Point and shoot vs new cell phone Camera?

[heat901]

I am looking into getting a point and shoot but I am probably also upgrading to a new phone in the future. A friend recommend just getting a new phone and using that camera instead of getting a point and shoot. Kinda curious as to opinions from people and see if its really worth it(the point and shoot)? Would the imagine quality be that much worth it in the $100 dollar range?

 

[iGas]

The iPhone 4S and Canon PowerShot 100 HS shoot it out

 

[fralexandr]

the point and shoot would probably have better image quality due to larger sensors and better lenses, and possibly better built in flashes.
If you're getting a new smartphone, a lot of them take pretty good pictures, though some better than others. I doubt you're getting a nokia n8 since it's really outdated and using a subpar OS, but the nokia n8 had a fantastic camera (perhaps one of the best smartphone cameras made to date).
http://thehandheldblog.com/2010/10/04/shootout-nokia-n8-v-canon-550d-dslr/
that said, it might depend on what phone you plan on getting.

the main issue in my opinion though is if you want to bring the point and shoot from a convenience factor. You'd likely always be carrying your phone with you anyway. And for cases in which you want some serious photography done, you'd probably want either a DSLR or a ~$300 point and shoot like the panasonic lx5, nikon p3000, or canon s95
the iphone has a few really cool apps too like hipstamatic. android phones have a similar one, though not as nice.

i personally wouldn't really think about getting a ~$100 point and shoot to replace a smartphone camera. I'd only think about it for a ~$200+ point and shoot

 

[Deleted member 4644]

A decent PS will definitely out perform any cellphone. It really depends on how much $$ you have and how much you care about image quality. If you are just posting shots of your friends in a bar on facebook -- the cellphone is fine. If you are going to print them or put them on flickr or something... get a camera

 

[bgcpen]

haven't touched my p&s in months since getting an iPhone

 

[yepp]

Nokia 808 Pureview. Has a bigger sensor than most P&S's. 1/1.2" size sensor packing 41MP.

Check out the fullsize samples!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nokiaofficial/sets/72157629100338650/

P&S obsolete?

The phone won't make it to North America, but looks like the Pureview tech will be implemented in future Lumia phones.

 

[CuriousMike]

P&S's will get marginally better over the coming years.

Camera phones are going to continue to get better - that iPhone4 vs Canon HS100 tells me an iPhone is fine for most of what people use a P&S for... quick snapshots.

 

[Kaido]

I am looking into getting a point and shoot but I am probably also upgrading to a new phone in the future. A friend recommend just getting a new phone and using that camera instead of getting a point and shoot. Kinda curious as to opinions from people and see if its really worth it(the point and shoot)? Would the imagine quality be that much worth it in the $100 dollar range?

A lot of it depends on what you want to use it for, and how you are planning on using it. Even a $100 P&S camera like the Canon ELPH will give you better image quality than a cell camera, but you lack the convenience of having it in your pocket all the time (unless that's how you roll :biggrin.

I had the same debate when I got my iPhone 4S. I have a T2i as my dSLR and wanted a pocket camera for "anytime shots". The iPhone has some really nice photo & video software available, and one of the biggest things I like is the amount of control I get with the touchscreen. I can touch-to-focus and select what I want to expose on with my fingertip. I can do quick edits, effects, borders, and email or post to Facebook without a computer. However, I also gave up manual control of shots. But most of the time I just want to whip out my camera and snap a quick pic, and be done.

The type of phone you get also is a factor. I like the iPhone 4S with the Camera+ app a lot. Androids have various cameras & software available. Do you know what kind of phone you'd be looking at?

 

[SecurityTheatre]

It's worth considering (for the future, rather than today) that the image quality of modern P&S and cameraphoes is almost ENTIRELY limited by the lens size.

Almost all modern compact cameras are approaching (within a few percent) of the physical diffraction limits of resolution for their size. You simply can't engineer a better camera without making it physically bigger. Sure, you can reduce the sensor noise by a factor or two or so, but beyond that and you're getting into the area where noise is primarily determined by the statistical distribution of photos on individual photosites. NO engineering can get around that sort of thing.

That being said, you should try out some modern phone cameras (I think the iphone camera is great) and compare. You will miss out on the flash and some of the bigger lense capabilities, in resolution, aperture AND zoom capabilities

Personally, I own an iphone as well as a P&S (which is waterproof and has decent optical zoom) plus a SLR. The P&S gets the least use and is primarily carried when I want better images but simply can't justify bringing an SLR.... or when I need waterproof, like on a ski trip or out on a boat or the swimming pool.

 

[Munky]

If you care about image quality, then a phone will leave you disappointed. Not only because of a tiny sensor with lower dynamic range and more noise, but also from other limitations such as:
-No real flash
-No image stabilization
-No optical zoom
-No real buttons when you need it

A phone is good if your main concern is the convenience of always having a camera on you and getting the shot. If you already have a DSLR for the times you need quality, then you'll probably be happy with using a phone instead of a P&S. But if you need a compact camera for quality shots, get a real camera.

 

[Gintaras]

 

[elitejp]

Convenience should be your main factor for determining what you want. The cell phone will be handy but not near as good as a p&s. As others have said if your only viewing small pics and uploading to facebook etc then a camera phone is fine. Blow that picture up and look at it at 100% and you will quickly see the difference in quality. I too have a dslr that i love. The only thing is its not something you want to carry around. If your undecided and really only looking at at spending 100 dollars for a p&s you might be just happier getting a better phone. Regardless for any picture to look halfway decent you need really good light, especially for a phone. Indoor lighting is NOT good lighting. The p&s will handle low lighting better. Play with a friends phone take some pics and look for yourself.

 

[Rottie]

haven't touched my p&s in months since getting an iPhone

This…..

 

[notposting]

Not sure what the lady in the iPhone 4S vs Powershot 100 HS review was nattering on about the AF on the Canon, have a feeling she set it to something dumb. It works fine on ours, it's pocket size, takes great indoor pictures, fast startup and flash recharge, etc.

But otherwise, from the different reviews I've seen and the little hands on with different phones, the iPhone blows the rest away. Most look okay outside but inside it seems a lot better (edit: outside vs inside photos).

 

[blastingcap]

Not sure what the lady in the iPhone 4S vs Powershot 100 HS review was nattering on about the AF on the Canon, have a feeling she set it to something dumb. It works fine on ours, it's pocket size, takes great indoor pictures, fast startup and flash recharge, etc.

But otherwise, from the different reviews I've seen and the little hands on with different phones, the iPhone blows the rest away. Most look okay outside but inside it seems a lot better (edit: outside vs inside photos).

CNET is the worst place to go to for many consumer electronics reviews. Only go there if you want a dumbed-down review for laymen. I mean, the editor of that camera review was a fool--anyone with a brain would just center-focus-and-recompose if they always wanted the central thing in focus, instead of bitch and moan about autofocus going awry. That said, even though CNET editors were wrong in how they got there, they are right that overall a good smartphone camera like the one on the iPhone 4S can mostly replace a budget point and shoot. And if the Nikon N808 Pureview camera becomes standard, that will take down most of the compact camera market, except for waterproof and superzooms. It may even harm Nikon 1 sales.

For depth of field effects, though, a Nikon 1, Micro Four Thirds, or larger-sensor is needed. They also have interchangeable lenses, wireless flashes, better manual controls, more settings, etc. Not to mention dynamic range and battery life, EVF/OVF, etc. issues.

 

[alkemyst]

P&S's will get marginally better over the coming years.

Camera phones are going to continue to get better - that iPhone4 vs Canon HS100 tells me an iPhone is fine for most of what people use a P&S for... quick snapshots.

QFT...except in low light situations and specialty photographs like macro and telephoto, the iPhone and many cellphones are perfect for most people's needs and have the benefit of always being carried.

Personally if I were to go with a camera it'd be something like a G Series equivalent.

My wife got a S95 to go with her iPhone 4 for christmas from me due to taking mostly low light shots with movement. Most compact P&S will not handles these well either.

 

[MountainKing]

A decent P&S would beat the iphone down in any given situation except for being readily available at any point. (The camera being with you)
I use my phones camera for things that are totally unexpected and have to take a pic but other than that, for any planned moments, outings, birthdays etc a P&S or a Bridge camera all the way.

No way an iphone is going to give you better pics.

 

[foghorn67]

I love my iPhone's image quality...for a phone.
My Canon p&s from 2008 kicks it pants in IQ and many other things.
I bought a leather belt holster for the Canon, the print is so small you can't tell I have a camera on my belt.
It's one the size of a deck of cards.
So if I have to leave the SLR's at home, the p&s is always an option.
It's great for vacations and outings with friends or family.

 

[speedy2]

This all depends on YOU. What YOU want from a camera/camera phone. And what YOU are capable of getting out of a camera/camera phone. For me, I can't compare the two.

I shot this in 2008 with a Canon A80 that I found on eBay for $30. A little bit of PP'ing and what do you think?

I find it hard to compare even a cheap P&S that is almost 10 years newer, when I can get a shot like that from such an old model.

 

[blastingcap]

This all depends on YOU. What YOU want from a camera/camera phone. And what YOU are capable of getting out of a camera/camera phone. For me, I can't compare the two.

I shot this in 2008 with a Canon A80 that I found on eBay for $30. A little bit of PP'ing and what do you think?

I find it hard to compare even a cheap P&S that is almost 10 years newer, when I can get a shot like that from such an old model.

Nice shot but I think you got carried away in post-processing with the overexposure and oversaturation.

 

[alkemyst]

I love my iPhone's image quality...for a phone.
My Canon p&s from 2008 kicks it pants in IQ and many other things.
I bought a leather belt holster for the Canon, the print is so small you can't tell I have a camera on my belt.
It's one the size of a deck of cards.
So if I have to leave the SLR's at home, the p&s is always an option.
It's great for vacations and outings with friends or family.

Why would you have multiple SLRs? I didn't peg you as a photag.

My wife has a S95..our iphones in daylight and well lit places take photos most can't tell online.

If I was printing (I own a wide format Epson 1400), then it would be different.

Outside of 110 and basic 35min, I owned a Canon A-1 with the best macro lens worth way more than the camera itself, then the A50, the A60, A70, Nikon 3500, A80, A95, A620, SD450, SD720, A650IS, S95.

 

[gevorg]

IMHO, there is little noticeable difference between P&S and iPhone 4S in daylight/no-flash settings, so depending where you take pictures, YMMV. Sure you can zoom in and/or take a closer look to spot all the differences, but that not what P&S are for. I would carry a camera with me only if it would be something at the level of NEX-5N or better. The main question between iPhone 4S vs P&S is whether you need flash.

 

[jtvang125]

IMHO, there is little noticeable difference between P&S and iPhone 4S in daylight/no-flash settings, so depending where you take pictures, YMMV. Sure you can zoom in and/or take a closer look to spot all the differences, but that not what P&S are for. I would carry a camera with me only if it would be something at the level of NEX-5N or better. The main question between iPhone 4S vs P&S is whether you need flash.

Yep, I agree that the camera on cellphones have come a long way. I wasn't too impressed with it on the iphone 3gs but the one on the 4s definitely surprised me. The PQ can certainly rival most P&S in the $100-150 range. If you're looking for anything more capable in a camera you wouldn't be shopping for one in that price range anyways.

Also, a few things you gain with a P&S is unlimited storage using extra memory cards, true optical zoom, and a battery dedicated solely for picture taking unlike on a cellphone.

 

[foghorn67]

Why would you have multiple SLRs? I didn't peg you as a photag.

My wife has a S95..our iphones in daylight and well lit places take photos most can't tell online.

If I was printing (I own a wide format Epson 1400), then it would be different.

Outside of 110 and basic 35min, I owned a Canon A-1 with the best macro lens worth way more than the camera itself, then the A50, the A60, A70, Nikon 3500, A80, A95, A620, SD450, SD720, A650IS, S95.

Yes, I'm a photog. Worked for a studio part time for a while, and do other stuff freelance.
Usually did stuff with hair stylists and cosmetologists to build their portfolio. Fun work.
Thinking about just doing lifestyle and environmental portraits.

 

[HillBilly79]

I would agree with what some of these have stated. It all depends on how much you are willing to pay and the quality and sources you are going after. I used my Canon strictly for a long time, but then, iPhone camera came along with pretty decent picture quality. I still take my Canon on hiking trips and such where I would prefer the better quality pictures. Anymore, I just don't have as much time as I would like to use the Canon. So most of the time the iPhone comes in first for mediocre pictures of family, friends, and such that get uploaded to Facebook to share with them.