Enthusiast P&S recommendations?

[Imported]

Used to have a full DSLR set up but I sold it all last year. Looking for a P&S under $400 (under $300 would be preferred but haven't seen anything decent) to take photos with in lieu of using my phone all the time. Good macro ability would be a plus. Does not need to pocketable.

Looking at:

Canon S110
Panasonic LX7
Pentax MX-1

Any comments? I know the S120 is coming soon and hoping it leads to lower prices for the S110, but I'm leaning towards an LX7 when it gets back down to under $300. Not in a huge hurry to get it either.

I'd consider a Panasonic GX1 but I don't know if I want to travel down that path again.

 

[dougp]

Olympus XZ-2 since the X20 is out of your price range.

 

[fralexandr]

if you're considering the mx-1, you should also take a look at the sony rx100
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sony-cybershot-dsc-rx100
there are some used versions for ~$430
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...condition=used

the ricoh gr IV is ~$430 new
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/ricoh_gr_digital_iv_review/
http://www.amazon.com/GR-DIGITAL-IV-...words=ricoh+gr

 

[Midwayman]

Olympus XZ-2 since the X20 is out of your price range.

I have the xz-1 and its a fantastic camera.

 

[dougp]

I have the xz-1 and its a fantastic camera.

Yup, I was having a hard time deciding between the two.

 

[xSauronx]

i love my lx7, good on macro shots

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sa0lbsggd3dg8ao/Export-1040423.jpg

theres an example. i wish it were slimmer, but i enjoy mine a lot.

 

[AkumaX]

Best P&S? I know its a bit over your limit, but the Sony RX100 (not the mkII) is the best P&S on the market. Could be had for $500-$550 with a deal. The mkII is $700-$750 so that's definitely a no-go...

 

[Cebu]

I owned both the LX7 and RX100. Both are good cameras. I loved the way the LX7 felt in my hand and the way all of the controls are located on various dials and buttons. The RX100 is harder to use because most of its controls are software based so you have to go into different menus to make changes. However, the RX100 blows away the LX7 when it comes to detail and indoor shots. The LX7 takes excellent photos and videos outside, but fails miserably when it comes to taking portrait type pictures in artificial lighting. I took it to Cancun a month or so ago and the white balance in almost every picture I took of my family in a restaurant was wrong. I took the same photo with the RX100 on auto superior mode and it came out great. That was enough for me to sell it on Ebay when I got home. The price of the RX100 is almost twice the price of the LX7, but you will get the best point and shoot camera ever made. The proof is in the picture.

 

[Imported]

Will look at the XZ-2. I considered the RX100 but its pricepoint is a bit high. I wonder if the local camera shop rents P&S cameras. They rent DSLRs and lenses..

Not a P&S, but Costco has a Nikon 1 J3 with 10-30 & 30-110 lenses for $600 that I'm a little intrigued by.

 

[dougp]

Will look at the XZ-2. I considered the RX100 but its pricepoint is a bit high. I wonder if the local camera shop rents P&S cameras. They rent DSLRs and lenses..

Not a P&S, but Costco has a Nikon 1 J3 with 10-30 & 30-110 lenses for $600 that I'm a little intrigued by.

Nikon 1 has an unimpressive sensor compared to other mirrorless cameras in the price range. Look at the NEX-3, E-PM2, E-PL5, DMC-GF6 ...

 

[Cebu]

Used to have a full DSLR set up but I sold it all last year. Looking for a P&S under $400 (under $300 would be preferred but haven't seen anything decent) to take photos with in lieu of using my phone all the time. Good macro ability would be a plus. Does not need to pocketable.

Looking at:

Canon S110
Panasonic LX7
Pentax MX-1

Any comments? I know the S120 is coming soon and hoping it leads to lower prices for the S110, but I'm leaning towards an LX7 when it gets back down to under $300. Not in a huge hurry to get it either.

I'd consider a Panasonic GX1 but I don't know if I want to travel down that path again.

If you just have to have the best camera under $300.00 then I would say the LX7 is the best camera for the money. I took some awesome outdoor photos with that camera and the 1080P videos at 60fps is something to behold. Amazing !!! You can get it for $298.00 on Amazon when they run a special. The Canon S110 is also a good camera but it has a lens error problem that Canon refuses to acknowledge. That is why I stayed away from it.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

Not a P&S, but Costco has a Nikon 1 J3 with 10-30 & 30-110 lenses for $600 that I'm a little intrigued by.

The Nikon V1 is a great camera, and can be had Refurbished by Nikon for $299 shipped with the over-achieving VR kit lens.

http://shop.nikonusa.com/store/nikonusa/en_US/pd/ThemeID.27720500/productID.258576700

Here is a link to Steve Huff's Nikon V1 Image Gallery. Check out what this "unimpressive sensor" can do.

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/who-am-i/the-nikon-1-sample-image-gallery/

 

[dougp]

The Nikon V1 is a great camera, and can be had Refurbished by Nikon for $299 shipped with the over-achieving VR kit lens.

http://shop.nikonusa.com/store/nikonusa/en_US/pd/ThemeID.27720500/productID.258576700

Here is a link to Steve Huff's Nikon V1 Image Gallery. Check out what this "unimpressive sensor" can do.

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/who-am-i/the-nikon-1-sample-image-gallery/

Yes, please, only use two words from my sentence. That makes a lot of sense ...

 

[JohnnyRebel]

Yes, please, only use two words from my sentence. That makes a lot of sense ...

No insult intended. Those were merely the two words I was expounding on. If he looks at the $299 V1 instead of the $600 J3, the V1 is a super competitive choice. Do you have any personal experience with the V1?

Here it is at Adorama, it looks like Nikon sold out. No surprise, this is a no-brainer at this price. Also, for $7 you can extend the warranty from 90 days to 1 year.

http://www.adorama.com/INK1V1BKR.html

 

[dougp]

No insult intended. Those were merely the two words I was expounding on. If he looks at the $299 V1 instead of the $600 J3, the V1 is a super competitive choice. Do you have any personal experience with the V1?

Here it is at Adorama, it looks like Nikon sold out. No surprise, this is a no-brainer at this price. Also, for $7 you can extend the warranty from 90 days to 1 year.

http://www.adorama.com/INK1V1BKR.html

I was considering the 1 series amongst others before I settled on my X20. I'd take a NEX-3 over the V1 despite the $100 price difference.

http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-V1-vs-Sony_Alpha_NEX-3

 

[JohnnyRebel]

I was considering the 1 series amongst others before I settled on my X20. I'd take a NEX-3 over the V1 despite the $100 price difference.

http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-V1-vs-Sony_Alpha_NEX-3

I compared the same two and both are great.

I went with the V1 for price as well as faster and more accurate AF. At the time, the Sony lenses also just didn't wow me and I could not see (in real world results) the benefit of the larger sensor. AF tracking is important to me, and the V1 is way ahead of the Sony. It really just felt a whole lot faster.

A little bit ago you could get the V1 w/ 10mm lens for $250 and I got one for my teenage son. He hasn't used his D40 since he got the V1.

 

[AkumaX]

Will look at the XZ-2. I considered the RX100 but its pricepoint is a bit high. I wonder if the local camera shop rents P&S cameras. They rent DSLRs and lenses..

Not a P&S, but Costco has a Nikon 1 J3 with 10-30 & 30-110 lenses for $600 that I'm a little intrigued by.

Right, it is a bit high.. but still, the sensor size is equivalent to the Nikon 1 series. Mirrorless with removable lenses (assuming you would take advantage of that) vs a P&S!

 

[iGas]

May want to consider the Canon EOS M + 18-55mm lens @ $349 as well, because it lead to a painless upgrade path in the future if the OP decide to go that direction.

 

[Munky]

I have a Fuji XF1, basically a X10 in a much smaller body, and without the sensor bloom issues. Unbelievable dynamic range, more than adequate noise performance, and awesome ergonomics and handling. The price on amazon has recently dropped substantially too.

 

[fralexandr]

woot has the pentax mx-1 on sale for $250 + $5 shipping
http://www.woot.com/offers/pentax-mx-1-12mp-4x-opt-digital-camera

 

[mchammer187]

May want to consider the Canon EOS M + 18-55mm lens @ $349 as well, because it lead to a painless upgrade path in the future if the OP decide to go that direction.

I second this. As far as IQ is concerned you won't get anything better in this price range. Can also be had with a 22mm F/2 for $300 if you want something even smaller that doesn't zoom.

If you want something more compact go with the XF1 as recommended by Munky.

 

[iGas]

na

 

[AnitaPeterson]

This review is interesting, because it discusses two of the three models mentioned by the OP...

http://gizmodo.com/5950679/panasonic-lumix-lx7-review-a-lovely-point+and+shoot-for-control-freaks

 

[shortylickens]

LX7.

Loads of features and excellent image quality. Only real problem is a short zoom.

 

[Imported]

Waiting has paid off a little bit.. the S110 is $250 on Amazon right now. $282 for the LX7. Fiance likes the S110 more so I think I'm going to pull the trigger.