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Point and shoot cameras

FarminCy

FarminCy

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2009
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Nowhere and Everywhere
Anyone have any good recommendations on a point and shoot camera. Wanting to get a higher end one that has a good zoom and can handle pictures for sporting events, etc. Our little cheap one doesn't cut it anymore and would like to upgrade. Not wanting to dive into a full DLSR type camera as neither my wife nor myself have the time to learn how to use one.

I'm looking at getting the Canon SX510. According to reviews it's easy to use but has good zoom and has lot's of settings to handle different scenarios without being a camera whiz.

Any feedback would be appreciated.
 
I've always been happy with Canon products and feel you really can't go wrong with them. But for our last camera, which my wife wanted for Christmas before we went on vacation, I went with a Lumix (which is the brand name Panasonic uses for their cameras.) Super awesome camera, easy to use, and was around $200.

Can't recall model, I'm sure it's been replaced by now, but I would strongly consider any Lumix product in the same price range you are looking at.
 
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My consumer research into this is a couple years old, but I decided not to buy a point-and-shoot camera because there wasn't much of an advantage over what I could do with my phone.

I ended up going with a low-end DSLR, and I'd urge you to give them some consideration, because:

A) they're not complicated to use (most of them have "automatic setting" modes that allow them to operate just like a point-and-click camera)

B) used or older models can be obtained for cheap and still produce much better picture quality than a point-and-click
 
roundball said:
My consumer research into this is a couple years old, but I decided not to buy a point-and-shoot camera because there wasn't much of an advantage over what I could do with my phone.

I ended up going with a low-end DSLR, and I'd urge you to give them some consideration, because:

A) they're not complicated to use (most of them have "automatic setting" modes that allow them to operate just like a point-and-click camera)

B) used or older models can be obtained for cheap and still produce much better picture quality than a point-and-click
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I agree with this. You can make DSLR cameras as easy or complicated as you wish. I'm not going to tell you go run out and buy one, but I wouldn't write it off immediately... especially if image quality is important to you.
 
I have a Canon G15. I didn't want the bulk of a DSLR camera, but I wanted a larger sensor for better photos. I use it for work as a Forensic Engineer. It works great and several of my coworkers have switched to the G series recently.
 
roundball said:
My consumer research into this is a couple years old, but I decided not to buy a point-and-shoot camera because there wasn't much of an advantage over what I could do with my phone.

I ended up going with a low-end DSLR, and I'd urge you to give them some consideration, because:

A) they're not complicated to use (most of them have "automatic setting" modes that allow them to operate just like a point-and-click camera)

B) used or older models can be obtained for cheap and still produce much better picture quality than a point-and-click
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Obviously I'd strongly recommend this as well. But I've found when someone has their heart sent on a point-and-shoot, no amount of "a DSLR is actually a better fit for what you want to do" will work.
 
I've decided I'm never buying a P&S camera again. I have my cell phone for when I need a picture now. And I have my DSLR for good photos, when I want to carry a camera.

That being said, I have always been a fan of Canon cameras. Though these latest crops of Panasonic Lumix's have been pretty solid cameras.

Steve's Digicams is a good site with detailed reviews of a lot of cameras.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/#b
 
If you want one you can truly fit into your pocket that's a step above the rest, I would suggest the Canon PowerShot S120, or whichever is their newest model.

I have the older S100 model and I really like it. They have a larger sensor than the rest of the point and shoot cameras out there which lets you take better low-light shots, and you can still put it in your pocket.
 
ISUFan22 said:
Obviously I'd strongly recommend this as well. But I've found when someone has their heart sent on a point-and-shoot, no amount of "a DSLR is actually a better fit for what you want to do" will work.
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A quick question. My wife wants something to take better pics but has a small learning curve. With your experience with cameras how fast could she pick up on how to use one of the entry level DSLR cameras?
 
FarminCy said:
A quick question. My wife wants something to take better pics but has a small learning curve. With your experience with cameras how fast could she pick up on how to use one of the entry level DSLR cameras?
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I have an entry level DSLR (Sony Alpha) and I never take it off auto setting. It still takes better pics than a P&S. It acts just like a P&S other than manual zoom with the ring.
 
I'd actually argue against getting a DSLR and leaving it in auto mode if you are wanting a P&S experience. Yeah auto on a DSLR will get you some nice pictures, but you aren't taking full advantage of the camera unless you learn the manual modes.

Ultimately type of camera doesn't dictate how good a picture ends up being. Just look at somethings that professionals can do with an Iphone.

If you research and get a quality P&S, you can easily equal the image quality of a low end DSLR, you just won't have the ability to do more sophisticated things with the camera, but if you are keeping a DSLR in auto mode, then you aren't doing those things anyway.

For me personally, I got a smartphone with the best camera at the time since its always on me. I have a P&S for when I want something a little more than my smartphone (though this isn't very necessary anymore). And then I have my DSLR with a tripod and a few lenses when I want to have more control over the photos.

Examples:

Waterfall from my cellphone:
10614252_10101985577917900_6295013710854470209_n.jpg

Waterfall from my DSLR:
IMG_6863.jpg
 
EnhancedFujita said:
I'd actually argue against getting a DSLR and leaving it in auto mode if you are wanting a P&S experience. Yeah auto on a DSLR will get you some nice pictures, but you aren't taking full advantage of the camera unless you learn the manual modes.
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Yeah, I wouldn't shell out the extra dough for a DSLR if you know you're never going to learn it, I only got the Alpha because I got it for $18 with a deal thru the Sony credit card. However, Farmin was asking how hard it is to learn a DSLR, so I mentioned the auto mode because just that safety net is enough to make people overcome their fears of getting one.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice. One more question. Which type (p&s or DSLR) would be best for kids sporting events, random family events, etc. The more reading I do the more I see that p&s appears to struggle with moving shots.
 
FarminCy said:
Thanks everyone for the advice. One more question. Which type (p&s or DSLR) would be best for kids sporting events, random family events, etc. The more reading I do the more I see that p&s appears to struggle with moving shots.
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Again, I'm no expert, and my P&S is about 4 years old, but I like the DSLR for action...button goes down, picture is taken. With my P&S, there is a lag. I can't speak to action capture, but I think the consensus is a DSLR is gonna be better.
 
00clone said:
Yeah, I wouldn't shell out the extra dough for a DSLR if you know you're never going to learn it, I only got the Alpha because I got it for $18 with a deal thru the Sony credit card. However, Farmin was asking how hard it is to learn a DSLR, so I mentioned the auto mode because just that safety net is enough to make people overcome their fears of getting one.
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That's a heck of a deal.

Learning a DSLR isn't too complicated, I just read up online and then ended taking a short 8-week class through work to get the basics.

If Farmin is wanting to get into doing sports it'll be difficult. A P&S will have a tough time capturing the movement. An entry DSLR with the proper settings and lens can do it but it won't be as portable. Somethings to consider are how far you'll be from the action. If you are wanting to shoot from the stands into the outfield or downfield at a football game you'd need a decent telephoto lens to get the zoom you'd probably like, and those aren't cheap. I've had some success with sports using the kit lens that has a moderate zoom. You just have to realize the limitations and what it can and can't do. That is what taking a class helped me understand.
 
EnhancedFujita said:
That's a heck of a deal.

Learning a DSLR isn't too complicated, I just read up online and then ended taking a short 8-week class through work to get the basics.

If Farmin is wanting to get into doing sports it'll be difficult. A P&S will have a tough time capturing the movement. An entry DSLR with the proper settings and lens can do it but it won't be as portable. Somethings to consider are how far you'll be from the action. If you are wanting to shoot from the stands into the outfield or downfield at a football game you'd need a decent telephoto lens to get the zoom you'd probably like, and those aren't cheap. I've had some success with sports using the kit lens that has a moderate zoom. You just have to realize the limitations and what it can and can't do. That is what taking a class helped me understand.
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Yeah, couldn't pass it up. It was funny, I had just gone thru some of the same questions as Farmin', but decided for the few pics we took, none of them likely action, but we would like to take it hiking, we'd be better with a P&S, and bought a nice one. Then I saw a deal where if you got a Sony credit card, I think you got like a $400 camera for $218, then if you charged so much in the first 6 months, you got $100 credit, and another so much in first year, you got another $100 credit.

I texted my wife and asked if she was ok if I bought a DSLR. She flipped because she thought we were done buying cameras for quite a while, but then I told her about the deal. I had the 2 $100 credits in like 3 months because we charge everything to the credit card and pay it off every month, then I closed the card out.
 
FarminCy said:
Damn you guys!!!!! I think you have me talked into a DSLR.
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This is a pretty solid site I just googled with some basics http://improvephotography.com/photography-basics/

FWIW I bought my DSLR used on Craigslist, its a Canon T2i but I think the latest models are like T5i or something. Nikon is the other big DSLR company, but I haven't used one. Might be worth checking prices on something used if you aren't quite sold on spending the full money for something brand new.

I got mine for half the price and it was rarely used. Some college kid bought it and decided it was too much to haul around just for Facebook pictures, so my win.
 
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