Time For A Change

[bigken]

Holiday is booked, Nikon J1 has been sold ( thanks to Ebay ) and now the search is on for a good travel camera. Wanting to keep away from CSC format so i looked at the Olympus Stylus 1, nice spec, good lens, not very big, Canon G16 also hit the spot, but then i came across the Panasonic LX100 and Leica 109, both sporting a 4/3 sensor ( both a lot more expensive ), quality glass, hot plate ( as they both come with a small external flash ). Even the Sony RX-300 mk3 has crept into my head, at this rate i'll never find a replacement for my J1

[LovelyLadyLux]

Decisions decisions decisions! But interesting and fun ones. Seems you're going to be in a time crunch too since holidays are coming.

Where is the holiday booked to and for how long?

Let us know what you ultimately opt to purchase

(Ebay can be wonderful)

[bigken]

Start off with a 3 days in Dubai, then onto Pattaya in Thailand for 14 nights, with a 2 day trip to Siem Reap so i can see Angkor Wat, then finish with 4 nights in Bangkok, i will let you know what i decide

[Horus]

Angkor Wat, one on my bucket list

[LovelyLadyLux]

WOW! BK that sure sounds like a dream holiday. Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Angkor Wat is definitely on my bucket list too.

NOW I know where you're going you are definitely going to have to take LOTS of photos in each place to show us

[Grandad]

BK, I don't know the cameras you mentioned but, reading between the lines, I get the impression you are looking for something small and efficient. One of my cameras is a Fuji X10 which I am very happy with. It has a hot shoe and just about all the settings you could need. Short zoom but very good optics f2 aspherical Fujinon. The later X20 has a hinged screen.
Just a thought if you were looking for something small, retro, and won't break the bank. Direct viewfinder too which is one of the main reasons I bought it (with a little help from our good friend Horus)

[LovelyLadyLux]

In terms of cameras I really really super like having to look through the view finder. I do NOT like holding the camera in front of me and trying to see the photo on a screen. Haven't got to the photos of San Francisco yet but I opted to take my old old pocket sized Nikon with me as the weather was iffy and I was going to do lots of walking. Although the day started out overcast the clouds soon melted off to the brightest sunshine going and no way no how could I see the image on the screen due to the bright sun. I was literally just pointing it generally in the direction and hoping to get a decent picture.

I truly like cameras which an eye viewfinder vs the open screen.

Anyway that is my 2 pennies worth - although since Canada has now abolished pennies I guess I need to have my nickels worth as that is now our smallest denomination in coins - a nickel aka FIVE pennies.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Have you decided yet BigKen? Just curious what you finally arrived at

[bigken]

Nope, a view finder is a must, I keep looking at the Panasonic lx100 with its lecia lens and 4/3 sensor, but then there is also the Sony rx100 mk3, a lot of camera in a tiny package, I need to get down to jessops ( camera shop) and get a feel of them [SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

[LovelyLadyLux]

Let us know once you decide!

I very much agree that a view finder is an absolutely MUST. I have one little camera that I keep in my purse and it doesn't have a viewfinder and it is horrible to try and get a shot in bright weather. And to try and frame something up looking at a screen held out in front of you just doesn't work for me either.

[Grandad]

I am putting this comment here because it does seem to have some relevance. I bought a Fuji X10 because I liked its retro look and most important, it has a live viewfinder.
The X10 was followed by the X20 with an upgraded spec but still a bright clear viewfinder.
And now the X30 which in Fujis ultimate wisdom has an electronic viewfinder, WHY?
As the old adage goes, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' I cannot begin to understand why they have spoilt a super little 4x optical zoom camera with an f2 lens and now made it as difficult to use in various lighting levels as all the others.

[LovelyLadyLux]

@ Grandad - sometimes I think it is just change for the sake of change AND a modicum through a big dollop of capitalism. If you can make something that will last a while prior to breaking so peoples' suspicion is not aroused that it is product failure then you're forcing them to constantly buy (and they can rationalize that they're buying cause they need the upgrade).

[bigken]

I agree with what you say GD, having gone in to Manchester last Monday to have a look in jessops i found the EVF on the cameras i was looking at weren't of the best quality, but i had a good look and play with a few that i fancied. The front runner had always been the Panasonic lx100 and after trying it i liked the feel,it was to big or to small, just nice, so i had a walk down to LCE ( london camera exchange ) to check out what they had in and there it was a 3month old LX100 with a panasonic leather case and battery , so after a bit of a haggle over the warranty ( i wanted 12 months) it came home with me

[Grandad]

Good looking camera BK and I really like the speed dial on top. Looks very similar to my little Fuji X10 EXCEPT for the EVF. Mine is live and I like that a lot.

PS. When is the next hol? Look forward to seeing some shots from the new Panasonic.

[LovelyLadyLux]

Looks lovely and "just right"!!! Congrats on the new camera BK!

NOW we'll all be waiting for photos. You'll have to plan a holiday just to get photos for us

[Kiya]

Look forward to seeing some photos with your new camera

[Jayway]

Another thought just passed by - - we get to see lovely photos on here but you all say its difficult and time consuming to load them? WHY cant it be easy like facebook ? WHY ?

[Mad Dilys]

Indeed Jayway, indeed.

What interests me as well is the difficulty I'm having in reading simple instructions about posting photos on E4U, when I had no trouble at all in posting on L4U some time back...............

Is this an age thing?

[Horus]

Basically it comes down to using a set template for the forum, with it comes rules and set proceedures that often cannot be easily changed. Sites like Facebook are running huge server banks and have the space to be able to accept very large image files or have a built in bit of software that can resize them when they are uploaded. As Keefy has to finance this site himself then he must have limited funds at his disposal and no doubt does the best within the forum and server limitations. Also Facebook was setup with uploading images as part of its design, whereas on here posting an image is just another feature that people can use amongst many others. To be honest it is not that difficult to upload an image and just so long as you keep it within the image size limitations then the rest is very simple, I use dedicated photography sites that have more restriction on uploading images than on here.

[LovelyLadyLux]

To me the only obstacle to posting on E4U or L4U is to remember to re-size the photos smaller. IF you resize them small then E4U and L4U both take the photos easily but then ONLY 3 at a time and that takes time.