Can't decide on a smaller kit

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fidsey79

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Sarah
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I have a D7000 with various lenses which are great but not feasible on a day-to-day, carrying around and slinging in a bag. I am looking for a second smaller kit which will enable me to take pictures with specific emphasis on my children and food with potential low light issues. I have been faffing around for ages so I would really like some help.

My options (I think are) as follows...

1. A Fuji X10
2. A Panasonic GX1
3. An Oly EPL3 or EPM1
4. An LX5

My main issue is that I think that the Fuji is expensive in comparison to recent deals on Panasonic and Olympus and I think that I might have more scope with extra lenses BUT I have a nasty underlying case of GAS and imagine that I would want a whole new set of shiny lenses to go with a new Micro 4/3rds. Then there is the LX5 which has dropped a lot in price, wonder whether that is another option. Any thoughts would be gratefully appreciated! Thanks, Sarah
 
GX1 or E-PM1 paired with the 20mm f1.7 Panasonic makes for a nice compact combination with excellent image quality and good for low light. No viewfinder with either one though (you can add an external one but they are pricey and you lose the use of the hotshoe). GX1 will be better in low light than the E-PM1 due to the better sensor.

Or Jessops are doing the GX1, 14-42 x zoom pancake and evf for around £520 after cashback + you can pick up the 45-200 lens for £75 (after cashback) if bought at the same time. If you wanted a compact there is the RX100 which is down to under £400 now after cashback and lots of people seem to like. Good summary of pros and cons here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3272168 (ignore the rest of the thread though, that forum seems to attract a lot of idiots!).

Nex 5n is good too and available fairly cheap (as it's been discontinued/replaced) - again no viewfinder but great image quality. The lack of good native lenses may stop you spending too much money and the 2 Sigma lenses (19mm f2.8 and 30m f2.8 are pretty cheap (£135 each) but good quality. AF is a bit leisurely compared to m43 though.
http://www.talknex.com/f7/new-very-happy-nex-user-1619/
 
The M4/3 cameras you mention are a step up from the other two in terms of af speed (for children) and depth of field control (for food). I'd say in IQ too because of the larger sensor but, that being said, the X10 and LX5 are very capable cameras.

If you could stretch to the new E-PL5 + kit lens you would be taking another step up in IQ. From what I've read it has the same sensor as the O-MD and the IQ should come close to matching your D7000. Mind you, I've never used a D7000 so I might be off the mark there.

The Olympus 45/1.8 would be a useful addition to the kit zoom. Very nice portrait lens, great for food and very inexpensive for it's IQ.

Just a word of caution about the GX1+pancake zoom mentioned above, good as it is, it has a power zoom which I found to be a pain for still photography but I am told is the bees knees for video.
 
Any interchangeable lens kit has a habit of growing! An MFT or similar kit is no excetion to that and although it'll be lighter than a "proper" DSLR, it'll still need a bag for storage and transport.

The current edition of Amateur Photographer has a group test of several smaller cameras (not a full test, just a comparison) and is well worth buying to see their conclusions.

I could throw another option into the equation - the Fuji XF1. f/1.8 at its widest (25mm, 35mm EFL), although it drops rather rapidly to f/2.8 by just under 35mm (EFL). AF is plenty fast enough for my needs - you'll have to try it yourself to see if it's quick enough for yours. A3 prints straight out of the camera (from Large, Fine JPEGS at 3:2 aspect ratio) are pretty damn good too. At least one report (that AP group test) says that it fringes badly but an A3 print of this
DSCXF0059.jpg
shows none, even under a 5x magnifier. (Plenty of places I would expect to see it in this 100% crop of the above
DSCF0059100_crop.jpg
)

The turning on process has been criticised by some (mainly Americans who presumably didn't read the instructions on the top plate sticker...) but is IMO rather clever (as is the X10's) and can (after about 10 seconds practise) be done one handed, as can zooming. Not sure about its ultimate resolution at the long end - the only test shot I've taken that would show that was indoors at high ISO - not a fair test (especially since it was also hand held at 100mm (EFL) at 1/8s!

A slightly more extensive (but still brief) evaluation from me is here http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=448962 - it seems that nobody else yet has one (it's fairly recently been released) or if they have, they haven't added anything to that thread!

Perfect? No but no camera can be. IMO, its shortcomings are that it doesn't go wide or long enough but with a 4x zoom (25mm - 100mm [35mm EFL]) it's plenty for normal use. It would be nice if it was faster (f stop) all the way up through but if it was, it would be much bulkier and for me, its pocketability (it fits in a shirt pocket, even in its case) is its most important attribute.

Looking at the manual's section on video (no experience of this feature - not someting I'll use much, if at all!) I see that it takes full HD video at 1920 x 1080 at 30fps as well as High Speed at between 70fps and 200fps depending on resolution.
 
Well Sarah how are you doing with your thinking?

Or have you made up your mind?

It would be interesting to hear as there are so many options it can get rather stressful. I guess some read too much (I do) and get into a permanent loop of looking (I do) and trying to find just one more review. The short list is made then another camera pops up and the shortlist is revised. Then the whole thing is ditched as you decide on a different approach. I'll soon need a shrink :gag:
 
I put an order in at Amazon for a X10! I must say I was a little shocked by my choice but I haven't had that runnaway bride moment and cancelled the order so that can only be a good thing! I decided that ultimately I did not want to carry another kit around and certainly didn't want to spend £600+ on a kit. I watched a lot of reviews on You Tube and I was especially impressed by the review by That Nikon Guy. I looked through Flickr too and read a stupid amount of reviews online. Oh, and I have been following the inspirational thread on here! Only problem is that I paid extra to have next day delivery and for some reason it will not be here until Monday even though I was well within the Amazon cut off point. Grrrrr.
Thanks to everyone who made suggestions, it was extremely interesting and helpful. Sarah
 
I am going through a similar exercise.

I hadn't considered the x10, will be interested to see what you think.. I am considering the rx100 for the large sensor.
 
fidsey79 said:
Just looked at your Flickr work, what a fantastic, diverse set of work you have! I especially love your deer / stag work!!
Click to expand...

Awe thanks.... Can't remember which Flickr page is linked from here and can't see from my iPad....
 
Sarah X10 from Amazon - mmm - they have a very good returns policy as you may change your mind when you get it ;)

I pull your leg as I remember a previous post when you bought an S95 and sent it back. Just after (I think it was) I also bought the same from Amazon and sent it back:lol:
 
Not sure how to post a link using my iPad.

Dp review just posted a what compact camera to buy.. X10 didn't make it, but g15 and Rx 100 both get in...

Decisions decisions ......
 
mipevo6 said:
Not sure how to post a link using my iPad.

Dp review just posted a what compact camera to buy.. X10 didn't make it, but g15 and Rx 100 both get in...

Decisions decisions ......
Click to expand...

Bit of a daft comparison that one - one mid range compact (the Panasonic) and 2 higher end ones (Sony, Olympus) plus a couple of bridge cameras which are not exactly 'compact'.

Personally, I would choose the RX100 over the X10 or g15 any day - but that's because I would want something that fits in a shirt pocket as I already have a couple of m43 cameras which don't - what your needs are only you can really decide - not dpreview articles or some people on a forum. ;)

Every camera is a compromise in one area or another (size, ergonomics, fixed lens vs interchangeable, af speed, price, etc so it's always about picking what is most important to you at the end of the day - there are very few bad cameras and lots of good ones.
 
fidsey79 said:
I quality bokeh but it might just throw the background out a tad. Sarah
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Just seen this comment and thought I should stick my nose in again.

Not sure if I said but I bought an X10 in April and sold it on here a few weeks ago but I am still (like you were) looking. One thing that annoyed me, with the X10, was if I used aperture priority which is my favourite, the shutter speed maxed out at 1/1000th when trying to use at any zoom length so 'blew all' the shot out ending in a big white blob.

So above is why I am looking at Panasonic LX7, Canon G15 & Nikon p7700 all with NR filters that help in bright conditions.
 
applemint said:
Bit of a daft comparison that one - one mid range compact (the Panasonic) and 2 higher end ones (Sony, Olympus) plus a couple of bridge cameras which are not exactly 'compact'.

Personally, I would choose the RX100 over the X10 or g15 any day - but that's because I would want something that fits in a shirt pocket as I already have a couple of m43 cameras which don't - what your needs are only you can really decide - not dpreview articles or some people on a forum. ;)

Every camera is a compromise in one area or another (size, ergonomics, fixed lens vs interchangeable, af speed, price, etc so it's always about picking what is most important to you at the end of the day - there are very few bad cameras and lots of good ones.
Click to expand...

I think they were trying to point out the best of the various types, enthusiast, travel, super zoom.

I like the fast lens of the g15 and the obvious handling benefits of the long evolution from the g1

However, the pocket friendly form factor of the Rx 100 will probably tip the balance in its favour......
 
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