(Part 2) Best products from r/Cameras

There are a couple of differences. The Sony A5000 is a mirrorless camera whereas the Canon 100D is a DSLR. Therefore the Canon 100D will have a larger form factor. Here's a nice resource for comparison.

In terms of differences between a mirrorless and DSLR, without getting technical, the main one is that generally you are paying a premium for a smaller form factor. DSLRs are generally more rugged, do the same job as a mirrorless, but they are larger and so are their lenses.

Also, the 100D is actually slightly smaller than other DSLRs. A 1200D is slightly larger, has the same features, and is slightly newer (2014 vs 2013) and also a bit cheaper as it's larger. My recommendation for you at your budget of ~$450 is to go the used/refurb route.

For the camera I'd get the Canon 1200D - about $250 used, you can probably find it cheaper in the Black Friday sales. For the lens I might go for something general purpose like the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8. The reason for choosing the Tamron is that it is a zoom lense - covers multiple focal lengths. At the wide end, it's the equivalent of 27mm or 66° horizontal viewing angle. This is pretty standard for the wide end of a zoom lense and will be ok for taking landscapes. If you want a better wide angle lense, consider the 10-18mm Canon f4.5 lense. This lense is slower a f4.5 (i.e. has a smaller aperture - lets in less light), however it has a horizontal viewing angle of 95° - a lot better than 66° before. Take into consideration though that while the Tamorn won't be as wide angled, it will be capable of letting in more light (better at taking the northern lights/night time photography), and will be better at taking portrait photos (you want a larger aperture to get a better blurred background.) Ideally you would get a combination of lenses - such as the Canon 10-18mm and a dedicated portrait lense for awesome background blurs - however this would fall out of your budget. Good luck on finding a camera!

The problem with that bundle you've linked to is that there' a lot of junk included. The 'lenses' it comes with are actually more like filters you screw onto the front of the 18-55mm lens that the camera comes with. These kinds of add-ons don't provide good quality at all. And the flash and tripod are also not worth speaking of...

Here's an equivalent bundle for the D3300:
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-D3300-Professional-Accessory-International/dp/B018UO6KVU/ref=sr_1_6

So all that stuff for $75 on top of the D3300 and 18-55mm lens might not be the worst deal in the world (you need memory cards and a bag obviously) but I'd just skip it myself.

> I'm shopping around for a wide angle that won't force me to sell my first born

Firstly, the 18-55mm 'kit' lens goes pretty wide and is quite flexible for your family snaps too: http://lovethatshot.com/my-kit-lens-why-i-love-it/

Landscapes don't have to be shot with 'ultrawide' lenses but you will need to spend a bit of cash to get such a lens if you want one. This is why I say just get your technique sorted out with the kit lens before spending more. A lot of people also 'stitch' images together (in Photoshop) to recreate a wide-angle effect.

An advantage of Canon is that they offer a great value ultrawide lens for under $300: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-EF-S-10-18mm-4-5-5-6-Lens/dp/B00K899B9Y/ref=sr_1_1 - you could put than on a T6i/T5i/T4i/T3i etc. and that'd be pretty cool.

But the Nikon does have a superior sensor overall, and the best value ultrawide would be something like this from Sigma: http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-10-20mm-3-5-EX-Nikon/dp/B002D2VSD6/ref=sr_1_3 - so that's about $850 for the camera and two lenses

> In it originally was Duracell. I put cheap Dollar General batteries in it. But they were brand new.

That's the problem. Those are probably zinc carbon cells, and they have both less capacity and less current capability. Cameras draw a lot of current, so the old zinc carbon cells might not be able to power them.

I think it's a safe guess you don't have rechargeable batteries yet. I recommend you get these ones:

• New battery day! 24 AA Eneloop NiMH batteries in 16 and 8 cell packs. : r/AAMasterRace
  
  Get this package first to get the highest quality charger on the market:
  
  
• AmazonSmile: Panasonic K-KJ17MCA4BA Advanced Individual Cell Battery Charger Pack with 4 AA eneloop 2100 Cycle Rechargeable Batteries: PANASONIC: Electronics
  
  You need that charger to get the full life out of Eneloops. If you take care of them, Eneloops will last at least a decade, maybe longer.
  
  Another good option are AA Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries, which are not rechargeable, but they're lightweight, and they last longer than any other battery on the market, by far:
  
  
• AmazonSmile: Energizer AA Lithium Batteries, World's Longest Lasting Double A Battery, Ultimate Lithium (12 Count): Health & Personal Care
  
  The Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries work especially well for cameras, flashes, and other photography equipment. You probably don't need them if you're getting rechargeable batteries (and you should), but it's good to know about them.
  
  As for Duracell, well, don't put those in your camera:
  
  
• Why I'll Never Skimp On AA Batteries Again : r/AAMasterRace
  
  Energizers are the only alkaline batteries guaranteed not to leak for 2 years after they're depleted. But don't buy those either. The rechargeable Eneloop batteries and the Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries will never leak, so you don't have to worry about it.
  
  If the Eneloops are too expensive for you, these are decent rechargeables, but you will need to buy them 5 times to match the longevity of Eneloop, so they will cost more in the long run even though they're cheaper up front:
  
  
• IKEA LADDA AA NiMH 2450 mAh rechargeable battery 4 pack
  
  I hope all that helps.

The 35mm will allow a lot more light to reach the sensor and will allow you to control what areas of the image are in or out of focus to a greater degree (shallow or deep depth of field). It will also probably be sharper, but you'll be giving up the ability to zoom. Personally I would recommend starting with a kit zoom (e.g., the 18-55mm) if you really don't know what you want because you'll probably end up paying very little for it as part of the kit and you might feel quite limited only having 35mm to play with.

Compare the prices here for example: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JQQPRGG/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687442&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B007VGGFZU&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0BXJV7NQY74SR783980W

In my opinion it's well worth the extra $30 just to have the option.


That said, I would absolutely encourage you to consider also getting a fast prime like the 35mm f/1.8 if you can afford it. Not only is it better for the aforementioned reasons, it also might force you to think more creatively because of the inability to zoom.


As for the camera itself, I have a few pieces of advice:

1. Don't forget that mirrorless cameras are just as viable of an option as DSLRs (especially if you care more about portability than fast autofocus).
   
   
2. Always consider the lenses you might eventually want when you buy into a new system.
   
   
3. Don't feel like you need to buy the most recent model and don't be afraid to buy used or refurbished. The differences between the yearly iterations of entry/mid-level cameras are often negligible.
   
   
4. For DSLRs, look at Nikon, Canon, and Pentax.
   For mirrorless, look at Olympus, Sony, Fuji, and Panasonic.
   Canon and Nikon may be the most well known names in cameras, but their mirrorless options are pretty sub-par.

I honestly don't think new lenses are going to solve your problem. I'd be willing to bet money that the "lack of quality" you find in your images stems from a lack of technical knowledge or experience on your part, and you want to compensate for that thing you are lacking by spending money. This is a pitfall that many photographers fall into, including myself. When I am in a slump and wonder if I should buy new gear, I go to flickr first and do a search for my camera body and the lens I'm using and see what results other people are getting. Here's what those results give for your camera/zoom lens: https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=canon%20t2i%2055-250

Look at them, compare them with your own pictures and then ponder about whether you need new lenses or not. If you still think you do, I think that you would be better off having a set of lenses that is flexible for most situations rather than just buying one very expensive lens. Here is what I recommend:


Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM ($449)

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM ($449)

If you think you will need to take portraits, then the obvious lens to balance out your kit is a telephoto lens and by far the best budget/performance one is the one you mentioned, the nifty fifty:

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens ($110)

All of those added up are within your budget.

The 10-20 becomes your normal walk-around lens. If you are a wedding or some social event, it has a decent amount of range to quickly zoom in and out and since the focal length remains the same you don't need to adjust your camera settings while you do so because of its fixed aperture, which is something your current zooms don't have.

The 30mm which is a bit tighter (it renders somewhere around a 45mm perspective on an APS-C sensor camera) will be great for pictures where you want to isolate backgrounds but flexible enough to be used on other subjects. Although the Sigma zoom is more flexible, this is the lens that should live in your camera as having a fixed focal length is a great exercise for photographers to learn more about composition and dealing with limitations.

And finally, the nifty fifty will be your go-to portrait lens. If I was making a professional kit of lenses with your budget these are the lenses I'd go for. I'd also strongly recommend at some point getting some light equipment if you don't have so already. Start off with a flash and some way to trigger it remotely, via IR, or cable, and work up from there.

Edit: On another note, here's another reason why I don't recommend the 35mm f1.4 Canon L lens on the camera you have: http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Canon/Canon-EF-35mm-F14L-USM-mounted-on-Canon-EOS-550D__645 - That's how that lens performs on your camera body, has a score of 21



http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Sigma/Sigma-30mm-F14-DC-HSM-A-Canon-mounted-on-Canon-EOS-550D__645 - The sigma has a DXO score of 20.

You'd be spending almost your entire budget for a marginal performance improvement.

If you buy a much better camera, the Canon will easily start outperforming the Sigma, but until then its performance would be bottlenecked by your camera body.

Some you might want to look into. All are probably available for less if you shop around, especially the superceded advanced compacts.

1. Advanced Compacts

Both of these offer a reasonable amount of zoom and puts out images that gets fairly close to a DSLR, but are more portable - and in the case of the Sony, actually pocketable. Both of these are last year's model since the current machines go for around $800.

Smallest, not DSLR quality but very good, near-miraculous for the size: Sony RX100 Mark II

Quite big actually but definitely smaller than a DSLR, DSLR-like handling characteristics and pretty close image quality: Canon G1X


2. Compact interchangeable lens

Offers DSLR-class image quality in a much more compact package, but with the loss of optical viewfinder and easy manual controllability. The Sony has a DSLR sensor so offers better image quality, but is a larger package all around. The Panasonic delivers slightly inferior images but with much better portability, since the lenses are a lot smaller as well - not just the body. Micro 4/3rds also has a very healthy lens ecosystem. The Sony, adequate.

Small: Sony A5000

Smaller: Panasonic DMC-GF6


3. DSLR / DSLR-class

You'd be looking at a DSLR for full manual control over the camera, and to this end because they have more physical controls, bigger batteries and are designed to mount bigger lenses etc - they are bigger. It may not be what you want slung around your neck all the time, but these are probably the best class of cameras to learn 'serious' photography on due to the accessibility of the controls.

The Olympus is actually more of an overgrown compact interchangeable-lens given advanced features & controls - think of it as a mini-DSLR. The T5i is a pretty standard low-intermediate DSLR with all the features you'd normally expect a DSLR to have.

Regular: Canon Rebel T5i

Small: Olympus E-M10

If you never intend to buy / change lenses out quite a lot, categories 2 & 3 will probably be a waste of time.

Its not cheap but the sweet spot for DSLRs is CANONS new 7D MK 2 it has a crazy fast buffer that allows practically unlimited jpegs to be shot continuosly at 10frame per second, and has one of the best auto focus systems of any camera below or even in higher price points. It also is the best for shooting HD Sports video thanks to the auto focus system. Canon 7D Mark II Real World Review: http://youtu.be/UX6gK0bkq3g. <br> http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Mark-Digital-Camera-Body/dp/B00NEWZDRG#mobile-twister_style_name_1421539408074

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If your on a budget either get the Canon S110 $180 on amazon and is the best for the price (launched at 450$ and is as good as the newer S120 that sells for 379. A middle ground would be the Nikon D5300 and also as someone else recommended tbr GOPRO
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AXTQR5U/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1421539656&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX200_QL40

When I was in the market for my first "nice" camera without breaking the bank six months ago, the consensus seemed to be that the Sony NEX-3N is the best value in the under-$500 range. Having owned that camera since then, I can say it was worth every penny. With an APS-C sensor (same size as the pricier entry-level dSLRs) and a decent kit lens, I think camera takes pretty respectable pictures (here's one of my favorites, with a bit of RAW editing) and offers as much manual control as you want.

The low price comes at the expense of a few features found on more expensive cameras, perhaps most notably a viewfinder and hot shoe, though this has never really bothered me. I can tell that I'm going to enjoy these sorts of features when I'm willing to spend more on a camera, but in the meantime, I'm satisfied with the control and image quality I have now.

I know Sony has been revamping/replacing the NEX line recently—Amazon reports that the NEX-3N has been upgraded to the a5000, which offers a few more features for a bit more money—so it'd certainly worth doing some research to find the version that fits your budget and your needs. At any rate, I think the Sony mirrorless cameras fit the bill quite well in this price range.

Mirrorless cameras aren't as much my expertise than DSLRs are but from reading reviews and opinions of my friends and colleagues I would have a look at the Olympus E-PL5. For the shallow DoF you might want to combine this camera with a fast prime lens such as the 45mm f1.7 or 20mm f1.7 or 17mm f1.8 either of these in combination with the camera should be in your price range. If you are comfortable buying something second hand you might be able to save a few bills for SD cards and the like.

I second the above comments, and throw out there that a superzoom all in one kinda thing is a good option if you not sure. Something like a canon powershot SX60 HS, or equivalent Nikon/Sony/Panasonic.
I will say i didn't feel connected to the process of taking a photo, or at least like i had any control outside of "Composing" the photo, until I got a "system camera" (one with swappable lenses and things), like a DLSR or Mirrorless Camera. Maybe trying to grab a used Canon or Nikon DSLR on ebay with a lens or two would be a good start? I've seen some great deals on ebay and craigslist on entry level dslr's with a kit (normal included) lens and a telephoto lens for <$500.
For learning about the basics of photo outside point and shoot, like exposure and what all the buttons do i recommend read into something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photography-Complete-Course-Everything/dp/1465436073/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=photographs+in+weeks&qid=1555424583&s=gateway&sr=8-1
I really liked this book and found it very helpful.

In that case, you have a few options you could play with. As 2013orBust mentioned, you could conceivably purchase the Blackmagic Cinema Camera (2.5k RAW). You could also pick up a 5dMkII, a Panasonic GH3, or even a Sony a99. However, I would highly recommend investing in a mid-priced DSLR (maybe a 6D, 7D, GH3, something along those lines) and save up the rest for some good primes.

As for audio equipment, the Rhode VideoMic Pro shotgun mic can be attached in the hot shoe and works well. You could also invest in a Zoom H4N, or Tascam DR-100mkII, or Tascam DR-40 (those are just some of the more popular, but there are some other options; my personal favorite is the DR-100mkII).

Head over here and look through the comments to see some awesome recommendations about some other gear you could potentially invest in at different price levels.

EDIT: Mistakenly thought the Blackmagic could only record RAW at 2k, changed that to 2.5k.

Sorry for the late reply! u/jaytm21, u/socalchris, and u/OlmecsTempleGuard

I have taken a look into used tripods, however Crarigslist isn't really active around my location and Gumtree doesn't list many or the sellers are not willing to post the tripods.

u/OlmecsTempleGuard I have looked into getting a Magnus VT-4000, as per your suggestion, however I cannot find any sellers in the UK.

​

That said I have looked online and found a few tripods which look to be decent. But as I've never owned a tripod before, I am not sure as to which locking mechanism is best, twist-locks or the latches, nor which of the following tripods would be better. It would be much appreciated if any input could be shared as to which of the tripods would be best?

The tripods which I have found are:

• https://www.vanguardworld.co.uk/photo_video_gb/alta-pro-263ab-100.html
  
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Concept-Professional-Portable-Aluminum-Camcorders/dp/B072TSC4ZN
  
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Concept-Professional-Exchangeable-Transverse-Camcorder/dp/B07GLQ3Y8B/

Good lord, I was just talking about this today and how people blow ridiculous amounts of money buying overkill cards to shoot really basic video. Photo is a bit different because of buffer rates on burst shooting, but you could still probably do with waiting a few seconds to write if you're not a pro sports photographer.

Bitrate is a calculation: 100 mbps is the max bitrate of the A7 series video which = 12.5 MB/s. That's not that demanding, so you can easily use a 30 MB/S (V30) write speed SD card for shooting video on an A7 of any sort. I personally use128gb Samsung Evo Plus cards on the A7iii, GH5, GH5S, GoPro Hero 5 and 7 and Phantom 4 pro with no issues after years of use and probably 20-30 terabytes of shooting. Buying a more expensive card than you need isn't a guarantee of quality or of value, it's just a guarantee that you spent more than you could have.

$19.49 on amazon for a 128gb. If video is your aim you won't be disappointed.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XWZWYVP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

> 1 zoom that covers from ~40/50 to 180 ish

I assume you're referring to a telephoto lens here? The impact of focal length on field of view will differ depending on your format, so 40-180mm on the Olympus = 53-240mm on the Fuji = 80-360mm on a full frame camera.

So assuming that you're looking to keep a budget, and want to keep things small and light, my picks would look like this:

Olympus: Budget Kit

• Olympus E-M10II with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 & 40-150mm f/4-5.6: $699
  
• Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 Pancake: $299
  
• Total: $1,000
  
  Olympus: Super Small Kit
  
  
• Olympus E-M10II with 14-42mm EZ: $699
  
• Panasonic 35-100mm f/4-5.6: $399
  
• Panasonic 14mm f/2.5 Pancake: $299
  
• Total: $1,400
  
  Fuji: Option 1
  
  
• Fuji X-T20 with 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6: $999
  
• Fuji 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7: $399
  
• Fuji 23mm f/2: $449
  
• Total: $1,850
  
  Fuji: Option 2
  
  
• Fuji X-T20 with 18-55mm f/2.8-4: $1,199
  
• Fuji 50-230mm f/4.5-6.7: $399
  
• No wide-angle prime; the 18-55mm kit lens might be fast enough at its wide end to suffice.
  
• Total: $1,600
  
  Considering the lenses into the equation, the Olympus is definitely more budget friendly, and offers the potential for a smaller kit. On the other hand, the Fuji 18-55mm f/2.8-4 kit lens is tempting if you don't like the idea of switching between primes and zooms.
  
  edit: multiple edits for formatting

I would defiantly recommend the canon t6, its a great price shoots amazing photos and videos and also is very easy to use. -
https://www.amazon.com/Canon-T6-Digital-Telephoto-Accessory/dp/B01D93Z89W/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1504739577&sr=1-3&keywords=canon+eos+rebel+t6

A 50mm lens is a good choice, but on a crop-sensor body like your t6i it will not be the same as a 50mm lens on a full-frame camera - the angle of view on a crop sensor will be too tight for many situations. I would suggest a lens in the 35mm range, which on your camera will be roughly equivalent to a 50mm on a full-frame camera.

Or, a quality zoom such as the Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 which is designed for crop-sensor cameras. It will have roughly the same focal length range as your 18-55 but will be a significant improvement in image quality. This lens can easily be found used for $150 or less.

Canon’s model numbers go in reverse of what one might expect, at least with the EOS lines and I assume with the Rebel lines too. So the 5 is a higher model than the 6. If you’re asking why they do this, I don’t know.

If you’re asking what the difference between the two is, google “Compare Canon Rebel 5 and Rebel 6” and you’ll probably find a selection of charts that are more concise than anything you’ll get here.

For the price, you can’t go too wrong with a Rebel, but the Canon compact system is also popular.

Long exposure for sunsets isn’t necessary but there’s room for experimentation. For long exposure you need a tripod of some kind.

Fun fact: cameras are duty free. You may find value ordering one in to TSB at Point Roberts.

Sony A6000 + the 18-105 F4 for general photography, this should be a good start and will get her a quality lens that will get her plenty of reach. This should be right around $1100ish

down the road she can add these options:

add the 35 f1.8 for great portrait photos with better background separation. Alternatively you can start her with this lens first, being smaller and lighter means she will be more likely carry it around with her.

add the 16 2.8 for hiking thanks to the compact size and theme parks, or just anywhere she needs it in a more compact size.

more size comparisons

For camera's it really depends on what brand and how old you want to go. You can typically find a used Canon/Nikon DSLR for $100 or less and a kit lens for $50-100 but they might be 5+ years old. They can still take great pictures but just know that your not going to get the latest and greatest. They are both good brands with large lens selections and a healthy used market.

As for tripods my main advice is try to find a used quality tripod and avoid new tripods that are offered in kits or bundle packages, or that are under $150 (in general there might be some good deals out there). Many people myself included buy an inexpensive tripod and then end up realizing how crappy it is and have to buy a second quality one later which then will last us decades. Whatever tripod you buy should have a removable head and given your price range should be solid aluminum. If the tripod looks like something from this bundle avoid it. Its junk that will only frustrate and disappoint you if you try to use it for anything requiring precision or frequent use.

As for Cameras that will probably be in your price range for Canon (since thats what I know) look for a 40D/50D or a Rebel from the T series ie T2/T3/T4 etc.

If you're willing to spend a little more money I'd go with the sony nex-3n. It will provide you with great pictures, as well as advanced features should you wish to expand your horizons.

> It sounds like the 250 IS might be the way I want to go for my specific needs at this point, though!

Do you mean this lens?

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-55-250mm-Telephoto-discontinued-manufacturer/dp/B0011NVMO8

I have the same lens, it's pretty great for the price! I wouldn't trade the IS for an extra 50mm. Also since it's discontinued, your only option is the new STM version of the lens. I think it's maybe $50 more than the older model, and should focus faster.

Something like this has the same image quality as a DSLR but is a lot more compact which is nice for traveling, though a DSLR does have better battery life.

I would go with the [Canon EOS 7D Mark II] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NEWZDRG/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=dimz04-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00NEWZDRG&linkId=cfba36ed4f92236a7648e14bbd63fdfa) ranked as 4.7 star out of 5 which is great, ranked as the best for landscape/wildlife photoshooting.

For APS-C size camera's: Well you have the Fujifilm line up of cameras X100 X100S X-E1 X-M1 though those are mostly all upwards of 1000$ (though the x100 you could find used for a little cheaper and the X-M1 is more like 700-800). There's the Sony NEX cameras which you can find in price from 400$ for older models all the way up to 1000$ NEX7 but the most recommended one has been the NEX 6 (EVF and a standard hotshoe). There's also the Ricoh GR which isn't interchangeable with other lenses (and doesn't zoom) but is an APS-C size sensor camera that's actually pocketable. Oh and there's also the firesale EOS-M that's going for 350$ with a lens right now. But there might be a new one coming out soon.

If you're not looking for a DSLR size sensor (or price) then you may want to look around at Micro 4/3 cameras.

And finally if you don't want to worry about interchangeable lenses then you could look around at larger sensor point and shoots. Example: Sony RX100. It's right around your price range and comes with a larger than usual 1inch sensor (as opposed to the 1/1.63-inch sensor on your XZ-1). Though there's an RX100 II out as well, has some fixes to the gripes people had about the RX100.

Panasonic GH3. I'm about to purchase one for myself after doing a metric butt-ton of research and it seems like the best camera under $1000 (body only) for shooting some high quality footage. It has 60fps in 1080p and some slo-motion options as well.

Sony. get the A6500 and a sony lens. Maybe the 18-105 F4 if you really want that focal length coverage. That lens isint going to be great for low light but the 6500 is a low light beast. If you really need that fast glass you could go with the sony 35mm f1.8. In my opinion Sony is where its at right now, super portable and blowing anything in its price range out of the water!

What do you think of this Olympus?

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Mirrorless-Digital-Camera-14-42mm/dp/B00HPQ09NA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1449853700&sr=8-2&keywords=Olympus+OM-D+E-M10+II

With the additional 40-150mm lens it's $598.00.

I said $1000 limit but of course I'd be happy to spend less as I'm about to be in a new country looking for a job.

Good to know. I am leaning towards a5000 atm, price seems very good https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-ILCE5000L-Compact-SEL-1650-Tiltable/dp/B00HH8A60C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1475007036&sr=8-3&keywords=sony+a5100

That's $350 refurbished, so $300 is a good deal.

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-18-55mm-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B00JQQPRGG

Picked up this bad Larry the other day for my a6500.

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SEL35F18-35mm-Prime-Fixed/dp/B0096W1P5W

It's purty good. I'm partial to my Rolinon 85mm 1.8, though it's a bit zoomed in for landscape

Those aren't lenses, this is a wide angle lens

E-M10 for $399 is the deal to beat right now. It's more feature packed and smaller in size than D3200/T5 which are entry level/amateur cameras.

https://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Mirrorless-Digital-Camera-14-42mm/dp/B00HPQ09NA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474913608&sr=8-1&keywords=e-m10

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SELP18105G-PZ-18-105mm-OSS/dp/B00ENZRQH8

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SEL35F18-35mm-Prime-Fixed/dp/B0096W1P5W/ref=pd_sim_421_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0096W1P5W&pd_rd_r=M6Y227QVTB5Q0BMV9FGS&pd_rd_w=ogf56&pd_rd_wg=Qx7dq&psc=1&refRID=M6Y227QVTB5Q0BMV9FGS

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SEL50F18-Mount-Cameras-Black/dp/B00EPWC30O/ref=pd_sim_421_10?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00EPWC30O&pd_rd_r=M6Y227QVTB5Q0BMV9FGS&pd_rd_w=ogf56&pd_rd_wg=Qx7dq&psc=1&refRID=M6Y227QVTB5Q0BMV9FGS