mvetrano2 wrote:
We will be traveling to Italy this summer and I am looking for a new pocket or bridge camera for the trip. I do not want to carry my R6 or R10 and multiple lenses for this trip because we will be going from city to city for 3 weeks touring. I am looking for a small, light pocket or bridge camera of the same or better quality of my R6 or R10 with a hefty zoom, good lens, newest features and the newest chip. I am a Canon user, so that would be my first choice, but am open to suggestions of other brands. The camera must be new, or refurbished and of excellent quality, and I am willing to spend up to $1,000 on it. Any suggestions?
We will be traveling to Italy this summer and I am... (
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This is an issue I have been looking at for several years. When I retired, my wife and I started traveling more often and I quickly realized that my kit, at that time a Nikon and several lenses, was not the way to go. Too bulky, too heavy, and inconvenient to change lenses and carry on and off buses, taxis, excursions, etc.
My first travel camera was a Sony A6400. Smaller but still too much and it still had the need for multiple lenses.
The second try was a Sony RX100 vIII purchased used at KEH. Excellent camera, takes great photos, and can be carried in a fanny style pack or pocket.
Third try was a Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS70. I just returned from a trip and cruise around Italy and it too is a great camera. I took lots of photos and am not disappointed with the photos themselves BUT the camera itself is a bit heavier than I want to carry, due mainly I suspect to the lens. It is a little larger than the RX100 and heavier. So, I am selling it.
So for now, my recommendation is a Sony RX100. Great all-around camera, is small easily packable and could be carried in a pocket if needed. It also shoots raw, jpg, or both if desired. Several models are available in your price range.
I also took a lot of photos with my iPhone SE and my wife took her iPhone 13 Pro Max. While my iPhone photos were pretty good her iPhone 13 photos were outstanding and are making me rethink the whole travel camera issue. My next trip may be with an iPhone only. A cell phone is always with us and going to an iPhone for photos would eliminate the need to carry that extra camera.
My goal in travel is to carry as little as possible while walking around and visiting sites but still be able to document our visits for our memories. In my opinion, there is little chance of me taking a National Geo-level image of any place that I will be visiting that has not been done before. And in that context, the iPhone would serve my purposes perfectly.
If considering the use of an iPhone check out all the sites now posting iPhone and other cell phone photography. It is truly amazing what some are doing. Also check out Scott Kelby's book on iPhone photography.