Hello! Need help in choosing my new camera!

[Chloe55]

Hi,

I was using an Olympus EPL5 previously but the lens and screen are spoilt so am looking for a new camera.

I really loved the EPL5 as it is user friendly and I shoot mainly with the auto mode (Super noobie here with a pro camera!:embrass My only gripes are that I find it a tad too heavy (especially for hiking trips!) and that it is too “orangey” and “grainy” in low light conditions. Therefore even though I would love to upgrade to an EPL7, I hope to find something a little lighter and slimmer.

Basically, here are some of the criterias for my new camera:
- Lighter & slimmer
- Tiltable screen for selfies (Important!)
- Simple point & shoot / auto mode but allows me to adjust the warmth, saturation etc (The latter is not really necessary though)
- Able to take nice bokeh shots / portrait photography
- Photos in low lights must be acceptable (not too grainy, orangey etc)

My budget is between $500 - $800. (Pushing $900 can be considered)

After some research, these are my considerations.

Compact camera:
Canon G7x
Sony rx100

Interchangeable lens camera:
Canon M10
Sony a5000
Sony a5100
Nikon J5
Olympus EPL7 (Though really heavy)

Please advise which should I go for? Or are there other models that I should consider?

Lastly, do let me know if there are any “friendly” camera shops around that I can go try these cameras for myself, ask some questions and the salespeople won’t give me a black face for doing so…..

Thank you & appreciate so much! Research until very headache…

 

[Fudgecakes]

First of all, welcome to the forum. I'm afraid i can't give you much advice because i don't typically go for cameras with flip screens (in fact most of my cameras have no screens lol) however i am still going to hazard a suggestion for a camera without a flip screen, and that would be the Fujifilm XE-1. I love the colours from this camera and the Fujinon lenses are spectacular. you can get a body from the BnS for about $300 and the 18-55 for about $400. Barring the lack of a flip screen, you will not regret it.

XE-1 Review

Given your budget i would avoid the XE-2 since it is essentially the same thing with some minor differences.

Alternatively you can get the fuji XM-1 which has a tilt screen (not sure if it can flip far enough for you to take selfies though. you can get this for about 400 with kit lens. wince it shares the same brilliant trans-x sensor as the XE-1 i would expect its pictures to be equally outstanding though i personally have no used this model before.

an Ad in the BnS

XM-1 Review


if you would like to test out some cameras, perhaps you can head on over to the Courts Megastore in tampines to try out the various models on display?

If not hopefully other forumers with better experience on other camera systems can help chip in.

 

[nightwolf75]

actually, to try cameras, why not go to places like harvey norman or courts? normally they will have cameras on display to try. alternatively, you can visit the showrooms? sony has a few showrooms (IIRC, saw before at IMM). canon is at fusionpolis (used to have one at vivo, not sure now). nikon is at anson road. best to go showrooms cos confirm no one will bug you to buy but will have someone knowledgable to answer questions.

as for what cameras... best is to stick with what you know - aka olympus. for bokeh... it is not abt the camera. it is more to do with the lens (just to simplify things). for olympus, a good starting point for what you are looking for in bokeh would be the 45mm/f1.8

 

[one eye jack]

Since you used a Olympus EPL5 at 16Mp. The only camera worth your consideration would be Sony A5100
with a much bigger 24Mp sensor (APSC).Read the reviews carefully and decide.If you want another M43
camera then a similar priced one to A5100 would be Panasonic GX85 at 16Mp.but with 5 axis IBIS compared
to EPL5 and much more. The reality is performance wise size of sensor matters, can't run away from it.So do the look and feel of images.Though GX85 is not too bad (Leica colours).

Note:A5100 does not have a viewfinder but the GX85 has.

 

[zaren]

Hi Chloe,

I used to have the Olympus EPL5 as well, and the only cameras which are lighter and slimmer are the compact cameras.
Of the two compact cameras you cited, only one (Canon G7X) has a tiltable screen for selfies. (note: the latest Sony RX 100 Mk V does have a tiltable selfie screen)
The G7X also has a simple point-and-shoot/auto mode, and produces acceptable images in low light.
However, you will not be able to take nice bokeh shots/portrait photography compared with a larger sensor interchangeable lens camera.

Cheers.

 

[Chloe55]

Hi Chloe,

I used to have the Olympus EPL5 as well, and the only cameras which are lighter and slimmer are the compact cameras.
Of the two compact cameras you cited, only one (Canon G7X) has a tiltable screen for selfies. (note: the latest Sony RX 100 Mk V does have a tiltable selfie screen)
The G7X also has a simple point-and-shoot/auto mode, and produces acceptable images in low light.
However, you will not be able to take nice bokeh shots/portrait photography compared with a larger sensor interchangeable lens camera.

Cheers.

Thanks for this! The Canon G7X probably wouldn't be too ideal then. May I check however, if I will just be using the standard lens given together with the body, (Eg: 14 - 42mm lens with EPL7), will the photo quality/bokeh effects be better than the G7X or about the same?

 

[Fudgecakes]

Thanks for this! The Canon G7X probably wouldn't be too ideal then. May I check however, if I will just be using the standard lens given together with the body, (Eg: 14 - 42mm lens with EPL7), will the photo quality/bokeh effects be better than the G7X or about the same?

Generally mirrorless cameras, as compared to Compacts, owing to their larger sensors, will give better low light performance and nicer looking photos. Larger sensors also necessitate longer focal length lenses for the same angle of view, which generally equates to shallower DoF and hence 'more' bokeh.

Note that this is not an indicator of how 'nice' the bokeh is as it is also possible to get lots of harsh looking bokeh.

The only way to know if you like the performance of one camera over another is to request for or search for sample photos of both on Flickr

 

[Wzierbovsky]

AFAIK, you'd get better bokeh with the G7X/RX100 at maximum focal length compared to an E-PL7 with that particular kit lens. Photo quality however is a different issue. A micro four thirds sensor can potentially produce higher quality pictures, but whether that will actually happen depends on a lot of other things, including technique and lighting conditions. Also, if you're just displaying/viewing photos on digital devices, then whether you can see the difference becomes even less certain.

If your concern is size but you want to stay with micro four thirds and what it can produce, then consider:

- Panasonic GF9 (just recently released, might not be everywhere yet)
- Panasonic GF8 (widely available)
- Panasonic GM5 (no longer manufactured, but there are a lot of used units at ClubSNAP Buy/Sell at great prices).

Unlike the E-PL7 though, none of the above offer sensor stabilization - so your technique has to be somewhat decent.

Then get a used Olympus 25mm f1.8 or 45mm f1.8 for lovely bokeh. Both are reasonably affordable at used-prices.

Thanks for this! The Canon G7X probably wouldn't be too ideal then. May I check however, if I will just be using the standard lens given together with the body, (Eg: 14 - 42mm lens with EPL7), will the photo quality/bokeh effects be better than the G7X or about the same?

 

[Ah Keong]

hi, I am still using my inherited and beloved E-PL3 when I started photography.

In my opinion, one way is to save up the money and get good m.zuiko lens like what other experts recommended 17mm, 25mm, 45mm, etc.

the second would be getting a larger sensor body like a6000 (think now selling below $900 when I pass by the Bugis Sony shop) which would fir your budget but may not meet your selfie requirement.

Enjoy and have fun!

 

[jnet6]

If using mainly for selfie, get a selfie stick with latest smartphone from Apple or Android based.
Much more convenient to upload pics. Even though some cameras have built in wifi like EPL7 but if you are using more on selfies, don't burden your shoulder... HP camera is decent enough for group photos.

*Using Dslr,compact interchanged cam & iPhone.

 

[one eye jack]

All this discussion is moot,that is everyone has different ideas and assumptions of TS needs and photography knowledge.As she herself has said..using advanced camera when she is a newbie operating
camera on auto or P mode.

My empathies or sympathies..to answer her initial points:

1. Camera damaged presumably during hiking trip..water,dust,etc. That said perhaps a rugged water resistant cam would be more suitable,granted it's a PnS compact with limitations in terms of image quality and features.

2. Like to take selfies so need an articulating screen that can swing out to front. You can get such a screen but as to the camera features..need careful selection.

3. Low light capabilities.. meaning high ISO performance.That depends if camera can have good IQ at moderate ISO and lens have big aperture.Then don't need to spend more money for advanced cameras.

The reason TS said photos are grainy and have orange colour cast is because of using auto mode which
let camera make the creative choice in photo taking.Grainy because camera defaults to high ISO and orange cast is because camera assumes low light is candle lit or sunset and therefore selecting warm colour temperature or white balance setting.

4. Portraits and bokeh rendering.People assume bokeh is bluring of the background when it is the function of lens focusing distance of subject plane and DOF (depth of field) at different apertures.The bigger the aperture the shallower the DOF hence blur.Bokeh to be exact is the lens rendering of the out of focus points of light that is reflected from objects.It is dependent on the lens design,aperture diaphram/iris (number of blades)or the lens opening that lets the amount of light into sensor.

With the following mentioned above, to ease the confusion and pain I would suggest TS just buy a compact camera with big aperture eg.F1.8 -2.5 with short zoom and start to take control of the photo taking process.This way Ts learn about basic photography and get the results she seeks by experimenting with different camera controls like ISO,aperture and shutter speed. It would be
very rewarding and gain a sense of achievement. No point spend a lot of money and be back at the begining. Learn to take control (semi auto) of the creative aspect of photography.:thumbsup: And camera is small and light.

 

[thoongeng]

Hi,

I was using an Olympus EPL5 previously but the lens and screen are spoilt so am looking for a new camera.

I really loved the EPL5 as it is user friendly and I shoot mainly with the auto mode (Super noobie here with a pro camera!:embrass My only gripes are that I find it a tad too heavy (especially for hiking trips!) and that it is too “orangey” and “grainy” in low light conditions. Therefore even though I would love to upgrade to an EPL7, I hope to find something a little lighter and slimmer.

Basically, here are some of the criterias for my new camera:
- Lighter & slimmer
- Tiltable screen for selfies (Important!)
- Simple point & shoot / auto mode but allows me to adjust the warmth, saturation etc (The latter is not really necessary though)
- Able to take nice bokeh shots / portrait photography
- Photos in low lights must be acceptable (not too grainy, orangey etc)

My budget is between $500 - $800. (Pushing $900 can be considered)

After some research, these are my considerations.

Compact camera:
Canon G7x
Sony rx100

Interchangeable lens camera:
Canon M10
Sony a5000
Sony a5100
Nikon J5
Olympus EPL7 (Though really heavy)

Please advise which should I go for? Or are there other models that I should consider?

Lastly, do let me know if there are any “friendly” camera shops around that I can go try these cameras for myself, ask some questions and the salespeople won’t give me a black face for doing so…..

Thank you & appreciate so much! Research until very headache…

Thanks for this! The Canon G7X probably wouldn't be too ideal then. May I check however, if I will just be using the standard lens given together with the body, (Eg: 14 - 42mm lens with EPL7), will the photo quality/bokeh effects be better than the G7X or about the same?

I shall go straight to the point... if you think the Olympus EPL5 with kit lens is too heavy, then all the interchangeable lens cameras are out because it is already on the low end of the weight scale. If you want a selfie screen the Sony RX100 is out.

That leaves you only with Canon G7X

I used G7X and I think the bokeh is decent (below an example, taken at it's longest zoom in low-ish light). Low light capabilities are also decent for a compact. If you need shallower depth of field ('bokeh effect') and better low light capabilities, you will need bigger and heavier cameras and lenses. The Canon G7X sensor + lens combination will yield slightly better low-light/'bokeh' effects than Olympus EPL7 with default kit lens. You can get less 'orangey' or 'grainy' images in low light conditions with any camera if you learn about the camera functions.

For alternatives sake, can also consider the Canon G7X Mark II, it's screen can tilt downwards so easier to take overhead shots, and response is a bit faster, but the image quality is the same and costs more. Or the Sony RX100 Mark III and newer, they can take selfies too, but probably out of your budget.


For trying out wise as others has pointed out better to go to the respective camera manufacturer's showroom, or go to the PC shows. Can also try the big electronics retail stores like Best Denki or Courts or Harvey Norman or Gain City if they carry the cameras. Unfortunately the usual recommended camera shops usually not too keen for you test out the cameras, only if you are confirmed buying, though they usually will give better prices.

I hope I have answered your questions as fully and as concise as I can. If you need more information or want more technical details just ask as you can see there are many enthusiastic people around. Happy shopping

 

[zaren]

Thanks for this! The Canon G7X probably wouldn't be too ideal then. May I check however, if I will just be using the standard lens given together with the body, (Eg: 14 - 42mm lens with EPL7), will the photo quality/bokeh effects be better than the G7X or about the same?

If you will just be using the standard kit lens, then the photo quality will be better than the G7X (especially at high ISO's), and the bokeh effects will be about the same. You will get slightly better reach with the G7X at 24mm at the wide angle and 100mm at telephoto (35mm equivalent), compared with the EPL7 kit lens (28mm-84mm).

 

[Chloe55]

Hello everybody, thanks for all the feedback, they have been the most useful. I popped by Harvey today and their EPL7 is going for only $598! The promo will end today so I will most prolly be getting that as it's the most value for money. And per what @nightwolf75 said, it's best to stick with what I know. You're right - thank you!

The reason TS said photos are grainy and have orange colour cast is because of using auto mode which
let camera make the creative choice in photo taking.Grainy because camera defaults to high ISO and orange cast is because camera assumes low light is candle lit or sunset and therefore selecting warm colour temperature or white balance setting.

Any suggestions where I can learn tips to get the photos right in low light settings?

 

[DSolZ]

Thanks for this! The Canon G7X probably wouldn't be too ideal then. May I check however, if I will just be using the standard lens given together with the body, (Eg: 14 - 42mm lens with EPL7), will the photo quality/bokeh effects be better than the G7X or about the same?

M43 shld give better bokeh .. Thought I not sure if u can get bokehey images from 14-42 ... Unless it is close up shots ...if u have no hurry wait for PC fair in march .. U probaby can get the Olympus m43 camera with a kit lens + a freebie 45 mm prime lens which shld give good bokeh ...

Personally there is nothing lighter then m43 other then compacts ... And for image quality purpose I will get a m43 camera .. The omd em10 is quite light and I worth considering ...

 

[one eye jack]

Originally Posted by one eye jack View Post
The reason TS said photos are grainy and have orange colour cast is because of using auto mode which
let camera make the creative choice in photo taking.Grainy because camera defaults to high ISO and orange cast is because camera assumes low light is candle lit or sunset and therefore selecting warm colour temperature or white balance setting.


Any suggestions where I can learn tips to get the photos right in low light settings?

It's all online..video tutorials,articles.Just type the key words like "existing/available light photography" to search.You get one like this:

http://blog.creativelive.com/low-light-photography-dslr-tips-for-making-the-most-of-dark-scenes/

Of course you read it with a pinch of salt.Not all advice is accurate.If you have bandwidth limitation on mobile I don't suggest you watch videos unless at home.If you prefer a slow and studied approach then books on relevant subjects are good.

 

[Bluesubm6]

A good book to read is "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. I have the fourth edition and I re-read it every now and then.