Mirrorless Camera Recommendation (Page 5): You have a lot of choices. All brand names have their pros and cons. I personally went with a Fujifilm camera after testing a number of...

rwm283main Loc: Terryville, CT

You have a lot of choices. All brand names have their pros and cons.
I personally went with a Fujifilm camera after testing a number of others for weeks side by side. By the way, that is the nice thing about B&H, you can buy a number of cameras, test them side by side, and return the ones you don't like. The Fujifilm X-T4 is a fantastic camera. Fast focus, great user ergonomics, and in-camera JPEG processing using their film simulations (perfect for photographing food). You need to learn the camera and all of its features, and once you do, you will be amazed.
Good luck shopping!

aikiboy

Panasonic Lumix G85 with 12-60 kit zoom. Good IBIS, good automatic setting, decent kit lens, room to grow, inexpensive, weatherproof camera and kit lens. Hard to beat.

Craigdca Loc: California

ggenova64 wrote:

I am skeptical about Nikon’s financial troubles.

This confirms that Nikon is part of the Mitsubishi empire which hopefully ensures their future.
https://www.mitsubishi.com/en/csr/mpac/companies/

OleMe Loc: Montgomery Co., MD

I love my Olympus micro 4/3rds. Comes with a good and versatile kit lens for a relatively modest price. Latest model is the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV. The kit lens is equivalent to a 35mm 28 to 84 mm lens. It has macro capability.

As with most modern digutal cameras, it takes reading and learning. Get a manual from Olympus. As is typical, the paper supplied with the camera is too unenlightening.

FWIW. this replaced my bulky Sony DLSR.

Shop around for prices.

/Roger

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

Usually "a macro capacity" is g.ust a close focus not a 1 to 1

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

yssirk123 wrote:

Check out the Nikon Z50 - it's an amazing bargain and punches well above it's weight class.

...another vote for the Z50 as a starter. It's phenomenal.

mymike Loc: Tucson, AZ

chasgroh wrote:

...another vote for the Z50 as a starter. It's phenomenal.

I still want to get a Z50 with the 16-50 lens because of its size! I rented one and it’s awesome as a take everywhere camera!

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

vintage46 wrote:

My son would like a recommendation for a first mirrorless camera to do mainly family and food photography.
He is a chef and would like to promote the food in the restaurant he manages. His skills are at the novice level, but I think he wants a camera that will allow him to grow and increase his skills.

Thanks for any help

Sony, Canon, Olympus, Panasonic, Fuji, Nikon... they all offer good "starter" cameras. It's the other parts of the "system" that will need some attention.

Things to look for are...

Does he want a camera with a viewfinder, or plan to use the rear LCD screen (like using a phone camera)? There are mirrorless with and without built-in viewfinders. Some of the ones without have the option of using an accessory finder that's sold separately.

Lenses... entry-level cameras are a good deal when bought with a "kit" lens. That will usually be a fairly basic zoom that goes from slightly wide to normal to short telephoto.

You mention "food photography", in particular. That might mean close-ups requiring a macro lens, so look at what's available in any system he's considering. It will probably also mean getting a flash and learning to use it, so once again, check what's available for any system being considered. Modern dedicated flashes can be confusing with all the features they offer, but also can be used fairly simply and automatically.

"Family photography" suggests candid and casual portraits, which can be done with the kit lens or even with some macro lenses. Flash will also be useful for indoor shooting.... many cameras have a built-in flash, but an accessory flash is recommended. The built-ins are weak, located too close to the lens so they cause redeye, and they are a heavy drain on the camera's battery. An accessory flash can solve all those problems.

If "family photography" includes kids playing sports, he's likely to want a telephoto lens of some sort. Indoor sports and night games require a whole different level of gear than day games outdoors. But assuming it's out in good light, probably a 250mm or 300mm lens at a minimum. To shoot sports... even kids playing sports... a camera also needs a fairly high performance autofocus system. Some are better than others. If this is a type of photography that he'll be doing, be sure to research any contenders' AF systems carefully.

Rathyatra Loc: Southport, United Kingdom

vintage46 wrote:

My son would like a recommendation for a first mirrorless camera to do mainly family and food photography.
He is a chef and would like to promote the food in the restaurant he manages. His skills are at the novice level, but I think he wants a camera that will allow him to grow and increase his skills.

Thanks for any help

I have a Sony A600 and it is awesome - small to carry around - great autofocus - lots of features - I watched a video by a professional photographer who was so impressed he is using it for his professional work.

JimRPhoto Loc: Raleigh NC

I would like to add to the recommendations, any of the Olympus micro four thirds cameras. I am a long time Canon DSLR user, and intend to use that as my primary. But for many purposes, the Olympus system is superior. It is a mirrorless system, and being a “mature” format (both Panasonic and Olympus lenses work) you have many options on lenses. As to the bodies, there are the top of the line Olympus, a mid-price line, and a lower price line. And even the top line models, the OM D E 1 series, has Mark ii, etc. with a range of prices. Just a suggestion for you to consider. I chose it for size and weight as I can carry my entire kit including two bodies, in one small over the shoulder bag onto an airplane. Can’t do that with my Canon full frame DLSR kit. Good luck with your choice. JimR

domcomm Loc: Denver, CO

If he is going to shoot food, definitely the Fuji X-series. Being able to change the film simulations will be a big help to him.

pego101

Z50

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

SS319 wrote:

the Canon RP, with the kit lens. Under $1250. This is not an also-ran, this is acclaimed as a great camera - it is full frame, 26+ MP sensor with a good lens for food (Close focus 5-8 inches)

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

vintage46 wrote:

My son would like a recommendation for a first mirrorless camera to do mainly family and food photography.
He is a chef and would like to promote the food in the restaurant he manages. His skills are at the novice level, but I think he wants a camera that will allow him to grow and increase his skills.

Thanks for any help

There are plenty of used choices. Check out keh.com and mpb.com, plus Adorama and B&H.

Pixtaker

vintage46 wrote:

My son would like a recommendation for a first mirrorless camera to do mainly family and food photography.
He is a chef and would like to promote the food in the restaurant he manages. His skills are at the novice level, but I think he wants a camera that will allow him to grow and increase his skills.

Thanks for any help

I own, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, and Olympus. I would suggest the Olympus OMD EM1 Mk III with 12mm-100mm f4 over the rest for one simple reason. You said your son is interested in food photography. Olympus is the only camera on the market that has Live Composite which is wonderful for food and product photography. Live Composite allows you to make composite images in-camera that previously would only be able to be created with two separate images and a bunch of post-processing. It allows you to add light and view the change in real time so that you can highlight the food in a manner that makes it the most appealing. It takes a lot of guess work out of the process. The camera has other features only Olympus cameras have such as pro capture, Live Capture, and Live ND which all have specific uses. The camera is fully capable of the full range of functions of other cameras. I was hesitant when I bought it for the Olympus specific features as I am use to the high resolution of full frame sensors up to 60 Megapixels but have been truly impressed by the quality of images from the micro four thirds 20mp sensor. I specifically use it for food and product photography which seldom needs to be more than 20mp. Other than those Olympus specific features, then as others have said all of the mirrorless cameras of today are very good. I recommend the 12-100 mm lens because of it's overall usability but if he only is going to do up close and maybe some portraits, the 60mm Macro is excellent too.