Home Forums Gear Photography Recommend a camera?

No. This is not to replace a DSLR, but to replace a compact pocket camera.

I think there's something to that. I think it's a valid statement for folks that don't care much about IQ. Posting to social media...texting to friends and family. Yup. Anything more than that, I'd rather have a point and shoot. I've seen articles ringing the death knell of P&S at the hands of Camera Phones...I'm sure they've taken hits...but we still have P&S on the market.
Has anyone priced the iPhone11 ProMax. I think they're somewhere around $1300...yes, they're not only a camera, but that's a chunk no matter how you rationalize it (it's also a cheap DSLR kit with money left over for more lenses).

Most people who want a DSLR already have one. But few want to carry one in the field when hunting or fishing is their primary endeavor. Few go anywhere without their cellphone, which often is carried for GPS/map, etc. It is times like these, where a compact or pocket camera is desired, that a good cellphone camera might also suffice.

Valid points, but I would flip this statement around;

...and say that it's likely that the OP already has a camera phone and is asking about a camera because he wants a camera. I fall into this category. I sometimes want a camera in the field enough that I have killed two RX100's doing that...a Mark 1 and a Mark 4.

...BTW, I think I prefer my Neowise shot over Rockwell's and I didn't need to shoot through a telescope...just old fashioned photographic skills;

Question for the OP...
Do you have a Smart Phone/Camera Phone? ...and if yes, can you share what model?

Just a flip phone Chris. I want some "streach", 30x or so.

I see two options.

1. You can get that model as a refurbished camera at considerable savings, and likely with a similar warranty.

2. You can get a brand new camera that is “nearly” the same, but is an earlier generation.

Link

For your purposes, I bet it would work just fine. It just does not have as many bells and whistles.

Cameraland may be able to help you out with either option. There are places just a click away though via your favorite search engine.

Not to take anything away from those pictures but try making an 11x14 and they will be VERY grainy and not as sharp as you see them on the forums

Most of the guys on this forum are taking photos to share on this site and elsewhere on the net, or for emailing to friends. They are not professional photographers who regularly make large prints, in which case of course a more professional camera setup is desired. I am not recommending that a cellphone or pocket camera replace the need for a SLR/DSLR, or even an advanced mirrorless camera, but rather I am suggesting that the best of the cellphone cameras currently available might be all a guy needs to carry in the field while hunting or fishing is his primary endeavor.

This forum was mentioned previously....Upland Journal.....They have a yearly thread on Hunting photos....Visit and take a look at what can be done with a real camera vs a phone........They are mostly run of the mill close ups and not scenic masterpieces....The difference becomes obvious depending on your commitment to good pics....

wabigoon,
I'm going to do now what I should have started with earlier; I'd like to ask you a few questions;
1) what do you intend to take pictures of.
2) what will you be doing with your images? ...or asked another way, how will you be viewing and sharing the photos.
3) What is your budget?
4) you mentioned "view thru the lens". Most pocket camera line up pictures on the screen at the back of the camera). A few have Eye Pieces where you look thru the small eyepiece that shows an electronic screen representation of your shot (Electronic View Finders - EVF). Older pocket cameras (film) used a view finder that wasn't always a true representation of the shot (like a scope that wasn't zeroed). View thru the lens is SLR (single lens reflex) and not available in pocket cameras to my knowledge. How important is this feature to you.

I was surprised that google turned up more than a few cameras that I think might fit your bill...including 25x and 30x. But your answers could help narrow down the search.

pal,
I agree with much of what you say. Camera phones continue to improve and narrow the gap. Apple's engineers are doing amazing things with that tiny sensor. At the suggestion of one of the posters here, I checked out Upland Journal, and one of the shots I was sure came from "real" camera was actually shot on an iPhoneX!
I often say, the best camera is the one you have on you when you want to take a shot. Upland Journal reminded me of that. Many photo's were not photographically great...but were of things that brought a smile to my face because it captured the moment. Camera phones fill that need very often.

Chris, pictures to email, post here, pint some 8x10.

Take phots of many things, people wild life, scenery.

wabigoon,
Here's something I found online as I was looking at the options available.
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/top-13-best-pocket-zoom-travel-zoom-cameras-2020-19720
Sadly I have no first hand experience with any (except for earlier generation RX100's.) I'd read up then call Joel.
Good luck,
Let us know what you pick up and how it fits your needs.
Chris.

Thanks all!!

Some great advice in this thread. In addition to Ken Rockwell you could check out some Fred Miranda posts...it's a photography forum. They review gear and sell used gear...but it's a real photography forum.

Personally I carry a dslr...and lust for an f2 200mm and f2.8 300 mm and well...more ridiculously priced lenses.

But from my brief non-professional experience...

1) Do you want people to use your camera to take some pictures of you sometimes? Then use your phone or get a simple to use camera...family and friends will be clueless once you get past a point and shoot. And, any pic they take of you using your camera will be geeked up unless it's simple to use.

2) Having a camera is like concealed carry...do you have it when you need it? Bulkier products are more of a chore.

3) Are you going to shoot raw and process and crop your images in LR? Do you take 100's of pics and delete 97% of them, process 3%, discard 1% and save 1-2% to show others? Or do you want to shoot a pic and just email/text/whatsapp off a quick pic for facebook. The more complex your answer is like the more complex your camera.

4) Do you want action shots with eyes in focus? Or are you satisfied with the general blur of motion that's good enough. The sharper you want your pic frozen the more complex your camera.

5) Do you shoot in the shade or dark? The darker the shot the more 'noise' is noticed the bigger you make your pic.

6) Do you want to enlarge some pics? Then a more complex camera is the way to go.

I got into photography because I was tired of catching only my dog's tails with the canon elf. And, I am happy that I invested in some gear and time to capture family experiences of life. It's fun.

-JHC

I work in wildlife conservation. I am given many opportunities to photograph wild things I use a DSLR with a telephoto lens, when I have it in my hands... When I have decided not to carry that heavy camera I usually just have my IPhone 10x. I quit using point and shoot cameras about 10 years ago because they are to slow to focus, maybe that has changed now I don't know. I also have to say that there are many times when I do not have my big cumbersome heavy DSLR camera I mumble that I wish I did have it instead of the phone camera which could not capture the photo I was envisioning. On the other hand if I'm carrying the big camera with telephoto and I have an opportunity to photo a land scape scene I'm so glad that I have the cell phone... Really though I love taking pictures so whatever I have in my hands is good enough.

I bought a new Canon PowerShot SX620HS this year and have been very happy with it. 25X zoom, though I know you are looking for 30X. But it produces incredibly nice images. Research for best deals on bundled packages. I got mine at BuyDig.com. Then, check with Doug or Joel at Cameraland.

Thanks Chris, well put. I'm currently in the market and changing platforms from my old Pentax, 2 of 3 Tele lenses are at least 15 years old and Sigma doesn't service them anymore (internal dust) so thinking of moving to a Nikon D7500 as I like to play with early and late light, shoot mostly landscapes, car and motorcycle shows. Don't need the fast burt's but not a bad feature to have for wildlife and mat use it more than I plan on. Seems the producers level mirrorless struggle in low light from the reviews I've read and causes me concern. Any other suggestions?