Can you point me to a camera that I can shoot with?
December 14, 2020 6:04 AM Subscribe
I'm considering "upgrading" my smartphone from a Google Pixel 3a to one that has a pretty inadequate camera. My compromise is to buy a dedicated camera, only I don't know where to start looking. Help me?
I'm mostly looking for a point and shoot camera, I guess. Preferably one that can fit in my pocket (or almost?), and can charge off USB-C or some other kind of USB. I don't mind slow charging, as long as it can at least be done by hooking it up to my laptop.
I've done some Googling, and found a few results, such as the Sony DSC-W800. I'd like to keep this somewhat affordable as well, so no more than 200-300 bucks or so. Otherwise I'm just better off buying the latest and greatest phone from Google or Apple. Although I do realize I could just upgrade to the 4a and call it a day, so maybe this is more hassle than it's worth.
Quality wise, I'm not a serious photographer. But I do care about my photos. And I'm going to assume that even a $100 camera like the Sony can output better photos than the Pixel 3a. I also don't really care about whatever bells and whistles the camera interface has. I'd likely just uploading the photos to my laptop and doing whatever needs to be done on there.
So...a relatively affordable camera that's portable, can be charged via some form of USB (OK with an adapter if it's not USB-C), and takes great photos. Can that be done?
I suppose this question can also be framed as: Is it worth it to have a dedicated camera in the smartphone age, or do I just say to hell with it and upgrade my phone to one with a camera on par with my 3a and forget about everything else that appeals to me in a phone? I wouldn't mind perspectives from those who were also a little-more-than-casual photographers who took this leap or just decided to stay with their phone.
I'm mostly looking for a point and shoot camera, I guess. Preferably one that can fit in my pocket (or almost?), and can charge off USB-C or some other kind of USB. I don't mind slow charging, as long as it can at least be done by hooking it up to my laptop.
I've done some Googling, and found a few results, such as the Sony DSC-W800. I'd like to keep this somewhat affordable as well, so no more than 200-300 bucks or so. Otherwise I'm just better off buying the latest and greatest phone from Google or Apple. Although I do realize I could just upgrade to the 4a and call it a day, so maybe this is more hassle than it's worth.
Quality wise, I'm not a serious photographer. But I do care about my photos. And I'm going to assume that even a $100 camera like the Sony can output better photos than the Pixel 3a. I also don't really care about whatever bells and whistles the camera interface has. I'd likely just uploading the photos to my laptop and doing whatever needs to be done on there.
So...a relatively affordable camera that's portable, can be charged via some form of USB (OK with an adapter if it's not USB-C), and takes great photos. Can that be done?
I suppose this question can also be framed as: Is it worth it to have a dedicated camera in the smartphone age, or do I just say to hell with it and upgrade my phone to one with a camera on par with my 3a and forget about everything else that appeals to me in a phone? I wouldn't mind perspectives from those who were also a little-more-than-casual photographers who took this leap or just decided to stay with their phone.
Upgrade your phone.
While cheap point and shoots are probably better than cheap cellphones for picture quality, theyre going to have trouble competing with the better cellphones.
In my mind, the more important concerns are:
a point and shoot camera is something else to carry with you, and frequently will not be brought as its something else to remember, its not as pocketable as you think, or the batteries are dead from not being used. So then you are stuck using your phone anyway.
Getting pictures off the camera, onto your phone, so you can do something with them app / computer wise. The phone already has instagram, facebook, photo editors, etc, etc etc, and the pictures are ready to be used, shared, emailed. They are locked onto the camera until you can transfer them onto another device. Some cameras have wireless capabilities to transfer to your phone, i tried this with a canon and could not get it to work despite being a very technical person.
Get the 4A. its inexpensive.
posted by TheAdamist at 6:12 AM on December 14, 2020 [5 favorites]
While cheap point and shoots are probably better than cheap cellphones for picture quality, theyre going to have trouble competing with the better cellphones.
In my mind, the more important concerns are:
a point and shoot camera is something else to carry with you, and frequently will not be brought as its something else to remember, its not as pocketable as you think, or the batteries are dead from not being used. So then you are stuck using your phone anyway.
Getting pictures off the camera, onto your phone, so you can do something with them app / computer wise. The phone already has instagram, facebook, photo editors, etc, etc etc, and the pictures are ready to be used, shared, emailed. They are locked onto the camera until you can transfer them onto another device. Some cameras have wireless capabilities to transfer to your phone, i tried this with a canon and could not get it to work despite being a very technical person.
Get the 4A. its inexpensive.
posted by TheAdamist at 6:12 AM on December 14, 2020 [5 favorites]
The Pixel 4-series and 5-series have the same image sensor as the 3-series. If op doesn't like the one they have now, they probably won't like an upgrade in the same phone family.
https://www.theverge.com/21496686/pixel-5-camera-comparison-sensor-specs-features
posted by scolbath at 6:33 AM on December 14, 2020
https://www.theverge.com/21496686/pixel-5-camera-comparison-sensor-specs-features
posted by scolbath at 6:33 AM on December 14, 2020
Adding to the chorus: Be honest with yourself. Are you really going to carry the camera with you all of the time? I specifically switched to the Pixel 3a specifically for the camera, and have been pleased: Most of the time, for most purposes it's (to my eye) as good as my high-end mirrorless. (Real photographers might not agree, but like you, I'm in the middle ground: More interested than the average person, but not really a "photographer.") and I've gotten so many good photos that I wouldn't have with my real camera because I actually have my cell phone with me all the time.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 6:42 AM on December 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 6:42 AM on December 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Just jumping in here real quick: I actually do like the image quality that the 3a and Pixel line offers, although there are some problems with my phone right now, thus the need to upgrade. Thanks for the perspectives, it seems I may just be better off upgrading to the 4a, etc.
posted by signondiego at 6:46 AM on December 14, 2020
posted by signondiego at 6:46 AM on December 14, 2020
Best answer: I'm a fairly serious photographer, so maybe my perspective is different. But from what I have seen, aside from optical zoom range (which can be a big deal), current smartphone cameras take better pictures than any point-and-shoot on the market, especially in that price range. You certainly can get a standalone camera that's capable of better photos than a smartphone, but not one that will fit in your pocket and cost $300, IMHO.
posted by primethyme at 7:13 AM on December 14, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by primethyme at 7:13 AM on December 14, 2020 [6 favorites]
Best answer: I went down this road and I ended up buying a Fuji X70. It's a nice little camera. It's a tad bigger than a traditional point-and-shoot and that gets me a nice lens and sensor. I recently upgraded to an iPhone 12 mini, and I think it just nuked my need for a camera. The phones are getting better wayyy faster than their boxy competitors can improve. I'd put the cash toward a nicer sensor on the phone.
posted by thebigdeadwaltz at 8:48 AM on December 14, 2020
posted by thebigdeadwaltz at 8:48 AM on December 14, 2020
I found that I just didn't carry a small camera enough to be worth having. I use my DSLRs for anything planned and serious and upgraded to a phone with a good camera for day to day use.
posted by Candleman at 10:58 AM on December 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Candleman at 10:58 AM on December 14, 2020 [1 favorite]
Just jumping in to recommend a super-zoom compact like the Canon sx730hs. It has a 40x optical zoom, so you will be able to get pictures that no cell phone camera could. The zoom capability does hamper the overall quality of the image because it requires a small sensor size, but when you get that picture of a hawk way up in the tree and can see the reflection in its eye, you'll think it worth it!
posted by Don_K at 11:07 AM on December 14, 2020
posted by Don_K at 11:07 AM on December 14, 2020
Upgrade your phone. I went with a Huawei P30 a while back, and found having such impressive functionality in my pocket at all times an amazing experience. Really re-kindled my love of photography.
Because of that experience, and the time / backpack space pressures of now running round after 2 small kids, I actually ended up selling all of my serious-amateur SLR setup about 6 months after getting the phone. No regrets at all.
posted by protorp at 1:58 AM on December 15, 2020
Because of that experience, and the time / backpack space pressures of now running round after 2 small kids, I actually ended up selling all of my serious-amateur SLR setup about 6 months after getting the phone. No regrets at all.
posted by protorp at 1:58 AM on December 15, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Ferrari328 at 6:10 AM on December 14, 2020