Cannon powershot

[Brittmarie04]

So I went to best buy and told the guy I wanted a nice camera but nothing to advanced as I am a beginner. I've also like to take photos but mostly just on a digital camera or iPhone to post on Facebook of my DD. recently I started scrap booking and wanted something that would take nicer photos when printed out. So I bought a cannon power shot at best buy. About $300. Anyone know anything about this specific camera? Did I make a good choice. Like I said I didn't want anything to advanced for now until I learn more about cameras and all the functions. This had good reviews, hoping I like it.

 

[DawnM]

Which Powershot model? Is it an S110? That is the only one I can find for around $300.

 

[photo_chick]

So I went to best buy and told the guy I wanted a nice camera but nothing to advanced as I am a beginner. I've also like to take photos but mostly just on a digital camera or iPhone to post on Facebook of my DD. recently I started scrap booking and wanted something that would take nicer photos when printed out. So I bought a cannon power shot at best buy. About $300. Anyone know anything about this specific camera? Did I make a good choice. Like I said I didn't want anything to advanced for now until I learn more about cameras and all the functions. This had good reviews, hoping I like it.

In all honestly the sales people at Best Buy are often not the best informed when it comes to cameras. However, pretty much all point and shoots have plenty of auto modes to help out beginners. Look in the manual to see which to use when... like when to use the sports mode, when to use night mode, etc... And there is always full auto. I'd also read in your manual on how to use your auto focus system.

 

[tazdev3225]

In all honestly the sales people at Best Buy are often not the best informed when it comes to cameras.

I have to agree with you there. I was browsing there before Christmas and the sales person tried to talk me into a DSLR because a P&S just wouldn't do what I want. The look of shock on her face was priceless when I told her I had 2 DSLR's nd I knew exactly what I wanted. I was looking for a friend based on what she wanted.

OP I don't know what kind of Powershot you have but they can take decent pics. Mine could go off of auto and I was happy with the results. Just don't drop it. I unfortunately did that during the approach of hurricane Sandy on to the fully extended lens.

 

[mrodgers]

Judging by the quality of photos I've seen come from an iPhone, if I had an iPhone, I wouldn't bother with another piece of equipment to carry around unless I was looking for a dSLR. The iPhone takes photos that rivals most of the point and shoot cameras.

 

[GusGus77]

We have always had cannon powershot cameras. We found them easy to use (even my 4 yr old uses it with ease.) The pictures are decent.

 

[photo_chick]

Judging by the quality of photos I've seen come from an iPhone, if I had an iPhone, I wouldn't bother with another piece of equipment to carry around unless I was looking for a dSLR. The iPhone takes photos that rivals most of the point and shoot cameras.

I agree there for the lower end point and shoots as far as image quality goes. But you do get things with a regular camera that the iPhone can't give you, like optical zoom.

 

[Shutterbug]

I agree there for the lower end point and shoots as far as image quality goes. But you do get things with a regular camera that the iPhone can't give you, like optical zoom.

I agree.
I have an Iphone 4S. In very bright light it takes very good photos. You start getting into lower light, and the the photos are not that great. Also if you need a flash, the iPhone is not the camera to use. Because of those issues and other limitations is why I picked up the S100 for my compact camera needs.

 

[DawnM]

I had an iphone 4s that took relatively decent pictures outdoors. I downgraded to a 4 and the picture quality is not nearly as good. In fact, it is awful. I took several pics at WDW last month and they are all bad.

Dawn

 

[rossb]

Judging by the quality of photos I've seen come from an iPhone, if I had an iPhone, I wouldn't bother with another piece of equipment to carry around unless I was looking for a dSLR. The iPhone takes photos that rivals most of the point and shoot cameras.

Any decent P&S is much better than an iPhone. The first few reasons that come to mind are optical zoom, flash, adjustable ISO, and response time. An iPhone is decent in very bright light and terrible in dim light.

 

[mikegood2]

Any decent P&S is much better than an iPhone. The first few reasons that come to mind are optical zoom, flash, adjustable ISO, and response time. An iPhone is decent in very bright light and terrible in dim light.

Completely agree with you rossb! The iPhone and some of the other top smart phones work great and are very convenient as a walk around camera, but a decent P&S camera is much better. Just a few things I would add to your list: battery life, especially if you are at the park all day, taking photos/videos on your phone will make it hard for the phone to last the day. Also lack of an SD card, for a week vacation, an iPhone, even 64gb, would likely not be enough (at least for me ). Also while a p&s does add an additional item, they are small and easy to carry. DSLR on the other hand are more of a chore, especially on a HOT summer day.

That said, the current gen smartphones are more than enough for most people! If you visit at least once a year, the iPhone is fine. If its a one in a life time trip, or if you can only go every few years, especially if you have kids, do yourself a favor and get a p&s!

Sent from my iPad mini using DISBoards

 

[mikegood2]

Sorry, double post!

 

[havoc315]

P&s come in all levels of quality, at all prices. If you took the iPhone 5 and stripped out everything completely unrelated to photography, it would be a $200 ultra compact p&s.
There are certainly p&s cameras that are better, but there are also many that are inferior. IMHO, the iPhone 5 kicks the pants off any p&s under about $150.
What's the value of a p&s that has a high quality f2.4 lens, 8mp camera. With built in GPS, built in wifi sharing, touch screen focus, hd video, and high quality in-camera photo editing.

The only thing you miss is optical zoom. Then again, the Sony Rx1 is the best "p&s" there is... And costs $2800, and it doesn't have optical zoom either. So the iPhone 5 is in good company in this respect.

So to me, the question is whether (1), you already own a super high quality smartphone camera and (2), are you looking at p&s cameras that are actually better.
I wouldn't spend $100 on a run of the mill p&s, just to have something apart from my iPhone.

Anyway, to see the ability of the iPhone camera, here is a link to a professional photographer who took her iPhone on an around the world trip.

http://mostlylisa.com/worldtrip/

In reference to the OP.... If she got something like the Canon S95/100/110 which is in that price range, I do think that camera is quite a bit better than an iphone.

 

[DawnM]

OP, have you come back to read what the responses were?

Have you played with your Canon? Do you like it?

 

[rossb]

P&s come in all levels of quality, at all prices. If you took the iPhone 5 and stripped out everything completely unrelated to photography, it would be a $200 ultra compact p&s.
There are certainly p&s cameras that are better, but there are also many that are inferior. IMHO, the iPhone 5 kicks the pants off any p&s under about $150.

Anyway, to see the ability of the iPhone camera, here is a link to a professional photographer who took her iPhone on an around the world trip.

http://mostlylisa.com/worldtrip/

The iPhone does not kick the pants off any p&s under about $150.

Mostlylisa's pics are nice, but you can't tell much from 500x500 samples and many of them seem over processed. I guess the iPhone will suffice if you only want to post small pics on a web site, you don't need flash and low light performance, and you are not concerned with image quality, shot to shot speed, and an optical zoom.

 

[havoc315]

The iPhone does not kick the pants off any p&s under about $150.

Mostlylisa's pics are nice, but you can't tell much from 500x500 samples and many of them seem over processed. I guess the iPhone will suffice if you only want to post small pics on a web site, you don't need flash and low light performance, and you are not concerned with image quality, shot to shot speed, and an optical zoom.

I find my iPhone performs better in low light than the only "cheap" point and shoot we have in the house, a cheap Sony cyber shot that my 8 year of uses as his camera. Not great, but for the iPhone 5, fairly passable.
I rarely use a flash, but find the iPhone flash perfectly adequate compared to other basic p&s.
Image quality is very similar tocheaper p&s cameras, but can't compare to advanced systems. (Plus, built in HDR, which you don't find in cheap p&s cameras )
Burst speed is poor, but so are all cheap p&s cameras.

I'm not touting the iPhone 5 as the greatest camera of all time. But, overall, as a superior option to cheaper p&s cameras.

Yes, some people would miss optical zoom. But there are MUCH more expensive cameras that also lack optical zoom.

So you lose optical zoom, but get similar image quality, plus HDR (which elevates images over p&s), plus panorama, plus GPS, plus wifi, plus hd video, plus in camera photo editing.

 

[rossb]

We will have to agree to disagree about the iPhone. These three cheap cameras will provide an optical zoom, better IQ, better low light performance, and better flash. The iPhone flash is a joke.

I do not agree that it is a superior option to the cameras below, unless you are not concerned with IQ and performance and you don't want to carry a dedicated camera.

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSh...?ie=UTF8&qid=1357223573&sr=8-1&keywords=sx150

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSh...=UTF8&qid=1357223854&sr=8-1&keywords=elph+110

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX...?ie=UTF8&qid=1357223613&sr=8-4&keywords=s9300

 

[havoc315]

We will have to agree to disagree about the iPhone. These three cameras are cheap, yet will provide an optical zoom, better IQ, and better low light performance and flash. The iPhone flash is a joke.

We can agree to disagree on the value of extras, such as optical zoom versus a superior processor. Sd memory card versus instantly saving to a cloud.

But fortunately, for objective evaluation of image quality, we have dxomark. They recently started rated iq of smart phones. Unfortunately, they only included 2 p&s cameras for comparison -- the Canon S100 and the Canon G9.
The S100 is an advanced compact that runs for about $300. It is considered one of the best affordable compacts. And unsurprisingly, iq was better than smart phones. What was surprising -- it was close. And even more shocking, video quality was rated vastly superior on the Galaxy S3 over the Canon S100.

Unfortunately, they didn't run a comparison to a current level budget camera. But they did run comparisons to the Canon G9. A camera that was $500+, just a few years ago. Certainly, the iq of the Canon G9 is similar to a modern budget compact. Anyway, the best smart phone cameras were rated equal or superior to the G9 in image quality.

So there you have it based on the trusted name in image quality testing.

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Mobiles/Smartphones-beat-5-year-old-DSCs

 

[rossb]

So there you have it based on the trusted name in image quality testing.

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Mobiles/Smartphones-beat-5-year-old-DSCs

You are basing your opinion on a new DXOMark Mobile lab rating? They don't even rate DR and low-light High ISO. I am basing my opinion on actual use in the field.

 

[havoc315]

You are basing your opinion on a new DXOMark Mobile lab rating? They don't even rate DR and low-light High ISO. I am basing my opinion on actual use in the field.

I expressed my subjective opinion based on my hands on experience and observations. ( including that the iPhone 5 performs better in low light than a cheap compact).
I then decided to post the results of objective testing, as neutral evidence.
But as to our subjective opinions, we will agree to disagree.