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I took my venerable Canon 60D (SLR) to Australia last summer and it suffered some sort of failure. No harm, no foul, it was very well used and abused and it's time to retire it.
So I'm looking for something to replace it. I have a fairly decent phone camera (Pixel 10a), but I'd like to have something better for (mainly) stills and (possibly) videos when and if the kids use it. My kids are heavily into swimming and I'm tempted to have a go at snapping some of that, although having looked at what sort of lens speed is needed, I'm not entirely sure I can afford it!
I prefer viewfinders.
I don't feel tied in to an ecosystem as I'd sell all my lenses as well.
Some decent deals around on Lumix S5D are tempting, also Canon 2000D, but these are just because they are deals rather than any more logical reason.
Will go to £1k for camera and a lens. Once I get going again, I would look to upgrade lens.
Basically - there's tons of options and it's been 15 years since I last bought a camera.
Any pointers gratefully received - even if it's "go to a camera shop and try one out". 😀
Go to a camera store and try them out 😁 seriously, do. Even if it’s just to handle them.
I changed from a canon 550D that I typically used a lovely Canon 50mm f1.4 lens with.
After lots of looking around I plumped for a Sony ILCE-6400. The kit lens is OK but I got a Sigma 30mm f1.4 for it. bulkier with the sigma but a neater package than the Canon with the Sony being mirrorless and all.
I considered at least one LUMIX and the other contender was the Fuji X something or other. The Sony just seemed right to me.
One route to consider would be used. Before getting the Sony I capriciously got a Canon M100. Wonderfully compact. I found it was no good to me without a viewfinder. I sold that without too much loss after a few weeks and did more looking and playing before buying again.
enjoy the choosing.
edit. If you go mirrorless get a spare battery or two. I was surprised at how quickly the battery ran out compared with my DSLR.
I'd also say go and handle a few in a store, especially mirror-less where the EVF is massively important, see how they feel in hand, do the controls fell well placed for you then research the lenses for that system. Talking of which do not ignore the crop sensor systems, some have some big advantages when it comes to lens size, weight, cost and selection. My go to walk around digital is a OM-Systems OM-5ii I have to either have a reason or be in the mood to lug my Sony full-frame around rather than that.
Bias alert
I've got a Pentax k5. Pentax cameras can use all their old lenses, so I thought it gets loads of fancy lenses that would be prohibitively expensive. I did, but I preferred modern lenses with auto focus which were still pricey.
What I actually use now is a go pro. It's software can take a snap with exposure and colouring that would take me 10 min to replicate on my laptop.
My wife was a semi pro wedding photographer when I met her and used cannons. Give her any camera and me a 1,000,000 time better one and she will get a better photo. Have us stood side by side and she will get a better photo.
I hate using her cannons as the controls are mildly different, which was the difference between getting and not getting a lovely shot.
So I'd suggest
-the most up-to-date version of your cannon.
-Software and processing, similar controls to what you have already learned. Just get a few lenses
-Spend some of your budget on a course/ tuition
a used canon 80d off ebay for £350? would be good for videos too.
Mirrorless for a few more stops and better autofocus,if you need that, but thats more money
Lots of different options already! I love this place 🥰
I've had a look at what's been suggested - built in flash is needed, and my right eye is dominant so central viewfinder is going to be better 'eye' think...
So, it looks like I need to go shopping in a physical shop!