All round family camera

[richatnort]

Hi all,

I'm Hoping you can all help me find something suitable. We're soon to be joined by our daughter in 3 weeks and it's made me realise I want to capture as much as possible. When I grew up my parents took video a lot at Christmas, birthdays and going out and I'd like to do the same and take some photos too.

I know smart phones have come on a lot and very convenient but i don't know what type of camera I want. I'm not wanting to break the bank and stay under £600 max but do I just need a camcorder or maybe a compact camera with 4k video quality built in? Definitely not looking at slr or anything like that just something small that can fit on a tripod or be held for photos of video or maybe just video.

As you can tell I've never owned more than a phone so not sure where to start.

Anyone any advice?

[Coolbanana]

For your budget, I'd say either of these would be ideal:

https://www.wexphotovideo.com/canon-powershot-g7-x...

https://www.wexphotovideo.com/sony-cyber-shot-rx10...


They are both outstanding cameras that perform better than the best smartphones.

[GetCarter]

This will do everything you need. And it'll fit into a pocket. (or what he said above)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Advanced-1-0-Type-F1...

[alorotom]

richatnort said:

Hi all,

I'm Hoping you can all help me find something suitable. We're soon to be joined by our daughter in 3 weeks and it's made me realise I want to capture as much as possible. When I grew up my parents took video a lot at Christmas, birthdays and going out and I'd like to do the same and take some photos too.

I know smart phones have come on a lot and very convenient but i don't know what type of camera I want. I'm not wanting to break the bank and stay under £600 max but do I just need a camcorder or maybe a compact camera with 4k video quality built in? Definitely not looking at slr or anything like that just something small that can fit on a tripod or be held for photos of video or maybe just video.

As you can tell I've never owned more than a phone so not sure where to start.

Anyone any advice?

Most mid-high end phones will do all your requirements and always be with you.

I had the same quandary before our daughter arrived nearly 5yrs ago and bought a good compact and a waterproof camera etc... honestly both have never been used and all the 22k+ images and hundreds of hours of 1080 and 4K footage are iPhone shot and perfect

With a regular camera by the time a moment has arrived and happened you won’t have the camera out and shooting - with a phone it’s always close to hand and ready at the press of a shutter button

[GetCarter]

alorotom said:

richatnort said:

Hi all,

I'm Hoping you can all help me find something suitable. We're soon to be joined by our daughter in 3 weeks and it's made me realise I want to capture as much as possible. When I grew up my parents took video a lot at Christmas, birthdays and going out and I'd like to do the same and take some photos too.

I know smart phones have come on a lot and very convenient but i don't know what type of camera I want. I'm not wanting to break the bank and stay under £600 max but do I just need a camcorder or maybe a compact camera with 4k video quality built in? Definitely not looking at slr or anything like that just something small that can fit on a tripod or be held for photos of video or maybe just video.

As you can tell I've never owned more than a phone so not sure where to start.

Anyone any advice?

Most mid-high end phones will do all your requirements and always be with you.

I had the same quandary before our daughter arrived nearly 5yrs ago and bought a good compact and a waterproof camera etc... honestly both have never been used and all the 22k+ images and hundreds of hours of 1080 and 4K footage are iPhone shot and perfect

With a regular camera by the time a moment has arrived and happened you won’t have the camera out and shooting - with a phone it’s always close to hand and ready at the press of a shutter button

Needless to say, I completely disagree with this. My camera is first into my hand when I see a photo op, and it takes a much, much better photo. (I do both). When phones take better photos, I will ditch my camera!

I should probably add that I am in year nine in a photo a day for a decade - so I do have some form on this!

http://www.stevecarter.com/random/twits.htm

Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 27th July 18:57

[Coolbanana]

GetCarter said:

Needless to say, I completely disagree with this. My camera is first into my hand when I see a photo op, and it takes a much, much better photo. (I do both). When phones take better photos, I will ditch my camera!

I should probably add that I am in year nine in a photo a day for a decade - so I do have some form on this!

http://www.stevecarter.com/random/twits.htm

Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 27th July 18:57

Always good to see your photos.

When I go out on my mountain bike every day, I have a GoPro H7 on the bike, my Samsung S10+ and a Sony RX100VI in the bag. I'm used to always having a camera on me. I take the Sony with me hiking too. Or just a walk around town.

At home and day's out, my EOS R is my go-to camera unless it is a quick shot for WhatsApp in which case it is the mobile. I shoot a lot of pics with my mobile, love how far along their cameras are coming, but it is only for Social Media. If I want a photo to keep, it has to be done on a dedicated camera, the quality difference is still very much visible.

[alorotom]

GetCarter said:

Needless to say, I completely disagree with this. My camera is first into my hand when I see a photo op, and it takes a much, much better photo. (I do both). When phones take better photos, I will ditch my camera!

I should probably add that I am in year nine in a photo a day for a decade - so I do have some form on this!

http://www.stevecarter.com/random/twits.htm

Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 27th July 18:57

But you aren’t representative of a normal user though in fairness.

[Nerdherder]

alorotom said:

richatnort said:

Hi all,

I'm Hoping you can all help me find something suitable. We're soon to be joined by our daughter in 3 weeks and it's made me realise I want to capture as much as possible. When I grew up my parents took video a lot at Christmas, birthdays and going out and I'd like to do the same and take some photos too.

I know smart phones have come on a lot and very convenient but i don't know what type of camera I want. I'm not wanting to break the bank and stay under £600 max but do I just need a camcorder or maybe a compact camera with 4k video quality built in? Definitely not looking at slr or anything like that just something small that can fit on a tripod or be held for photos of video or maybe just video.

As you can tell I've never owned more than a phone so not sure where to start.

Anyone any advice?

Most mid-high end phones will do all your requirements and always be with you.

I had the same quandary before our daughter arrived nearly 5yrs ago and bought a good compact and a waterproof camera etc... honestly both have never been used and all the 22k+ images and hundreds of hours of 1080 and 4K footage are iPhone shot and perfect

With a regular camera by the time a moment has arrived and happened you won’t have the camera out and shooting - with a phone it’s always close to hand and ready at the press of a shutter button

THIS!
Plus a camera does get more 'in the way' of experiencing life moments that something you can very easily slip in and out of your pocket.

Also photo apps like VCSO and simply developing a bit of a feel for camera photography (developing a sense for light conditions and composition) can bring you very pleasing results.
And to add on top, I think that cameras like the Sony RX100 or Panasonic LX100 are great and I like shooting with them, but the difference in picture quality with a well taken phone camera shot combined with the other factors mentioned just don't make the outlay for a camera worthwhile in my view.

P.s. I have had a huge succession of film and digital cameras, the only use my one of my current cameras gets is if I do a trip without the family and some business use for early versions of the products I'm working on. Also 3 kids running around in the house here.
I am contemplating selling most of the digital stuff ang going back to film because every time I run across film prints they really appeal to me. And for those handful of occasions it's about the joy of photography anyway.

Edited by Nerdherder on Sunday 28th July 09:04

[Coolbanana]

alorotom said:

But you aren’t representative of a normal user though in fairness.

It largely depends upon what you consider a 'perfect' shot too - a lot of people are perfectly happy with mobile-quality because they only view their images on small screens and rarely, if ever, print them. If iPhone quality is all someone needs to be impressed or happy etc then that is great. Most of my Family feel the same way, nothing wrong with it.

If you enjoy photography and want to be creative as opposed to letting phone software and a tiny sensor dictate your shot then a dedicated camera is the way to go. It is true that a lot of compacts are not much better than mobiles - you really have to go with the high-end ones like those mentioned in this thread to appreciate any real difference and, even then, if you are only sharing from one mobile to another, you may not always see the quality improvement.

It is also absolutely true that the best camera is the one you have on you when you need it. No use having an expensive camera if you don't have it to hand - so I totally see your point regarding always having a mobile on you. It is very convenient and I, like everyone, take full advantage of that. However, at home, you would have just as easy access to any camera you own. It is no quicker to grab a phone than it is a camera in your home environment unless you habitually keep it packed away. If you have a young child, new puppy etc then keep the camera easily reachable for those moments you want to capture.

Similarly, a pocketable Sony RX100 is easy to have on you when out and about and its 1" sensor will always out-perform a mobile. The real dedication to the Art comes with not always wanting to carry a larger camera around and I too have fallen foul of that, owning very nice but large and relatively heavy DSLR's that I just didn't take with me everywhere on account of them being cumbersome. I've switched to Mirrorless and, while still a lot larger than my Sony RX100, is a little more manageable so I'm finding I carry it with me more.

Convenience vs quality is why mobiles are seeing dedicated camera sales drop, no question given that mobiles do produce an 'acceptable' image for many and, for FB, Instagram and WhatsApp etc, can look really good. If convenience is more important then the default will be the camera easiest to access that doesn't add to what you already keep on you or next to you - hence mobiles being all the camera many want and they'll happily settle for the quality those mobiles will produce because it is easier to do so.

Still, my sister-in-law was really very happy two weeks ago when 80 of us arrived for her wedding in the Ardennes and when I asked where the pro photographer was, she realised she had forgot to book one and then discovered that from all the Guests, only two of us had dedicated cameras! I was the 'official' photographer that day and I do think, looking at the images, my EOS R shots easily stand out from the mobile images most took.

[LuS1fer]

I have had several compact cameras and have swerved, temporarily, into both a bridge camera and a Nikon SLR which I found a pain to carry round.

I started with a Panasonic TZ30, many years ago and then bought a Canon SX700HS which has proved very rugged even after falling over in fine sand and dragging sand in as it shut off. Still takes good photos despite the odd grain. These have 20 and 30x zooms.

I then bought a Panasonic TZ100 for the one inch sensor but, for my use, the photos are not so much better that the reduction to 10 X zoom was justified. It's also slightly heavy. The new TZ200 improves the zoom to 15x. Most compacts only have small zooms. I don't like the way you have to switch on the TZ100 to view photos either.

The Panasonic TZ90/95 tends to be the best value in the 30x zoom compact and has a viewfinder, 4k and flip screen. A grey import from eglobal or the like can be had for well under £250. My main gripe is it is again a tiny bit big and heavy. Because I didn't want two Panasonics, I have just bought a Canon SX740HS, again a grey import for under £240 which has a flip screen and 4k and a big 40x zoom. It is more pocket friendly than the TZ.
The Sony HX99 is much smaller but much more expensive otherwise I would have tried that though it seems far less robust than the Canon and uses a micro SD card.

On the point of usability, I have a OnePlus mobile and very rarely use it, save down the pub. A camera gives you far more options and better quality video and photos. New cameras have wi-fi and Bluetooth. My kids grew up in videos from the TZ30 but I wish I had had the quality of current cameras.
Just ensure you store your photos online or double back up those on your computer and in the latter case get a reliable drive to do so.

In conclusion, I would pick a compact camera and lightweight tripod, every time, over a mobile. They take seconds to grab and fire up and the zoom means you can capture good shots even when a way away. Maybe the 15x zoom of the TZ200 addresses my main reservation with the TZ100 (which I also bought "grey" from T3dimension) but the sturdiest camera, dropped on more than one occasion, has been the Canon. Can't give a definitive view on the 740 as it hasn't arrived yet but as a do it all workhorse, think it may be the right pocket size.

Edited to add that there is also the issue of battery life and a backup battery for a camera is cheap and easy. Downside is that I have about 16000 photos/videos on my computer but use various photos as a computer screen background.

Edited further to say my SX740HS arrived from e-global in 6 days. and cost a mere £243.

Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 31st July 14:27

[StevieBee]

Still with us OP?

As you have noticed, we snappers can be a precious bunch when it comes to kit and opinions!

You need (and need to budget for)

A DSLR camera (don't get hung up on the make - look for video capabilities and pre-set modes settings like landscape, portrait...etc)
A flash gun with a swivel / tilt head (integral flashes aren't that good, even on the higher end cameras)
Memory Card - at least 64gb. Video hoovers up masses of memory.
Tripod

Also think about how you will edit, store and catalogue what you shoot. If you use a Mac, the native 'Photos' software is very good.

Make sure you get the kit well before the arrival so you have chance to faff around learning what's what (you'll not have the time to do so for all of......oooh; 18 years or so, after! )

[richatnort]

Thanks everyone sorry crazy busy. Yeh I am going to get the song compact camera some people have said don't bother but I honestly don't think my phone will do at the big occasions but Yeh I agree the phone will probably do the majority.