Poll: Still use P&S camera at all?

[dtrayers]

25 years ago when I learned photography I used Minolta and Canon SLR's, and up to getting into digital had a Nikon SLR. My first digicam was a Canon A40 and then a Canon G3, but I missed the form factor of the SLR and the interchangeable lenses. Now I'm back in my comfort zone with a 300D.

But more and more I wish I still had my A40. There are many times, especially with the kids, I just want snapshots to send to the grandparents or for scrapbook printing. As you know, an SLR is not really a point and shoot kind of camera.

I'm taking the kids skiing over the upcoming holidays and I think I'm going to get an A60(or 70 or 80) for those shots on the slopes. While I'd bring my 300D if it's just me skiing, with the kids I don't want to worry about them and the camera, so I want something I can just put in a pocket.

I'm curious, are there any other EOS-D camera owners who also use a P&S digicam? If so, what kind are you using and how often do you reach for it rather than the SLR?

[defordphoto]

My P&S is in the same spot it was when I got the D60 last year. It hasn't moved an inch. Well, maybe an inch. I may have kicked it out of the way to get to something else. It's more like a POS rather than P&S. :)

I do use a P&S at work though. Man they're painful to use after being spoiled by dSLRs.

[Belmondo]

We recently traveled to Las Vegas to attend a Jimmy Buffet concert. I took my trusty old G2 along and managed to get a couple reasonably good 'tourist photos.' I didn't feel like dragging my D10 Rebel Deluxe and all the support gear along knowing I wouldn't be allowed to use it at the concert.

Just as there are different reasons for taking photographs, there are different cameras that are appropriate for the situation. There is a time and place for a P&S, but not if the pictures really matter.

I've loaned my G2 to a friend, and actually miss not having it. It truly is convenient.

Tom

[samdring]

10D and A70
Wouldn't dream of having 10d on the beach, for example, nor when getting missed in a bar. (Whoops must use my spill-chocker)

A70 spot on for 'snaps' and portability and, in my view, produces a very good 'straight from the camera' result

[CoolToolGuy]

I keep my G3 in my car so I can shoot at any time. The Digital Rebel (and the Elan 7) come out when I go out to an event or specifically want to shoot with it.
I used to take my film SLR to work each day, but briefcases, etc. combined with restrictions on taking cameras into the building now prevent that.
At this time of year I wind up taking more shots with the G3 than the Drebel, since it is with me all the time, and family events are frequent.
Ironically, since I got the Drebel, I tend to try and hold the G3 like an SLR (right hand holding the body and left hand on the lens).
I bought an A70 for my daughter, and she loves it, and thinks the movie mode is a cool bonus.
Now I have to get my wife converted from her Sure Shot to digital. She uses digital in her job (Public Relations), but has maintained a 'traditional' stance for her personal pictures.

Have Fun

[scottbergerphoto]

I have the 10D and G2. The G2 is a great "walking around camera". Also, if you want to do a party and not carry alot of stuff, I've used the G2, 420 EX, Off the shoe cord 2, Bogen-Manfrotto flash bracket, and gotten great results. It all breaks down into a small camera bag.
Scott

[DonCoon]

After I bought my 10D, I sold my Pro90 and gave my wife's A10 to our married daughter so we could get pics of our grandkids.

Quickly found out the 10D wasn't a "take everywhere" camera so I bought an A60 for $203 shipped. Never was really happy with it so we gave it to another married daughter to get more grandkid pics. BTW, that part of the strategy is working real well :)

Then I managed to pickup a "like-new" Nikon 995 for $200 shipped. I really missed features of my 950. It's easy to take everywhere and works well as a casual snapshot and macro camera. I call it my wife's but..........

I'm all for owning a small camera for such uses.

[Belmondo]

DonCoon wrote:Then I managed to pickup a "like-new" Nikon 995 for $200 shipped.

I had one of those 'N-word' 995 cameras, and I really loved it. It was number one on a lot of 'best buy' lists for quite a while. I eventually bought the G-2, mainly for the form factor which just felt more like a 'regular' camera to me. I sent the 995 to my brother in Washington State, and he's still getting amazingly good pictures with it.

[DonCoon]

I had one of those 'N-word' 995 cameras, and I really loved it. It was number one on a lot of 'best buy' lists for quite a while. I eventually bought the G-2, mainly for the form factor which just felt more like a 'regular' camera to me. I sent the 995 to my brother in Washington State, and he's still getting amazingly good pictures with it.


I dumped my original N-950, which I loved, for the Canon Pro90 because the idiots at that "N" place couldn't get through their sludge-laden heads that the camera needed a flash shoe as the on-camera flash was whimpy and poorly located. As is RED-EYE!

I don't care about it on the 995 because it's not my primary camera. Plus they did change to a pop-up flash.

[David Wild]

I still use a G2 along with my 10D. I haven't counted recently, but I think I take about the same number of pictures with each camera.

The main justification for the G2 is that I can take it with me without really thinking about it; using the 10D requires rather more thought and preparation - but I would use that first for a special event.

[Longwatcher]

The only times I use my Kodak DC4800 (an excellent 3.1MP P&S) is when taking pictures of my library for inventory purposes, when I need a true wide angle lens and when travelling extra light. The first two are the reason I have hung on to the Kodak is because it can do the equivilant of a true 16mm FoV, where as even with the 16-35, I can't get better then 25mm equivilant FoV.

Mainly I keep to loan to friends since it still shoots faster then the average P&S.

[ssim]

I too had one of those N995 thingys. Took reasonable shots and my daughter now enjoys it after getting my 10D.

I fly alot and I missed having a camera of some sort on my trips so I have picked up an S50. This is small enough to fit into my briefcase and is just fine for the occasional shot.

[Canuck]

All I have is the 10D, but here is my 5 pence. I have family member that has an Olympus D380 that is like 2MP and Idunno if I could stand to us a P&S after using the comparatively hulking 10D. The bit that intrigues me to no end is that I shot some pics, JPEG, normal (2MP mode if you will) mode and these pics looked a million times better then anything I had ever seen from the Olympus camera, and I could still enlarge my pics. Granted I had the 16-35L lens on, but still, you know what I'm getting at. BTW, the Olympus camera has digital zoom and that's it, but costs like $160. Speaking of which, the 16-35 L lens costs almost 10x what the Olympus camera costs, nevermind the body et al. I have however seen a few (what look like) decent P7S cameras, like the Revio 5xx series. That gives you a 5MP camera, but limited focal distance but mega portability. It easily fits in a coat pocket. One of my British friends showed it to me. We sat our 2 digital cameras side by side and looked at the other and went hmm...

My point exactly. I recon you really cant compare them, much like you can't compare the Canon EOS 300D to the Canon EOS 1DS. It is apples and oranges.

[hmhm]

My Canon S400 is often to be found in my jacket pocket, or slipped into a pocket in my backpack. Plenty of my "photo ops" are more about being there with a camera, and not about artistic control or image quality, i.e. they're just fun snapshots. In those circumstances an S400 in my pocket yields superior results to a 10D back at home. And for friends/family snapshots, a teensy S400 goes virtually unnoticed, while a 10D with 24-70/2.8L is like walking in the room with a bazooka on your shoulder.
-harry

[Canuck]

hmhm wrote:
My Canon S400 is often to be found in my jacket pocket, or slipped into a pocket in my backpack. Plenty of my "photo ops" are more about being there with a camera, and not about artistic control or image quality, i.e. they're just fun snapshots. In those circumstances an S400 in my pocket yields superior results to a 10D back at home. And for friends/family snapshots, a teensy S400 goes virtually unnoticed, while a 10D with 24-70/2.8L is like walking in the room with a bazooka on your shoulder.
-harry


Harry, try strapping on the Sigma lens I have, it weighs 5.75 lbs and is about a foot long. It certainly feels a lot longer! For real giggles, you could plunk the 1200mm Canon L lens on that weighs like 36 lbs!

[GenEOS]

I sold my G1 when I got my D60 and regret selling it.
You can take the G series cameras anywhere and with that swivel screen can take shots you just can't do with a D60....

It was a great go anywhere camera.

If you are talking about a film P&S, I couldn't even find my old Film P&S.

Matter a fact, I have not bought a roll of film in over 3 years.....

[scottbergerphoto]

I recently took these pictures with my G2 on a walk with my wife:

http://www.pbase.com/image/20868226.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/20868227.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/20868219.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/20868225.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/20868220.jpg

I think I'll hang on to it.
Scott

[Jim_T]

I've been through a few digicams.. I still have my old Canon S100. I keep it in my 10D camera bag as an acessory.

I use it on holidays.. It's not near as good as the 10D, but it's FAR easier to carryin some situations.