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I too had a Nikon Coolpix. An L29. Not only a great camera. But run on AA batteries. In the 7 weeks I was in Spain . I only changed the batteries 3 times. Taking well over 1500 shots. I did this so as to not used my phone battery. Which I only charged every 5 days or so. While I watched others run out of phone charge mid day. Taking lots of shots. And yes also up loaded them to a dongel.I carried a small Nikon Coolpix with a telephoto on my first Camino. Took great photos. I had a transfer dongle that allowed me to upload to my iPad/iPhone.
When you say manual function do you mean the ability to set shutter speed/aperture/ISO and balance? Hard to find on a budget. I'm always amazed by raving reviews for an affordable camera which turns out to cost mega bucks.Sidestepping the to-bring-or-not-to-bring-a-camera debate for the time being, does anyone have recommendations for an inexpensive small digital camera (used/refurb is fine) which has manual function and won't break the bank? Being able to afford and/or operate one will be the first tipping point. Thanks!
Nice camera, ouchie price!Brought a Canon GX7II to my CF. Was very pleased with the results.
I have a Nikon coolpix camera and it has been excellent. There is only one I can see at a possibly affordable price here, the Nikon Coolpix L31 . This one is on the UK site looks like a returned-re-issued item but will serve as a guide if nothing else. Takes AA batteries so I always carry a full spare set but they do last well and no need to be tied to a charger. I bought a carry case with a pouch for batteries. The camera needs an SD card so check whether there is one included or you need to buy a couple, and the correct size. Some cameras cannot cope with overlarge cards.Sidestepping the to-bring-or-not-to-bring-a-camera debate for the time being, does anyone have recommendations for an inexpensive small digital camera (used/refurb is fine) which has manual function and won't break the bank? Being able to afford and/or operate one will be the first tipping point. Thanks!
ROFLMAONice camera, ouchie price!
I am a professional photographer and I took a Sony VR 100 with me when I did the Camino Frances in 2019. It worked as good as my high dollar, large and heavy pro cameras. It fits in the palm of your hand, and I used it on "auto" mode and it made over 3000 excellent photos. Great compact camera.Sidestepping the to-bring-or-not-to-bring-a-camera debate for the time being, does anyone have recommendations for an inexpensive small digital camera (used/refurb is fine) which has manual function and won't break the bank? Being able to afford and/or operate one will be the first tipping point. Thanks!
Sony VR 100?I am a professional photographer and I took a Sony VR 100 with me when I did the Camino Frances in 2019. It worked as good as my high dollar, large and heavy pro cameras. It fits in the palm of your hand, and I used it on "auto" mode and it made over 3000 excellent photos. Great compact camera.
I bought a Lumix on sale in Burgos when my other camera died due to the wet. Excellent honest salesman. He compared the specs with the updated model and said no, buy the superseded one.I recently purchased a 10 year old Lumix TZ7 for 10% of the former retail price (about $40). It's has enough technology and its a Leica lens. Couple of examples. I have a Canon EOS DSLR but the Lumix is so light and useable, it's the one I prefer for travel.
As is usual with technical products, purchasing second-hand quality pays off
Just about any 20-25 year old compact from a quality manufacturer can take good photos - examples are the Canon SD200 and SD300, Nikon Coolpix, and similar offerings from Panasonic, etc., but many are limited to full auto or semi-auto. Compacts from the past ~ 10 yrs have improved features, notably image stabilization, larger zoom range, and better low light sensitivity.Sidestepping the to-bring-or-not-to-bring-a-camera debate for the time being, does anyone have recommendations for an inexpensive small digital camera (used/refurb is fine) which has manual function and won't break the bank? Being able to afford and/or operate one will be the first tipping point. Thanks!
There's a range of Sony RX100s. I have a Mark 1, which is still a good camera. I think you could probably get a good used one for less than £150.
The latest is the Mark 7, which would set you back over £1000 new. Eek!
They are small but very capable. Good manual control and large sensor (compared with other compacts). The later ones have a pop-up viewfinder.
I took mine of the CF this year, and didn't regret it.
This is not a complete answer, but if you do find a suitable camera that allows manual control, check that it has an auto-iso setting. Most do these days. Within limits, using auto-iso allows you to manually set both aperture and exposure times and still get a correctly exposed image. There are some downsides to this process if the camera has to set very high iso values in dark conditions, but you will retain the other elements of creative control that you previously had with a film camera.I try to be game, but I just want a different experience, analog, tactile, a la my beloved Fujica (but with digital images).
SO glad you didn't refer to them as "analogue" cameras, and you're right, if you've only got a limited number of shots on a roll and you can't erase and "do over" it concentrates the mind wonderfully. The trouble is the only film cameras I've got left are all very heavy:I’ve been falling back in love with my little Pentax Optio. Takes magnificent photos, small, sturdy, lightweight.
Am I the only person unaware that film cameras are making a comeback? Like vinyl records for similar reasons, the photos seem richer, somehow. The costs are very reasonable, cameras are easy to come by, and I seem to put more thought into the shot I am going to take when I use film.
I know what you mean, but I am happy to tell you that your concern simply isn’t true.SO glad you didn't refer to them as "analogue" cameras, and you're right, if you've only got a limited number of shots on a roll and you can't erase and "do over" it concentrates the mind wonderfully. The trouble is the only film cameras I've got left are all very heavy:
View attachment 129435
Fuji S645s (880g 15 exposures on 120 film)
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Yashica 635 (1220g! 12 exposures on 120 film)
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And my Dad's old Zeiss 521 (500g 12 exposures on 120)
Sadly Canterbury (UK) is a long way from HawaiiI know what you mean, but I am happy to tell you that your concern simply isn’t true.
The local place I discovered is very clean, modern, 21st century, and handles up to date equipment - it isn’t an antique store, LOL!!
They offered to buy my little Olympus Stylus for an amazing amount of money. That’s when I saw that, not only do they sell new film cameras (lots of plastic, though) but they have an active business of putting point-and-shoot cameras in the hands of new fans.
You expressed it beautifully when you said that your mind is concentrated on getting the right picture When you use film and have to predict what it will look like.
I was very shocked when I noticed the array of disposable cameras for sale in a local general store. They must have been there all the time but I never noticed them before - or at least not in the past dozen years.
If you like, I’d be happy to share the info on the store I work with here with You and anyone else on this thread.
I’m moving to Germany and they do business by mail. I’m a happy camper.Sadly Canterbury (UK) is a long way from Hawaii
Keep on snapping!
Hi on my last Camino Frances in 2015, I took my mobile for photos etc and also a small digital camera for backup, the extra weight was no problem, if i took a interesting photo with my mobile, I also took one with the camera , in case I had trouble with one, i still had my photos, to walk all that way and lose my mobile or camera and all the photos would not be my idea of fun, but to each his own, that's why I took a backup, i hope to return SAP and will still take both.. buen Camino to allSidestepping the to-bring-or-not-to-bring-a-camera debate for the time being, does anyone have recommendations for an inexpensive small digital camera (used/refurb is fine) which has manual function and won't break the bank? Being able to afford and/or operate one will be the first tipping point. Thanks!
I use the Olympus OM 10I’ve been falling back in love with my little Pentax Optio. Takes magnificent photos, small, sturdy, lightweight.
Am I the only person unaware that film cameras are making a comeback? Like vinyl records for similar reasons, the photos seem richer, somehow. The costs are very reasonable, cameras are easy to come by, and I seem to put more thought into the shot I am going to take when I use film.
Lol! Have fun in NYC (I’m heading there in a week, also). Where is the camera shop you are going to, just out of curiosity?Forum, thou art a wealth of various knowledge. Thank you each for taking the time to provide such thorough responses.
In case I sounded like I’m some suave photographer, I’m not. 40 years ago (literally, like this month, like right now), I was on my first solo trip to Europe (Let’s Go, Europe!), and loved taking photographs with a huge old school borrowed Canon. On my return, I bought a Fujica for $125 (which seemed like a very grown-up price to pay all by myself!) at B & H Photo on Broadway (if that means something to you) in my hometown of New York City, took a photo class at my college, and returned to Europe, now knowing how to fiddle with shutter speed, depth of field, aperture, etc. I quickly gained muscle memory where I could do what I hoped to happen, and often it happened, though I still couldn't have really explained why. I used the camera for several decades years. Now it, and its lens, which has fallen out, are in a drawer for nostalgia sake (or if I ever want to repair it and deal with celluloid again).
At some point, someone gave me a Canon DSLR. Even just pointing and shooting, it was mystifying to me. I took a weekend-long workshop on how to use it. I would have to stop in my tracks to look back and forth between the cheat sheet and the screen, pressing and pressing and pressing. I try to be game, but I just want a different experience, analog, tactile, a la my beloved Fujica (but with digital images). But also, it's hard; dyslexia, dyscalculia, numbers, visuals, charts, views within views...I become overwhelmed and frustrated - springs boing out of my brain like in a Looney Tune. I remember zero from that class. I’ve long since just been using my iPhone.
In any case, I'll take loads of notes on what you all wrote (as I did when shoe- and backpack-shopping, which I used at REI and Sports Basement with great success!). It just so happens that I am visiting my family in New York right now, and maybe I’ll have time to go on over to B & H and have them hold my hand a bit and see if there’s a magic lightweight affordable camera that will recall my early days without breaking my brain, my back or the bank.
@Kathy F. B & H is on 9th Avenue in the 30's in Manhattan, not far from Penn Station or the Empire State Building. It's like the Legoland of camera/video/tech stores.Lol! Have fun in NYC (I’m heading there in a week, also). Where is the camera shop you are going to, just out of curiosity?
I hope you find the camera of your dreams.
Thanks for so many thoughts and ideas here. Here's what happened:Sidestepping the to-bring-or-not-to-bring-a-camera debate for the time being, does anyone have recommendations for an inexpensive small digital camera (used/refurb is fine) which has manual function and won't break the bank? Being able to afford and/or operate one will be the first tipping point. Thanks!
Executive summary: your are making this too hard, get an inexpensive ~ 10-20yr old used camera (it only has to work) and start fooling around with it, maybe you can borrow one from a friend who's upgraded. It either will be good enough for your trip, or in a few weeks you will learn enough to make an informed decision on a better used camera. I also was reluctant initially, but it only took a few sessions to get comfortable with them.Thanks for so many thoughts and ideas here. Here's what happened:
I spent at least 2 hours at B & H photo and video in Manhattan last week when I was in NY. (I'd originally intended to go see a photo retrospective of William Klein at the International Center for Photography, but alas never got there.) This place is like the Legoland of photo/video/tech. A bit overwhelming actually - but very chill at the Used counter, where I started.
The guy was quite droll in a way I Iiked and very knowledgable. He really understood what I was asking for: an affordable compact DSLR camera that behaves like a non-digital camera and will not make my head explode from too many menus, etc. But... not at all encouraging. He was like, "Good luck! I want that, too!" He said, "You'll only get that with a $4000-6000 Leica." He talked about all the menus inside menus inside menus - he talked all that is so not necessary (settings like, "Appetizing entrees" and "tasty desserts" for food shots). He looked at my notes from you all - and still felt that, either it wasn't worth it to get an old camera and/or it would still all not be what I wanted.
Still, I took a look all around what was there, and I got an education. I got to see how they operated and what the felt like. But counter guy was right... it was just not what I want. When I asked one person about manual focus on an entry level Nikon, he said, "Well, it's a bit tricky..." If they're saying that, well...
I went back to the first guy to debrief, and he was like, "See? That's what I told you. Maybe take a look at the mirrorless ones..." He showed me a used one that was about $650. Boy, was it gorgeous. Just the whole mid-century look of it all.
But that was going to be even more expensive, and by then I was too spent to go to another floor and start anew, and was coming to the conclusion that:
-I can't afford a new camera.
-I can't really afford any camera (and would not feel confident to buy a used one online)
-I don't want to spend the time learning menus.
-I should look into getting an updated iPhone. I'm still using an iPhone 8 Plus From 2017. I can barely even see what I'm taking a photo of on the screen. I know there'll be a learning curve. Not just for the photo stuff. Ugh. And those phones are expensive. But that's how you do it. It's not extraneous. Also, the 8 Plus is humongous, so any newer phone will be smaller than that. I have friends whose photographs are exquisite, and I've always wondered why. It's because they're using a newer model of the phone!
Anyway, that's my long-winded denoument to this tale. Now I just have to find an afternoon to get to the Verizon store... (And presumably the photo exhibit I missed in New York will come to San Francisco at some point.)
I went there online. Hoo, boy. A lot.I’ll have time to go on over to B & H and have them hold my hand a bit and see if there’s a magic lightweight affordable camera that will recall my early days without breaking my brain, my back or the bank.
I found myself looking at external lenses that fit on phones. Has anyone tried these??But that was going to be even more expensive, and by then I was too spent to go to another floor and start anew, and was coming to the conclusion that:
-I can't afford a new camera.
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