Readers of this blog know how much I have a hard time calling most compacts a proper camera. However I selected a few that are worth a look if like me also, you can't walk around with a 6 pounds block of metal everytime.
Any of those camera will be a good choice, this is a can't go wrong selection. Bare in mind however that they all have different advantages from one another.
Fuji X100
/ the great but too expensive one (1200$)
Pricey, but offer the sensor of a DX DSLR, a great 35mm equivalent lens, superb built quality. Not flawless but will satisfy the hardcore amateur. ISO performance is excellent and compares to the best DSLRs...however a little pricey for a backup camera.
Canon G12
/ Nikon P7100
plenty of functions but a small sensor (450$)
Those Nikon and Canon pack all the cool stuff you might expect from a premium brand. Video modes, f2.8 max aperture lenses...Have them in your hand to see which one fits best to you, because that will be pretty much the only significan difference. The images won't match the ones of a X100 as the sensor is much much smaller, that explains the price difference too (about twice cheaper than the X100)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
/ A bright lens (370$)
It's main strength lays in the F2.0-3.3 lens, really good aperture figures for a compact. It mean decent low light performance and potential to play with depth of field, even on a small sensor. Cheaper than the previous ones, I would tend to prefer it to the G12 /P7100. I think the value / dollars is better.
Canon Powershot S100
/ For those who care a lot about size (440$)
This is a very good product for those who don't want to care about anything but point and shoot, yet with a good picture quality, the all thing fitting in your pocket. I got this for my mother last XMAS (the previous version), it works great. FYI the S95 is about 100$ cheaper and is the exact same at 95%.
Sony NEX 5D
/ Large Sensor, interchangeable lenses (500$)
A good product, pretty much the same as the GF2 (sensor a bit larger). If you offer or get that, you have one of the 3 best compact around. Why is not my winner? Because with lenses, it's not a compact anymore !!! It just gets too big.
Panasonic GF2
/ My favorite choice even over the X100 (500$)
Why is it the winner? Because it combines 3 of the most important features:
Any of those camera will be a good choice, this is a can't go wrong selection. Bare in mind however that they all have different advantages from one another.
Fuji X100
/ the great but too expensive one (1200$)Pricey, but offer the sensor of a DX DSLR, a great 35mm equivalent lens, superb built quality. Not flawless but will satisfy the hardcore amateur. ISO performance is excellent and compares to the best DSLRs...however a little pricey for a backup camera.
Canon G12
/ Nikon P7100
plenty of functions but a small sensor (450$)Those Nikon and Canon pack all the cool stuff you might expect from a premium brand. Video modes, f2.8 max aperture lenses...Have them in your hand to see which one fits best to you, because that will be pretty much the only significan difference. The images won't match the ones of a X100 as the sensor is much much smaller, that explains the price difference too (about twice cheaper than the X100)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
/ A bright lens (370$)It's main strength lays in the F2.0-3.3 lens, really good aperture figures for a compact. It mean decent low light performance and potential to play with depth of field, even on a small sensor. Cheaper than the previous ones, I would tend to prefer it to the G12 /P7100. I think the value / dollars is better.
Canon Powershot S100
/ For those who care a lot about size (440$)This is a very good product for those who don't want to care about anything but point and shoot, yet with a good picture quality, the all thing fitting in your pocket. I got this for my mother last XMAS (the previous version), it works great. FYI the S95 is about 100$ cheaper and is the exact same at 95%.
Sony NEX 5D
/ Large Sensor, interchangeable lenses (500$)A good product, pretty much the same as the GF2 (sensor a bit larger). If you offer or get that, you have one of the 3 best compact around. Why is not my winner? Because with lenses, it's not a compact anymore !!! It just gets too big.
Panasonic GF2
/ My favorite choice even over the X100 (500$)Why is it the winner? Because it combines 3 of the most important features:
- It has a large sensor (APS C, much bigger and all of the above appart from the X100)
- You can get it with a really good multpi purpose prime lens (20mm 1.7) like the Fuji X100
- It cost half a X100, which should be the max price for a compact.
: Leica M looks, 1200$ price tag (more than the excellent Nikon D7000...), but at least Fuji did not screw up the essential: they put a great lens and a DX SLR size sensor. Many things are annoying on the Fuji, the AF and firmware mostly, but it remains a very good camera. Fuji too rules in the true camera world (690, 680III, brilliant gear), at least they try to remain consistent across the range.