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Aug 2011
The X100's Little Brother
29/08/2011 Filed in: Photography
So it indeed appears as though there will be a follow up to Fuji’s immensely popular niche camera, the X100.
Over the weekend, details of the X10 (possibly known as the X50 in some markets), quietly leaked onto the Internets. Looking to be a slightly smaller version of the X100, it will be priced at $599 have the following features:
To me, it’s a nice alternative to the LX5/G12/P7100/EX1/XZ1 type of camera. The zoom range appears to be between 28mm and 112mm (35mm equivalents), which is functional for most people. I do have to admit, the 24mm minimal focal length of the LX series is pretty awesome. Having said that, 24mm focal lengths on compact cameras usually come at the price of some image distortion.
Debates will rage in the popular photography forums. With a price comparable to the low end Micro 4/3rds cameras and an inferior sensor to boot, why bother?
Since my site is my pulpit, so to speak, I can say whatever I want without worrying about trolls, since I don’t provide comments. So, here’s my response.
There seems to be a lack of common sense among camera lovers. Digital photography isn’t the same as film. Film is paper thin, digital sensors are not. Film cameras came with no imaging sensors (that would be your film, by the way), digital cameras do. And for those lacking any context, a 35mm equiv sensor costs a hella lot more than a $5 roll of 35mm film. Camera manufacturers have to delicately balance the importance of size, features, sensor size, price and demand. Chances are good that they’re not going to get all of that right. The only sure thing about the release of new cameras is that there is going to be an inordinate amount of kvetching online by people who are too busy reading specifications to be taking actual photos, aka, the “measurbators”.
Since I’m in the market for this type of camera, let me explain why I have ruled out Four Thirds. And, because I represent only one particular type of use case, your mileage will vary.
A camera like the X10/X50 is a secondary camera to me. My main rig is and always will be an SLR. I don’t have a big SLR, so size has never really been the defining issue. I always have my iPhone with me, so in a pinch, I can always take a photo when I need to. There are, however, plenty of times when I need image quality somewhere between my camera phone and my SLR. And that’s where a “bridge” camera fits in.
So why not an ILC? Here’s my problem with ILCs as a secondary camera. With the exception of the recently announced Panasonic X kit zoom, kit zooms on the current batch of ILCs are big enough that I’d rather carry my SLR. The second problem, is that a camera with a sensor as large as my DSLR (APS-C, by the way) seems somewhat moot. Sure, I could get a Sony NEX or a Samsung NX, but why bother? For the marginal space savings in my camera bag, I may as well carry my SLR.
What about a smaller sensor ILC, like Micro 4/3rds or the rumored Nikon? Or what about a tiny-sensor ILC like the Pentax Q? My problem with these two alternatives are the fact that the cameras have lens mounts. WTF are you talking about, Steven? All ILC’s have lens mounts!
The problem with a lens mount on a secondary camera system for me is that a lens mount equals temptation. Temptation for newer and more lenses equals money. While having more lenses isn’t a bad thing in itself, I’d rather be investing in lenses for my main rig, not my secondary rig. I do have to say, the Q does look like a damned fun camera, even though the image quality will likely fall short of its competitors.
If you read the ILC discussion forums, which I sometimes lurk for fun, you’ll see a lot of people making comments on how they leave their DSLR at home much more often. Well, I don’t want that to happen. I need an equipment arsenal that encourages me to use my SLR. My secondary camera actually needs to be a little inferior to my DSLR. For that to happen, it needs to be a 4/3rds sensor or smaller. And to keep me from buying non-A-mount lenses, it needs to have a fixed lens. To have enough versatility for my needs, that fixed lens needs to be a zoom somewhere between 28mm and 90mm (now you know why I didn’t just go for the X100). I highly doubt we’ll see any 4/3rds sensors in a fixed lens camera any time soon, as I believe it would have happened by now. With the exception of some fixed focal length niche cameras from Fuji, Leica, Ricoh or Sigma, I don’t really see any large sensor cameras with fixed lenses. I don’t really know of any with fixed zooms.
I have been wondering why we don’t see any cameras like the Panasonic LC-1 any more. That camera (also having a 2/3 sensor), while super expensive in 2003, epitomizes the kind of compact camera I’d like to shoot with. The X10/X50 is a modern update to the LC-1 form factor. While that 2/3 sensor won’t result in any bokeh-licious images, the images will be more than good enough for the ultimate destinations for my photos: flickr, facebook, iPhone, iPad and my HDTV.
People, it’s time to stop the kvetching and measurbating. Make some time to leave the house with your camera and shoot photos. In the end, that’s what it’s all about.
Update: Looks like the official announcement is coming this Thursday.
Over the weekend, details of the X10 (possibly known as the X50 in some markets), quietly leaked onto the Internets. Looking to be a slightly smaller version of the X100, it will be priced at $599 have the following features:
- Bright, high resolution, Fujinon F2.0-F2.8 manual 4x optical zoom lens
- Optical zoom viewfinder with revolutionary performance
- 12 Megapixels 2/3 inch EXR CMOS sensor
- EXR Processor
- Manual shooting modes
- RAW shooting & built in RAW conversion
- Highspeed continuous shooting up to 10fps
- Retro compact design with magnesium alloy
- Full HD 1080p movies with stereo sound
- Manual pop-up flash with dedicated hotshoe
- High contrast 2.8" 460k LCD monitor
- 1cm super macro mode
- Motion Panorama 360
- Auto Bracketing Functions
To me, it’s a nice alternative to the LX5/G12/P7100/EX1/XZ1 type of camera. The zoom range appears to be between 28mm and 112mm (35mm equivalents), which is functional for most people. I do have to admit, the 24mm minimal focal length of the LX series is pretty awesome. Having said that, 24mm focal lengths on compact cameras usually come at the price of some image distortion.
Debates will rage in the popular photography forums. With a price comparable to the low end Micro 4/3rds cameras and an inferior sensor to boot, why bother?
Since my site is my pulpit, so to speak, I can say whatever I want without worrying about trolls, since I don’t provide comments. So, here’s my response.
There seems to be a lack of common sense among camera lovers. Digital photography isn’t the same as film. Film is paper thin, digital sensors are not. Film cameras came with no imaging sensors (that would be your film, by the way), digital cameras do. And for those lacking any context, a 35mm equiv sensor costs a hella lot more than a $5 roll of 35mm film. Camera manufacturers have to delicately balance the importance of size, features, sensor size, price and demand. Chances are good that they’re not going to get all of that right. The only sure thing about the release of new cameras is that there is going to be an inordinate amount of kvetching online by people who are too busy reading specifications to be taking actual photos, aka, the “measurbators”.
Since I’m in the market for this type of camera, let me explain why I have ruled out Four Thirds. And, because I represent only one particular type of use case, your mileage will vary.
A camera like the X10/X50 is a secondary camera to me. My main rig is and always will be an SLR. I don’t have a big SLR, so size has never really been the defining issue. I always have my iPhone with me, so in a pinch, I can always take a photo when I need to. There are, however, plenty of times when I need image quality somewhere between my camera phone and my SLR. And that’s where a “bridge” camera fits in.
So why not an ILC? Here’s my problem with ILCs as a secondary camera. With the exception of the recently announced Panasonic X kit zoom, kit zooms on the current batch of ILCs are big enough that I’d rather carry my SLR. The second problem, is that a camera with a sensor as large as my DSLR (APS-C, by the way) seems somewhat moot. Sure, I could get a Sony NEX or a Samsung NX, but why bother? For the marginal space savings in my camera bag, I may as well carry my SLR.
What about a smaller sensor ILC, like Micro 4/3rds or the rumored Nikon? Or what about a tiny-sensor ILC like the Pentax Q? My problem with these two alternatives are the fact that the cameras have lens mounts. WTF are you talking about, Steven? All ILC’s have lens mounts!
The problem with a lens mount on a secondary camera system for me is that a lens mount equals temptation. Temptation for newer and more lenses equals money. While having more lenses isn’t a bad thing in itself, I’d rather be investing in lenses for my main rig, not my secondary rig. I do have to say, the Q does look like a damned fun camera, even though the image quality will likely fall short of its competitors.
If you read the ILC discussion forums, which I sometimes lurk for fun, you’ll see a lot of people making comments on how they leave their DSLR at home much more often. Well, I don’t want that to happen. I need an equipment arsenal that encourages me to use my SLR. My secondary camera actually needs to be a little inferior to my DSLR. For that to happen, it needs to be a 4/3rds sensor or smaller. And to keep me from buying non-A-mount lenses, it needs to have a fixed lens. To have enough versatility for my needs, that fixed lens needs to be a zoom somewhere between 28mm and 90mm (now you know why I didn’t just go for the X100). I highly doubt we’ll see any 4/3rds sensors in a fixed lens camera any time soon, as I believe it would have happened by now. With the exception of some fixed focal length niche cameras from Fuji, Leica, Ricoh or Sigma, I don’t really see any large sensor cameras with fixed lenses. I don’t really know of any with fixed zooms.
I have been wondering why we don’t see any cameras like the Panasonic LC-1 any more. That camera (also having a 2/3 sensor), while super expensive in 2003, epitomizes the kind of compact camera I’d like to shoot with. The X10/X50 is a modern update to the LC-1 form factor. While that 2/3 sensor won’t result in any bokeh-licious images, the images will be more than good enough for the ultimate destinations for my photos: flickr, facebook, iPhone, iPad and my HDTV.
People, it’s time to stop the kvetching and measurbating. Make some time to leave the house with your camera and shoot photos. In the end, that’s what it’s all about.
Update: Looks like the official announcement is coming this Thursday.
Samsung - Photography Underdog?
22/08/2011 Filed in: Photography
Samsung is hardly a big name in photography when compared to the likes of Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fuji, Olympus and Pentax.
Like most of its competitors, Samsung makes the bulk of its camera profits from a sea of mediocre, me-too compact cameras.
Canon and Nikon are typically safe choices, because they have name recognition and make quality products. Myself, I’m not so obsessed with brands or specs as I am in finding cameras that fit my needs and are fun to use, because that translates into more interesting photos. I shoot Sony DSLRs because they’re the only company that provides phase-shift focusing Live View with an articulating screen. Because of that, I’ve taken a lot of photos at ground-level without having to get dirty in the process.
But back to Samsung. Looking at their product line, they have two product lines that are greatly underrated, in my mind.
They’ve got a legitimate enthusiast point and shoot in the EX1. The EX1, in my mind, is what the Canon G12 should be. The Canon G12, is a prime example of a camera company shoving every feature and the kitchen sink into a camera and then beating it with an ugly stick.
Had the EX1 been around when I was shopping for my Panasonic LX3, I’d have probably bought the EX1. While not perfect, Samsung has delivered a camera that is well considered. It has a big sensor (as far as point and shoots go), and a fast zoom with a range that should satisfy most use cases. I should emphasize that this is one of the only larger sensor enthusiast cameras that have a wide 24mm equivalent focal length (the other being Panasonic’s LX series). I really hope that Samsung keeps this line of camera going, because this is the type of product that puts a halo on the rest of their product line.
What I really find interesting, however, is Samsung’s NX platform. It’s a mirrorless platform with a large sensor. Right now, the only other company with a similar product line is Sony, with their similarly named NEX line. Before talking about the NX, let’s understand what’s so messed up with the Sony NEX system.
The Sony NEX, while delivering top notch image quality, is a mess of compromises. The designers at Sony obsessed over the thinness of the body, at the expense of lens size. Yes, the NEX bodies are indeed thin, but what’s the point when the lenses are so damned huge? Another problem with the lenses is that you don’t have many to choose from. And of the ones that you can choose from, there is only one pancake lens. This pisses me off to no end, because I shoot Sony DSLRs, and I really like what Sony has done with their Alpha DSLR line.
The Samsung NX product line, like the EX1, however, is once again well considered. The NX cameras probably won’t win any awards for image quality, not compared to a camera with a Sony APS-C sensor. For the tourist or soccer mom, however, the images are more than good enough, and compare well against images shot on the smaller Four Thirds sensor.
Let’s be realistic. These days, most normal people are shooting to post to Facebook or Flickr, not creating gigantic images to be mounted and hung on the walls. You don’t need a bragworthy camera to do that. While most camera nerds will spend their time trolling the DPReview forums, you can spend your time shooting photos.
The lens selection is actually quite stellar. By the end of this year, there will be three affordable fast pancake primes - 16mm, 20mm, and 30mm. These are the lenses that make any compact system worthwhile. Sony, by comparison, only has a single pancake lens (16mm).
Also coming out are fast 60mm and 85mm primes. Those line up fairly closely with the primes I love using on my SLR - 24mm, 35mm, 50mm and 90mm. It also helps that the 20-50 kit zoom is quite compact relative to its competition.
Photography nerds would also get a kick out of Samsung’s novel i-Function, which allows you to change camera settings from the focus ring of the lens. You can change your aperture, EV, white balance and ISO without fumbling through menus. Now that is damned clever. I’d use that all the time.
If I was looking for a compact primary system, I’d seriously consider the NX, since the transition would be pretty easy and definitely less costly than switching to the NEX or Micro Four Thirds.
Camera systems aren’t just about sensors and lenses though. Handling and usability are just as important, if not more important. Samsung’s menuing system, while not perfect, is generally viewed positively. I can’t say much about the NX100’s physical design, except that I’d like to ask the designers “WTF were you thinking?”. There’s not much to criticize about the NX10 or NX11 in that they follow the safe ergonomic stylings of most DSLRs.
There’s an announcement coming in early September for the NX200, a refresh of the NX100. Rumors indicate that the ergonomics of the camera will be much like that of the EX-1, which would be a huge plus. It’s easy to overlook Samsung as a camera company, but you can easily build a nice arsenal of photography equipment without breaking the bank.
Like most of its competitors, Samsung makes the bulk of its camera profits from a sea of mediocre, me-too compact cameras.
Canon and Nikon are typically safe choices, because they have name recognition and make quality products. Myself, I’m not so obsessed with brands or specs as I am in finding cameras that fit my needs and are fun to use, because that translates into more interesting photos. I shoot Sony DSLRs because they’re the only company that provides phase-shift focusing Live View with an articulating screen. Because of that, I’ve taken a lot of photos at ground-level without having to get dirty in the process.
But back to Samsung. Looking at their product line, they have two product lines that are greatly underrated, in my mind.
The EX1
They’ve got a legitimate enthusiast point and shoot in the EX1. The EX1, in my mind, is what the Canon G12 should be. The Canon G12, is a prime example of a camera company shoving every feature and the kitchen sink into a camera and then beating it with an ugly stick.
Had the EX1 been around when I was shopping for my Panasonic LX3, I’d have probably bought the EX1. While not perfect, Samsung has delivered a camera that is well considered. It has a big sensor (as far as point and shoots go), and a fast zoom with a range that should satisfy most use cases. I should emphasize that this is one of the only larger sensor enthusiast cameras that have a wide 24mm equivalent focal length (the other being Panasonic’s LX series). I really hope that Samsung keeps this line of camera going, because this is the type of product that puts a halo on the rest of their product line.
The NX Platform
What I really find interesting, however, is Samsung’s NX platform. It’s a mirrorless platform with a large sensor. Right now, the only other company with a similar product line is Sony, with their similarly named NEX line. Before talking about the NX, let’s understand what’s so messed up with the Sony NEX system.
The Sony NEX, while delivering top notch image quality, is a mess of compromises. The designers at Sony obsessed over the thinness of the body, at the expense of lens size. Yes, the NEX bodies are indeed thin, but what’s the point when the lenses are so damned huge? Another problem with the lenses is that you don’t have many to choose from. And of the ones that you can choose from, there is only one pancake lens. This pisses me off to no end, because I shoot Sony DSLRs, and I really like what Sony has done with their Alpha DSLR line.
The Samsung NX product line, like the EX1, however, is once again well considered. The NX cameras probably won’t win any awards for image quality, not compared to a camera with a Sony APS-C sensor. For the tourist or soccer mom, however, the images are more than good enough, and compare well against images shot on the smaller Four Thirds sensor.
Let’s be realistic. These days, most normal people are shooting to post to Facebook or Flickr, not creating gigantic images to be mounted and hung on the walls. You don’t need a bragworthy camera to do that. While most camera nerds will spend their time trolling the DPReview forums, you can spend your time shooting photos.
The lens selection is actually quite stellar. By the end of this year, there will be three affordable fast pancake primes - 16mm, 20mm, and 30mm. These are the lenses that make any compact system worthwhile. Sony, by comparison, only has a single pancake lens (16mm).
Also coming out are fast 60mm and 85mm primes. Those line up fairly closely with the primes I love using on my SLR - 24mm, 35mm, 50mm and 90mm. It also helps that the 20-50 kit zoom is quite compact relative to its competition.
Photography nerds would also get a kick out of Samsung’s novel i-Function, which allows you to change camera settings from the focus ring of the lens. You can change your aperture, EV, white balance and ISO without fumbling through menus. Now that is damned clever. I’d use that all the time.
If I was looking for a compact primary system, I’d seriously consider the NX, since the transition would be pretty easy and definitely less costly than switching to the NEX or Micro Four Thirds.
Camera systems aren’t just about sensors and lenses though. Handling and usability are just as important, if not more important. Samsung’s menuing system, while not perfect, is generally viewed positively. I can’t say much about the NX100’s physical design, except that I’d like to ask the designers “WTF were you thinking?”. There’s not much to criticize about the NX10 or NX11 in that they follow the safe ergonomic stylings of most DSLRs.
There’s an announcement coming in early September for the NX200, a refresh of the NX100. Rumors indicate that the ergonomics of the camera will be much like that of the EX-1, which would be a huge plus. It’s easy to overlook Samsung as a camera company, but you can easily build a nice arsenal of photography equipment without breaking the bank.
Exciting Times for Photo Nerds
22/08/2011 Filed in: Photography
This is an exciting time for digital photography. You’re seeing the rapid development of the mirrorless interchangeable lens category as a legitimate alternative to the DSLR. At some point, you can at least hope that the camera salesman at your local big box electronics store will stop saying “If you want better pictures, your only choice is a DSLR”.
This summer and fall are a big turning point for the so-called mirrorless movement. While I wouldn’t go so far as to say that mirrorless has disrupted the marketplace, it has made a dent. The latest generation of Micro Four Thirds cameras from Olympus and Panasonic have shown that you can get pretty good images and focus performance from a non-SLR camera.
This week, we’ve got big announcements from Nikon and Sony. For Nikon, it’s their first digital mirrorless system, and for Sony, it’s an evolutionary step forward for their sometimes befuddling NEX platform.
Myself, I like keeping an eye out for the underdogs and dark horses.
Fuji is rumored to be making a big announcement in September, including an X10, which is the type of camera I lamented over in my last post:
The X10 is supposed to be exactly that, with a 2/3 sensor. The other rumored Fuji camera is an X100-styled, Micro Four Thirds system camera. Both of them sound droolworthy.
And finally, Samsung is expected to announce a refresh to their APS-C NX system sometime in September. I’ve all but ruled out an APS-C camera as a secondary, but who knows. Samsung is doing stuff that I really like. Enough that I’ll probably do a blog post about my thoughts on Samsung.
This summer and fall are a big turning point for the so-called mirrorless movement. While I wouldn’t go so far as to say that mirrorless has disrupted the marketplace, it has made a dent. The latest generation of Micro Four Thirds cameras from Olympus and Panasonic have shown that you can get pretty good images and focus performance from a non-SLR camera.
This week, we’ve got big announcements from Nikon and Sony. For Nikon, it’s their first digital mirrorless system, and for Sony, it’s an evolutionary step forward for their sometimes befuddling NEX platform.
Myself, I like keeping an eye out for the underdogs and dark horses.
Fuji is rumored to be making a big announcement in September, including an X10, which is the type of camera I lamented over in my last post:
What I’m really looking for is something like a Lumix LX5 or Samsung EX1 with a slightly larger sensor. The camera can be a little heftier because of the larger sensor, but all I really need is a decent quality compact with a fastish zoom in the range of 24-70mm. I was really happy with the performance of my LX3 on a recent vacation, although it would have been nice to eke out a little better video performance (my iPhone 4 takes cleaner videos), a little better low light performance, and a bit more zoom range on the long side (the LX3 maxes out at 50mm, vs 90mm on an LX5).
The X10 is supposed to be exactly that, with a 2/3 sensor. The other rumored Fuji camera is an X100-styled, Micro Four Thirds system camera. Both of them sound droolworthy.
And finally, Samsung is expected to announce a refresh to their APS-C NX system sometime in September. I’ve all but ruled out an APS-C camera as a secondary, but who knows. Samsung is doing stuff that I really like. Enough that I’ll probably do a blog post about my thoughts on Samsung.
Waffling on the X100
05/08/2011 Filed in: Photography
A while back, I got spousal approval to get myself a spanky FujiFilm X100, and I have yet to pull the trigger on that. The X100 is for the most part, the embodiment of my “dream camera,” which is a rangefinder-like device with design nods to Leica’s M-series. Aside from the short supply of cameras from Fuji, why haven’t I pulled the trigger on this?
The answer might be a little surprising.
My “primary” camera is an APS-C DSLR, and I’m not looking to replace the platform I’m on. Having a similar sized camera as my secondary camera makes little practical sense, but like golf, photography is a hobby where purchase decisions rarely make any practical sense.
I’ve been thinking long and hard about what will be the eventual successor to my Lumix LX3, and it may not be the X100 at all. If I was shooting a full frame DSLR, the X100 would make a whole lot of sense. There is a much more noticeable physical size difference. It makes much more sense for me to consider a smaller sensor camera platform like Micro Four Thirds or Nikon’s rumored 2.8x crop sensor platform. If I’m going to stick with APS-C for my secondary, well, I’m not even convinced there is any need for a secondary at all.
Since I’m not looking for a new primary platform, I would only need two lenses, if I was to go with an interchangeable lens camera. Basically a compact prime, with a 35-50mm full frame equivalent focal length, and a kit zoom. That’s it. But here’s the rub, I’m not even interested in the idea of swapping lenses.
What I’m really looking for is something like a Lumix LX5 or Samsung EX1 with a slightly larger sensor. The camera can be a little heftier because of the larger sensor, but all I really need is a decent quality compact with a fastish zoom in the range of 24-70mm. I was really happy with the performance of my LX3 on a recent vacation, although it would have been nice to eke out a little better video performance (my iPhone 4 takes cleaner videos), a little better low light performance, and a bit more zoom range on the long side (the LX3 maxes out at 50mm, vs 90mm on an LX5).
My ultimate dilemma is that nobody’s going to make this camera for me. 1/1.7” and 1/1.6” sensors are already quite rare - there are only a half-dozen or so cameras using those sensors, and the big two camera manufacturers have their heads so far up their asses that they have no idea what photography buffs want.
The only silver lining is that 2011 has been and is going to continue to be a very interesting year for compact camera systems. Mirrorless cameras have made a huge step forward in autofocus speed, and everyone except Canon should be showing their cards in this market this calendar year.
I’m not ruling out an APS-C camera as a secondary just yet, mainly to give Samsung a chance to announce their NX200. Samsung, in contrast to Sony, has actually developed a nice APS-C compact camera system with a decent and affordable lineup of lenses. If the NX200 is anything at all like their EX1, it may not take much convincing at all.
Nikon, Panasonic, Sony, Leica and Fuji still have a few tricks up their sleeves too, but Sony’s obsession with thinness on their NEX line annoys me to no end, and I’m a Sony shooter. I’m most curious to see what Fuji will announce. They’re a Four Thirds consortium member, and I’d love to see an X100 type of camera with a fixed 24-70 zoom in tandem with a Four Thirds sensor. If priced in the same range as an X100, it’d be a no-brainer for me.
That I am so unsure of what to get is a bit of a luxury. A year ago, the only thing I’d probably be able to consider would be a Micro Four Thirds camera. Having options is a good thing, and the options are only going to get better.
The answer might be a little surprising.
My “primary” camera is an APS-C DSLR, and I’m not looking to replace the platform I’m on. Having a similar sized camera as my secondary camera makes little practical sense, but like golf, photography is a hobby where purchase decisions rarely make any practical sense.
I’ve been thinking long and hard about what will be the eventual successor to my Lumix LX3, and it may not be the X100 at all. If I was shooting a full frame DSLR, the X100 would make a whole lot of sense. There is a much more noticeable physical size difference. It makes much more sense for me to consider a smaller sensor camera platform like Micro Four Thirds or Nikon’s rumored 2.8x crop sensor platform. If I’m going to stick with APS-C for my secondary, well, I’m not even convinced there is any need for a secondary at all.
Since I’m not looking for a new primary platform, I would only need two lenses, if I was to go with an interchangeable lens camera. Basically a compact prime, with a 35-50mm full frame equivalent focal length, and a kit zoom. That’s it. But here’s the rub, I’m not even interested in the idea of swapping lenses.
What I’m really looking for is something like a Lumix LX5 or Samsung EX1 with a slightly larger sensor. The camera can be a little heftier because of the larger sensor, but all I really need is a decent quality compact with a fastish zoom in the range of 24-70mm. I was really happy with the performance of my LX3 on a recent vacation, although it would have been nice to eke out a little better video performance (my iPhone 4 takes cleaner videos), a little better low light performance, and a bit more zoom range on the long side (the LX3 maxes out at 50mm, vs 90mm on an LX5).
My ultimate dilemma is that nobody’s going to make this camera for me. 1/1.7” and 1/1.6” sensors are already quite rare - there are only a half-dozen or so cameras using those sensors, and the big two camera manufacturers have their heads so far up their asses that they have no idea what photography buffs want.
The only silver lining is that 2011 has been and is going to continue to be a very interesting year for compact camera systems. Mirrorless cameras have made a huge step forward in autofocus speed, and everyone except Canon should be showing their cards in this market this calendar year.
I’m not ruling out an APS-C camera as a secondary just yet, mainly to give Samsung a chance to announce their NX200. Samsung, in contrast to Sony, has actually developed a nice APS-C compact camera system with a decent and affordable lineup of lenses. If the NX200 is anything at all like their EX1, it may not take much convincing at all.
Nikon, Panasonic, Sony, Leica and Fuji still have a few tricks up their sleeves too, but Sony’s obsession with thinness on their NEX line annoys me to no end, and I’m a Sony shooter. I’m most curious to see what Fuji will announce. They’re a Four Thirds consortium member, and I’d love to see an X100 type of camera with a fixed 24-70 zoom in tandem with a Four Thirds sensor. If priced in the same range as an X100, it’d be a no-brainer for me.
That I am so unsure of what to get is a bit of a luxury. A year ago, the only thing I’d probably be able to consider would be a Micro Four Thirds camera. Having options is a good thing, and the options are only going to get better.