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large sensor compact camera recommendations?

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kev777zero

kev777zero

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I'm a Sony A7 user in the market for a large sensor enthusiast compact camera. Had my eyes on the Sony RX100 series but I'm finding some interesting models for several brands (Nikon DL 24-85, Lumix LX100). I was wondering if there are some other models I should take notice?

For me being pocketable is a must (I would just carry my A7 otherwise). I would like to have at least 1" sensor for better ISO and DOF.
 
kev777zero said:
I'm a Sony A7 user in the market for a large sensor enthusiast compact camera. Had my eyes on the Sony RX100 series but I'm finding some interesting models for several brands (Nikon DL 24-85, Lumix LX100). I was wondering if there are some other models I should take notice?

For me being pocketable is a must (I would just carry my A7 otherwise). I would like to have at least 1" sensor for better ISO and DOF.
Click to expand...
 
the G7X seems like a very attractive option, similar size to RX100 III/IV with a longer reach and equally bright. price much more attractive too. anything difference I should look out for? I don't do video
 
I have one; love it.

It's a worthwhile step up from my old Canon S90. (which I also loved)

Not as spendy as a Sony either.
 
kev777zero said:
the G7X seems like a very attractive option, similar size to RX100 III/IV with a longer reach and equally bright. price much more attractive too. anything difference I should look out for? I don't do video
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If your not into video you can scrap the Rx100 mkIV. As the the Rx100 mk3 is nearly the same in terms of stills. Just a tad bit slower lower res EVF which isn't the best in the mk4 either. Both lack a good eye relief needed to use them comfortably for long durations.

You mentioned the key G7x advantages and i will add 2 more. It has a nice touchscreen.

The lens doesn't have as much aspherical elements and is less nervous in the OOF area's as the Rx100 mk3/4

Then as things to be aware off.

It can only shoot 0.8 fps in raw with autofocus. (g7x mk2 adresses this issue)

The lens is soft in the corners between 24-35mm. as it just doesn't cover the whole sensor and the camera has to stretch the image significantly. Which makes using this camera at the wide-end quiet problematic

Loading…

www.imaging-resource.com

Just scroll down to the uncorrected raw test scene for confirmation

It doesn't have a viewfinder. Which can be a problem under bright conditions. Judging exposure on the rear screen in direct sunlight is impossible on any camera.

With the G7x i would certainly get the mk2 version instead of the first one. It's 10x faster in raw and possibly in regards to AF too. Whether to get it instead of the Sony. That would depend on what you like to use it for. The Sony will do better architecture and landscapes. The Canon will do smoother portraits.

Your stuck with the lens. So get the one that suits your shooting the most.
 
I'm surprised no one has suggested the Ricoh GR (original or version II) or the Nikon Coolpix A yet. All three have APS-C sensors and are basically, for all practical purposes, eminently pocketable DSLR's. I have the Ricoh GR and am still tempted to pick up the CoolPix A because it is now available for a mere $399 instead of the original $1100.
 
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sbansban said:
I'm surprised no one has suggested the Ricoh GR (original or version II) or the Nikon Coolpix A yet. All three have APS-C sensors and are basically, for all practical purposes, eminently pocketable DSLR's. I have the Ricoh GR and am still tempted to pick up the CoolPix A because it is now available for a mere $399 instead of the original $1100.
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because with these camera's your stuck with 28mm equiv. focal length.

Which quiet dramatically limits their useage. Beyond that you are right they do offer staller image quality at good prices in small bodies.
 
Leica Q (n/t)
 
BarnET said:
sbansban said:
I'm surprised no one has suggested the Ricoh GR (original or version II) or the Nikon Coolpix A yet. All three have APS-C sensors and are basically, for all practical purposes, eminently pocketable DSLR's. I have the Ricoh GR and am still tempted to pick up the CoolPix A because it is now available for a mere $399 instead of the original $1100.
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because with these camera's your stuck with 28mm equiv. focal length.

Which quiet dramatically limits their useage. Beyond that you are right they do offer staller image quality at good prices in small bodies.
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I severely underutilized my Ricoh GR because that's how I used to think too. But then I realized that the vast majority of my shots were at the wide end and I was in a position to zoom with my feet for most of my photos. But no other cams with the exception of the aforementioned Nikon Coolpix A (and to some extent, Fuji X100T and its predecessors plus Sigma DP1 Merrill none of which are shirt-pocketable) combine that APS-C sensor size, image quality and shirt pocketability. Plus the array of user controls and customizability options of the Ricoh GR are amazing.

Another disadvantage of the Ricoh GR and the Nikon Coolpix A is their lack of image stabilization. But again, I've found that even in poor light, where stabilization is most needed due to relatively low shutter speeds, they do a great job - primarily because their higher ISO's like 1600 or 3200 are so clean and I mostly get shutter speeds of 1/45 seconds which has never been a problem. In fact, even at much lower shutter speeds, I get jitter-free shots quite routinely - though not all the time.
 
Pentax K3. Not jean pocket friendly but cargo pants yes.
 
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I would never use a Ricoh gr coolpix a or fuji x70 for portraits. X100 series? maybe for full body shots and groups but not for tight shots either.

The faces will look as distorted as all the noisy phone images on facebook. Which is far from flattering.

There are things zooming with feet just can't solve. perspective distortion the most prominent one.

Another option not mentioned would be a Panasonic GF7/Gm1/Gm5

Similar size with the 14mm f2.5 pancake. And you can mount a tiny portrait lens in a pinch. M43 is a step back from Apsc though.
 
If we're talking about a 75mm @ 2.8 @ 1" sensor long end, there's really not a lot of subject differentiation to speak of. The background will be a bit out of focus. The LX100 has a far more pronounced effect, though the bokeh's pretty bad IMO. But the image of the Panasonic's noticeably less defined than the smaller-sensor RX100.

I think for your product category the key factor is pocketability presumably - and in that case I don't think anything beats the current RX100 still, though there are plenty of pretenders now.
 
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BarnET said:
I would never use a Ricoh gr coolpix a or fuji x70 for portraits. X100 series? maybe for full body shots and groups but not for tight shots either.

The faces will look as distorted as all the noisy phone images on facebook. Which is far from flattering.

There are things zooming with feet just can't solve. perspective distortion the most prominent one.
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You do seem to have a good point there that never occurred to me. I have never used my Ricoh GR for portraits but I do know what you're talking about.
BarnET said:
Another option not mentioned would be a Panasonic GF7/Gm1/Gm5

Similar size with the 14mm f2.5 pancake. And you can mount a tiny portrait lens in a pinch. M43 is a step back from Apsc though.
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With pancake lens, yes, but I don't know which portrait lens would be tiny.
 
Came across a deal and went with an RX100m3 in the end. There are definitely a lot of attractive options out there but the RX100 seems to be the only decent camera that's truly pocketable in most pockets (although if Canon G7xm2 can really fix all of mk1's mistake it be a superb camera). Even then the RX100 is still considerably large compared to other compact cameras.

Had I not own my Sony A7 already the LX100 and Nikon DL's seem like a great option. I'd recommend them to any beginners over a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

As for DOF, I did some math and the RX100m3's lens gives similar DOF as an APSC camera+kit lens. Nothing to write home about but it's amazing to see how they've manage to shrink capable camera tools to such sizes. LX100 would give similar DOF to a full frame camera+kit lens!
 
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