Point and shoots.

[RedGoblinz]

"A great photographer is one that can make great photos even with a toy camera."
But i find it really hard to do well with a point and shoot when :
1: The flash is direct.
2: The ISO isnt great.
3: There isnt manual settings.

And sometimes when my friends ask me to take a photo for them with their P&S i might just end up with one picture thats bad, which would be like showing my bad work to them, or giving them the impression that the camera does the work.

I wanna ask you guys what you think, because i think im not gonna ever help anyone again unless the P&S has manual!

Thanks!

[April Hurst]

Thats why I always carry "my" camera every where I go! After awhile, no one even asks me to use "their" camera...They just say "dont forget to send me that pict" lol!

[nickbedford]

There is a point of diminishing returns, I'll freely agree with. But it doesn't mean I can't still apply all of the tricks I can when taking a photo, such as framing it properly, focusing on the peeps, turning HDR on (on my iPhone 4) and metering it optimally etc.

[ElCapitanoAwesomo]

Originally Posted by nickbedford

There is a point of diminishing returns, I'll freely agree with. But it doesn't mean I still apply all of the tricks I can when taking a photo, such as framing it properly, focusing on the peeps, turning HDR on (on my iPhone 4) and metering it optimally etc.

THIS! ^^ Puts it into perspective how much control you have on the result when you're stuck with P&S, or as was in my case last year during finals, a 5 pack of disposable cameras...

[nickbedford]

In the end, the two biggest problems facing anyone trying to create a decent photograph with a point and shoot is the very large depth of field and the noise which severely reduces the practical resolution of the image. Other factors such as ability to work with complex lighting or other gear can creep in but are not the biggest problems.

The large depth of field makes it difficult to separate your subject, even with good lighting, a shallower depth of field helps to create depth in the photo.

The noise is typically several times worse than any budget DSLR, let alone a full frame modern sensor.

[brianxlt]

Although I agree an exceptional photographer will most likely produce a better image with a substandard camera than the average person, but they are still limited by the functions of said camera, that is why we have the high functioning of DSLR's and other similar image tools. There are the consumers market P&S cameras that are almost fully auto all the way to the high end P&S cameras that have everything DSLR's do except interchangeable lenses (some even have that). If you want to produce quality work you must use the best tools available to you no matter how skilled you are.

[SwissJon]

I never turn down anyones camera.. Any opportunity to take a photo is a pleasure. The fact is, when someone hands you their camera, they know what their pictures normally look like with it. If you can make one that is substantially nicer because it's well composed, even if it's limited within the capabilities of the camera, then it's still going to be something they appreciate.

Why are so many people camera snobs, and then make the bold statement that it's them, not the camera thats taking the photo?

[RedGoblinz]

Swiss - Not everyone that calls me to take their photo appreciates composition, but i guess composition is supposed to work sub-consciously like leading the eyes with lines and such.
And if you do fail to produce something great, you'll probably end up pulling down your name by a bit, i think. And you might give some people the impression that its the camera that makes great pictures since "Well, you take nice pics with YOUR dslr, but not with MY P&S! So that means DSLRs make great pictures!"

[Sweetlifephoto]

I think you guys are over-thinking this. People who hand you a P&S and ask you to take their picture are not expecting the same quality output that they would if you shot the image with your pro-gear. In fact, most of the time they apologize to me about how crappy it is when they hand it over.

What they want is an image of themselves and their friends at a particular place to look at and remember, post on facebook and probably never print. They are not expecting art.

But if you want to wow them carry a small rectangle of translucent plastic ( like a piece cut from a 1 gallon milk jug) and hold that over the flash to diffuse it. It makes a dramatic difference in P&S portraits.

[metallion58]

Originally Posted by Sweetlifephoto

But if you want to wow them carry a small rectangle of translucent plastic ( like a piece cut from a 1 gallon milk jug) and hold that over the flash to diffuse it. It makes a dramatic difference in P&S portraits.

In a pinch, I've taped an empty, cleaned, little white plastic creamer over my pop-up flash. Worked like a charm.