Which point and shoot for landscape?

Hello all, I'm looking for advice on a new camera to buy for trips. I love my Canon 5D MkII, and I've been hauling it everywhere with me on trips, from motorcycle to backpacking in the Sierras with a tripod. But I've got to admit...this thing is heavy. Weight is not the only factor. I've learned over the years that the tank bag is by far the easiest place to carry and access my camera on motorcycle trips, and the 5DII is simply too big and heavy for the type of tank bag I prefer to use.

I'm not going to be selling my 5DII, but I'd like to get a point and shoot primarily for use on the motorcycle or backpacking. My key criteria is image quality. I love to take landscape photos (even though I suck at them). I have no need for video, sports photography, etc, although I understand pretty much any decent digital camera comes with video capabilities now it seems.

I would like it to be able to take somewhat wide-angle photos, such as inside a tent or ground-level landscape photos of mountains, etc.

So with this in mind, please shout out any recommendations you may have. In the little looking I've done, the Canon Powershot G1X and the Ricoh GR look like decent prospects. Any feedback on these two in particular would be great, but of course I came here for advice, so if something else would be better for what I've described, don't feel limited in your responses.

Thanks in advance!

Jedi5150 wrote in post #16310330
I'm not going to be selling my 5DII, but I'd like to get a point and shoot primarily for use on the motorcycle or backpacking. My key criteria is image quality.

I was in a similar situation lat last year. I bought a Sigma DP1 Merrill and was completely blown away by its IQ. I picked up the DP3 Merrill last spring. These two cameras come with 19mm and 50mm (28mm and 75mm full-frame equivalents) lenses that are uber sharp and contrasty. Together, they weigh less than my 5Dii AND provide far superior images because of the Foveon sensors and no antialiasing filter. They out-resolve the 5Dii and have fabulous highlight recovery that you cannot get from any other camera, other than the Nikon D800 and D600, an the Pentax K5 II. I've sold two of my Zeiss ZE lenses and plan to sell most of the other EF-mount lenses. I just don't need the weight nor the lesser image quality.

Follow these images and open the full sized images. You'll be blown away at the detail these Sigma Merrills provide.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/digi-film/9406712660/

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IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/digi-film/9113828086/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/digi-film/8522218282/

Thanks for the write-up and images Tony!

That first photo of the barn and the Grand Tetons is

I looked it at full-size on your Flikr account, and I was bummed. That will seem like a strange reaction at first, but the reason I was bummed is that with my 5DII, L-series lenses, and a tripod, I've never gotten close to that level of image quality with my full-frame DSLR. I'm dumbfounded. Don't get me wrong, I'm a horrible photographer, and you are obviously excellent, but I just can't get over how much better your image quality alone is.

The 5Dii is a great camera, with great lenses. I use mine mostly for portrait photography (still the best flash system, IMO) and fast moving objects - like my kids and their sports. But for landscapes, the Sigmas are tough to beat - they are near-perfect in lens/sensor combinations. I will likely keep my 24-70, 70-200 f/4L IS, 135mm f/2L, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 and 150mm f/2.8 macro lenses and the three 580EX IIs (and ST-E2). But the rest is getting sold.

You can get great landscapes with the 5Dii, it just takes a bit more effort. Plus, you have to lug that weight around.

the sigma DPM series is definitely a killer if you want to print big but it has some quirks that has't fully convinced me on jumping ship yet.

although a DP1M w/ Ricoh conversion lens would be sweet.

right now my two P&S landscape cameras are a Ricoh GRv and x100s

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/itaemo/98283801​03/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/itaemo/97639366​75/

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Great photos Taemo, it's nice to hear a good review of the Ricoh GR.

But that said, the more I read up (and watch youtube videos about) the Sigma DP2 Merrill series, the more convinced I am that it is the camera I was searching for. The Ricoh GR or even the Powershot G1X would probably be better cameras if I was looking for an all-rounder. But in fact, my biggest criteria I had were for an excellent IQ camera for landscapes that is small and light enough for backpacking/ motorcycling. From the sounds of it, short of going to a medium format digital, you almost can't beat the IQ of the DP Merrill series.

I understand that it has a lot of quirks (super slow, very little battery life, fixed focal length, etc.), but it really seems to fit the bill I was looking for of a portable landscape camera that I can pixel peep with that won't break the bank or the back.

^i would go DP1M for a 28mm focal length, then get the Ricoh GW3 so that you can get a 21mm focal length on it

battery life is not an issue, just carry a couple extra ones

i'm so tempted to get a DPM camera too, I think it's inevitable at this point now since the Ricoh GR and Sigma DPM shares the same battery

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/itaemo/98405306​26/

taemo wrote in post #16312092
^i would go DP1M for a 28mm focal length, then get the Ricoh GW3 so that you can get a 21mm focal length on it

main thing I'm worried about the GR and DP is that I can't put a remote cable, i also bought a 28/35mm viewfinder since I'm more used composing with one

Wait, I need a little clarification on this. So could the DP1M or 2M us the Ricoh GW3 wide angle adaptor? Or only the Ricoh GR.

And second, what do you mean about a viewfinder? I prefer to use a viewfinder myself, but I wasn't aware either the Ricoh GR or the DP2M had the ability to use one...

the DP1M has a 49mm filter size thread and there has been some users online that have succesfully used the Ricoh GW-3 conversion lens (0.75x i believe) on the DP1M and even RX1 although you may notice some distortion and softness on the edges.

if the DP2M has 49mm filter size then it might also take the GW-3 lens

since these cameras have no EVF or OVF viewfinders, Sigma and Ricoh sells 28mm viewfinders but you can just buy some of the old leica, voigtlander VF and will work just as fine

i bought this for my GR
http://www.ebay.ca …_trksid=p3984.m​1497.l2649

Ah cool, thanks for the info!

Or get a Canon EOS M. They are cheap, work with your other Canon lenses via an adapter, have a larger sensor than the DP-, and a bigger lcd screen.

irishman wrote in post #16327860
Or get a Canon EOS M. They are cheap, work with your other Canon lenses via an adapter, have a larger sensor than the DP-, and a bigger lcd screen.

not against the Merrill version of the Sigma DP though which is what we have been talking on this discussion (1.5x vs 1.6x)

just came back from camping in Lake O'Hara, unfortunately it snowed last night so couldn't get much landscape shots but here's a few with the Ricoh GR.
felt so liberating walking with a light X-Pro1 + 14mm on my neck and a Ricoh GR in my pocket.

here's 3 shots taken with the Ricoh

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I don't think the OP wanted a discussion solely on the Sigma.

taemo wrote in post #16332559
not against the Merrill version of the Sigma DP though which is what we have been talking on this discussion (1.5x vs 1.6x)

just came back from camping in Lake O'Hara, unfortunately it snowed last night so couldn't get much landscape shots but here's a few with the Ricoh GR.
felt so liberating walking with a light X-Pro1 + 14mm on my neck and a Ricoh GR in my pocket.

here's 3 shots taken with the Ricoh

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R0010342 by earl.dieta, on Flickr

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R0010335 by earl.dieta, on Flickr

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R0010294 by earl.dieta, on Flickr

Another vote for any of the Sigma DP 1/2/3 Merrills or a Ricoh GR V.

irishman wrote in post #16334500
I don't think the OP wanted a discussion solely on the Sigma.

No, you are quite correct, I appreciate input on any cameras someone would suggest, and the reasons behind it. But that said, I really have become convinced that for my particular use, the Sigma DP is pretty much ideal.