Point & Shoot Cameras: Buying Tips

Near Bryant Park, New York City – Olympus SP-350 “Point & Shoot Camera”. ⇑

Although I use a DSLR, I love to carry a “point and shoot” digital camera with me at all times. My current model is an Olympus SP-350, a three year old 8-megapixel model that always seems to pleasantly surprise me with its image quality. For many, a good “point and shoot” digital camera makes a perfect first or second camera for casual shooting. It can even be used for serious photography! How do you get the best quality images from a “point and shoot” camera? What features should you look for?

The lion’s share of reviews and attention given to photography equipment goes to DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras, with their interchangeable lenses and bulky bodies. And rightfully so. They provide the best quality images of all digital camera types due to their larger sensors and more flexible lens systems. However, the image quality of “point and shoot” cameras can, in good light conditions, provide results that are just as satisfying and in one way even superior to DSLR models!

How To Get The Best Results From Point and Shoot Cameras
There is a prevailing principle that applies to good photography whether you are using a $2000 DSLR with an exotic lens or a $200 digital point and shoot camera. You need to understand how your camera works and the basics of photography. For example, understanding the relationship between lens aperture, shutter speed, metering, and knowing how to use these features to achieve the image you want is essential. That can be learned by reading a good basic photography guide, and keeping it with you as you shoot for reference. You want a book that explains not only the items just mentioned, but also issues such as white balance and shooting RAW which apply specifically to digital cameras.

Secondly, invest time in learning the aesthetics of good photography. Knowing what makes for a good composition and how to judge the quality of light will contribute richly to the quality of the work you produce. There are abundant online resources that can help you in this regard.

The Limitations of Point and Shoot Cameras
There are basically two key limitations when using “point and shoot” cameras. The first is that you are limited to the range of the lens that comes with your camera. Because it is permanently fixed to the camera, you do not have the option of using other specialty lenses that have wider angles or greater zoom reach. Secondly, “point and shoot” cameras tend to produce “noisier” images in low light. You will tend to see a grain pattern or “noise” in photos shot in low light, indoors and outdoors with most point and shoot models. This is due to the much smaller sensors typically used in point and shoot camera models.

The Advantages of Point and Shoot Cameras
The biggest advantage is that it is the camera you will most likely have with you when an unexpected photo opportunity comes along. They are light, small and easily carried wherever you go. Another advantage is the depth of sharpness you will get with “point and shoot” cameras. Because of the physics of small sensor, camera lens combination, you will more easily get photos that show both near and distant objects sharply in focus without using a small lens aperture (that lowers shutter speed, increasing chance of blur) as required with larger DSLR cameras.

The Super “Point and Shoots”
There is a new class of camera emerging that have much of the portability and convenience of “point and shoot” digital cameras while eliminating two of its biggest limitations: Poor low light performance and lack of lens interchangeability. The model that truly is a breakthrough is the new Olympus EPL-1. This lightweight camera is the size of a point and shoot while using a much larger sensor that is normally dedicated to DSLR cameras. It also has a growing range of smaller, lighter interchangeable lenses. Like a point and shoot on steroids, it allows the user to shoot high quality images that are indistinguishable from DSLR images in any light. It is priced near the cost of a budget-priced DSLR camera. However, we can no doubt look to cheaper models being released by camera makers with the same capabilities as competition and technical advances increase.

How To Choose A Point and Shoot Camera
The key features to look for are the ability to manually set aperture and shutter speed as well as advanced camera settings such as aperture priority and white balance controls. You also want a model that can shoot images in RAW mode. The RAW mode gives you the greatest potential for producing a high-quality final image. The ability to use these settings will become important as your knowledge and photographic skills advance. Anti-shake or Vibration Reduction is another feature that will enhance your ability to shoot sharp hand-held photos. Point and shoot cameras make the perfect pocket camera for novice to serious photographers and can provide very satisfactory images when used within their limitations.

34th Street, Empire State Building, NYC – Olympus SP-350 “Point & Shoot “. ⇑

This photo of the Empire State Building in New York City was captured near sunset with my point and shoot camera, an Olympus SP-350. It was captured at 1/15 second, ISO 50, F3.5, Exposure Compensation (EV)-.07. I shot at the camera’s lowest ISO setting (ISO 50) to minimize noise. I selected -07 exposure compensation to darken exposure, insuring saturated colors in the sky and dark shadow areas. On this camera, an aperture setting of F3.5 is sufficient for sharpness throughout the entire depth of field of the photo. So I used the Aperture Priority setting to set the aperture, and let the camera choose the shutter speed. The camera choose a shutter speed that normally is too slow for sharp hand held photos. To minimize blur, I braced the camera against a signage pole on the street. Using my understanding of the features of the camera allowed me to capture a sharp, low noise image that would not have been possible using the camera’s automatic settings.

In closing, to get the most from a point and shoot digital camera, learn your camera features, and basic photographic skills. Buy a camera that has manual controls that allow you to override automatic settings. Now go out and create some great photos!

Update: Since writing this article, mirrorless cameras, which offer DSLR-sensors in compact bodies (without the mirrors that add bulk to DSLR’s) have become quite inexpensive. With their interchangeable lenses and DSLR image quality they offer excellent performance, especially if you can find a model at $399. I give an overview of mirrorless cameras on petersonlive.com.