New Compact 'System' Camera

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  • microkorg

    Just returned from Japan, checked through my photos and lots of them have got faces out of focus. Bloody pissed off!

    Have a Song NEX5N that I've had for years and a 18-200mm tamron lens. It's always been pretty slow at focussing automatically or finding things but it appears worse than ever this holiday.

    I've noticed there's new formware for the camera so gonna try that but if not I think it's time for a new camera.

    The plan was to buy one in Japan but it turns out Sony cameras and other brands are more expensive over there - go figure!

    I'd been lusting over the Song a6000 earlier in the year.
    Was thinking of sticking with Sony as they're doing pretty well in cameras these days and also cos I've invested in the tamron lens already - i'd be hoping the a6000 plays better with it.

    Any suggestions of other cameras within this price range?

    Olypmus Pen, the fujifilm offerings?

    Looking for being able to change lenses to add a decent zoom. 18-200 kinda similar.

  • akiersky0

    The a6000 is great! Fits in a pocket, but takes amazing pictures. if you already have some e-mount glass, it's worth a try at least. Maybe try renting it and trying it out for a bit:
    https://www.borrowlenses.com/pro…

    If you've got some money to burn, the 6300 is a decent step up, with 4k and even faster focusing (the 6000 is amazingly fast already, even in questionable lighting.

    • Was excited earlier in year about what song would release after the a6000. Thought t was going to be a replacement.microkorg
    • But the a6300 is too much money for me to justify. But it has brought the a6000 price down a bit though :)microkorg
  • cruddlebub0

    im dropping dslr to move to Fujifilm. the x-t2. have many friends who have been telling me to head this way and that i wouldnt be disappointed!

  • microkorg0

    The X-t2 looks a bit of a beast spec wise. It's a hefty price though along the lines of the Sony a6300.
    It looks a good bit bigger than the Sony.
    Have to get myself along to a shop to try handling some of these cameras.

    I really like the size of the nex I have. Very unassuming and not a "look at the snazzy expensive camera I have" thing that makes you paranoid when on holidays taking snaps in unfamiliar cities.

  • ok_not_ok0

    Olympus pen F

  • ok_not_ok0
  • Continuity0

    You could go with the new Canon EOS M5 mirrorless:

    It just came out to mixed reviews, the negative reviews mostly about lack of 4K video and all that stuff.

    It does have many upsides that I can see, though:

    • At 11.5 cm wide, it's definitely compact;
    • It has the Canon 80D APS-C sensor, which is supposed to be really good;
    • It's got an insane number of AF point, and the reviews I've seen so far say that the AF system is really snappy.

    A couple of downsides for you, though, would be that the native lenses aren't ... well, let's just say that there aren't a lot of native lens options (Canon's not been particularly supportive of their mirrorless platform, lens-wise). The good news is, though, that you can throw on the EF and EF-S lenses with an adapter ... but that would also mean having to invest in entirely new glass.

    However, you could — and this is what I intend to do if I decide to buy this thing — get some of the older FD lenses, and adapt them. They're all over the place (online, camera shops), they're cheap as chips and many of them have just as good image quality as the new EF/EF-S equivalents. I have the FD 50 mm f/1.4 SSC, and — in many ways — I find it even out-performs the EF 50mm f/1.4. I love that lens. You'd find a tonne of zoom options, too.

    The only downside to that idea is that it would be all manual focus; so if you're not into that, then it probably wouldn't be a good idea.

    • Hm, it just occured to me that there might be Sony E-mount adapters for Canon Ms, so the lens situation wouldn't be as dire for you.Continuity
    • I've heard good reviews. tho I let their M line mature a bit more before getting one.pango
    • Unfortunately, I suspect this is the best we're ever going to get for a mirrorless option from Canon. Having said that, I'm seriously considering getting it.Continuity
    • The only concern I have is how it feels in the hand; I've got somewhat big hands, and if it's too small, then it will be a deal-breaker for me, sadly.Continuity
    • This is a hefty camera though isnt it?microkorg
    • 116 x 89 x 61 mm, with a 427 g body, so quite small.Continuity