Panasonic TZ40 or Sony RX 100

[majordad]

I know they differ in price by quite a bit, but which one should I go for. I want to get the best possible quality photos, not too worried about x times zoom and camera ideally would be small and pocketable, and reliable.

[pastrana72]

IMO the RX100 is better option of the two, it is capable of giving you better image quality and is a more pocketable size.

The lumix TZ40 is a good camera with a great zoom, the RX100 is a fantastic camera. Have a read of the online reviews.

I have the newer version the RX100M2 with pivot able rest LCD screen and backlit sensor, it is great. Also have and use Fuji film X10 and Lumix LX3, the RX 100 is easiest to stick in your pocket and the image quality is far superior to the other two.

[strummerville]

RX100. I'm a big fan, had mine since October and still very happy with the results.

I went to a drinks reception last week and one of the guests is a photographer by trade. I lent her my RX to take a few pics for a magazine. She was impressed by the build quality as soon as she started using it.

There are still some of the "Mk1" RX100s available for a big reduction on the original purchase price.

[Pistom]

I've no experience of the RX100. The TZ range used to lead the market in this size of camera, I bought the TZ40 as it was a natural progression. It's good but not great. It's cheap and better than similar priced models from Canon or Nikon but i didn't compare it with the RX100 as the Sony was a lot more expensive.

The Panasonic has lots of great features and for less than £160, I'm not expecting it to compete with higher end cameras.

[MysteryLemon]

The Lumix LX range offers better quality than the TZ range and is a fair bit cheaper than the RX100, although the LXs can't compare on pure IQ to the RX100 as they still use smaller sensors, although larger than the TZ range.

Plenty of premium compact alternatives out there to the RX100 but if IQ really is your main concern then the RX100 trumps the lot. That isn't to say that it's the best compact camera out there though.

[GetCarter]

That's easy. If it's image quality you're after, it has to be the RX100.

[fido]

I have no real world experience of either .. but I'd still get the RX 100 Mk 2 in a shot. Then again I would be tempted with the EOS M2 (+ pancake lens) as it will fit into a big pocket.

[majordad]

Just a short note of thanks for all the info.

[strummerville]

A final note to consider - as camera phones become ever more sophisticated, the separate camera must be significantly better in IQ. The large sensor in the RX means that you can capture decent, HQ pictures and makes it worthwhile to carry around.