Unlike Corbeau---who made the leap to the world of DSLRs---I'm about to do the opposite...and SELL all my DSLRs to buy a really kickass point-and-shoot. Why would I do such a thing? Mainly because in the past few years, I've barely used my DSLRs. For all the stuff I do, I just find them way too big and bulky. I end up using my iPhone for 90% of the photos I take...which is starting to irritate me because the photo quality is crap (compared with a DSLR or the best POS cameras).
I've also decided I really want a GPS-enabled camera...because I'm tired of forgetting where most of the pics I take were. (While the iPhone can add location data, I never have its GPS turned on because it kills battery life bigtime.)
SO...what I'm looking for is a small/compact/pocketable camera that has...
• GPS
• excellent low-light capability (fast lens + low-noise, high-ISO capability)
• REALLY important: a VERY short/fast autofocus and interval between shots (I want to be able to press the shutter button once per second and have the camera keep up!)
What I don't care much about (anymore) is...
• zoom (most of my pics are either wide scenic shots, or I "zoom with my feet" to get something closer)
• video (I rarely shoot video just because editing takes too much time and data storage requirements are kind of insane, even with 2TB drives for $100.)
• touchscreens (or any other new fangled additions)
So here are a few of the cameras I've singled out as possibilities:
Panasonic Lumix LX7 - can be had for under $400 and gets rave reviews for its fast lens and superb image quality:
Nikon P7700 - also costs around $400:
Canon PowerShot S120 - around $450:
...or if I really decide to spend the big bucks, I might look at one of these:
Canon G15 (around $500 I think?)
...or what appears to be, currently, the undisputed king of high-end point-and-shoot cameras...the Sony RX100, which costs around $600-650:
Of course none of these have built-in GPS...so if I want that, it looks like my best option is the...
Olympus TOUGH TG-1 - $400
I'm really liking this one, as it has GPS, gets good reviews for low-light capability, fast autofocus, and is waterproof, shockproof, coldproof, you-name-it-proof.
Any thoughts? Comments on any of these?
Scott
I've been researching the same class of point and shoots. I've decided to go with the Sony RX100. Now I have to decide if I want the RX100ii (the second generation) or go for the price discounts being offered on the original model. I don't generally need the latest and greatest. I think for the price discount I will get the first generation. I think it can be bought for $400 bucks new and for slightly less if you can find a used one.