Thread: Would You Buy This Camera?

Originally Posted by Ray

Put a 24 or 28 in it and add a focus/distance scale in the manual focus and I'm there. In fact, if Sony had put any sort of distance scale in their MF display, I'd buy the RX100 - probably already would have. As is, I won't.

Every one of these wide angle, smallish sensor cameras ought to have snap focus settings like the GRD.

No, I would not be interested for many of the same reasons others have mentioned. I do, however, like Tilman's and Ray's suggestions. But wait, I almost have that in my X10...

Originally Posted by Amin Sabet

Every one of these wide angle, smallish sensor cameras ought to have snap focus settings like the GRD.

That would certainly be nice. Or, if not, at least a reasonable set of controls like the LX3/5/7 and the X10. Actually, the LX7 looks as good as I'd want. If it carries over some features from the LX5, it'll remember the manual focus setting from the last time you used it and if you turn the camera off in a particular zoom location with a particular aperture and focus distance, it'll remember all of that when you turn it back on (although if you turn the aperture ring on the LX7 while its turned off, I'd imagine it will set to where you've turned it to rather than remember where you were). And it has a very good focus distance scale with a fairly conservative DOF scale built into it. With the separate controls for aperture and manual focus new to the LX7, that looks like a wonderful camera for zone focus. And I never had a bit of trouble setting up the X10 for zone focus either. So snap focus is a really nice shortcut, but not all that critical. But I need at LEAST a focus scale that shows you the distance you're focused at with a reasonable degree of accuracy. The DOF scales in these cameras are generally too conservative to be of much use to me, so I don't really care one way or the other about those (unless you can set your own COC). But give me an accurate focus distance and the world is my oyster. Without one, its like I have to dig 'em up and shuck 'em myself, before I can eat 'em!

-Ray

Just give me a high quality 25mm fast lens that I can afford, (under $400.00) for the m4/3. Would want AF/MF, selectable, direct linked manual focus. Size is already right for my likes. Yeah, I know, just dreaming. Don't wake me.

they're small enough....release them in a 3 pack like a set of primes (but with digital backs permanently attached). How about a 22, 35 and a 50?

Nice ideas about the ideal small camera, but folks we almost have it already in the RX100! And for a Sony the controls are much improved, and I know having had the NEX5, 5N and 7. With the RX100 you can have 28mm, 35mm,50mm and 100mm. At realistic street settings (i.e f4-f8) this lens performs wonderfully, but I won't burden this thread with examples. If you want it thicker, which I don't because it is already just right for the pocket, buy the grip. So in answers to Amin's starting question, no I would not buy it because I have it already.

I prefer 50mm, and would pay for a 50mm compact, but I'm not sure I'd like that sensor size. But a fixed fast 50mm eq would get my attention.

A PS to my comments above. Yes, I know that 50mm at f1.2 is desirable for some purposes, but I have and have had plenty of very fast lenses in my SLR system and DSLR system, but frankly the uses for these are limited, and most photographers can do very well without them. For most practical uses f3.5 (about what the RX100 is at 50mm) will do just fine. Yes I would love to have a .95 Nokton on any size sensor, but let's be practical here. While I'm there let me have a Leica monochrome, but I am trying to stay in the world where I actually live. On the other hand, some of the shots I just took over the weekend at a farmer's market (posted on the RX100 user thread) I would have missed with a Leica. The Sony is a quick response camera. Ok, sorry Amin if these remarks are taking us off topic. I will shut-up.

Dan, no one that posts here regularly would tell you to shut up. But I definitely think everyone values different aspects of the camera differently. And that's what makes the discussions lively. This Sony is REALLY getting the job done for a lot of people. What could make it better (for some) would be the ability to control the DOF (which is a strike against any small sensor camera).

Some are willing to work with a larger camera to have it. Other are not. Everyone is right when answering the questions for themselves.

The sensor technology is getting closer to the point where IQ is no longer tied to the size of the sensor (we're still a LONG ways off for pixel peepers), but as your farmers market photos show.....the results are more than good enough for most sane people. So then what become the other criteria for judging a camera? Speed, ergonomics, looks, feel, ability to control DOF, art filters (), features, etc.

I look forward to how future cameras vary in response to photographers needs now that the IQ stuff is going to become less and less important (relative to digital camera discussions from 3 years ago).

hmm I'm in the 35mm or wider camp too (and at f/1.2, that'd still have similar DOF capabilities to the Panasonic 20/1.7), but like others have commented, it's also the UI that can still be improved. And my favorite pet peeve, making it rugged would set it apart from its competition too.