Who uses a digital compact camera?

[_Gissa_]

Just wondering who prefers a compact? I recently got back into photography after a 25 year break starting with a Nikon D5000. I found it all too complicated to remember and got tired of lugging 3 bodies and 4 lenses around so I changed to a Fujifilm F300EXR. I love it . Its small light has full manual control if i need it, easy to use and has the focal range that encompasses all that I had with the Nikon system. The image quality almost equals the Nikon too .Do you use a compact? How do you rate them compared to a DSLR?

[eyalg]

The F300EXR, like many other new compacts, provides excellent image quality
the lighting conditions are good. Compact cameras have come a long way in
recent years. However, in dim lighting, or when focusing on moving subjects,
there is just no comparison between them. The DSLR's shine whereas compacts
are left behind.
If you are happy with the ersults of your F300EXR - great.
If at any time you are less than thrilled, you'll be able to upgrade to a compact
with a larger imaging sensor like the G12, S95, LX5 or P7000, or even
upgrade further to a micro 4:3 system for the same quality of a DSLR,
but without the hassle.

[dlambert]

@eyalg is right on the money with respect to lighting. I've got a Panasonic FZ28 and a Canon 40D. The Panasonic will give the Canon a run for its money under the right conditions -- the most important of which is lighting.

I think it's good for people to understand that there are circumstances where smaller, simpler cameras might be a better choice than a full DSLR setup. Any time you feel like you're more likely to carry a smaller camera with you, or more likely to pull it out to take a photo, etc., you're better off with the smaller camera, IMO. You can't take a better photo if you don't have your camera with you.

OTOH, there's no denying that a good DSLR will give better results under conditions that would challenge a P&S. Low lighting is certainly one of those, but I've also come to appreciate the performance of the 40D in dynamic conditions -- ie, focus or exposure are changing. The 40D just sucks it up and goes, while my FZ28 would take fractions of a second to refocus or re-meter. I never appreciated that until I experienced "instant". I've also come to appreciate the immediacy of the controls on the 40D. I played with the FZ28 a bit this weekend, and as I changed settings, I was flipping through menus and clicking combinations of buttons for changes that would have been simpler operations on the 40D. All-in-all, some subtle differences, maybe, but every once in a while, they can be important.

[sk66]

I use them for specific purposes....
Can't beat a good P&S for an "always with you" camera...I use a Canon G10.
That said, I always have something of a kit in my vehicle and usually carry my DSLR if I'm planning on taking some shots.

[Smallfish]

I have both, a Canon EOS 550d and a Lumix FZ38 (Ok not strictly a compact but the same things apply). As said by dlambert the FZ38 gives the Canon a run for it's money in good light conditions. It's much smaller, had a lens with a range that the Canon can't match without switching lens, and is a much less costly thing to worry about on days out. The Canon in low light or for quicker focusing just kills the FZ38.

They both have there uses for me otherwise I'd have got rid of the FZ38. On the beach on holiday or an evening party it's the FZ38 every time, want to take pictures of a karate tournament or going to a wedding etc it's the Canon.

[khanrashed110]

I wasnt a huge camera enthusiast but ever since I got the Sony H70 digital camera I haven't been able to stop taking pictures of everything I see and then photo shopping them. The camera is excellent in low light conditions and the picture is always very clear (even when I edit the picture on photoshop). I noticed that most people have been mentioning Panasonic and Canon cameras so how does H70 compare to Panasonic and Canon cameras within the same price bracket (around £220)?

[RichardTaylor]

I use Canon DSLRS and a Canon G11 P&S.

As others have said. In good light, and when the shutter lag is not a problem, and youi don't want shallow DOF the P&S is good.
The extreme DOF can be great for some subjects and for shooting close ups the flip out screen can make life very easy as in this example.

(1)

Camera Canon PowerShot G11
Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 6.1 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

The G11's performance at high ISO is very poor, espcially comapred to a full frame camera.
Have a look at the 3200 ISO on the right hand side.(this is a jpg straight out of the camera)
(2)


Most of my pics are taken with a DSLR.
The G11 is a secondary camera and is the bag for those casual shots when my main camara is set up for specific shoots.
For example if I am shooting birds with a long telephoto the G11 will be used if I see a nice sunrise or 'scape.