P&S or iPhone

[UConnFan]

My husband and I are planning a trip with our son, who will be 5 months old, this fall. I'm so torn about what camera I want to use while there. I've brought my DSLR to the parks before, but I don't want to lug it around with the baby, all of the baby gear, etc. On most of our trips, I use my iPhone and find it meets my needs. I do wish it had better zooming and low light capability. With that said, I'm considering purchasing a nicer p&s so I can get better quality photos, but not need to carry my DSLR.

I saw that the photography board recommends the Sony RX-100 and have read good things about the Canon G9X

What do you do in the parks, especially with a baby?

 

[IrishNYC]

I would go with the Canon, using the iPhone for quick little moments you may want to share quickly.

 

[stormer]

I always bring a camera. I love my iPhone, but like you said it doesn't take the best pics when you need to zoom or are in low light. I have a Canon that I bring.

 

[xlxo]

You need to think how and what pictures you need to take. I have a Nikon.... I bring it.

• low light
• quicker auto focus
• optical zoom!
• clearer images..... I don't plan to be looking at pictures on a phone only.

 

[11290]

I have an iPhone 6S+ and daytime shots with good light great, low light and night, marginal. Bring the better camera. Just my $.02

 

[fla4fun]

Since you have a DSLR, I would go for a very compact P&S with decent low light capabilities. You don't want to go with a P&S that is so big that you might as well take the DSLR anyway. Also, consider a P&S from within the same camera family as your DSLR (a Canon if you have a Canon, a Nikon if you have a Nikon, etc.). I find it's easier to learn the controls of a new camera if it's from the same "family" as the controls can be very similar from model to model. I actually have three Canon cameras - a small basic P&S, a larger super-zoom, and a DSLR, and I use whichever best fits the situation. I find I use my iPod or iPhone more for video, and the camera for photos.

 

[cgattis]

Since you have a DSLR, I would go for a very compact P&S with decent low light capabilities. You don't want to go with a P&S that is so big that you might as well take the DSLR anyway. Also, consider a P&S from within the same camera family as your DSLR (a Canon if you have a Canon, a Nikon if you have a Nikon, etc.). I find it's easier to learn the controls of a new camera if it's from the same "family" as the controls can be very similar from model to model. I actually have three Canon cameras - a small basic P&S, a larger super-zoom, and a DSLR, and I use whichever best fits the situation. I find I use my iPod or iPhone more for video, and the camera for photos.

I agree with all those points--except I'd just take my DSLR . Definitely agree with using your same brand so you can quickly learn the new controls. And I also do use my iPhone often for video. However, my new DSLR does video too, and I'm using it more and more. Besides, you can take advantage of that stroller to haul your gear!

 

[fla4fun]

I agree with all those points--except I'd just take my DSLR . Definitely agree with using your same brand so you can quickly learn the new controls. And I also do use my iPhone often for video. However, my new DSLR does video too, and I'm using it more and more. Besides, you can take advantage of that stroller to haul your gear!

I would have said the same thing, but with a new baby, they may want a super compact P&S anyway to carry everyday for those times when something happens and you wish you had a better camera than the phone. I don't carry my DSLR every day, even with the most compact of lenses attached.

 

[Tomh]

I take my pictures either with my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (decent pictures, works far better with good lighting) or my DSLR (Canon). Nothing in between for me. I am fortunate to have a daughter who also enjoys photography, and is more than willing to split the camera carrying duty with me, so I don't always have to lug it around.

 

[JaimeK]

I vote skip the extra camera. Last year I ditched my DSLR for the first time and I did a trip to Asia and another to Europe and just used my iPhone for both. Absolutely no regrets.

 

[hakepb]

Indoor character interactions are "low light" in photographic terms.
You will need a bigger sensor and fast lens to avoid a ton of unnatural flash shots and/or motion blur.

In outdoor, good lighting there will be very little difference.

I would think the OP would greatly appreciate the advantages of the RX100 or Gx9 over the iPhone for the indoor shots.

 

[monkistan]

go mirror less. great photos, way less heavy than a DSLR. brought that this year with our 10 month old. took great pictures. wasn't too bulky.

 

[SplashMo]

I have the Canon G10 and the SONY RX100. Both are better than a cell phone because of the zoom. I prefer the RX100. It really is not close between these two.

For the P&S vs iPhone. The key is the lack of zoom on the iPhone. IPhone is a wide angle lens so it enhances those things that are near. To take a picture of someone with a statue or building etc in the background the object in the background will be very small. Also the exposure for the statue or building will be incorrect and you may not even see it in the picture at all... You can test this out by taking phone photos of things far away. They will be very less prominent in the photo then your eye sees them.

 

[swooshbear]

iPhone photography has improved dramatically since I had the 3G. The 6 and 6S are great but sometimes I need the extra control a DSLR provides. Young kids are always on the move so having control of the shutter is important so I would definitely bring a DSLR.

 

[SeilerBird]

Get a Samsung S6. It has an 8 to 1 zoom and much better at low light than an iPhone.

 

[Dreamin192]

I vote getting a camera to bring. We brought a DSLR and p&s last year. Never bothered to bring the DSLR into the parks and my p&s was a cheap old thing. I regret not having a better camera as I look at my pics from my phone (5s) and p&s and see how grainy they are and sometimes even unfocused. Many things are inside so keep that in mind.

I was planning on getting the rx100 but found an rx100 m3 on a huge discount at my local best buy, like literally the same price as the rx100 so we picked it up and I'm looking forward to using it this trip.

 

[KangaFan]

I was very happy with the outdoor and indoor (low light) pics I got in August with my iPhone 6. Here's an example from IASW