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Mirrorless Recommendations
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Oct 25, 2018 11:53:36   #
JRowe
 
My wonderful daughter-in-law will be 50 next month. Over the last 10 years she has become an excellent photographer with her Nikon 5300 (18-300 lens) and Sony RX100 M1 -- but they are about worn out. Her job has her traveling a lot -- both domestic and international -- so she takes a lot of travel pictures but also many family shots. She processes in Lightroom and publishes Shutterfly books.

Seems like a good time to move to a mirrorless system. Smaller and less weight than the Nikon 5300 would be good. I have read a bunch of reviews, but not sure about full frame vs M43, size, etc.

My son will buy the camera body, I'll pop for a lens. Hopefully a package under $3,000.

Thanks for your suggestions!

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Oct 25, 2018 12:04:25   #
suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ
 
Have you considered the new Nikon mirrorless system, especially the less expensive one that is soon to be released? That and the mid length lens might be an excellent package along with an adapter so she can continue to use her present Nikon lenses.

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Oct 25, 2018 12:04:40   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
JRowe wrote:
My wonderful daughter-in-law will be 50 next month. Over the last 10 years she has become an excellent photographer with her Nikon 5300 (18-300 lens) and Sony RX100 M1 -- but they are about worn out. Her job has her traveling a lot -- both domestic and international -- so she takes a lot of travel pictures but also many family shots. She processes in Lightroom and publishes Shutterfly books.

Seems like a good time to move to a mirrorless system. Smaller and less weight than the Nikon 5300 would be good. I have read a bunch of reviews, but not sure about full frame vs M43, size, etc.

My son will buy the camera body, I'll pop for a lens. Hopefully a package under $3,000.

Thanks for your suggestions!
My wonderful daughter-in-law will be 50 next month... (show quote)


Since she is accustomed to the RX100 M1 why not the RX100 M4.

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Oct 25, 2018 12:13:40   #
DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca
 
If she is a Nikon user then you have only one choice with the Nikon Z6 w/ 24-70mm in your price point. https://smile.amazon.com/Nikon-FX-Format-Mirrorless-Camera-Body/dp/B07GPH7M5X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540483818&sr=8-3&keywords=nikon%2Bmirrorless%2Bcamera&refinements=p_89%3ANikon&th=1

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Oct 25, 2018 13:15:25   #
amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
 
JRowe wrote:
My wonderful daughter-in-law will be 50 next month. Over the last 10 years she has become an excellent photographer with her Nikon 5300 (18-300 lens) and Sony RX100 M1 -- but they are about worn out. Her job has her traveling a lot -- both domestic and international -- so she takes a lot of travel pictures but also many family shots. She processes in Lightroom and publishes Shutterfly books.

Seems like a good time to move to a mirrorless system. Smaller and less weight than the Nikon 5300 would be good. I have read a bunch of reviews, but not sure about full frame vs M43, size, etc.

My son will buy the camera body, I'll pop for a lens. Hopefully a package under $3,000.

Thanks for your suggestions!
My wonderful daughter-in-law will be 50 next month... (show quote)


For someone who sounds as serious about their photography as your daughter-in-law... someone who has literally worn out some relatively recent model cameras (if what you say is true)...

I DEFINITELY wouldn't try to buy a camera for them!

She probably has a very good idea what she likes & wants and you're unlikely to know the details anywhere near as well as she does. In other words, unless she has specifically stated something she would like to work with, you and your son will more likely than not buy the wrong camera and lens!

I would STRONGLY recommend you and your son instead get her gift certificates from someplace where prices and selection are good, like B&H Photo or Adorama in NYC. Then she can make her own choices and get exactly what she wants,... rather than being "stuck" with what you THINK she would want. Maybe she'll opt to keep one of her current cameras and simply get better lenses. Or maybe she will want a new camera that can use existing lenses from one of her cameras. Or maybe there's another system entirely that she'd like to get into.

FWIW: You mention she travels a lot to take photographs. In that case, a full frame mirrorless would very likely end up bigger and heavier than the cameras she uses now. The camera body might be a bit lighter, but it will need to use full frame-capable lenses which are no smaller and lighter than the lenses for full frame DSLRs. APS-C "crop only" ("DX" in Nikon terms) lenses which she might already have for her D5300 might be smaller and lighter. An APS-C mirrorless camera might be a bit smaller and lighter for travel, provided it's used with native lenses (rather than adapted lenses). But Nikon doesn't make one, so she would need to change systems (and may or may not be able to adapt her Nikon F-mount lenses). A micro 4/3 format mirrorless can be even smaller and lighter. But, again, it depends... For example, mirrorless with viewfinders (if she wants one) aren't a great deal smaller and lighter than the smallest and lightest APS-C DSLR models (such as a Canon SL2, which is one of the smallest).

But, again, get her gift certificates and let her make her own choices. Maybe she wants a Fuji mirrorless (X-mount lenses offer one of the best selection). Nikon doesn't even make an APS-C format mirrorless... only full frame. And they only make 3 lenses for it, so far. Canon makes both APS-C and full frame mirrorless now... but so far there are very limited lenses for both, too (about 8 for the APS-C and only 4 for the full frame... and they aren't interchangeable). Panasonic and Olympus partner in making m4/3 cameras and lenses to use on them, so there's pretty good selection both of cameras and lenses. Sony has been making APS-C and FF mirrorless for quite a while, too... so have a fairly good selection of lenses. But Sony's tend to be more expensive than Nikon's... whose lenses in turn tend to be more expensive than Canon's. Fuji's lenses also ain't cheap. In fact, due to their popularity... they're the "latest, greatest thing".... mirrorless cameras and the lenses designed for them tend to be substantially more expensive than relatively comparable DSLRs (which are now "old school", I suppose.... I'm just waiting to hear, "Hey look, that geezer is still shooting with a DSLR!")

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Oct 25, 2018 14:31:07   #
rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin
 
Consider mirrorless cameras from Fujifilm - X-T2 (probably used) or the new X-T3. Great features, exceptional image quality, creative options.

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Oct 25, 2018 14:58:12   #
MT Shooter Loc: Montana
 
JRowe wrote:
My wonderful daughter-in-law will be 50 next month. Over the last 10 years she has become an excellent photographer with her Nikon 5300 (18-300 lens) and Sony RX100 M1 -- but they are about worn out. Her job has her traveling a lot -- both domestic and international -- so she takes a lot of travel pictures but also many family shots. She processes in Lightroom and publishes Shutterfly books.

Seems like a good time to move to a mirrorless system. Smaller and less weight than the Nikon 5300 would be good. I have read a bunch of reviews, but not sure about full frame vs M43, size, etc.

My son will buy the camera body, I'll pop for a lens. Hopefully a package under $3,000.

Thanks for your suggestions!
My wonderful daughter-in-law will be 50 next month... (show quote)


If you are needing "smaller and lighter" than a D5300 then you will have to look at the M4/3s choices as the Nikons are Pro build Magnesium weather sealed bodies and they are larger and heavier than the D5000 series cameras. Even the Canon EOS R Full frame mirrorless is larger and heavier even though its a plastic body.

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Oct 25, 2018 15:12:40   #
larryepage Loc: North Texas area
 
JRowe wrote:
My wonderful daughter-in-law will be 50 next month. Over the last 10 years she has become an excellent photographer with her Nikon 5300 (18-300 lens) and Sony RX100 M1 -- but they are about worn out. Her job has her traveling a lot -- both domestic and international -- so she takes a lot of travel pictures but also many family shots. She processes in Lightroom and publishes Shutterfly books.

Seems like a good time to move to a mirrorless system. Smaller and less weight than the Nikon 5300 would be good. I have read a bunch of reviews, but not sure about full frame vs M43, size, etc.

My son will buy the camera body, I'll pop for a lens. Hopefully a package under $3,000.

Thanks for your suggestions!
My wonderful daughter-in-law will be 50 next month... (show quote)

I second the gift certificate idea. My wife is very generous and well-intentioned, but even after travelling to photography and model railroading and amateur radio meetings and events with me, she still does not have matching experience and understanding that would reliably lead her to make the same choices that I would when selecting something that she might want to purchase as a gift for me.

It is likely that neither of you are fully aware of what she may feel is her greatest need or her plan and preference for meeting that need. She may love her D5300 and want to concentrate on a new lens or lenses. Or she may not want to do anything about the Nikon equipment and find a replacement for the Sony. And she may be thinking about something completely different to accomplish that replacement. Selecting photographic equipment is an intensely personal experience for most of us. I don't have any need or desire for anything new right now, but if I did, I would not want anyone else choosing it for me.

If you read here for a while, you will quickly learn that there is a lot of emotional energy around whether or not to switch to mirrorless. On both sides. Please don't presume which side she is on.

I understand that many folks do not like to give money or gift certificates as gifts...not personal enough. But in this case, that would be exactly the most personal thing to do.

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Oct 25, 2018 15:54:46   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
but they are about worn out.

How did you determine that?

Surprises are nice, but unless your daughter-in-law thinks it's a good time to go mirrorless she may have to force a smile on her face as she turns 50.

If she has indicated it's time to go mirrorless, I think the Z6 would be a good fit. I obviously haven't handled one, but I am confident enough that I have a Z6 w/24-70 on order.

--

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Oct 25, 2018 16:01:59   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
JRowe wrote:
...Seems like a good time to move to a mirrorless system...
Her idea or yours? If she's an excellent photographer, she should be actively involved in this decision. In addition to reasons already stated, the comfort and fit of a camera in one's hands varies from user to user.

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Oct 25, 2018 16:08:23   #
JRowe
 
Thanks for the thoughtful replies. My son and I thought we would take a trip to the very good local camera store and have her try several, but wanted to learn more about mirrorless systems and narrow the field a bit. I have bought on line, but think this is a good chance to “buy local.”

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Oct 25, 2018 16:30:45   #
Photocraig
 
I couldn't encourage you more to help your FABULOUS daughter in law into updated equipment. (I hope the spirit is contagious--if ya get my drift? I'm coming up on my #/4ths mark.) A play on the theme of the gift certificate, the big Photo Store sites have a "Wishlist" feature. Perhaps you and your son can suggest that for her "half-way mark" birthday, you wanted to enable her to update her photography equipment and you would like her to "guide" you to the best selections by building a wish list at a site of her choosing. Tell her to not be shy with her selections. Then she will be able to let you know what she wants to do. Your budget includes room for a DSLR body upgrade AND a new SONY or a m4/3's ravel rig or.........

When I was a Road Warrior travelling almost every week I never took my SLR because it was too bulky to incorporate with my already heavy load. She may decide to build a travel kit that is in a completely new direction than Nikon. I, personally, came to the same cost/size disillusionment about the mirrorless cameras as Amphoto did. She could very well choose an entirely different path than you might imagine. I'd personally prefer to pick my own gear, sentiments etc. respected. Photo equipment is very personal, especially for a woman who may (or not) have smaller hands etc.

The Wish List keeps the surprise and Money Value out of the equation--on the surface. A 50 year Old Businesswoman KNOWS what things cost!! It is the thought and the consideration for her own preferences that count the most. You can always ask her to re-do it if she's going too inexpensive. She'll either fix it or tell ya what she really wants--again consider the source.

I hope you get the joy of giving this deserving lady a gift that she will enjoy and appreciate as a token of the love and appreciation she so richly deserves. Let us know what she chooses!

C

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Oct 25, 2018 22:23:28   #
krashdragon
 
Agree.. Gift certificates..
Or, just take her to the store and let her decide. What you might think is important, she may not. She may have totally different ideas than you would ever have...
Remember... Men simply do not think like women...or vice versa!

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Oct 26, 2018 05:37:16   #
wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado
 
JRowe wrote:
My wonderful daughter-in-law will be 50 next month. Over the last 10 years she has become an excellent photographer with her Nikon 5300 (18-300 lens) and Sony RX100 M1 -- but they are about worn out. Her job has her traveling a lot -- both domestic and international -- so she takes a lot of travel pictures but also many family shots. She processes in Lightroom and publishes Shutterfly books.

Seems like a good time to move to a mirrorless system. Smaller and less weight than the Nikon 5300 would be good. I have read a bunch of reviews, but not sure about full frame vs M43, size, etc.

My son will buy the camera body, I'll pop for a lens. Hopefully a package under $3,000.

Thanks for your suggestions!
My wonderful daughter-in-law will be 50 next month... (show quote)


I agree with Linda From Maine and others that she needs to be actively involved. Having said that, have a look at the Olympus E-M1 mrII with a 12-100 f4 (or the E-M5 mrII or Panasonic GH4). The E-M1/12-100 combination was designed for travel. It has an IS of 6.5 stops (tripod almost never needed), 2.5 pounds, 5.3 X 3.6 X 7.3 in size, will do ~1/2 life size, easily handholdable to 1 or 2 seconds, and weatherproof. Basically, only bridge cameras come close to this but without the image quality. Menu for the E-M1 mrII are harder than the menu for the GH4. But the control from the E-M1, once the menu is mastered, cannot be matched. Well worth a look. You could end up buying one yourself.

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Oct 26, 2018 05:41:35   #
Ollieboy
 
Sony, Fuji, Olympus or Panasonic are the obvious choices. I say this because they have been time tested. Canikon mirrorless is just too new. They may be formidable in the future, but not now.

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