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My new P&S ?

techno-terminator
Posted 14/01/2010 - 14:24 Link
Guys - anyone know of a Fuji dealer in Glasgow ?? We have a dearth of decent camera shops here now

I would really like to see the Fuji F70EXR - there could be a problem with it .

From what I've managed to see online the Flash is on the Right Hand side and it's possible that my Right Index finger would be rather uncomfortably close to it .

Has anyone seen it in the flesh so-to-speak ? Can anyone comment on this ?
let the education continue

proud owner of a couple of cameras and a few bits and bobs
RichardDay
Posted 14/01/2010 - 16:38 Link
I may well pop over to Clifton Cameras tomorrow, to compare the Fuji F70EXR and the Ricoh CX-1, the Fuji is certainly well priced.

I will take my Optio P70 along as well to do some comparison shots.

Could be interesting!
Best regards
Richard Day

Profile - link - (click on About for equipment profile) - My Flickr site - link
techno-terminator
Posted 14/01/2010 - 16:48 Link
Richard - I'd be interested in any pics you take and also your comments after handling it .

I'm finding user reviews on Amazon [ UK and US ] and J&R very interesting - a lot of criticisms , poor performance in low light , 2 slated it for stabilisation , usual comments re battery

These are the other ones I've seen

http://www.adorama.com/IFJFPF70EXR.html#ProductReviews
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/639157-REG/Fujifilm_15973721_FinePix_F70EX...
let the education continue

proud owner of a couple of cameras and a few bits and bobs
Edited by techno-terminator: 14/01/2010 - 16:52
RichardDay
Posted 14/01/2010 - 17:11 Link
For what it's worth, Photography Blog's reviews:

F70EXR - F70EXR

CX-1 - CX-1

CX-2 - CX-2

Pentax Optio P70 - Optio P70

From DPR user reviews

F70EXR - F70EXR user comments

CX-1 - CX-1 user comments

CX-2 - CX-2 user comment

Optio P70 - Optio P70 user comments
Best regards
Richard Day

Profile - link - (click on About for equipment profile) - My Flickr site - link
Edited by RichardDay: 14/01/2010 - 17:11
RichardDay
Posted 14/01/2010 - 17:44 Link
Another item.
The CX2 (longer lens version of CX1) received a best compact camera of 2009 award, beating the Panasonic TX7 and Canon S90.

See http://www.trustedreviews.com/laptops/review/2009/11/25/TrustedReviews-Awards-20...
Best regards
Richard Day

Profile - link - (click on About for equipment profile) - My Flickr site - link
Edited by RichardDay: 14/01/2010 - 17:44
RichardDay
Posted 15/01/2010 - 18:25 Link
Well, I did go to Clifton Cameras today with my Optio P70 and compared it to the Ricoh CX1, CX2 and R10, Fuji F70EXR and I had a quick look at a couple of Panasonics (TZ6 & TZ7).

Short story is I caved in and bought a CX1 in black! - I nearly went for the champagne rose finish, it actually looks a little bit like titanium, but chickened out after a few seconds!

Why the CX1? -
Handling and response is super fast, feels almost like a DSLR!
Build quality looks and feels the best.
Menu system is totally intuitive.
The 3" 920k screen is lovely (like a K-7 ).
Customisation is really excellent.
Overall IQ at the lower ISO's appears to be the best of the bunch, I suspect because of a very decent lens.

The others failed to impress in various ways, but they all felt slightly "toy like", a bit "gadgety" and unresponsive compared to the CX1. You need to handle them to see why. The Panasonics are impressive spec wise, but they just don't "feel" as "right" as the Ricoh, even the little R10 feels nice, but it is a completely different annimal to the CX1, it's really just another P&S. I wasn't at all "at home" with the Fuji. In fact the Optio P70 stands up quite well amonst them, if it wasn't for the slow "post shot" (but effective) software SR, it would be my second choice, especially for the money.

Okay, if you want HD movies, then the Ricoh's don't deliver, you probably have to go for the Panasonic's (but even the P70 has 1280 x 720, but at 15fps), but my main requirement was for a very responsive pocketable still camera with quick "shot to shot" (not the same as continuous) capability that had sufficient customisation not to frustrate the heck out of me and deliver pretty decent IQ at low to moderate ISO's. High ISO capability in a small P&S doesn't equate, so the CX1 easily met my needs. Okay, Raw would be nice, but I missed out on the GX100 offers that were around just before Christmas at around £200.

The weather was abysmal (so what else to do except go to a dealer and play with some gear!), so I didn't take any decent outdoor shots. I did my evaluation based upon rear screen reviews at reasonable magnification and general handling. The Fuji was the best at high ISO's but you could see the detail smearing very easily, even at ISO200 and you can't turn the NR off or down. I suspect that the Ricoh could match, or even better it if you used a decent software based NR program, in fact the P70 is pretty good at ISO400.

I still have my P70 and will wait for some better weather to do some IQ comparisons, Sunday is supposed to bring better light, so will do some then, I shall also do some low light, indoor and macro shots in the meantime.
Best regards
Richard Day

Profile - link - (click on About for equipment profile) - My Flickr site - link
hefty1
Posted 15/01/2010 - 19:17 Link
RichardDay wrote:
Short story is I caved in and bought a CX1 in black!

As another Ricoh compact user (GR-Digital) may I be the first to welcome you to the club!

I like the fact mine feels like a camera rather than a mobile phone with the phone features switched off. Very intuitive, quick operation, lovely IQ and built like a tank. Very underrated cameras and well worth a look.
Joining the Q
techno-terminator
Posted 15/01/2010 - 19:39 Link
Richard - thanks for your comments

Lots to think about there
let the education continue

proud owner of a couple of cameras and a few bits and bobs
RichardDay
Posted 16/01/2010 - 16:42 Link

May be longer than the weekend, the black CX1 I bought appears to have bad IQ so I am returning it on Monday, stupidly I didn't check it out in the store (idiot! :roll. The store demo was much better.

Here is a typical comparison shot v. my P70 taken today, both taken at their base ISO's and at 28mm wide (the P70 appears to go a bit wider).

EXIF is intact so you can see that there is no question of shake etc. (click on images for 1600 x 1200 size for a clearer image). Shots are untouched apart from being resized.

P70

Comment Image


CX1

Comment Image
Best regards
Richard Day

Profile - link - (click on About for equipment profile) - My Flickr site - link
Edited by RichardDay: 16/01/2010 - 16:49
RichardDay
Posted 16/01/2010 - 16:47 Link
hefty1 wrote:
RichardDay wrote:
Short story is I caved in and bought a CX1 in black!

As another Ricoh compact user (GR-Digital) may I be the first to welcome you to the club!

I like the fact mine feels like a camera rather than a mobile phone with the phone features switched off. Very intuitive, quick operation, lovely IQ and built like a tank. Very underrated cameras and well worth a look.

Thanks Hefty

I agree about the solidity and feel, but I hope that I can find a better example than the one I took away with me (above)!

Serves me right for not checking it out in the store, I always do it when I buy my Pentax gear, I have no idea why I had a relapse!!

Fingers crossed for a better result on Monday!

BTW - The P70 is actually a very good little camera, if it had sensor or optical AS and a bit faster "shot to shot", I would probably not be looking elsewhere!
Best regards
Richard Day

Profile - link - (click on About for equipment profile) - My Flickr site - link
Edited by RichardDay: 16/01/2010 - 16:50
iceblinker
Posted 16/01/2010 - 17:11 Link
That large P70 shot is good enough to make me think about getting one for myself, or a P80.

What other sub 130-gram* camera competes in terms of image quality and handling?

(I've decided on that weight limit because otherwise I'd just carry on using my old 120-gram* Optio S5i when travelling light. I already have heavier and larger cameras when I'm prepared to carry more).

* Including battery.
~Pete
RichardDay
Posted 16/01/2010 - 17:32 Link
iceblinker wrote:
That large P70 shot is good enough to make me think about getting one for myself, or a P80.

What other sub 130-gram* camera competes in terms of image quality and handling?

(I've decided on that weight limit because otherwise I'd just carry on using my old 120-gram* Optio S5i when travelling light. I already have heavier and larger cameras when I'm prepared to carry more).

* Including battery.

I can't think of one to be totally honest. It is a very small and neat package.

P70 v P80 differences - link

If I get a good CX1 (which I hope I will ), or I jump for something better again , my P70 may be available . Only 654 shots since new (14th March 09) and is covered by Pentax/SRS 2yr warranty (which is transferable to forum members).
Best regards
Richard Day

Profile - link - (click on About for equipment profile) - My Flickr site - link
iceblinker
Posted 16/01/2010 - 18:12 Link
Ah, I see the P70 is heavier than I was thinking, so I'll pass on that, but I might be interested in a P80.

I know it's a bit silly counting the grams like this, but that's what I'm like!
~Pete
RichardDay
Posted 16/01/2010 - 21:02 Link
iceblinker wrote:
Ah, I see the P70 is heavier than I was thinking, so I'll pass on that, but I might be interested in a P80.

I know it's a bit silly counting the grams like this, but that's what I'm like!

According to Pentax UK the P80 is 120g with battery, the P70 is 125g, so I guess that maybe DPR has their numbers wrong? Pentax Compact digital cameras
Best regards
Richard Day

Profile - link - (click on About for equipment profile) - My Flickr site - link
iceblinker
Posted 16/01/2010 - 22:38 Link
Thanks for that, Richard. Not sure I'll be very quick to get one though due to the expense. First of all, I'll get another S5i to replace my slightly faulty one. I do like the optical viewfinder and plenty of buttons.
~Pete

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