lowkick Loc: Connecticut

I read a lot of posts about people wanting easy to carry point and shoot cameras for every day use. As I thought about this, it dawned on me that I still wouldn't carry a (strictly) point and shoot most of the time. I happen to love using an adjustable camera. It doesn't have to be a DSLR, but I need to be able to control and adjust settings. That, to me, is half the fun. I have realized that, while I love photographic images and, like most of you, would hate to lose a potentially great image because I didn't have a camera with me, I get great enjoyment out of "using" the equipment, and I get no enjoyment out of using a point and shoot camera. Making the photo is at least as enjoyable to me as having the end result. Therefore, I would rarely pick up a point and shoot to take with me because there is no fun factor. Every time I grab my DSLR or bridge camera I feel the potential for enjoyment surge through my veins. Of course, I always have my cell phone camera with me for those occasions when I didn't bring a "real" camera. Do any of you feel the same way?

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

To each his own.

To me, it's not the fiddling; it's the image.

davefales Loc: Virginia

My Sony RX100 has manual settings...in case I want have fun.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

you should research some of the newer advanced point and shoot cameras, you will be amazed at how much control is being built into them.

lowkick Loc: Connecticut

I don't consider this a point and shoot. It is a $950 camera that, to me, falls into the bridge camera category.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Even if your camera lacks most manual settings, there usually is a way, by carefully choosing from the settings provided, to make the camera do exactly what you want it to do - controlling shutter speed and aperture values, focusing, exposure compensation, white balance, etc. The problem is, most people don't take the time to familiarize themselves with the behavior of their p&s camera, what exactly each scene mode does, and how to manipulate its behavior with the provided adjustments! But it takes some amount of close observation and analysis to manipulate the camera's behavior effectively. Many people don't seem to have that sort of patience, let alone take the time to study the manual in full. Even the most simple p&s camera can be manipulated to produce the results you want. But you have to get to know it first.

BebuLamar

Luckily today many cameras which are called P&S are fully adjustable.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I consider my setup ideal.

My main setup is an EM1 and 12-40 2.8 and 75 1.8, and it all fits in a tamarc velocity 6 sling bag and weighs in at less than 5lbs. If I need to expand my lens/flash options, I add on lens bags to the sling bag.

My secondary camera is an EPM2 with a 20mm 1.7 pancake or 12-32mm pancake. It has the same sized sensor and has the ability to use the same lenses, albeit they'd be a bit large on this very compact body. I keep it ready to go in a small Crumpler Pleasure Dome bag that I can sling over my shoulder...it weighs in at maybe 1 1/2 lbs.

While the EPM2 lacks a lot of features of the EM1, it still takes great images for those "out and about" adventures with the family where I want something better than an iphone image.

My other p/s cameras (LX-7, S110) are my work cameras where I just need to document signs, and not really worry about image quality, although they hold their own when the exposure is nailed.

As to the Mamiya 645 Film Camera...I still use it, but only when I'm doing local landscapes when the weather is good... or when I want to slow WAY down.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Just another "how much control do I need" argument. Be sure and add RAW to your needs in a point and shoot camera so you can have more control. - Dave

waegwan Loc: Mae Won Li

Wow! I think we have to define what is P&S. I can do full auto P&S kind of stuff with my Canon 6D and I can go full manual on my Canon SD600 or my wife's Canon SX160. I do have a Kodak EasyShare mini in the house that does not have shutter speed or aperture settings and neither does my phone so I guess they are the only P&S cameras I have although even on them I can select white balance, scene and picture size.

But yes, I have as much or more fun taking pictures as I do looking at them. To me having a camera that I cannot manipulate to get the shot the way I want it is frustrating. Besides it is fun just playing with the stuff and I have lots of stuff. :wink:

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I wouldn't like to use a camera with no adjustments, but is there such a thing? Even cell phones have adjustments. I have an old Canon Elph SD800 from 2007, and that has lots of adjustments available.

For me, the big advantage of a DSLR is the larger size and the ease of making adjustments.

I think P&S is an inaccurate term for a compact camera. We all use the term "P&S,", and we all know what it means.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Pretty much do. I actually have to remind myself that my phone has a camera capability. I generally carry a camera with me 95% of the time. There are times where it just isn't convenient to do so, or I just want to take some time off.

I did convert my view camera to a bridge camera once.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-274381-1.html

--Bob

Leitz Loc: Solms

"Bridge" cameras are not point and shoot??

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?&ci=8612&N=4288586279+4052359762&origSearch=Bridge%20Cameras

Novots Loc: Grand Forks, ND

Take a look at the Panasonic LX100, it well solve all the issue discussed.

BebuLamar

You're right that what we call P&S is really a misnomer.