We are nearing to the end of the CX1 review series. Before rounding up my verdicts in the next post, we'll look at the longest reach of the CX1 lens and the related discussion. This is the sixth posts of the review series.
^A cafe at the Peak. Taken at 85mm.
A major reason I wished for an auxiliary camera to my GX200 is that even though I don't frequently shoot at a longer focal length, it is good to have the capability to zoom farther coming in handy. To all serious compacts at present, discounting the M4/3 models, the longer reach of the lens is not really long. There is a workaround solution to this by attaching a conversion lens. But for people like me and for reason of operation, a P&S with a long zoom capability is a better option.
The first thing sprang to mind about using a 200mm focal length was to trip to the Peak. It is in capital letter and absolutely not a typo. The Peak is not the highest point of the ranges embracing the Kowloon Peninsular and the Hong Kong Island, which makes up the main part of this Pearl of the East, a fancy catchphrase to promote Hong Kong since the days of the British colonisers. But it commands a panoramic view to city of Hong Kong.
^A tourist asking for his way near the bus stop where I was waiting for the bus to the tram station. Taken at 200mm. The proportional relationship among the elements in the image is distorted, categorically a feature of a lens at its widest and longest reach.
What is famous about the Peak is that the sloping hill used to be the residential district of the privileged expats in the Hong Kong under the British rule, now developed into an up-market residential area sought after by the super rich. Historically, the Peak was more commonly known as the Flag Hoisting Hill. The folklore has it that a famous pirate and his gangsters in the old days hid at the Peak and flagged the Jolly Roger to their people on the foothill to loot the unfortunate in-coming vessels.
^A true attraction at the Peak: Free kicking of Bruce Lee's butt. No, just pretend it. A real kick will make you liable for the damages.
The best way to trip to the Peak is, from Kowloon, take the Star Ferry to Central, take the open-top bus to the base tram station, and then take the tram to the Peak. Mark that the right-sided seats will afford you a better view to the scenic vista as the tram climbs up the slope.
The CX1 lens starts at F5.2 at its longer reach. This is fast enough for a 200mm lens to be used under most decently lit situations. The lens could have been made faster but because for some technical reason, it is easier to manufacture a faster lens for a fuller sized camera. After all, the CX1 is not in the price range for such a lens. 
>This is the reference photo for the 100% crops below to show the sharpness of the lens at 200mm, about which I have absolutely no complain.
Although not exactly comparable, the new Sigma 70-300mm lens for APS-C and FF cameras starts at F4-5.6. This should give you some idea about the fair speed of the CX1's lens at 200mm. Coupled with what I think the best invention in photography over the years, the shake prevention, and CX1's commendable high ISO image quality, the 200m F5.2 is absolutely a very capable tool. And a sharp one too.
^The centre area. The lines of the building logo and the route numbers are very legible.
^1) The man's watch. Oh, can you tell the time? 2) Top right. The canopy was fluttering in the wind, hence the blur. 3)Top left. The rivets are so solid that I can almost see the pattern of the lower one
The benefits of the lens zooming as far as to 200mm are two-fold. First, the photographer is able to accentuate the main subject in the image. Second, the perspective of a scene becomes unique when using such a long focal length, with the elements more tightly compressed and their proportional relationship annihilated in the final image. These are a textbook understanding about the benefits.
^Shot at 200mm to show the blurred background effect with this small sensor CX1. This was photographed at Cafe Deco on the Peak, which I recommend for a buffet lunch on your next visit to Hong Kong.
For a camera with a senor smaller than the nail of your little finger, such a long focal length can make up for a deficiency: the inability to blur the background in an image.
With such a long zoom, blurring the background is not a problem at all. This trick works unless the subjects are half a block away which, for reason of distance relationship, will force a great depth of field in the image.
^The people at the cafe is a street away with the buildings farther away. In this case, there is no hope of blurring the background even at 200mm (this photo is for illustration and not shot at 200mm).
Surely, another way to blur the background is to activate the macro mode. For the same reason of distance relationship, the background will be rendered into patches of elements.
^A blurred background afforded by the Macro mode.
It should be noted that the CX2 sports an even more aggressive zoom to 300mm at F5.6, which is a focal length that I seldom use on my Minolta 75-300mm zoom lens unless for doing portraits. So, if I am to consider a longer zoom, the expected use is for doing portraits. The compressed perspective works nicely to accentuate your subject. And because the photographer has to stand further away from the model, he or she will feel more easy at every shot, resulting in more natural results.
^You may realise that except for the man-asking-for-direction and Transformer photos, none of the photos in this post was done at a long focal length. So a 300mm lens is not really useful in common photographic occasions to me.
Otherwise, such a long focal length is to me odd to use because the photographer has to be long away from the action spot. Composing at 300mm is not what normal photographers may usually like to do or with much success. If you are considering either one and the price difference is a concern to you, think about whether the longer zoom range is of use to you. Base your decision on the answer to that question.
(to be continued)
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