JonathanChemE

I was looking for a pocket travel camera for when I don’t want to travel with my DSLR. I spent some time looking and went to a camera store to look and feel. They seemed small in my hand. I couldn’t decide and realized the technology was in most cases 5 years old. Then I read a post on UHH about the snapgrip about the same time as the iPhone 15 came on the radar. As one prominent photographer said consider it a camera that also makes phone calls. I took it on a cruise with some port visits. I couldn’t be happier with the decision.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

If you know you will have no need for a long telephoto, then your iPhone is a great choice for a travel camera, and the hand grip makes things easier to operate. You might check out the new Fjorden hand grip as it is loaded with great features that truly allow you to operate your iPhone like a regular camera. You can use it in full auto mode as well as semi-auto or full manual control of everything. It’s no cheap, but it may be worth the cost. There is a thread on the Smartphone Photography section devoted to the Fjorden grip.

photoman43

Check out the various Buying Guides at DP Review. Here is one of them.


https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/buying-guide-best-compact-zoom-cameras

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

Pocket ... Sony RX100v or vii. large pocket do-all Sony RX10iv

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Olympus, er, OM TG 6 it can take a beating and keep on ticking. Waterproof, drop proof, dust proof. Mine took a 20 foot flyer with no issue!

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I vote for the Sony RX100 vii. When we went on our cruise a couple years ago I took the RX100vii and my iPhone 11 and I couldn’t decide which one to use, but I ended up using the Sony the majority of the time, and I wasn’t disappointed.

A lot of folks mention the small size and small buttons, but I’ve found that once the camera was set up the way I wanted, I didn’t have to manipulate the controls much. When I did, I didn’t have any problems, even though I have large fingers and most of them are stiff from arthritis. I don’t us it a lot now, but I’m keeping it. As a compact camera it can’t be beat.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

Beside my Canon 5DII camera, I take my Panasonic DMC-TZ80, which is about a close to a pocket camera as one could get. It shoots RAW, and when our prior president had his people prohibit regular cameras in the cabin of any plane, this Lumix camera was my solution. I have some very pleasure enlargments of the Hemitage museum in St. Petersburg. Even a used version of this camera should still work well.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

For a pocket camera, I use a Nikon P7800. It shoots RAW, nice zoom range, built in flash. Available on eBay.

Crowtography Loc: Upstate NY

For a pocket camera I have the Canon G7X built in 100mm optical zoom, Leica lens. f/2.8, touch screen, great AF and shoots RAW. Has same sensor as my Canon D6. Great little camera
I took it to Alaska and San Juan Puerto Rico, couldn't be happier with it. Nicely built, not plastic, feels great
in your hand. about half the price of the Sony's mentioned.

Burkley Loc: Park City

Canon G7X is my travel pocket camera. Great size, raw format, sensor and a fast 2.8 lens. The technology on all the similar cameras is a few years old. The Sony has the 200 zoom lens but is slower. I chose the cheaper, faster camera, but the Sony features made the choice a difficult one. I had trouble using my iPhone with focus and depth of field problems.

RetCapt Loc: NorCal mountains

Here is another vote for the Olympus OM series. The current is the OM-7. Mine is an OM-4 as that was what was current when I was buying. They are all similar, so what I say applies to all of them.

The biggest advantage to one of these 'tough' cameras (as they are now termed, at least on DPR) is that if you are going to be in any adverse environments, you need not be concerned for your camera's welfare.

We live in an isolated rugged mountain area. We are both very outdoor oriented. My cameras are often vulnerable to being banged into rocks or trees, fallen on, rained on, or even being immersed and then submerged. This camera is water tight to 50', shockproof to 7', and pressure proof to 220# (IIRC). That means that any environment I can survive, my camera will too.

I even took it on my last trip to Disneyland. Disneyland is extremely crowded, even jammed. That means that one can collide with other people, and can also collide with structures and static objects due to jostling of the crowds. Between people carrying all manner of drinks, plus the presence of water at many rides, the camera is exposed to liquids. With an OM, none of these potential hazards is an issue.

I like the peace of mind that comes with carrying such a rugged camera. That is an additional benefit when travelling.

Burkley Loc: Park City

The one question I have about the OM7 is this: How is it much different than my IPhone 15 Pro? I will never have it 50 ft deep in water. Waterproof to 6 ft is just fine for me. I really wanted to buy into its toughness, but a 12 Mp sensor is the same as most of my IPhone pictures.

rossk Loc: Melbourne, Australia

I recently purchased the Ricoh GRiii. A superb camera with 18.3mm lens(Approx. 28mm in 35mm equivalent focal length), F2.8～F16., Fits snugly in pocket and a great travel camera.

rossk Loc: Melbourne, Australia

Here is URL for Ricoh GRiii

https://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/products/gr-3/

RetCapt Loc: NorCal mountains

Burkley,

I can't answer that question. I don't have a cell phone. We are so isolated where we are, that there is little to no cell phone coverage. High frequencies, vertical terrain and conifer needles, do not work well together. My bride has a folding cell phone for when we travel into areas where there is coverage.

It may hinge on what you want the camera to do. For me the only objective is the print that goes on my or someone else's wall. I have found that if I have proper light, do my job with the camera and in post processing that I can make 11X14" prints equal to what I get from my APS-C gear. I have printed from this format to my printer's maximum size limit (13X19") once. This was a night shot from downtown Radiator Springs in Carsland at Disneyland. To anyone who is fan of the film 'Cars' it is immediately recognizable. I have family members and friends who like that photo so much I tried it at the 13X19" size and it turned out perfectly, so they all have prints (that look like posters) in that size. I got it with my TG-4. No matter which other camera I might have if I were to return to Disneyland, I cannot improve on this image.

I doubt, but can't state definitively, that a cell phone image will hold to that size of enlargement as did the image from the camera. The camera also allowed me to zoom to get exactly what I wanted in the frame. So there was no cropping in post.

I can only recommend based on my experience. From there each person reading this has to make their own decision based on what they want their camera (or cell phone camera) to do.

I have a number of cameras in three different formats and configurations. The one I would not be without is my 'tough' camera.