Which camera for strolling, walking and wandering in the city?

[Levina de Ruijter]

I have a question for those of you who do this shooting while strolling-walking and wandering in the city. I am not used to shooting street stuff and buildings, doors, windows etc. but I am paying more attention to things around me when I am outdoors now and I just use my iPhone as it's always on me. But it's a 2d gen iPhone SE and the camera is not good. In fact it is bad in that I basically can't zoom in and can't crop as the files just fall apart then.

What would you consider to be a good alternative? Something with really nice IQ but still small, maybe even small enough to fit in a pocket. I've always been a Canon shooter but if other brands have a better alternative, then that would be okay too.

What would you recommend?

 

[Stiga]

I have a question for those of you who do this shooting while strolling-walking and wandering in the city. I am not used to shooting street stuff and buildings, doors, windows etc. but I am paying more attention to things around me when I am outdoors now and I just use my iPhone as it's always on me. But it's a 2d gen iPhone SE and the camera is not good. In fact it is bad in that I basically can't zoom in and can't crop as the files just fall apart then.

What would you consider to be a good alternative? Something with really nice IQ but still small, maybe even small enough to fit in a pocket. I've always been a Canon shooter but if other brands have a better alternative, then that would be okay too.

What would you recommend?

Levina, I don't know about the iCloud, but most 2g networks in the UK are closing this year. Time for a new iPhone with a good camera? Or a refurbished one from a reputable source.

 

[fotoi]

I have a question for those of you who do this shooting while strolling-walking and wandering in the city. I am not used to shooting street stuff and buildings, doors, windows etc. but I am paying more attention to things around me when I am outdoors now and I just use my iPhone as it's always on me. But it's a 2d gen iPhone SE and the camera is not good. In fact it is bad in that I basically can't zoom in and can't crop as the files just fall apart then.

What would you consider to be a good alternative? Something with really nice IQ but still small, maybe even small enough to fit in a pocket. I've always been a Canon shooter but if other brands have a better alternative, then that would be okay too.

What would you recommend?

The iPhone 15 and 16 Pro models have Ultra-wide (13mm full-frame equivalent), Normal (26mm) and Telephoto (70mm for 15 Pro; 100mm for 16 Pro) optical focal length options. And the 17 Pro will be released in September 2025. You'll always have it with you. I have 13 Pro Max and am thinking of upgrading to 17 Pro Max in September.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Levina, I don't know about the iCloud, but most 2g networks in the UK are closing this year. Time for a new iPhone with a good camera? Or a refurbished one from a reputable source.

Thanks, Martin, yes that is definitely also an option. My iPhone does support 4g but the battery is at 84% now and drains pretty fast. Apple however only replaces a battery when it gets to 80% so I have been considering a new iPhone but would prefer another SE and the last gen is from 2022, so I'm waiting.

The iPhone 15 and 16 Pro models have Ultra-wide (13mm full-frame equivalent), Normal (26mm) and Telephoto (70mm for 15 Pro; 100mm for 16 Pro) optical focal length options. And the 17 Pro will be released in September 2025. You'll always have it with you. I have 13 Pro Max and am thinking of upgrading to 17 Pro Max in September.

I hear you, John, but the thing is that these phones are getting terribly expensive and I don't use them in a way that I can justify spending so much on them. I mean all I use my iPhone for is texting and I take it with me when I go out. That's basically it. At home everything is done on the iPad (and the Mac). So that's why I always get the cheapest of iPhones, the SE.

But Martin's suggestion to look for something refurbished could be an option. My only concern would be the battery: will they sell it with a 100% battery or not?

 

[fotoi]

Thanks, Martin, yes that is definitely also an option. My iPhone does support 4g but the battery is at 84% now and drains pretty fast. Apple however only replaces a battery when it gets to 80% so I have been considering a new iPhone but would prefer another SE and the last gen is from 2022, so I'm waiting.


I hear you, John, but the thing is that these phones are getting terribly expensive and I don't use them in a way that I can justify spending so much on them. I mean all I use my iPhone for is texting and I take it with me when I go out. That's basically it. At home everything is done on the iPad (and the Mac). So that's why I always get the cheapest of iPhones, the SE.

But Martin's suggestion to look for something refurbished could be an option. My only concern would be the battery: will they sell it with a 100% battery or not?

Yes, you can purchase a refurbished iPhone with a new battery installed as part of the refurbishment process. I've seen people talk about it on Reddit. Then you get an Apple warranty as well.

 

[inphoto]

I am using a Huawei P30pro and I love it, ultra wide, wide, portrait, 5x, 10x lenses, ultra macro, all these with an acceptable quality.
New versions must be better.

 

[inphoto]

For pocket compacts the Sony RX100 is tops. An old Powershot SX260HS with a 500mm equivalent lens gets me closer.
I'm also using the M system. An M3 or an M50 with the 22mm f2 pancake is coat pocketable and I can use all EF, M42, M39 lenses with adapters.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Yes, you can purchase a refurbished iPhone with a new battery installed as part of the refurbishment process. I've seen people talk about it on Reddit. Then you get an Apple warranty as well.

I looked at the refurbished phone on the Dutch Apple store, but as always there isn't much. In fact a new iPhone 16e is cheaper than their cheapest refurbished. Maybe that's an option: get the 16e. With 128GB it will cost me 719 euro and trading in my SE shaves off 65 euro so I'd pay 654 euro. I could live with that. Although I have no idea what the /e/ stands for. Something like "economise"? If so then maybe it's the new SE? I need to do some homework.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

I am using a Huawei P30pro and I love it, ultra wide, wide, portrait, 5x, 10x lenses, ultra macro, all these with an acceptable quality.
New versions must be better.

I'm not comfortable buying Huawei. But more importantly, I can't do Android. I tried a few years ago with a Motorola and it drove me nuts. Nothing made sense. I returned the phone and got the 2gen SE. I've lived in the Apple universe for too long.

For pocket compacts the Sony RX100 is tops. An old Powershot SX260HS with a 500mm equivalent lens gets me closer.
I'm also using the M system. An M3 or an M50 with the 22mm f2 pancake is coat pocketable and I can use all EF, M42, M39 lenses with adapters.

Canon stopped making Powershots, didn't they? I looked for the current models and there weren't any. I still have my old Powershot from oh, 2008! I still use it but again, bad IQ.

I'll check out the Sony. And the Canon M cameras.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

You know, I think it would be a good idea to remove the off-topic posts from this thread, jump them into a new thread in General Photography Talk, so this one is clean again. I apologise for taking the thread so off-topic.

 

[inphoto]

I use my Huawei mainly as a camera. I have another older Huawei for calls. I think the Chinese Huawei and Xiaomi are way ahead others.

 

[LtDave]

when i was looking for a new camera for my wife, to replace the relatively heavy and (slightly) unbalanced T2i with the 17-55 f2.8, i REALLY WANTED to get her the Powershot G7 mk III but it is no longer available. i liked everything in the specs especially the optical zoom range (24-100 35mm equivalent). i ended up getting her an R50 with the kit lens and the 55-210. NEITHER lens is very fast and they of course have variable aperture but for what my wife needs/wants out of a camera she's happy. she tried it out and hefted it IN HAND at a brick and mortar CAMERA store (not best buy or other electronics type store).

i like the Fuji X-E4 but it appears to be discontinued too. the Powershot is available on the 'bay auction site but at double the cost (i dont think so!) and it looks like the Fuji X-M5 is the replacement for the 'E4. the Fuji's are interchangeable lens cameras so you would need something there. they have great lenses and for your outdoor shots, they seem to emulate the Fuji films of old with strong green and blue saturation.

i kind of wish the ' M5 had been available when we got the Canon because theyre both reasonably priced (i GUESS!) and it looks to be just a LITTLE BIT smaller

 

[Ed Will]

Let me be the contrarian here. You've said that you probably don't want to blow 1,000 on a top of the line iPhone--especially give how you'd use it. I think there are two issues here--the body and the lens. Look at a mirrorless body. If you want something that will fit in a pocket or purse, an OM 4/3rds body would be excellent. You won't be able to make posters from the photos. But for online and 8x10 prints it will be fine. Or, look at the Nikon Zf (which is lighter and thinner than a typical Nikon Z body.)

Next issue is the lens. For street photography and just walking around, look at a 20-75mm lens. That will typically give you a good DoF for candid portraits, you can get good shots of architecture/buildings. While I love my prime lens, for street photography you absolutely need to go with a zoom because sometimes there is a line of traffic or a canal between you and the subject so you can't use your feet to get closer. Sorry, I can't offer any Canon recommendations--I've shot a lot of different bodies but never Canon.

 

[Lyn]

Levina, Canon has a new Powershot, the V1. It has a wide-angle lens, so good for the city I think. I am looking at it for city-trips.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

@Ltdave @Ed Will

Thank you both, Dave and Ed. Yeah, I want something small but it has to have good image quality. I don't care much about other things. I mean it doesn't have to have fast AF and a ton of settings. Just something I can put in a pocket or in a small bag, that's inconspicuous and just takes nice pics.

Personally I like a prime. I did the Where's Nifty? thing on POTN. So you had to shoot your world with a 50mm lens. That was a great exercise and I grew to love that 50mm. I could go wider still, I also like 35mm for street photography. It forces you to get closer to your subjects. I like that because it draws you into a scene.

I also would be fine with a fixed lens camera with a small zoom range.

Levina, Canon has a new Powershot, the V1. It has a wide-angle lens, so good for the city I think. I am looking at it for city-trips.

I was just about to submit the above when you posted this, Lyn. I still have the Powershot SX100 but they did away with that series of Powershots altogether it seems. I didn't see any. I will check out the V1. Thanks very much.