Bike Forums - Looking for a Camera

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest (Post 19601599)

The laws of physics impose limitations. Stuff takes room. Zooming involves moving a prism inside an optical structure. People don't just want zoom, they want a usable camera, too, which means decent apertures, which means more glass. On the other hand, people want their phones slim and sleek. Cell phones can take good pictures in the right circumstances but those are limited and will always be compared to larger cameras with more technical capabilities. And we haven't even got into filters.

Yep - agree. I get it. I'm an engineer.

But I guess from a market perspective, users don't see it that way. That's why p&s sales volumes are cratering at the expense of smartphones. It's true that p&s have better optical quality in zooming and generally have better sensors too. But in the wide middle spot of use of a p&s there is pretty solid convergence with smartphone use.

P&s cameras are getting squeezed pretty hard on both ends. On the low end by smartphones and on the high end by mirrorless cameras. If you don't have either, that's pretty much your p&s market. Not many people who don't have a smartphone these days.

I used to do semi-pro sports photography so I have all the high end Canon stuff. When I wanted to take a quick picture I'd reach for the p&s camera. Now? I use my smartphone. And I'm moving over to mirrorless to cover my higher end needs. The two losers in the camera business are going to be P&S cameras and DSLRs from a
mass market perspective.

I have an SLR. Beth has a smart phone and is pleased with its camera. The last time we went over Washington Pass we stopped and both got a photo. When we looked at the two of them on the computer - shot in day light, pretty "easy" scene for a camera - she immediately understood why people still use cameras in the era of phones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by canklecat (Post 19598334)

Also, check out the Flipbac rubber stick-on finger grips for improving the feel of most P&S cameras. I've used one on my Nikon V1 for five years. Huge improvement. I have another Flipbac ready to go on the next P&S I get for bicycling. They use sturdy 3M adhesive that's very secure, yet supposedly removable and movable. I've never tried to reuse one.

thanks for the recommendation! I just ordered one for my little Canon Elph350.

My previous p&s was an older, bulkier Canon that had a large bulge on the right side of the body that made it very easy to grasp securely with one hand. I like the Elph350 and its small size, but I do miss the bulge. The Flipbac should help!

Steve in Peoria

Yep, the Flipbac stick-on grips can turn a metallic compact camera from a slippery bar of soap back into a camera.

[MENTION=418370]canklecat[/MENTION], thank you for your expertise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest (Post 19602688)

Sure. Of course.

Smartphones are for snapshots. "Cameras" are for something more important than that. The lines, however, are getting blurry between them - especially when the lighting is good.

But I think we're going to see the P&S camera, as we've known it, market implosion accelerate. There is shortly going to be insufficient profit and volume to maintain the development on such a rapidly dropping market. So, I guess if the OP wants a P&S, don't put it off until next year. ;)

J.