Please suggest me a camera for my father

Yannis1976 wrote:

After reviewing all the available offers, I am starting to leaning towards these:

ILC:

1) Olympus EPL-6 with dual lens kit (14-42, 40-150)...469E

2) Olympus EPL-7 with 14-42 EZ....478E

3) Olympus M10 with 14-42...549E

4) Panasonic G5 with 14-42....370E

5) Panasonic G6 with 14-42....469E

6) Panasonic G6 with dual lens kit (14-42, 40-150)...622E*

Fixed lens:

1) Olympus Stylus 1s....495E

2) Panasonic FZ300....610E*

3) Panasonic TZ71....382E**

4) Sony HX90V...429E**

*cost will probably be prohibitive

**low light photos will not be good?

Now regarding the ILC, should I opt for the lenses or the body? If lenses are more important then EPL6 or G5 might be good enough. Regarding the fixed lens, I think the Stylus 1S is the best compromise due to sensor and 2.8 lens.

If you have a look at my gear list, I have a one of several types of cameras. If I was forced to choose one out of them all, it would be the G6 with 14/140 lens, because it is light, covers most focal length needs, works well in low light [relatively] and isn't too big while being very well specified. The two lens kit is probably cheaper but less convenient.

I have an E-M10 too, which was supplied with the 14/42 electronic zoom lens [which is currently fitted to one of my G6's] It depends on how much 'complication' your father is happy with, but while both G6 and E-M10 have their share of complications, the G6 is, on balance, more user-friendly. I like both camera but would keep the G6 if forced to choose.

However, it is not pocketable. I carry it [the G6] in several different ways. Usually I find it very comfortable to carry by my fingertips with a wrist strap for security. Sometimes this isn't convenient, so it goes into a compact holster-type bag with a strap that allows it to be carried by my side or on my back. Sometimes I use a sling, but when walking a lot it requires a hand on the camera to stop it bouncing, so apart from freeing the hand for other things, like shaking hands, the sling strap is not much of an advantage over the wrist strap.

If a pocketable camera is wanted, and one should never underestimate the advantage of a pocketable camera, then one has to compromise somewhat in low light. I like my Fuji X20 very much as a compromise and, from your list, the Olympus Stylus1 would be roughly similar but with a better zoom I think. Neither are quite pocketable, only very nearly so.

For a true pocketable, there is the Sony RX100 Mk 2 that is excellent and probably within budget. Or more compromised in low light you have the ones you've marked with ** which are great travel-zooms. Whether he needs that amount of zoom is unknown and it can be quite useful, but low light performance will not be too much better than a camera phone.