BillRobison

Used to take my Nikons on vacations. However I found spending so much time changing lenses and trying to position myself for the best picture I did not enjoy the vacation as well as I might have. Coming up I am taking a 74 day cruise and visiting many exotic and remote locations. I want to purchase a new camera that will allow me to take quality pictures with a minimum of trappings and effort. Some of the parameters I'm considering are an integrated zoom lense with enough range to allow for close up subjects as well as distant sights, small size, reasonably long battery life, and higher image quality. I dont expect to blow up prints beyond 9 x12. I have been looking at 2- Sony cameras- RX-100 VI and the RX-10 IV. Their Zeiss lenses seem like good choices. I started out with a budget of about $1,000 and obviously I'm ending up approaching $1700. Any advise you more experienced photographers out there have to offer would be most appreciated. I realize that I am quite ignorant about today's digital technology. My last thought is the reason I am choosing to not have an assortment of interchangeable lenses is because I'm afraid I will miss enjoying the trip.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Welcome to the forum.

(On most trips I just take my 18-200 and a 50. I shoot over 99% of my photo with the zoom.)

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

When I travel and only want to take 1 lens I mount a 28-300 to a full frame body and I'm set to go. I have 28-300 in both Canon and Nikon but no Nikon FX body so I'd be shooting Canon. I use the 28-300 Nikkor as a utility lens quite often and have gotten pretty good results but, if it's a one lens trip, it may not be wide enough for some situations. If I'm using a Nikon camera I usually put a Nikkor 16-80 DX lens, 24-120 equivalent, in my pocket if I need to go a bit wider. I've rarely missed a shot because I had the wrong lens on the camera.

You never mentioned camera model or what lenses you already have.

BillRobison

I have 2- Nikon FM bodies, a nikkor 105 2.5, 28 mm 2.8, and a 50 mm 2.8

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I also use the Nikon 28-300 for travel.
That is for the most part, the only time I use it.

Silverman Loc: Michigan

Looks like you maybe shopping for a "High-End", Quality P&S Camera. Your budget looks good, many great choice brands to choose from. Before my DSLR, I had a quality, Panasonic Lumix P&S, which I now miss sometimes for certain circumstances. But Sony has a good reputation for Quality Cameras too. Hope yo find the one that suites your needs perfectly.

rogerl Loc: UK (Harrogate, North Yorkshire)

I have Nikon D7100 with various lenses, I've just bought Sony RX10iii second hand from Ebay. I love it for its portability.

Gspeed Loc: Rhinebeck, NY

I purchased the Nikkor 24-70 2.8 G ED AF-S. It’s a bit bulky but what you get is a fast, precise lens. It is a nice, mid-range lens for my D610 FX. With the proper sling strap you can manage to get it out of the way while walking. I brought it to the NYS Sheep & Wool Festival last weekend. Not a super landscape lens but you can stitch. Excellent mid-range lens for the colors, sights and smells of your travels.

Just completed 25 days on Oceania’s Marina: 19 ports. Magical! Enjoy your travels!

ELNikkor

@BillRobison - Am I to understand that this is your first foray into digital?!? Amazing that you you have that wonderful kit of 2 FMs and those 3 lenses! (Is it one body for BW, the other for color?) I used to shoot with that simple kit years ago, except it was an FM/FE combo, and my longer lens was actually a 200 f4 "Q" lens. Of course, I upgraded to the FM2/FE2 when those came out. The RX100VI will be an excellent choice for its small size, versatility, and quality for your 9x12 blow-ups and beyond. Just get used to what it can do before the cruise, so you don't spend a lot of your time figuring it out on board. Might help to take a small computer/tablet for viewing/managing your images as you travel, as 74 days is a long time to just be seeing them on the back of the camera. Stay in touch and share with us your choices and adventures!

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I have taken my Fuji X-T2 with the 18-135 lens to many exotic locations (Sri Lanka, Borneo, Bali, Japan, Peru) after giving up the bulk and weight of a Nikon D800 and two pro zoom lenses. The Fuji X-T3 would serve you well and you wouldn't have to struggle with unintuitive Sony menus.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

You are on the right track. Travel right, travel lite is my motto. I carry two Sony Pocket camera's, the RX100 II with the 28-100 Zeiss lens. It is a very sharp camera and like it very much, but the reach I find limiting especially outside for distant views and wildlife. That's why I carry TWO Sony's. My second Sony is the HX90V that also has a Zeiss lens, a pop up viewfinder, and a 24-750 mm Zeiss lens. And, Sony just brought out the HX99V that is basically the same camera as the HX90V but also shoots RAW. You can get both the RX IV and the HX99V for under $1500. Don't forget, the RX-10 IV is not little. I can put both of mine in belt pouches with no problem and travel HANDS FREE, yes, that is important on trips.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

You are going on a 74-day cruise and you are worried about spending an additional 2K?????

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Sony RX10IV would be an excellent choice; range, IQ, light weight, compact, no lenses to change. I travel with a Sony A6500 and an 18-135 which I used about 99% of the time. A good DSLR and a single zoom (18-200) as mentioned previously would also be a great choice....happy travels

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Don't limit yourself to Sony.

https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2401971,00.asp
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2017-roundup-compact-enthusiast-zoom-cameras
http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/best-compact-camera-2013-34-reviewed-963985

Raw and viewfinder
https://www.lifewire.com/best-viewfinder-cameras-493677
http://www.compactcamerawithviewfinder.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/compact-cameras-with-viewfinders

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

If you loved your Nikon, get an 18-300 and use it, $600, within your budget.... But if you just have to buy a new camera, the Nikon P1000 camera would be a good one with a 24-3000mm, and would not take long to learn. Again within your budget at $1000.