well, I never got out of town to really play with my new RX100, but I am very impressed, build quality, IMO is top notch, and performance is excellent. Had to work today, so squeezed off a shot on the way in of Disney Hall, Jpeg, of course. Out of curiosity as to how the shadows held up, I exposed for the bright sunlight off the front of the building (which, sampling in photoshop with the color picker, I found that the color information is pretty much all there, nothing seems to be blown out). Then I took the sooc jpeg and cranked the brightness slider all the way up as a crude test and got the second result. This was a ISO 80, hand held, jpeg, shutter speed 1/200, 28mm equiv.
Hope to get out this evening and tomorrow to really play with it, will post those pics in the new photo thread dedicated to the RX100. I am a happy camper to have this performance in a true pocket camera, yea!
http://i49./20hlwcl.jpg
and just for kicks, this is a jpeg at F1.8 @ ISO 800 hand held for a full 1.3 seconds (leaning on bed, but still hand held) 100% crop, focus on corner of radio. So the IS performance seems to be excellent.
http://i46./2z99x6g.jpg
Also the RX100 AF had no problems with a low contrast sky scene like this. I have an S95 and tried this same sky and could not get it to lock in 5 tries, the RX100 got it every time.
ken.vs.ryu wrote:
Why was the other thread started? So many excellent photos in here.
I think just to create a thread that's dedicated solely to pictures. I believe that this thread was originally started for RX-100 discussion but people just started to post fantastic pictures.
I like to do long exposure shooting (with ND filters which should have some workable mounting solutions coming to market soon) and also stitched pano's. RX100 should prove to be a fantastic camera for this due to its 20meg resolution, pretty good quality lens, and large (for a compact) sensor. Basically I don't think there is a better tool for making serious images that is quite this small and easy to hike with.
One big drawback though to the camera is that there is no means for an IR or usb corded remote release.
Given the camera has a BULB mode setting makes this even more frustrating, especially since unlike many compacts, the max shutter time is other only 30 seconds rather than 60 seconds.
Had Sony made a TIME mode instead this wouldn't be much of an issue, but given they haven't changed the limited bracketing since I've had my original NEX5, I don't think we can count on much
Really only solution for being able to take long exposures, or basically any tripod shooting (other than using 2 second timer which works in some modes) is an old threaded shutter release.
I've got several from my Fuji X100 and they have the lock where you depress the plunger and it holds the shutter down as long as you want. Should be just the ticket for long exposures
Only the RX100 doesn't have a threaded release of course so a big of a work around is in order.
What I'm thinking is building a little frame that goes around the camera body with a little threaded nut on it. The threaded release cable screws into this and depresses the shutter button.
Basically a pretty simple design as I don't have a CNC machine or anything to get too fancy.
Can't really do any sort of arm over the front of the camera because it would block the zoom toggle, and same goes for the back, don't want to block any LCD or control pad.
Also as I want to add Richards grip, I'm rather limited in that regard as well.
Something like an L plate with 2 risers on it on either side of the camera and a thin top bar with the nut on is about the best I can come up with
I'd welcome any thoughts on the matter though, ideas I didn't think of etc
I've come across those before on Amazon UK etc, but the reviews have been really bad with people saying they just don't really work that well
On the RX100 as well, you'd be blocking the zoom control lever, part of the LCD and the rear control dial as well so you'd have to always get the camera totally ready to shoot a given composition and then wrap that strap around it and hope you could even get it tight enough to hold the shutter down for a long exposure.
I think it would work fine just to trigger an exposure, but being able to keep the shutter held down for several minutes is going to be the challenge.
I might want to do away with the remote cable and instead just a little winged bolt or something I could just finger tighten onto the shutter button which shouldn't move at all then. Would cause a little shake tightening/loosing it but over a several minute exposure wouldn't matter.
All and all I'd really like to build something that allows full control of the camera and repeated/reliable results
Thanks for the suggestion though and I'd love to see your filter adapter.
I've got a ton of 49mm filters just sitting around I'd as soon as not replace
I just used a old lid I found that was the perfect size to fit around the first tube of the lens and wide enough for 58mm filters. I had the ring from a broken 58mm filter, so I just superglued it into the lid and now I can screw on my 58mm CPL and ND filters.
It slips on and off the lens easily and is useful for those times when I need to use filters. I have a smaller CPL filter on order, so I will try and build something for that filter to reduce the size, or I will get the magnetic CPL filter that was shown on the cheeseycam website when that becomes available.
FlyPenFly wrote:
I mean it's cool and all but I think you guys should just get an EP-M1 or something.
I'm not going to tell someone else what to do, but that's essentially the route I'm going. I'm not accessorizing the RX100 at all with anything jury-rigged. I went that route with the LX3 for awhile (well, not jury rigged, but the actual filter adapter and a WA converter) and it tended to be more trouble than it was worth. With the extra accessories I just felt I'd rather have a "real" camera along.
HOWEVER, one caveat. If I was just concerned about weight (ultra-light backpacking) and not just "pocketable" and was willing to deal with an awkward setup then I think some of the RX100 jury-rigging would be worth it. Very capable camera and if for a few ounces more and some patience you could add a polarizer and a cable release that could be worth the effort on an "every ounce counts" kind of trip. Actually for my shooting I'd never do the cable release, self timer is fine for me, but getting a polarizer on there would be good for landscapes.
One word of caution, be careful attaching anything - even just a single filter - to the end of these extending lens assemblies. Some can get fussy or degraded with extra weight at the end of the barrel.
I will mostly use my home made filter adapter with my ND filters, so the camera will be mounted on a tripod anyway, so it's not really a big deal. I bought the RX100 to be used as a everyday pocket camera and it does that better the the Pen cameras I owned.
I'm still waiting for the magnetic CPL filter to become available which will offer a better solution then having to use a adapter, in the meantime if I need to use a CPF filter I will just use a adapter.
Well having owned a number of m4/3 camera's with that old 12meg sensor, it just doesn't compare to the RX100 in terms of IQ amazingly enough. Likewise, the RX100 lens is a bit better than a kit zoom mounted to it and having sold all my good m4/3 glass like the 12/20/25/45 along with my EM-5, it wouldn't make any sense to go and rebuy it all again.
9 times out of 10 the RX100 is just a casual carry in my pocket camera, really what I bought it for. I've got the D800e, D3s etc for my paid work and anytime I'm feeling especially eager for the best images possible for any personal needs I might have, which is really not very often because 99 times out of 100 I'd honestly rather shoot with even my iPhone than drag a D3s around all day with me. If a family member wants me to take a professional looking portrait of them while we are at the shopping center or something, they can pay me my professional rate, and then I'll bring my professional camera!
That all said, there is that 1 time out of 10 left where I would like to take more than just a snapshot, and the great thing about the RX100 is that its pretty capable.
Lets say I'm going for a hike with the family and I know there will be a waterfall along the route..... Well typically I don't care enough about that photo to bring my DSLR rig but while my laziness trumps ultimate quality, there is still a part of me that likes to get the best photo possible and I also hate limitations on the creativity of a scene.
Again, RX100 has great potential to step up and serve that roll, but just needs a little help doing it.
My little UltraPod works great for setting on a rock, wrapping around a handrail etc giving me nice support for a long exposure water shot and I hardly know I'm carrying it.
RX100 as well know can deliver pretty nice resolution and overall IQ and honestly is better than many camera's I've owned over the years costing many times and weighting many times more. I mean come on, I once trekked with a Canon 1D mkII for a week.
Only thing I can't really do with the RX100 is put a polarizer on it to kill the glare on some wet rocks, or add a ND to get a slow enough shutter to silken the water. Get that ability and its a pretty perfect camera for less than serious photography for me.
Its not about taking the perfect camera for a destination photo shoot, its about getting some photography enjoyment if there is something nice to shoot along the way, and then being able to slip the gear back into my pocket and go back to non-photographer mode.
I"ve been down the NEX, m4/3 etc roads and they are great but overkill for what I want/need in a non professional camera. I just don't use them enough to warrant that type of cost nor did I typically want to carry even a small bag around.
I've had the LX3 and have the LX5 and went that same route. The big difference I see between them and the RX100 is that the RX100 doesn't have the IQ of a p&s.
I'm not saying the LX series or any true small sensor camera is bad, they are fine for what they do, but the files usually look like they came from a very small sensor camera.
I found there to be a real step up when I switched to m4/3 and NEX cameras. They were bigger and not really pocketable, but the IQ improvement was pretty noticeable.
RX100 is giving me the best of both worlds now, giving me especially that same IQ I was getting from my EP3, NEX5 etc but doing in in a package that is smaller than my LX5 was even.
Now no, its not a EM-5 or NEX7 so I'm not saying it rivals the latest and great m4/3 or NEX, but its better than the old 12meg m4/3 bodies and pretty close to the original NEX3/5 if not with better resolution and a better lens than the 18-55 in most cases.
RX100 carries like a p&s but has files that don't look like they came from a p&s, which is really why people don't want to carry a p&s. Everyone loves how a p&s carries easily, but they don't want the look. RX100 did what most though was impossible and bridged that gap pretty darn well.
kwalsh wrote:
I'm not going to tell someone else what to do, but that's essentially the route I'm going. I'm not accessorizing the RX100 at all with anything jury-rigged. I went that route with the LX3 for awhile (well, not jury rigged, but the actual filter adapter and a WA converter) and it tended to be more trouble than it was worth. With the extra accessories I just felt I'd rather have a "real" camera along.
I am scheduled to receive my Sony RX100 today. The "Leather Skin" you have for your RX100 - is that a Sony accessory?
I would like to get that for my RX100.
I've got Richard's grip on order, but darn if I'm still not so tempted to get the leatherette skin. Obviously can't use them both together, and I'm sure the grip would be far more practical, but as a former Leica M owner, there is just something I can't seem to resist about the look of the black body with the curved sides and some leatherette
I've used Aki-Ashi's products before on my EP3 and the quality is really fantastic, very precision cut that fit perfectly and was actually very easy to apply as well.
millsart wrote:
I've got Richard's grip on order, but darn if I'm still not so tempted to get the leatherette skin. Obviously can't use them both together, and I'm sure the grip would be far more practical, but as a former Leica M owner, there is just something I can't seem to resist about the look of the black body with the curved sides and some leatherette
I've used Aki-Ashi's products before on my EP3 and the quality is really fantastic, very precision cut that fit perfectly and was actually very easy to apply as well.
You could just trim off the excess leather and install the grip.
