Are P&S compacts a bad idea in 2024?

Brainonska511 · Sep 10, 2024

I'm going on a trip to Japan next year, and I've been considering my options for cameras to bring. Currently, I have a 77D with a wide-angle zoom (10-22 mm), midrange zoom (28-75 f/2.8), and a 200mm f/2.8L, and my Pixel 7.

I really like my 77D, but I'm not sure I'd want to lug it all the way to Japan, since it takes up valuable space if we want to bring stuff back, and I'd probably want to walk around with a backpack to carry it around. At the same time, it would take fantastic pictures, and I would bring no more than the two zoom lenses.

On the other hand, I've considered getting a small crossbody bag to carry some small items while traveling (basically to clear pockets and provide a way to comfortably carry my passport and extra battery). This opened up the idea that maybe a small, premium-side compact camera may be an option (like a G7x Mark III, a RX100 VA or VII), as a way to get better photos than my phone have a bit of real optical zoom, and save some battery on my phone while traveling. I also see other places to use such a camera: concerts, hiking, or other light activities where I may want a better camera, but not want to take along the DSLR.

Is this a crazy idea that just ultimately wastes money for no substantially added capability?

tempestglen · Sep 11, 2024

Your 77D would take fantastic pictures, but if you're worried about space and convenience, a compact camera sounds like a smart option for your Japan trip and beyond.

turtile · Sep 11, 2024

Another option is to 'upgrade' to a mirrorless camera like the R50 and the compact kit lens. That way you have a smaller camera with the same quality but better AF/Video etc.

Brainonska511 · Sep 11, 2024

turtile said:
Another option is to 'upgrade' to a mirrorless camera like the R50 and the compact kit lens. That way you have a smaller camera with the same quality but better AF/Video etc.

I briefly considered that, but it doesn't seem like that much of a space savings, and I don't want to open the door to getting more glass or wanting to re-buy stuff.

tempestglen said:
Your 77D would take fantastic pictures, but if you're worried about space and convenience, a compact camera sounds like a smart option for your Japan trip and beyond.

I'm definitely going to have to give it more thought - and plenty of time for that. Heck, maybe I go forward with it but then just bring both with me. Carry the smaller one on some days and the DSLR on other days.

gradoman · Sep 11, 2024

I think the first thing to do is determine what focal length you most use and then work out what smallish setup would fit the bill. Otherwise, you'll buy something that makes you wish you'd walked with everything else.

Brainonska511 · Sep 26, 2024

turtile said:
Another option is to 'upgrade' to a mirrorless camera like the R50 and the compact kit lens. That way you have a smaller camera with the same quality but better AF/Video etc.

Yeah, after more thinking, this is the route I'm going for now.

I was considering a different lens to have a single walking around lens to take with me because what I have now was more of a 2-lens setup. But when I looked at costs and the age of my 77D, I realized I could pick up a refurbished R10 + kit lens from Canon, sell a lens I barely use (200mm f/2.8L), my older walking around lens that isn't the best focal length for crop body (28-75mm), my 77D, and the new kit lens, and then get a Sigma 17-55 f/2.8 RF lens for about the same costs as just getting a nicer EF lens like the 17-55 f/2.8 (and selling a lens or two to mitigate the cost).

Save weight, dump some stuff I wasn't using, and get in on the mirrorless fun.

I may still look for a G7X or a Ricoh GrIIIx, but that's only if the price is right. I could still see it having use in select situations, or of my spouse wants a camera to take on some of her adventures.

yottabit · Sep 26, 2024

We have one of the Panasonic micro four thirds cameras and that thing is really compact. Sony also makes some good compact mirrorless.

But these days mostly use my iPhone Pro Max 9000

Saylick · Sep 27, 2024

I think a flagship smartphone camera is pretty capable these days, and it's why the P&S camera market crashed so hard. Although a smartphone's camera sensor is typically smaller than that in say an RX100, smartphones use computational photography to allow that smaller sensor to punch above its weight. In essence, it's doing image stacking on the fly to improve dynamic range and reduce noise. I'm sure you can get better photo quality with a P&S camera, but it likely will take some postprocessing after the fact, which may include needing to capture RAW files to get the most out of the photos. I'm getting old enough to the point where I don't want to spend time postprocessing my travel photos. My iPhone does a good enough job. Heck, I even tried to do some astrophotography with it earlier this week and this is what I got straight out of the phone.

At the end of the day, the best camera to take with you is the one you'll likely use. I have a whole camera bag full of Fujifilm gear (an X-T3, 10-24mm f4, 18-55mm f2.8-f4, 35mm f2, 55-200mm f3.5-4.8, 56mm f1.2) and I don't even bring it with me like 90% of the time, sadly. I just find it much easier to whip out my phone and snap the photo than to fidget around with my mirrorless camera and having to change lenses.

Brainonska511 · Sep 27, 2024

Saylick said:
At the end of the day, the best camera to take with you is the one you'll likely use.

I agree 100%. I think for now, this is why I talked myself into a mirrorless and just getting a more functional focal length walking around lens (and probably a sling strap to boot, because the neck straps are annoying and uncomfortable). If there is less need to fiddle with lenses, and I can get it in a slightly smaller bag (and I don't mind carrying a small bag when being a tourist), I'll be more likely and willing to take it along.

tcsenter · Sep 29, 2024

Point and shoot, probably. I have a Nikon L330 that should still be relevant but I focking see photos posted to social media by friends all the time taken with higher-end phones that are way better than anything my L330 has ever produced. Or better than anything I've managed to produce with it.

Brainonska511 · Sep 29, 2024

tcsenter said:
Point and shoot, probably. I have a Nikon L330 that should still be relevant but I focking see photos posted to social media by friends all the time taken with higher-end phones that are way better than anything my L330 has ever produced. Or better than anything I've managed to produce with it.

Doesn't the L330 only have a 1/2.3" sensor, which puts it on the smaller side for a dedicated camera?

I think moving to mirrorless will be a nice change for me. I held an R10 in a local photo place yesterday as I sold some of my older equipment off: quite the difference in both size and weight between the R10 with a sigma 18-50 RF lens vs my old 77D + a standard EF lens.

tcsenter · Sep 30, 2024

Brainonska511 said:
Doesn't the L330 only have a 1/2.3" sensor, which puts it on the smaller side for a dedicated camera?

Yeah it wasn't the latest process it was using previous one but still mature 20MP sensor. MSRP was less than $200 it was fairly budget oriented.

tcsenter · Oct 15, 2024

Oops, I just realize I have the L830 (16MP) not L330 (20MP). Took it out for the first time in over a year to get photos of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (A3).

mindless1 · Oct 16, 2024

I'm not that picky about photo quality, and don't have a high end smartphone, so if planning to take a lot of pics, I take along my (now ancient, circa 2012) Sony HX10V p&s.

ElFenix · Oct 16, 2024

i thought influencers made p&ses cool again. but not the canon a40 which @RossMAN loves

Brainonska511 · Oct 17, 2024

ElFenix said:
i thought influencers made p&ses cool again. but not the canon a40 which @RossMAN loves

Yeah, they definitely drove prices through the roof and stocks through the floor.

For now, I'm glad I just went with the mirrorless switch and a lens swap.

RossMAN · Oct 17, 2024

ElFenix said:
i thought influencers made p&ses cool again. but not the canon a40 which @RossMAN loves

Holy !@#$ that brings back memories, thanks my friend

tcsenter · Oct 17, 2024

I think he probably be buried with it.

Are P&S compacts a bad idea in 2024?

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