13
Suggestions for budget small multi-purpose camera
(piefed.zip)
For questions about component-level electronic circuits, tools and equipment.
1: Be nice.
2: Be on-topic (eg: Electronic, not electrical).
3: No commercial stuff, buying, selling or valuations.
4: Be safe.
Also, if you’re trying to beat a smartphone optically, modern mirrorless cameras are good. And not embarrassing to hold. This is my little R50V next to an older body:
And I am not a vlogger. It’s my travel/family cam.
Though TBH I’d recommend a used Panasonic Lumix S9 instead. That will utterly blow a smartphone out of the water.
…But it’s not cheap. A used S9 with a 18-40mm lens is $1000, and that’s a steal in the photography world. The R50V with a kit lens is like $700 new, and that’s as cheap as these video-centric cameras get.
Those aren't exactly small and discreet, and like you said, they're way above my budget.