Evening Everyone,
My son has graduated from college mid last year, and is now a managing chef at a 5 star resort & spa (just 1 of the property's 10 restaurants, along with the Spa restaurant and the VIP Concierge Club). He worked as a line cook at another 5 star resort property, while in college. He needs a camera - and his company provided smart phone (more of a 2 way radio) has no camera (personal smart phones are not allowed). His intent is to shoot various plates of food, plating styles, the buffet line, etc. Interiors, with low available light. Not for publication. Instruction manuals for training, etc. For publication quality, the resort has their own photographer (FF, 645D and a LF view camera).
I have a couple Pentax dSLRs (way too large), a Panasonic LX3 (he likes it a lot, especially the f2 lens and the 24mm focal length - but the lens protrudes out too far and it does not fit into the pocket of his chef coat), and a Pentax Q (good size however the lenses protrude way too far out).
So, its a point and shoot - with a .....
- Fast collapsible lens - f2, f2.8 - the faster the better
- A reasonable sensor size for good definition - anything above 6MP is just fine. Needs to have good color. JPG, RAW is a bonus.
- Absolutely needs to fit in his chef coat jacket (think of a shirt pocket)
- Wide focal length - 24mm (35mm equivalent) is good - low zoom 2x is perfect. It also can be no zoom.
- Thin - about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. This is the primary overriding requirement.
- Budget - He says anything south of about $400 (somewhat arbitrary) is good (he has saved every dollar he has ever earned - the deal was, he makes a B or better and I pay, other wise he pays. Plus, he could not squander his paycheck - or he could pay for his own education. He graduated with honors).
He is an expert with the LX3 and the Q. Through school he used my old Canon SD500 - which worked VERY well, until it met an dreadful fate. Then he "borrowed" the LX3 - which came back whole (I was somewhat surprised). If he leaves the camera in the office - he will not have it when he needs it - thus the need for thin and compact.
It can be a current model or older. Any manufacturer - he is not particular.
Last edited by interested_observer; 01-13-2014 at 07:58 PM.