Small compact camera recommendations?

[ThorB]

I'm not into cameras I'm afraid. However we're off on a big holiday in August - travelling throughout Malaysia and Borneo. We currently just use our iPhone 8's for taking photos but I'm thinking that something more substantive may be appropriate for wildlife photography and jungle expeditions.

Does anyone have any recommendations around the £150 mark? I'm not sure what features I should be looking for but wireless connectivity to my phone would be ideal. Is my budget realistic?

Any pointers will be gratefully received.

Cheers

[JD82]

It may have been superceded recently but I used a Lumix DMC-TZ40 up until recently and found it excellent. Really great optical zoom, and can use manual features if you fancy fiddling about. Otherwise, the best compact I've had by a mile.

[ThorB]

Cheers. Looks like it's no longer for sale but this one with a bit of budget creep might fit the bill - https://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-lumix-dmc-tz70...

[sgrimshaw]

If you're "trekking" as opposed to luxury coaches etc then I'd consider a "tough" camera.

Lot to be said for not having to worry about damaging the camera, especially if it's a once in a lifetime trip.

With a lot of budget creep, you'd be in Olympus TG-5 territory:

https://www.olympus.co.uk/site/en/c/cameras/tough/...

Others are available for cheaper:

https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/best-waterproof-...

[ThorB]

sgrimshaw said:

If you're "trekking" as opposed to luxury coaches etc then I'd consider a "tough" camera.

Lot to be said for not having to worry about damaging the camera, especially if it's a once in a lifetime trip.

With a lot of budget creep, you'd be in Olympus TG-5 territory:

https://www.olympus.co.uk/site/en/c/cameras/tough/...

Others are available for cheaper:

https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/best-waterproof-...

Cheers. I was thinking that when we are in kayaks and such like we'd use Go-pros. Both Kids have Hero 4's which are waterproof, and have been great for skiing and mountain biking. Having never taken a photograph with them I might try it and see how they come out.

[Bumblebee7]

Stretch the budget a bit and go for something like this:

https://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-lumix-dc-fz82-...

60x zoom and it has a very wide setting equivalent to 20mm.

iPhone cameras are now so good that a regular point and shoot may seem completely redundant, with a bridge camera you get high zoom features which will help with wildlife shots. Get a small case for it and shove it in a waterproof bag if you're going to be around water and you'll be fine. GoPro's are excellent activity cameras but not ideal where it's possible to use a 'proper' camera.

[ThorB]

Bumblebee7 said:

Stretch the budget a bit and go for something like this:

https://www.johnlewis.com/panasonic-lumix-dc-fz82-...

60x zoom and it has a very wide setting equivalent to 20mm.

iPhone cameras are now so good that a regular point and shoot may seem completely redundant, with a bridge camera you get high zoom features which will help with wildlife shots. Get a small case for it and shove it in a waterproof bag if you're going to be around water and you'll be fine. GoPro's are excellent activity cameras but not ideal where it's possible to use a 'proper' camera.

Whilst I would to love to own a half decent camera, my worry is that with the size of it we'd never use it. I'm not one for carrying a bag, so generally is something doesn't fit in my pocket it doesn't get used, hence why we love our iPhones. And our kids do sooo many activities that special moments happen a lot and at unknown occasions, so it's not something we'd take with us all the time.

In terms of your comments about compact cameras, in all honesty, is it worth getting one over an iPhone 8 and a Go-pro or would I just be spending money for the sake of it?

[Jasey_]

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Sony-DSCWX350-Digital-C...

I think this is the one you want.

It's tiny.

A bridge camera sounds like it will be a mistake for you - they are quite "bulky".

This wont take as good pictures as a bridge camera but it will fit in your pocket !

Having said that the Lumix suggestions are quite good.

Personally I would go one up from the link I shared something like this;

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Sony-DSCHX60-Digital-Co...

Slightly bigger but a fair bit better (This one is in the same "bracket" as the lumix cameras sugested earlier.

I just prefer Sony

I have both of these - the smaller one is really only used for Parties - the bigger one for holidays where I can't be arsed taking something bigger

Edited by Jasey_ on Friday 28th June 08:26

[Jasey_]

Some samples from the bigger camera;

Wide Angle



Closer


Closest

[Coolbanana]

With mobiles being as 'good' as they are it is tough making a case for a compact camera these days; especially vs the Huawei P30 which has good zoom range.

High-end compacts such as Sony's RX100 VI (or any, 1 - 6) deliver better quality but otherwise, your iPhone lacks only zoom reach and frames per second depending upon what you want to capture.

When you talk of Nature and Wildlife, well, it is a huge subject, a compact or mobile is less than ideal by some margin on a safari but ok for a wilderness hiking trail.

GoPro Hero 7:



Samsung S10+



Sony RX100 VI (reduced size to upload)


Canon EOS R full frame (reduced size to upload)

[mikal83]

We have had 2 small Nikons. Love them

[LuS1fer]

My defaults are the Panasonic TZ and Canon SX7**HS.
The Panasonic does more but the later and more expensive ones have 4k which I have on my TZ100 but it's far too complicated to have to read how to use it.

Personally, I would go for something simple like the Canon SX730HS which has all you need - video- quality photos, a flip screen and a 40x zoom and it still slips in your pocket.
E-global have them for just under £200 with their £5.99 off.
https://www.eglobalcentraluk.com/canon-powershot-s...

Ally it to a light aluminium tripod for about a tenner because that 40x zoom will obviously show up any shake.

[MikeGoodwin]

mikal83 said:

We have had 2 small Nikons. Love them

What use is that to anyone though ? Let me go search for Google 2 small Nikon's..... because mikal83 said he lives them.

Lazy.