Good evening ladies and gentlemen of Photography, Digital Imaging & Video sub-forum,

I would need some assistance in helping me choose a camera.


I've done some research and I found SX 280 HS have some battery problems?
Though SX 510 is abit big but it's within my budget.

Also do state where or at least point out where to buy them.

Thank you for your time.

This post has been edited by 5p3ak: Feb 26 2014, 07:05 PM

Depends on the purpose of using camera.... May I know u using for?

To take photos such as but not limited to, food, events(for documentation purpose), products, macro photography. I am currently not interested in landscape and sports.

As the purpose u stated. Those can be done by phone especially iPhone 5 or 5s..... Camera was great as digital camera.... Or else u want much more better one is Nokia Lumia 1080.... Superb camera....

I used to be wedding photographer, but I change career.... I'm still using iPhone 5 as my camera..
Caz I pass my DSLR to my brother.... Of course phone camera cannot fight with Pro series DSLR...
But is beatable to digital camera...

Valid points, but if I've wanted a phone I wouldn't have asked here

Haha~ just advices only.... Caz lots of my friends same condition with u before.... Wanted a camera... But after they bought certain phone with good camera.... Now they are not using the camera anymore... Lol....
So just suggest you, in case u regret later~

Appreciate your advise...but aren't those phones more than my budget ?

Yes. Cheap phones, camera no good. Good phones, cameras can be better than the cheap <RM500 cameras.

For documentation and simple product photos, very cheap point-n-shoots < RM500 will do. Macro, maybe not so good.

The advice to use the phone is if you're going to be taking those photos yourself. If you already have a good smartphone, you already have a good camera. Additional cost: zero RM! If you don't have one, this might be the perfect excuse to buy yourself one, or upgrade your older phone. Approximately RM2-2.5k will get you the latest near-top-of-the line android phone from Samsung, and all those other companies. If you're willing to settle for some a couple of generations back (about 1 year or so since first release date) (but cameras still very good) the price drops to about RM1.5-2k. If you don't buy from the expensive "originals" shop, the price can fall even lower.

If you're going to throw this camera in a drawer in the office, and lots of people will be grabbing it to take photos, then buy a cheap point-n-shoot. Mirrorless at around RM1k would take nicer photos, but isn't absolutely necessary. I'm thinking adjusters / construction-site-photos / etc. For product shoots, depends on how much quality you're aiming for. If your mostly printing 12R glossies, then spend RM1k. If the pictures are mostly for websites and the occassional 4x6cm picture on brochures, then a cheaper camera will do. The more important thing when taking product photos is to use a tripod and proper lighting. That makes a greater difference. Even with a RM2-3k DSLR, the photo will come out crappy if you don't light properly.

u can consider iPhone 5s or maybe u wanna wait for iPhone 6...
apple product price was controlled even old phone or secondhand was very high....

most of the ppl using iPhone can last for more than 3 years...
but if u want latest OS, OS only support 4 generations phones...
so probably u will change it after 3 or 4 years la...

what u can do is u wait for iPhone 6 launch, then 5s price will drop about 15%, so will be cheaper~
but is worth to buy la..

ow samsung~ ok~ HAHA ~ hot topic for now~ samsung s5~ shitty phone

Yes I'm also planing to get a smartphone but that's another story

Thanks for your advise though!

No it won't be in a drawer.

The thing is I'm allocated a budget of RM1K and yea I know not necessary need ngam2 use up all Rm1k.

All valid points you have there, but I'm asking for recommendations and it seems the Sony got quite a number of votes ?

I always aim for the best quality I can produce of course.

Yes exposure and composition is important. Hence I would like to have a camera that have some sort of control over it.

This post has been edited by 5p3ak: Feb 27 2014, 01:05 PM

Ahh the waiting game...it never ends

TBH I have never been involved in the decision making process of getting a smartphone. Some of my friends said just need sign contract? of how does it work.

One man's meat is another man's poison.

getting a smart phone from shop no need contract... unless i get it from telco carrier... then need contract... XD

the key word in your requirements is Events.
if just casual snapshots, then any of the cameras listed can do.
but if you're gonna be doing more low-light shots, then a bigger sensor would be more useful...and amongst those the best choices are either of the olympus...

I see it's due to the bigger sensor size right ?

how about Olympus XZ-1? its a good P&S and popular among lyner.
XZ-2 is the latest but i believe it will over your budget although by not much.

XZ-1 has 1.8 Aperture as well.
Dpreview Oly XZ-1
RM 888 as per seller in LYN. [URL=xz Series
Oly-XZ 1 - digitalfm14

else, mayb you can scout for Sony RX100 (1st version) - new at around rm1.4-rm1.5k iinm, hence you can hunt for 2nd hand unit. another great P&S camera i pass it to my gf and i love it as well.

This post has been edited by sai86: Feb 27 2014, 03:45 PM

Thanks for your recommendations!

Is there a 2nd version of Sony RX100 ?

yeah. RX100-ii (or two). which price is around rm2.2k (the same as rx100 newly launched).
but then, if you do not need what rx100-ii offer, rx100 is good enough if you able to stretch your budget up abit.
Dpreview - Sony RX100

This post has been edited by sai86: Feb 27 2014, 05:26 PM

or buy QX100

I'm sure all these are nice cameras but unfortunately my budget is fixed, as it's not set by me.

Though now I narrow it down to Olympus XZ-1,PEN- Lite EPL3 , Powershot SX 280, Sony DSC WX-300.

You guys seems to say take the one that has a larger sensor ?

What about the sensor types ? CMOS vs CCD ?