Hi all, I'm looking for suggestions for a point and shoot camera.I am a student and environmental educator. I create a lot of original work online and in the form of technical papers. I currently use the camera on my Samsung Galaxy S3 which does a good job and has the added bonus of being able to add pictures directly to my Google Drive directories. However, the photo quality is a little too unevolved for some of my work. To be specific, there is not enough contrast and the depth of field is permanently set to infinity. It's what you'd expect for a camera trying to do everything.I am considering buying a point and shoot to improve picture quality but I have a lot of 'wants':1) Compact size. I am in the field for 20-40 hours a week so I want something little that can slip in the pocket of a pair of cargo shorts.2) Picture quality. The whole reason for buying a new camera is so that I can get better contrast and better focusing. My pictures are taken primarily outdoors and are of exciting things like leaves, dirt, stream beds, rocks, rulers, my rock hammer, and students looking at the aforementioned items.3) Speed. I can't be waiting for the thing to 'become ready'. My phone is ready almost instantly.4) Cost. I spend a fortune on tuition and field supplies, so I can't spend several hundred on a camera.Thanks for any suggestions.

I find the point and shoots that do not have a viewfinder to be unsatisfactory. The LCD screens on the back of most point and shoots are battery hogs and almost impossible to see in bright daylight.

I just bought a Canon ELPH 130IS and well pleased with it. It replaced a Canon 110IS, due to the 130 having an 8X optical zoom lens. The 110 had a 5X lens. The color is better on the 130IS when set on the automatic setting also.About 90% of my photos are taken by my pocket sized cameras, as they are always with me when traveling. For more specific needs I have a SX30IS Canon but it is much larger and bumps the $500 range. Then I have a SLR Nikon which seldom gets used, just too large and bulky to pack around for my needs.I also have a Canon A1200 pocket camera that uses AA batteries, which is handy at times. Doesn't take the quality of photos that the 130IS will take, but they are still good.

The ability to set the aperture (i.e., DOF) for a given photo -- a primary reason to choose an SLR -- is going to be somewhat rare with point-and-shoot cameras. Sure, there is some software available to fake aperture settings, but it's fairly primitive stuff. Of course, any more modern SLR can also be set up to do point-and-shoot (though I can't hardly imagine spending the money on an SLR just to use it in that mode).:)Lynn

Point & shoots have become so simplified that possibly you'll need to consider a "pro-sumer" point & shoot. This means adding cost though because of the extra features and better quality glass in the lens.If you're getting down & close, then perhaps an articulating screen plus a macro function would be useful. The articulating screen means I don't need to get down on the ground to see where the camera is focused. If you're adjusting the aperature and are close to your subject, the focus point is especially important.Some of the better point & shoots have a hybrid image stabilization for improving macro shots. So they compensate not only for wibble/wobble sideways but forward/backward as well.I'm a fan of my Canon G12, which also fits in a pocket. I take it with me whenever the DSLR will be too much to carry. You might be able to find a good used one for a reasonable cost.

Camp, Forrest, Camp! wrote:Hi all, I'm looking for suggestions for a point and shoot camera.I am a student and environmental educator. I create a lot of original work online and in the form of technical papers. I currently use the camera on my Samsung Galaxy S3 which does a good job and has the added bonus of being able to add pictures directly to my Google Drive directories. However, the photo quality is a little too unevolved for some of my work. To be specific, there is not enough contrast and the depth of field is permanently set to infinity. It's what you'd expect for a camera trying to do everything.I am considering buying a point and shoot to improve picture quality but I have a lot of 'wants':1) Compact size. I am in the field for 20-40 hours a week so I want something little that can slip in the pocket of a pair of cargo shorts.2) Picture quality. The whole reason for buying a new camera is so that I can get better contrast and better focusing. My pictures are taken primarily outdoors and are of exciting things like leaves, dirt, stream beds, rocks, rulers, my rock hammer, and students looking at the aforementioned items.3) Speed. I can't be waiting for the thing to 'become ready'. My phone is ready almost instantly.4) Cost. I spend a fortune on tuition and field supplies, so I can't spend several hundred on a camera.Thanks for any suggestions.If I was looking for a new point & shoot camera, after listing my requirements (like you did) I'd take them to dpReview's Camera Feature Search, including the "advanced search filters" to find the closest camera to your needs. The site also has lists of top reviewed cameras of each type, consumer reviews, etc. A great place to search.I have to agree with those suggesting a camera with a viewfinder for shooting outdoors in bright sunlight. Unfortunately, there are very few available in compact point and shoot cameras.

Point and shoot camera recommendation. | Good Sam Community

Kart-Racer
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
Olympus Stylus Tough 6020, great little camera.
p220sigman
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
There are a ton of good cameras on the point/shoot market. I would go somewhere that has a large selection and see which one works best for you and feels best in your hands. I would stick with the major brands such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc. Also, don't worry about digital zoom, only concern yourself with optical zoom. Depending on your field work and typical areas, you may want to consider a waterproof camera.

We have had a Sony, Nikon, Canon, and Panasonic in point and shoot models and all were fine. We currently use a Canon (can't remember the model) as the grab and go camera and it works fine. My son recently bought a JVC waterproof model to take to summer camps that was cheap, but takes good pictures.
vermilye
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
Camp, Forrest, Camp! wrote:
Hi all, I'm looking for suggestions for a point and shoot camera.

I am a student and environmental educator. I create a lot of original work online and in the form of technical papers. I currently use the camera on my Samsung Galaxy S3 which does a good job and has the added bonus of being able to add pictures directly to my Google Drive directories. However, the photo quality is a little too unevolved for some of my work. To be specific, there is not enough contrast and the depth of field is permanently set to infinity. It's what you'd expect for a camera trying to do everything.

I am considering buying a point and shoot to improve picture quality but I have a lot of 'wants':
1) Compact size. I am in the field for 20-40 hours a week so I want something little that can slip in the pocket of a pair of cargo shorts.
2) Picture quality. The whole reason for buying a new camera is so that I can get better contrast and better focusing. My pictures are taken primarily outdoors and are of exciting things like leaves, dirt, stream beds, rocks, rulers, my rock hammer, and students looking at the aforementioned items.
3) Speed. I can't be waiting for the thing to 'become ready'. My phone is ready almost instantly.
4) Cost. I spend a fortune on tuition and field supplies, so I can't spend several hundred on a camera.

Thanks for any suggestions.

If I was looking for a new point & shoot camera, after listing my requirements (like you did) I'd take them to dpReview's Camera Feature Search, including the "advanced search filters" to find the closest camera to your needs. The site also has lists of top reviewed cameras of each type, consumer reviews, etc. A great place to search.

I have to agree with those suggesting a camera with a viewfinder for shooting outdoors in bright sunlight. Unfortunately, there are very few available in compact point and shoot cameras.
sue_t
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
Point & shoots have become so simplified that possibly you'll need to consider a "pro-sumer" point & shoot. This means adding cost though because of the extra features and better quality glass in the lens.

If you're getting down & close, then perhaps an articulating screen plus a macro function would be useful. The articulating screen means I don't need to get down on the ground to see where the camera is focused. If you're adjusting the aperature and are close to your subject, the focus point is especially important.

Some of the better point & shoots have a hybrid image stabilization for improving macro shots. So they compensate not only for wibble/wobble sideways but forward/backward as well.

I'm a fan of my Canon G12, which also fits in a pocket. I take it with me whenever the DSLR will be too much to carry. You might be able to find a good used one for a reasonable cost.
eubank
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
The ability to set the aperture (i.e., DOF) for a given photo -- a primary reason to choose an SLR -- is going to be somewhat rare with point-and-shoot cameras. Sure, there is some software available to fake aperture settings, but it's fairly primitive stuff. Of course, any more modern SLR can also be set up to do point-and-shoot (though I can't hardly imagine spending the money on an SLR just to use it in that mode).

:)
Lynn
joe_b_
Explorer II
Apr 30, 2013
I just bought a Canon ELPH 130IS and well pleased with it. It replaced a Canon 110IS, due to the 130 having an 8X optical zoom lens. The 110 had a 5X lens. The color is better on the 130IS when set on the automatic setting also.

About 90% of my photos are taken by my pocket sized cameras, as they are always with me when traveling. For more specific needs I have a SX30IS Canon but it is much larger and bumps the $500 range. Then I have a SLR Nikon which seldom gets used, just too large and bulky to pack around for my needs.

I also have a Canon A1200 pocket camera that uses AA batteries, which is handy at times. Doesn't take the quality of photos that the 130IS will take, but they are still good.
I_am_still_wayn
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
I find the point and shoots that do not have a viewfinder to be unsatisfactory. The LCD screens on the back of most point and shoots are battery hogs and almost impossible to see in bright daylight.

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