Roundup: Enthusiast Zoom Compact Cameras

I note with much surprise that the fuji xf1 is still retailing for £170!
this super looking and very pocketable camera is just so horribly flawed I'm surprised it isn't in the bargain basement department yet. I bought one to replace a worn out ricoh grd 3 as my pocket camera and oh boy, it was like going from a porsche to a hoop and stick!

the xf1 is almost unusable for:
macro use, (stupidly fiddly button and refuses to focus on what you want)
any quick work/street shooting,
anything in low light (ghastly artifacts from just iso 400).

add to the above the really poor auto focus hunting and the hampering on/off switch and you have a package of nightmares wrapped in a pretty box.

the big problem for fuji though is that this kind of shoddy rubbish really has put me off their premium stuff. I had been considering the xe2, but the exhausting experience with the xf1 has had me scurrying to sony to upgrade my dslr and to the aps-c sensor ricoh gr for my pocket street camera.

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This review states the Oly XZ-2 has optical IS. Everywhere else I read it's sensor-based IS (same as in the XZ-1). I suspect this review is mistaken. Can dpreview confirm?

Shame the RX-100 doesn't have a 10 (or at most 12) megapixel sensor instead of the pointless 20. It would have been so much better in terms of colour, dynamic range, noise, half file sizes, and basically the same practical resolution as it is more lens-limited than sensor-limited.

I would like to see, in these roundup articles, a shot with all the comparison cameras seen from above with their lenses retracted, so we can get a sense of how thick they would be.

Also, a standard comment on lens caps would be nice. I like my LX7, but it has a removable lens cap, and adding an auto lens cap adds thickness to the camera and prevents fitted cases from fitting over the camera.

Finally, I wish you had a drop-down menu for the pages of this review so readers could navigate through it more quickly.

Had the Nikon 7700, ok it looks great in term of design, good build quality and fantastic screen ergonomic, good movies and wide variety of filters, but though, who guys needs all these filters? I don't. The only problem I had with it is the brightness of the pictures. Man, it is always dark and need some work with PS. Nikon, please stay with the DSLR, I got the D90 and now the D600 and you deserve a kiss for that. I sold it to buy the Olympus xz-2 and want to say: this is the most powerful enthusiast camera I ever seen. It is simply excellent, great pictures in low light, always sharp, keep the iso setting to automatic with shutter minimum 1/30s and shoot, and you won't regret it. Solid quality, super screen and fantastic menu. No chicky micky filters, it is only a real camera with superior lens and sensor. I would recommend it anyone wants to make excellent pictures.

Pentax was omitted, why?

I don't have any of these cameras. If I had to buy one, it would be LX7. It has aperture ring and a dial on the lens switching for AF to MF. I use NEX 5N, I need dig into manual to change AF to MF. It's really a pain. Even more advance NEX6 doesn't have the dial to switch between the focus modes. Why do I need MF? I like it in video mode, personally I think it's much more reliable than AF.

I ended up going with the RX100. My life changed a lot soon after buying it. Women paid more attention to me. The local paper did a full-page feature about me in the Sunday edition. The mayor started inviting me down to city hall for lunch every couple of weeks. People I'd had differences with in the past came to me and asked for forgiveness. It's been really great!

Hello,

I'm wanting to upgrade my compact from a Nikon P310,

I had the chance to test out the Canon G15, what i really liked was the capacity of a sort of "Live Settings Preview" in the screen, i mean, depending on your F and shutter it would show you how "more or less" the light would look like on your pictures.
This feature is not possible in my Nikon P310, which you have to take several photos testing settings until you get you want, since i'm just an amateur/hobbie/occasional photo guy, i'm wondering:
which compacts besides the Canon G15 have this "Live settings preview"?
To be honest i'm do not like the Canon G15 for its size, so looking alternatives?

Many thanks guys

So I guess DPReview's recommendation is that those of us who need real wide angle and a hot shoe should just forget it and settle for an XZ-2 or RX100 because they're "better". The whole idea of a "comparison test" of things that really aren't comparable is just daft.

I have an LX3 that I use all the time and am thinking about going to an LX7. There are some really nice cameras in this group, but there is no other camera of any kind that will do what I need done.

I reach for the Sony RX100 more often than any other I own. And I own many cameras, including enthusiast compact models like the XZ1 and LX3. The RX100 offers far more bang for the buck, in terms of image quality, than any other small camera I've tried. The RX100 is not the most fun or intiitive camera.. But the images it produces, for its size, in almost any light, are superlative. The LCD has let me down in bright light. it can be hard if not impossible to see. The RX100 needs a small EVF like the one the tiny Nikon P60 has, or an optional hot shoe-mounted viewfinder like the XZ1. I also use a third-party adhesive filter adapter, and t for even more creative possibilities, and it would be great if Sony provided a lens adapter tube attachment. I hope the follow up to the RX100 has at least an optional viewfinder, a wider, faster lens, and a control wheel with detents.

As someone who actually owns a P7700 I can say the only place this camera disappoints me is the write speed, it could have used a buffer that it seems not to have. The photos that I get are quite good, sometimes it’s hard to tell its photos apart from my D300’s without a closer look. The lens on the P7700 is just excellent! I also get great flash results from putting my SB-700 on the P7700 using the Speedlight as bounce and the flash on the P7700 as front fill. If I could change anything (in addition to write speed) on this camera I would give it environmental sealing. I do recommend this camera if you can live with the write speed issue, I love mine and it’s just fun to use. If you want something simple though it might not be a first choice due to its enthusiast versatility making it more complicated.

I've settle with carrying around my 60D even when its bulk is inappropriate to the occasion. I gave my S90 to my wife which she soon wore down. I then gave her my LX5, a sad farewell. I enjoyed the LX5's fast metering, focusing presets, fast focus, and generally great image quality. I sold my G10 - not happy with its range, though the image quality was okay.

Now, that the game has changed, I'm back in the market for one of these "enthusiast" cameras.

I'm hung up on sensor size. I'm leaning towards the RX100. Am I for all the wrong reasons?

Could someone tell me what the sensor size accomplishes in terms of resolution, etc?

My pick would be the LX7 only because I loved the responsiveness of the LX5. What does "largest image area" accomplish in terms of resolution, etc?

Hi everyone. I own a D90 and honestly can't take it to holidays with me because of size and weight issues (my 18-300 is on it most of the time when I am not running after bugs with my 60 mm micro). As can be seen, macro capability is important for me. I have made a shortlist with Fuji X20, Olympus XZ2, Panasonic LX7 and Nikon P7700. Much as Sony RX100 looks to be a good choice in terms of technology, I can't bring myself to like it. It looks too much like a point-and-shoot and the slowness at the zoom end kind of kills it for me. Can anyone with similar needs and prejudices (!) help me? I would really appreciate it.
Thanks...

Just purchased the Canon S110 and am impressed by the quality and controls. It has a bright lens and the image quality is very good. Wide angle is good and ISO capability is there beyond the competition for the price range. I like that it fits in my pocket. It also shoots in RAW. The only criticism so far is that I had a heck of a time threading the wrist strap. I found from dpreview posters that using dental floss can help threading it through the impossible. Recommend this camera.

why there is no pentax mx-1?

I've been most impressed with the controls on my Fuji XS1, and there is consistency across the board with Fuji. With their innovative Xtrans sensor, and it being larger than all but the RX100, the X20 would be an easy choice for me.
Too bad the X20 doesn't have a larger sensor (or too bad that the rx100 doesn't have Fuji's wonderful controls), but at least the X20's sensor is larger than the rest of the pack. And zoom range is quite satisfactory too. Now just to wait for prices to drop... if I can wait that long.

(and just in case someone brings it up, the X100S is both too expensive, and I'd rather have a f1.4 50mm equivalent lens on it - I'm not a buyer with a 35mm equivalent - not when I can get, for a smaller and price, a Samsung NX300 with 30mm (45mm equivalent) - but that's a different category anyways).

Save your money and buy a good LX3 and you'll be pleasantly satisfied. I am looking at all of these cameras and I find that they all have their pluses and they are all great in their own way. Credit is due to all of them. But... You can go to B&H and get a used LX3 with a 24-60 f/2.0-2.8, extremely well built, for just over $150.00.

Kick this one around until the next batch of super compacts come out and you'll be happy you did. Just my opinion. Thanks for the great comments!

RX100 is a great camera, but it is not 20x zoom. Suggest you read the review.

I chose the RX100 for a trip to Germany rather than taking my Canon T3i along. I also took a Panasonic 3D1 along for 3D. I had each in a small case attached to my pants belt. I used the 3D1 for most snapshots and the RX100 for scenics. And wow, the RX100 truly did the job, and the panoramic mode is jawdropping. I've got some outstanding castle/river shots. I created a 15'x11.5' photo book through My Publisher using their hi-res glossy lay-flat paper, and far exceeded my expectations. The panoramas fit across two pages thus some being 11.5"x30" and everyone that sees them are amazed at the image quality. The 3D1 does a reasonable job for 2D images as well. The two cameras were a great combination, and I'm now selling my T3i on ebay. If I do miss something about the DSLR, it would be the need for a greater zoom, but as I found out, the resolution is so good on the RX100, you can simulate a 200+ zoom with little loss. I feel the need, the need for more travel.

I'm an Olympus c-5060 enthusiast since 2004 when I read it's full review in dpreview! I love it's image quality, It's external direct controls, It's manual features, It's compact body and it's fully articulated LCD for macro pictures.
I would like to buy a new compact camera and I'd appreciate comments about macro features of Nikon p7700 and olympus xz-2. Thanks in advanced

Predictions for next generation, imho:
Panasonic, Olympus: we doubt they cannibalize MFT sales by offering 1" sensors... they will drag out the small sensor as long as they can, adding only phase detection, while Olympus catches up with a brighter lens.
Fuji will likely stay with 2/3" but hopefully moving to brighter f/1.4 lenses.
Samsung will likely add phase detection and more zoom range.
Nikon may wake up and offer fixed lens version of their 1 series, to compete with the rx100 - although terms of their sensor sourcing contract with Sony are not public - there may be a non-compete provision in there to protect the rx100 - and having the longest zoom range in the group phase detection is the only place left to go.
Sony is an exciting one to watch with their 1" sensor and fast lens, we are all eager to see if they can further improve the lens technology, stretching sharpness towards the edges and making it brighter at telephoto.

I got my wife the Fuji XF1 for Christmas. She's a hopeless point and shooter so I thought the EXR mode would give her a helping hand. I wasn't quite expecting the results she got. Beautiful colours, sharp, well framed and great exposures. Even silhouetted shots towards the sun were stunning.

The EXR really helped her out. This is genuinely a high end P&S. I find the lens mechanism slightly convoluted and vulnerable but everything else is just perfect for a pocket camera. Good looks. Feels good in the hand and the output is fantastic.

How come the G15 has Gold Award but recommended others do not?

To say that the Olympus is better because of the longer lens is to ignore the unique utility of 24mm wide angle. I love my LX3 and now would not buy a pocketable camera with less than a 24mm lens. It is a big issue for me, obviously not for everyone. Good pictures can be had by all these cameras. I wish that the RX100 had a wider lens.

although I have stopped using 1/1.7 format sensor cameras,
many of these would make an excellent gift for my 7 year old,
for her to learn photography with.
which one of these is coming down the most, and the fastest, in price?

Hi,

I own a Fuji XF1 since 2 month and I'm not disappointed at all.
I usually shoot with reflex (D90, D5100) and one year ago I decided to buy something "more" pocketable, so at that time, I went for a P7100 which was a serious compact (not really pocketable but more purse-able). Problem: IMHO the color rendering is not satisfactory, so I use it only in B&W and it's doing really good in monochrome!
So, I was still looking for a good compact. When I saw the XF1 that was love at first sight: classic design, manual zoom, 12 MP CMOS sensor.It had to be mine. And I'm not disappointed: colors are great, dynamic range is outstanding with the EXR mode and even at 6MP you can have big enough photos on your monitor or on paper. The opening of the lens is a bit fiddly, but you get rapidly accustomed to and really enjoy this lovely camera.

Reading this review makes me question the bias that DPR has for longer reach zooms over wide angle. Personally, I'd much rather opt for a wider angle than say a zoom that is 112mm equiv instead of 80 or 90mm. In most cases the longer reach can be countered by a tighter crop. However, the difference between 24mm and 28 is there is a whole lot of image that will never be recorded in the first place. Let's face it many people will be using these cameras in social situations often close up group shots. My experience is I'm often using a camera at it's widest setting 24mm, even 18mm equiv when I'm using my wide angle zoom on my Oly epl-2. The same goes for landscapes. So it is with some frustration that the options for me are limited with compacts. I'd buy either the RX100 or the XZ-2 in a flash if they had a wider angle lens.

I'm just wondering does anyone feel the same, or am I the odd one out here?

Is it only the Canon G15, Fuji X10 and the Samsung EX2F that have a dedicated AEL button ? Of the others, can they all have it allocated to a programmable function button?

Also,

1. What is the maximum aperture of each camera at 50mm equivalent?

2. From a purely image quality basis (in RAW ) how do the cameras compare at 50 mm ?

Any guidance would be appreciated, thanks.