Looking for a travel point and shoot

Hello all, my only camera is a 5DII and my walkabout lens is the 70-200 f/4L IS. I also have a 17-40 that gets put on very infrequently, but when I need it, I'm really glad I had it. I mention this to give an idea of what gear and photos I'm used to taking.

I'm looking for a replacement to take while traveling, not as a back-up, but as a sole camera. I'm trying to go lighter, smaller, and simpler. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with the images I get with my current set-up. I just find that I spend so much time fussing with gear that I end up not spending enough time simply enjoying where I am.

I've kind of narrowed it down to two choices, but I am still open to suggestions. I'd love to get input from you folks, and most people here have way more experience than I do. The models I'm looking at are the G1X II, and the Sony RX10.. Here are my thoughts on each of them;

The G1XII is very appealing right now. The biggest plus for it is that it's a Canon. I'm very technologically challenged. It took me three months to learn how to check the voice-mail on my cell phone. I've now finally gotten really comfortable with my 5DII and honestly the thought of going to a brand other than Canon scares me simply because of learning a new system. I briefly owned a Sigma DP2 M and that was one of the reasons I sold it. I also really like the size of the G1XII and that you can add an EVF. My concern is the lack of weather-proofing (unless I'm mistaken and it has it). For travel I really like the idea of gear that I don't have to worry about rain.

The Sony RX10 looks very appealing as well. I believe it does have weather-sealing, and I've read that it is kind of the king of a do-everything camera. It is considerably larger than the G1XII, but would still be a massive size/ weight improvement over my current set-up. The biggest drawback is of course that it's not a Canon, so the controls will be considerably different from my 5dII (I would imagine).

The attributes that are not as important to me are focal length (as long as it zooms I'm good with it), video (I don't use it), and a movable LCD screen. I use the viewfinder almost exclusively, and only use the LCD when the camera is on a tripod, which again, won't be happening as much with this smaller set-up.

Based on these observations, any help would be appreciated. Without sounding rash, cost is not a determining factor. $1,500 is the limit I'm setting for a new travel camera and neither of these come close to that.

I have the Canon 5d mk11 and L lenses and i also wanted to downsize for everyday use.I now own the g1x mk11,absolutely no regrets .

The G1X MK11 in Europe has a small built in grip but the USA version doesn't.

Here is my decision making process https://photography-on-the.net …ead.php?t=13600​08&page=37

Trumper wrote in post #17087805
I have the Canon 5d mk11 and L lenses and i also wanted to downsize for everyday use.I now own the g1x mk11,absolutely no regrets .

The G1X MK11 in Europe has a small built in grip but the USA version doesn't.

Here is my decision making process https://photography-on-the.net …ead.php?t=13600​08&page=37

Thanks Trumper, I appreciate the feedback. I checked the link and you've taken some very nice photos with the G1XII. Over the weekend I went and checked out a couple cameras in person, and I'm glad I did. The Sony RX10 is off the list now. Too big. It was a nice camera, for sure, but at that size I really might as well be carrying a DSLR. I also looked at the RX100 III and was extremely impressed. I can't get over how tiny and light it is. It would definitely give the GX1II a run for the money if for nothing other than size alone.

The problem is I also saw an A6000 and A7R. The A7R had me drooling. Of course it would not be much use as an addition to my 5DII, more as a direct replacement. It is not without it's issues, but the image quality, for the kind of shooting I typically do, is amazing. Too many decisions.

I've got an RX10 (and an RX100iii, an A7r, A7s, A6000, well I could go on), just remember this, the RX10 is weather sealed and constant aperture. Not trying to push you that way 'cause I've got a G1Xii as well. I just returned from a 5 day backpack trip-the RX100iii made that cut on weight alone but 2 weeks prior we lived out of kayaks for 3 days going down a river and the RX10 won out that time.
Nope not a Sony fanboy, got a 6D, 70D, 5Diii too. Different tools kinda of thing.
But with the cameras listed above it really is hard not think that if the house was burning I wouldn't grab the RX10 first. Unless you've lived Zeiss then you won't understand and I've got a few L lenses to compare
Here's a pic from the backpacking trip via the RX100iii:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/opnR​BN

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/oEZF​iC

Medicineman,

How does the image quality compare, on the rx100 vs the a6000?

Medicineman, thanks for the great insight! I love hearing from someone with perspective who has used them all. I was surprised by your comment about the RX10 having weather sealing. If you just took it on a kayaking trip, you would know. I'd read before that it is weather sealed, however, when I asked the Sony Rep a couple days ago if the RX10 or RX100III were weather-sealed she told me flat out, "No". She said nothing in Sony's line beneath the A7 series had weather-sealing.

Now back to the other models. I can't get the A7R out of my mind. I've been having evil thoughts about it since I first laid eyes on it. My ONLY camera is a 5DII with the two lenses I mentioned. I mean that literally, I don't even have a smart phone. I have considered unloading it to get cash towards an A7R. Having owned an A7R and 5DIII (so even nicer than my model), what is your take on that?

My photography centers around shots I take on backpacking, motorcycling, and family trips. I enjoy landscape photography most (and totally suck at it:lol. I can count the number of indoor shots I've taken on one hand, and fast movement is not my thing (I use the center focus and recompose method for moving subjects and the back screen and manual focus for stationary subjects). I don't shoot video. So given my shooting style and uses, would the transition to the A7R be advisable?...or stay with the 5DII. If I did switch, keep my L-lenses and get a Metabones, or dump the L's and put it towards new lenses?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just really at a crossroads and I'm still at a point in my photography where I don't have too much invested to make a switch. By the way...I'm a pixel-peeping fool. I've never printed a photo but I love to blow them up big on my computer and marvel at the fine detail and resolution.

I love my recently bought Canon SL1. Takes just as good pictures as my 7D. The handling, speed and durability are different, of course, but so far I'm finding the SL1 is good for pretty well all situations except for high burst rate shooting.

The SL1 sensor has the same resolution as the 7D and the 1D X, 18 mp. It is cheap. The kit lenses (both STM) that I got with it are razor sharp, and are light weight.

Plus, the user interface of the SL1 is familiar to Canon shooters. There is even a touch screen that speeds up making settings.

Some of my pics are at Dropbox, at the following link. The pics were all taken with the SL1, with the full gamut of lenses, from 10mm to 400mm.
https://www.dropbox.co​m …AADUAZQtOuRwvcX​YhsraH7hga

Sorry late reply.
Simple bottom line. If for landscape the A7r hands down. I don't own the 5Dii so cannot say anything about it but if for moving objects/BIFs/sports the the 5Diii hands down.

Surprised a Sony rep says the RX10 not sealed in any way. I've been treating it as if it was Truly it has sat in the kayak cockpit and gotten rained on, taken many a water drip from a paddle for several hours. The only thing I feared was the hotshoe was uncovered and of course the lens front objective got condensation on it.

RX100iii vs A6000 for IQ.....so close you'd not notice until you enlarge then the A6000 wins with the APS-c sensor size giving the win....and when cropping. I'm very satisfied with either camera's IQ. The A6000 is now part of a dedicated digiscoping rig. The Rx100iii the backpacking choice along with a TX30 for the hard rainy days, the RX100 the paddle camera along with a GoPro.

p.s. Steve Huff thinks the RX10 is sealed:
http://www.stevehuffph​oto.com …ew-one-amazing-superzoom/
but what does he know?
also I think the RX10 is 'armored', not like a tank but just overall beefy construction.

Thanks Medicineman. I've heard from multiple sources that the RX10 is weather sealed, and only the one Rep saying it isn't. Even employees of a business can make mistakes about their products. This was also a sales rep. If I was really curious I'd call a customer service rep instead, but at this point I'm leaning towards it probably being weather sealed, at least to some degree.

Thanks for the rest of your insights as well.

Just one man's 0.02

Another dead Sony thread Well this is a Canon site. Last night I took the A7s, the Rx100iii, and the 6D for a Milky Way shoot....for a pocket camera the RX100iii holds its own:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/oDsk​1n

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/oDv4​qk

I bought a G15 as a 'pocket camera' to use when I didn't want to carry/pack my 5Diii and lenses. This past May, on vacation, to my dismay I packed the wrong lens (of 2 I usually take) so did most of my shots with the G15. Day, night, screwy lighting, long exposures, fast exposures, etc. I shot RAW+JPG (surprise..no RAW in Auto, I switched from Auto to Av, Tv, and M and back numerous times). The JPG results SOOC were surprisingly sharp and noise free, even at ISO 2400 for nighttime shots. The RAWs took at little more sharpening than the 5D3 produces, but still gave very good results.

If I had to do it again and get another point and shoot, I'd still go with the G15. I caught it on sale at B&H for $299 with a 16GB Sandisk card included! Couldn't beat that with a stick!

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #17121351
Another dead Sony thread Well this is a Canon site.

Well,
I sold off most of my Canon gear (one lens still for sale), and went with the A7R and the 55 f/1.8 lens. I'm thrilled with it. It's no pocket camera, but so far I love everything about it...well besides the AF, but I knew that going into it, so no surprise.

It'll be coming on my upcoming backpacking trip, and I think I'm going to rent a Metabones and Zeiss 21 f/2.8 lens for the wider shots. I tried to stay with the idea of a travel point and shoot, but as soon as I started looking into new cameras, I came across the A7r, which honestly seems built for the type of photos I like taking.

Jedi, share up pics from your trip. I too have an a7r, consider it the dream landscape machine (if/when I figure that type of photography) but for backpacking even it is too heavy, last weeks hike first day on the trail we had 4200 feet of gain and it was 85F...dont have to tell you about milligrams
This weeks hike will be milder, first day 800 feet of gain and 2700 of loss, second day 2000 feet of gain and 1500 loss, third day all down hill! So I'll be carrying two cameras---the RX100iii and the sx50HS just in case I'm lucky enough to see a bear

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #17128787
Jedi, share up pics from your trip. I too have an a7r, consider it the dream landscape machine (if/when I figure that type of photography) but for backpacking even it is too heavy, last weeks hike first day on the trail we had 4200 feet of gain and it was 85F...dont have to tell you about milligrams
This weeks hike will be milder, first day 800 feet of gain and 2700 of loss, second day 2000 feet of gain and 1500 loss, third day all down hill! So I'll be carrying two cameras---the RX100iii and the sx50HS just in case I'm lucky enough to see a bear

Haha, keep all the bears with you. In all the backpacking I've done in the Sierra, I've never seen a bear outside of Yosemite Valley, which is just how I like it. Of course I usually backpack with a dog, and bears don't like to be near dogs.

4200 feet is a lot of elevation gain, especially in 85* weather. My days will be averaging about 2,500 gain, but with temps quite a it lower (I hope). I'll be at or above 10,000' almost the entire time, with 12,000 the highest I'll probably get to for camping. I leave in a little over a week, so I'll be sure to put up photos on my return.

I did just take some shots for fun at my buddy's wedding today. I'll put up a few from that once I process them.