I need camera suggestions please.

I am not a total novice photographer but many are way better than me.

I actually used to be a news photographer and LOVED my work. I decided to leave the field 20 years ago and had a family. It hurt but I shelved my beloved Nikon. I couldn’t handle carrying around toddlers and a giant heavy bag full of camera equipment. I also couldn’t focus the way I did before my kids were born. It was honestly sad for me to make that choice but I let it go and leaned into motherhood. In the intervening years I issued myself a personal challenge: Take the best possible photos I could with whatever I phone I had at the time. I focused on composition over equipment and actually produced quite a few images I am proud of. Usually these were journalistic style shots of every day activities, architecture or scenery.

Now my kids are grown and I want to take pictures again. I still don’t want to lug around a big camera system. I am constantly scared it will be stolen or broken. I just want a solid camera I can throw in my backpack or even purse and take photos of the life happening around me. I want the best quality I can get for my budget and reasonable portability.

• ⁠Budget: Realistically - $1500 or under but will go up to $2000-$2500 for something really great. • ⁠Country: USA • ⁠Condition: Good • ⁠Type of Camera: I’m open to suggestions. • ⁠Intended use: Fast access and easily portable camera for everyday life aka anything from a beautiful flower to kid activities to sunsets to my dog to world events. My background is news photography and that’s often the style of photo I still take. • ⁠If photography; what style: Photo journalism style. • ⁠If video what style: • ⁠What features do you absolutely need: • ⁠Portability: Portability matters. I want to toss it in a bag and go and take photos on a whim. • ⁠Cameras you're considering: Not sure - open to any platform and style. • ⁠Cameras you already have: Nikon DSLR. Old old old Nikon F2 (my heart), old Canon D7 (not working currently) • ⁠Notes: