Is there a point and shoot camera that's worth it?

May 6, 2022 11:52 AM

I'm going on a trip soon, and I'd rather not bring a bulky DSLR or rely on just my iPhone camera – are there any compact point and shoot cameras worth buying these days?

For years I used to lug around a Canon T2i, then eventually upgraded to a Canon 70D. I really loved taking photos with these cameras, but eventually the iPhone's quality reached a point that it was hard to justify the headache and backache of bringing along a whole kit of gear just for a few snapshots.

But now I'm going on my first big trip to a new and photogenic place in a while, one that will involve a bunch of trains/planes/walking/cars/etc, and I would love to have some sort of lightweight dedicated camera to take with me. Thus, I'm looking into what's out there on the point and shoot market, however my search seems to be stalling. I'm stuck on a couple questions:

- Is this even worth it? I currently have an iPhone 12 Pro which takes perfectly decent photos. I know it's subjective, but are there cameras that deliver an improved experience worth the few hundred bucks and carrying the additional gear, or am I looking for a unicorn?

- What is out there? It doesn't look like there has been a lot of investment in this space recently (makes sense). I would be happy to spend $4-500ish, and could be convinced to splurge further if there is a truly magical device to be had.

Bonus points if the camera is aesthetically pleasing (or at least not ugly), has an analog viewfinder, and if it could double as a webcam.

posted by guttmann to Technology (17 answers total)

The Sony RX100 series are nice but expensive. I have a mark 3 but the latest ones sound excellent but very expensive. The reviews and forums at dpreview are work a read.
posted by chr at 12:01 PM on May 6, 2022 [3 favorites]

Check out compact SLR solutions, like the micro four thirds system. I bought a little one for a hundred bucks years and years ago and I still enjoy it, you should be able to buy one and an extra lens with your budget.
posted by Iteki at 12:12 PM on May 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

I have a little Canon waterproof point and shoot, with a lot of features to make it as pro as you would like, and good pixel quantity. Shooting underwater selfies was fun, shooting stream bottoms also. I have a hard time with back view, cameras, I need a diopter which blocks outside light. Anyway it is great, and sitting in a camera bag, unused, which has to do with the expense of Photoshop, and the fact it is cloud based, I don't want cloud based photo storage, cloud based photo processing, or a car with cloud based auto pilot.
posted by Oyéah at 12:32 PM on May 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

The Sony RX100s (mine was a iii) are really great cameras. I tried one and found it to be just a touch on the heavy side for daily pocket/purse carry. Nowhere near your old set, though, so you may find it quite pocketable, and if you know enough about photography to make use of advanced settings, it will give marvelous results. It was a bit too much camera for me —I was slightly overwhelmed by the options. I sold it and backed down to a Canon G9X that was a little smaller and friendlier (and the silver and brown model makes me feel like I’m on a safari) and takes good shots, but not *enough* better than the iPhone 12/13 Pro that it gets a lot of use these days. If you want a real step up from a good smartphone camera, I’d really recommend the RX100.
posted by kite at 12:33 PM on May 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

You're not going to find anything new for a few hundred dollars that's better than your iPhone. Even used is a stretch. I like keh.com for used stuff.

The Fuji X100 series give an excellent experience, and take great photos, but they have a fixed (i.e. non-zoomable) lens, and I don't think even the latest model (which is well outside your price range) can be used as a webcam. They do look fantastic, though.

The aforementioned Sony RX100 series is also fantastic, but pricey.
posted by jonathanhughes at 12:35 PM on May 6, 2022 [2 favorites]

RX100 is the camera you're looking for, but, as mentioned, the cost is a little high. A used model on BHVideo might get you down near your budget.
posted by praemunire at 1:14 PM on May 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

I used to carry around an Olympia PEN micro 4/3 camera which was excellent from a pocketability standpoint. Unfortunately, modern micro 4/3 cameras seem to have gotten much bigger to the point where the size advantages have disappeared.

The Fujifilm X100 series is very highly rated if you're fine with a fixed focal length lens. You might be able to find a used F model in your price range, but supply chain issues with new cameras has driven used prices up.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:59 PM on May 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

Another vote for the Fujifilm X series. I also own the X100F and have for a few years now. Yeah it's a little on the expensive side but it takes wonderful photos and is a joy to use. Here's an album of photos I took with my X100F.
posted by sewellcm at 2:07 PM on May 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

Any Canon digital eleph. They are powerhouse bricks that survive dropping over and over, and are small enough to fit in a pocket. I dropped one in a screwdriver drink once and after drying out, it still worked.

The older models are DIRT cheap used and I always think the camera you will bring with you is the one you want.
posted by tiny frying pan at 2:21 PM on May 6, 2022

It was a long time ago but I used to have a Canon Digital IXUS. It was small enough to go into my jeans pocket, light and took great photos.

The IXUS 185 looks to be £120 (approx $140).
posted by mr_silver at 3:15 PM on May 6, 2022

No gear suggestions, but I went down this road a few years ago, and I found that in the cases where I took my micro 4/3 on a trip to save weight/space, on a hike, or whatever, half the time I left it in the car or at the hotel anyway and just used my iPhone, and the other half the time that I did bring it, with every shot I wished I would have just brought the DSLR instead.
posted by xedrik at 3:58 PM on May 6, 2022

+1 to the Sony RX100 range. Mine's a II and it was already several models old when I bought it (I just didn't feel the need to pay extra money for features I didn't need in the newest model). It produces images that are a little larger in pixel size than what I get out of my iPhone, and more importantly, the quality is a distinct step up. (A caveat: I shoot in manual mode. I have no idea how it'd perform if I shot in auto... but I suspect it would do very well except in particularly tricky situations.)
posted by sailoreagle at 4:25 PM on May 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

My opinion: Unless you're a photography nerd or a professional, there are only two possible reasons to buy a camera instead of using your iPhone.

1. Waterproof cameras. I know my iPhone claims to be waterproof but I'm not risking it while snorkeling.

2. Longer zoom for things like birdwatching. This is why I bought a Panasonic ZS200. I love my iPhone but you're just not going to get 10-15X optical zoom crammed into a phone.

Other than that I used to bring a DSLR on trips but if I'm only taking landscape photos and tourist snaps it's easier to just use the phone.
posted by mmoncur at 9:14 PM on May 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

The answer, not just IMHO but to précis other responses above, is “no”: new and used point and shoot cameras in your price range aren’t going to be better than your iPhone. However, if your immediate aim is to have the best possible camera with you on your upcoming trip- then you could always hire (or borrow, or buy then sell back) one.
posted by rongorongo at 1:02 AM on May 7, 2022 [1 favorite]

I don't have much to add except that a camera with a strap around your neck is a lot more secure that a smartphone in your hands. So, if want to get a shot from the top of the roller coaster ride, or on a sailboat, or while jogging, or while carrying much of anything, the camera is the safer bet.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:39 AM on May 7, 2022 [1 favorite]

I've been very happy with every Panasonic Lumix I've owned. I particularly appreciate the optical zoom (30x on my last pocket-sized one, 60x on my current bridge camera), as I like being able to identify birds from a long way away, but the lens and screen quality both seem very good compared to other point-and-shoots I've had over the years. Last year's model is usually available alongside the current year's, at a very good price. Digital viewfinders though, at least at my end of the price range (the lower end).

Echoing SemiSalt, the wrist or neck strap on a camera means I feel much less nervous about carrying and using it in crowded places.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 4:17 AM on May 9, 2022 [2 favorites]

For me personally, it comes down to zoom. I think my iPhone takes better pictures than my Canon PowerShot SX700 HS overall, but it can't touch the 30x optical zoom on the Canon. I use that zoom all the time for everything from birds to architectural details ( ... and even for reading signs that are too far away to read).

I don't use any extra equipment - I just have a disintegrating camera bag to carry it so it's always within easy reach - and I don't do any post-processing, because I am an EXTREMELY casual photographer. Still, I carry both the Canon and the iPhone when I'm out walking around, and I use my Canon easily as much as I use the iPhone. (My iPhone doesn't do super close ups especially well, either, while the Canon has a nice macro mode.)
posted by kristi at 4:03 PM on May 10, 2022 [1 favorite]