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My better half wants a 'good' camera. So, I've been looking at high end compacts v compact system cameras as her birthday is looming. (DSLRs are not an option.)
See wants auto, brilliant image quality and small size. The Sony DSC-RX100 II or III seems to be very well regarded for the point and shoot photographer who may develop into a budding amateur photographer who wants manual control. My only worry is if she does really get into it will she want to be able to swap the lens? (Which with this particular Sony you can't).
I'm not anti compact system cameras, but wonder if they are a step too far.
Anyone else had the same quandary? Which way did you go? Any advice?
Thanks
I have the RX100-I and it's a very good camera for a "take anywhere" item. Sometimes it makes me wonder why I bother lugging a big DSLR around the place. The answer is of course that small sensor = more noise and less dynamic range = not so nice pictures, and also no control on depth of field. Depending on budget, can you look at the Olympus OMD range, or Fuji XT-1 ?
Sony a6000 has a bigger sensor so the performance from the kit lens will better the rx's lens (despite what the numbers might fool you into thinking). The a6100 has dslr class AF too. And... you can use different lenses.
The only downside is that it's a bit bigger.
I'm coming from 12 years of DSLR use, and recently bought an RX100 to lighten the physical load and still be able to shoot usable pics for clients (reference, landscape, building etc)
Points I have since considered:
pros
- Always have the camera on me so less change of missing 'that shot'
- Battery life better than expected, can shoot for a whole day and some (ymmv)
- IQ quite simply amazing, email if you want some examples (in my profile) although plenty online
- Lens is a good compromise for both wide and zoom ends.
Cons
- no bokeh! (Miss those lovely creamy defocused backgrounds, but that's why worth keeping a DSLR, even a cheaper one like my old EOS 10D)
- User interface is comparatively fiddly, fiddly wheel, fiddly handling, improved slightly with add on grip.
- Close focusing limited for macro, need to crop (although 20mp allows surprising amount of usable cropping)
- Shutter lag and no optical viewfinder severely limits action shots compared to DSLR,
Like bikes there is no one ideal camera, but I'm much closer to ideal with this and the DSLR, pack as required. I always thought micro 4/3rds etc are neither fish nor fowl, too bulky to be compact, expensive lenses, and miss the TTL viewfinder that make DSLR a joy to use.
I'm having lots of fun and capturing great shots with the RX100, and it's gotten me back into street photography, this thing is ninja!
Fuji have got some cashback deals for the next few months.
X-E2 has dropped in price recently and the "kit" 18-55mm lens is excellent.
I have the RX100-I … small sensor = more noise and less dynamic range = not so nice pictures
I've read the II and III and markedly improved versions?
Malvern Rider - that's interesting. Which model do you have? I’m thinking the RX100 could be a good starting point and if she really gets into the manual thing and finds the limits of the RX100 she can compliment it with a DSLR or compact system?
it's a MK1 - I will probably upgrade at some point as like the idea of a tilting screen. Unless something better comes along. I was greatly tempted by the low price and solid camera-ness of the Pentax MX-1, also like the Fuji X20, yet waiting for new models where hopefully they will match or exceed what I have with the Sony.
Latest 8 pics in my [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/morfe/ ]Flickr feed[/url] are from the Sony, have a look see what you think, they are all on auto, jpg fine, some are processed in Snapseed. Obviously using RAW will greatly improve things but I'm really happy tbh. Slowly learning to give up pixel peeping, coming from a wide format print background this is a slow process 😉
NB having not used Flickr for donkey's years, seems like all my old stuff was uploaded from viewing on a 1024 x 768 PC monitor, many shot on a 3mp compact back in 2002. How things have changed...now going to have to delete them all!
I've read the II and III and markedly improved versions?
There's nothing in it sensor-wise between versions... [url= http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare/Side-by-side/Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-III-versus-Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100-II-versus-Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-RX100___957_896_812 ]DXO...[/url]
The lenses differ and the III has a view finder.
On balance I'd say quality compact and then a system if she gets keen. A small camera will always be good to have
However do look at the Panasonic GM1 as well. Thats a a tiny system camera
Thanks for the feedback. In the end I went with the new Sony a5100. With the standard lens it's not a great deal bigger than the RX100 and price wise it felt like a no brainer as she'll be able to change the lens if she really gets into shooting with out upgrading the camera body.
If she really gets into photography, she will soon want a DSLR anyway. Always good to have a decent compact too though.