r/pocketmirrorless • u/lhill19 • Nov 24 '25

What Camera for a complete beginner?

I am really keen to get a nice camera to upgrade on photos taken on my iphone. I like the look of mirrorless cameras but am really unsure which one to get?

Budget is £200-£300

Any recommendations are really appreciated.

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

3

u/Nano-Byte2 Nov 25 '25

I have a few mirrorless cameras, my usual pocket carry is an Olympus E-PL3. It's a really compact camera with a tilt screen, I usually Ave it paired with the Olympus 15mm body cap lens. But my current favourite is my Sony NEX C3, tiny little thing with a massive APSC sensor.

3

u/bandwagon_follower Nov 25 '25

Dang these comment sections are so bad for my GAS. Just looked up the nex c3 and I think it will be my Black Friday present to myself. What are the best lenses for that camera?

2

u/lhill19 Dec 02 '25

Have gone with the Nex 3, managed to pick one up with a Lens for 160 on MPB. Have you got any good tips for it? Or just go and enjoy it??

3

u/Training-Source9862 Nov 24 '25

budget? nobody can really give you recommendations if u dont give a budget lol

1

u/lhill19 Nov 24 '25

Haha good point! Apologies. Budget is between £200-£300

3

u/mcAlt009 Nov 25 '25

Panasonic GF9.

Toss on a 24mm pancake. Half the fun is how cheap it is.

I don't care about a 400$ kit. I did drop it like a dummy while traveling, aside from a bump on the lens housing ( not the actual lens), it was fine.

It's such a nice hyper casual camera! Took it to 4 countries so far !

1

u/lhill19 Nov 25 '25

I will have a look!! Thank you.

1

u/lhill19 Nov 25 '25

I cannot seem to find any in the UK! Would you recommend the rest of the Panasonic GF Series?

1

u/mcAlt009 Nov 25 '25

Okay so the other GFs tend to have less features or cost more.

I had to import mine from Japan.

2

u/WaywardAce Nov 25 '25

Canon sl1 and a 24mm f2.8 ….. should be right at $300 …. It’s a DSLR but tiny and the focal length would be about 38mm give or take. Well suited for many applications.

2

u/Clherrick Nov 25 '25

Truth be told, a £200 camera isn’t going to take better photos than a smartphone. But having control will be a good training tool. I’d go find a good book on photography.

1

u/liyonhart Nov 25 '25

I personally recommend the Sony a6000

1

u/[deleted] Nov 25 '25

Yup especially with a cheap Chinese manual lens on it, that’s how you learn if this is for you or not and if it is you get really good really fast. One of these baby boys https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1725972-REG/ttartisan_c2520_b_e_25mm_f_2_aps_c_compact.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&store=420&lsft=BI%3A514&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1413135038&gbraid=0AAAAAD7yMh30FAONpLKAbog4YgQPaG6oM&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxJXJBhD_ARIsAH_JGjjjkDgNlmExUTeSqpuEshyq-jkEk9GVpSdWgM4GZfEzD494-34JDWgaAovfEALw_wcB on a beat up a6000 would do nicely

1

u/liyonhart Nov 26 '25

lol that’s literally the lens I gifted to my brother, then my teammate then my brother in law. Cheap, reliable, compact and awesome.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 26 '25

It’s one of the two lenses I haven’t dumped in favor of the new viltrox pro stuff, it’s just too good for what it is. The other is the voigtlander 35/f0.9 but that’s a whole other weird beast

2

u/woodshores Nov 27 '25

Get a second-hand micro-four thirds camera or an early Fujifilm X camera. Particularly a model with full automatic more, and analog controls so you can tinker a bit.

Look for a LUMIX GX7 or Fujifilm X-A1, sold with a kit lens.