Pocketable camera?

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Pietrach

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Hi

I used to own a dslr (mid-range) and loved the picture quality and level of control. When my son was born I felt I am missing too many potential photos by leaving the camera at home due to its size. I sold it and got myself sony NEX-6. A great camera and much smaller, but facing the same problem. Still too big. As such, I am considering selling NEX and getting a good compact (RX100?) for frequent family walks etc, and a basic DSLR for image quality where I can afford the bulkiness factor.

However, first I will give myself the very last chance of trying to find a single camera that would satisfy my needs:

- Truly pocketable with at least one of the lenses. I mean here jeans back pocket;
- Interchangeable lenses (other lenses can be bigger);
- Best possible image quality. Close to a DSLR with kit lens will satisfy me.
- If it is to be my only camera I would not want to go below micro 4/3;
- Built in or optional flash;
- Built in or optional viewfinder;
- Below £300 for a second hand camera with lenses.

The above is a MUST. I know such camera may not exist, but I would like to know the best options. I am thinking either a pancake zoom lens such as ZUIKO 14-42 EZ (is it really pocketable?) or a set of two lenses (a prime pancake for pocketability and a standard zoom when I can afford bulkiness).

Thank you
 
Doubt you will get any interchangeable lens camera in your back pocket. The RX100 may surprise you and it might be the only camera you need they really are great.
 
robj20 said:
Doubt you will get any interchangeable lens camera in your back pocket. The RX100 may surprise you and it might be the only camera you need they really are great.
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The Olympus E-PM2 is small. Has built-in IS. It's pocketable with a 15mm f/8 bodycap lens. And it'll fit comfortably in cargo pants or jacket pocket with a 14mm f/2.5 or 20mm f/1.7 Panasonic pancake. It'll also accept an EVF.

The image quality is rather good. The sensor is I think the same that's used in the original E-M5. The only thing to watch out for if you're buying second hand is that the little rotating dial on the back can be a bit temperamental at times.

However, given the choice, I'd probably opt for an RX100 (M2 or upwards).
 
robj20 said:
Doubt you will get any interchangeable lens camera in your back pocket. The RX100 may surprise you and it might be the only camera you need they really are great.
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:plusone:

I have a Fuji XF1 (actually, 2 of them) and I wouldn't want to walk with it in my jeans' back pocket, let alone any interchangeable lens camera. Unless you include a phone with those clip on lenses.
 
Agree with the above, no interchangeable lens camera will fit in a back pocket, even the ones with a pancake lens.

RX100 or G7x as Twist says are your only options. Loads of manual control and very good image quality. But they're only 1" sensors so never going to compete with DSLR's in anything but good light, and of course you're going to struggle to get any meaningful subject isolation.
 
Seeing as you want to capture moments rather then turn those family moments into photo shoot sessions the RX100 or G7X as mentioned above are perfect. I am in a similar situation and got some good advice in this thread. The G7X offers touch focus which could speed up things and has the longer reach if son is just out of reach. The video quality is also meant to be decent.
 
adrianday said:
The Olympus E-PM2 is small. Has built-in IS. It's pocketable with a 15mm f/8 bodycap lens. And it'll fit comfortably in cargo pants or jacket pocket with a 14mm f/2.5 or 20mm f/1.7 Panasonic pancake. It'll also accept an EVF.

The image quality is rather good. The sensor is I think the same that's used in the original E-M5. The only thing to watch out for if you're buying second hand is that the little rotating dial on the back can be a bit temperamental at times.

However, given the choice, I'd probably opt for an RX100 (M2 or upwards).
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Why miss out the mk1? Stunning image quality and price now down to £240 new. Bargain of the century.
 
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snerkler said:
Agree with the above, no interchangeable lens camera will fit in a back pocket, even the ones with a pancake lens.

RX100 or G7x as Twist says are your only options. Loads of manual control and very good image quality. But they're only 1" sensors so never going to compete with DSLR's in anything but good light, and of course you're going to struggle to get any meaningful subject isolation.
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Low light with the RX100 is surprisingly good, I'm happy shooting my mk1 at 3200 iso where it betters my canon APS-C bodies.

And with its f/1.8 equivalent lens at 28mm, it offers very good shallow depth of field.
 
boliston said:
Back pocket is a daft place for any camera as one day you will forget to remove it before sitting down......crunch!:crying:
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There may be be an alternative place...

Pulp-Fiction-Butch-s-Birthright-Lancet-Watch-3.jpg
 
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Mind you, even one of the little Minoxes would be a tight fit!!! (And the document copying focus chain might prove an embarrassment!)
 
Thank all for the advice.
The "back pocket" was more of an illustration of the size I am thinking about than the actual place where I carry a camera. I never had a camera that would fit there.
 
Another boring RX100 recommendation here! I've got a D800 and like yourself, got a Nex 6 for something a little more portable/lightweight for hikes etc. However, since I got my RX100 [mark 1] the Nex hasn't been shown much love, sitting in the middle ground weight/size wise. The RX100 really is a surprisingly capable bit of kit. Now, about that new mark 4 version...
 
I carry my (cased) Fuji XF-1 in a shirt pocket. Not tried an RX100 since I have no need for (yet!) another pocket camera. Neither is interchangeable lens though.

When I was looking for pretty much what you're after, I could find nothing that meets your requirements in all the MUST categories you've listed.

I wish the perfect camera existed, although I suspect that everyone would spec theirs differently. Looking at the table in front of me, I can see a fair selection of different types, all of which are decent examples of their class and all of which are very different (and none of which are perfect!). The fact that they're on the table rather than in the cupboard means that they get regular use.
 
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