Hello....
It's been awhile since I've purchased a digital point-and-shoot camera but I find myself in the market for one. Rather than spend hours searching the internet and reading reviews I figured I'll just take my search here and put the question out to you guys. What point-and-shoot camera fits in the pocket, is a good price for what it offers, and takes relatively good pictures?
Can't wait to hear what everyone suggests!
My husband bought Sony DSC-RX100 and it hasn't disappointed. I sometimes sneak it out and use it too. Very small, good reviews, and a lot of functions if you need them. I think it is also offered on sale in many places now (around US$390) since there are newer models out.
I have a Fuji X20 which takes excellent shots and also has several special useful progs., viewfinder as well as screen and is now superseded by two models so probably available quite reasonably priced. (Perhaps a tad big for most pockets!)
@vera365@quietpurplehaze Any sample photos in your projects? I just clicked on a few photos in your projects and neither are the cameras you mentioned.
I also have the Sony RX100, which I use when I don't want to bring a big camera -- such as travel. This one is from the plane, flying into Minneapolis:
I've been really happy with it, although I usually use my Nikon D7100.
For My Pocket Camera I Use a Fuji X-M1 with the 27mm F2.7 pancake lens . This was previously a Canon G11. Both have nearly all the features of a SLR in a compact body.. no zoom on the x-m1 as a slim prime lens though it can use the lenses of the bigger x-pro1
I have a Nikon Coolpix S3300, which has been a very good camera. There aren't any pictures taken with that camera in my project, but it served me well as my main camera for several years. I used it for macro and landscape, mostly, and other than the usual problem of not getting a shallow enough depth of field (but that will be an issue on any point-and-shoot), it handled everything I wanted to do pretty well
The RX100 II & III are get little cameras to carry around. Currently my favorite is a Panasonic FZ1000 which essentially has the same sensor as the RX100 (can't verify this but they seem to be a close match) but has a optical zoom of 24- 400mm f/2.8 to f/4. The zoom really helps with street photography.
Depends what you want to do with it and how much you want to spend. The Sony RX100 Mark IV is a great camera ( I own one), but not cheap. The III you can have for US$100 less. But it only has a 24-70 FFE-equivalent zoom. In this price range are the new Nikon DL compacts, 3 of them, a 24-85 ( a little more than the Sony RX100) equivalent zoom, a wide angle 18-50 equivalent, and a big zoom 24-500 equivalent. Not in the market yet, but they look impressive.
Canon has the G7X (now Mark II).
What I really like about the Sony - RAW, and superb video, not only 4K, but up to 4X slow motion, and a super high frame rate 700 or more frames per second for 2 seconds of super slow motion, with a neat feature to click AFTER the event has occurred to capture the previous 2 seconds of content. It's full of features the others don't have, a reasonable (retractable) EV, and is super compact. But the menu system is monumental and confusing, every feature Sony ever implemented is there, even if superseded by better ways to do the same thing (AF is a notorious case in point), and Sony documentation is dreadful. It does not have a touch screen, some of the others do, but that doesn't bother me at all. It's not a beginner camera for sure.
These choices (and others I haven't shot with) are the new "enthusiast" P&S class, all built on a 1 inch sensor, and are priced accordingly...
For half the price, or less, well the market has a lot, but you don't get what you don't pay for.
@frankhymus I just need something as an alternative to carrying a dSLR. I've always had a Canon Powershot but I recently took it with me someplace and I either lost it out and about or I put it someplace in my house and I can't find it anywhere. I figured it is just as well since I kinda needed a new one anyway.
I am leaning towards a Ricoh GR, but it's kinda pricey, so I am fishing for alternatives. I've always loved the clarity of this photo that @subseasniper posted back in 2014!
Out of the ones you listed, sounds like you're recommending the Sony, but I just looked up the price...nearly $1000. Gasp!
@blueberry1222 Well yes, but I got if for $820 at a discount outlet on line (and no sales tax) and had no problems. You can get the Mark III for $100-$200 less, especially on eBay. The (new) Canons and the Nikons are $200 or so less too. But like I said at the end, you don't get what you don't pay for, and if you want something close to the quality of a modern DSLR, or to shoot clean video, well...
You can take a look at many of my recent shots. They were taken RAW, and finished off in an editor, but then I do that for everything I shoot.
@featherstone Yep, I always carry the Sony with me if I have the D7100 out which I have mounted with the superb Nikkor FX 28-300 zoom, "42-450 equivalent" of course on the DX body. I use the Sony for the wide angles lower than that, down to a 24mm FFE, and really no extra bulk or weight since it fits in my pocket very nicely. But often find I am "walking around" just with the Sony. Especially for "street" it's so much less intimidating and intrusive than the big black DSLR, and so much better and flexible than the iPhone camera.
I just bought the Olympus TG-860 because I wanted something lightweight to carry around on my "errand" days and I'm really impressed with it. It's got some really nice in-camera effects as well as being waterproof. Not only that it was extremely affordable and I bought it at the local camera store to support local business (icing on the cake!). Here's a sample of one of the first shots I took with it in the black and white mode, then converted to sepia.
i have the RX100 and agree with @frankhymus assessment... it's pretty powerful, does almost as much as my nex7, but no interchangeable lens... i love the amount of control it gives me, and the fact that i can shoot RAW... but i do not love the user interface... this shot was taken with the RX
i also have a olympus TG-II and contemplated upgrading to the TG-IV (which i believe has RAW capability)... the downside to the TG is the limited controls in terms of choosing aperture and shutter speed... which kind of defeats the purpose for me... this was taken with the TG... i think it's kinda funky, but not what i was aiming for - i needed a slightly faster shutter speed than i could convince the TG to give me in the lighting conditions... but you have to bear in mind that i am rarely aiming for what is generally considered a "correct" exposure, so this may not be an issue for you...
the TG has the benefit of being waterproof, and pretty decent with macro
I am so appreciative of all the ideas offered! You guys are great. I will be looking at all the suggestions over the weekend. Keep the ideas flowing if you got them 😊
@blueberry1222 I don't have it myself, but since you mentioned the Ricoh GR you might want to look at the album of @iwcharters, who has used one for many of his shots, such as the one below. I'm sure he would give you his thoughts if you asked.
The Fuji X20 came highly recommended to me from LCE where I buy my cameras. It only has a 4.2 x zoom but I don't often use long zoom. I think it's a brilliant little package.
How about a Panasonic GF7, GM1 or GM5? With the compact 12-32mm lens (or a prime lens) they are quite small, have a large sensor and can take all mFT lenses.
@blueberry1222 You can pick up the original RX100 for a song now there's been so many subsequent editions. Of course it doesn't have all the upgrades but it still has the amazing size, a fine lens and the 1" sensor. Personally, while I marvel at the size and IQ of the RX100 series I never particularly enjoyed shooting with it. Fiddly and a demanding menu.
Have you looked at the Panasonic LX100? - much bigger but well reviewed.
If you're willing to go for a fixed lens, I'm loving the Fuji X100S. The latest model is more expensive of course, X100T. You can get the original X100 secondhand much cheaper, obviously. If you do, make sure you load the latest firmware.
Again, thanx everyone for all the suggestions as it was all very helpful. I have to admit that it had been awhile since I even looked for a new digital point and shoot camera and I had no idea how many options are out there today. I quickly fell into a rabbit hole of reading reviews of all the cameras mentioned here and I learned a lot. Bottom line of what I learned is this: buy used. Every year a new camera comes out everyone seems to have short term memory of what was rated the best camera the previous years and the best rated camera that was expensive in 2012 becomes super cheap in 2016. Also, the more pixels they sqeeze into a small camera the more noise the image will have. I read that for a small p&s one doesn't need more than 12mp, more than that creates a need to counter it with inherent noise filters which then causes softer images and less clarity.
There are literally HUNDREDS of cameras to choose from once one opens the pandora box of used cameras that it is easy to get overwhelmed. What I have decided to do is make a list of cameras that I got interested in while reading about them and occassionally monitor the price as time goes by and when one comes up for around $100, I'll spring for it. (My list so far: Sony RX100 Mark IV, Ricoh GR, Panasonic GF7, Fuji X100S, Pentax MX-1, Olympus SH-2)
@blueberry1222 That's certainly a good choice. Have fun with it. And your decision to buy cheap and used opens up all sorts of possibilities for you to try a lot of things.
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I've been really happy with it, although I usually use my Nikon D7100.
And this black and white one was also taken with it, although it got a heavy dose of editing afterwards (contrast etc)
Canon has the G7X (now Mark II).
What I really like about the Sony - RAW, and superb video, not only 4K, but up to 4X slow motion, and a super high frame rate 700 or more frames per second for 2 seconds of super slow motion, with a neat feature to click AFTER the event has occurred to capture the previous 2 seconds of content. It's full of features the others don't have, a reasonable (retractable) EV, and is super compact. But the menu system is monumental and confusing, every feature Sony ever implemented is there, even if superseded by better ways to do the same thing (AF is a notorious case in point), and Sony documentation is dreadful. It does not have a touch screen, some of the others do, but that doesn't bother me at all. It's not a beginner camera for sure.
These choices (and others I haven't shot with) are the new "enthusiast" P&S class, all built on a 1 inch sensor, and are priced accordingly...
For half the price, or less, well the market has a lot, but you don't get what you don't pay for.
I am leaning towards a Ricoh GR, but it's kinda pricey, so I am fishing for alternatives. I've always loved the clarity of this photo that @subseasniper posted back in 2014!
Out of the ones you listed, sounds like you're recommending the Sony, but I just looked up the price...nearly $1000. Gasp!
You can take a look at many of my recent shots. They were taken RAW, and finished off in an editor, but then I do that for everything I shoot.
I just bought the Olympus TG-860 because I wanted something lightweight to carry around on my "errand" days and I'm really impressed with it. It's got some really nice in-camera effects as well as being waterproof. Not only that it was extremely affordable and I bought it at the local camera store to support local business (icing on the cake!). Here's a sample of one of the first shots I took with it in the black and white mode, then converted to sepia.
i also have a olympus TG-II and contemplated upgrading to the TG-IV (which i believe has RAW capability)... the downside to the TG is the limited controls in terms of choosing aperture and shutter speed... which kind of defeats the purpose for me... this was taken with the TG... i think it's kinda funky, but not what i was aiming for - i needed a slightly faster shutter speed than i could convince the TG to give me in the lighting conditions... but you have to bear in mind that i am rarely aiming for what is generally considered a "correct" exposure, so this may not be an issue for you...
the TG has the benefit of being waterproof, and pretty decent with macro
Typo
does a mean in camera s/c
The Fuji X20 came highly recommended to me from LCE where I buy my cameras. It only has a 4.2 x zoom but I don't often use long zoom. I think it's a brilliant little package.
Here are two of my shots with the GF7:
Have you looked at the Panasonic LX100? - much bigger but well reviewed.
If you're willing to go for a fixed lens, I'm loving the Fuji X100S. The latest model is more expensive of course, X100T. You can get the original X100 secondhand much cheaper, obviously. If you do, make sure you load the latest firmware.
There are literally HUNDREDS of cameras to choose from once one opens the pandora box of used cameras that it is easy to get overwhelmed. What I have decided to do is make a list of cameras that I got interested in while reading about them and occassionally monitor the price as time goes by and when one comes up for around $100, I'll spring for it. (My list so far: Sony RX100 Mark IV, Ricoh GR, Panasonic GF7, Fuji X100S, Pentax MX-1, Olympus SH-2)
So, what did I spring for? I picked up an Olympus PEN E-PL1 12.3MP (I used to love my Olympus Stylus Epic film camera) on Amazon used marketplace. Includes camera, battery, charger, and lens all for $99. It's not exaclty a p&s, but a compact camera that got good reviews. It will serve as a decent alternative to carrying a dSLR for certain occassions. And, hey, if I am not happy with it I can always resell it and pick up something else for $100. I may have discovered a new addiction. I found all kinds of older dSLR's on Amazon for $80! Too bad that wasn't what I was looking for at the moment! @jasperc @helstor @quietpurplehaze @laroque @blueberry1222 @lisainstpete @northy @olivetreeann @mariakitty7 @frankhymus @brian365 @blueace @zshadowwalker @jaybutterfield @sstcowan @vera365 @featherstone @quietpurplehaze