Q over quality compact?

I have been thinking about a compact as a carry everywhere solution when not wanting to carry the K5 and lenses.
I had looked at the new Fuji X20 but the price is a little steep at £539 - when I could get a Q10 + 5-15mm + 15-45mm for the same price (or slightly less?). Plus I'd have the ability to use a cheapy adaptor and a couple of existing lenses too.

I still lean towards the Q10 so will be keeping an eye on sample images and usage reports while I ponder at my leisure.

Have you tried a Q, Simon? If not, you might be pleasantly surprised. I certainly was.

While the IQ of the RX100 might be excellent, I can guarantee that the handling and useability won't be in the same league. This is what makes it such fun and encourages you to shoot - something my LX3 (good as it is) never really did.

At the risk of sounding like a fanboy - far from not hitting the spot with compacts (though of course the Q is a MILC), Pentax have actually set the standard as far as small camera ergonomics are concerned. It's quite amazing how much they've packed into such a small package. Yes, the IQ would ideally be even better (though it isn't bad at all), but the Q has made me realise how important ergonomics are.

If I'm not mistaken the IQ of the Q10 isn't much different to the Q, and the latter is smaller and better built. You can also pick one up for under £200 with a lens.

I haven't to be honest, just spent lots of time researching good compacts, in fact it's something I've been considering for a couple of years now but never been convinced of any of the models on offer (G10/G11/G12, LX5, S90 etc etc)...the RX100 has changed my mind, readin about the Q didn't, sorry

Simon

Well perhaps you should also consider waiting for the MX-1, which may well be the alternative you are seeking?

I did consider it John and have read one or two previews, sensor size/resolution don't compete with the RX100 though so the MX-1 just isn't quite there for me.

Simon

The Q has the ability to change the lens which is a huge advantage compared to the RX100 fixed wide range zoom lens. All lenses have compromises in their design, none more so than wide range zooms, which will probably cancel out any advantage of the larger sensor.

20Mp resolution means you can print bigger with less interpolation, that's the only advantage, noise and smaller dynamic range will be sacrificed, though Sony are doing undreamt of things with sensors these days as in the Pentax Q. Print smaller than A3 (the largest print size for a 12Mp sensor,as in the Q, without interpolation)and the advantage of lots of Mp is lost, they are just dumped by the printer driver as they are not needed at standard printer resolutions.

I can understand with your interest in landscapes you want the best resolution possible, Simon. If you're anything like me, though, you'll soon tire of adjusting settings on a compact via buttons and menus.

The Sony has a larger sensor than the Q or MX-1 and reading reviews so far noise handling looks very good for a compact. Regarding changing lenses then I have a K5 for that, the thinking behind a compact is that you can fit it in a small trouser pocket and take it anywhere..as soon as you start talking of CSC cameras etc then they are still too large/bulky to effectively fit in a small pocket...advantage gone, you may as well have the K5 in a small shoulder bag which betters them all. Also larger sensor = more detail, sorry but no-one is going to convince me that Pentax offer a better alternative, at this moment in time they don't.

I think at this point I'll exit this thread as I can't really add anything more that would be helpful to the OP & I know that I'll be in trouble soon if it becomes a thread about the RX100

Simon

EPZ has lots of reviews of other marques, so that might be helpful too.

Anyway, as has been noted the MX-1 looks remarkably like a version of a camera that's also used as the Olympus ZX-2. If that is the case it bodes very well for the lens, which is excellent.

Add SMC coating and Pentax processing and there could be a winner there. The one crucial thing about other marques is that they don't have that Pentax colour quality. That is a key feature for me.

As for Q vs Quality Compact, I don't believe it's a contest as the cameras are intended for totally different purposes and approaches.

A couple of posts removed, do please remember that discussion of other marques is outside the Pentax User remit. Many thanks.

Just out of interest does anyone know of another photography forum which bans discussion on other camera makes...surely it's counter-productive to open debate. Wouldn't it be a positive move to create a section where members were allowed to discuss out marques?

Simon

I totally agree.


The Vicar

Hi Milamber

I would think the ability to have interchangeable lenses covering a range of 27.5 to 247.5 in 35mm terms that the Q would give you outweighs a compact, especially as you have rejected the X5 as too big.

I'm not an expert on geography, but I'm guessing that these places will have very bright sunlight which means an OVF or EVF would be very useful. X5 would have given this, but as you say too big

If I was going on what sounds like such a fantastic trip I would want my pictures to be recorded onto a larger sensor than comes with a compact.

I recall that some of the criticism of the Q at launch included no EVF, very small sensor, yet another new lens mount with people wishing it had been based round the open source micro four thirds that would have given access to a bigger range of lenses – not good in terms of lens sales, but surely good in terms of body sales.

I think the ideal Pentax for your needs would have interchangeable lenses, like the Q, but a larger sensor, e.g micro four thirds and the option to fit an EVF.

Sadly at the moment it does not exist, let’s hope Pentax produce one in the future

Milamber

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