Travel Camera

[sneezy24]

Hi folks,

Looking for advice on a travel cam.

Currently have a Canon EOS550D which is fine for 'serious' photography, but I would like something a bit lighter for use as a travel cam. I have a Fuji F30 which is good, but showing its age now (just 6.3MPixel, and sometimes resets itself back to factory settings!).

I'm looking in the £200-£300 range, 12MP+, reasonable zoom range (x5 or greater), some manual control, and if possible, RAW format files.

Possible contender is the Panasonic Lumix TZ60.

Keeping the EOS for air shows! (with 18-55 and 55-250 IS lenses, plus a Tamron 18-270 for travel when weight isn't a problem)

Thanks in advance,

Mick

[nhoenich]

Canon Powershot G16 does all you require.
Cordially
Nh

[Wallace]

I have been using a Fuji X-Pro1 (£350 with two fixed lenses, a case and a spare battery) for the past six months or so and I am having a ball with it. It's a rangefinder, which handles different to a DSLR but it is good at what it does.
Mainly with the 18mm kit lens (35mm 50mm equivalent) and occasionally with the 21mm (50mm equivalent), using it to shoot Gatow, Schlessheim while on holiday and Yeovilton, Old Sarum and Brooklands a fortnight ago, when I used the Fuji in preference to a 1DX!

See for yourself - The Yeovilton Album (in complete) https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwshack/a ... 0370298588

I have a 50-230mm zoom but it is not the greatest auto focus, I mainly manually focus this one.
It's my intention to do a big tour on the motorbike so space and weight will be limited, hence my choice in camera.

I did have a wee Canon G10 before that and it was good and the G16 has come a long way since then. I did consider this and the newer Canon cameras but decided on the Fuji instead.

Why don't you try and hire a camera for the weekend and have a damn god play with it.

[LTFT5]

Hi Mick,

Take a look at this camera it gets excellent reviews.
Panasonic Lumix FZ200 Bridge Camera
F2.8 (Zeiss lens) all the way through to 600mm
12fps continuous shooting
RAW and RAW+JPEG data recording option
1080 60p video recording in AVCHD or MP4 formats
Retails at about £270 think there are some offers with cash back at the moment as well.



All the best
Andy

[sneezy24]

Thanks chaps,

I think the Canon G16 is the best fit, don't need excessive zoom (if I'm taking pics of planes, I'll have the DSLR with me!).

The G16 seems to have the better sensor over the Lumix, and I'm used to Canon. I think the Lumix FZ200 is too close to the DSLR (bit too big).

I'm after something I can fix to me belt and not really know it is there - the F30 fills this but is getting ancient.

Going to have a play on Tuesday (John Lewis and Jessops).

The only obstacle left is the financial controller - just need to count her coats (why do women need 10 coats??? - I have TWO!) - then just go and buy it anyway!

Mick

[deerhunter]

Mines a Canon S100, absolutely brilliant, got it on flee bay

[sneezy24]

Went for a Panasonic Lumix TZ70 in the end, 12MP, great zoom range, ideal size and weight for a travel cam. Also has EVF and RAW files.

Fits nicely in a Lowe-Pro Apex 30AW case which fits on my belt - perfect for getting through airports.

Only played indoors so far (it was a sort of Christmas present!) but happy so far.

Probably won't use it much at airshows, I'll continue with the EOS550D.

Mick

[jeallen01]

sneezy24
Maybe you should have looked at the Sony HX-90? Better battery life, and my wife likes the one she got!

[sneezy24]

I did look at it, but reviews were not as good as the Lumix, and the Lumix fitted my hands better when I tried it. Also, the Sony doesn't have RAW support.

[sneezy24]

Just back from holiday, took over 1500 pics in Japan and Hong Kong.

The TZ70 was great! Good AF, excellent low-light performance, light, easy to carry and easy to use. The EVF is a bonus, really useful in bright sun.

Overall very happy.

Only downsides are poor flash (but low-light perf is good), and battery life could be better, but I carry a spare battery, the charging cable and a power bank so not an issue.