I have an aging (2 years old now) flagship smartphone and basically want a camera that’s as decent as the one I already have, but without Google servers getting pinged every time I’m traveling and want to remember where I am - apparently my phone GPS isn’t enough, Google Play Services insist they must get involved.

Some ideal requirements would include:

  • ~3x zoom
  • Solid macro photography
  • Optical image stabilization
  • Functional in low light
  • A sensor at least the same size as my phone’s (1/1.3")
  • Small enough to fit in some pocket
  • GPS tagging
  • A sub-$800 price tag?

I understand this is a huge ask, and that modern cell phones have a pocket dimension that somehow fits this hardware inside of them, but I figured I may as well check.

  • glitching@lemmy.ml
    31·
    2 days ago

    “my foot itches, what’s the best shotgun I can get to blast it off”. this is like problemXY.

    a 2-year old ex-flagship is a beast of a device. how do I know? because I run a 7-year old not-flagship and it’s a beast. you tear google’s shit out and keep using it. you can even keep using GCam with a “yeah-playservices-is-present” faker and then disable GCam’s network access.

    Google is an adversary. start treating it as such.

  • JayleneSlide@lemmy.world
    2·
    2 days ago

    If you need waterproof, the Olympus TG series has long been my phone camera/de-Googling go-to. It ticks most of your requirements. I love its macro modes and it’s definitely pocketable. Also stands up to a lot of abuse and has a strong market for accessories,

    • LWD@lemm.eeOP
      3·
      2 days ago

      I did try one of these, but I noticed that I would end up moving the camera enough for a visible “shake” effect in most pictures I took. And this was outdoors in open areas with plenty of daylight.

      Macro photos on it are great, though, and the working GPS was lovely. Shame about not having luck with most else on it. I have no idea how my phone manages to make things look better

      • JayleneSlide@lemmy.world
        2·
        2 days ago

        noticed that I would end up moving the camera enough for a visible “shake” effect in most pictures I took.

        Whoa, yeah, that would absolutely rule out a TG. Was that occurring even with image stabilization turned on?

        • LWD@lemm.eeOP
          1·
          2 days ago

          I’m not sure, sadly. I tried a bunch of different things but I’m not really a photographer, which is why I’m most interested in a camera that has a decent auto mode first and foremost

          While I looked for information, I did discover this webpage describing issues, though, and it sent me down a Lumix DMC-Z___ rabbithole, though. On paper, at least, they look promising. GPS, macro, allegedly good low light, a lot of optical image stabilization?

  • Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org
    2·
    2 days ago

    I like the Olympus OM-D. Their PEN series might be what you want, because it’s rather slim for a real camera. I think there could even be GPS.

    But remember that some physical size is needed to have these optical qualties that a phone cannot have.

    • LWD@lemm.eeOP
      1·
      2 days ago

      Is there a such thing as a recent PEN from OM or Olympus (I’ve actually looked at their stuff, but I’m somewhat confused about which name their cameras get)? I was leaning in their direction, too - I saw tried their camera with a GPS and great macro photography, but I think its sensor is smaller than my phone’s.

      (FWIW the OM-D relies on a smartphone for GPS tagging apparently, and I have no idea how that’s handled with an app, especially because the data handoff is whar I’m trying to avoid)

        • LWD@lemm.eeOP
          1·
          2 days ago

          I’m looking at the Pen E PL10 now, which looks reasonably priced, if that’s the kind of thing you think would be good. Or better.

          See my other reply for my camera woes - I don’t know much of anything about sensor sizes, this is true, but after seeing a digital camera struggle in low or even slightly lower lighting conditions I (think I) want to let in as much light as possible. I’m still not sure how my phone manages to make my photos in the same conditions not look blurry, by some unholy combination of pixel binning, catching light coming back around behind the sensor, AI upscaling, and f incredible optical image stabilization. - Downsides aside, I did notice the digital camera does some interesting depth of field stuff that my phone camera struggles to replicate. Somehow the pictures look more three-dimensional.

  • rodneyck@piefed.socialEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    Have you tried one of the custom rom OS’s, like CalyxOS or Graphene? You can use their built in firewall to disconnect Google’s Photo app. It also uses MicroG for google play services and the like, so basically de-googled.