The high end compact camera market just restarted (RX100, EX2 and LX7)
Picture from CNET.
While mirrorless interchangeable system is our main thing it’s still interesting to see whats going on the the high end side of the compact cameras. They very often offer a real good image quality for a real pocketable size.
So it happens that David Pogue from the New York Times (Click here) writes about the new Sony RX100: “No photos this good have ever come from a camera this small.”. And latest rumor suggest that Panasonic will launch a similar camera (the LX7) next week! A bit less spectacular are the leaked specs of the EX2 with tiny 1/2,33 inch sensor (leak at Photorumors)
How big the interest in these cameras is…is also proved by the Overall camera ranking at Amazon (Click here to check it out). The ranking includes all cameras, compact, mirrorless and DSLR and the RX100 is on top!
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RX100 Preorders at Amazon US, Adorama, BHphoto, Amazon Germany, Amazon France and Jessops.
RIch
11 months ago |I bought an X10 about 6 weeks ago, before all these 1″ compacts started being announced – I have no regrets. The handling of the X10 just makes me want to use it and the image quality is extremely good (no comments about “orbs” please – I’ve noticed none myself in hundreds of exposures!).
The one thing all of these cameras (bar x10) are missing for me, is a viewfinder. I probably use the VF / LCD about 50:50, and there are times for me, when it would just be unpleasant to use the LCD. All the controls on the outside really do make you think about what you’re doing. I can’t fault it – it’s the camera I’ve most enjoyed using since I sold my Contaxes…
Harold GLIT
11 months ago |Each to his own , for sure… As for me , the X10 is the worst digital camera I have ever owned and used. This is the first time I had to resell a camera within the first year
for me it has so many flaws , it looks like a laundry list
Glad you are enjoying yours
Harold
Rich
11 months ago |You must have lived a very blessed life if this is the worst digital camera you’ve ever used! There’s a lot of sensationalism about this camera – I believe it’s a bit of a marmite camera – you either love it or hate it.
My last “serious compact” was a Ricoh GX100, which I just didn’t get on with at all, as much as I tried. Other people love it – as you say, it’s a matter of personal opinion.
While I often agree with the failings of the X10 in reviews, I must say that in my opinion the pros far outweight the cons. It’s not a one-size-fits-all, but it complements my other cameras really well and has provided me with some images I’m really pleased with.
BdV
11 months ago |Don’t believe what photorumors says, there’s a 1/1.7″ sensor in that EX2.
Miroslav
11 months ago |It is 1/2.33″
. Look at http://photorumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Samsung-EX2F.jpg
10.9mm refers to sensor size and is equal to 1/2.33″.
Can’t believe they’ve downgraded the series because of F1.4 sticker…
No need to report on this camera on MR anymore, it’s not a competitor for mirrorless cameras. Except Pentax Q
.
viking79
11 months ago |No, 10.9 mm refers to a larger 2/3″ sensor. The focal lengths on the lens imply 1/1.7″ so we have to wait for official specs.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2002/10/7/sensorsizes
BdV
11 months ago |They already corrected it.
reverse stream swimm
11 months ago |This is the largest sized commercially available BSI-CMOS sensor, taking the crown from Fujifilm. We’re all curious to see how it performs, it should easily beat the Canon S100 on sensor performance alone. (Canon S1oo using FSI-CMOS like in their DSLRs).
Also the bright lens even at telephoto end, makes the Samsung (f/2.7) superior to the Sony RX100 (f/4.9).
The new EX2F beats the RX100 at the tele end, and hence gets a better out of focus blur. Whether the bokeh is better too, we would definitely guess so.
Matt
11 months ago |@ Reverse stream swim – While the EX2 will have a larger aperture of f2.7 vs f4.9 of the Sony, the Sony’s longer Focal Length lens (37mm vs 17.2mm) will actually give it a shallower DoF than the Samsung, despite it’s smaller aperture. Light gathering will be less, obviously, but if the sensor is 1 stop better on the Sony (with it’s extra size) the difference will be pretty minimal.
Mike
11 months ago |I totally love my lx5, I have a d7000 with many lenses but I take many more photos with the lx5 cause I can always carry it with me, it’s very discrete and the raw files are very usable.
There are features I want pana to keep, like the 24mm at the wide end and the handy aspect ratio selector.
In addition to this I’d like a better screen, possibly articulated, and support for the new electronic viewfinder…and bigger sensor with wider dynamic range of course
OnlyMe
11 months ago |I wonder if any of this year’s crop of advanced compact cameras will have a built in EVF. I know the likes of the LX series are unlikely to have one but what about the Nikon P7100 types of camera? Does anyone think an EVF would be preferable to the OVFs we have now?
RIch
11 months ago |An EVF would be nice, but I fear it might push the camera into the price bracket of the Nikon 1. Better OVF might be a better/cheaper option – like the one in the X10. Before I bought it I did a side-by-side comparison with the Canon and Nikon competition, and the difference was very noticeable. While the Fuji was not exactly SLR-like, it was night and day compared to the tunnel-like OVFs on the others!
I’m guessing you’ll be able to stick the latest pany EVF on top of the LX7, so if you don’t mind an extra bit in your pocket to lose…
Harold GLIT
11 months ago |It requires a good deal of imagination for anyone to call the OVF of the X10 “good”. It is true that other compact cameras with OVF are not better but still 80% framing on a camera can hardly be called good for any serious photography
I would prefer a “GOOD” oVF to EVF any day but it does not look that this is a kind of option that we have on the market for now , at least not with built-in OVF’s
Harold
Dummy00001
11 months ago |10.9mm is about 1/1.6-1/1.7″ sensor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_sensor_format#Table_of_sensor_formats_and_sizes
Olli
11 months ago |always funny how fast wrong things are spread around without anyone reasonably checking what they forward…
Matt
11 months ago |I think the X10 is an awesome little camera, however to me it isn’t ‘pocketable’ enough.
Dominga
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