Looking for a Professional Quality Camera to Take on Holiday

Ed-P

Hi everyone,

Ok, so I am going into my final year at uni this year and, I know it is early, but I am already making plans to go travelling once I have completed my degree.

I currently work in a cocktail bar part-time in Brighton to give me some spending money, so I am looking to save as much as possible before embarking on my travels around the world next year.

As well as saving up for a trip of a lifetime I have also got my heart set on purchasing a quality camera that will last me for at least 5-10 years as well.

Basically I am looking for a DSLR camera that would be compact enough to take with me around the world. I have a budget of around £800-£1000.

Does anyone know of a pro camera shop that is fairly reasonable and possibly has a finance (cheap) option. So far I have had a look on here https://www.calphoto.co.uk/ and it looks fairly promising but I was wondering if anyone can offer any alternatives as well?

Thanks for your help

-Ed

[Deleted User]

Read the reviews first,decide what you want and buy online.
https://www.cnet.com/uk/topics/cameras

Ed-P

Thanks for the link, Tom. To be honest I am little hesitant about this purchase as it is quite a lot of money to me. Do you have any specific recommendations that would be suitable?

Thanks again.

-Ed

benjus

Does it have to be dSLR? The latest generation of mirrorless, interchangeable lens cameras are getting great reviews and a lot of pro photographers are increasingly using them instead of dSLR. They would be more compact for travelling as well.

blindman

I used to look on Steves Digicam site for reviews

and Dpreview as they have a buying guide which can be helpful.

Double_V

Canon 650D or Canon 550D are best for beginners and learning photography.

[Deleted User]

Frankly a professional-quality camera and all the gubbins is an expensive and cumbersome piece of kit to be dragging around on a world tour.
Personally I'd be happy with a pocket-sized Sony Cybershot.I've had a DSC-TX5 for years.Picture quality is good,it's waterproof and it's very compact.
Obviously if photography is your hobby you may well think differently but you've also got to think of the time you're in a less salubrious part of the world than Blighty with the best part of a grand's-worth of kit hanging round your neck.

ajdj

If it was me I'd avoid finance, avoid a DSLR and forget about a camera lasting 5-10 years, technology advances too quickly to expect to be happy with the same camera for that length of time (assuming it survives all the travelling!).

Have a look at a high end point and shoot like the Canon G7x or Sony RX100. Alternatively, a mirrorless system as mentioned above will perform like a DSLR without the added bulk and weight. Sony's NEX range is excellent and well within budget. All of these are less likely to make you a target for would be thieves too.

[Deleted User]

In terms of dSLRs, the biggest expense *should* be your lenses. These depend on the kind of photography you want to do. The lenses can last a lifetime, and will work with future SLR 'bodies'.

Maybe you should check out the Panasonic FZ1000, it's a bridge-camera with a very large sensor. It'd probably be ideal for travelling

fyi - my dSLR, bought in 2008, is hilariously out of date

Pollycat

ringo_24601 wrote: »

In terms of dSLRs, the biggest expense *should* be your lenses. These depend on the kind of photography you want to do. The lenses can last a lifetime, and will work with future SLR 'bodies'.

Maybe you should check out the Panasonic FZ1000, it's a bridge-camera with a very large sensor. It'd probably be ideal for travelling

fyi - my dSLR, bought in 2008, is hilariously out of date

My OH recetly bought a Fuji Finepix S1 which is a bridge camera (his 3rd bridge after having DSLR).
He thinks it's great, optical zoom of (I think) 50x.

I bought a Panasonic Lumix TZ70 for a point-and-shoot camera and I like that.

I agree with ajdj about not expecting a camera to last 5-10 years.

martindow

I don't think I would want to take a valuable camera if I was backpacking. It is just going to be a worry to you. I would take a cheapish compact camera or use a phone and enjoy yourself.