Tiny LCD: I was at the reservoir the other day, and as I was getting back to the car, a Japanese tourist asked me to take his picture. He handed me an old, silver Fujifilm camera which...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I was at the reservoir the other day, and as I was getting back to the car, a Japanese tourist asked me to take his picture. He handed me an old, silver Fujifilm camera which had a fold-out LCD that was little more than an inch across. Of course, in the bright sun it was hard to see an image on an LCD anyway, so it was point-and-hope. He looked at the screen after I took the shot, and thanked me. His English wasn't very good, so I didn't get into a discussion with him.

This situation reminds me of questions we often get here. "I'm going on a big trip, and I want to get a good, new camera. What should I get?" This guy spent thousands on a trip from Japan to the USA, and he brought an old camera with a tiny LCD. If he didn't care about getting pictures, he wouldn't have been walking all along the reservoir taking pictures. So, why no new camera? If it ain't broke, don't fix it?

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

In my camera inventory I have an old Fuji with an LCD screen of about 1.5" wide. It is kept in the glove compartment and goes everywhere. It is a point and shoot, Auto focussing, auto exposure, auto flash. Its only redeeming feature is an electronic viewfinder (very small).

The camera has never taken a poor quality photo, just very small ones. 2 megapixels interpolated to 4 megapixels and a 3X optical zoom. I often wonder why I keep it; the memory cards are no longer available, the camera is no longer supported and if it breaks down would be non-repairable, but I can't part with it.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Searcher wrote:

In my camera inventory I have an old Fuji with an ... (show quote)

This one was a step above P&S. I had the Fuji 7000 and 9000 series - newer, black, and bigger. Very nice cameras.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

jerryc41 wrote:

I was at the reservoir the other day, and as I was... (show quote)

As odd as it may seem, not everyone with a camera has any real interest in photography or any understanding of camera capabilities. Maybe that camera is the one he has used for years and it has always given him the results he wanted. Or maybe he's just cheap. Or maybe he didn't want to risk his good camera amongst us barbarians! :D

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

LFingar wrote:

As odd as it may seem, not everyone with a camera has any real interest in photography or any understanding of camera capabilities. Maybe that camera is the one he has used for years and it has always given him the results he wanted. Or maybe he's just cheap. Or maybe he didn't want to risk his good camera amongst us barbarians! :D

All possibilities, and I'm sure he'll return home with great pictures, especially the one I took. :D

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Jerry, I like to call them 24/7s. my standard reply to the Question posed: "I'm going on a big trip, and I want to get a good, new camera. What should I get?" I have my standard answer....**

I stand by my Pan ZS-20.. with its Leica 20x optical lens system. The ZS-20which may be better than the newer ZS30 one which chops up the sensor to claim more MPix...
Is there noise at hi ISO, yep, but that is why I have my Topaz deNoise. (actually full package of Topaz).

Low cost 37mm Filters attached by:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-75114-1.html
Sun is a problem, but a 3" popup sunshield works wonders ($10 and a eye view unit $10 on ebay)

$170-$220 at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00728ZBA2/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new

I carry every thing in my belt pouch/pack. Camera, filters, extra batteries, extra memory, ID, money, Credit Cards, and cell phone. A very safe arrangement for travel.

Yep, have DSLR,but is a load to far on the weight and prime for theft scale.

Oh,, Jerry how about an iPhone with lens attachments... Yep their day is coming and here for some... OK, off my soap box.

**The new pocket Sony's really look tempting ... price is coming down.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

dpullum wrote:

Oh,, Jerry how about an iPhone with lens attachments... Yep their day is coming and here for some... OK, off my soap box.

**The new pocket Sony's really look tempting ... price is coming down.

It's amazing the lens attachments they have for iPhones. I'd never get them, though. The used compact cameras are tempting, but so are new compact cameras.

The new Sony RX100 III is tempting, but at $800, it's $100 more than the II.

HarryBinNC Loc: Blue Ridge Mtns, No.Carolina, USA

jerryc41 wrote:

The new Sony RX100 III is tempting, but at $800, it's $100 more than the II.

That $100 gets you a nice EVF, which is a bargain, IMHO, and turns it into a camera that I would actually buy.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

HarryBinNC wrote:

That $100 gets you a nice EVF, which is a bargain, IMHO, and turns it into a camera that I would actually buy.

I'm giving the III serious thought. I like the EVF, although I prefer optical. I like the pop-up flash, and I wouldn't miss the hot shoe. I like the F/1.8 - 2.8 lens, and the 30mm reduction in focal length doesn't bother me. It's 24mm vs 28 for the II. I prefer wider to more tele.

h1h1d4mje

What is your budget? How experienced are you with photography?

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

jerryc41 wrote:

I was at the reservoir the other day, and as I was... (show quote)

My feelings exactly. I love your "point-and-hope" description. I am having a dilemma that I posted on the forum and got great responses. We are heading for the Arctic on an expedition type ship in September. My Nikon with its long lens will not always be practical. I need a long zoom. Long story short - bought a Sony P&S that I thought would fit the bill. In bright sun light, I can't see you-know-what on the LCD. Point and hope for sure! I am getting a bridge camera to take. It will give me the features I need and a manageable size.
We travel a lot. The trips are not cheap. I need equipment that suits the conditions in which I will be photographing.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

MadMikeOne wrote:

My feelings exactly. I love your "point-and-h... (show quote)

Take a look here.

http://www.polarcruises.com/polar-info/arctic-info/arctic-photography-facts-and-faqs

And more...

http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=camera%20for%20an%20arctic%20cruise

Picdude Loc: Ohio

jerryc41 wrote:

It's amazing the lens attachments they have for iPhones. I'd never get them, though. The used compact cameras are tempting, but so are new compact cameras.

The new Sony RX100 III is tempting, but at $800, it's $100 more than the II.

Good Grief, I guess I haven't had the curiosity to look for phone attachments like that. I never realized there were that many options. Give them a couple more years and you won't be able to argue the iPhone as a P&S anymore. :shock:

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Guys, ET did not use a DSLR to "phone home" humm.

Sun problem on 24/7 (that are referred to despairingly as P&S), search EBay, LCD hood, also camera LCD hood loupe .... both under $20 Both work fine. Altho, I had to use an aux lens cut from my old glasses for the loupe unit... Hay, I can start fires with my glasses... thought it was a miracle when reading a Playboy Magazine and it caught fire!!

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

dpullum wrote:

Guys, ET did not use a DSLR to "phone home" humm.

Sun problem on 24/7 (that are referred to despairingly as P&S), search EBay, LCD hood, also camera LCD hood loupe .... both under $20 Both work fine. Altho, I had to use an aux lens cut from my old glasses for the loupe unit... Hay, I can start fires with my glasses... thought it was a miracle when reading a Playboy Magazine and it caught fire!!

Tried the hood. For me it was just a nuisance that got in my way.
Love your Playboy story. Funny!