Ditching the DSLR .. Pentax MX-1 vs Olympus XZ-2
Discussion
I'm finding I rarely use my DSLR any more. It tends to just sit in it's bag and rarely sees the light of day. Where are in the winter, I would be out with the camera with the dogs, I find at the moment (and for the last few months) I've been out cycling instead, and not taken the camera anywhere. The last thing I want when cycling 20 miles is a big old DSLR and a few lenses in my backpack...
A few years back I had a Lumix LX3. It was a lovely alternative to a DSLR at the time and I enjoyed using it. I could easily take it out with me, either in a (big) pocket or in my bag with minimal fuss. At the time, it was THE enthusiast compact. There wasn't really much competition. Now though, there are a fair few out there.
I've pretty much whittled it down to 2 cameras (through extensive googling and reading of reviews etc.). The Pentax MX-1 or the Olympus XZ-2.
Now, I love Olympus cameras. I've owned a few of their DSLRs over the years and have nothing but good to say about them. The XZ-2 does pretty much does everything I want in a camera and would happily buy one tomorrow. The only issue is that it's such an ugly thing... Which is where the Pentax MX-1 comes in...
On paper, the MX-1 is pretty much the same as the xz-2. Same lens, same MP, same just about everything. The only thing is, the MX-1 is a retro styled lovely looking thing.
I can't decide between the 2, but could possibly be swayed to something else if there are good enough reasons. Budget is £350, so please, don't bother trying to get me to buy an RX100 or one of the new aps-c compacts. Budget doesnt stretch.
Which should I go for?
A few years back I had a Lumix LX3. It was a lovely alternative to a DSLR at the time and I enjoyed using it. I could easily take it out with me, either in a (big) pocket or in my bag with minimal fuss. At the time, it was THE enthusiast compact. There wasn't really much competition. Now though, there are a fair few out there.
I've pretty much whittled it down to 2 cameras (through extensive googling and reading of reviews etc.). The Pentax MX-1 or the Olympus XZ-2.
Now, I love Olympus cameras. I've owned a few of their DSLRs over the years and have nothing but good to say about them. The XZ-2 does pretty much does everything I want in a camera and would happily buy one tomorrow. The only issue is that it's such an ugly thing... Which is where the Pentax MX-1 comes in...
On paper, the MX-1 is pretty much the same as the xz-2. Same lens, same MP, same just about everything. The only thing is, the MX-1 is a retro styled lovely looking thing.
I can't decide between the 2, but could possibly be swayed to something else if there are good enough reasons. Budget is £350, so please, don't bother trying to get me to buy an RX100 or one of the new aps-c compacts. Budget doesnt stretch.
Which should I go for?
Edited by MysteryLemon on Wednesday 14th August 16:49
Hmm. I thought the same before I got the lx3 way back when but never missed it. It's almost liberating when you don't have to have the camera stuck to your face.
Plus a view finder makes far less sense when you don't have to manually zoom with the lens.
Anyone got opinion on these cameras?
Plus a view finder makes far less sense when you don't have to manually zoom with the lens.
Anyone got opinion on these cameras?
Treated myself to a fuji XF-1 earlier this year for the same reason, and have on the odd occasion missed the viewfinder but have had some great shots with it. The XF-1 slips quite easily into a jacket pocket.
the X10/X20 whilst stunning pieces of machinery were bulky enough to make me question the reason why I was buying one - my K5 is reasonably compact for a DSLR, so there wouldnt have been much of a saving with the K-5 with a small lens.
the X10/X20 whilst stunning pieces of machinery were bulky enough to make me question the reason why I was buying one - my K5 is reasonably compact for a DSLR, so there wouldnt have been much of a saving with the K-5 with a small lens.
Had a similar dilemma earlier this year when I found myself wanting to take a camera when I went out but not wanting to cart around a 5D2/battery grip/L-Series/etc. Already had a couple of compacts but didn't feel that they were good enough/'proper' enough.
Thought I'd get a Canon G-something but ended up buying a Fuji X20 after reading reviews (and a recommendation on here).
Absolutely love the thing and it does now go everywhere with me, even when the DSLRs are out too. I don't find it bulky, it fits in a shirt or fleece pocket. It has a leather case and I bought a padded canvas case for it too that also carries a filter/extra batteries/spare memory and is ideal for cycling with.
Low light performance is great for a small sensor. Very happy with noise levels at 1600 iso/A3. Optical viewfinder isn't perfect with about 85% coverage but is good enough, I never use the screen to compose. Only downside I've found is it munches its way through batteries, resolved by buying a couple of cheap spares from 7DayShop.
Thought I'd get a Canon G-something but ended up buying a Fuji X20 after reading reviews (and a recommendation on here).
Absolutely love the thing and it does now go everywhere with me, even when the DSLRs are out too. I don't find it bulky, it fits in a shirt or fleece pocket. It has a leather case and I bought a padded canvas case for it too that also carries a filter/extra batteries/spare memory and is ideal for cycling with.
Low light performance is great for a small sensor. Very happy with noise levels at 1600 iso/A3. Optical viewfinder isn't perfect with about 85% coverage but is good enough, I never use the screen to compose. Only downside I've found is it munches its way through batteries, resolved by buying a couple of cheap spares from 7DayShop.
MysteryLemon said:
Budget is £350, so please, don't bother trying to get me to buy an RX100 or one of the new aps-c compacts. Budget doesnt stretch.
Not even to £375? http://www.digitalrev.com/product/sony-cyber-shot-...MysteryLemon said:
I can't decide between the 2, but could possibly be swayed to something else if there are good enough reasons. Budget is £350, so please, don't bother trying to get me to buy an RX100 or one of the new aps-c compacts. Budget doesnt stretch.
Canon are doing £50 cashback on the G1-X which brings it into your price range, has one or two shortcomings (poor viewfinder and minimum focusing distance) but the large sensor makes for DSLR rivalling IQEdited by MysteryLemon on Wednesday 14th August 16:49
Mr Will said:
Not even to £375? http://www.digitalrev.com/product/sony-cyber-shot-...
Nope, £350 is a bit of a stretch as it is. And actually, looking at reviews, I don't think I would buy an RX100 even if it was in budget. I'm not overly impressed with it.JustinMinns said:
Canon are doing £50 cashback on the G1-X which brings it into your price range, has one or two shortcomings (poor viewfinder and minimum focusing distance) but the large sensor makes for DSLR rivalling IQ
Hmm not convinced with this one either. Looking at image quality comparisons, the details on the G1-x look soft compared to the likes of the XZ-1, which produces sharp, punchy images.It's also a pretty ugly thing too
Fuji X20, I like the styling of these new fujis. They are lovely looking things. My only issue is that the image quality doesn't match up to other cameras in it class. ETA : although actually, looking now, they stand up very well compared to the XZ-1. Almost identical low ISO sharpness and quality, only falling down at higher ISO where the XZ-1 comes out a little better.
Edited by MysteryLemon on Thursday 15th August 12:21
Phunk said:
How about a little rebel with a pancake lens?
May as well just keep the DSLR I have.It's not the size that is such a problem (although it still is). A DSLR still weighs a fair bit, and with you've got that weight strapped to your back, or over your shoulder etc, it's far more of a hindrance than an advantage because you've got lots of kit.
I love my DSLR and have owned them for years but I just find I'm not using it any more. It's too much hassle lugging a bag around over my shoulder with lenses and various other stuff "just incase". I tend not to bother taking it places just because I can't be bothered to carry it, which is a shame as no doubt, I've missed out on pics.
I'm not willing to sacrifice the image quality so a high end compact is the way to go. Yes, they are a bit of a step back in quality if you go right in an analyse each individual pixel, but for general use, there isn't going to be a lot in it, especially not when I'm not using it for any pro use.
MysteryLemon said:
Hmm not convinced with this one either. Looking at image quality comparisons, the details on the G1-x look soft compared to the likes of the XZ-1, which produces sharp, punchy images.
It's also a pretty ugly thing too
Fuji X20, I like the styling of these new fujis. They are lovely looking things. My only issue is that the image quality doesn't match up to other cameras in it class. ETA : although actually, looking now, they stand up very well compared to the XZ-1. Almost identical low ISO sharpness and quality, only falling down at higher ISO where the XZ-1 comes out a little better.
I've owned both and the G1-X although heavier and uglier than the XZ-1 definitely beats it on IQ, images and noise handling are on a par with a crop sensor DSLR... sensor size is everything It's also a pretty ugly thing too
Fuji X20, I like the styling of these new fujis. They are lovely looking things. My only issue is that the image quality doesn't match up to other cameras in it class. ETA : although actually, looking now, they stand up very well compared to the XZ-1. Almost identical low ISO sharpness and quality, only falling down at higher ISO where the XZ-1 comes out a little better.
Edited by MysteryLemon on Thursday 15th August 12:21
Comparing sample images isn't really an exact science. If you have a jessops or something nearby I'd take a memory card along and take some test shots and have a play with the shortlisted cameras. The perfect compact doesn't seem to exist, all the ingredients do but nobody has managed to put them all in the same camera yet!
Edit: If you can get a Fuji X20 for that price that would be a good choice as well, if the IQ is anyway near the X100, XE-1 etc then you wont be disappointed
Edited by JustinMinns on Thursday 15th August 15:38
Mr Will said:
Not even to £375? http://www.digitalrev.com/product/sony-cyber-shot-...
That's amazing. I'm waiting to sell my iphone when I upgrade in Sept then I'll get a high end compact. I'm having almost the same dilemma as you - I'm a long time Olympus DSLR user, and I've amassed a load of kit, which I find I'm using less and less. Four years ago (when kids started arriving on the scene) I bought an LX-3 as something handy to carry around all the time. I've been pretty satisfied with it generally, just one or two niggles.
I still use it now, but cameras of this type have moved on a bit, and I'm considering replacing it with something newer. My shortlist was the LX-7 - more zoom, wider aperture etc, or the XZ-2. I love the Olympus jpg engine (one of my bugbears of the LX-3 is the colour tones of it's jpg output, compared to the Olympus colours), which is steering my towards the xz-2. It's aperture ring control sounds really good too, and it has the accessory port, so I can use my electronic view finder on it. But I'd loose the wide angle (24mm) of the LX-3, and the LX-7 has an even bigger aperture as well.
I hadn't even looked at the Pentax MX-1, but now you've just thrown that into my mix as well, to make the decision even harder! Although the MX-1 sounds like it has the same lens and sensor as the XZ-2, it is missing the hot shoe and the dial around the lens, which put me right off it.
If you want the control (aperture, manual focus, etc), then the XZ-2 is going to be a better bet than the Pentax.
Why are you not considering the lx-7?
I still use it now, but cameras of this type have moved on a bit, and I'm considering replacing it with something newer. My shortlist was the LX-7 - more zoom, wider aperture etc, or the XZ-2. I love the Olympus jpg engine (one of my bugbears of the LX-3 is the colour tones of it's jpg output, compared to the Olympus colours), which is steering my towards the xz-2. It's aperture ring control sounds really good too, and it has the accessory port, so I can use my electronic view finder on it. But I'd loose the wide angle (24mm) of the LX-3, and the LX-7 has an even bigger aperture as well.
I hadn't even looked at the Pentax MX-1, but now you've just thrown that into my mix as well, to make the decision even harder! Although the MX-1 sounds like it has the same lens and sensor as the XZ-2, it is missing the hot shoe and the dial around the lens, which put me right off it.
If you want the control (aperture, manual focus, etc), then the XZ-2 is going to be a better bet than the Pentax.
Why are you not considering the lx-7?
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