which is better as the 2nd camera?

jor23 wrote:

My main camera is an E-M1, with the 12-40 pro and a few fast 1.8 primes.

I have been looking for a 2nd camera to complement it, especially to use when it's too much to haul the m43 kit around.

I've gone through gx7, epm2, gx1, none of them was really much easier to carry than the e-m1, even with the 17mm f1.8 prime attached.

I have since purchased Fuji x100, Ricoh GR and Sony RX100. The RX100 will arrive today. So I have no experience with it yet.

The X100 is a lovely camera. I especially liked the portrait shots that it produced. Most of my favorites came from it in the past few months. However, it's not much smaller or lighter than the m43 cameras.

I took the GR to Vegas last week. It was a nice camera. Much more pocketable. Images are sharp. Handling is nice. 28mm worked fine. Focus was not great, but usable. Portraits were not as good as the x100. Hardly any blurring in the background from the 2.8 lens (and the shorter focal length).

I saw Best Buy has open-box RX100 for $269 and I had a gift card to use. So I ordered it to try out.

My feeling is that I should just keep one of these to use as the 2nd camera with my E-M1. But I am having a hard time to let either the X100 or the GR go. The RX100 is smaller and have a zoom lens that is much more versatile.

I like taking pictures when I walk around my neighborhood. When I have my daughter with me, I like taking picture of her. I found most of my shots are close-ups. I haven't been doing much street photography. Living in a small town, there's not much to shoot on the street.

Some help?

I am thinking about selling the GR and keep the x100 and RX100.

I used to always keep a premium compact on hand when I had a DSLR system but with micro four thirds, it's a tougher decision.  I have an RX100 II but am going to sell it because I really, really dislike its ergonomics.  It's nice and small but unpleasant to use (IMO only).

I had an LX100 which is kind of compact but it had dust on the sensor and suffered from micro jitter when recording video with its OIS on.  Lens was soft at the edges at the widest FoV, too.

I've decided to keep my GX7 + 20/1.7 or 15/1.7 as my compact camera.  I don't carry any of my pocket cameras in my pocket, anyway.  They are either in a waist pack or in some other, larger bag.

I should also mention that an EVF is a requirement for me and I'm not a fan of pop-up EVFs, either.

I had this thought about carrying a camera in my bag everyday I go to work. But I realized that I normally get in the car, drive, get out of the car, walk to my office ... not many opportunities to take pictures on work days.

So, being really pocketable is probably not as crucial as I original thought when I started this hunt.

That being said, I found the size of the GR to be really handy on the business trip last week. If I had taken the E-M1 or even the X100 with hood, I'd need to have it in my suitcase, not my briefcase.

I think the RX100 is the logical choice here.

But the GR and X100 are just so much fun to play with. I bought both used. If I keep them, it's like having $600 held up in gears that I won't be using much... but the x100 is so pretty. And the color in portrait from it is so pleasant.

Nice pictures.

If you are considering RX100, this recent DPR article may be helpful. I assume you get the first version?

https://www.dpreview.com/articles/7237085229/spoilt-for-choice-which-sony-rx100-is-right-for-you

Yes. The mark I. I can't justify paying 1000 for the newest one. It sure is nice.

Thanks. I don't think I want another e-m1. Maybe a smaller range finder style one later.

I am looking for something smaller

kcdogger wrote:

i know you are looking for lighter kit, but you might consider another EM-1 as a backup. I found that having a second EM-1 as a backup camera to be very comfortable. I have the backup set up like the primary cam, and when I need or want to switch, it is very convenient to have the same set up and not be trying to remember which button/menu does what. Just a thought - and the price on the EM-1 is dropping right now.

Peace.

John

If you were to get another ILC, looking at the studio comparison shots on this site, I'd imagine the 'big pocketable' GX80/85 would be a good option as opposed to the EM-1. But that is my-eyes-only-opinion. And body only is really cheap.

It's really hard to convince myself to sell the x100.

I am not so attached to the GR.

Maybe I should spend some time with the RX100 before making the decision.

Maybe later on.

jor23 wrote:

Yes. The mark I. I can't justify paying 1000 for the newest one. It sure is nice.

If you like portrait and you prefer sometimes with blurred background or you use it indoors often, I think you will like the 1.8-2.8 lens better. So I would recommend looking for a used mark 3. It also comes with an EVF. By the way, you mentioned many times about Fuji color and you have many different cameras in hand. Have you ever tried to see if you can tune the jpeg setting on other cameras to produce ooc jpeg's with similarly pleasing colors from Fuji? Of course you won't be able to match them. But at least not such that one can easily tell one is better than another?

so far, I've only been playing with lightroom.

the built-in profile for fuji works great.

I tried some 3rd profiles for olympus and panasonic cameras. it's not that they are bad. they are just different from the fuji, even some are developed to mimic the fuji color. I happen to like the fuji results, but olympus is not bad. there's something special about the x100. maybe the pictures that it takes, could be its cool looks. it's just hard for me to let it go. it's also a bargain. the original x100 can be had for less than $400. the copy i bought off eBay looks new. i am afraid i won't be able to find a good copy this cheap if i regret selling it.

the mark iii of rx100 is substantially more expensive... i'd love to have one and if i sell all three that I have, it'll probably be a wash, cost wise. however, i don't know if it'll be that much better than what i have.

i've been wanting a gm1 or gm5. but they are so expensive now.

i tried the 14mm twice, but can't justify owning it when i have the 17mm. plus, it's kind of slow. mounting it on a m43 body, the package is not smaller than the GR and the iq is not better either.

jor23 wrote:

so far, I've only been playing with lightroom.

the built-in profile for fuji works great.

I tried some 3rd profiles for olympus and panasonic cameras. it's not that they are bad. they are just different from the fuji, even some are developed to mimic the fuji color. I happen to like the fuji results, but olympus is not bad. there's something special about the x100. maybe the pictures that it takes, could be its cool looks. it's just hard for me to let it go. it's also a bargain. the original x100 can be had for less than $400. the copy i bought off eBay looks new. i am afraid i won't be able to find a good copy this cheap if i regret selling it.

the mark iii of rx100 is substantially more expensive... i'd love to have one and if i sell all three that I have, it'll probably be a wash, cost wise. however, i don't know if it'll be that much better than what i have.

Actually among the pics you posted, I quite like the ones from em1. Are they developed in lightroom? You make me curious about Fuji's color. Too bad I can't afford one  

yeah. all from lightroom.

well, if you are like me, try used ones on eBay, or KEH.

I bought my x100 from eBay for $350. it came in like new. not sure when it'll die though ... KEH gives you 180day warranty. use Amex card for extended coverage. you can get a x-m1 or x-a1 for cheaper, i think.

I don't feel comfortable to post my kid's picture online. i think portraiture looks good out of the x100. but it's a quite objective issue.

good for you.

in the us, it's $400 new. probably $300 used.

i've had the all for a while. e-m1, gx1, gx7, epm2, epl6, x100, gr, em5ii, just ordered a rx100, which should be on my porch now.

i have to admit that gx7 was nice, but different. i think i am used to olympus.