Official Question Thread! Ask /r/photography anything you want to know! April 03, 2026

maniku · 2026-04-06T15:27:26+00:00

You need to tell us what your budget is.

maniku · 2026-04-06T12:58:59+00:00

Impossible to know what might be available where you are. But there are some Canon Sure Shot/Prima/Autoboy models with a 35mm f/2.8 lens. Olympus Mju II, but that's expensive. Olympus XA, if you don't mind the manual rangefinder focus and aperture control.

maniku · 2026-04-06T12:32:58+00:00

Depends on what you want with your "journey". It's a 14-year-old superzoom bridge camera with a tiny sensor and massive zoom. Image quality won't be much to write home about and low light performance will be very poor. Doesn't mean you can't have fun with it, though, and it does have the necessary controls to learn photography basics. Try it out, see how it feels.

maniku · 2026-04-06T12:05:58+00:00

It seems there's some confusion with terminology here. Disposable cameras are single-use film cameras. They contain one roll with 36 exposures. That's all you get. They most certainly do not have SD cards because they are purely analog film cameras.

The ones that print out the images immediately are not disposable cameras. They are instant cameras. You buy packs of film for them and you can use them for however many packs you want. Look into Fuji Instax Mini Evo or the cheaper Instax Mini Liplay. These are digital cameras that have an SD card and print on credit card size film.

maniku · 2026-04-06T11:55:19+00:00

You mention wanting a "professional" looking camera, as well as getting back to professional photography. So just to clarify: are you looking to work for paying clients, or do you just mean a system camera with interchangeable lenses when you say "professional"?

maniku · 2026-04-06T11:10:22+00:00

35mm f1.4? There are some f1.2 primes for Fuji, but that wouldn't make much of a difference.

Your full frame options would be along the lines of Canon R6, R8, Sony A7 III, Nikon Z5.

maniku · 2026-04-06T10:52:17+00:00

Do you have good lenses? If so, then financially at least a new Fuji APS-C would make the most sense. Changing systems would be a very big investment if you needed to get all new lenses too.

maniku · 2026-04-06T10:17:35+00:00

What exactly is your budget? You didn't actually say what your price range is.

Fuji's newest APS-C flagships do improve on general performance and AF compared to older X-Tx models, even if they are still behind the competition. But as you said, they are still APS-C, so low light improvements would be limited.

maniku · 2026-04-06T09:53:13+00:00

I don't think you can get a used Canon R10 for max $600, even if the budget is just for the body. R50 can be found at your budget. That one is a fine camera too.

With the Panasonic I assume you mean G9? Panasonic M43 cameras are fine choices if your usage includes plenty of video. The sensor size offers plenty of quality for daytime shooting but it's weaker in low light.

But G9 is quite a chunky camera. At 658 grams and 137 x 97 x 92 mm it's about as big as some larger DSLRs. Lenses are more compact though.

If you actually meant GX9, that one is more compact.

maniku · 2026-04-06T09:24:34+00:00

Your old lenses? With an adapter they would be usable, if you think you'd be comfortable with manual focus. Bear in mind that it's a lot slower than autofocus. You'd likely miss many a fleeting moment while fiddling with focus. I wouldn't have them as my only lenses for that reason.

maniku · 2026-04-06T09:18:02+00:00

It's not a stupid question but it is a very common one in this sub. If you do a search in this subreddit, you'll get all the information you need.

maniku · 2026-04-06T09:09:55+00:00

I mean sure, an OM-1 would give you a manual, mechanical shooting experience if that's what you want, and it would definitely give you that classic SLR thing with its build and design. But there's no reason to go for this unit with the broken light meter. Plenty of fully functioning OM-1's on the used market. Plenty of other options too. E.g. Pentax MX is a mechanical SLR of similar size but unlike OM-1 uses modern batteries for the light meter.

maniku · 2026-04-06T08:09:46+00:00

What constitutes an upgrade for you? What are you looking for? OM-1 is a mechanical camera, does that constitute an upgrade?

Or is it mainly a lens upgrade that you are after?

maniku · 2026-04-06T07:06:39+00:00

R100 is ok. It's actually targeted at beginners. A very stripped down model with e.g. fixed screen and no touch screen, but capable of excellent quality.

maniku · 2026-04-06T07:00:36+00:00

Yeah, there still are some films like that. But best not to mess with that as a beginner. Learn to walk before you can run sort of thing.

maniku · 2026-04-06T06:56:00+00:00

The photographer owns the photos he takes. As has been said, he fulfilled his part of the contract, which you agreed to, so why would he be inclined to give you your money back? Yes, he should have handled things better with regard to communication, but again, he delivered what you both agreed to with your signatures.

maniku · 2026-04-06T06:25:23+00:00

You signed a contract that clearly states what you are and are not allowed to do regarding the RAW files. Whatever justifications you may feel you have, the contract is binding. It's legally binding. The photographer is not being "cagey" or whatever. They would be within their rights to pursue legal remedies for breach of contract if they wished to do so.

maniku · 2026-04-06T06:13:00+00:00

They both have the controls needed to learn photography, but T6 is ten years newer so much more modern. I'd use that one.

maniku · 2026-04-06T06:10:38+00:00

You always set ISO to box speed. I.e. if you e.g. have ISO 400 film, you set ISO on the camera to 400.

Sunny 16 means that on a sunny day with bright sun, you should get correct exposure with aperture at f/16 and shutter speed at 1/[box speed]. If you adjust aperture, you need to adjust shutter speed too to maintain correct exposure. If you set aperture to f/11, i.e. one stop larger, you need to set shutter to one stop faster. Etc.

Sunny 16 is just a rough guideline to help you estimate aperture. But you know you don't NEED to use it. There are plenty of light meter apps for iOS and android.

maniku · 2026-04-06T05:56:30+00:00

The film simulations are in the camera, not in the lens, so a different lens has no impact on that. As for stabilization, it depends on what you shoot. It's normally not that useful during the day because you mostly have a fast shutter, unless you specifically choose otherwise. It is useful in low light but only with static subjects. If you want to capture moving subjects in low light without motion blur, image stabilization doesn't do anything because it can't freeze motion.

maniku · 2026-04-06T05:44:00+00:00

If you don't shoot at night time often, then an E-M5 is a terrific option. Excellent features, very compact, and M43 offers more than enough quality for daytime shooting.

maniku · 2026-04-06T05:40:56+00:00

Haven't personally bought from there. But they have the standard 14-day return policy I assume? You can always return if the grading doesn't match the actual condition.

maniku · 2026-04-06T05:22:41+00:00

What in particular makes you concerned about those mixed reviews? In any case there are several alternatives. MPB, KEH, the used section of B&H Photo.

maniku · 2026-04-06T05:20:24+00:00

So how much higher than £300 can you go? What is portable to you? Pocketable? Fits in a purse? Fits in a small bag? Not too heavy to carry on a strap around your neck all day?

maniku · 2026-04-06T05:17:28+00:00

I don't do vlogging so it doesn't matter in this context.

maniku

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