Mid-priced compact market getting crowded

[Rob MacKillop]

I've been thinking about the Sigma DP2 Merrill, currently priced between seven and eight hundred pounds, like wise the DP1. But there is also the Sony RX100 now down to c. £450. And now Leica is bringing out the D-Lux 6, coming in at £599.

Online discussion seems to say the D-Lux 6 is the same camera as the Panasonic Lumix dmc-lx7, which is about £250. Quite a price difference for a red dot on the front. That said, I've just read one preview (not a review as they haven't got their hands on the camera yet) saying that the lens is very different.

I'm holding back just now as I don't know what I want, and there are new things appearing every month. I haven't convinced myself to buy into the swappable lens route. The cost is prohibitive, for one thing, and the carrying. I like my X100 as it is easy to carry and use, but I do find it slow at times, and the AF is still too slow for some situations I find myself in.

The DP1 Merrill and DP2 2 Merrills are both also slow and sluggish, though people rave wildly about the image quality, which, after all, is what this whole lark is all about.

The RX 100 has a fast AF...and is cheap(er)...but the quality is not as high as the Merrills.

Not sure about the quality of the Leica D-Lux 6.

We live in interesting times...

 

[Pete Askew]

It is tricky isn't it? I'm still searching for something. I think I'm going to have to admit that the RX100 is, for me, not it. The X100 is too big for the role I have in mind. My Ricoh GR Digital III still gets the closest; maybe the IV, with its slightly faster speed, would do it (maybe a V if so a thing ever emerges). Still small sensor though (although I'm beginning to think that doesn't matter so much when I look at what I use it for). The DP2 is still attractive and speed is not such an issue. As I said, tricky!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

What do you think of the D-Lux 6, Pete? A Leica lens on a Panasonic body?

 

[Pete Askew]

I have never been overly convinced by either to be honest (D-Lux 5 etc). The previews of the D-Lux have been favourable though. It will be interesting to see a full review.

 

[Hamish Gill]

It's a Panasonic! How do the lens specs differ?? Not a fat lot is guess ...
Pete, sell rob the rx100 ... Job done!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Hmm...

 

[Brian Moore]

A fellow at work had a Panasonic GF1. I thought at the time it was a smashing camera. From what I've read I think it's true successor is the GX1.

What about Olympus Pen? (EP1, 2 or 3?)

What about 4/3 in general?

 

[Pete Askew]

A bit too big for what I'm after. I did look at the Pen though.

 

[Hamish Gill]

A fellow at work had a Panasonic GF1. I thought at the time it was a smashing camera. From what I've read I think it's true successor is the GX1.

Should read

A fellow at work had a Panasonic GX1. I thought at the time it was a smashing camera. From what I've read I think it's true successor is the GF1

I had the gf1 ... it was great, but didnt tick enough boxes in the end ... im much more happier with a sony ... focus peaking is the BIG selling point

What about Olympus Pen? (EP1, 2 or 3?)

What about 4/3 in general?

Might be worth looking at a nex(Pete AND Rob) ...
the nex5 is tiny... Pete you have all the lenes too ... Rob, you will like the way it can be set up to work pretty well as a manual camera ... and you can mount those pk lenses on it ...

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Thanks for that, Hamish. Thinking...

 

[Brian Moore]

Should read

Are you sure, Hammie? Not that its a big deal but it seems to fly in the face of what I've been reading on line. (And we know of course that if its written on line it couldn't possibly be wrong. )

 

[Hamish Gill]

GF1 - 2009 - Panasonic Lumix GF1 Review: Digital Photography Review
GX1 - 2012 - Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Review: Digital Photography Review

 

[Brian Moore]

GF1 - 2009 - Panasonic Lumix GF1 Review: Digital Photography Review
GX1 - 2012 - Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Review: Digital Photography Review

Ain't that what I said?

 

[Hamish Gill]

Haha... I dunno any more ...
you said

A fellow at work had a Panasonic GF1. I thought at the time it was a smashing camera. From what I've read I think it's true successor is the GX1.

I read that as meaning the GF1 came after the GX1? As the gf1 is the successor to the gx1...?

Anyway, doesn't matter does it

 

[Brian Moore]

Main point, though: You didnae like the GF1 all that much Hamish?

 

[Hamish Gill]

Hmmm ...
over complicated to use, image quality was nice though ... The 2x crop sensor meant mounting legacy glass a bit crap ...
nice camera, just not the be all and end all if you know what I mean ... The nex5n suits me much better! I've used it once with the kit lens, else if just used it with my now increasing selection of m42 ltm and m lenses ...
I'm now tempted to get a mount to adapt some more obscure lenses I have... Loads of fun! New lens desire, £5 for an m42 out of a junk box, or well, you dream it and its mountable...
and all with focus peaking!

 

[Brian Moore]

The 2x crop sensor meant mounting legacy glass a bit crap ...

How so, Hamish?

 

[Pete Askew]

I guess you lose all the nice drop-off and distortion at the edges of the image circle.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Well, yeah...
the results were good (assuming you could get focus right) ... But your 50mm lens produces equivelent results to a 100mm etc ... To get a 28mm fov you needed a 14mm lens ... Not something that comes cheap or that I have hanging around.


At least with a nex and the 1.5 crap factor I have lenses that will get me wide if I want it and my favorite lenses don't produce results too far from thier intended purpose ...


as I say, I've not used the sony lens more than once, I bought the nex solely for these old lenses ... If someone bought out a full frame nex like camera for an amount that is more affordable than a leica m (typ 240) ... Then I'd be saving for it now!


the mad thing, now I have a camera with live view and focus peaking, I actualy get annoyed that my only real (and quick) option to focus with the d800 is auto focus ... Why doesn't it have focus peaking??? Absolute shite it is ... I'd use it so much more if it did ... Even with its crappy (all be it very good quality) non articulated screen ... Almost makes me want to buy a sony a99! (Very impressive camera!!)

its my opinion that since they added focus peaking, the nex cameras have become the easiest to use, most versatile and least expensive option for mounting legacy lenses. It's the first time I've had a camera that I haven't felt that the fact it is digital is hindering my experience ... And is infact giving me an enhanced one!
full real time bright depth of field preview and the ability to shot wide what is and isn't in focus are both good examples. And the camera works in such a way that you can set everything to be auto or manual apart from of course the aperture, which I have no interest in being auto ever anyway. Honestly, not wanting to get to excited ... But it really is a great camera to use!

 

[Ahmad Bhai]

I've been thinking about the Sigma DP2 Merrill, currently priced between seven and eight hundred pounds, like wise the DP1. But there is also the Sony RX100 now down to c. £450. And now Leica is bringing out the D-Lux 6, coming in at £599.

I like my X100 as it is easy to carry and use, but I do find it slow at times, and the AF is still too slow for some situations I find myself in.

The DP1 Merrill and DP2 2 Merrills are both also slow and sluggish, though people rave wildly about the image quality, which, after all, is what this whole lark is all about.

The RX 100 has a fast AF...and is cheap(er)...but the quality is not as high as the Merrills.

Not sure about the quality of the Leica D-Lux 6.

A possible consideration is Canon G1X, slightly bigger than 4/3 sensor (1.5" sensor = 1.5x RX100 sensor), 28-112, 60sec-1/4000th. lots of manual control and a really useful liveview which changes accordingly with aperture, shutter, wb, iso ... allows much creativity on the fly (minimal if any pp to get a creative photo).

F2.8-5.8 bit slow at the long end. Being a Canon the lens should be a corker. Lots of good things have been said about its metal body & hands on control & photos http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/canon_g1x_field_report.shtml . Has a tilt swivel screen, much fun for low angles just opnes up a different way to photograph.

Digitalrev have them at £400.