Does it make sense to buy a point & shoot camera nowadays?

[NickV]

A friend an advice for a pocket camera. She never had a digital camera but she has some basic understanding from her mobile. Video is as important as stills.

We need: Zoom but not something that makes the camera too big. Ability to shoot in low light without tripod, ie in a church, a museum, etc. A good flash. Easy to use. Video stabilization or other extra video features. Good picture quality without too much tweaking. Budget around 250$.

I wonder if it makes more sense to recommend to add some more money and go for a much better smartphone, thus not having to carry around 2 devices. What do you think?

 

[yardcoyote]

If you want real zoom, no phone is going to give you that. If I were you, I'd see how far the budget would stretch into a secondhand larger sensor point and shoot. The classic example is the Sony RX100-- it's not a camera I personally like, but a lot of people do. This camera has been out for a number of years and has gone through a series of models ( I think the current one is the mark IV), and one of the earlier versions may be available used in your price range. Not only will this give you some zoom, but it has a much larger sensor than a phone, which will make it much more useful in low light.

 

[tedolf]

There are some good narrow zoom range point n shoot cameras that are fine for traveling but not at that price.

Maybe a used LX-100?

tedolph

 

[Aberaeron]

A friend an advice for a pocket camera. She never had a digital camera but she has some basic understanding from her mobile. Video is as important as stills.

We need: Zoom but not something that makes the camera too big. Ability to shoot in low light without tripod, ie in a church, a museum, etc. A good flash. Easy to use. Video stabilization or other extra video features. Good picture quality without too much tweaking. Budget around 250$.

I wonder if it makes more sense to recommend to add some more money and go for a much better smartphone, thus not having to carry around 2 devices. What do you think?

Looks like she is a prime candidate for a travel-zoom. There's a few Panasonic ZS cameras on Amazon.com at around her budget or $50 more.

 

[Tim Reidy Productions]

generally you will want a zoom point and shoot or a low light one, they dont make a good combo for low budget for best results pick your priority.

 

[NickV]

well, I think low light seems more important than zoom.

My friend would probably prefer a new camera than a second hand. I also find it is a bit risky to buy a used camera from the net without having the chance to thorough test it.

Are there any better options close to 300 -320$ range?

I also read a lot of interesting news for the cameras of new mobile phones. Galaxy S8 rumors refer to 1000 fps video. Would any decent compact camera (in the above price range) give much better results in stills and video than a new smartphone?

 

[Tim Reidy Productions]

panasonic lx7 is close to your price range so you may want to consider that one.

I would buy a new point and shoot over a used one due to lens scratching issues with the small ones.

 

[SoCalWill]

We need: Zoom but not something that makes the camera too big. A good flash. Easy to use. Video stabilization or other extra video features. Good picture quality without too much tweaking.

Yes. Of course. Absolutely. Indeed. Right.

Ability to shoot in low light without tripod, ie in a church, a museum, etc.

No.

Little inexpensive cameras can have big zooms, but they don't take in big light. You'd need an inexpensive big camera or an expensive little camera.

Your best odds of success is indeed a cell phone.

 

[PhotoTeach2]

A friend an advice for a pocket camera. She never had a digital camera but she has some basic understanding from her mobile. Video is as important as stills.

We need: Zoom but not something that makes the camera too big. Ability to shoot in low light without tripod, ie in a church, a museum, etc. A good flash. Easy to use. Video stabilization or other extra video features. Good picture quality without too much tweaking. Budget around 250$.

I wonder if it makes more sense to recommend to add some more money and go for a much better smartphone, thus not having to carry around 2 devices. What do you think?

IF you don't need/care about a lot of "zoom", then a phone-cam may indeed be sufficient in that price range.

 

[Aberaeron]

Well I can only say that I use my old SZ1/TZ6 travel zoom at least as often as my iPhone camera. The main reason I usually use the iPhone is to have a picture in a series taken by other cameras that is geotagged.

The TZ6 has the zoom, image stabilisation, shooting modes including night scene modes, that make a significant difference to me. Having said that, nine times out of ten it is used as a point and shoot in iAuto mode. Newer versions are generally better cams than my old model in many ways.

Dont underestimate the travel-zoom camera.

 

[Norm Neely]

My friend would probably prefer a new camera than a second hand. I also find it is a bit risky to buy a used camera from the net without having the chance to thorough test it.

KEH used camera store has a very good reputation. I have bought a lot from them and have never been disappointed.

But then again I prefer to buy used for the savings and having a higher quality product.

Are there any better options close to 300 -320$ range?

KEH has a used Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 Black Digital for $299 in EX+ condition.

https://www.keh.com/shop/sony-cyber-shot-dscrx100-20-2-megapixel-compact-camera-674445.html

B & H photo has a new one for $448 with a link on the page to shop used for $339

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/869238-REG/Sony_DSC_RX100_Digital_Camera.html

--
Norm

 

[NickV]

Thank you for your replies. Assuming we could buy a bit more expensive camera would Lumix DMC-TZ80 be a better choice than the older models mentioned above?

 

[Norm Neely]

would Lumix DMC-TZ80 be a better choice than the older models mentioned above?

The used RX100 is no longer available at KEH or B & H photo. I didn't think they would last long after I posted the price.

With it's large sensor it would have been great for it's Ability to shoot in low light without tripod, ie in a church, a museum, etc.

That's why I just checked KEH then B & H photo today thinking about purchasing it for myself.

I miss my dropped and broken Fuji F20 I purchased many years ago in order to shoot in low light .

--
Norm

 

[SoCalWill]

Thank you for your replies. Assuming we could buy a bit more expensive camera would Lumix DMC-TZ80 be a better choice than the older models mentioned above?

Amazon has a handful of used RX100s in the ~$300 range; any of those will manage notably better than a cell phone or super zoom.

 

[Aberaeron]

Thank you for your replies. Assuming we could buy a bit more expensive camera would Lumix DMC-TZ80 be a better choice than the older models mentioned above?

I think she would be fairly amazed by its capability. It obviously has limitations, but is a very capable camera by any standard. It is then up to the user to get the best out of it and explore its limits and even to work around those limits, which mainly centre around high ISO in very low light. Which she might never realise was a limit if she had no large sensor camera to compare with.

It is light, pocketable, capable and convenient. What's not to like about it?

I would have a storage pouch for it though. Pocketing such a camera is OK for short periods, but dust and fluff are not really compatible with any fixed lens camera that isn't fully sealed.

Here's a picture I took of my old TZ6 with its case, where it lives, along with a few reference objects including a car key, door key and DECT phone.




Taken by my iPhone in poor artificial light.

 

[Norm Neely]

well, I think low light seems more important than zoom.

RX100 good for both low light and video.

My friend would probably prefer a new camera than a second hand. I also find it is a bit risky to buy a used camera from the net without having the chance to thorough test it.

KEH and B & H photo have excellent reputations. I have bought from both.

All of my used purchases have been from KEH.

Are there any better options close to 300 -320$ range?

It might be worthwhile for your friend to continue using the phone until KEH or B & H photo has another used RX100 in stock at this price. I only purchase items from KEH in EX condition or above.

KEH grading system. Also click on (See our Inspection process) to see that video.

https://www.keh.com/shop/grading-system

Scroll down to check the KEH return policy.

https://www.keh.com/sell/faq

 

[Flac_Vest]

Take a look at small, pocketable cameras with a 1" sensor. That sensor is ~4x larger than a 1/2.7 that you'd find in a typical point and shoot. As a result, they have better dynamic range and picture-taking ability in low light.

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2016-roundup-compact-enthusiast-zoom-cameras

That goes to the roundup for the compact enthusiast zoom cameras. Pay attention to the sensor size and cross-check Amazon for a used model that has a 1 inch sensor.

When buying in the used section, make sure it's "fulfilled by Amazon" because you'll get prime shipping and free returns if you/she doesn't like it.

In instances of really low light though, smart phone cameras are going to do better because of the super wide apertures (1.7-2) and high ISO ability due to software.

I have an iPhone 7 and spent a lot of time thinking about a 1 inch camera. Decided against it and got a 1/2.7" super zoom because the phone can basically shoot in RAW and do what the camera would have done. Ended up sending the superzoom back and sticking with a u4/3 system, but for what it was, the superzoom/smartphone combo was great.