Small sensor challenge

Beautiful last Sunday in November for an afternoon bike ride. First the Pentax Q:

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Fuji X30:

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Yep. I guess I've gotten away from small sensors since I originally created this thread. I liked the X30 a lot, and its form factor had a lot to recommend it, but I get better imagery with the X-T2 or X100S these days.

Since I bought the LX 100.2 I've rarely been using the old TZ-61. This was one of the last pics I shot with it. Although I loved the long zoom range and its nice pocket format, the drawbacks of the 1'' sensor in comparison to the 4/3 are visible in these sunflowers. Both sensor size and quality / speed of the zoom lens make the LX 100.2 an equal partner to the E-M5 when I prefer "small package". So this handy TZ-61 will share the same fate as all the other older cameras: they form a nice small ever-growing private museum.
 
One-inch seems downright HUGE if you're an old superzoom freak who is accustomed to the little-fingernail-sized sensors found in most superzooms. A one-inch sensor has roughly three times the area.

And yet, a one-inch sensor is one-eighth the area of a full frame, and one-third the area of an aps-c.

Here's a shot from my beloved Canon G12, which is still used often and features (by today's standards) a very small sensor:

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And here's the original from which it was cropped:


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Here's a shot from my RX10 IV:

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For me, one-inch represents the sweet spot between optical trickery -- for lots of reach -- and that which I am willing to carry. Is it small? Is it big?

Who cares?

It's great!

Cheers, Jock
 
Yep. I guess I've gotten away from small sensors since I originally created this thread. I liked the X30 a lot, and its form factor had a lot to recommend it, but I get better imagery with the X-T2 or X100S these days.
My current X30 is my second copy, and I fervently hope I keep it for all time! For me, there's nothing else which compromises in such a good way as this camera does - it's an easy every day carry, the manual zoom lens is a joy to use, and it can make wonderful photos in the right hands (I know, I've seen them on Instagram!). I just wish I was more proficient with it, but I think maybe that comes with making it one's only camera, like the Instagrammers I follow.
 
My current X30 is my second copy, and I fervently hope I keep it for all time! For me, there's nothing else which compromises in such a good way as this camera does - it's an easy every day carry, the manual zoom lens is a joy to use, and it can make wonderful photos in the right hands (I know, I've seen them on Instagram!). I just wish I was more proficient with it, but I think maybe that comes with making it one's only camera, like the Instagrammers I follow.
It is a very nice camera, and I was able to get some really nice images from mine. I find myself in low light conditions a lot, and the X30 doesn't do so well there.
 
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