cosmonaut Posted December 25, 2011 Share #1 Â Posted December 25, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would like to have a very small P&S that zooms. I had looked on Craigslist at a few Leica models but am uncertain which one is going to give me good image quality. I currently use the NEX5n but the lens sticks out to much to really be a camera for what I want. I want one for family partys that is truely pocketable. Also with eth NEX I have to remember to bring the flash. So a built in flash would be good as well. I only want shots that will make good posting on the web or a 4x6. I don't want to break the bank and was hoping I good find something used less than $500.00. What should I look for? Which model? Digital LEICA D-Lux 3 perfect Sealed, new in box Panasonic Lumix ZS8 14.1-Megapixel 16x zoom! camera Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 25, 2011 Posted December 25, 2011 Hi cosmonaut, Take a look here Pocket P&S. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Ecaton Posted December 25, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted December 25, 2011 Zoom, good IQ, decent manual controls, raw format: Truly shirt or jeans pocketable are only the Canon 90s/95s/100s. Half a size bigger, i.e. jacket pocket or cargo pant pocket size are the Panaosnic LX5/Leica D-Lux5 and Olympus' XZ1. Another half a size bigger, Samsung TL1 and Fuji X10. The best compromise between camera size, sensor performance and relatively fast lens (at the wide and long end) is still offered by the Panasonic LX5/Leica D-Lux5, in my opinion, though it's the oldest of the cameras mentioned. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted December 25, 2011 Share #3 Â Posted December 25, 2011 The Canon PowerShot S95 has been a very good small P&S and it's only around $350 new right now. I have used the Leica C-Lux 2 since it came out and it's also very small pocket sized. I guess the drawback with small sensor compacts is the lowlight capability compared to larger cameras. Perhaps there are more alternatives though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 25, 2011 Share #4 Â Posted December 25, 2011 Leica no longer offer the C lux but just buy the latest Panasonic version (with Leica lens) I'm not sure which model but it should be obvious, or alternatively the Panasonic version of the D lux - it's the same camera in all but name. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmonaut Posted December 25, 2011 Author Share #5 Â Posted December 25, 2011 The XZ and Fuji are getting a little out of the range. I like the idea of the Canon I will check them out. For some reason when I am looking for a camera I never even consider Canon. Not sure why. Is there any difference betwenn the Panasonics and Leicas, Lenses and Processing? Would I have to be a pixel peeper to see? I'll have a look at the LX and Lux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 25, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted December 25, 2011 Is there any difference betwenn the Panasonics and Leicas, Lenses and Processing? Would I have to be a pixel peeper to see? I'll have a look at the LX and Lux. Â No. They're all made by Panasonic. Some will tell you that the Leicas have different default settings but I've never seen any side by side comparisons. The Leica versions usually come with a longer warranty and better PP software, if you don't need the software save your pennies and buy the Panasonic version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmonaut Posted December 25, 2011 Author Share #7 Â Posted December 25, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) The G9 is looking good. Flash, finder, zoom ect. How small is it really? I am not looking for shirt pocket, maybe cargo pants or jacket size... Canon Powershot G9 Camera - Excellent Condition! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
prk60091 Posted December 25, 2011 Share #8 Â Posted December 25, 2011 A couple of years so I bought my wife a panasonic fs7 pure p&s no raw built in flash for about 130US . She loves it and the photos kick the butt out of most p&s -it's the Leica lens. Some pannys have a Leica lens and some do not. I would look for a p&s panny with a Leica lens such as this Amazon.com: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 16x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Silver): Camera & Photo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmonaut Posted December 26, 2011 Author Share #9  Posted December 26, 2011 A couple of years so I bought my wife a panasonic fs7 pure p&s no raw built in flash for about 130US . She loves it and the photos kick the butt out of most p&s -it's the Leica lens. Some pannys have a Leica lens and some do not. I would look for a p&s panny with a Leica lens such as this Amazon.com: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 16x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Silver): Camera & Photo  I like the looks of this one. Four stars too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted December 26, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted December 26, 2011 I'll add that I've seen several good reviews of the Canon PowerShot S95, and in addition KenRockwell has one here: Canon S95 with impressive photos of the Yosemite Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecaton Posted December 26, 2011 Share #11 Â Posted December 26, 2011 The G9 is looking good. Flash, finder, zoom ect. How small is it really? I am not looking for shirt pocket, maybe cargo pants or jacket size...Canon Powershot G9 Camera - Excellent Condition! Â Compared to today's standards, the G9 has a pretty noisy sensor. If the zoom range is what attracts you, have a look at Nikon's 7000 and 7100. The 7000 was recently on a pre-Christmas sale at Best Buy for a crazy prize, something like USD 165 I believe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Martin Posted December 26, 2011 Share #12 Â Posted December 26, 2011 Having used a Leica D- Lux 4 for a couple of years, I can happily recommend a Leica D-Lux 5, with the zoom range being better. I've had a couple of shots published in The Daily Telegraph Travel Section using it, and produced some great quality images in "Apple" books, considering the tiny sensor its amazing what you can achieve. Â If you can wait though, Fuji are making the interchangeable lens version of the fabulous X100 which will be available in the next few months . I'd be amazed if Leica don't clone it, and if it doesn't take Leica mount lenses with an adapter I'll eat my shorts. Panasonic will have to up their design game by a considerable margin to keep up. Â If you can't wait or want something smaller consider the Panasonic LX5 same camera albeit shorter warranty slightly different jpeg software/processing I believe, but if you're shooting Raw it doesn't matter. Personally I'll spend the extra on the RED DOT, no pockets in a shroud, and something with a little class and chic never hurt anyone, and maybe makes you try a little harder ?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tietje Posted December 26, 2011 Share #13 Â Posted December 26, 2011 I have a Leica C-Lux 1 which I bought second-hand. It's tiny and in its little leather case you can put in your pocket and you'll never know its there. I like for taking pictures of social occasions or just seeing something you didn't expect to see and you've got the shot! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmonaut Posted December 26, 2011 Author Share #14 Â Posted December 26, 2011 Just to note I tried a Panasonic LX3 and was not impressed. The flash shot were not good. Everyone's eyes were pure white and distracting. Plus the focus was real slow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramosa Posted December 26, 2011 Share #15 Â Posted December 26, 2011 I just got the Ricoh GRD iv as a supplement to my M8. I think I'm going to really like it. Small, well made, ingeniously engineered. A 28mm is wider than I normally use, but I think it'll work fine, as it will permit being up close and discreet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmonaut Posted December 29, 2011 Author Share #16 Â Posted December 29, 2011 Ill take a look at the C-Lux 1. I may give my NEX 7 a go first. If I could find a small lens for it that would work. But I really think I need smaller than that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest happytogger Posted December 30, 2011 Share #17  Posted December 30, 2011 Hi Cosmonaut  Recently I had an option to buy the first Dlux. Gorgeous design from 2003 (same camera as Panasonic F1/FX1 : 35-105mm f2.8-4.9 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX1: Digital Photography Review). It is only 3MP. Yet the low number of pixels on a 1/2.5" sensor means its pixels are 2x size of LX3, Dlux3,4,5. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpmac55 Posted January 2, 2012 Share #18 Â Posted January 2, 2012 I'm with Ramosa, the Ricoh GRD IV is a great camera although lacks a zoom. Â Another camera not mentioned is the Canon Powershot SX230. I just purchased one for my wife and have been impressed with early results. It also offers exceptional video. About the same size as the Canon S95, has been on sale for about $200. in the US. Â Compare camera dimensions side by side Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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