Best low-light compact under 300 USD/EUR?

[jonasv]

Dear all,

A friend of mine is an aspiring playwright/director. She would like to be able to take pictures in the theater, or shoot a short movie every now and then. Because of the lighting conditions, I figure the camera's low-light capabilities will be crucial.

And since I said 'aspiring', she has a budget of maximum 300 EUR.

What would her best option be? I know cheap compacts = small sensors = lots of noise at high ISO.

A Fuji X10 with a slightly larger sensor is currently € 450, but might drop because of the X20 announcement?

Better (cheaper) options?

Thanks!

 

[Kiev Ilegalac]

something from the panasonic lx line - lx3, lx5, lx7... I don't know how much they cost at the moment (and which are actually available), but that was the first thing come to mind after reading your question.

Cheers
Alex

 

[OlliL]

Does it have to be new?
A used X10 would be in the budget, but also a new
Olympus XZ-1 might be within.

Both have the advantage of a relativly fast aperture on the tele end, what the LXs miss.
The X10 also offers better than average noise levels, on higher ISOs.

 

[umcelinho]

used canon s100
used panasonic lx7 (might be hard to find), but my lx3 delivered, and it's under $300
used rx100 (might be hard to find for about $300, maybe by the end of the year)

 

[cosmonaut]

From my experience with the XZ-1 I wouldn't go that route. It is really bad at high ISOs. I wasn't happy with the Fuji line of P&S cameras either. For just a bit more maybe a used Sony RX-100. I don't think I have read a bad review on it.

 

[sevo]

Large sensor compacts are luxury class and not old enough yet to meet your price point. Few had a predecessor, and even where there was one, the market is swiped clean of the it, superseded luxury class gadgets generally going to a landfill rather than getting discounted, to avoid cutting into the successors' sales. If any, the (upper end of tiny sensor) Panasonic DMC-LX5 might qualify, but it is slightly above your price limit, and in terms of low light capability its small sensor takes its toll.

If it can be a bit less compact, many of the first generation EVIL cameras still are on sale, heavily discounted - remaining samples of the Sony Nex-3, Samsung NX-100, Nikon 1 V1 and a variety of earlier MFT cameras have dropped below €300 with kit lens at many dealers. And these are vastly superior in low light.

 

[matt_mcg2]

Yeah, the XZ-1 is a good camera, and I've had excellent low light shots. But I've got them by shooting at ISO 250 or so and relying on the very fast (for a compact) lens and stabilisation. It's not good over 400. Very noisy. Also, not great for movies in my experience. It hunts a lot for focus and would be poor in a theatre type environment.

On the other hand, in decent light or with a tripod and a lower ISO (below 400), the image quality is really excellent.

 

[jsrockit]

Pentax Q
Nikon V1

However to do it right, she might want to step up to an older Micro 4/3 like the Panasonic G1.

 

[Addy101]

Is there a specific reason why it has to be a compact? What 'bout a m4/3's camera from a few years back? harrisoncameras in England has a Olympus EP-1 with kit that is within your pricerange (easy), they do ship to the continent and I dealt with them before to my joy.

Else, what the others said, a Panny LX-3 or LX-5, a Canon G11 or S100 or whatever. A lot of people are quite happy with the low light results of these cameras.

 

[jonasv]

Thanks everyone!

I saw a second-hand 'as new' Fuji X10 that would be within budget, that might be an option, I think it would outdo the S100, G11 and similar cameras?

I didn't know anything about the Panasonic LX-line, but I will look into it!

Is there a specific reason why it has to be a compact? What 'bout a m4/3's camera from a few years back? harrisoncameras in England has a Olympus EP-1 with kit that is within your pricerange (easy), they do ship to the continent and I dealt with them before to my joy.

Not necessarily a compact. Just thought that'd be the only options within that budget. The EP-1 looks fine, but the f/3.5-5.6 lens would seem to negate any high ISO advantages that the sensor might offer.