Pocket digital camera recommendation

35mmdelux

35mmdelux

Veni, vidi, vici
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Hi all:

I'm overwhelmed with the vast array of compact (really small) digital cameras and need your recommendation for a small camera of good quality. It needs to be small enough where it can be taken anywhere without adding bulk or much weight. I'd like it to be better than my iPhone. I prefer fixed glass however will consider others. A fixed lens would help me control the image when I hand it to someone to include myself in a photo op.


Thanks - Paul
 
Sony RX-100.

Extremely good image quality and versatility and very pocketable. I gave mine to my son and miss it badly. I will have to get another - this time it will be the new mark II.
 
I'm enjoying a Ricoh GXR at the moment, although it is not as pocketable as some of the other cameras mentioned. If you can live with a 28mm view, I would argue the ergonomics are in another league to most compacts, and the Ricoh GR is worth serious consideration.
 
... the GRD is often to be found among people who are interested in taking actual photos

... I bought one, but I'm tempted to look for a good film GR to replace it
 
What some of of favorites are

Pocketable - pants
- 1 inch or smaller
-- Panasonic lx3 5 or 7 (I own the lx3)
--- baggy pants pocket
--- surprising good lens and nice overall iq
-- rx100
--- when using a recalled from memory option, it remembers all setting including the last focal length setting
--- 1 inch sensor
--- front jean pocket
- apsc size - pants pocket
-- Ricoh gr
--- iso good to 3200
--- 28f2.8 fov
--- crop 35 mode (10mp instead of 16mp), 21 fov adapter available (not in US yet)
-- Nikon Coolpix A
--- 28f2.8 fov
--- iso 6400 maybe 12800
--- supposed to have better af performance in low light then Ricoh gr, but slower in normal light
- jacket or really baggy pants
-- x100 or x100s
--- xtran sensor
--- 35f2 fov
--- 3200-6400 ymmv
-- x20
--- p&s size xtran sensor
--- 1600 iso
- csc type cameras - that can be setup to be jacket pocketable and pretty light
-- m43 Panasonic GF/GX or Olympus ep/epl series w/ 14 or 20 pancake lenses
-- Fuji xm1 or xe1 w/ 27f2.8 pancake
-- canon eos-m w/ 22 pancake

Anyway there are lots of options out there, these are the ones that come to mind for me. I am sure others have others opinions. It is really best if u can go to a camera store w/ your own sd card and c if they will allow u to handle some of these as well as take some pictures.

Good luck
Gary
 
Well, I just treated myself to Panasonic's TZ40 (may have a different name in the US). It has a 24mm - 240mm equivalent lens, amazingly bright 3 inch screen and the output is seriously good, in my opinion. Oh yes, no red dot but the lens does say "Leica".

;)

Edit...

Couple of corrections. The lens runs from 24mm to 480mm equivalent and the US name is "ZS30".

Also, it's not so fast to start up but once the lens has extended, it's very quick to focus and shutter lag is very low.
 
since you say small size is really important to you, I'd say the Fuji XF1 or similar...

dpReview has a really useful comparison of the Fuji XF1 and the Canon S100 and the Sony RX100. The Fuji is the prettiest (IMO) and has a manual zoom ring, which would make a huge difference to me personally.

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/fujifilm-xf1/
 
Pablito said:
since you say small size is really important to you, I'd say the Fuji XF1 or similar...

dpReview has a really useful comparison of the Fuji XF1 and the Canon S100 and the Sony RX100. The Fuji is the prettiest (IMO) and has a manual zoom ring, which would make a huge difference to me personally.

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/fujifilm-xf1/
Click to expand...

I actually bought one of those recently.
The used prices are around 200€ in Germany, which I think is a really good price, of a very capable camera. Had the RX100, but had problems with it's size. The IQ is better, but the price is around twice as high.
 
Given there are so many choices out there, perhaps it would be good to try to think of the following questions:

Do you need a larger sensor? Or is a small sensor enough
Do you need an optical viewfinder or EVF? Or is LCD ok?
Do you want a fixed focal length (28mm? 35mm?) Or do you need a zoom?
Is video important to you?
Do you need a flip up screen?
How important is the camera being pocketable? And what pocket are you thinking about?
etc...
 
I also recommend the Panasonic LX cameras. They power up quickly, focus quickly, have great lenses (the say "Leica" on them), and even have decent video capability. I also like the fact that they are made in Japan, and haven't had their production outsourced to the third world. My LX5 has been running strong for 3 years, my girlfriend's LX7 is marvelous.
 
Assuming we are speaking of digital. I have both a Panasonic LX-5 and a Panasonic GF-1. The former has a fixed lens and is smaller, the latter is a micro four thirds with interchangeable lens and is a little larger although still able to be carried in a coat pocket when using one of the wider lenses. Both are a few years old and hence can be picked up cheaply second hand. Both produce superb images. I have a high respect for Panasonic cameras having owned a few of them. There are made as if designed for more skilled and experienced shooters in my view (i.e. a few less software "bells and whistles" than some other cameras). For example, I think the GF 1 is preferable to Olympus M4/3 cameras and have better build quality and image quality. Having said this the Olympus M4/3 cameras have in-body image stabilisation which the Panasonic GF 1 does not (it has in-lens stabilisation which is less desirable if you plan to use the camera with a legacy lens and adpater). In any event both of these cameras produce superb images and no doubt the later versions such as the LX 7 and the GX 1 do to and bring other advantages - principally a later sensor which tends to mean better low light / high ISO capabilities. It all depends on what you are looking for. IN short while I am sure there are plenty of cameras that qualify these two both have excellent credentials as pocket cameras.
 
here's my vote, Olympus XZ-2. Bright lens starting at f1.8-2.5 is very much appreciated. It has 1/1.7 sensor. But the best thing about the camera is control. Great combo of lens ring wheel and Fn buttons at front. Give it a try.
 
Get the camera with the largest sensor in the physical camera size that you are looking for. I'm a big fan of the Sony RX100 -- a very large sensor in a body that is more compact than the Panny LX-5.
 
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