Musella Rose

I'm new here, but have been reading the forum for months. This question has been asked in all sorts of permutations, but I'll bug y'all with it again and in great detail. I have a Panasonic Lumix FZ70 which is great for photographing dragonflies/butterflies etc. However it is large and bulky. I'm looking for a very compact camera to carry with me at nearly all times for street photography, landscapes and an occasional macro. Great image quality is my first priority, I'd rate the FZ70's as just so so except at the wide angle end. I think perhaps something with a larger sensor. Followed closely would be size, something compact enough to have handy at all times, either in my purse or cargo pants pocket or even in a bag on my belt...not too worried about fashion consequences. I don't need a great deal of zoom, certainly no more than 5X, less is fine, but then again maybe a fixed lens is best and crop as need. I'm willing to spend up to $1000.00 for a camera, although if a much cheaper model better suits my needs...all the better. Oh yes, an electronic viewfinder is a must. I'm also 60 years old with a bad neck and consequently not the steadiest hands, so image stabilization is important as well.

The final caveat is that I live in a very rural area, the only option I have to hold cameras in my hand before purchase are at the big box stores like Best Buy or Walmart.

Please forgive me if this sounds pushy for a first post. I'm frustrated, searched online for days, started with a Sony Nex 6 and kit lens, then rx100, then some Lumix models, Canon G16....I'm at my wits end. Any help, even if it's a kick in the seat of my cargo pants would be appreciated.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I really like the Canon G1X II - read about it here - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-powershot-g1-x-mark-ii/ - not totally compact though. The EVF is optional. Consumer reports rated best camera ! I also like the Sony RX10 though a bit more money .....

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Here is the RX10 - http://www.sonyalphalab.com/product-review/sony-rx10-review-best-all-in-one-camera-ever-made/

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III

Best compact I've seen in a long time...

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Suggest you research the Nikon P7800. Two other soon to be released cameras are the Panasonic LX100 and its twin brother the Leica D-Lux Type 109. (I can hear the howls of the Leica-phobes now). But RESEARCH the specs and READ every word of those boring reviews and THEN decide. You may be getting on in years, but you obviously have a brain. You've already wisely decided that you don't want to select from the myriad of available choices that tout themselves as 'the best'. This is a serious investment that will pay you back with fabulous images.

Musella Rose

Thanks to all of you for prompt responses! Some of these are cameras I have not yet considered, so lots of research left to do.

I'm debating now if I really need an EVF. Do most of you have an easy time with the LCD in bright sunlight? Along that line does the tilting LCD on the RX100 II make that big a difference vs. the fixed one on the RX100?

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Welcome. If the EFV is not too important, I just got a Canon SX-510 on a cloeout for $199 (normally a $400 camera) because its replacement is out. It is small, takes great pictures, has automatic and manual settings and a 30x zoom. Pretty hard to beat. I use it as my 2nd camera. Hope this helps.

amehta Loc: Boston

The "large sensor advanced point&shoot cameras" include
1. Sony RX-100 (I, $500; II, $650; III, $800)
2. Canon G1X Mark II, $800
3. Canon G7 X, $700
4. Panasonic LX100, $900
Of these, the RX-100 III and LX100 have an EVF while the he RX-100 II and G1X II have an optional EVF, but for about $240 (G1X II) or $450 (RX-100 II). The RX-100 I and G7X have no EVF option.

I do not know of a review of all of these, but there is every reason to believe all have excellent image quality. I have the RX-100 I, the oldest, smallest sensor, and slowest lens of the bunch, and it does very well, so the other 5 should be at least as good.

If you want the camera today, the RX-100 III is probably the best choice, since it has the EVF built in. I do not think the LX100 has shipped yet.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

:thumbup: :thumbup:

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

If you are serious about good images at all times you want the EVF ......... yes, the tilting LCD is very handy - IF you can see it.

Racmanaz Loc: Sunny Tucson!

I really like that Canon G7X that Amehta mentioned due to it's compactness and most of all the tilting touch screen.

PixelPaula

Consider the Olympus Stylus 1. It is my companion camera to my Nikon D5300 and it has the features you are seeking.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I was waiting for someone to suggest that.

Use snapsort.com to compare features. Also try dpreview for comparisons of different cameras, or just Google one camera vs another. Whatever you get, it will be a good camera. There's no junk out there. Decide what features you want and find a camera that has them.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Panasonic LX100 got a good review over here. Take a look at this;

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/panasonic-lumix-dmc-lx100-full-review-26173

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: