Upgrade recommendations/considerations

I currently have a Nikon Coolpix L610 which is essentially automatic (yes, scene modes are available) but I'd like to do more than this camera is capable including fully manual (exposure, timing and focus) and sharper images than its lens is capable of. However, I do like its size, good for portability.

My photography interest is primarily landscape but like all of us, when something interesting appears, we'd like to have the equipment (lens) to capture it.

There are two camera systems that I'm considering, both older models and available used (which I'm comfortable with as I don't have a lot of money to spend). The first is the Pentax Q10 which for about $500Cdn, I can get a body, 5-15mm zoom (~27-83mm @35mm film), 15-45mm zoom (~83-249mm) and a 3.2mm fisheye (~18mm). The pro for this system is that for $500Cdn, essentially all of my needs are met. The con for this system is that I believe that the only potential future upgrade path is to drop this system altogether and switch to another system (micro 4:3 for example). The other con is that it is a 12mp sensor, down from the 16mp current Coolpix but maybe, with the quality of Pentax lenses vs the quality of the Coolpix lens, the quality of the photos (for example just doing a side-by-side comparison of both cameras shooting the same subject) from the Pentax with the smaller sensor may be better (much better?) than the Coolpix, this I need to find out.

The other system is an Olympus Pen ep-5 which for about $400, I can get the body with a 14-42mm (~24-84mm@full frame) lens and do add a longer zoom and a fisheye would set me back an additional $400 or more. The pros for this system are that it has a 16mp sensor and, from what I've read, a much better sensor than the Coolpix one, there are many m43 lenses available (and likely more coming) and a possible upgrade path is to keep the lenses but upgrade the body or keep the body and upgrade the lenses (or both). The con is the expense which has to take into account whether or not my photos from this system will really be better than what I can using the Pentax Q10. Are the standard (i.e., not pro) lenses really that much better than the Q system lenses? Is the difference between the two sensors enough to make a significant difference in the quality of the images (again assuming side-by-side comparison of the same shot).

I know that this is a difficult topic to comment on but, for example, if the move from the Coolpix to the Pentax would result in a more significant increase in quality than moving from the Pentax to the Olympus, that is information I don't have but would greatly like to hear about.

As examples of what I am currently able to shoot with my Coolpix, you can view my "portfolio" on Gurushots at  gurushots.com/jrickards/photos . About 90% of these were taken with the Coolpix, the rest were likely taken with my cellphone.

Thank you for any comments you might have.

I like wind sculpted snow, and dog from a B&B. The snow shot, with the right lens, would have made an awesome tiny landscape.

In any event...

Your 610 has manual mode. At least, according to the Nikon website.

As such, you might consider learning how to use that while you save towards a system that will provide the growth opportunity you seem to require. A mirrorless 4/3 would be a good choice, but they're more spendy than what you list.

You could also look for last year's model of a Fuji or similar; i.e. slightly dated models. And scale back your lens requirements for now.

That's all I got.

Thanks for the photo compliments. The reason why there was wind-sculpted snow outside my office was because it was windy (very, very windy) and cold (-20C) and add them together, you get pretty severe wind chill and I was not wearing a coat so asking for more photos of the area, wasn't going to happen!!  LOL

I've looked through the manual before and I haven't found manual exposure. There are various scene settings and I can adjust the EV (and do that regularly) but I haven't found a way to override auto-exposure more than +-2ev. I will look again though.

jrickards wrote: I've looked through the manual before and I haven't found manual exposure. There are various scene settings and I can adjust the EV (and do that regularly) but I haven't found a way to override auto-exposure more than +-2ev. I will look again though.

Oh, dang. I was looking at the manual for the P160, but you have an L model. My bad; apologies.

Yeah, you're in a tough spot. I don't think I have anything else to add. Sorry.