Recommend me a point-and-shoot camera

[blackcat20]

I'd like to get a new pocket sized camera before we head off to Japan this year. Currently have the Lumix FZ100 but it is sometimes a bit too bulky to carry everywhere despite the fact it takes fantastic photos. Looking at a few options, from Canon, Lumix and Sony in the ~$200 price bracket. Sales guy told me not to bother and stick with the iphone camera but I'm not convinced, so any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Hvr]

I love the Canon Ixus, small, yet does everything a pocket camera should. I'll show it to you on Thursday night.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Sales guy told me not to bother and stick with the iphone camera but I'm not convinced, so any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

+1 for the sales guy.
If you have a current model iPhone (even sort of current), then it will take as good or better photos than a $200 P&S Camera.
Other advantages are that you usually will have your phone with you, you don't have to carry an extra bit of stuff around, you don't need extra cables & chargers, your phone will load your photos up to the cloud automatically, etc., etc....
You may have already done this, but there's plenty of tips & tricks available on the web for how to get the most out of the phone camera. Even the simple 'tap on the thing you want to focus on', hold it steady, then shoot, results in high quality shots (disregarding professional strength gear...)
If you're interested, I can PM you my Instagram account - all taken on iPhone (all very tame holiday snaps, all SFW...

 

[exceladdict]

We use this at work for travel pics / for those not wanting to carry a DSLR: https://www.jbhifi.com.au/cameras/c...t-dscrx100-20-2mp-digital-still-camera/88209/

$500 is a fair bit above your mentioned price bracket but I echo the above points re: an iPhone or decent android phone being of equal quality.

 

[RooFlyer]

Sorry BC20, I also think that $200 won't give you much above an iPhone.

My suggestion, also well above your target price is a Sony: Best Compact Digital Camera | Small Camera | HX90V | Sony AU Cheaper D/F in Taipei

 

[TheRealTMA]

If you are serious about the quality of your photos, then get a Sony RX100. Hands down the most impressive small camera. Not cheap but you get what you pay for. New model IV came out some months ago so earlier model II and III are at good prices. See DPReview.com for reviews and opinions. Simply superb low light performance and overall its usability and quality does tend to justify the price. Fits in pocket.

Love my RX100 III since it has wifi connection that allows direct upload to iPad and then to Flickr or AFF. (Nice to donthis in a lounge at end of the day over a wine or two.

 

[Katie]

All of my cameras have been Sonys. All with Carl Zeiss lenses.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

Are we sticking to the $200 budget...

 

[blackcat20]

+1 for the sales guy.
If you have a current model iPhone (even sort of current), then it will take as good or better photos than a $200 P&S Camera.
Other advantages are that you usually will have your phone with you, you don't have to carry an extra bit of stuff around, you don't need extra cables & chargers, your phone will load your photos up to the cloud automatically, etc., etc....
You may have already done this, but there's plenty of tips & tricks available on the web for how to get the most out of the phone camera. Even the simple 'tap on the thing you want to focus on', hold it steady, then shoot, results in high quality shots (disregarding professional strength gear...)
If you're interested, I can PM you my Instagram account - all taken on iPhone (all very tame holiday snaps, all SFW...

A link would be great, thanks.

I did write a reply in the app last night but apparently it vanished. I'd say Im sticking with my Lumix and iPhone combo, as I really dont want to spend more. The Lumix is a $700+ camera and I don't need two that cost that much.

 

[Bundy Bear]

My Iphone 6S takes a good photo, who would believe it, the phone taking a better photo.

 

[get me outta here]

I have a plain iPhone 6 and and very happy with the thousands of photos I have taken as well as the videos. It's fast to access from a pocket and covers all daily needs for me.

My Iphone 6S takes a good photo, who would believe it, the phone taking a better photo.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

A link would be great, thanks.

PM sent.....

 

[Boca68]

Sorry BC20, I also think that $200 won't give you much above an iPhone.

My suggestion, also well above your target price is a Sony: Best Compact Digital Camera | Small Camera | HX90V | Sony AU Cheaper D/F in Taipei

+1 for the Sony HX90. Can be found for around the $425 to 450 mark . Sony website is usually around the 550 mark.


Edit: also agree with others. For $200~ an iPhone is better. I use a Galaxy s6 also and it takes great photos. But when travelling the Sony comes out a treat.

 

[Cynicor]

The RX100 is an amazing little thing, and best in class at its price point. But way outside $200.

At that level I reckon a good phone is the way to go, reducing number of devices/chargers etc with no appreciable loss in quality.

 

[VPS]

blackcat did you decide on a camera - mine has just had an altercation with a cement floor and didn't win - I'm probably prepared to spend up to $500 so will look at the other suggestions

 

[Renato1]

I've been using an old Nikon P7000 for the last five years, and have just "upgraded" to an old Nikon P7700 for my next trip.

These cameras were Nikon's flagship compact cameras that use the standard small sensor found in most other compact cameras (for better quality, one needs cameras with bigger sensors).

The main reason I like these Nikons compared to regular compact cameras isn't the dozens of settings, and easy to access dials that enthusiasts are fond of. Rather, it's their manual pop-up flash for daylight fill-flash. To my mind, it's pretty pointless flying thousands of kilometers to take pictures of one's self or partner in front of famous locations and monuments, and then have the pictures of the individuals very dark against the bright background. A powerful pop-up flash fixes that.

I'm sure some other more powerful compacts have this feature, but your standard $150 to $200 little compacts don't have it - or if they do, the flash isn't powerful enough to be useful. But for that price one can pick up my favourite cameras second hand on Ebay.
Regards,
Renato

 

[blackcat20]

blackcat did you decide on a camera - mine has just had an altercation with a cement floor and didn't win - I'm probably prepared to spend up to $500 so will look at the other suggestions

No; I'll stick with my Lumix FZ100.

 

[love_the_life]

No; I'll stick with my Lumix FZ100.

It all got too hard or you are still happy with the Lumix?

 

[blackcat20]

It all got too hard or you are still happy with the Lumix?

I'm happy with the Lumix, I was just hoping for something smaller but of similar quality without spending another $700...

 

[njba]

My Iphone 6S takes a good photo, who would believe it, the phone taking a better photo.

Absolutely. But when you look at those photos on a computer or even print them (gasp) they don't quite look quite as good. That said, the live photo is magic.

I'm very much thinking about the Sony RX100 IV. My other cameras are both bigger and less practical to carry around on a daily basis.