Choosing the Right Camera: A Non-Photographer's Dilemma

Choosing the right camera as a non-photographer seeking to capture beautiful travel moments can be quite the conundrum. You want a camera that delivers high-quality photos without overwhelming complexity, and ideally, one that can handle both photography and filming with ease. If you're not deep into the technicalities of photography, fear not, this guide is tailored just for you.

Here are the cameras I had my eye on:

Sony

Sony alpha a6000 VS Sony alpha 6400

A6000

My friend got the a6000, and during our Cape Town holiday, I was quite impressed by the picture quality it produced. It became the starting point for my camera research.

Price: £650.00 – £750.00 new (in 2024)

MP: 24.3

Pros:

• Good autofocus for its price.

• High image quality.

• Tilting display (great for solo travelers).

• WiFi with NFC.

Cons:

• No touchscreen.

• No silent shutter option.

• Basic WiFi remote control and no GPS tagging.

Ultimately, the relatively older release date (2014) and the availability of newer models for a similar price steered me away from this option, leading me to explore the A6400.

A6400

Price: £700.00 - £800.00 new (in 2024)

MP: 24.2

My main question about this camera was, what sets it apart from the A6000?

The A6400 offers video recording in 4k resolution, a higher-resolution EVF, a newer sensor with better high-ISO performance, an improved autofocus system, and a weather-sealed body.

Here is also an article with some more technical details. It also lists the even newer models like the A6700 (which starts at £1.200) 

Conclusion:

Although I didn't make a purchase, the A6400 stood out to me due to its superior video and autofocus quality, all at a price point similar to its older counterpart.

And to the even newer models. They seemed to offer more than what I needed as a non-photographer, especially considering their higher prices.

Fujifilm

Fujifilm Fujifilm XT- 30 VS XS-10, XS20

I then sought advice from photographers who recommended exploring Fujifilm cameras, prompting me to delve into this brand's offerings.

Recommended for the XT series, I initially considered the XT-20 but found it somewhat outdated and challenging to find new. This led me to thoroughly research the XT-30, XS-10, and XS-20, which I personally favored.

XT-30

Price: £1,000 - £1,200

MP: 26.1

Pros:

• 4k video recording.

• High image quality.

• Powerful autofocus.

Cons:

• No in-body stabilization.

• Less grip.

• Screen can't be turned around completely.

• Not weatherproof.

While I appreciated its ease of use compared to Sony, the XT-30's price and lack of certain features, such as a fully articulated screen and body stabilization, made it less appealing to me.

XS-10

Price: £950.00 – £1,000.00 new (in 2024)

MP: 26.1

Pros:

• In-body stabilization.

• Fully articulated screen.

• High image quality.

• 4k video quality.

Cons:

• Different design from other Fujifilm cameras.

• No weather sealing.

• Weaker battery life.

• Limited max shutter speed.

• Not the best at tracking subjects.

The XS-10, with its blend of features including in-body stabilization and fully articulated screen, won me over. Its modern design and suitability for vlogging made it an attractive choice, despite some drawbacks.

XS-20

Price: starts at £1,200.00

MP: 26.1

Main difference:

Both cameras offer comparable image quality and in-body stabilization. However, the XS-20 boasts a new processor, improved autofocus, a bigger battery, and enhanced video capabilities.

Its vlogging mode could be a game-changer for YouTube content creators.

End Conclusion

After careful consideration, I opted for the Fujifilm XS-10 due to its balance of features and affordability. I also prefered the look of the camera over the Sony cameras and heard that Fujifilm has quite a good color quality but all in all none of those cameras are a bad choice in my opinion. It just comes down to what you need.

I'm excited to put it to the test and will share my experiences in a future post.

If you've used any of these cameras, feel free to share your thoughts below!