Good alternatives to the Sony RX-100?

Cagey75

Cagey75

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Keith
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Had the rx-100 for a while now, and great a compact as it is - I find it very fiddly and at times, annoying to use. Every time you want to change settings, you end up fiddling with the front ring, and cycling through the fn button options. Things as simple as changing the focus point or ISO. In manual mode it's better, at least changing shutter speed and aperture are quick and simple.

I also find it a bit teensy - I don't have large hands, but I still find it a bit too small and 'slippery' even with the grip I added. Always feels like it's going to slip from your grip at any second, and that's not good when shooting hand held in low light

So I'm selling it on, and wondering what's out there that might be better? A 'little' bit chunkier perhaps, or at least a better grip on it. A good large [for compact] sensor, the usual macro mode, IS and HD video + RAW. There's so many out there, and not keeping up with the compacts, I get all confuzzled when I go searching. Any suggestions? I will look into them all, look up reviews etc ..


The Fuji X10 is out, had that before the RX100 and just didn't like it. I think it was even fiddlier!
 
Don't know much about the RX100, but it was floated around when I was looking for the Fuji X100. Might be worth a look.
The thing I liked about the X100 was the ease to change the ISO, shutter speed & aperture. No menus to fiddle with. It's well built too with a nice solid feel to it.
It's got a macro mode too. :thumbs:
 
If you're considering something a little larger then CSC cameras are the way to go, still less bulky than DSLRs but produce better quality images than compacts, even the RX100 as good as it is

Simon
 
I think if you want to fiddle with settings then you need a camera with good buttons, or great auto, heard lots of good about fuji 100s tho
 
simonkit said:
If you're considering something a little larger then CSC cameras are the way to go, still less bulky than DSLRs but produce better quality images than compacts, even the RX100 as good as it is

Simon
Click to expand...

Any csc models in particular Simon?

Not sure on the fuji models because i wasn't very fond of the x10. But i will have a look, thanks.
 
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Nikon J1 / V1
Very affordable now £150-250 mark with 10-30mm lens
 
Yeah been looking at those. The prices are great right now on them. Will look into it again.

Anyone got any experience with either the Canon G15 or the Nikon P7700?

Have to bear in mind too that though it will be mostly used by me, my missus will be using it on the side too. I don't want to compromise image quality just to have easier controls, but a nice balance of both.
 
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Cagey75 said:
Any csc models in particular Simon?

Not sure on the fuji models because i wasn't very fond of the x10. But i will have a look, thanks.
Click to expand...

To be honest I'm not fully up to date with the current CSC models so can't really be specific, they are very popular with people who don't want to carry around a DSLR all day but want similiar functionality...it's probably worth calling in to a store and trying out the menu systems and handling as it obviously caused you problems with the Rx100

Simon
 
I could find my way around the rx100 no problem, it was just some options had you fiddling through 3 different areas of the menu to set up. Not great when you just want to pretty much point, and shoot. I found my D800 easier to control!

There's no camera store nearby, closest good ones are about an hour away in Dublin. I could take the bus up I suppose, but I usually just go by online reviews. If there's a fair few positive ones, you know it'll be fine.

Just been reading up on the Ricoh GR too, looks ideal. It has a fixed lens [18mm 2.8, 28mm FX equiv] , but I don't mind that much. Zooming on these compacts tends to be very sluggish. What it has going for it is the APS-C sensor, and 2 fn buttons that you can add many options to for quick access. It's not cheap though.

I really wish reviewers would quit adding "No HDR mode" and "No panoramic" as cons, some of us just don't care about either. I can do panos with the iphone ... I just never bother.
 
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Cagey75 said:
I could find my way around the rx100 no problem, it was just some options had you fiddling through 3 different areas of the menu to set up. Not great when you just want to pretty much point, and shoot. I found my D800 easier to control!
Click to expand...

Just shows we're all different as the functionality is one of the things I really like about my RX100, takes a bit of time to setup the options to start with but I find it really quick to use. The Ricoh looks a very good camera, the only downside for me would be the fixed focal length as it's a bit limiting as a travel camera.

Simon
 
Does it begin with L and end with 7 by any chance Phil? :D I have looked at that, can't remember what it was turned me off.
 
Cagey75 said:
.....
Just been reading up on the Ricoh GR too, looks ideal. It has a fixed lens [18mm 2.8, 28mm FX equiv] , but I don't mind that much. Zooming on these compacts tends to be very sluggish. What it has going for it is the APS-C sensor, and 2 fn buttons that you can add many options to for quick access. It's not cheap though....
Click to expand...

I definitely like my GR although only had it for 2 weeks so still need to get used to it, but it's pretty much the only truly pocket-able camera with a DSLR sized sensor. I like the three "my" mode dial settings where you can save three different "snapshots" of every camera setting for quick access. Almost every button on the camera is programmable, not just the two "fn" buttons.
 
Having used a Ricoh GRD for a few years I can safely say it is the best compact camera to use (I have also owned X100, X10, XF1, LX3). They just got the whole design dead right from the start;
- great shape and nice materials with grippy rubber grip which sits in hand nicely
- wheel above shutter button for aperture/shutter/p shift
- assignable function button and assignable quick menu on dedicated switch
- Exp comp button
- Snap (zone) focus, again as an function button option (great for street stuff)
- Actually fits in the pocket whereas cameras like X100 really don't
- and loads of other things

The one and only thing possibly letting it down was the small sensor so now the GR has been released with APS-C even that 'issue' has gone away. Finding one to find in a shop may be a different story though as I have never seen a Ricoh GRD in a shop and they have been around for 6 or 7 years...
 
The Ricoh is the front runner atm. I'll be buying from amazon, so I'm looking at every clip I can find on it on youtube. It is the 'premium' one I'm looking at, pricier than the RX100 but it seems to have all I desire - only thing making me hesitate is that fixed wide angle lens. It won't be great for gigs if you're a good few rows back. I am also depending on my Rx100 buyer to hold his end. He's said he will send on the readies on Wednesday.

[edit] Not too promising with the "Usually dispatched within 1 to 2 months" :/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ricoh-Exper...=UTF8&qid=1370595129&sr=8-1&keywords=ricoh+gr
 
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I'd have to suggest the Fuji X20, not that I've used one but I love my X10, and adding a bit of shooting information into the real OVF... I'll repeat that, real OVF... should make it a star.

Yes, I know you said you couldn't get on with the X10, so I guess this isn't going to float your boat, but I thought I'd say it anyway. See Dan Bailey's review at http://danbaileyphoto.com/blog/my-fujifilm-x20-full-review/ and other places on his blog...
 
Cagey75 said:
[edit] Not too promising with the "Usually dispatched within 1 to 2 months" :/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ricoh-Exper...=UTF8&qid=1370595129&sr=8-1&keywords=ricoh+gr
Click to expand...

I think that wait would put me off when there are other suppliers who have it in stock at the same price. I used Clifton Cameras as they have always offered good service, but others on ricohforum and seriouscompacts forum have used srs microsystems as they are also a ricoh platinum dealer so get priority stock assignment from ricoh. I had one of the first batch of 12 initial units in the UK.
 
Thanks for that ;) will look at those options, cheers.

Since you have it, how do you feel on the fixed 18mm [28mm FX equiv]? Do you find it restrictive at all? And would you mind linking to some images taken using the Ricoh? Especially higher ISO samples.
 
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The Ricoh isn't really an alternative to the RX100 given the fact it's got a fixed focal length. I think the Pentax MX-1 looks very nice; never used one but its been highly rated and the lens is 28-112 f1.8-2.5 which can only be good. Not many people know it even exists but I'd look into it if you haven't already (of course it will be quite similar to the X10/20, LX7, etc.)
 
Cagey75 said:
Since you have it, how do you feel on the fixed 18mm [28mm FX equiv]?
Click to expand...

All GRDs have been 28mm and for me it is on the wide side. If I could choose I would personally go closer to 40mm for my purposes and do find myself cropping fairly often (which is limited on the older small sensor GRDs)
The 35mm of the X100 was better for me but the camera was a tank (which may not matter to some)

Put it this way, I have never found 28 too close!
 
I think I'd prefer it around 35-50mm too. It's a tough one. The Ricoh ticks all boxes for me, besides the wide angle side. I've been messing about with my 24-70 lens, sticking it to 28mm and just taking snaps of the kids - which is what any compact will be probably used mostly for - and, well ... I'm really not sure. The ricoh does have a 35mm option, at 10mp I think? need to re-check that - but I guess you could just shoot at 28 and crop later.

I'm thinking it'll be better than my 24-70 [at 28mm] for getting in close though. It has that auto-"macro" ability right? Meaning I won't have to stop, toggle through a menu to get to macro mode?

The main issue then, is having no zoom.

Still pondering. Thanks for all input.

Also, the obvious contender here if I go with a fixed prime lens, would be the Nikon coolpix A, anyone used one of these?
 
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RX-100 is now sold. I got exactly what I paid for it. Bar the extra grip I added and also gave the guy a wee lowepro case I was never going to use. He seemed happy anyway, gave him a brief tutorial on the cam too.

Decision time!

I'm really leaning toward the Ricoh GR, for best bang-for-buck, but God damn, that X100s looks sweet. Pricey bloody thing!! What else can I sell ... hrmmm .... :D

Erik Kim, Steve Huff, TheCamerasStore Tv and other usuals recommend the Ricoh highly. The Camera store did a face off against the Nikon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykbDLN15uxA
 
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