Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

The great majority of my photography is landscape with a FF DSLR, usually on a tripod. I do not have a good quality compact (pocketable) camera and would like to have one for when I'm doing scouting trips for shooting locations (living in the Rocky Mts requires a lot of that!) and don't want to carry my full setup on hikes like this, and also for other occasions like bicycling, etc. when a small camera is necessary. I would like as good an image quality, especially sharpness, as possible in a compact camera such as this, or at least as possible in one I can afford (I realize I can't realistically expect the same level of performance as my DSLR). I would like to do some medium sized prints I would take with this camera.

Some of the features I want are both JPG and RAW ability, a viewfinder (either optical or a good electronic), and a reasonably long fixed zoom lens, at least 100mm FF equivalent but preferably longer. A robust build would also be desirable. Unfortunately I will probably need to buy used because of the budgetary restraints of retirement, and although I do not have a set in stone cost ceiling, probably not more than $400 - 500 if at all possible.

I've done some research and two that seem promising are one of the Sony RX100 line (I believe there are 5 or 6 versions) and the Panasonic Lumix ZS 200 or predecessors. I wonder if an older version of either of these would be close enough to the latest to be ok for my uses (again, looking at cost).

Any suggestions or advice about these two cameras, or any others, would be appreciated. I realize there have been previous threads on this general topic but my needs are somewhat different than the typical travel camera features and I hope asking this is ok and not repetitious. Thanks in advance.

Silverrails

If you just need the camera for "reference" or "location", would not a Smartphone accomplish that task for you?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

And it could geotag the images.

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

Thanks for the suggestion of a smartphone but I'm all thumbs when using one of those to take photos and I'm much more comfortable with a small camera. When referring to the use on exploring for locations I didn't mean the use would be for recording the locations but rather to shoot from the locations and then examine the images when back home. Sometimes that helps me to determine the potential of a location.
Also, I do want to make some prints from this camera and I believe a phone will be inferior for that. Just my take on this and I certainly may be wrong. Thanks again.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I have a first version Sony RX100. It is a marvelous camera. I think the new ones are about $400. I wanted to shoot 4K video and it wouldn't do it so I got a Panasonic LX100. I think they are about $600. Also a marvelous camera. My wife takes terrific images with a Lumix ZS100, now about $400.

What can I tell you about them?

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

My pocket camera is a Canon G1X III and with it's 24 megapixel APS-C image sensor, it does record images as good as a DSLR. It does not have a lens as long as you are looking for but there are screw on lenses available. It's not a cheap camera but it is a good camera.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Sony, Panasonic, and Canon pocket cameras are among the most popular. You can get an earlier model of the RX100 series. The latest one, model #7, is too expensive for my budget. It is by far, the best of the best pocket cameras. But, there are also other Sony, lesser expensive, very good pocket cameras available, that shoot JPEG and RAW. Good luck.

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

How much difference, or improvement, is there in that first version of the RX100 and the later versions? Certainly there are major differences in the costs. Thanks for the reply.

Flickwet Loc: NEOhio

Actually why not a Micro Four Thirds?

Collhar Loc: New York City.

So true. A cell phone is a single button take the picture/location and be on your way.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

I recently used the I Phone 11 camera for reference photos on a trip to the Smoky Mountains. I also was shooting with a dslr. The wide angle photos the I Phone 11 now takes were beautiful.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

The iPhone and smartphone industry are making camera phones for a majority of consumers who will never own a DSLR, Bridge Camera, or compact camera. The iPhones cost as much today, as a new crop sensor DSLR. And they do video as well. I don't know of anyone today, including young teenagers, that do not own a smartphone with a camera. There is a minority that have an interest in photography, using a DSLR. A friend bought his teenage son a Nikon D3400 bundle kit last Xmas. That teenager also owned a smartphone, before his father's Xmas gift.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

When I was in NYC recently I left my Fuji in the hotel room and used only my iPhone 11 Pro Max and I agree that the new wide angle lens took some excellent photos.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

I have and use a Sony Rx100vii, and couldn't recommend it more highly.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

I second this. I have an Olympus PenF it is powerful and compact. OM-D cameras are good too. Indeed, the PENF can even do a few things that my Nikon cannot do.