If you only do landscapre and portrait, I would suggest you to go for the sigma because of it's compact size. Judging for someone who come from phone photo/video graphy, my guess is that you will appreciate the compact size of the sigma lens.

If you think you don't want to miss out on wildlife, then the 2nd option is the Tamron. it has better reach than the sigma, but then again 70mm even on apsc is not that long for wildlife.

If you really dedicated about wildlife, then get the kit lens 18-135. But this is one I would recommend the least. There's a reason why it's called kit lens. Despite the range, the kind of photo it can get you doesn't defer much from your smartphone.


My suggestion is this. Instead of trying to get 1 lens that rule them all. I would suggest you get Sigma 18-50, get yourself familiar with the camera first. Later, If you think you really that dedicated for wild life, add a 70-300 in the future, which is much more useful in my opinion. If you still insist of 1 lens that rule them all, then get the tamron 18-300, you have all the range covered.

This post has been edited by Loseeker: Aug 27 2023, 01:19 PM

Thank you for the reply sifu! I actually went with Tamron 17-70mm/F 2.8 because of the extra range and also the built in lens stabilizer. I feel that the price range between sigma 18-50mm is almost similar to Tamron, only around RM 700 different.. So I decided to go for Tamron. Im very excited to jump into my first mirrorless camera photography/videography.. Hope this lens doesnt let me down !

It is a good choice. I was tempted to get the same lens for my fuji camera as well. But when I see the size of that thing I was like....

Type of camera/lens/accesories : Mirrorless
Budget : RM4000-RM6000 including Lens
Your Location : KL/PJ
Preferable brand : Looking towards Fujifilm XT-30 II
Type of photography u want to do : Landscape, Travel Photos
Any specific models in mind? : XT-30 II Silver
Any specific features u want? : N/A

Hi all, I was previously a Canon EOS 550D user (Long time ago) and feel like picking up a Mirrorless Camera for Photo Shooting while traveling. I was looking around for Fujifilm XT-30 II as its aesthetic is really nice (silver color on top and black body gives the old school feel). However saw reviews saying that XT-30 II doesn't have sensor stabilization (compared to XS-10/XS-20 series). Should I have concerns over the missing stabilization feature?

Also, seems like all the stores are out of stock for Fujifilm XT-30 Series. Anyone have any suggestions which can get it in store?

For landscape and Travel photos, ibis doesn't really matter much. It's more critical for those who do handheld video yet doesn't want to use gimbal. When I first started with fuji I went with the XT20 silver also due to the aesthetic look, but be warned that silver paint get scratch easily. These days, it's hard to get a bad camera. Just go with the one you like the most.

Type of camera/lens/accesories : Mirrorless
Budget : <RM3000 with kit lens
Your Location : KL
Preferable brand : Any
Type of photography u want to do : Travel, Portrait
Any specific models in mind? : Sony Alpha 6400

Type of camera/lens/accesories : Mirrorless
Budget : RM2500 - RM4000 (body + prime lens)
Your Location : KL/PJ
Preferable brand : Canon/Nikon
Type of photography u want to do : Landscape, street & night photography
Any specific models in mind? : CANON R50
Any specific features u want? : beginner-friendly.

Hi all,

I'm seeking advice on a mirrorless camera for travel and landscape use, I'm a beginner. I'm planning to buy a canon r50 with prime 35mm and 50mm lenses.

thanks in advance!

Looking for a budget compact camera for traveling and lifestyle.


Type of camera/lens/accesories : Compact / Point and Shoot
Budget : RM2000 below
Your Location : Penang
Preferable brand : Canon, Sony , LUMIX
Type of photography u want to do : Landscape / vlogging / portrait
Any specific models in mind? : RX100
Any specific features u want? : flippable display, small to fit in small bag

This post has been edited by jlobh: Oct 4 2023, 02:43 PM

Sony a6400 is an excellent camera, you won't go wrong withit. But for your budget, it would be hard to get even for a used one. If you really want to do portrait, get the Sigma 30mm f1.4 or Sigma 56mm f1.4 to make a different. The kits lens won't make much of a different against portrait taken using your smartphone.

The problems with Canon RF apsc system is that, currently there is only 2 lenses. If you want to use prime lenses, you have to adapt the old EF lenses. Nikon Apsc is slightly better since they have viltrox prime lenses. I suggest you look at Sony or fuji apsc system instead. I do understand that canon camera has the most beginner friendly user interface, but they are not opened to 3rd parties and their own apsc dedicated lens option are worse than pathetic....unless you don't mind going for the dying eos M mount....


Why don't you use the RM2000 to top up your next phone purchases like getting the iphone 15 ? Your phone is with you everywhere you go, why do you bother to carry one extra piece of device that may not necessary be that much superior to your phone camera.

This post has been edited by Loseeker: Oct 4 2023, 05:36 PM

Just need a bit of clarification abt getting an iPhone for photography instead of a camera. Then in your experience what type of photography where a camera's advantage will be very obvious compared to a phone? I take alot of travel photos and am always wondering if a camera would give me a sharper, crisper and more depth photos. Am thinking of getting a camera but not sure if it will indeed be an upgrade

If you want to take photo mostly for travel then u already has the best camera with you. Phone camera has very deep depth of field, so everything you take in your photo will be sharp in focus. The bigger camera can provide you with much shallower depth of field, so if you like those photos like outdoor portrait will blur background, then u can consider getting a dedicated camera. Another thing with a proper camera is that, the raw files has more latitude when it comes to editing. It is much easier to cover highlight and shadow from the raw files produced by camera with bigger sensor because they have more dynamic range.

One things that drive me crazy to no ends is that, beginners always think just getting a camera with kit lens can immediately see improvement of their photos from phone camera. But what makes the image is the lens, the camera is just the recorder of the image. Yet, they always set budget for camera body only. So, my question to you, if you want to buy a camera, are you ready to spend more for lenses. If not, you will be very disappointed if you get a camera with kit lens, because you won't see much improvement of photos taken with the kits lens against your phone camera.

On the other hand, many phone has build in software with AI that can help you take very nice photos with little to no editing at all. So, the thing you will spend to get a dedicated camera will not always be just money only. You need to spend time to learn and a lot of passion to continue despite failure to get the kind of photo that is better than your phone.

A lot of people not willing to learn or doesn't has such a strong passion for it. Therefore, most people buy camera, use it for few times, then let it sit on the shelf after the initially excitement subsided because phone always with you and lazy to make the efforts to bring an extra piece of gear out everytime. In the end, just sell the camera and go back to phone. I'm trying to save you and the others the hassle of going thru that cycle.

This post has been edited by Loseeker: Oct 9 2023, 07:35 PM

I bought a canon r50 with 35mm prime lens and I think I made a mistake, very limited to lense choices, the 70-200mm and 14-35mm cost a bomb.

Should I trade in for a Sony a6400 instead ?

This post has been edited by Jchew57: Oct 10 2023, 10:46 AM

The problem is I haven't had a dedicated camera before so I'm not sure what are the upside potentials. I do enjoy taking and editing photos. Camera phones also hv raw file setting. Is that the same as the raw file taken by a dedicated camera?

The 35mm prime, you meant the full frame lens RF35mm f1.8? It will be around 56mm in full frame field of view. Aiyoo, you didn't do research first before you jump into the system kah ? It's a costly mistake. But yeah, you should trade it in for the Sony a6400, the e mount system has the widest lens selection.


Yes, the camera phone raw is the same as raw files from camera. And you still haven't answer my question. Are you willing to invest in the lenses too ? If you do, then go ahead and get yourself a dedicated camera. If you just want to use the kit lens that comes with the camera, then I will tell you to forget about it and save your money to top up your next phone purchase.

Yea, im an idiot and naive. i thought the RF 35MM lens will suffice, i didnt know what genre i like.Definitely is a costly mistake, the depreciation is insane, almost 15% value. oh well, we learnt from mistakes.

Anyways, i thought of getting the A6600 or straight into A7iii instead?. both also almost 3 years camera.

Aiyoo, don't be so harsh on yourself, I won't call you an idiot, but lazy to do research la. As regards your question, I think there is nothing wrong to go either A6600 or A7III, again you need to know what you are dealing here. 3 years in camera term is still very new. Even older camera can take fantastic photos. Video wise is a different story la.

1. A6600 = apsc camera, it has 1.5X crop factor (canon apsc is 1.6x crop factor). So, 35mm lens will give you field of view of a 53mm in full frame terms. But the advantages of apsc are that,they are smaller, the lenses are smaller and also cheaper than the full frame lenses. They are very wallet friendly that's why usually beginners start with apsc.

2. A7III = full frame, so there is no crop factor, a 35mm lens will give you 35mm field of view. So, you won't be confused as to the focal length of the lenses you want to use. A7III might be similar pricing to the A6600, but be warned that full frame lenses are usually more expensive for the similar field of view. The full frame advantages over apsc is that, it is slight better noise at high iso setting and it has about 1 stop more shallower depth of field, which mean it gives more background blur. But that is only beneficial for you if you like to take portraits of people outdoor.


If you want to start with a6600, you may also later get the A7iii when u think you are ready to jump into full frame. You can sell the a6600 to fund the jump or keep your a6600 for better reach. On the other hand, you may want to start with A7III right away, so that you won't need to lose money again when u transition from apsc to full frame. It all comes down to your wants and your budget. All the best with your selection.

This post has been edited by Loseeker: Oct 12 2023, 03:29 PM

add on, actually some pros use phone only due to phone catching up the tech and if the photo only post on social, phone can do it lol.

just imagine RAW file = RAW beef, phone raw file maybe is a piece of raw beef, camera raw file is Wagyu RAW beef,
you editing = cooking skill, editing / cooking skill good, both beef can be good but maybe the pros can tell the different
both RAW file should have same range / freedom that let you adjust the colour and stuff...it still depends on your skill.haha

any tech stuff all like that one, if you calculative like that better don't take this hobby haha because it hurts when you think of money.
better get a leica or even higher up brands so maybe not lose any value because leica = rolex stuff already... but again, it is hard to find buyer due to very expensive haha, niche market....
like 10 years ago i get nikon D800 full frame and hope can last long , price around 10k plus that time, now few months ago trade in with my expensive lens for new mirrorless system only worth 3k lol.... i change to mirrorless due to that camera too heavy to carry in trip, plus my phone catching up the tech for shooting low light without flash.

add on this one about the crop sensor on full frame lens, if the lens have soft edge performance -or- distoreded at the edge there, the cropped factor actually get rid of soft edge haha





- also in short, somethings need to experience first before you truly know what suits you or what you need in camera equipment... i used to be have 35mm f/1.8 lens on apsc camera, but ended i sold it and get 24-70mm f/2.8 because i want zoom, i sacrifies my fast focus for this, plus aperture no need too big because too shallow DOF makes things not tact sharp in frame also... those thing cannot edit back of you arleady got bokeh there

This post has been edited by Agito666: Oct 12 2023, 03:54 PM

okay, i just check the A6600 and A7iii is almost double even after the trade in. My only option is A6400 with Sigma 18-50mm, also another 5 years camera. How is the Sony 6400?. compared to R50 other then lens selection.

i really like my R50, its very user friend and up-to-date features but the RF lens selection is just...disappointing.

This post has been edited by Jchew57: Oct 12 2023, 09:59 PM

yea true.. even the camera shop guy told me the depreciation is actually insane. No difference if you use 3 weeks or 3 months.

i only hobbist photog and only take out camera when i go oversea trip. my last camera SC actually is 5k lmao over 10 yearss

i cannot advise you anything since i also noob, but i can tell my choices for camera and hopes this can clear your thought... i formerly use nikon since study uni, so i get used with the UI and handling of nikon.
that time was using D70s... then D800 because the first FF camera and 36mp really can lasts really long for crop photo if you shoot trash in frame, until other camera catch up and your big MP camera actually consider blur and not sharp that time, now i downgrade technically to 24mp nikon z6ii with IBIS for my shaky hands, and better ISO performance. lens also downgrade since i buy package kit lens....

was using 24-70mm F/2.8G the one of the king lens all the time, now use 28-120mm f/4 S since i don't really need bokeh so much on TRIP PHOTOGHRAPHY.... landscape only need bokeh for what

phone use google pixel 5 because i like how the AI handle the colours better than other android phone, the downside is no better , sharper zoom but i don't need that , walk in front can zoom already.
samsung colour accuracy in low light is crap lol (i think, since i am outdated)

This post has been edited by Agito666: Oct 12 2023, 10:12 PM