Compacts zoom - most at 100 mm ?

[damianmkv]

Is there a reason that compacts such as the xf1 and rx100 are 25(+/-) to 100mm ? Why do most of them stop at 100mm ? Why not ( say ) 150mm ?

Is it simply the manufacturer's desire to keep the body relatively thin or is there a more technical reason ?

 

[Swanseajack]

I maybe wrong, but I thought it was because of the fast lenses in these cameras which determines the size?????? As we know the Fuji starts @ f1.8. To keep the speed & low light performance the camera would have to be bigger.?????

 

[Nod]

Pretty much that. And the more x a zoom zooms, the more the quality (usually) suffers.

 

[jonbeeza]

Yes, I have gotten a good few photos with my Panasonic superzoom Compact, that I would never have gotten with the XF1. Big zoom, but poorer quality at least I did get the shots. For me I don't mind getting a lesser quality photo, so long as I get the photo I could not have gotten with the XF1. I have gotten squirrels eating high up in trees, and people shots in the distance etc etc.

As mentioned before, if only we could have a big zoom with a big sensor etc etc

 

[damianmkv]

Would an extra 50mm of zoom make the difference in IQ ? Or is it simply not worth the manufacturers producing them like this ? If the xf1 went to 150mm it'd be awesome ( and it's pretty good already ). I see the rx100 mk3 is due soon but it still is rumoured to stop at 100mm

 

[Alastair]

25-100mm (eq.) is a decent compromise at both ends whilst keeping the difference a manageable x4, it's a nice environmental wide and a decent isolating telephoto. Although I could see that 34-135mm (eq., x4) or 27-135mm (eq., x5) might be more attractive to a lot of people.

 

[Nod]

If you look at ranges like the f/2.8 "Trinity" and L series, you'll see that they generally have shortish zoom factors - 24-70 and 70-200 are both just under 3x zooms. Bigger zoom factors are available of course but the longer the range, the more compromises have to be built in.

It would be great to have a quality superzoom on a pocketable compact but at the moment it's not really likely to happen (although things do seem to be improving...)