Is there no longer any room for a 1/1.8" sensor camera?

My friend asked me for a camera recommendation "around $300".  What are you looking for I ask.  Something like my G12 (work camera).  Upon then investigating it appears both the G16 and Olympus Stylus 1S have been discontinued, I imagine others as well.  I do see G16 refurbs are still available at the Canon store.  Is there no room for a $300 1/1.8" camera for those that want something that's clearly a step ahead of a cell phone or small sensor camera, yet does not want to spend $500 and up for a 1" sensor camera?  I see on ebay, they are getting a pretty penny for used G15 and 16's.

I think there is.

If they stuck an evf and a tilt screen on a G16 I would buy one straight away.

If they took an SX60, reduced the zoom to 24-600 and gave it a faster aperture of say f2 to f4 I would buy one as soon as I'd saved up enough after spending all of my money on the G17

geepondy wrote:

My friend asked me for a camera recommendation "around $300". What are you looking for I ask. Something like my G12 (work camera). Upon then investigating it appears both the G16 and Olympus Stylus 1S have been discontinued, I imagine others as well. I do see G16 refurbs are still available at the Canon store. Is there no room for a $300 1/1.8" camera for those that want something that's clearly a step ahead of a cell phone or small sensor camera, yet does not want to spend $500 and up for a 1" sensor camera? I see on ebay, they are getting a pretty penny for used G15 and 16's.

Enthusiasts were likely the few that tolerated the $300-500 compacts. I don't recall seeing too many around in my various travels and even to this day. It is a big divide of people either using phones and tablets or DSLRs with kit lenses.

I recall giving my brother and sister inlaw my 30D when I went to the 7D. Although it made great photos, they rarely used it due to bulk. When they started a family, they wanted video and now to take more photos. Great,  the Panasonic LX7 had dropped to $300 so I made it an Xmas present . Fast 24-90mm F1.4-2.3 lens, video, lots of knobs and buttons for changing settings. While the size reduction was welcome and it continued to make great photos, they contended they'd never buy a camera that is so expensive! Now they favour their cell phones. I think no matter the image quality improvement potential, I don't think you could convince them to buy into the 1" market either. I don't think they are alone in that thought.

So, I think your friend is stuck scavenging the used pile as none of the manufacturers are iterating these premium 1/1.8-1/1.5" sensor compacts. I saw the local classifieds have a few G15/G16, a singular XZ-2 and the occasional LX7. The Stylus 1/1s on reconditioned is still quite expensive and only drops to high 300s with the occasional 20% off sale.

YWG wrote:

While the size reduction was welcome and it continued to make great photos, they contended they'd never buy a camera that is so expensive! Now they favour their cell phones.

This thought process always amuses me. A $300 camera is too expensive, so I'll just stick with my $100 (or even free) smart phone, completely ignoring the additional $500 I'll pay to my phone service provider over the life of the subsidy.

Of course, most of us these days are going to have that smart phone whether we use it as a camera or not, so maybe it's really a sunk cost anyway. For me, I pick a phone based on the things it does other than photography, and if the camera is decent, it'll do.

geepondy wrote:

My friend asked me for a camera recommendation "around $300". What are you looking for I ask. Something like my G12 (work camera). Upon then investigating it appears both the G16 and Olympus Stylus 1S have been discontinued, I imagine others as well. I do see G16 refurbs are still available at the Canon store. Is there no room for a $300 1/1.8" camera for those that want something that's clearly a step ahead of a cell phone or small sensor camera, yet does not want to spend $500 and up for a 1" sensor camera? I see on ebay, they are getting a pretty penny for used G15 and 16's.

Look around, you'll be able to find a 2nd hand g7x for $300-400.

I'm guessing the bulk of the G15/G16 manufacturing costs is the nice fast lens, not the sensor and so putting the same quality lens in a $300 camera may not be financially attractive.

But there's a big price difference between small sensor compacts and advanced compacts which I'm surprised they don't try to address.  As posted I would think constant aperture 1/1.8" longer zooms, similar to the Stylus 1 would be attractive to some  It certainly presents a much smaller package then the 1" lower aperture longer zoom cameras.

Tonkotsu Ramen wrote:

geepondy wrote:

You forget that the G16 retailed for $550 upon release.

I have a Canon G11 i love but wish it had a 1" sensor inside, but the G11 does make some great images.

$300 as a price for new cameras?  Probably not.  They would sell if available; but all the 1/1.7" sensor models have been introduced at close to $500 and up.

I still have my G15 and S95, and like both quite a lot.  I'm in no hurry to replace either one.  I find the G15's IQ is pretty competitive with the better 1" sensor compact cameras; but is outclassed by my FZ1000