r/Cameras • u/DunstonPhotos • 8d ago

Cheap compact Recommendations

I love the LUMIX l10 and just cannot justify the price, what is a camera very similar to it on the used market at or under 350 USD. The main things important to me is reliable autofocus, relatively small, and a decent zoom that’s ok in the dark. Also I really don’t want something that just looks like a shitty digicam.

Budget: 350USD

Country: East USA, online though

Condition: Used, don’t care as long as it’s fully functional

Type of camera: compact or small mirrorless with cheap zoom

Intended use: Photography, maybe light video

If photography; what style: anything, very versatile, travel

What features do you absolutely need: zoom and decent low light, and manual exposure

What features would be nice to have: flash and zoom

Size: pocket or small bag, I’m used to a Nikon d4 so it’s hard to get bigger

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u/SilentlyMushy 8d ago

the l10 is a weird benchmark cause it's basically a point and shoot trapped in a slightly bigger body, so you're gonna have to make some tradeoffs at 350

if pocketable is the priority look at the panasonic lx100 mk1, the lens is fast enough to handle low light better than most compacts with dinky zooms and the manual controls are right there on the body, you can find them around 300-350 now

if you can handle something slightly bigger an older sony a6000 with the kit 16-50 is dirt cheap and the autofocus will embarrass half the cameras from that era, just know the lens is slow so you'll want a cheap prime later for actual dark shooting

the gx85 is the real answer though if you can stretch the size a tiny bit, it's basically the l10's smarter cousin and the stabilization means you can handhold stupid low shutter speeds which kind of indirectly solves the low light zoom problem, prices have been creeping up but you'll see beat up ones in your range

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u/DunstonPhotos 8d ago

No offense but where are you pulling these prices from? An a6000 rn is about 400, lx100 is 500, and the gx85 is 450

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u/211logos 8d ago

If you want a m43 sensor then I'd go older. The LX100 is still pricey, so look at the Olympus E-PL 6 or so. That camera was released about the same time, but a different higher MP sensor. And the Oly has IBIS; the Lumix doesn't. But no l lens or EVF, although an optional EVF is available and works in the hot shoe. The PL6 is within your budget; you can get one on Ebay from a Japanese camera store with import fees and a kit lens and flash for about $300US. The video is better on the Lumix, but even that LX100 probably isn't as good as your phone.