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Photo Enthusiasts: Looking for large-aperture, quality point-and-shoot. Suggestions?

acecow

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I'm in the market for an f1.4 or f1.8 digital camera. I'm tired of logging my DSLR around, but I refuse to settle for a regular point and shoot. I often shoot in low light conditions, don't care for depth of field and prefer no flash. Right now my DSLR has an f1.4 USM 50mm lens, which I'm very happy with. I want a smaller version of that. Does anyone have any suggestions? Price limit: up to a thousand.
 

Trompe le Monde

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4 hottest recent enthusiast/"prosumer" cameras are: sony NEX-7, fuji X-pro1, fuji x100, olympus OM-D

olympus has m4/3 sensor and mount...smaller of the lot (which are APS-C). a bit over a 1000 with kit lens + 500 for a nice prime
fuji x-pro1: functionally not that much better than x100 except it has has interchangeable lenses... some very nice ones. substantial cost relative to ur limit
sony nex-7: decent lens selection. decent body.
fuji x100: my pick of the litter. fixed 35mm (equivalent) f2.0 lens. very back-to-basics. best handling/controls. and also the best on-camera flash in the business should you choose to use it. has *some* problems with low light focusing. killer ISO performance

the olympus has the best low-light focusing of the group, but the worse ISO performance... there's your trade-off
nex-7 has focus peaking feature, which is really nice.
but still, i would go x100. price is 1200
 

CDFS

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Smaller options are the Canon s100 (2.0), Samsung TL500/EX1 (1.8), Panasonic LX3 (2.0) (LX5 is bigger, I think) or the Ricoh GR Digital III or IV (1.9).

I can't think of any P&S with a 1.4 lens.

I (just) got a GRDIV and can't tell you much about it yet. My GX200(2.5) which I loved broke and I needed a relatively cheap (second hand) replacement. I do miss a zoom lens a bit.
 

wmb

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I have a 'old' Lumix GF1 with 20mm lens that is great for point and shoot days.
 

aizan

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how big is too big? a micro 4/3 body with the 20/1.7 or panaleica 25/1.4 asph is good. then there's the sony nex-7 with 24/1.8 zeiss (kinda big).

in low light, the af in the fuji x100 and x-pro1 still isn't up to par. very annoying. x10 isn't half bad. it'll comfortably get you down to ev5 for still subjects. they just fixed the orb issue, too.

the nikon 1 system might do the trick someday. not yet, though.
 
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otc

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The S100 takes very good flashless photos in lower light conditions (or at least the s90 and s95 do...I have not personally handled the s100).
 

acecow

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Thank you, all excellent suggestions. I will look into all of that. By smaller I meant something I could put in my gf's purse or carry it in my jacket pocket. Also, as much as I love quality photos, one DSLR is enough and I'll probably go for something without an external lens. Thank you, again!
 

schrag

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Check out the Olympus XZ-1. 1.8-2.5 28-110mm (equiv) lens. At the long end, you can focus close and get some decent out of focus background for headshots, etc. Beautiful olympus colour, and accessory port for external VF, mic, etc.





 
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Trompe le Monde

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i would put neither the x100 or OMD or nex7 in a sportjacket pocket... (the flattest is x100 and it would barely fit). casual jacket? sure.

the most "pocketable" decent camera would be the S90/95/100. LX5 is a tad larger.

great camera, and gives technically good photos (iso, sharpness, wb, lack of aberration, etc) , but no "character" that you would get from higher end enthusiast cameras or slr systems
 

Journeyman

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how big is too big? a micro 4/3 body with the 20/1.7 or panaleica 25/1.4 asph is good. then there's the sony nex-7 with 24/1.8 zeiss (kinda big).
in low light, the af in the fuji x100 and x-pro1 still isn't up to par. very annoying. x10 isn't half bad. it'll comfortably get you down to ev5 for still subjects. they just fixed the orb issue, too.
the nikon 1 system might do the trick someday. not yet, though.


+1 on the X10 - I've found it to be very good at taking low-light photos. It's smaller than the X100, too.
 

david3558

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I'd stay away from the X100, I had one and I didn't like it very much. What about the Ricoh GRD series?

David
 

Trompe le Monde

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I'd stay away from the X100, I had one and I didn't like it very much. What about the Ricoh GRD series?
David

what didnt you like about it?

it is definitely flawed... and commands patience (gdamn menus! damn focusing hunt!) ... but its like a temperamental woman...when its on its on and the picture is delightful
 

mexicutioner

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we are very happy with our Lumix DMC-LX5. great in low light for a P&S.
 
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acecow

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it is definitely flawed... and commands patience (gdamn menus! damn focusing hunt!) ... but its like a temperamental woman...when its on its on and the picture is delightful


Haha. Great review.


Thank you, everyone! So far, I'm looking at:

Olympus XZ-1
Canon S95/S100
Panasonic LX3/LX5

Any thoughts on the 3(5) finalists would be most welcome.
 

bwong337

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I have an LX-5 but is moving to a fuji x100. The LX-5 works well as a point and shoot but low ISO is definitely not there, if you're into that sort of thing. I got some great shots with it though.

I'm looking to sell mine, so if you're interested, we can talk.
 

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