I have been a big fan of Canon for a while and have been attempting to defend the flag, but it looks like we have been overrun. I thought Canon would answer in kind by taking out the big guns, but what they gave us instead is the Canon S110 and the Canon G15. While thats an improvement, its like taking a knife to a gunfight.

The Sony RX100 blows the doors off any pocketable camera out there (under $1000, there are a few pocket cameras which can do better but you have to pay up) with a larger sensor and better overall IQ. Its faster then any other offering and has a little bit more zoom which is always helpful when traveling. Need a little bit more power? The Sony NEX6 and NEX7 are not pocketable cameras, but they are smaller then the Canon T4i and more powerful with better image quality.

Im not yet at the point where I will be selling my Canon 5D Mark III at any point in the future. However, I will be selling my Canon S100 and trading it for the RX100. The NEX6 and NEX7 would make for a great travel camera, but its still not uber pocketable and compact. I will use my 5D whenever I can, but for those times when I need to be discrete the RX100 will be my #2.

(Message edited by Portege on January 28, 2013)

I have the NEX5 and it is a pretty amazing bit of technology. It's low light ability is superior to every camera on the market topping out at ISO 25K.

It can shoot video at 60 fps.

I have had it for over a year and still digging into all of the features of this beast.

The Sony NEX series is probably the ultimate travel camera and here is why:



The Sony NEX boasts an APS-C type sensor. Anything less than the APS-C sized sensor and you sacrifice image quality. The full-frame sensor is truly amazing, but its expensive and generally in much larger (heavier) cameras not suitable for traveling.

The equivalent camera in the Canon line is the new EOS-M, but that camera doesnt have the IQ or usability as the the NEX series. The Sony NEX 6 has a wifi link so you can quickly transfer your photos to your phone or computer while on the go. Its faster then the Canon and has more functions. I wouldnt get the EOS-M myself and would probably wait for the next version of that camera.

I am a little disappointed in Canon. I had high hopes for the EOS-M and thought it would send the NEX packing.

Sony RX100 (Left), Sony NEX5 (Middle), Canon T4i with kit lens (Right)

(Message edited by Portege on January 29, 2013)

Are you going to drop $600 for a new camera because of the new features, or are you going to drop the money for a camera that lets you take better photos?

If you shoot most of your photos in auto or in the portrait setting your just tossing money down the drain.

I picked up a s100 this past fall when they went on sale, I paid just over $200 on Amazon, it's a great little camera and will make a great compact camera travel partner to my D5100.

Im going to drop the money on the big big camera which helps me take better photos. Im not going to let go of my big Canon anytime soon. However, if someone told me I could only have one camera it would be either the Sony RX100 or one of the Sony NEX cameras. My friend has a Sony NEX6 and I really liked what I saw. Personally, I am one who doesnt mind lugging a lot of equipment around. The big Canon is a beast and can be a safety liability (i.e. getting mugged). I have developed a few ways to carry it around like with one of those black Zing bags stretched across it or in a stealthy bag which doesnt look like a photography bag. Still its a beast, a big expensive beast, and some may not prefer it

I do like the Canon S series cameras and have one here myself, but I am finding I dont really use it that much anymore. I take most of my pictures with the big Canon. The small Canon S series camera was a big hit when it came out and was the best in class, but the Sony can take the same pictures with twice the ISO, it has a better IQ and faster overall. Of course, the Sony RX100 is more expensive, but it certainly outclasses the little Canon. A less expensive camera would be better to break or lose or if you dont use it that much. Each person has their own preferences and individual situation and so their choice would depend upon that.

The future holds even more powerful compact cameras. Samsung and LG are going to introduce their new cellphones in a few months which will have newer, better cameras. The cell phone cameras onboard are pretty good. Some people might argue that its better to spend the money on a good cellphone with a decent camera then a compact. Therefore, Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc. will ultimately have to up their game. My expectation is by the end of this year all of the compact camera manufacturers will have newer, better cameras out. For those who can wait, there is even better on the horizon. March is when the new cellphones will debut and so by Christmas I expect an update to all of the various compact camera lines. They, the camera makers, will have to really trounce what the cellphone camera makers produce to get people to budge meaning bigger sensors, IQ, faster, WiFi etc.

Wifi is becoming very important because people are taking pictures with the camera and need a way to quickly transfer it to their phone to upload...In 3-4 years I see the cellphone as totally replacing the compact cameras. In between that time and now there will be some radical compact cameras coming out as they compete head to head with the phones. I think eventually we will see APS-C sized sensors in the compact cameras where it will take as good or better pictures then a camera such as one in the Canon rebel series like the T4i.

portege seems to have found a subject that he actually knows something about.