Digital point and shoot advice

[takeda72]

Hi everyone,

I want to buy a digital point and shoot to carry with my M3.

My idea is to shoot mostly in BW on my way to work (since last month I walk to my office), but I want good color rendition for travel and landscape in daylight.

But I cant decide on these 3 cameras: Leica Dlux 3/Panasonic LX2 (just because of the 16:9 ratio); Canon G9 (or a used G7, I know that doesnt have raw, but...) and a Ricoh GX100.

I would go for the Sigma DP1, but it is impossible to find one here in Argentina.

Can you help, please? I read a lot of reviews on the net and I am confused!

Thanks.

Best.

Andre

 

[navilluspm]

How about a fujifilm f30 or f31fd if you can find it? Another option is there new f100fd. I have none of these camera's but I do have the s6000fd (aka. s6500) which shares the same sensor as a f30 and f31fd. I know these camera's are known for low light, but they are pretty good in good in good light. The Super CCD produces a more film like image to my liking.

 

[navilluspm]

Here's a link to some samples of the f100fd

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1012&message=27256885

 

[takeda72]

Thanks... I already looked for this Fujifilm here and I cant find them. 🙁

 

[kshapero]

I have a Pany LX-2 and almost never use it. I keep a ZI with me all the time. Want to buy it?

 

[gavinlg]

Go the G9 or the GX100 - they're both excellent.



To be honest though, it seems as though that sigma dp1 blows them both completely out of the water image quality wise... There are some on ebay

 

[ernstk]

Do you need zoom, or fixed lens?

If fixed, then the Ricoh GR Digital will give better image quality than the GX 100. Also, the B&W jpegs straight from the camera are excellent, see below.

Regards
Ernst

GR Digital ISO 100

 

[pvdhaar]

If black and white is what you're after, then I'd certainly give the Nikon P5100 a look. They've got an ever so sweet B&W mode that allows color filtration in-camera. You've got a choice of none, yellow, orange, red and green filters to tune the capture to the situation.

Examples: filtered Red, filtered Yellow, and a 1:1 crop..

 

[takeda72]

Thanks for all your answers!

I cant buy from eBay and from you guys... The custom taxes here in Argentina is so expensive. And since I dont have any trip to the US or Europe sometime soon, I will have to buy here.

I will take a look at the Nikon.

 

[cbass]

Panasonics are good for B&W shooting. Very nice images at ISO 100 and 200. There is some noise/grain at ISO 400 but it complements the B&W images, in my opinion. The Panasonics also have very fast auto focusing and image stabilization (IS). IS helps when shooting B&W because it lets you turn off the flash.

I'll probably get flamed for this, but I'd pass on the LX-series and instead look at the FX- or TZ-series cameras. They are smaller and much more pocketable and have fewer controls to fuss with. As the saying goes, the best camera is the one have with you.

 

[GeneW]

I'll second what Chris says about Panasonic Lumix models. The one I had produced the most film-like B&W of any of the compact digicams I've owned.

Gene

 

[mangamonster]

Do you need zoom, or fixed lens?

If fixed, then the Ricoh GR Digital will give better image quality than the GX 100. Also, the B&W jpegs straight from the camera are excellent, see below.

Regards
Ernst

GR Digital ISO 100

Yeahh, the GR-D is the best digital P&S I've handled...the ultimate quick and simple B&W pocket camera...the thing is really tiny for snappy hip shooting. They are still selling them new in cheap cheap bundle packs at popflash photo online.

I'm tempted to get myself a backup...$427 will get you a new GRD, with extra battery, 2gb sd card and newest firmware. Damm good deal.

-dave

 

[takeda72]

Hi guys,

I found a mint GX100 for a great price here and I decided to buy it.

Today I shot my first pics and I am very pleased with it. The viewfinder is great. And I really liked to shoot in 1:1... yes, I know we can always crop, but I have this philosophy to never crop my photos.

I guess it will be a great friend for my M3.

Best.

Andre