New compact cameras

[maflynn]

I have to say, I am liking the Canon G5X II more and more. I was in some situations this past week where my OMD EM5 while a great camera was not ideal. Having something that was better then a camera phone but not as large and bulky as a mirrorless is something that my mind keeps coming back too.

The reviews of the G5X II have mostly been positive, with the exception of one. Techradar's review

The lens can be a little soft at its wider focal lengths and wider apertures,

I've seen some [other] comments about edge softness with the lens wide open but then that is somewhat to be expected - I think many lenses exhibit similar symptoms wide open. Other reviews have reported very sharp images, and given that the G5X II has a faster lens, its indoor/low light performance is superior to that of the RX100 VII - at least from an ISO/shutter speed perspective. The superior autofocus of the RX100 means it will probably lock onto a target in low light faster then the G5X II will.

Reviews of its video capability have not been all that great but then I want it for photography not vlogging.

The price difference comes into play as well, with the G5X topping out at 900, versus 1,200 for the RX100 VII, that's not a small difference, and while the RX100 has a longer reach, I think if I had a need for that my OMD EM5 with a 14-150 lens will be a better choice.

 

[Fishrrman]

I don't know if it meets the strict criteria of being a "compact" camera, but the upcoming Canon M6ii looks to be very nice.

The M6ii's 30fps "raw burst" mode looks to upbraid what Panasonic has in their "6k video frame grab" mode. This enables the user to take a short burst of full-resolution images, and then "pick the best frames" out of the bunch.

I see this as one of the "future upcoming tech features" that will completely change the paradigm of what "still photography" is or can be...

 

[maflynn]

I don't know if it meets the strict criteria of being a "compact" camera

Yeah, it really doesn't fit the criteria, there are plenty of nice cameras that are not considered compact. I think market has segregated itself with high performance compacts (like the Sony RX100 and what not), mirrorless cameras and of course DSLRs. The inexpensive small cameras are dying a quick death as people are not spending money on those since camera phones do a good job. This is why I think Sony has positioned the RX100 VI and now VII with a 240mm lens. It really differentiates that with what you can do with a smart phone

 

[swissbob]

From the reviews and what others say, the IQ of the RX100 is very good. I do find other compact cameras to be better in my hands, the RX100 does feel too small for me

Have you tried the RX100 with the Sony grip? It does make a huge difference.

P.S. Canon always uses old Sony Sensors.

 

[maflynn]

Have you tried the RX100 with the Sony grip? It does make a huge difference.

P.S. Canon always uses old Sony Sensors.

The camera store that I frequent doesn't have any with grips, but yeah I've heard that the grip makes a huge difference.

 

[swissbob]

The camera store that I frequent doesn't have any with grips, but yeah I've heard that the grip makes a huge difference.

Without the Body feels slippery, and If your hands become sweaty in the summer it‘s difficult to hold the camera

You can see the difference here:

 

[maflynn]

You can see the difference here

I'm not disagreeing, just that in my opinion that the G5X is better in the hands, even with a grip on the Sony - granted its an incomplete analysis since I've yet to try a RX100 in my hands that had a grip.

Also I think the G5X has the advantage of easier better menu system, and more intuitive use of the touch screen. I've been in the dpreview forums, and reading other opinions and the consensus is that the RX100 series takes great pictures but it can be a pain to use. Other cameras seem to be more joyful to use and that goes a long way in my book.

What the RX100 VII has over the G5X
More reach, and faster autofocus, many of the reviews how how tracking and shooting multiple shots per second, but for my usage that's probably not a major advantage. For "sports" photography, I'll use my OMD EM5 which has a larger sensor, with a lens that can reach an equivalent 300mm.

I'm envisioning the compact camera to be used for the on the go stuff, where I don't want to pack, or lug the OMD EM5 and its larger lens.

I fully understand that adding a grip to the RX100 improves the hand held use, and the pop up EVF is superior in execution then the G5x (where you pop it up and pull it out). Yet I do like how the G5 feels in my hand.

The price difference is a major pain point as well, do I want to spend 1,200 for the Vii, though the Vi is showing up for around 1,000 so makes the G5X vs. RX100 VI more interesting.

 

[maflynn]

Here's the 2019 Buying Guide: Best pocketable enthusiast cameras from depreview

RX100 VII:

While not amazing in low light due to the lens's slow aperture range, image quality is generally excellent, with pleasing colors, good detail capture and wide dynamic range. The RX100 VII's 4K video quality is very good, as well.

Where the RX100 VII really stands out is its autofocus system, which is the most advanced of any compact on the market. Just point it at a subject - whether it's a body, face or eye, and the camera will follow it around the scene seamlessly. And it can do this at 20 frames per second.

Handling is the main area about which we have mixed feelings. The user interface is complex, buttons are too small, and the body is slippery and easy to drop. The RX100 VII is expensive for a compact camera, but if you need its 'capture-the-action' capabilities, then you won't be disappointed with your purchase.

G5X II

The Canon G5 X II has a shorter, faster lens than the RX100 VII, giving the option of blurrier backgrounds and better image quality as the light level falls. It still manages to cover a versatile 24-120mm equivalent range.

The G5 X II produces very good photos, with good Raw image quality and JPEGs with the kind of color one expects from Canon. Video quality is reasonable, though since it lacks a mic socket, the G7 X III and RX100 VII are better choices for vlogging.

The design of the camera is very good, with a customizable, 'clicky' front control dial, dedicated exposure comp dial, flip-up touchscreen LCD and that handy EVF. It's responsive to use and its interface is simple and focused. On the negative side, the G5 X II's autofocus system which, while very good, just can't keep up with the RX100 VII. Battery life isn't great either, although the camera does support USB charging.

 

[Clix Pix]

Although I have the RX!00 M6 now, I will probably be trading it in on the M7 -- both that no black-out between shots and the faster autofocus really appeal to me, and I do have a specific use for that kind of shooting. I'm used to the menu system by now, having had several RX100s and an RX10 over the years, so that doesn't particularly bother me. I've never handled one with the accessory grip that can be put on the camera, and I have relatively small hands so am not bothered by the size of the camera, but yes, it can be slippery so I always keep the wrist strap on or sometimes, depending upon the situation in which I'll be using it, a sling-type neck strap. Just waiting for my local shop to get the new camera in stock....

 

[tizeye]

Two new Sony small APS-C, compact, interchangeable lens cameras to be announced at 10:00 EST today. The low end A6100 and the new high end A6600.

 

[Clix Pix]

Thanks for the heads-up! I have been waiting for more announcements from Sony......

Although I dearly love my RX10 M4 I'm hoping that maybe there will be an RX10 M5 coming along soon, too.

 

[MacNut]

Two new Sony small APS-C, compact, interchangeable lens cameras to be announced at 10:00 EST today. The low end A6100 and the new high end A6600.

The a6600 is tempting, just about all the bells and whistles of their full frames.

 

[swissbob]

The a6600 is tempting, just about all the bells and whistles of their full frames.

Except only UHS-I Support instead of UHS-II.( the latter allows the camera to write 3 Times faster)

 

[maflynn]

I will probably be trading it in on the M7

Yeah, the M7 is a really nice camera, and for my needs, I think the G5X is a better option

Two new Sony small APS-C, compact, interchangeable lens cameras to be announced at 10:00 EST today. The low end A6100 and the new high end A6600.

The A6100 looks really nice, its weird but I'm looking for a small camera that is virtually pocketable, so I can easily take it into situations where my OMD EM5 would be cumbersome. it does look like a very potent and feature rich camera. I'd say the The Canon EOS M6 II also falls into that category that was just announced as well.

The one thing I stumbled upon on the A6100 is the EVF - its only 1.44M-dot, and in this day and age, that seems quite poor.

Edit: People over on dpreview seem to be underwhelmed to the point of disappointed for various reasons - I think these are people who had the older models and were hoping for a more pronounced update from both Canon and Sony. I suppose that disappointment is natural and we see that here at MR when a new apple product is rolled out. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[maflynn]

Here's another review of the G5X - its actually a comparison of the G5X II vs. the RX100 VII
At the risk of spoilers, I'll say his focus is more on photography and not on video and he highlights a lot of the positives the G5X II has over the RX100 VII. Given my wants/must haves and my desired usage. The G5X II makes more sense over the RX100 VI. The longer reach of the RX100, amazingly fast AF and crazy fast burst rate are really nice features but given my usage, I don't think its worth the 300 dollar price difference, especially since I'll be giving up a brighter lens.

All that said, I ordered the G5X II from my local camera store - they didn't have one in stock, so they ordered one, I expect to have it in my hands by Thursday or the weekend.