Compact Camera Advice
Aug 3, 2015 09:25:47 #
I purchased a RX 100 iii for my trip to Sicily earlier this year on advice I received on this forum. I'm so glad I did. I was concerned about the lack reach but after traveling with it for 3 weeks realized it had all the reach I needed. Shooting indoors where no flash was allowed, I was glad it has a larger sensor. For those few times when I needed a little more reach the camera does have digital zoom. It fits in a shirt pocket, shoots in raw and has a pop-up view finder. My recommendation for sure.
Aug 3, 2015 10:28:39 #
I've had compact cameras without viewfinder and found them a problem in daytime outdoor shooting or even in dimlit indoor shooting. I went with the sony rx100 m3. It has a popup viewfinder a great sensor and a decent but not great zoom rangw 24 x 70 35 mm equivelent. I use it mostly in manual mode and shoot raw and get excellent results.. it has a built in flash (not very powerful), but no hotshoe. I haven't tried optically triggering an off camera flash with the built in flash but it should work. The m4 is out now and supposedly has a better sensor and some other features (not worth upgrading for me, but if buying new, I'd probably go with the m4.
Aug 3, 2015 10:34:18 #
Thanks everyone, this has been very helpful. Your suggestions came with opinions so I had lots of data points. Thanks.
Aug 3, 2015 10:45:14 #
Aug 3, 2015 10:49:07 #
After MUCH shopping, I decided on the Lumix ZS 40 with the 18.1 meg sensor. It's a discontinued $800 camera now available at most Costcos for $279. I've been a Nikon DSLR shooter forever. I can't believe the the quality of the images (up to 16x20) with the Leica lens. Best $$$ I've ever spent on a camera & I've been spending on them for 40 years.
Aug 3, 2015 11:04:18 #
Aug 3, 2015 11:52:50 #
Olympus Tough........great pictures, no lens to pop out, cold, hot, dust, rain,..no problem I love this little guy.
outside Moab UT, colorado river
Aug 3, 2015 14:08:51 #
pismojimbo wrote:
I purchased a RX 100 iii for my trip to Sicily ear... (show quote)
There's a software update for that. I downloaded it, but I haven't installed it yet. I think you can have the flash pop up when needed.
Aug 3, 2015 14:09:30 #
photobyal wrote:
Olympus Tough........great pictures, no lens to pop out, cold, hot, dust, rain,..no problem I love this little guy.
Those "tough" cameras are a good deal. I have a similar Nikon AW100.
Aug 3, 2015 15:07:59 #
tradio wrote:
You'll get lots of useful input on this question. I like the Sony RX100 II, It shoots RAW, has no viewfinder and fits in your pocket.
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Aug 3, 2015 15:12:09 #
jackpi
Loc: Southwest Ohio
jackpi wrote:
I love my RX100iii. It fits in my pocket, but has all of the controls you find on larger cameras. The image quality is fantastic at ISO 800 and below. The RX100iv has enhanced video capability, but the image quality is not improved over the RX100iii.
Check out this link for a comparison of the Sony RX100M3 to the full frame, 36Mp, Sony A7R with the Zeiss Otus lens:
http://randolphimages.com/otus/

Aug 3, 2015 15:14:07 #
I have the Sony RX100 III and for what it is, it is amazing. It produces excellent images, but it's greatest selling point to me was it very tiny size. It accompanied me to Europe for three weeks and I hardly used my Canon DSLR that I packed along with several lenses. If you want arguably the best point and shoot camera available in a size to go in your pocket, the Sony fits the bill, for me at least.
Aug 3, 2015 15:48:07 #
MarkD wrote:
Then consider one of the RX100 series or the Panasonic LX100. If they are too expensive (I think they are overpriced) consider the Panasonic LX7.
Panasonic lx7 is a B&H recommendation
J
Aug 3, 2015 18:03:03 #
hj
Loc: Florida
Papa j wrote:
Panasonic lx7 is a B&H recommendation
J
J
I have one on this forums "Buy Sell" section.
Aug 3, 2015 18:24:36 #
streetshot wrote:
I had a Canon S120 and gave it to my daughter. It... (show quote)
Look at the Nikon P7800. I looked for two years for the ideal small camera and finally found this one. The lens is razor sharp and actually does a better job on close ups like flowers than my DSLR (better DOF at close shots). It has both a EVF and a 3" screen. The screen rotates out and then 180 degrees so you can do selfies if you wish. It shoots RAW and has a good selection of scene modes as well. It has a hot shoe so I can use my SB800 flashes with it but I pack it with an SB400 and that makes a nice little kit. The 28-200 zoom range is just right for a camera like this. It might be a little large to carry in a shirt pocket but it works just great in a jacket pocket.
Steel stacks shot with P7800
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