'do it all' mirrorless camera?

[Yacht Broker]

I have an aging Panasonic Lumix DMV-LX7 which I use for work (photographing the inside of boats and also outside stuff). I like it because it is very compact and easy to pack when travelling and also carry around during boatshows. It is however getting on a bit now and it is lacking for low-light wide-angle interior stuff and also for zoom-related stuff (when I am out on the water).

I have been looking at some of these new mirrorless cameras and I like the fact that they are physically smaller than DSLR's and have the ability to swap out the lenses so I can maybe have a lens for internal stuff and a lens for external stuff (rather than jack of all trades, master of none).

I know absolutely chuff all about photography, so it needs to easy enough for a dimwit to use. For similar reasons, I also don't want to spend an absolute fortune.

I guess this should point me back towards a decent compact (like the Lumix I have now), but their fixed lenses do seem to make them outdated quite quickly...

Suggestions?... up to +/-£600ish....

[Bumblebee7]

I would probably just use a phone, any of the modern ones around £600 will have fantastic cameras, good low light ability and wide angle lenses which will be great for confined spaces. Even more practical than your compact camera as you'll always have it with you.

In my day job I oversee refurbishment projects and pretty much use my phone camera for everything.

The other solution is to buy a good mirrorless camera and lenses, but for a good 'low light' lens you would blow your budget out of the water (excuse the pun). I've got a Sony A7III with some great glass but you'd be looking at 5x the price. I think it's quite telling that I choose to use my phone most of the time instead of my camera as I can't be bothered to carry it.

[Derek Smith]

Yacht Broker said:

I have an aging Panasonic Lumix DMV-LX7 which I use for work (photographing the inside of boats and also outside stuff). I like it because it is very compact and easy to pack when travelling and also carry around during boatshows. It is however getting on a bit now and it is lacking for low-light wide-angle interior stuff and also for zoom-related stuff (when I am out on the water).

I have been looking at some of these new mirrorless cameras and I like the fact that they are physically smaller than DSLR's and have the ability to swap out the lenses so I can maybe have a lens for internal stuff and a lens for external stuff (rather than jack of all trades, master of none).

I know absolutely chuff all about photography, so it needs to easy enough for a dimwit to use. For similar reasons, I also don't want to spend an absolute fortune.

I guess this should point me back towards a decent compact (like the Lumix I have now), but their fixed lenses do seem to make them outdated quite quickly...

Suggestions?... up to +/-£600ish....

I've got a Pan G7. I like the fact that it's compact, smaller than some in the Pannasonic bridge range. The standard 14-140 (28-280 in old money) is great, and is you need winder angles, there's a number available. Much as I like my camera, I can't help thinking a compact with a decent zoom would suit you better. I've also got an aging Pan TZ which I use frequently. The quality is generally good enough for what I use it for, but the G7 is noticeably more flexible.

Modern compacts are quite remarkable. I've been tempted when I've visited camera shops, but the TZ is reliable despite taking a few knocks.

Cameraphones? I'm not so sure. They need to be good to beat a decent, and probably cheaper, modern compact.

[djsmith74]

You could get an Olympus OMD EM10 Mk3 kit for a great price of £439 (see link below) which comes with a decent travel zoom lens, and use the left over cash for a nice prime lens.

I have had an OMD EM5 Mk1 since new and it’s still a great camera, and the EM10 Mk3 has a better sensor, viewfinder, screen, etc.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III Kit, Micro Four Thirds System Camera (16 Megapixel, 5-Axis Image Stabilisation, Electronic Viewfinder) + M.Zuiko 14-42 mm EZ Zoom Lens, Silver https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0756Q2RMZ/ref=cm_sw_r...

[sgrimshaw]

The Sony RX100 range must be worth a look.

A Sony RX100 with the f1.8 lens combined with Steadyshot makes short work of low light indoor shots, especially if you let it do the multiple shot trick.

The f1.8 lens is on the M3, the M4 gets a much longer zoom -- M3 is 24-70mm, M4 is 24-200, but the max aperture is only f2.8.

[Simpo Two]

sgrimshaw said:

The Sony RX100 range must be worth a look.

A Sony RX100 with the f1.8 lens combined with Steadyshot makes short work of low light indoor shots

Though if you use f1.8 your DOF is compromised. Depends what its high-ISO ability is, or whether the OP intends to use additional lighting.

[Fordo]

sgrimshaw said:

The Sony RX100 range must be worth a look.

A Sony RX100 with the f1.8 lens combined with Steadyshot makes short work of low light indoor shots, especially if you let it do the multiple shot trick.

The f1.8 lens is on the M3, the M4 gets a much longer zoom -- M3 is 24-70mm, M4 is 24-200, but the max aperture is only f2.8.

IIRC - the f1.8 24-70 was on the mk4 and mk5 - its the mk6 where they switched to the slower but longer 24-200.

I have a mk5, as for the kinds of photos I take, f1.8 was more important than a long zoom.

As other have said, the latest get of camera phones get pretty close to what a camera like that can do - but I do prefer have some manual controls and real buttons, plus you cant totally beat physics, the sensor in the rx is much bigger than a phone, and its surprisingly good at night

[Yacht Broker]

Bought a Canon M200 as I got a very good deal (three lens inc a 22mm, 55-200mm and kit lens as well as some Hoya UV filters). I know it's not the best out there, but it is super simple and very portable which is what I need right now. If I get bitten by the bug and start photographing for fun, I may change again, but for work purposes it should do the job.

[Simpo Two]

Yacht Broker said:

Bought a Canon M200 as I got a very good deal (three lens inc a 22mm, 55-200mm and kit lens as well as some Hoya UV filters). I know it's not the best out there, but it is super simple and very portable which is what I need right now. If I get bitten by the bug and start photographing for fun, I may change again, but for work purposes it should do the job.

Don't bother with the filters, you just add more surfaces to reflect.

Not sure if 22mm will be wide enough for boat interiors, but either way, see how much it distorts straight lines. If your photos are selling boats professionally, they should be good and correctly exposed - ie not all dim inside because the windows are very bright.

[sgrimshaw]

Fordo said:

IIRC - the f1.8 24-70 was on the mk4 and mk5 - its the mk6 where they switched to the slower but longer 24-200.

I have a mk5, as for the kinds of photos I take, f1.8 was more important than a long zoom.

You're right, it was M6 which got the longer zoom.

M3 has the f1.8 24-70 as well, that's the one I have.

[Yacht Broker]

Quick update.

Got the M200 and at the same time my old man bought the M50 (with kit lens and telephoto like my M200 package). For travel, the M200 is clearly the winner, but for the purpose of actual photography the M50 is much nicer to use.

I ditched the 22mm lens idea and invested in a nearly-new latest gen' Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD with image stabilisation. This requires a mount as it is not a EFM lens, but it comes together nicely and takes lovely pics. A lot of money and faff to create a wide angle photo that your cheap camera phone can do, but the IQ will be off the scale by comparison. Just need to learn how to use it all now.