Spec me/advice - noob looking for a decent camera

[Pen66]

Hi all,

Looking to purchase a decent camera as I have a few trips coming up in the next year that I'd like to remember with good photos. These will mostly be landscapes and some portraits at day and night.

I've read a few reviews and lists of cameras but the amount of options available makes it hard to narrow down which ones are suitable.

Ideally I'm looking for a camera that's:

- Easy to use but has enough features/settings to be interesting/useful once I get familiar with it
- Easy to handle and carry around
- Budget is £350
- Can be new or used

New
Sony a5000

Used
Fujifilm X-T10
Olympus OM-D E-M10 II
Sony RX100

I had briefly considered a Nikon D3400 but I'm not keen on the added bulk of a DSLR.

Are these suitable? Or am I best looking at something else?

 

[beefybarn]

Out of the ones you have listed I would go for the Sony RX100, takes stunning pics, just look at the threads here and over on Talk Photography.

 

[uv]

I'm assuming that E-M10 II price is without a lens? Owning both an RX100 and a E-M5 II, I pick up the Olympus about 90% of the time tbh - but you need to factor in the cost of the lens for your budget.

 

[EsaT]

I've read a few reviews and lists of cameras but the amount of options available makes it hard to narrow down which ones are suitable...

- Easy to use but has enough features/settings to be interesting/useful once I get familiar with it

Don't lower yourself, you're already above noob.
I define noob as someone not knowing anything and not interested in learning anything.


For maximum portability/easiest carrying RX100 as fixed lens compact wins by big margin and definitely takes lot better pictures, than compacts 10 years ago.
And fixed lens allows optimizing its performance for size.

But it's also that basic point&shoot with soap bar level ergonomy and not a slightest grip in it.
Also there aren't much external controls and they're small making their use exercise of frustration.
Would be lot better if screen was 2,5" size at max, but marketroids just have to destroy ergonomics...
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sony-cybershot-dsc-rx100/5
Also without viewfinder you can't use more stable viewfinder shooting.
Obviously as fixed lens camera there also isn't flexibility in optics.


So when wanting better controls over exposure/other settings and having flexibility/option in optics system cameras are way better.

Though like you noticed other leg still in film era DSLRs have notably bigger size and long mount distance also limiting optical design of lenses.
Mirrorless systems have more freedom in body desing, but film era legacy sensor format still imposes limits to lenses.
For example Sony's system needing DSLR size lenses to avoid struggling in optical performance. (wide landscapes don't like major sharpness drops outside center)

Non-legacy based Four Thirds format of Panasonic/Olympus fares lot better in offering also more compact zooms with decent good performance.
In case of Olympus in body stabilization also helps with every lens in lower light non-moving object photography like landscapes.
As system Micro Four Thirds is starting be quite complete with lots of choise in lenses from smaller lenses to more heavier duty lenses.
I think you could throw in together lenses of all other mirrorless systems and still fall clearly behind in number of them.


E-M10 II would definitely offer lot of features and fit easily to bigger jacket pocket.
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/bang-for-the-buck-olympus-om-d-e-m10-ii-review/3
Though both Olympus and Panasonic have also "pancake" style zoom lens for fitting into smaller pocket:
http://photozone.de/m43/885_olympus1442f3556ez
Those just obviously have worser performance than normal type lens:
http://photozone.de/m43/846-olympus1442f3556iir


Any way you'll be always limited in one way or another and every camera/system is always compromise.

Camerasize works for comparing sizes of cameras and includes "model" hand for scale.
http://camerasize.com/compare/

Four Thirds site even has "simulation" for checking what body looks with lens:
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/special/matching.html