should I look for a specific brand and/or model to replace A720 IS?

I'm new here, I keep reading forums, articles and reviews and I'm lost.

You see, I have a rather old A720 which I love but it's 10+ y.o. and will die soon. I wanted to replace it with another compact but unfortunately many compacts have no manual settings and I need it. Then I tried SLR and it got complicated. So many functions I don't need, so many brands and models not to mention kit lenses which are in some cases so bad that one needs another set of lenses at once (so what to choose part II). Then I tried FZ1000 and its counterparts from other brands - the owner at least doesn't need more lenses and converters and so on. It's huuuuge so I can't keep it in my pocket just like I keep my beloved old compact and there are some problems with quality of some cameras which several users mentioned on this forum. Another not-quite-perfect idea.

At the moment I'm thinking again SLR or mirrorless with optional bridge models but it's so hard to select something. Could you suggest a specific brand or a model?

Mostly photos, video with additional specific functions isn't for me, must have full manual, I don't like scenes so it's not so important, would like optical stabilization if possible, I think some lenses don't have it (but it's possible I'm wrong), I can't afford Leica, for some reasons I don't like devices by Sony in general, not only cameras, can't help it. Something not for professionals, I don't need it, maybe not quite entry-level so I don't need another camera in 6 months. Mostly a model working for short trips outside the city I live in, some landscapes, some animals, once in a while birthdays of relatives (so not extremely bad quality of photos in bad light, but not necessary perfect quality, either), some street photos would be a nice addition, A superzoom isn't necessary. A Canon would work for its menu is sliiightly similar to what I have in my poor old compact and I was looking for a Panasonic as a cousin had a SLR and allowed some photos (in this way I got to check its menu). I understand in some cases transition to another brand isn't possible as menus are so different that learning another system is a nightmare.

A viewfinder is a must so there are some models I've checked that can't work for me as they don't have it.

Any brand/model I should check or avoid? I'm pretty sure I can use my compact this year and maybe in 2020 so I have about 2 years to find another camera, 3 if I'm lucky but I must somehow narrow down models and parameters. It's not possible to check every single model from every single brand.

Also if it's possible I'd love to capture fireworks once in my life. I can't do it, it's completely my fault, I've tried so many times. I suppose it's my own Holy Grail.

I'm female with rather small hands so some large cameras aren't ideal, reaching buttons and so on could be awkward.

Sorry, it looks like a very odd set of requirements and it could be hard to find any model just for me.

Any suggestions? I'm really lost. Thank you for your time.

I'm a former A620 user - you're in for a huuuuge surprise at how much cameras have improved in the meantime.

Have you looked at the buying guides here? https://www.dpreview.com/buying-guides

Everything is going to be a big improvement.

If you'd like to stick to a Canon compact, note that occasionally they have some interesting offers on their refurbished list: https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/cameras/refurbished-powershot-digital-cameras

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Mark

If you think the Panasonic FZ1000 is too big ... sorry "huuuuge" ;-) then don't look at dSLR, bridges or mirrorless (ok, some mirrorless are small), they will not fit in a pocket.

You have to decide on a budget: do you want to spend more than $1,000 (if you live in the US) or much less? This will make a big difference.

You will find "large-sensor" compacts, which have good image quality, in particular in low light, but have limited zoom ranges, and compacts with small sensors, with very large zoom ranges but lower image quality. You won't get both in a compact camera, so you have to decide.

Another poster gave you a link to a buying guide, which you should check. This site also has a Camera Feature Search, which allows more specific searches. Here is a link to a simple search, that lists compact cameras with a viewfinder, and exposure modes other than full auto.

Canon mirrorless EOS M5 or M50 should be a very easy transition for you.

Kelly Cook

FZ1000 is definitely big and I can't keep it in my pocket. ;-)

Sorry, completely my fault, I forgot to mention I'm Polish and some American shops don't do Poland. Germany, France, England - not a problem but in several cases there are very nice messages, for example "we are sorry, we can't ship there".

I will check all the provided links and ask check the refurbished store but it is also possible that they ship to my country but additional shipping costs and taxes put together are rather high and the price is higher that new cameras in average shop here.

I'm grateful for all the useful ideas. Thanks!

Canon OWNED the compact camera market in the early 2000's until the Sony rx100 came along.

The biggest improvement you can get will be in a bigger sensor
your a720 sensor is (5.744 x 4.308 mm)
If you want pocketable, then you have 1" (8.8 x 13.2 mm) as the holy grail.
With micro 4/3 (13 x 17.3 mm) as the next bigger size, ( rarely pocketable )

1' compact are the premium of compacts so they will hav manual controls. Most compacts are made as point and shoots (P&S) and are then made to be no thinking, just press a button, fully automated.

I think the Nikon d5600 is the best camera for you, expect it doesn't fit in a pocket so it is a total fail for you.

Canon M series may be discontinued and become a bargain, but I think you can find a 1" compact you may like.
I LOVE my Fuji x100 for the purpose you are mentioning.
more of a purse ( coat pocket ) it is fully manual, makes lovely jpgs of skin tones, and is amazing at fill flash for bad lighting, plus it looks nice and has the worlds best viewfinder. It has NO zoom, so that might not work for you.

your a720 HAS a fireworks mode, have you tried it, what didn't you like. I LOVE fireworks pics, I failed for a long time ( in the film era ) the biggest lesson I learned was LONGER exposures, 1/2 sec - 3 secs. So try these, from iso 100 f/11 and 1/2 sec, up to iso 100 f/5.6 and 3 secs. from LV 3 to LV 8 is the range I use.

You have three groups of choices
premium very small 1" compacts
kind of big micro 4/3 w a zoom lens
smallest possible apsc like a sony a6400 ( a6000 with a very compact zoom wouldnt be to unruly in size )

basically, I would look for a premium compact with a 1" sensor, before considering the bigger m43 cameras.

to help yourself, look for reviews with titles like BEST COMPACT CAMERA. ( travel cameras are sometimes slightly bigger than pocketable/compact )

this would be a good start
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/buying-guide-best-pocketable-enthusiast-cameras

I would say you are looking for a premium compact with a zoom
( the ideal would be a 1" sensor )

you WILL get a Great fireworks pic with your a720

DJ Photo said:

your a720 HAS a fireworks mode, have you tried it, what didn't you like. I LOVE fireworks pics, I failed for a long time ( in the film era ) the biggest lesson I learned was LONGER exposures, 1/2 sec - 3 secs. So try these, from iso 100 f/11 and 1/2 sec, up to iso 100 f/5.6 and 3 secs. from LV 3 to LV 8 is the range I use.

Click to expand...

DJ Photo said:

you WILL get a Great fireworks pic with your a720

Click to expand...

Actually it's not my camera. It's me. No matter what I do, I can't have my fireworks. It's so bad that several times I used my poor camera - no fireworks and 5 seconds later my dad or my mom used the same camera - and got beautiful photos of fireworks. There wasn't enough time to change settings. This is why I call it my personal Holy Grail and I think it's possible I will never ever have a photo made by me with fireworks. Something blurry which isn't a photo, yes, but it's not what I keep dreaming about. I know it's silly. Or pathetic, depending on one's POV.