I'd still go with the GF2.

Some things to note:

-sony will have the bigger sensor, which in theory means more tolerance with respect to lighting conditions and low-light shooting. Since this is going to be a cheap "learning" camera, this to me is a non-issue.

-the GF2 will have more reach with its kit lens (84mm equivalent vs 75mm on the sony), but the Sony will be more of a wide angle at the short end (24mm equivalent vs 28mm). The latter might work in your favour when travelling, especially if you're going to be somewhere like Europe where everything is so narrow.

-I'm assuming that if you actually like the hobby, you'll be junking this camera? If not, the Panasonic will have WAY more better lenses available to you with the GF2. The Sony, not so much.

It will be used more for scenery and wild life, likely going to look into some other lenses as well but nothing too expensive for this camera. If I like the hobby I will invest in a better camera (when I understand more)

Suggestions on a Fujifilm or similar mirroless. Budget around $600 on the higher end. Looking for something that can be carried around daily and something I can learn to shoot on.

Also whats the best way to sell a dslr (d80), craigslist doesnt yield much only a couple hundred, but what about using it as store credit at a camera store? Would they even take in a d80 nowadays?

Thanks

Grab a X-E1 with a 27mm. Enjoy the low-profile shooting.

D80 is ancient technology. Don't expect to get much out of it. I loved the colour rendition on it versus the newer Nikons though.

Yea, ancient tech. Might be better to just keep it. X-E1 looks great and exactly what I want look wise. Broadway has it for $600 right now.

There are a few X-E1's on CL for south of 400. At the top end of your budget would be the original x100 which has the same sensor as the X-E1, but fixed 23mm (35mm equivalent) lens. You'd still need to buy a lens though. As suggested the 27 is nice and compact. I'm a huge fan of the 18-55, but it doesn't make the camera pocketable that's for sure. I don't think you can get an X-E1 and lens for 600 on the dot, but it'd be pretty close to it.

Personally if you're not going to be buying many lenses, I'd choose the x100 for a walkaround.


If you're REALLY adventurous, you can get the Fuji body, a couple of adapters, and get some manual glass. Though at that point, size can quickly grow (as big as getting the 18-55), you lose AF and you lose the simplicity of just pressing the shutter to take a sharp picture. Legacy glass is cheap if you don't want to invest much into the system you choose.

Non-Fuji, it seems you can get an Olympus OMD-EM5 with 12-50 refurb for around 600. Body would be a tank and you'd get IBIS, so it's worth a look. The body is actually smaller (at least it felt that way to me) compared to the 2 Fujis outlined, but it is definitely tougher. Lens selection is also more vast on the m43ds side.

I'm looking at an RX100 III . Is this the top of the line-ish machine its advertised as?

For a top of the line compact- yes. Really impressed by the AF.

With the LX100 quite new there aren't as many hands-on reviews. But specs-wise, it looks to be the superior camera for not that much more than the Sony. I'd check that out if you were serious about the particular sector (and given you were already looking at the top end of the price range with the Sony).

RX100 and RX100 II is f/1.8-4.9 at 28-100mm.
While the RX100 III is f/1.8-2.8, but at 24-70mm.

Anyone played with these camera side to side and notice if it's that noticeable at the far end in low light shooting?


What's the widest f/stop the RX100/II can get to at eqv of 70mm?

Fujifilm xt1 or sony a7 for general usage? im leaning towards the xt1 because the overall build quality seems a bit better compared to the a7. thanks for any input

Given the a7 is just a bit more than an xt1, I actually have trouble suggesting one over the other (I'm currently shooting Fuji too).

The a7 sensor will be superior. No ifs, ands, or buts. That said, the xt1's body (dials, most buttons, amazing viewfinder) are mostly better than the Sony in almost all aspects.

The reason I went Fuji was because of their lenses. They're simply sublime. The Zeiss 55 1.8 is probably best in class, but if you compare the rest of the lineup, the Fuji lenses are superior imo. Sony is coming out with a few new ones this year, but they're not here yet. Something to think about with your decision.

If you're coming from a DSLR, something that these two cameras both lose compared to your plain Rebel/d3x00 is AF performance, especially in low-light and tracking.

So.....yeah, bought one.

Bought a sony a6000. Before that though i had tried the nikon 5200 and canon t5i. Luggin around those cameras was too much for a few snapshots here and there. Exchanged to a6000 and i am pleased with performance and portability. Highly recommended.

a6000 + Touit UWA with lens hood was surprisingly light and comfortable enough (~700g) to be carried on my backpack strap using peak design capture clip. I'll report back with the 55-250 kit telephoto

Took a couple shots down at the Quay just to try it out. sweet.

took a few more in some decent light. i found the small buttons and controls on the Rx100(3) a bit challenging once in a while, but for something you carry around in your pocket, can't complain too much.

Thoughts on the Fuji XA-1 for $400?

The XA-2 is coming out in Feb but it'll be like $600 I think. Know very little about cameras but I don't think it's even worth the extra $200.

I bought a XA-1 couple of weeks ago, love the small size and fuji colours. I picked it up at London drugs for $349.99 with the 16-50mm kit lens.

There isn't that much to gain by getting the XA2 imo. As a small camera for snap shots you can't go wrong with that camera for that price.

I had an X100S and while I didn't hate the pictures it took, I was never blown away and didn't feel the "love" that most people with that camera did. 35mm isn't a great focal length for me though so that may have been part of it. Sold it and not missing it.

More recently, I have been playing with my mom's XE2 with 18-55 and 35 1.4 and I am quite impressed and rethinking the Fuji world. I won't replace my Canon for my "main" rig but it would be nice to be able to have a kit for traveling, restaurants, hikes, whatever... you know, "life", that didn't weight a lot and take up 3/4 of a backpack.

From what I have read, it looks like Fuji is really dominating the glass for the mirrorless world, but is the sensor at the same level?

Mark

I loved my Fuji X-E1. The overall design and controls + IQ were excellent. But the slow focusing killed it for me.

As a current X-E2 owner, I have to say that their glass is absolutely top notch. Quality (both build and image) is on par or better with Canon L's, of which I've had a few before going mirrorless. The "kit" lens is better quality than even the 2.8 APSC zooms, but it's just not constant 2.8. Hell, Fuji build quality and handling is superior to pretty much every mirrorless cam, save for maybe the OMD1.

My biggest gripe with the newer x-trans sensors (XE-2, X-T1, X100S+) is the damn noise reduction at ISO3200+ and the magenta cast it has. Forget about portraits at 3200+ since your subject will look like a wax sculpture. It really makes me sad. And as always, AF performance is sub par compared to a SLR (and even the a6000)

That said, the overall package is top notch, especially if you're looking to downsize. I enjoy taking pictures more than I've ever done with my previous SLRs. Mostly because I'm not lugging around a million pounds when travelling. I've learned to live with the camera's shortcomings and try to work around them.

Well took the plunge and bought the X-E2 from my mom. I am selling the 18-55 and going to just stick with the 35 1.4 with the goal of adding a 10-24 when I find a good deal on one. Those two should serve my traveling needs quite likely for trips where I am not likely to take the big camera.

I'm not sure if it's still around, but there was a 10-24 on CL for $800. I personally am looking for a 14 since it's smaller than the 10-24 (and I don't think I need a UWA anymore, having used a few in the past).

But no one seems to be selling their 14 locally :'(

This is exactly why I'm saving up to buy a X-T1. My 5D3 will remain my "work" camera but it's not a very fun camera. Carrying it is a chore so I want a small, fun, travel camera.