New cameras: A buddy is looking for a simple good camera. Budget (he can do anything) 1000 bucks . Famiy type grandkids Birthday Christmas type. Decent video, some vacation scene...

itsnoelb Loc: Edgewater, FL. Originally: FLINT. MI.

A buddy is looking for a simple good camera. Budget (he can do anything) 1000 bucks . Famiy type grandkids Birthday Christmas type. Decent video, some vacation scene stuff. So...some low light, with a zoom ....I have a few recommendations after research but...oh..no lens changing.....anyway. Without me telling you what mine would be, help me.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Canon G1X mk III is an excellent option. It costs around $1000, less when on sale. It has excellent image quality due to its APS-C sensor and it has features and functionality similar to many top of the line DSLR'S. It will fit in most jacket pockets and there are screw on lenses to give it more reach.
Another good choice is the Canon SX70HS. This camera is larger than the G1X III and less than half the cost. It is a super zoom with a focal range of 21 to 1365 mm. It doesn't have as large a sensor as the G1X III but it is 21.3 megapixels and it is loaded with features. I have its older sibling, the SX60HS and it's a great super zoom bridge camera.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

The Fujifilm X100F runs about $1200 and could be just what he needs, no zoom though.

11bravo

Have enjoyed my Panasonic FZ1000 (v1) for years. Now that a v2 has come out, price of original has dropped to around $500, though if I was buying first one now, I'd opt for the v2. A cheaper option is the FZ300, more zoom (600 vs 400). My travel companion uses an FZ300. Not pocket size, but fits nicely into a smaller shoulder bag.

74images Loc: Los Angeles, California

rmorrison1116 wrote:

Canon G1X mk III is an excellent option. It costs ... (show quote)

SX-60 is a Crap Camera, the SX-70 is Still in the Jury Room, but Minus a Hot Shoe for Detachable Flash, you have to buy a Flash with Slave Capacity to Bring in More Flash Power & Put on the Floor or Table, on on a Tripod, As Long as it Comes with a Flat Stand & can Be Screwed on a Tripod, & Put it at a Angle so your Subject is well Lighted in Taking Flash Photos with the Newly SX-70.

One Drawback, the Built in Flash Drains The Battery Life when Using the Flash on the SX-70, cause of the Lack of a Hot Shoe for Detachable Flash Units.

The SX-50 is the Best of the Canon SX Series that came Out in 2012, I Bought Mine in 2014, & Ain't Looked Back With it!

74images

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

itsnoelb wrote:

A buddy is looking for a simple good camera. Budget (he can do anything) 1000 bucks . Famiy type grandkids Birthday Christmas type. Decent video, some vacation scene stuff. So...some low light, with a zoom ....I have a few recommendations after research but...oh..no lens changing.....anyway. Without me telling you what mine would be, help me.

You buddy may not know it, but he is looking for a smartphone. The current $1000 models do all that very well.

If he wants small and hates phones, he wants a Sony RX100 VII. If bigger is OK and there is a need for more "zoom" then it would be a Sony RX10 IV.

Both are simple and quick if left in the incredibly good automatic modes.

BebuLamar

Mac wrote:

The Fujifilm X100F runs about $1200 and could be just what he needs, no zoom though.

Although back in the old days many people bought a camera with a single normal lens and use it forever. However, today I don't think a newbie would be happy with a single prime lens. An experienced person like you may be OK with a single prime lens but not the newbie.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

itsnoelb wrote:

A buddy is looking for a simple good camera. Budget (he can do anything) 1000 bucks . Famiy type grandkids Birthday Christmas type. Decent video, some vacation scene stuff. So...some low light, with a zoom ....I have a few recommendations after research but...oh..no lens changing.....anyway. Without me telling you what mine would be, help me.

A zoom without changing lenses means a bridge or high end P&S. Low light means larger than 1/2.3" sensor. While not the best for low light, a 1" gives the best zoom range. For model, it depends on whether (s)he wants something pocketable.

Pocketable -
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (better wide open aperture) ($447.99 new)
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 (best zoom) ($697.99 new)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII (best wide open aperture pocketable) ($1,198.00 new)

Bridge
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 ( $597.99 new) (35mm Equivalent: 25 to 400mm, f/2.8 to 4)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 ($1,090.35 new) (35mm Equivalent: 24 to 480mm, f/2.8 to 4.5)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV (1,598.00 new) (35mm Equivalent: 24 to 600mm, f/2.4 to 4) best rang, best aperture

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

PHRubin wrote:

A zoom without changing lenses means a bridge or h... (show quote)

PHRubin,

You added a couple that I agree with if the "buddy" was on a budget. The OP said he was not: "Budget (he can do anything)..." The 'best' on your list are the two Sony's. The Panasonics are good, but not as good.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

bsprague wrote:

PHRubin,

You added a couple that I agree with if the "buddy" was on a budget. The OP said he was not: "Budget (he can do anything)..." The 'best' on your list are the two Sony's. The Panasonics are good, but not as good.

Yes, but both Sonys are above the $1,000 mark he mentioned.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

74images wrote:

SX-60 is a Crap Camera, the SX-70 is Still in the ... (show quote)

You may not have looked back, but obviously you haven't looked forward either. Just because you've been told the SX60HS is a piece of crap doesn't make it so. In practically every category the SX60HS is better than the SX50HS. It uses a newer faster processor and has wireless capabilities, it's better for recording video and it handles better. In my opinion the only real mistake Canon made was using the same image sensor, thus giving the 12 megapixel SX50HS a little better low light image quality which to the average non-pixel peeper is irrelevant.
I understand where you're coming from. You own an SX50HS so of course it's better. Well, I own an SX60HS and a few other Canon bridge cameras and over a dozen Canon DSLR'S and a Canon MILC, and in my opinion and the opinion of half a dozen reviews, the SX60HS is indeed a better camera than the SX50HS, and the SX70HS is better than both its predecessors.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

How about a Fuji X-T20 plus the excellent 16-50 lens at $799? A whole different class than the SX50/60/70 and a system you can grow with.

queencitysanta Loc: Charlotte, North Carolina

NikonD350 with two lens and carry case less than $1000

dparenton Loc: Land O Lakes, FL

I purchased a Canon SX70 several months ago and very happy with it.

Al Freeedman

I suggest the Olympus TG-6 @ $399.99 direst from Olympus It's a great go any where do most anything
camera and save $600.00 bucks.

captain Al