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    • Help Me Pick A Camera

    • This could well be a good topic for this place...

      Help me pick out a camera.

      Here's what I'm looking to replace - Nikon Coolpix S4300 - a 16MP point-and-shoot compact camera that actually had a respectable rating back in the day. In fact, I got lucky when I bought it - it came in a two-pack from Costco. My elderly dad was looking for a dead-simple digital camera. Having two of them meant I could walk him thru the steps with mine in the event he had issues.

      What I want it to do:

      I've used this camera, along with a predecessor on a laynard around my neck for those 'gotta get it!' photos that happen while riding a motorcycle. At times, the motorcycle may be moving, so it should be fairly easy to turn on and hit the shutter button with a gloved hand.

      Price range? I dunno...$600?

      As I was writing this, I just learned about the term 'bridge camera'. I just don't know if something like this might also work as replacement in the use case mentioned above.

    • Given that your Nikon Coolpix S4300 was a small camera in addition to your proposed usage of the camera while you are riding, I think considering cameras classified as bridge cameras would be a mistake.

      I like @DangerDave's recommendation, something in that family would work although the G5X is showing at higher than your proposed price range.

      Have you looked at reviews of point & shoot cameras published this year? That might provide a starting point.

      Best Point and Shoot camera 2020If you're shopping for a point-and-shoot compact camera, you've come to the right place! At Camera Labs I write in-depth reviews of cameras but understand you're busy people who sometimes just want rewww.cameralabs.com

    • Gaah! Soooo confusing!

      So, there's a couple of differing versions of the G5X, for example. Just like many other pieces of technology, the new-and-improved versions are in some cases, but in others they're not.

    • For hanging on a lanyard smaller is better I have one of these Fujifilm finepix XP 140 and it's been great, shock proof, water proof, buttons are OK for gloves.

      The Cannon Powershot are great cameras but they have shutter style lens protector and they don't like dust or grime and can jam partly open if you are doing some dirt riding I'd stay away from any closing lens gizmos if its going to be out there in the elements on a lanyard.

      These are cheaper than your budget so you could still get a better camera for your tank bag.

      fujifilm-x.com

      Pillion pic on the move as an example,

      photos.smugmug.com

    • For the G5X mkI is a good bit bigger IIRC VS the mkII. But with size being a major concern what about the G9X? It won't be as big of a step up as the G5X but I think it's safe to sat that the jump from the S4300 to the G9X would be bigger than the G9X to the G5X or G7X.

      The reason I bring it up is because it's smaller which if that means you'll take it out more that can be more important than actual image quality. The price is also only about 430 for the mkII version. The only downside is the lens which is a 28-84 compared to you S4300's 26-156.

      I think the Canon G#X line is a pretty solid choice for this all around. The big question is what do you want the trade off in terms of price/size/performance to be?

    • The big question is what do you want the trade off in terms of price/size/performance to be?

      I dunno, but I really think that's what I'm struggling with.

      On many of my motorcycle travels, I'm trying to get decent pictures of interesting this while on the fly. Yet, there are circumstances that make me actually stop and compose a photo.

      One of the few that I did a couple of years ago, I posted here on Cake:

      I did a little tour this summer...and, I spent a LOT of time doing a blog on the ride after it was done. I've also posted this on ADVrider.com - naturally. After all, a lot of different ways to 'adventure travel' out there! One ...www.cake.co

      I might have stumbled onto what I'm trying to do. I want to get good images quickly. Yeah, the S4300 does a respectable job, but good grief, it's slow.

      ...and, it doesn't do RAW images, either.

      From a quick get-away a week ago:

    • Just did a deeper dive (it helps not doing this in the middle of the night lol) and found another option, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100. You get a wider zoom range than your current camera (25-250). That's 400 dollars, there's the newer ZS200 but there big feature is an even larger zoom range at 24-360 but it's 200+ dollars more and if you don't need that range I wouldn't bother wine the big thing is a better electronic viewfinder but since you seem to be good without one at all even having a half decent one will be good enough for those rare times that it comes in handy like the sun hitting the display.

      If the size is OK it basically will capture anything you want just image quality will be compromised a bit but should again be a step up from the Nikon.

      The other option is the G1X mkII, I think you'd need to find one used now but it's pretty cheap. I found one at KEH so it has a warranty for about 340 dollars:

      Canon Powershot G1X Mark II Digital Camera with Standard Grip {12.8MP}The Canon Powershot G1X Mark II is a premium high end compact digital camera with a relatively large 14x18.7mm ('1.5 inch') BSI (Back Side Illuminated) CMOS sensor, a bright high quality wide-angle to portrait zoom lens, a 3inch tilting LCD touchscreen,www.keh.com

      This will be on the bigger end of a point and shoot but it's a solid camera. The sensor is based on the original 7D's and they made a lot of improvements over the original G1X I owned solving most of the issues I had with it. This will give you probably the best image quality overall, the resolution is lower at 12 vs 20 MP but between the sensor and lens for stuff to post on the web or prints that aren't huge (16x20+) you should be fine. I loved my G1X and if I could justify it right now I would have probably just bought the camera I posted in that link.

    • If you can't be bothered taking the camera out of a bag or pocket - or taking your gloves off - is that photo really worth taking anyway? 👹

      I also agree there are tons of good options and I'm not really pushing this unit (It's a Mk1) - only that I get a good result from it and it is very portable.

    • If you can't be bothered taking the camera out of a bag or pocket - or taking your gloves off - is that photo really worth taking anyway? 👹

      Sure, pics from simple point and shoot are often part of a great story, that does not have the time for carefully composed great photos, using good equipment. Many examples on ADV in ride reports.

      Great photography combined with journalism is an art form, but there is always a place for a good story with a few amateur pics.

    • If you can't be bothered taking the camera out of a bag or pocket - or taking your gloves off - is that photo really worth taking anyway? 👹

      I also agree there are tons of good options and I'm not really pushing this unit (It's a Mk1) - only that I get a good result from it and it is very portable.

      I dunno, is it?

      I mean, @RussP somewhat nailed it - if it's part of a story, sometimes even a crappy image is better than no image.

      Yet, maybe there is time to compose and get an above-average-for-an-amateur image. We get such great images from our phones these days, that it's nice to also have that in your pocket as well.

    • sometimes even a crappy image is better than no image.

      I'm not being crusty, but I don't subscribe to that. It's a difference between Pros and Amateurs. Publication standards.

      My point is the results in Photography are generally commensurate with effort.

    • Okay, I'm by no means qualified as an 'expert' but maybe as a heavy user. hahaha!

      So what I had for many years / ride reports was this:

      images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com


      Casio High Speed Exilim Ex-ZR700 Digital Camera Black EX-ZR700BK - International Version (No Warranty) I got this for about $165 at the time...

      This really is a gem of a P/S camera in that the optics are quite decent and the zoom is fantastic and clear. But what really sets it apart is the amazing processing speed, and more so the power up which takes less than you can say "paparazzi" and is programmable to the button press of your choice. That's exactly why I chose it. Lanyard around my neck, one left handed operation is all I needed while riding. No need to look just aim vaguely point and shoot!

      Examples:

      Using it's Zoom - way over reached!

      photos.smugmug.com

      While riding:

      www.smugmug.com
      www.smugmug.com
      photos.smugmug.com

      At events:

      photos.smugmug.com
      photos.smugmug.com

      I still have it and after many years of being banged up, and even used in rain, it still works - albeit no longer perfect!

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