 100 strangers style shooting.

But it certainly seems like from the info you have given me here the EM5 MK2 maybe the way to go! Just that flexibility and versatility of options over say an X100T, think its the way I am edging.