I was dissapointed in the OP's opinion of this camera in relation to its feel in the hand. I had an R1 and loved the design, the heft and the quality feel.
So did I. A great camera when it came and one of my jewel (a category I use, where I put the RX1 and years ago my white E-P1) cameras.
I always thought with its swivel screen and wonderful lens that it was a design icon. Mine eventually succumbed to fungus growth in the lens. I also wanted a longer reach. So imagine my delight when the RX10 with its constant 2.8 came onto the scene.
This morning I went to my local camera shop and held one new from the box. Like Enrique I was disappointed with the feel of the camera in my hand. The body plastic seemed thin in comparison to my old R1, even flimsy by comparison. The pull out screen was weedy and the hinges did not feel up to the job. In short it was not what a £1049 camera should feel like.
And then I had a reality check.
I wanted a camera with this specification for trekking. It fitted into my bum-bag, which I had with me, and that meant it would always be to hand when needed and not in my back pack. It was light enough to carry. The viewfinder was spectacular. The focus was fast enough for my needs. The switches all clicked in a tight well put together fashion. The milled lens focus ring turned smoothly if somewhat slowly. In short, while I wasn't over enamoured by the form I was impressed by the function. And I reasoned that if they built a shell to match the R1 with the lens in the RX10 I would need a trolley to carry it.
I do sympathise with Enrique and can fully understand his view on taking this camera out of the box and handling it for the first time. My immediate knee-jerk reaction was to dismiss the camera out of hand
That's roughly what I did, and maybe too quickly. I had the camera for a couple of hours only, and maybe I should have tried it more. But somehow I didn't care for it, which is totally subjective.
but since having had time to reflect I will go back to the shop with a SD card and take some photos, after all, this is what it's all about.
If the photos and reviews are good then I will learn to live with it's outer shell as it does in all other aspects fulfil my requirements. If I do take the plunge I hope I don't drop it on the Camino del Norte next year, as I feel it will not have the resilience of the R1 that my clumsy hands let slip on more than one occasion.
So it was not love at first sight, but then again, true love rarely is.
But you have alternatives. One is the NEX 6 with the 16-50 and the 55-210, roughly the same price, but better IQ, while size goes from much smaller and lighter with the kit only to slightly bigger and a still a bit lighter with the long zoom. That's the camera I compared the RX10 with, the NEX 6 with the very worst lens I have for it, the 16-50, and the NEX 6 did better in terms of IQ, not much better, but better. If you want me to I can post a couple of photos.
Enrique
