Looking for a decent small digital camera

plym49.2

plym49.2

Sasquatch49.2
Joined
May 20, 2020
Member Number
550
Messages
466
Yep, I know, my smartphone has got a terrific camera. But I often wish to grab a quick photo as the opportunity presents. Smartphones can require too much manipulation to get to where you need to be, display can be washed out by sunlight, form factor/user interface is not the best for photography, etc., etc. So while my smartphone has a place, I'd like a small digital camera that is basically ready to go at any time with good human factor design, just as God intended.

Not looking for a big/heavy pro-quality device. Would prefer to spend around a C-note. Desire a rangefinder and easy and quick power on an off - no holding a button for five seconds and then waiting for the camera to convene a meeting. Flick the switch and go, just like a DSLR.

Will need decent video and audio. Anti-shake. Dunno what else - more interested in good core functionality as opposed to bells and whistles.

An Amazon search came up with this - not sure if this is representive of what id out there or not. Seems the same camera is sold under different names: Amazon.com

I know some of y'all know all about this stuff. What would you recommend?
 
Nothing to do with a dedicated camera, but…

0nly thing I will recommend with phones is everyone make it so the power button ‘double tap’ starts the camera going very very quickly.

Made me able to catch pics and vid I wouldn’t have if I had to unlock phone, find the damn app on the screen, double tap that…

Set a button to open that app in sleep mode
 
Most phones have a gesture to bring up the camera without unlocking the phone. iPhone just swipe right to left on the Lock Screen.
 
Google Pixel you double tap the power button, camera is near instantly on.

Get a Canon PowerShot. I've got a SX740 HS it's about 5 years old now. It has been superceded by the G5 Mk II and G7 MK III, but neither of those newer versions have the optical zoom of the SX740

SX740 is compact, 10x optical zoom, optically stabilized, shoots 4K video, tilting touchscreen, can use Canon's app to remote control with a phone and stream images to your phone. It's a great little pocket camera and way easier to haul around than my 80D and lenses. However it doesn't shoot RAW.
 
I can use the flashlight or camera with one button touch from the locked screen of my iPhone. There is no way a separate digital camera is faster or easier by a long shot.
 
Point and shoots I've always preferred Canon, set it for burst mode, flash off, quick to initialize, and you pretty much can capture anything you are after with little effort.

Aside from that, I use my phone, setup like 3nuts said, double press to bring up the camera and there you go.
 
3nuts* said:
Nothing to do with a dedicated camera, but…

0nly thing I will recommend with phones is everyone make it so the power button ‘double tap’ starts the camera going very very quickly.

Made me able to catch pics and vid I wouldn’t have if I had to unlock phone, find the damn app on the screen, double tap that…

Set a button to open that app in sleep mode
Click to expand...
Motorola phones let you twist them back and forth to go direct to the camera.

As for a dedicated camera, I liked the Canon PowerShot we had until it got gunk in the lens mechanism (thanks kids) and stopped extending like it was supposed to.



Aaron Z
 
It's going to take you three times as long to get the digit camera up and going as it is to double tap the power button in n you phone for Android. Or do that stupid swipe thing on Apple
 
I don't have a suggestion for you, but could see the value of a point and shoot camera, as well. There are times I would like to take a photo, but have no desire to be around my phone.
 
Check craiglist, for a PowerShot, or a Lumix, or Nikon. Just gotta make sure the batteries are still GTG. I'm pretty sure most households have one or five point and shoot cameras laying around unused since everyone went to using their phones.
 
I enjoy photography, I'm a novice that knows just enough to dip my toe outside of auto settings and it not be complete garbage. I take WAY more photos with my phone than my DSLR or point-and-shoot, but I completely understand wanting more camera than you can get in a phone, but still be compact. Point-and-shoot cameras still have a place.

Nice smart phones don't do everything, it's only been the last few years that optical stabilization is available on anything other than flagship models.

Optical zoom is something that basically no one has outside of a few super low power options or gimmicky add-on lenses.

Anyone that uses digital zoom and expects a decent photo as a result is lying to themselves or needs to visit an optometrist.
 
You want a digital camera with a rangefinder, but at $100? Not gonna happen.

OR... Do you just want a viewfinder window to look through?

$100 gets you above the "checkout line disposable junk" range and into the "lowest model from a decent brand" range. The market has really dried up since good phones are better than most P&S cameras. But I respect your decision to get a camera, I've tried and failed to become less dependent on my pocket computer and have just embraced our electronic overlords.

If you can bump your budget to $200-300, you'll get into some decent features. At $100 just get whatever you can find from a brand that doesn't suck, and isn't discontinued.
 
I've always been fond of Nikon, but just like Canon and most of the other SLR/Mirrorless cameras they're too bulky and too many settings to just whip out an shoot.

Maybe a Sony ZV camera?
 
Weird.

Momma just bought a used $600 iphone specifically for taking pictures because it's so much better/simpler than cameras.
You just press the button and it's a great photo, no ****ing around with settings, flash, etc.

We haven't even got a phone number for the phone, just use the camera (and wifi).
 
urjb said:
Following.. but the canon powershots are not sub $100 cameras.
Click to expand...
I read "C-note," and my 'tarded ass thought, "$1000, that'll be easy." $100 is probably still doable.

I've been using ~10 year old, $30, eBay, Nikon Coolpix as GoPro/garage cameras for a few years. They're only 1080p though if that matters.
 
Yotota said:
You want a digital camera with a rangefinder, but at $100? Not gonna happen.

OR... Do you just want a viewfinder window to look through?
Click to expand...
Pretty sure he wants viewfinder.

Wife was in same boat a while back. Just wants a cheap camera that works and won't make you cry if you break it or lose it.
Everyone: "Buy a phone."

No. We're stubborn old people that want a camera, for some of the reasons OP stated.
Should not be unreasonable to expect a decent one for $100 that's simple and just does it's job with no fancy crap.
 
I have a Sony DSC-S650 that took decent pics. Haven't used it in forever, it sits in the DSLR bag.
 
True to universal law, someone asks a question and instead of considered suggestions is pummeled with responses of how very wrong they are; 'just do it my way'.

I don't need lessons on how to select or operate a cell phone to take pictures - no matter how quickly you think the app can be initiated.

So far the only hard suggestions are Canon. Any others?
 
I ran a Nikon Cool Pix for a long time. Was a good point and shoot. Wouldn’t mind another. Nice to have a decent camera without having to have a phone around.
 
Last edited:
This is the "garage camera" I mentioned above.

www.ebay.com

Nikon COOLPIX S8100 Black 12.1 MP Full HD Digital Camera w/ Battery *WORKS* | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Nikon COOLPIX S8100 Black 12.1 MP Full HD Digital Camera w/ Battery *WORKS* at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com

I swear I've bought a couple of these for <$40 each, but there doesn't appear to be any that cheap, that aren't broken, on eBay at the moment. It's a 12 year old camera at this point, so only 12 MP, but 10X zoom, and image stabilization. It was a $300 camera back in the day.

Inflation I guess, or the supply dried up maybe.
 
Thefishguy77 said:
I ran a Nikon Cool Pix for a long time. Was a good point and shoot. Wouldn’t mind another. Nice to have a decent camera without having to have a phone around.
Click to expand...
came to post exactly this
I had one, it survived wheeling (most of it)
got one for the kid when she was about 8 and it is still going
and they fit right into your pocket easily
 
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