Compact camera recommendations?

[hiraethus]

I'd like something a bit better than my phone for taking pictures on.  I'm looking for something that performs better in low light, with a bit of optical zoom and with a faster shutter response.  I do have a Nikon D3100 DSLR that gets some use, but really it's too big for everyday and chucking in my pocket.  Previously had a Canon Ixus 55 a long time ago which was lovely - small, fast and light, and currently have a very average waterproof Olympus mju something that isn't great.  Waterproofing not a priority; pocket size, speed (both shutter response and switch-on) and image quality are.  Budget would be up to £200 (or $, they work out about the same eventually )

Any recommendations for anything that might be suitable?

[Millhouse]

I like a compact camera with a largish zoom, because it offers something different.

The camera on my phone is fine for general casual use, for higher quality shots, I have a compact system camera. My compact camera is a Panasonic TZ series, it offers great flexibility in a reasonably small package.

As for low light performance, I find most compacts aren't great at this. They pretty much all have 1/2.3in sensors, and with the ever growing number of pixels, low light gathering suffers.

Worth a look in this category are cameras from Canon and Panasonic, examples below.

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/products/panasonic/lumix-dmc-tz55-camera-in-black-90186/show.html

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/products/canon/powershot-sx600-hs-digital-camera-in-black-90095/show.html

[hiraethus]

Thanks Millhouse.

I like the Lumix range and one of those would probably do quite nicely.  I used to work for Nikon and got a staff discount - that's how I got my D3100 - but can't do that any more unfortunately.  I'm going to keep looking but in the meantime I've got my old Olympus µ 6010 out to see if I can make it do what I want.  I remember the photos being dim but I'll have a play with it and see how I get on.  Off to track down a manual now...

[Corwyn]

In no way a speSmurfpillst, but I have both at work and at home a Nikon CoolPix L30 and I am quite happy with it.. lightweight, cheap, decent photos, resilient, and it takes 2 AA just in case you get stuck.

PS: I did replace it at work with a Nikon D 5200 but just because we needed press-level photos.

[edap617]

A DSLR is too bulky for travel and I decided to get the best compact camera. So I  did some research for a compact camera that has the capability of a dslr. First it must fit in my pocket, it should have high speed lens (f1., optical zoom, can shoot jpeg and raw, can shoot in manual and auto mood, with wifi, optical zoom, at least 20 mp, and good in low light situation, etc.

After few days of research I arrived at a decision to get a Sony DSC RX100 Mark II. There is now a Mark III but is still very expensive. I'm very happy with my RX100. So happy..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G-_hKapq8qc

[SAK Guy]

Hey, that Fujifilm x100s looks like my Leica!  I like that!

[mrynnr]

A DSLR is too bulky for travel and I decided to get the best compact camera. So I  did some research for a compact camera that has the capability of a dslr. First it must fit in my pocket, it should have high speed lens (f1., optical zoom, can shoot jpeg and raw, can shoot in manual and auto mood, with wifi, optical zoom, at least 20 mp, and good in low light situation, etc.

After few days of research I arrived at a decision to get a Sony DSC RX100 Mark II. There is now a Mark III but is still very expensive. I'm very happy with my RX100. So happy..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G-_hKapq8qc

i totally agree with the RX100 M2. Unfortunately, it's above his budget

[hiraethus]

Holy thread resurrection, Batman!

I still haven't got a decent compact camera...  Been thinking that I ought to get rid of my DSLR and get a compact.  Funnily enough, I reckon that the Sony RX100 ( probably the Mk III) is the one to go for.

[zoidberg]

[hiraethus]

Traded in my DSLR for the RX100 V. 
It's charging now, pics tomorrow.

[SteveC]

Congrats !   Hope you like it   


 

[Vadim]

Canon 5D.
This is what I use. 
 

[pomsbz]

My wife's Sony A6000 with its little collapsing pancake zoom is an excellent travel camera if you really want such a thing. If you are ok with a fixed lens, the Fuji X100 variants are very nice cameras indeed. To be frank modern phones these days have killed anything but the higher end pocket camera market and with good reason. Saying this as a pro photographer. Here is an article with some other thoughts, https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2019/02/what-to-look-at-to-find-the-best-compact-camera-for-you/

[hiraethus]

Canon 5D.
This is what I use. 

 

Canon 5D is neither compact or cheap.  But thanks anyway.

[hiraethus]

... modern phones these days have killed anything but the higher end pocket camera market

Yep, agree with that.  That was why I delayed getting a new camera for so long.  Smartphone did the snaps, DSLR did the fancy stuff.  But the DSLR was proving to be too awkward to lug around, so a high-end compact is the way forward for me.  The RX100 seems great, but the menus are too complex.

[pomsbz]

Canon 5D.
This is what I use. 

 

Canon 5D is neither compact or cheap.  But thanks anyway.

You can get an original 5D for about $250 these days. That is very cheap. I paid £2500 for my first, not much less for my second. They both did 7 years of hard hard work shooting pro in different countries, driving rain and snow through to baking sun with so very many knocks and falls but they never hiccuped once until the shutter went on the first after 200,000 frames and it wasn't worth fixing. I sold the 2nd to an employee and it's still shooting gigs 13 years on. I know we're spoilt with the features on modern cameras but the original 5D was a workhorse for image making and I've sold exemplary prints from 18X12" to even 30X20" from that sensor. I used to shoot it up to iso 1600 without pausing.  If you put on the Canon 40mm pancake prime you have a good carry solution. If you add the super cheap nifty fifty (50mm f1.8 ) you have a system for a drop over $300 that will take excellent imagery with a superb sensor.

To be honest though, I'd still recommend a Fuji X100 camera. Fuji 'gets' camera design in a way that I've not seen since the cameras made in the '80's. I've never owned one but every time I see a Fuji camera released and see pictures of the controls I say "Fuji just 'gets' camera design!". I now shoot Sony, both my own cameras and in our studio's. Sony does not 'get' camera design. They really don't. Their electronics and technology are superb but designing a camera whose controls melt into your subconscious, which allow you to become one with the camera to create your vision, nope. You have to think too much to use them for that to happen.

[Vadim]

Canon 5D.
This is what I use. 

 

Canon 5D is neither compact or cheap.  But thanks anyway.

 

Yes,It's cheap!