It's official, vintage digital compacts are trending (Petapixel)

[shawn]

Leica is still there too with the upcoming D-Lux 8 which will also probably spawn a LX100 III.

 

[JohnGellings]

I agree but also who else is doing anything in the compact camera category? When was the last time Sony updated the RX100 series? What was the last high end Canon Powesrshot? Panasonic? Olympus? Really I think it’s that Fuji and Ricoh are the last ones standing in the enthusiast compact category.

Well, Leica just brought out the D-Lux8 and Panasonic the S9. The D-Lux8 is the same old LX100 II in a new Q like skin. The S9 seems like it could be used as a pretty good video camera (though it has time limits), but for stills... not so sure. It lacks an EVF, mechanical shutter, etc. However, it is full frame and is small. I think it is underwhelming personally.

Sure Fuji and Ricoh were the last standing, but I think their popularity will lead to more compacts soon. I think the RX100 series and the D-Lux series are hampered by available sensors. Not much going on in the 1" and M43 sensor worlds it seems.

 

[shawn]

Well, Leica just brought out the D-Lux8 and Panasonic the S9. The D-Lux8 is the same old LX100 II in a new Q like skin.

Not really, it also has an OLED EVF. That will be a big upgrade from the field sequential EVF of the LX100 and LX100 II for those with fast visual processing and see the rainbows.

 

[JohnGellings]

Not really, it also has an OLED EVF. That will be a big upgrade from the field sequential EVF of the LX100 and LX100 II for those with fast visual processing and see the rainbows.

Well, ok, not EXACTLY... but an EVF upgrade alone is not a huge deal on a $1600 camera. It is still a 17mp camera based on an old sensor using the same lens etc.

 

[Disappointed_Horse]

Not really, it also has an OLED EVF. That will be a big upgrade from the field sequential EVF of the LX100 and LX100 II for those with fast visual processing and see the rainbows.

Interesting. I did not realize the D-Lux 8 had an OLED EVF—or any upgrade to the EVF at all. Judging by the initial roll-out, it seems as if the D-Lux 8 was rushed to market before the marketing team was even ready. I don't recall any such lackluster product launch by Leica. The S9 also seems as if it was rushed to market, as the lens intended to go with it wasn't ready in time.

 

[shawn]

Interesting. I did not realize the D-Lux 8 had an OLED EVF—or any upgrade to the EVF at all. Judging by the initial roll-out, it seems as if the D-Lux 8 was rushed to market before the marketing team was even ready. I don't recall any such lackluster product launch by Leica. The S9 also seems as if it was rushed to market, as the lens intended to go with it wasn't ready in time.

It is kind of amazing how Leica isn't highlighting the OLED EVF. One of the biggest complaints about the LX100 II was that the EVF wasn't upgraded. You have to go digging to find the specs for the EVF in the new Leica. It is possible the processor is upgraded too (might be needed for the EVF) as it has new features and such and compatibility with the Fotos app.

 

[JohnGellings]

It is possible the processor is upgraded too (might be needed for the EVF) as it has new features and such and compatibility with the Fotos app.

I would imagine it is...

While I'm being rough on these two cameras, I am glad to see them. These two aren't for me, but I'm a big fan of small but powerful cameras.

 

[JeffS7444]

I'm not sure when I last saw a new Sony HX99 available for purchase, but apparently it's still in production, as they've introduced a new retina-projection product built around it:
https://electronics.sony.com/imaging/compact-cameras/all-vlog-compact-cameras/p/dschx99rnvkit

 

[oldhaven]

Testing out my new to me Olympus C-8080WZ. I tend to take pictures of the same things in our back yard, so excuse these if they seem familiar, just testing out the camera. I need to find a tree stump and a wooden fence I think. 😉







and one using the internal black and white mode



So far I am pretty pleased with the camera. Is the image quality much better than the 4MP Olympus C-750UZ? Too early to tell. My only other digital besides IPhones is a Pentax K-5 IIs, at twice the 8MP of the C-8080. Still not a big number. That is definitely a more capable image maker though. I rather doubt I will ever need anything with more MP's than that.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Testing out my new to me Olympus C-8080WZ. I tend to take pictures of the same things in our back yard, so excuse these if they seem familiar, just testing out the camera. I need to find a tree stump and a wooden fence I think. 😉


View attachment 4875109


View attachment 4875110

and one using the internal black and white mode

View attachment 4875111

So far I am pretty pleased with the camera. Is the image quality much better than the 4MP Olympus C-750UZ? Too early to tell. My only other digital besides IPhones is a Pentax K-5 IIs, at twice the 8MP of the C-8080. Still not a big number. That is definitely a more capable image maker though. I rather doubt I will ever need anything with more MP's than that.

Dear oldhaven,

I have a couple of the predecessors to your C-8080. I was gifted a C-2040 by a friend nearly 20 years ago. It still works perfectly. In the past couple of years, I picked up a C-4040 and C-5050. I also had a C-8080 but when a friend said he was started an outdoor and nature photography club at the HS where he teaches, I donated it to the efforts.

I kind of like those littler Olympus bricks. I use them all several times a year but use the C-5050 the most because it takes a CF card. At 5.1 MP a 512 MP CF card holds about 2 sets of batteries worth of pictures.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA

 

[oldhaven]

Hi Tim,
The BLM-1 batteries for the C-8080 are pretty reasonable as third party items. I am finding I need to carry a spare. The Compact Flash cards are also reasonably priced and a 2GB card will hold 1000 HQ images and about half that for SHQ and less for TIFF or Raw. I am aware of the noise problem at max ISO of 400, but I intend to use it for landscapes, boating, and walks on good weather days. I even have an Olympus PT-023 underwater housing for it coming. (New in box $19.99!) I won’t be diving with it but want to take it kayaking without worrying about it getting wet.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Hi Tim,
The BLM-1 batteries for the C-8080 are pretty reasonable as third party items. I am finding I need to carry a spare. The Compact Flash cards are also reasonably priced and a 2GB card will hold 1000 HQ images and about half that for SHQ and less for TIFF or Raw. I am aware of the noise problem at max ISO of 400, but I intend to use it for landscapes, boating, and walks on good weather days. I even have an Olympus PT-023 underwater housing for it coming. (New in box $19.99!) I won’t be diving with it but want to take it kayaking without worrying about it getting wet.

Hi oldhaven,

I have a PT-019 or whatever is the correct housing for my C-5050. I've used the camera on the land with the housing and it's easy enough to use. One thing I will warn you about is if you have the entire housing with the counterweights you'll want to tether it to you or your kayak. If you should drop the camera overboard or upset the kayak that housing will sink like a stone! 😉

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[oldhaven]

Thanks for the warning Tim. It has an exterior removable counterweight and a tether, so I’ll probably be fine. Interestingly it also has a removable diffuser since the flash can be used.

Ron

This is not the PT-023 I am getting but is a good picture. I hate to think what Olympus had to invest in these things, since there seems to be a model for most of their Camedia series cameras. I also have one for the C-750 UZ

 

[Archiver]

I was going through my old photos last week and thinking about the quirks and limitations of those cameras. IMO they didn't really come into a currently decent form until the early 2010s, with 1 inch sensor compacts, the Fuji X10, usable aps-c compacts like the Ricoh GR and the unfortunately named Nikon Coolpix A, and very fast lensed compacts like the Pentax MX-1 and the Panasonic LX3 onward.

In terms of nostalgia for the younger generation, 2000s digicams are the digital equivalent of film. They are slow like older film cameras, produce lower resolution images, and have a look which younger generations will associate with their childhood. It's interesting that nostalgia fuels this niche. It's likely that future generations will look at today's smartphone photos in the same way, equating long depth of field 28mm, vertical orientation and slightly smeared details with memories of their childhood and teenage years.

What I do not miss about those older cameras, and compact cameras in general, is the extending lens barrel. Given how much I used them, turning them on and off many many times in one day, it's a wonder that most of them stayed functional. My Ricoh GRD III and GR suffered stuck shutter syndrome, which eventually bricked both cameras. My Panasonic LX7's lens motor has gone off, resulting in the barrel extending very slowly, if at all. For this reason, I now use my Panasonic LX10, Sigma DP1 and DP2 sparingly to help preserve the lens barrel motors and associated mechanical parts. It's also why I now favour cameras like the Sony RX0, which does not have an extending lens barrel at all, and small mirrorless cameras like the Panasonic GX85. I carry larger camera at least partially because of this aversion to motorized lens barrels.

 

[dkreindler]

In terms of nostalgia for the younger generation, 2000s digicams are the digital equivalent of film. They are slow like older film cameras, produce lower resolution images, and have a look which younger generations will associate with their childhood...It's interesting that nostalgia fuels this niche. It's likely that future generations will look at today's smartphone photos in the same way, equating long depth of field 28mm, vertical orientation and slightly smeared details with memories of their childhood and teenage years.

I think you're on to something here. I would bet that as Gen Alpha comes of age, whatever camera systems exist will have some kind of "film simulation" that mimics the look of early smartphone cameras. I can pick out an iPhone 4-7 image just by sight, and I wouldn't be surprised if these effects are baked in as JPEG simulations. OTOH, I really do enjoy the look that the CCD sensor compacts give. Examples below:

MINI UK Trip-6 by Derek Kreindler, on Flickr

Kettle by Derek Kreindler, on Flickr

 

[Archiver]

I think you're on to something here. I would bet that as Gen Alpha comes of age, whatever camera systems exist will have some kind of "film simulation" that mimics the look of early smartphone cameras. I can pick out an iPhone 4-7 image just by sight, and I wouldn't be surprised if these effects are baked in as JPEG simulations. OTOH, I really do enjoy the look that the CCD sensor compacts give. Examples below:

MINI UK Trip-6 by Derek Kreindler, on Flickr

Kettle by Derek Kreindler, on Flickr

I have a Canon S90 which I intended to use as my primary pocket camera, but was set aside after I got the Ricoh GRD III. Ergonomics won out there. I know a 22 year old woman who happily uses a S90 and loves the colours and 'vibe' of the jpegs.

 

[JeffS7444]

Since starting the thread in 2022, I've released some of my compact cameras "back into the wild", and there's more to come: If Gen Z and Gen Alpha can find value in them, great.

 

[luuca]

Testing out my new to me Olympus C-8080WZ. I tend to take pictures of the same things in our back yard, so excuse these if they seem familiar, just testing out the camera. I need to find a tree stump and a wooden fence I think. 😉


View attachment 4875109


View attachment 4875110

and one using the internal black and white mode

View attachment 4875111

So far I am pretty pleased with the camera. Is the image quality much better than the 4MP Olympus C-750UZ? Too early to tell. My only other digital besides IPhones is a Pentax K-5 IIs, at twice the 8MP of the C-8080. Still not a big number. That is definitely a more capable image maker though. I rather doubt I will ever need anything with more MP's than that.

Oh, man, I loved my C-8080... why did I sold this magnesium brick to buy a plastic Minolta 5D?

 

[JeffS7444]

Released an Olympus Camedia C3000 w/Smartmedia card and reader today.