Wanted recommendations for a point and shoot digital camera.
- Thread starter EltonFrog
- Start date
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Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
If we were all still shooting film, I'd say something like a Kodak 127 format. That's about as no-brainer as it gets. Fixed lens, fixed focus, single shutter speed, cartridge film. The slightly posher ones even had a variable aperture.
There's currently very little out there that matches what the OP wants. It's all about bells and whistles these days, and I totally get what the OP is saying - too *much* functionality is a right pain. I have a Canon Ixus 60 that I picked up for £12 in CEX last year. I had to cough up another fiver or so for suitable memory cards (won't take anything bigger than 2Gb) and a reader, but it does it for me when I don't want to take one of my DSLRs out and about. Let's face it, a 1D is not exactly portable or inconspicuous.
Ironically, the least faffy cameras around are the pro level ones but then you really do need to know what you're doing as they don't have any of the, erm... "idiot modes"
I would suggest a bottom end DSLR with either a 28, 35 or 50mm prime lens depending on sensor size and how "wide" you want your field of view to be. If you leave the camera in full auto mode, it is then essentially the same as one of the old-style rangefinders, with the exception that you have AF. Bottom end DSLRs are by far the smallest and lightest, and a prime lens wouldn't add much bulk to the overall package.
BTW, I really dig Canon's 50 1.8 mk2 prime. It might be their cheapest lens, but please don't let that fool you - it's a little cracker, pin sharp, virtually no chromatic aberration and being a 50mm which "sees" at the same viewing angle as the human eye, there is no distortion. I've had mine for 20 years and wouldn't swap it.
There's currently very little out there that matches what the OP wants. It's all about bells and whistles these days, and I totally get what the OP is saying - too *much* functionality is a right pain. I have a Canon Ixus 60 that I picked up for £12 in CEX last year. I had to cough up another fiver or so for suitable memory cards (won't take anything bigger than 2Gb) and a reader, but it does it for me when I don't want to take one of my DSLRs out and about. Let's face it, a 1D is not exactly portable or inconspicuous.
Ironically, the least faffy cameras around are the pro level ones but then you really do need to know what you're doing as they don't have any of the, erm... "idiot modes"
I would suggest a bottom end DSLR with either a 28, 35 or 50mm prime lens depending on sensor size and how "wide" you want your field of view to be. If you leave the camera in full auto mode, it is then essentially the same as one of the old-style rangefinders, with the exception that you have AF. Bottom end DSLRs are by far the smallest and lightest, and a prime lens wouldn't add much bulk to the overall package.
BTW, I really dig Canon's 50 1.8 mk2 prime. It might be their cheapest lens, but please don't let that fool you - it's a little cracker, pin sharp, virtually no chromatic aberration and being a 50mm which "sees" at the same viewing angle as the human eye, there is no distortion. I've had mine for 20 years and wouldn't swap it.
Something like this is all you need Carl, point and shoot, good optical quality compared with a smartphone and it slips into a pocket.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392806116399
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392806116399
Landsurfer
Veteran
Apple XS Max iPhone, superb point and shoot, video, editing ... or possibly Huawei P30 Pro .... Phones are the new cameras ......
Mr Whyte
Well-Known Member
- Location
- East Sussex
Fuji X100F is a fantastic camera or the newer X100V which is even better, as the new lens is pin sharp when shot wide open.
I agree, my two year old iPhone 8 has an amazing camera, but they’re expensive.
The later versions of iOS allow you to open the camera app direct from the lock screen and will turn on with a tap to the screen, so a tap then slightly longer tap in the bottom right corner and you’re taking a photo. The default setting is fine for most photos, but doesn’t take long to change if you want to be more creative.
Kestevan
Last of the Summer Winos
- Location
- Holmfirth.
Or the Sony Xperia phones. They have a dedicated physical button on the side that wakes the phone, turns on camera and takes a pic.
Bout as simple as it gets, and the quality is excellent
Bout as simple as it gets, and the quality is excellent
Landsurfer
Veteran
My grandson uses his iPhone to shoot video and make short films .... the quality of his phone is visibly superior to his Fuji DSLR ....
Mo1959
Legendary Member
- Location
- Perthshire,Scotland
Love my iphone too. I got a canvas made of one I took on my local walk earlier this year. It enlarged quite well.
