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Looking for a good travel companion, any tips?


Cesar-Nogueira | Asked  11 months ago | Last response was 10 months ago

Hello everyone, 

I broke my long lasting partner (Lumix DMC-FX500) and I'm now looking for something under ~500usd to replace it. 

I travel a lot and I like the portability of a small camera. Defo something smaller than a SLR and some mirrorless (like the FZ150 which was perfect for my needs but it's too bulky to carry around). 

I'm not a big photographer but i like to play around with manual modes, however 90% of my shots are point and shoot. Speed shutter, auto focus and image quality in intelligent modo are very important. Zoom as well. 

My photo types are very balanced, indoor and outdoors, landscapes and people in groups, dinners with friends, parties, sports, pets, children, etc. I rarely make movies with it. 

Based on my profile, what would you recommend? I'm looking for the Nikon J1 but I'm a bit reluctant with the interchangeable lenses, which can be a plus and a pain at the same time.

The other option I'm looking for and seems like a balanced option is the Lumix TZ30.

Thanks for your help! It's much appreciated! 

Which camera do you recommend for Cesar-Nogueira?

Panasonic TZ30
14 MP|20x f/3.3|1/2.5" CMOS|3" LCD
Nikon J1 - $299
10 MP|Nikon CX CMOS|3" LCD
1 Answers
  1. Intermediate III
    cameras Community
    Fair Minded
    Score
    10 months ago Harri-Heikkil recommends the Panasonic ZS20 / TZ30

    Hi Cesar,

    If you found the FZ150 too bulky, I would definitely recommend TZ30 out of these two. If portability is one of your priorities, interchangeable lenses can become pain in the ass.

    I would also consider Sony RX100 (it is a little bit out of your budget, though). It has not the zoom reach of the TZ30, but the better pixel count (20MP) makes it partly up. In addition, it shoots RAW and has MUCH better image quality, especially in low light. Also consider the Canon's S100 for the same reasons (cheaper option).

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