okay can you guys please help me choose between these cameras?

[kangarulzx]

Fujifilm X10 -----old
Fujifilm X20
Leica X1 -----old
Leica X2
Fujifilm X100 ----old
Fujifilm X100s
Sony RX100

hey guys im a total newbie at choosing compact camera
i like taking pictures and the retro looks on these cameras, and i am thinking about which one i should buy so it can work with my mac book pro retina 13inch via SDXC slot (these cameras uses SD card right?)

my price range is around 600 pounds, but if the leica X2 or the Fujifilm X100s is a better choice or a much more future-proof product, then i might consider saving and knife for the product.

i have 0 knowledge on shutter speed + range finder, but i want a decent mega pixel of 13+ (since recent phones like xperia z,S4 has 13mega pixels)

basically i want a camera that takes stunning pictures suited on my retina macbook pro, Similar to those example pictures on apple store's PC and a future proof camera for around 5years+

appreciate all comments

kind regards
thanks!

 

[archeophoto]

I think you should start out with a photography/camera course first and learn about photography. This is the only future proof investment in photography you will ever make. Maybe get yourself a used Nikon DSLR with a flexible zoom lens for the course.

 

[Sylvester]

They are in very different price ranges...
First, none of these is a rangefinder.
Second, any of these camera is capable of taking stunnng pictures.
Third, each single camera in the world is capable of taking the worst picture you've ever seen. No camera will take stunning pictures for you.

Do you want to learn photography or take family snapshots on occasion and shoot a couple images when you travel?

Any digital compact will do the job for the second option.

The cameras you listed all have easy to use manual override over the automation a standard digicompact will give you. If you are willing to know how to operate a camera, buy any of them and you'll be happy. But there's a learning curve. And you'll have to learn how to use a RAW converter to make the most of your investment.

If you want to learn with a nice camera, I suggest to you the X100 or the X100s. They're just really neat cameras and give every important control handy. It is a fixed lens so you'll learn how to compose your images at the same time that you'll learn exposure.

---- edit ----

I second the photography course.

 

[Pablito]

any of those cameras can make stunning photos, if the camera operator knows what he/she is doing. In the end there is no way to get around learning the basics if you want consistent good results. And the megapixels matter very little.

 

[GaryLH]

Of the ones that u have listed.. IMHO I would go for
- rx100 if u are ok about no view finder
- used x100 otherwise.

Others to consider in your price range but w/ smaller sensor
- lx7 -- u can find deals on this p&s because Sony rx100 surprised everyone when it shipped
- canon s110 same as above
- Fuji xf1 same as above

Gary

 

[froyd]

rx100 iwill be the only one truly pocketable in your list. The price is right within your budget, but it won't give you much room to grow and it has severe limitations vs a x100 or 100x, or even x10/20.

I think you should do a little more research online (DPreview might be a good place to start), refine the list of camera must haves and then come back to the forum with a request for suggestions.

 

[GaryLH]

I agree w/ the others they are all good cameras
Gary

 

[Rob-F]

I had the X100 for a bit, and didn't like that it has only one focal length. As good as the Leica X1 and X2 may be, I would have the same problem with them as well. Of the cameras you list, I do have the X10, which I like a lot. The 28-112 focal length range covers most situations. The JPEGS are very good, right out of the camera. Aperture won't handle its RAW files, but Lightroom 4 does. And the price is within your budget.

 

[NicoM]

Between all of those, I'd go with the Fuji X100s

 

[David Hughes]

Future Proof?

Future Proof?

Hi,

I'm not so sure about future proof; probably your camera will become future proof when you stop reading advertisements and/or reviews.

Here's an example, I recently found a very nice camera bag in a charity shop, just the right size for my M2 basic outfit. Price £5 and so asked to look at it and inside was an Olympus C-1400Xl. That's a digital SLR from the late 90's. Anyway, I bought it with the case and was surprised to see it still worked with 4 AA's and a Smart Media card in it. And the photo's are more than adequate for looking at on screen but hard to print beyond about A5.

BTW, the Leica Digilux 2 is a neat retro camera. And cheap for what it is but perhaps a little too old for you to consider at 5 mega-pixels but that's just my 2d worth. But its age does make it more retro doesn't it?

Regards, David

 

[thegman]

Out of that lot, I'd get the Leica X1. The price (used) is now pretty good. The X1 looks nice, the interface looks simple, and the image quality is unlikely to leave you wanting.

David is right, a digital camera is as future proof as you want it to be. If it's good enough now, why is not good enough in 5 years?

If you're worried about being able to get it fixed in 5 years, chances are any of those cameras will not be worth the cost of a repair, just buy another one.

Also, megapixels on phones cannot really be compared to megapixels on APS-C sensors, the sensors are so small in phones, the signal to noise ratio is through the roof. Even "good" mobile phone cameras are pretty awful compared to even a 4 or 6MP sensor in APS-C size.

Don't worry about image quality, all the cameras you list are easily enough for 99% of us. Don't worry about future proofing, no digital camera will last a lifetime. Don't listen to manufacturers, their business is not improving cameras, it's *selling* cameras. Businesses have got extremely good at telling people what to think, just ignore them.

Just get the camera you like, and use it. Seriously, don't worry about megapixels, it's more marketing than it is technology. Compare the 6MP Epson RD-1 images to the 12MP phone images.

 

[dbarnes]

From your list, to me it's the Fuji X100s that looks like it will be the most enduring, truly classic camera. Not futureproof; all of these cameras will be superceded by something better within five years. Probably within two years. But the X100s is the one camera in that group whose reviews have pretty much all been raves.

On the other hand, impressive as the X100s is, most beginning photographers will want a zoom lens and the X100s doesn't offer that. Nor do the Leica X1 and X2. The Fujifilm X20 and the Sony RX100 do have zooms. And they're smaller and cheaper than the X100s.

The X10 has been convincingly obsoleted by the X20.

All up, I recommend starting with the X20 or the RX100. As someone else here has pointed out, a key difference between those cameras is that the X20 has an optical viewfinder and the RX100 doesn't. Some people care a lot about this. Others don't.

All of the cameras on your list have good sensors and lenses and can record images that your Mac can show off well. But it's the photographer who decides what to record -- which framing and which moment in which light. To learn to make good decisions of that kind, a good first step is to take a photography class. The second step is to take lots and lots of pictures!

Good luck! Have fun!

 

[Eric T]

Fuji X100s - hands down.

 

[kxl]

Not to be a Sony fanboy, but I would add the Sony NEX6 with 16-50mm to your list, assuming that's within your budget. Image quality and size are comparable to the others on your list, and if/when you outgrow that zoom lens, you could always get an adapter to use lenses with other native mounts (M, F, FD, etc...)

 

[kangarulzx]

alright guys thanks for the advice, i might be going for the mid range 500pound fujifilm x100, x100s is nice and all but i doubt i can use it to its full potential since im a beginner, the price of x100s is more of equivalent to canon 7d dslr /w lens which is alot (roughly 1100 pounds).

leica x1 looks actually pretty nice except for the fact that i could not attach a lens hood that looks so nice on the fujifilm x100/x100s

 

[Addy101]

I don't know what retina screen you've got, but the highest resolution screen is 5mp, so, anything over 6mp is overkill. The sensors in phones don't really have 13mp resolution, cause the lenses can't resolve it and diffraction kicks in. HTC decided even to go back to 4mp sensors to improve low-light image quality.

From this list, it seems the Sony rx100 or Fuji x20 would be most suited as the other ones would be more suited for seasoned photographers and may be too restrictive for you. I would also recommend you to look at (Panasonic and Olympus) Micro4/3 cameras and Sony Nex cameras if you feel you will outgrow the compact Sony or Fuji.

 

[ktmrider]

Fuji X100

Fuji X100

I would go with a Fuji X100 and it produces great images. With the introduction of the X100S, prices are great. I believe there is one here in the classified for $500. New X100S is great but for a beginner, not worth the extra $900.

 

[thegman]

alright guys thanks for the advice, i might be going for the mid range 500pound fujifilm x100, x100s is nice and all but i doubt i can use it to its full potential since im a beginner, the price of x100s is more of equivalent to canon 7d dslr /w lens which is alot (roughly 1100 pounds).

leica x1 looks actually pretty nice except for the fact that i could not attach a lens hood that looks so nice on the fujifilm x100/x100s

X100 is a nice choice I think, and the optical finder will give you a taste of a different sort of camera. You're avoiding the early-adopter tax by buying after it's been available a while. I'm sure you'll be happy with it.

 

[Franz Elmar]

I'd not worry about the number of megapickels since it's the quality of the pickels that matter, not the quantity. Those hi-rez cell phones are only marketing gimmicks, their photos still look like cell phone pictures.

Frankly all of those compact digital cameras suffer from obscure and too-tiny controls, clunky interfaces, and sluggish auto-focusing. You will not learn how to be a decent photographer from them but if you want to use them as an extended cell phone camera then they will make sharper, clearer images. Most of the experienced photographers who adopt the compacts are coming from experience using "real" cameras with tactile controls - and compromising in favor of the smaller form factor.

If you want a simple, fun, ignorant camera then continue to use your cell phone and get adept at the filters and Instagram type websites... you can make fun, cool images and post them on social media and all is well.

If you want to actually learn about photography then get a camera with aperture and shutter speed controls, a real optical viewfinder, and a modest but functional feature set. Use it without resorting to the idiot modes and read a little bit about how sensor or film sensitivity, shutter speed, and aperture affect the image.

Something like a 2007-era Nikon D80 with a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens (about $300 used) or even a classic 35mm film camera ($100 will buy a nice one) will provide you a platform to really learn something. The images will easily trump any cell phone and hold their own with the latest and greatest expensive cameras - and they really aren't that heavy or bulky to carry around.

And yes the correct term is megapickels.

 

[bwcolor]

You have one major misconception that you repeat in your post. Cameras do not produce great images, photographers produce great images. So many great images have been produced prior to any digital cameras being available. In fact, the only cameras that are future proof over the next five years are film cameras. All of the cameras that you have listed will be eclipsed by new models within the next couple of years. Of course, they should continue to operate much as they did when they were new.

I would suggest that you pick up some good introductory books on photography and then limit your initial purchases to used cameras. I think that starting out with an inexpensive DSLR and a zoom lens is a good way to get a sense of what your future needs might be and you should be able to sell the camera with minimal loss once you are ready to move on. If you insist on a new camera, you might want to look at the Panasonic LX-7. Forget megapixels. The LX-7 is an extremely competent compact and can be had for $299. I don't know if they are prices similarly where you live. I do know that I picked this over the X10. You can later buy an EVF. Again, you won't lose a lot of money when you are ready to sell the camera and it should prove quite capable. Do a search on Flickr, or take a look at some of the LX-7 work on this site. I purchased an LX-7 for my daughter who has a serious interest in photography. I could have given her my X100, but I think that the LX-7 is a better place for her to start and image quality is really great. The X100 is a niche camera that is for someone that knows what they want.