Best CSC/mirrorless cameras at the moment?

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drb5

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Just curious without spending thousands, what the current best CSC/mirrorless cameras are?

I've had a couple in the past, but I could go another one if it had OVF or EVF and phase detection.
 
Had a brief look there and looks larger than the nex 5. Had one and with the 18-55 it's too cumbersome to be a compact camera and the pancake wasn't fast enough imo.
 
OMD with primes if you need a VF. If you dont need a VF, E-PL5, GX1 (optional VF).
 
drb5 said:
Had a brief look there and looks larger than the nex 5. Had one and with the 18-55 it's too cumbersome to be a compact camera and the pancake wasn't fast enough imo.
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The new 16-50 compact zoom seems to be getting pretty good reviews, but you're right, the NEX lenses are generally larger (due to the bigger sensor).
 
drb5 said:
Had a brief look there and looks larger than the nex 5. Had one and with the 18-55 it's too cumbersome to be a compact camera and the pancake wasn't fast enough imo.
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Perhaps the Xpro 1 or XE-1? Fuji look to be building up a good range of compact fast primes.
 
There are rumours of a new pen with built in evf (EP5?) but it probably won't have phase detect. Also rumours of a new Panasonic GX next year possibly also with a built in evf. M43 single shot AF is very fast though. Even with the new hybrid AF system in the latest Nex it doesn't match m43 AF speed.

If you are looking at current models rather than rumoured future ones then in m43 the OMD is the only Olympus with an evf and Panasonic have the G3, G5, GH2 and GH3. M43 has the best choice of native lenses and Nex is arguably the best digital back for using legacy lenses.

I think the Nikon mirrorless cameras have an evf and fast AF but smaller sensor -don't really know much about their mirrorless range though. The Fuji range also looks good, but again I don't know much about them.

Depends how you define 'best' - best for what purpose? Best IQ, fastest AF, smallest size etc.. Whatever you choose you will have to compromise in at least one of those areas.
 
That's true. Nothing is perfect without paying funny money.

The high end Fuji's look good, but too much money.

OMD is too large IMO.

Thinking MAYBE X100 or RX100, but need to handle them first. I'm a single prime user generally, but like the idea of a camera that noone would bat an eyelid at.

Will be used mostly for family shots and out n about.
 
RX100 ticks a lot of boxes (no ovf or evf though). I find my GF3 works well as a small take anywhere camera with a single prime attached (Panasonic 20mm f1.7). Again no viewfinder though (and no hotshoe, but there is a built in flash).
This has been replaced by the GF5 - not sure what the new model has that the GF3 doesn't though.

The new pens (E-PL5 and E-PM2) also look good (they have the OMD sensor) and you can add an evf (VF2 or VF2) to them although not an ideal solution as it's expensive, uses the hotshoe (so you cannot use flash at the same time) and adds bulk, plus it makes it look less like a compact camera.
I find the tiny control wheel on the back of the pens a bit fiddly and hard to use though compared to those on the Nex and GF3 and also much prefer the chunkier grip of the Nex cameras.
 
Johnd2000 said:
Single prime user eh? Has to be the RX1 then! ;-)
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If only the price didn't come into it though! I can afford to wait if I thought the prices of used equipment came down enough mind you...
applemint said:
RX100 ticks a lot of boxes (no ovf or evf though). I find my GF3 works well as a small take anywhere camera with a single prime attached (Panasonic 20mm f1.7). Again no viewfinder though (and no hotshoe, but there is a built in flash).
This has been replaced by the GF5 - not sure what the new model has that the GF3 doesn't though.

The new pens (E-PL5 and E-PM2) also look good (they have the OMD sensor) and you can add an evf (VF2 or VF2) to them although not an ideal solution as it's expensive, uses the hotshoe (so you cannot use flash at the same time) and adds bulk, plus it makes it look less like a compact camera.
I find the tiny control wheel on the back of the pens a bit fiddly and hard to use though compared to those on the Nex and GF3 and also much prefer the chunkier grip of the Nex cameras.
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Previously had a GF1 with 20mm and loved it. Just found it lacked a bit of clarity at high ISO's, understandably. Also had an EPL1 and found it nearly as good as the Panny, but not as we'll built. Felt so cheap and yet wasn't in price.
 
drb5 said:
If only the price didn't come into it though! I can afford to wait if I thought the prices of used equipment came down enough mind you...
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Absolutely. I'm thinking 18-24 months from now it'll be a great used option. The example images I've seen so far have been as good as anything I've seen from any camera.
 
Yep, it looks that way for me also.

Looking at others that have been discussed here, phase detection seems lacking in most. Curious if its still as bad a system as I remember it to be. Any touch screen focussing available?
 
drb5 said:
That's true. Nothing is perfect without paying funny money.

The high end Fuji's look good, but too much money.

OMD is too large IMO.

Thinking MAYBE X100 or RX100, but need to handle them first. I'm a single prime user generally, but like the idea of a camera that noone would bat an eyelid at.

Will be used mostly for family shots and out n about.
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GX1 and 20mm, nice and small, hi iso is good, I tried the X100 but AF was very poor in less than ideal light. £250 after cashback for GX1 and 20mm prime around £200 used. I also like fast primes so the slow RX100 lens put me off (although its more convenient as a walkabout).
 
The new E-PL5 has touch screen focussing as does my GF3 (and so I assume the GF5 does too). I find the touch to focus on the GF3 quite a nice to have feature although not (for me) an essential one. Nex 5n also has touch to focus.

The Nex cameras and also apparently the new Pens (E-PL5 and E-PM2) have pretty good high iso performance - with my GF3 I tend to avoid going above ISO 1600 and even at 1600 I need to reduce the noise in Lightroom.

I also had an E-PL1 and that did feel a bit like a cheap plastic toy, :D but took decent photos in good light, very nice jpegs straight from camera as with most Oly cameras.
 
twist said:
GX1 and 20mm, nice and small, hi iso is good, I tried the X100 but AF was very poor in less than ideal light. £250 after cashback for GX1 and 20mm prime around £200 used. .
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That's a good deal on the GX1 - you can get cashback on the 20mm f1.7 too - when bought new it's only about £220 after cashback.
 
drb5 said:
That's true. Nothing is perfect without paying funny money.

The high end Fuji's look good, but too much money.

OMD is too large IMO.

Thinking MAYBE X100 or RX100, but need to handle them first. I'm a single prime user generally, but like the idea of a camera that noone would bat an eyelid at.

Will be used mostly for family shots and out n about.
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Your joking, OMD too large then considering x100, :s
 
Are they comparable? If they are, then the next point is cost. The x100 is available for £500 as a refurb. That's pretty much what money I have in the 5Dc and not far off a new RX100.
 
I assumed you were comparing them on size, dismissing the OMD on size is fair enough if looking for a 'compact'. I'd not class the x100 as a compact either, that's what I'm saying. RX100 now your talking, it's lovely :)
 
I haven't seen them side by side and DID think the OMD looked larger in size than the X100, but I take it they are similar?

Keep thinking there's nothing sexy about the RX, but the X100 oozes it. Lol
 
danbroad said:
Yes, and if you consider the RX100 as a 28mm fixed 1.8 then it meets your needs. Plus, if you look at it that way then there's a special mode on it which accesses other focal lengths with slower f numbers!
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Lol, that's true!
 
I'd take an ugly camera over an atheistically pleasing looking camera every day, if it performed better. That said the X100 is a beauty, but the RX100 cannot be called ugly.
 
I don't say the RX is ugly, but the Fuji looks fantastic.

I understand the RX only beats it in terms of what they are design as?
 
drb5 said:
Are they comparable? If they are, then the next point is cost. The x100 is available for £500 as a refurb. That's pretty much what money I have in the 5Dc and not far off a new RX100.
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RX100 has come down in price recently - you can get it new from amazon UK for £387 after cashback: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...W&linkCode=shr&tag=1567&qid=1352842818&sr=8-1 - might be even cheaper either grey import (digitalrev / onestop digital etc) or amazon. de/es/fr but I have not checked.
 
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You need to get your requirements set. You said you needed and EVF or OVF and lots of cameras have been suggested that have neither so should be ruled out.

If you are happy using fixed lens and need OVF and/or EVF the X100 is the answer (especially when the OVF is so good).
However, the focusing is not fast (presume you wanted phase detection for speed?)
 
Not really. I'd PREFER some things, but as has already been said, I won't get everything I want....unless I can afford an RX1.

I think I'll need to have a play of one or two next.
 
I think it's true of every camera on the market. :)

Did you find ANY difference in AF speed with the X100 after the FW update?
 
I bought the canon G1X as a walkaround & i love it.:):thumbs:
 
drb5 said:
Not really. I'd PREFER some things, but as has already been said, I won't get everything I want....unless I can afford an RX1.
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Fair enough, although your OP was not exactly clear :)

"I could go another one if it had OVF or EVF and phase detection."
 
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