Compact camera for mountain biking pics - advice?

matt_fsr

matt_fsr

matt_fsr

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Hi,
I'm looking at getting a good quality compact camera to take with me to Morzine this summer, as well as being used around the UK when I'm biking. I know the trend these days it to GoPro everything in video, but I still like some still shots of me doing various stuff where possible.

With that in mind it would need to be fairly light and compact, hopefully quite well built, and ideally able to handle a wide range of lighting conditions, low light especially, and a good burst mode would be beneficial. :)

Initial reading leads me to the Canon G1X Mark II, which seems to review quite well, although is a little on the pricy side given the potential for damage to it if I crash! :p

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-powershot-g1-x-mark-ii

Can anyone else suggest anything similar, or what might be more suitable, or anything that they have experience with?

Cheers
 
If you've got a decent phone, Id just chuck it in a lifeproof case.

Gopro would be rubbish for low light action and the batteries aren't really up to using it a a main camera. Not sure I'd personally choose to spend and carry around a point and shoot, just for the odd bit of low light stuff when phone cameras are so good and handy these days.
 
The G1X Mark II is actually far from compact, the best AF and low light performance for this money sits with the Sony A6000. I've had a couple of high end Canon compacts and they've always been a bitter disappointment, I did try the G1X Mark II but just didn't get on with it (despite having Canon DSLRs for the last 5 years). A6000 can shoot at 11fps and video quality is epic when using the XAVC S format.

An A6000 with the kit 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 (which has OSS) is about the same size.

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With the 20mm pancake lens, it's smaller.

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Taken handheld at ISO 2000, I don't think my 70D would have been able to pull a clean image out like that.

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Clum said:
If you've got a decent phone, Id just chuck it in a lifeproof case.

Gopro would be rubbish for low light action and the batteries aren't really up to using it a a main camera. Not sure I'd personally choose to spend and carry around a point and shoot, just for the odd bit of low light stuff when phone cameras are so good and handy these days.
Click to expand...

My phone sucks, its' a cheap Android job and I'm not "interested" in phones so I'm never going to have the latest and greatest phone.

Janesy B said:
The G1X Mark II is actually far from compact, the best AF and low light performance for this money sits with the Sony A6000. I've had a couple of high end Canon compacts and they've always been a bitter disappointment, I did try the G1X Mark II but just didn't get on with it (despite having Canon DSLRs for the last 5 years). A6000 can shoot at 11fps and video quality is epic when using the XAVC S format.

An A6000 with the kit 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 (which has OSS) is about the same size.

With the 20mm pancake lens, it's smaller.
Click to expand...

Cheers for that, I had appreciated that the G1X isn't as small as a proper 'compact' camera, but just trying to decide between size, quality, performance and cost.

Can I ask why you didn't get along with the G1X? What didn't you like about it?

My initial thoughts had been to aim at a max budget of around £250... given that there's a possibility of an 'over the bars' moment, ending up with not only a bike mending bill, but a new camera needed too! :p
 
You'd be putting it in a bag anyway right? Or maybe not at Morzine?

I use my RX100 when biking occasionally, but normally kept in my bag. If I was keeping it in my pocket, I'd want it in some sort of hard case.

The RX100 is also worth a look. Probably one of the best compacts. Though it seems the Canon has a bigger sensor etc, so might be even better...
 
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RX100 all day long for such uses its much smaller than Canon and offers very similar image quality. If you are considering the G1X Mark II you may as well get the A6000 as Janesy has stated because its just better!
But both are outside you £250 budget, the RX100 should be available for around that.

Size comparison. RX100 vs G1X II. The difference is massive.
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I paid £260 for my MK1, so it should be cheaper now. I did import it though.

I'd go for the higher one if at all possible for the connectivity and a better bulb mode.
 
Cheers Columbo, that is a pretty big difference - which is certainly a consideration.

Do you have a RX100? Some example shots/video would be awesome, always better to see real results rather than just reading reviews.
 
I got a second hand MkI RX100 for £160 and you can get them cheaper than that. It now goes in my backpack or even pocket whenever out on my bike and has taken some knocks and a few OTBs as well.

Some snaps from out on the bike:

River Weaver Pano by Jon Parry, on Flickr

Mono Bike by Jon Parry, on Flickr

Boats by the river by Jon Parry, on Flickr

Bridge ahoy by Jon Parry, on Flickr

Cold Lock #3 by Jon Parry, on Flickr

Old Pale Comms Towers by Jon Parry, on Flickr

Bike and Lake by Jon Parry, on Flickr

Sunrise 3 by Jon Parry, on Flickr
 
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