Thread: Travel camera: Nikon V1 or Canon G1X? What is the better option?

Originally Posted by gdourado

Hello,
Thank you for participating.
I see the RX100 was mentioned a couple of times.
Why is it said to be better than the G1X?
Is it just a matter of size?

Cheers!

From what you're saying, the RX100 does sound like a better option for you. If a Micro 4/3 kit got in the way, then so would a Nikon V1 with two lenses. With a G1X there is no changing lenses, but it is not exactly tiny either. If you enjoyed the iPhone experience, maybe you just want something as small as possible?

If you were saying that you wanted a compact camera with a zoom lens where sensor quality, lens quality, and handling are your absolute priorities, then I would recomment the G1X in a nano second, particularly given that is now possible to get it for not much more than $500 brand new. However, I don't really understand where your threshold is that would cause a camera to get in the way. My idea of a travel camera is the best and most flexible camera that I can reasonably carry which in the past has been a Canon DSLR kit but would now be (at a minimum) the G1X plus E-M5 with a selection of lenses.

Originally Posted by Hikari

Neither. A Sony RX100.

I couldn't agree more. I had a V1, which was a great camera but with rubbish kit lenses. Image quality was not very good; I sold it and bought a G1X. The image quality was simply superb, but it was ergonomically no good for me, especially with the renowned close focussing issues. Having to switch to macro mode to take a portrait was the last straw. It was also a bit brick-like.

Then I bought the RX100 - simply amazing, and the best compact camera I've owned. I've just come back from a 2-week cruise followed by a trip to Seattle, and I used the RX100 almost as much as my DSLR (Alpha 77). It is very compact, with a superb lens and produces stunning images from the same sized sensor as the V1. I would urge you to give it serious consideration.

Originally Posted by gdourado

Hello,
Thank you for participating.
I see the RX100 was mentioned a couple of times.
Why is it said to be better than the G1X?
Is it just a matter of size?

Cheers!

It sounds like you want a simple system that is compact and with good IQ while being flexible. After reading your introduction, the RX100 just seemed like a good match for you.

BTW, I do not have nor want an RX100, but that does not mean I think it is a bad camera, just not good for me.

During my last vacation, I used the Fuji x100 as my main camera and the rx100 as the backup. After looking they all the pictures I took during that vacation, the rx100 ended up taking about 35 to 40 percent of the shots. Outside of the higher iso capability of the x100, the rx100 at iso below 400 really did very well. Max usable iso on rx100 is 800 and x100 is 3200.

I really like this combination... In terms of the other cameras mentioned, I have no experience w/ either.

I found having 20mp of the rx100, was actually nice, it gives u ability to crop 2x and still have enough info and detail for a nice very usable picture.

Cheers
Gary

Hello,
Thank you all for participating.
I have placed the V1 option to the side.
It is a very good price right now and the camera has some good things going, like the AF and EVF, but the sensor size, combined with the slow kit lens is a deal breaker, so I am currently focusing on either the G1X or making a return to M43 with a GX1 with PZ 14-42.
The size of the cameras in the off position is about the same.
The G1X has a faster lens and a slightly bigger sensor.
The GX1 with the PZ has the flexibility of access to a larger system... Not that I would want one for travel, for travel it would be the 14-42 PZ exclusively. But if I later wanted to do some portraits at home, I could have access to faster lenses with longer FL.
My question is how is the 14-42 lens? In regard to sharpness, contrast, flare and general IQ?
Much worse than the canon?
Also, the RX100 is not really a choice right now. Went to a store and handled one and I just didn't connect with the camera...

Cheers!

For the money I'd buy a Nikon D3200 ............ it's smaller than stuff from the past and you get 24 meg images, (if you want), a new sensor and the latest Nikon processing engine ....... plus the 50mm f1.8 is inexpensive and the 70 - 300mm VR f4.5/f5.6 is great for the money ....Ok, going well over your budget and you are going to have "bulging" pockets ..... but that's life these days in the western world.
Just fill your pockets and ask your wife/girlfriend/partner/or whatever they are called these days to stick another lens in her/their handbag, or whatever they carry these days

Then buy a Canon S95, (or the latest incarnation), to carry with you at all times.

Originally Posted by gdourado

My question is how is the 14-42 lens? In regard to sharpness, contrast, flare and general IQ?
Much worse than the canon?

The 14-42 pancake zoom can suffer from an odd phenomona where it can produce blurry images at particular shutter speeds due to some vibration mismatch between the shutter and the OIS system. I don't know how well it's optics perform otherwise, and the G1X lens is well above "kit zoom" territory so it has it's work cut out for it to come close.

Originally Posted by Luckypenguin

...and the G1X lens is well above "kit zoom" territory so it has it's work cut out for it to come close.

That's what I needed to hear... :)

Thanks.

Originally Posted by gdourado

I am currently focusing on either the G1X or making a return to M43 with a GX1 with PZ 14-42.

Between this two? G1X. LCD can be twisted, Good all around lens but the operational kinda slow.

But my opinion, Sony RX100 the best. Don't looks from the sensor size. Sony RX100's ISO 1600 performance very good. I think almost strong as OMD and my Nikon D300s truly beaten.

I think you need to go back to thinking about *why* it was that the DSLR kit got in the way, when you travelled before. Was it because you had to keep changing lenses? Was it the weight? Something else entirely? If it was the lens changing, then you already know that you don't want to go down that path again, either with the GX1 or the V1. If it was the weight, then the G1X might annoy you eventually. If it was something else, then I don't know what to advise. I'm personally "off" big zooms at the moment so a 4x or 5x zoom is usually enough providing the IQ is good enough for a crop to the subject I want. Therefore if it were me making the choice, I would take the G1X every time. One camera, small zoom, sensor large enough to get great croppable shots if the zoom isnt enough.