(Yet another!) Compact wanted.

[Nod]

Trying to use my XF1 yesterday showed me just how bad my close vision is when wearing my contact lenses so I think the time has come to update it.

MUST
be able to slip into a "standard" shirt pocket
be around 24-100mm effective focal length
have an adjustable dioptre eye level viewfinder.

Budget is fairly flexible but I'd rather not spend RX100iv money if a decent alternative is available for rather less!

Final product will be A3+ prints so IQ is reasonably important.

GPS, WiFi, NFC etc. are less important.

 

[Harlequin565]

I had similar needs recently for a walkabout camera that'll go into my pocket. I picked up a refurb Panasonic TZ100 from their eBay shop.

Fits into a shirt pocket
25-250mm zoom
Viewfinder with dioptre (as well as touchscreen LCD)

IQ is currently unknown because the fault is often between the floor & the shutter release at the moment. Still getting to grips with the menus and options (and there are a LOT). Been spoiled by my Fujis with everything important on a dial under my nose.
It's got a 1" sensor so uncropped on A3+ you're getting about 322dpi with a 1" border which is plenty. It also shoots in raw and does 4k video if that's your thing. To me - the videos "look nice". About a billion "styles".

The main downside (so far) is having to turn the touchscreen off because my nose kept hitting the focus points (left eye dominant). Also setting the thing up is such a pain I've put it on auto... Shhh - don't tell anyone. By "pain" I mean trying to figure out how to get it to work how I want it to - so that's another fault that's behind the shutter.

Very tidy package overall though and perfect to stick in my pocket at all times when I don't want to take anything bulky.

 

[maarten.dhaese]

Any reason why you're not considering the RX100 MkIII instead of the MkIV if you want to save some money?

Picture quality is pretty much the same between these two models (I've used both). The Mk IV has 4K video and a bit less noise but if you're focused on photography you will hardly notice the difference between the two.

I also had the RX100 MkI and it's actually the most compact of them all but lacks a viewfinder.

 

[odd jim]

Trying to use my XF1 yesterday showed me just how bad my close vision is when wearing my contact lenses so I think the time has come to update it.

MUST
be able to slip into a "standard" shirt pocket
be around 24-100mm effective focal length
have an adjustable dioptre eye level viewfinder.

Budget is fairly flexible but I'd rather not spend RX100iv money if a decent alternative is available for rather less!

Final product will be A3+ prints so IQ is reasonably important.

GPS, WiFi, NFC etc. are less important.

RX100 mk1 or 2!

Edit - apologies, the mk1 doesnt have a VF, but its very good!

 

[Nod]

No denying that the RX100 is a good camera but I find the VF mechanism unnecessarily fiddly and can see myself breaking it off or knackering it! I suppose I'll have to go to JL or Jessops and see what meets the pocketability NEED and take it from there (but I hate shopping, especially during the school holidays and at weekends!)

 

[srichards]

I was looking at the Sony HX90V. Pop up EVF thingy and screen articulates. Fuji X30 I've just off loaded was too big. It's a bit smaller and looks reasonably small in the promo pictures but you never know whether they just have people with enormous hands to make the cameras look smaller

I like my Vito C minox style film camera. It's not got a zoom but it fits in a pocket and weighs next to nothing.

Panasonic LX100 I think was another on my list as a potential.

 

[Al1944]

Can't you squeeze your X30 into a pocket

 

[Nod]

Unfortunately not. It's mainly for holiday use when shirtsleeves is the order of the day but will also get stuck in the shirt pocket when we go out for a blat on a bike.

 

[rjbell]

I really liked the g5x when having a play in jl. Really nice vf the AF was snappy and felt great in the hand. Not cheap though and probably too big.

 

[Nod]

I shall add it to the list to try in the pocket! Does look a bit on the bulky side though.

 

[woof woof]

If you can find a Panasonic LF1 have a look. The zoom is shorter than you want but on the positive side it's slim and light, has an EVF, a wide aperture lens, shoots raw and allows full manual control.

I just gave mine away yesterday and I miss it already.

 

[Nod]

Had a look for a new LF1 and failed. Did find TZ 60 and 70 which might fit both pocket and purse! Have to take a card in and see what IQ is like from them. Not expecting D750/X series Fuji quality but decent sized prints are my preferred end product. The post shot focus point choice in the 70 looks interesting.

 

[Saintsman]

I recently bought an RX100 IV and agree the price is off putting but it is a joy to use and the image quality is stunning. I really like the pop up finder although it does mean there is no hot shoe which is a shame.

 

[Nod]

I think I've narrowed the choice down to an RX100 III, a TZ100 or an LX60 - depends on whether they'll slip into a shirt pocket! In terms of versatility, the LX60 is the winner BUT the compromise in terms of ultimate IQ might sway me the other way.

 

[Nod]

TZ100 on its way via Jessops. Could have had a black on in my paws today but fancied the look of the go-faster red stripe on the silver one! Having been pointed at the Bristol Cameras bundle of the camera and a spare Panny battery for £520, I asked the girl (very knowledgeable and helpful, even showing me a set of prints she'd taken as a comparison between the Panny, RX100 and a smaller sensored Panny so I could do a "blind test") if they could match it. Since they don't (as a group) sell Panasonic batteries, she offered me a Hahnel one instead and dropped the bundle down to a flat £500. Good enough for me! Very little to choose between the Panny and the Sony in terms of IQ so it came down to handling and the fiddliness of the Sony's EVF (click up then pull out) compared to the Panny's (it's just there!) made the difference.