Sony RX100m2

[kalniel]

Last year's Sony RX100 was a bit of crazy concept - stick a relatively large 1" sensor inside a tiny compact camera body and sell it at a high price for enthusiasts.

Now the sequel is out, with the utterly distinctive search-engine friendly (not) new name of RX100m2.

One of the problems with the first camera was cramming 20MP into the sensor, leading to loss of detail due to quite heavy noise reduction. The new camera has a back-side illuminated sensor (oo-er - who came up with that as a term?) to improve performance especially at higher ISOs. It also gets the recently trendy wifi and NFC, and a mildly tilting rear screen.

But the lens is still the same, which while being quite an achievement in what it was being asked to do, does let the side down a little.

And then there's the price.. a staggering £650. That's proper DSLR money, or CSC. Granted, they don't fit down your trouser pocket like this will but still..

Anyone tempted?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I think the major sell is as a compact go anywhere camera capable of very good results. It that sense it would be a really nice piece of kit to have. However,I do also like the slightly cheaper GR Digital which has a fixed 28MM lens(I would love 24MM and 35MM versions to be launched too) and an APS-C sensor,although it does trade flexibility for image quality I suppose.

[kalniel]

That the Ricoh? It's kind of the same size as CSCs though, unfortunately, it's pretty big. Portable certainly (belt pouch I guess), just not trouser pocketable really.

Stunning image quality though.

[Kumagoro]

I got the rx100 recently for 4 man 6 Sen which is about 300 quid. I have to say I'm very pleased with it and find it much better than my previous compacts. I can take an indoor daytime shot and it comes out very nice and also night time indoors with the lights on also comes out very nice. In comparison to a chunky dslr I don't know but compared to other compacts it's excellent.

Only problem with it is that the menu is only in Japanese. So beware of buying Sony or Panasonic stuff in Japan, the international models were like 150 quid more. Not important to the vast majority but also I have found my Sony tv doesn't display Japanese text at all where my Toshiba blue ray is fine.

[Bobster]

will a firmware not fix the jap text?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

That the Ricoh? It's kind of the same size as CSCs though, unfortunately, it's pretty big. Portable certainly (belt pouch I guess), just not trouser pocketable really.

Stunning image quality though.

Yeah,I think the main advantage over the mirrorless cameras,is the depth with a lens and it would probably fit in a jacket pocket for example.

Its not too bad in size:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mingthein/7713819250/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mingthein/7713821008/

The cameras are the RX100,D-LUX 5(LX5 is the same camera AFAIK),GR Digital and a EPM2.

TBH,I would be happy with either them as I only have a Canon S95 ATM. However,I do need an SLR upgrade sooner though,so the budgie says no!!

[Kumagoro]

I had a quick Google at the time before buying to see if it could be done but it appeared it wasn't possible. I decided it wasn't worth risking considering the price and that it's good enough on auto and I can read most of the common settings.

[GoNz0]

I have the original and love it, but do not see the need to upgrade as it is great for what it is.

[kalniel]

TBH,I would be happy with either them as I only have a Canon S95 ATM.

'Only' It's a great cam as little canon compacts are wont to be. Most of my framed pictures are still from a little A70, and the A720is still surprises me from time to time. Check out if you can get CHDK for the S95 - it's transformed my A720

I have the original and love it, but do not see the need to upgrade as it is great for what it is.

Yeah, best thing about the sequel coming out is it's going to drop the price of the original, which has otherwise defied the usual technology price crash.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

'Only' It's a great cam as little canon compacts are wont to be. Most of my framed pictures are still from a little A70, and the A720is still surprises me from time to time. Check out if you can get CHDK for the S95 - it's transformed my A720

The S95 is a nice allround compact TBH,and I had an S60 before that. That was good too until,it was hit by the Sony sensor mulfunction which affected many 5MP compacts after a few years. There was a recall/ free out of warranty repair and replacement service by Canon USA on affected cameras,but UK Canon were a couple of armpits in this regard. I might have a go with the custom firmware on the S95,but it does seem to reasonably full featured,but more functions the merrier!!

I was having a play around with a relatives SX50HS,and even that is not too bad. Up close the S95 is less grainier(and has less intrusive noise reduction),but the pictures are pretty pleasant,especially considering the 24-1200MM range.

Regarding the quality of these little cameras,I have had some really nice pictures out of my S60 and my earlier Optio 450(Pentax). I suppose this is why cameras like the RX100 and Ricoh GR Digital excite me. I see them as dSLR and CSC replacements for general photographic purposes,and I am more likely to have such a camera at hand anyway. With a normal system,I usually have to make a conscious effort to take them with me due to their size.

If an RX200 came out with a 24-100MM lens that would be full of awesome.

[kalniel]

That was good too until,it was hit by the Sony sensor mulfunction which affected many 5MP compacts after a few years. There was a recall/ free out of warranty repair and replacement service by Canon USA on affected cameras,but UK Canon were a couple of armpits in this regard.

Oh that sucks. My A70 had the same after about 5 years, but Canon UK did recall it.

I might have a go with the custom firmware on the S95,but it does seem to reasonably full featured,but more functions the merrier!!

It's ace! So much fun to write scripts for one's camera I've got a few on the A720 - custom timelapse, auto bracketing with my preferred settings, motion detection shutter(!) etc.

If an RX200 came out with a 24-100MM lens that would be full of awesome.

Agreed, though even 28 is wider than my A720 - I just take many shots and stitch them later.