A novice & the Sony RX100

[a4cabrio]

I want to buy a new camers and have absolutely zero knowledge to help me decide what to go for, my budget is around the £250 mark, my criteria was just something that's easy to use and which will last a while. After doing some research on the net and also on here, I'm kind of swaying towards the RX100 MK1 which I can get for £260,

What I'd like to ask is, is the RX100 an easy camera to use for a novice?? It's just a camera to use for holidays and other occasions

[anonymous-user]

Basically, yes.

If you put it in program (auto) mode it will do everything for you. But as you get more experienced/creative you have as much control over the process as you want.

I just bought a Mark 3 - it's a superb camera and the Mark 1 is too.

[a4cabrio]

garyhun said:

Basically, yes.

If you put it in program (auto) mode it will do everything for you. But as you get more experienced/creative you have as much control over the process as you want.

I just bought a Mark 3 - it's a superb camera and the Mark 1 is too.

Thankyou, I just didn't want to end up with a complicated camera and not have a clue how to use it, as you say I can have a play around with it when I suss out the basics..

Are they a fragile camera or are they a bit robust and can handle a knock or 2?? I just ask as my mrs tends to be a tad clumsy and likes to drop phones, cups etc etc lol that's another reason why I'd never look at anything in the mk3 bracket

[anonymous-user]

It's a solid piece of kit - nice metal body but no camera will put up with being dropped.

Seriously, if your wife is that bad maybe you should buy her a cheap camera and not let her near the RX100.

[JustinP1]

For my RX100 I got an 'always on' style case. It's in two parts, the solid leather bottom screws into the bottom half of the camera and encapsulates the bottom half.

There's a snap-clip for the top half which clips over the top. You could drop it on the floor with the case on and it would be totally unscathed.

It's this kind of thing:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Faux-Leather-Case-Black-...

Mine was about £12 delivered - think it's a copy of a Sony £60 version.

[GetCarter]

JustinP1 said:

For my RX100 I got an 'always on' style case. It's in two parts, the solid leather bottom screws into the bottom half of the camera and encapsulates the bottom half.

There's a snap-clip for the top half which clips over the top. You could drop it on the floor with the case on and it would be totally unscathed.

It's this kind of thing:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Faux-Leather-Case-Black-...

Mine was about £12 delivered - think it's a copy of a Sony £60 version.

This. RX100 is a great camera, very easy to use, and when you have a leather 'always on case' you can step on it and it won't break. (Been there).

[2slo]

I got one of those cases free when I bought my RX100III from Wex last week. Feels nice and solid.

[a4cabrio]

Thanks for the advice about the camera and the case suggestions, I went to John Lewis today to look at the RX100 and was impressed with it, the quality of the pictures impressed me straight away. I had a chat with a store assistant who did nothing to put me off the RX100, but they did also suggest the Nikon S9700 as an alternative, I asked why and their reply was it was a more up to date camera with a better spec and also £120 cheaper in store. I would be buying the RX100 elsewhere so their price difference didn't really bother me as I could pick up the RX100 for £30 more than they were charging for the Nikon.

So would the Nikon S9700 be a good alternative, or should I just stick with the RX100??

[GetCarter]

a4cabrio said:

Thanks for the advice about the camera and the case suggestions, I went to John Lewis today to look at the RX100 and was impressed with it, the quality of the pictures impressed me straight away. I had a chat with a store assistant who did nothing to put me off the RX100, but they did also suggest the Nikon S9700 as an alternative, I asked why and their reply was it was a more up to date camera with a better spec and also £120 cheaper in store. I would be buying the RX100 elsewhere so their price difference didn't really bother me as I could pick up the RX100 for £30 more than they were charging for the Nikon.

So would the Nikon S9700 be a good alternative, or should I just stick with the RX100??

He/She'll have a bunch of S9700's they need to shift. Buy the Sony.

[anonymous-user]

GetCarter said:

He/She'll have a bunch of S9700's they need to shift. Buy the Sony.

Agreed. I've just spent a few hours around Poole harbour and quay getting to know the camera. The quality/clarity of the picture straight out of the camera is amazing.

I traded in my SLR and am so glad I did - I have taken more shots today than in the last year with the SLR because of its compactness. I went on my bike and just clipped the case to my belt.

[J012E]

I've just bought the RX100 m2... as an absolute amateur I have pretty much stuck to auto. But I've been watching plenty of youtube video's and I'm sure I'll be a pro in the next few days!

Any of you with the RX100 got any pics you could share, I'd be interested to know what it can do in the right hands.

Thanks

[2slo]

J012E said:

Any of you with the RX100 got any pics you could share, I'd be interested to know what it can do in the right hands.

Thanks

Three of mine with the RX100III:

Paddys in the fog IV by 2slo7, on Flickr

Swans on the Tees by 2slo7, on Flickr

Decisions by 2slo7, on Flickr

[J012E]

Thanks... really like those. They look like slr pics

[2slo]

J012E said:

Thanks... really like those. They look like slr pics

They are pretty close, I think the Sony would compare favourably overall with something like a Canon 7D + 17-40mm lens (which when you adjust for the crop factor gives similar focal lengths Canon: 27-64mm; Sony RX100III: 24-70mm). The Sony of course having the big advantage of being pocket sized and inconspicuous. A friend of mine seeing me taking a pic using the LCD with the Sony a couple of days ago commented to the effect, 'Oh it's a camera, I thought you were using your phone' Useful when you don't want to attract attention.

[anonymous-user]

Do you lose quality using Photobucket?

I just posted one of my shots with the camera to show what it looks like straight out of the camera with zero processing. However, when viewed as a link to PB it does not look half as good as on my Mac so I deleted it!

[2slo]

garyhun said:

Do you lose quality using Photobucket?

PH rules prevent a direct answer, I'll just suggest you look at the fact that most on here and other photography forums tend to use Flickr, 500px or their own website to host their images. All have free versions available if you want to try them.

[anonymous-user]

2slo said:

garyhun said:

Do you lose quality using Photobucket?

PH rules prevent a direct answer, I'll just suggest you look at the fact that most on here and other photography forums tend to use Flickr, 500px or their own website to host their images. All have free versions available if you want to try them.

Understood

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for the advice. This is straight out of the RX100 with zero processing.