Point & Shoot Choices

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If you had to sell all your dslr gear, camera lenses the lot but be left with a fairly high end point & shoot with no interchangeable lenses (not M 4/3) what P&S priced under £450.00 would be your choice ?
 
Or push the budget another £50 or so & buy a used fuji x100.

You will get gorgeous iq & great iso ability, you just have to put up with the 35mm equivalent focal length (which is ideal for most)
 
fuji x10 is a great cam
 
These responses have got me thinking about what exactly is a point and shoot. Why is an X100 a point and shoot yet a DSLR not a point and shoot or do people just generally mean not DSLR when they say point and shoot?
Surely a real point and shoot was something like the Olympus trip?

Agree that X10 is nice and X100 is better.
Having used various 'point and shoots' over the last six months I have gone back to using a DSLR (a very old cheap one at that) as it gives me IQ that betters or matches any new point and shoot and is just so much nicer to use (holding, speed of focus, DoF etc, etc,)

Sorry, not trying to derail - carry on :)
 
ernesto said:
These responses have got me thinking about what exactly is a point and shoot. Why is an X100 a point and shoot yet a DSLR not a point and shoot or do people just generally mean not DSLR when they say point and shoot?
Surely a real point and shoot was something like the Olympus trip?

Agree that X10 is nice and X100 is better.
Having used various 'point and shoots' over the last six months I have gone back to using a DSLR (a very old cheap one at that) as it gives me IQ that betters or matches any new point and shoot and is just so much nicer to use (holding, speed of focus, DoF etc, etc,)

Sorry, not trying to derail - carry on :)
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Not sure where the dividing lines are between the categories (or if it even matters!!) but I personally wouldn't classify an X100 as a point and shoot. I'm not even sure the likes of the X10, G12, G1X etc are either given the levels of control and sensor size, etc.
 
Exactly, to me a Point and Shoot is a camera that can only Point and Shoot. A DSLR in auto mode is Point and Shoot but clearly it can do much more as can the compact cameras you have listed. I still think there are a lot of people that see anything other than an SLR as a point and shoot almost to dismiss it as a 'non-proper' camera.

And while I agree it doesn't really matter, it does need to be known in this case.
 
I think the point of the discussion is to choose a camera that is 'all-in-one', ie one lens, one camera body, no extra flashes, one relatively small piece of kit that keeps it simple when picking it up to leave the house.

I may be wrong but that's how I understood the question.

Under these terms, although I don't own one, the X10 gets my vote. I am sorely tempted to swap my NEX system for one but don't want to regret a lower image quality.
 
If that is the question the answer from me would be Sony RX100
 
Colin you hit the nail right on the head, the question is about point & shoot cameras (as their commonly known for the nitpickers) and thanks for pointing it out.
I'm sure the dslr baying for my blood if I referred to their 1D's or d3000s etc etc with top of the range lenses as a point and shoot.
 
I did sell up all my dslr equipment and moved to a point and shoot!

I sold my d90, 50mm 1.8, 18-50 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8 and sb-600 flash...

I brought a fuji x10 and it's fantastic. Found my love for photography again and it sooo much easier not having to lug the d90 and whichever lens I need around with me.

The iq is superb and I'd say not that far off the d90. The reason I went for the x10 over the x100 is the fact that I still wanted a zoom and the focus speed is faster on the x10 and when running around after children a little difference in speed makes all the difference
 
Just because you can change lens doesn't mean you have to. For example in place of an X10 you could have just got a decent 18 - 70ish lens and kept that on there and it would have been similar to X10.
I gave an X10 a good try for 3 or 4 months and agree it is a great camera but I found I just prefer the usability of a DSLR with one lens.

So guess I am saying an X10 is very nice but think the Sony RX100 would better it for me as that is truly pocketable.
 
The image quality is plenty good enough on the X10 in most circumstances. My other camera is a Nikon D700 with some very good lenses (28-70, 16-35, 85, etc), but I only tend to use it when I need a specific lens for a specific task (wide, long), or if I know I'm going to be printing big, submitting to Alamy, or need it's low light capabilities. For the remaining 75% of the time I use the X10.

Unfortunately, there isn't a compact that will replicate all the capabilities of my dslr system, as well as having the same level of image quality, but the like of the x10, G1X and RX100 are a step in the right direction.
 
I have been hunting for a small camera that easy to carry around without being a pain. I have a d90 a d300 and a bunch of lenses. Although both great cameras, sometimes it's not practical to carry the weight.

I done a load of research and ended up going for the Nikon p7000. Reviews were Good, so got myself one. Wanted a compact camera with manual control, a view finder and raw support. The p7000 had all these so thought it would do the job. A lovely looking camera with the ergonomics you'd expect from nikon. The view finder wasn't much use. Had weird wb issues. And didn't rate the images from the small sensor.

Had a play with a friends Sony nex, and fell in love with this quirky camera. It ticks all the boxes apart from the view finder (unless you get the nex 7) but the screen is really good and tilts to help compose. Great little camera that has finally solved a problem for me.
 
surfg1mp said:
I have been hunting for a small camera that easy to carry around without being a pain. I have a d90 a d300 and a bunch of lenses. Although both great cameras, sometimes it's not practical to carry the weight.

I done a load of research and ended up going for the Nikon p7000. Reviews were Good, so got myself one. Wanted a compact camera with manual control, a view finder and raw support. The p7000 had all these so thought it would do the job. A lovely looking camera with the ergonomics you'd expect from nikon. The view finder wasn't much use. Had weird wb issues. And didn't rate the images from the small sensor.

Had a play with a friends Sony nex, and fell in love with this quirky camera. It ticks all the boxes apart from the view finder (unless you get the nex 7) but the screen is really good and tilts to help compose. Great little camera that has finally solved a problem for me.
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I also love my NEX. I got the C3 because I preferred the size and grip to the 5N.

My problem now is I'm thinking of selling it to buy an X10 instead. I just don't know what to do though. The X10 looks so good and I wouldn't need to change the lens. It's also a faster lens than the Sony kit.
 
I would say a point n shoot camera is one with full auto everything with little user intervention. If this is the case, then there is very little on the market that would interest ex dslr owners
However, I think compact cameras now fit the bill and there a few high end compacts that give results that are close to what you can expect from a dslr
Personally, I was fed up with lugging a heavy dslr and lenses around. There seems to be a school of thought that says as soon as you get a dslr, you have to " buy glass", which is great I've you are a pro or very keen amateur, but this road leads to many people spending far too much money on kit that becomes less user friendly every time you upgrade something.
I know, I was there!
So, in a moment of quiet rationalisation, I sold my D300 and heavy f2.8 lenses, flash, camera bags and lens/ sensor cleaning equipment and started looking at alternatives
I eventually found 2 cameras that fulfil my needs, with no necessity for expensive add ons every few weeks.
I have a Fuji X100 and Fuji X10. One has a dx size sensor, the other has a medium zoom. Together they fit in a small light bag and go everywhere with me
That's as close to a point n shoot setup that I want
Allan
 
allanm said:
Personally, I was fed up with lugging a heavy dslr and lenses around. There seems to be a school of thought that says as soon as you get a dslr, you have to " buy glass", which is great I've you are a pro or very keen amateur, but this road leads to many people spending far too much money on kit that becomes less user friendly every time you upgrade something.
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Totally agree. However it doesn't have to be that way. I only ever take one camera and one lens (all I have!) when I go out. It is a bit heavier and bigger than a compact but not really any harder to carry. I don't even own a bag.
If the camera doesn't fit in my pocket then I am carrying it and don't see much difference betwen carrying an X10 or carrying a DSLR with a 50 lens (or small zoom if wanting to match X10) Where I do see the difference is having a better handling camera, proper viewfinder, very quick AF etc, etc,.

Realise this bucks the downsizing trend with everyone thinking their DSLR is way too big to carry around but just putting it there as an alternative way of thinking. You really don't have to buy 10 lenses and carry them around just because you have a DSLR...
 
An x10 would easily fit in a jacket pocket and is a hell of alot lighter than a 5d and 50mm. I can't wait to get one.. Great for when I don't want to lug 2 dlsr every day of the week, great iq and useful for occasions you don't want to be noticed..
 
adam* said:
An x10 would easily fit in a jacket pocket
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Not in any of my jackets it didn't...

You also sort of missed the point I was making in keeping the DSLR light as you refer to carrying two DSLR around and also mention a 5D!
A 600D with a 50 on it is 680 grams and an X10 is just over half. I also don't find it causes any more getting noticed issues.

All my personal experience of course and as I said realise I am going in the opposite direction to everyone else :)
 
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Phall82 said:
I also love my NEX. I got the C3 because I preferred the size and grip to the 5N.

My problem now is I'm thinking of selling it to buy an X10 instead. I just don't know what to do though. The X10 looks so good and I wouldn't need to change the lens. It's also a faster lens than the Sony kit.
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I too have the c3, and I love it. I'm aiming to get the 16mm pancake which will make it pocketable. I have read mixed reviews about the 16mm, have to wait and see.
 
Reading the initial reviews the Sony RX100 looks like it could be very good, bigger sensor than X10 so pehaps a little better IQ although the 20mp is a bit overkill I think

Simon
 
I'm saying for me it's small as I'm used to carrying a 5d and 1d with big lenses every day. I see an x10 as a point and shoot when I don't want a dlsr.
 
Ricoh GRD for me, my p&s is one of these, the anniversary special edition. The fixed 28mm lens is amazingly sharp for a compact camera. It can produce some stunning b&w shots too!
 
The Ricoh GRD is very nice to use as the button layout, wheels, snap focus function are all great and the build quality is nice too. It is also small enough to easily fit in a pocket.

However the IQ is not even close to the X10
 
Possibly a RX100, but I haven't tried one yet. I didn't rate HD video as much use until I had the HX9v and now HX20V, now if I had to have evrything in one camera.. then there's nothing else with that video quality and the specs/previews suggest that the RX100 should also have the stills image quality that's not quite there with the HX-series.
 
I've just got the Nikon 1 with the kit lens (10-30) so am looking at buying the other lenses as cheap as I can!

Then get out and take photos!
 
I'd have a G12 or a G1x as a compact, an SX40 or a Fuji FinePix HS30EXR as a bridge which I'd prefer for aviation shots. If I had to go for one of the easy to use things I'd rather give up after using a dslr.
 
I would have also said the G12 (or G series), but I'm finding although the size and all in one-ness is great from a portable point of view, the AF speed is lacking.

It's just not fast and accurate enough for small kids.

So, for sports/kids (or super telephoto via the FT-1 adapter) I'd go for something with good AF, the Nikon 1 series (haven't tried the Sony NEX yet, so can't comment).

If just general street or travel, then yeah probably the G series.
 
I'm having the same dilemma at the moment. I'm currently favouring the Fuji X10, but have been reading with interest various reviews of the Sony RX100, which sounds like a superb little camera. My concern with the Sony would be that, although nice and pocketable, is just a bit too small and fiddly for my big hands, no viewfinder and no hotshoe. Horses for courses. I just need to be clear on what my priorities are with regard to features, etc.
 
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