Small camera gear for small person
Jul 1, 2023 09:09:31 #
I have a friend who is petite. She is ready to buy a new camera and associated lenses. She currently owns 12 -15 year old Canon gear which she plans to replace. As a recent volunteer park ranger with her husband for 3 years she enjoys photographing landscapes, birds and wildlife and plant close ups. With a fall trip to Europe planned she feels now is the time to make a new purchase. Again - her interest is in capable equipment that is compact and lighter than the her current Canon equipment and likely to step into mirrorless. Being a regular UHH reader it seems steering her toward Sony or Fuji would best suit her objectives. It is not her intent to buy an all-in-one camera. I would appreciate and specific recommendations for camera and available lenses that would meet her photography objectives. I am a Nikon user and currently size and weight are not of concern to me. I want to give my friend the best advice I can so she makes the best choice for her. Thanks in advance for you guidance!
Jul 1, 2023 09:13:14 #
You should have her look at Olympus. I have considered going to Olympus from my Canon R5 small and nice lens choices.
Jul 1, 2023 09:14:34 #
I would suggest she go to a camera shop and see cameras in person.
She can check the ergonomics of different models, and hopefully the sales people are knowledgeable in their operation for any questions.
She can check the ergonomics of different models, and hopefully the sales people are knowledgeable in their operation for any questions.
Jul 1, 2023 09:15:11 #
Longshadow wrote:
I would suggest she go to a camera shop and see cameras in person.
She can check the ergonomics of different models, and hopefully the sales people are knowledgeable in their operation for any questions.
She can check the ergonomics of different models, and hopefully the sales people are knowledgeable in their operation for any questions.
That is IF she can go to a camera shop.
Or
She can order 5 systems and see which one has the best ergonomics in her own home and then return the rest. That would help increase the refurb inventory for us all to enjoy.
Jul 1, 2023 09:19:53 #
BebuLamar wrote:
That is IF she can go to a camera shop.
Yea, unfortunately they are getting fewer and far between.
I worked part time at one many, many years ago, great crew, we helped a lot of people decide......
Jul 1, 2023 09:22:38 #
Sony A6000--all the bells and whistles she needs, lightweight, easy to use, and takes great photos. Given that it's not the newest model, prices are very doable.
Jul 1, 2023 09:27:29 #
I would recommend the Sony RX10 IV. Even though it is an all-in-one it covers everything that she's looking for in a fairly lightweight camera with an outstanding track record.
Jul 1, 2023 09:33:49 #
Micro four thirds is the way to go. Look at Panasonic Lumix and Olympus. I switched from Canon to Panasonic several years ago and could not be happier. Compared with my old Canon kit, my Panasonic kit weighs half as much yet has all the same capabilities. And the lenses from both Panasonic and Olympus are cross-compatible. In-body and in-lens stabilization makes tripods/monopods generally unnecessary. On a recent safari, my entire kit, including the bag, weighed six pounds.
Jul 1, 2023 09:37:12 #
jackpinoh
Loc: Kettering, OH 45419
andymac wrote:
I have a friend who is petite. She is ready to buy... (show quote)
Unless she intends to print 20" x 30" or larger, she doesn't need to consider full frame cameras even APS-C cameras. Weight is strongly correlated with sensor size. And wide aperture lenses (f/2.8 or wider) and constant aperture zoom lenses are much heaver than their less expensive alternatives (aperture = f/4 or smaller and variable aperture zoom lenses) Unless she needs long focal lengths (>200mm), she should look at the Sony RX100VII, an outstanding small camera. If she needs longer focal lengths and macro lenses, she should look at the OM Systems OM5 or Olympus OM-D E-M10. These cameras have a large number of lightweight lenses to choose from.
Jul 1, 2023 09:50:14 #
I just returned from a bird photography tour guided by a professional photographer using an Olympus OM1. He also uses Sony full frame cameras (a1) and by comparison is really please with the capabilities of the OM1. His comment, because of its size, gives him a sense of freedom he does not get carrying around large full frame prime lenses (like a 600). I tried it with a 300mm prime (equivalent 600mm full frame lens). The magnification factor was the same at a fraction of the weight. As we get older, we need to take these things into consideration. Good luck to your friend.
Jul 1, 2023 09:57:50 #
andymac wrote:
.....She currently owns 12 -15 year old Canon gear which she plans to replace....
You don't say if her current gear is full frame or crop sensor. If it's full frame there's something to be gained from going to APS-C mirrorless. If she already has APS-C gear and it's too much for her then m4/3 is the only other option.
You state wildlife as one of her interests. Fast autofocus is not one of the strengths of m4/3 cameras and the right APS-C option would offer advantages in that respect. The autofocus in m4/3 cameras isn't bad, it's just that it can be improved upon.
Jul 1, 2023 10:09:25 #
Jul 1, 2023 10:17:33 #
R.G. wrote:
You don't say if her current gear is full frame or... (show quote)
I don't think the OM-1 AF is slower than an APS-C camera.
Jul 1, 2023 10:33:54 #
wdross
Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
andymac wrote:
I have a friend who is petite. She is ready to buy... (show quote)
For size, weight, and cost, 4/3rds offers the best advantage for a petite person wanting a small lightweight system that is easy to travel with. I travel with a two body system, 5 lenses, 2 teleconverter, 2 flash, plus batteries, filters and other accessories, that covers a 35mm angle of view of 14 to 1200 and 1/2 lifesize, in a 20.28" x 11.42" x 7.87" backpack at just under 20 pounds. You cannot do that even with APS-C.
There is nothing wrong with full frame or APS-C, especially Sony and Fuji. But for size, weight, cost, and travel ease, OM and Panasonic cannot be beat. Plus, if your petite person buys the new OM series and professional lenses, the system will be weatherproof for a park ranger. She will be able to shoot in any weather with no other gear. And if she really likes close-ups, the new award winning OM 90mm f3.5 Pro Macro IS, which I will soon be purchasing, might be of some interest to her.
Jul 1, 2023 12:14:29 #
andymac wrote:
I have a friend who is petite. She is ready to buy... (show quote)
Suggest I-Phone 4, Galaxy S22 Ultra and Pixel 6. Top end phone cameras are unbeatable for travel once you grasp how best to use them.
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