>>1712751I go /out/ with a sony a6300 I've had for a couple years, its a pretty good middle ground between point and shoots and protog cameras. That being said, it takes VERY high quality photos for your average consumer, so there's no reason to spend as much. But if you are looking for a *photographers* camera, you're going to want an interchangable lens camera. Thankfully we live in the golden age of mirrorless cameras which are small and light. I prefer my a6300 and i use the pancake kit lens as a lightweight option but usually just carry a Sony G 18-105 f/4. Its big but if you're trying to shoot on the move, nothing beats being able to go a little wide for landscapes and have a bit of zoom for wildlife (or action shots of your buddies skiing).
If I had the cash for it I'd probably pick up an RX100 series camera, though a few iterations ago model can probably be had used for very cheap I would imagine. Just my 2c, but you should either spend on a prosumer level camera or just stick to using your smart phone. While more affordable point and shoots have come a long way, the benefits of a fully fledged DSLR or mirrorless are entirely justified. Exceptions being fixed lens cameras like the RX100 ( or equivalent, I'm only familiar with Sony)
