The LX8 rumors are getting stronger...
I have certainly seen the price dip very very low at certain points. I thought it was going to be the demise of the LX series when I saw that.
I think when the LX3 launched, it WAS considered small for the "large" sensor that was in it - large being relative to the other point and shoot models available at the time. Then Canon came out with the S90 which has roughly the same sensor but was a lot smaller and from that point forward the LX family was never competing for the "TINY" title, but it's still small.
-Ray
I often hear that the LX3 was an exceptional camera. What was it about that camera and not the later models? When I got into photography I heard about the LX3 and bought the new LX5 thinking it was a new model and an improvement. What have I been missing out on?
How does the LX3 compare with the LX7?
Honestly, I've been surprised by how long it's taken Olympus and Panasonic to respond to the RX100. All I can figure is it's a combination of caution in the face of financial trouble and development time.
The LX8 rumors are getting stronger... and this one looks like it includes a built-in EVF. What's more, it appears that Olympus might be joining the fun as well.
(FT5) Confirmed by trusted sources: Large sensor LX8 coming in July. - 43 Rumors
I hope the Oly differerntiates itself by being like a true digital 35 trip and has a fixed prime lens with a big, bright clear OPTICAL viewfinder with info projected into it.
Fuji is also rumored to be jumping in to the 1" sensor pool with the X30.
If that happens, and Panny, Fuji and Sony all offer 1" sensor options I really hope Olympus doesn't make it a foursome. I'm still hoping for an m4/3s FLC, 35-90/1.8 is all I need . Come on OIy, hook us up...
I have to say that a 1" Fuji is the most interesting to me. I still have an X10, and I still really like it. If that had the image quality of the RX100 while retaining the Fuji charm and character and nuance it would be tough to beat.
Honestly, I've been surprised by how long it's taken Olympus and Panasonic to respond to the RX100. All I can figure is it's a combination of caution in the face of financial trouble and development time.
I'd be fine with a fixed prime lens, but at that point they clearly wouldn't be limited to a 1" sensor - they could do APS or stay with their ILC system and use a 4/3 sensor. If they do either with a 35mm equivalent and a bright clear optical finder, they're competing awfully directly with the the X100s. At that point, how do they differentiate?
My guess is, that a camera like that would hurt E-PM2 or GX1 sales. Just a guess.
I'd be fine with a fixed prime lens, but at that point they clearly wouldn't be limited to a 1" sensor - they could do APS or stay with their ILC system and use a 4/3 sensor. If they do either with a 35mm equivalent and a bright clear optical finder, they're competing awfully directly with the the X100s. At that point, how do they differentiate?
The Oly option aside (35-90? - might suit you but I think they'd be hard pressed to not go to 28 or 24 if they want to reach a larger market than you...), I'm also encouraged by the rash of 1" based compacts that might be coming down the pike. I had an X10 and liked it a lot but only prefered it to the LX5/7 because of the larger sensor. Other than that I liked the LX7, in particular, more. If they're all competing on the same 1" battlefield, I'd likely be inclined to go with the LX8 over the X30. Particularly if Fuji gets silly and sticks an X-Trans array on the sensor...
-Ray
Except for the X100s, which has the best sort of VF in the world, maybe ever, at least for a fixed lens... I was thinking an Oly fixed lens at a 35mm with an OVF would run sort of headlong into that...As for fixed lens m4/3s, it'd have to be relatively cheap to compete with the X100s and Nikon A and Ricoh GR. Maybe $500? I'd probably pay that for a more compact version of an E-PL5 + 17/1.8. And I'd definitely pay that for a re-imagined Trip 35 with OVF. That would allow for some upward pricing mobility vs the APS-C offerings, which don't offer any sort of VF.
Except for the X100s, which has the best sort of VF in the world, maybe ever, at least for a fixed lens... I was thinking an Oly fixed lens at a 35mm with an OVF would run sort of headlong into that...
-Ray
Definitely. I was thinking about the Nikon and Ricoh when I typed "APS-C". Maybe I should've actually typed what I was thinking... The Fuji is in a different league vf-wise. But at half the price I'd be interested in an Oly with OVF and IQ of the 17/1.8.