Senrab

I enjoy photography but am not particularly interested in using an SLR, so I would appreciate some tips on how to use a point and shoot to take good photographs. I would also like to get some pictures on the best point and shoot cameras to use.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Fill the frame. Capture people facing toward the camera, not away. Shoot from an unusual angle, not standing straight-up, camera to eye-level, exactly the same anyone else could have done. If the results are not interesting, get closer, give us something we haven't seen before. If your camera has scene-modes, select the mode that matches the situation. The most basic software can help for cropping and adjustments to brightness, contrast and / or saturation, try whatever software came free with your computer or camera.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Welcome to the forums.

Tips.
(1) Have a subject.
(2) Fill the frame with the subject.
(3) No distracting elements.
(4) Learn about light.
(5) Learn and understand the exposure triangle.
(6) Learn about composition.

Re: The camera
- how much are you willing to spend (in $US)?
- What do you like to photograph?

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

Welcome and follow this advice.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

The no.1 question is how much are you willing to spend? I would suggest looking at Canon "G" series and Fuji "X" series point & shoot cameras. You can get good deals for new and used cameras on line. Nobody can tell you the best way to use a camera, camera use is pretty self explanatory, like driving a car, you can read books on that matter to get into more detail.

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

Also, too many tutorials on YouTube to count. I like Brian Petersens books on photography.

Silverrails

Point & Shoot Cameras are offered in a variety of levels, meaning some do more or Offer more to your Photo Experience. Most all have basically the Same Sensor size which will affect somewhat the Quality of the Images you Create. Some have very good telephoto lens, some do not. Some are inexpensive, some cost more due to what they offer. Most are light to carry around. Some will fit into your Shirt pocket if Male and your purse if Female
Do your Research, I had a relatively inexpensive Panasonic Lumix Point & Shoot which produced very nice images. But none of the Point & Shoot cameras will match a Quality DSLR Camera.

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

Welcome to UHH. You got good advice from Chg_Canon and Richard Taylor. You can find many video tutorials by searching in YouTube for the type of photography you like to do. Also, ask questions in the different sections of UHH, or use the search function here too.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

If price isn't an issue, check out the Canon G1X III. It has a 24 megapixel APS-C sensor and is quite capable of DSLR/MILC quality images. You said the best and it is one of them.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

You have already received some very good advice. You just have to choose a Brand name. I suggest that you go to a Best Buy Store, if one is nearby, and look at some of them. I bought a point and shoot camera 4 years ago, on Sale, from Best Buy Store.

w00dy4012 Loc: Thalia, East Virginia

Yes.

8'x10', Olympus Stylus, Fujicolor 200

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Taking better pictures involves being self-critical, Being self-critical involves understanding why certain images "grab you" and others are just ho-hum. It also involves critique from others. In order to get meaningful critique you'll need to "show us whatcha got". By meaningful critique I mean a careful and informed deconstruction of your process, goal(s) and execution. All too often critique takes the form of this is how I would have done that picture without any inquiry as to your creative intent. You might get good critique here, but at your stage, you might want to join a local camera club, where you will get all of the above.

Eventually you may find that what comes out of your camera doesn't meet your ever-improving standards, and you start to look at a)your equipment, and b)post processing options. I would do b) before spending any money on a).

As far as a camera is concerned, just about anything on the market will take good pictures, including cellphone cameras. As you develop your skills you'll find that you gravitate towards a particular type of subject, so you'd be in a better place later if you concentrate on understanding composition and lighting - both of which are completely fundamental but still challenges more advanced photographers.

Taking good photographs is a lifelong learning experience - and it can be a source of fun and pleasure

R.G. Loc: Scotland

P&S cameras are typically small and light, which means that camera-holding skills and steadiness are more important. And they aren't all created equal when it comes to manual control options or the ability to shoot raw, so you may want to keep an eye on these points when you go shopping.

Small, compact travel cameras typically don't have much in the way of manual controls, if any. They usually have very small sensors which means that in anything other than moderate lighting they have a tendency to saturate (i.e. blown highlights, and shadows devoid of details). The small sensor means that a wide range of zoom is a possibility, but lots of zoom also means compromise where the optics are concerned, so don't go for a superzoom unless that's what you had your heart set on.

You may find that premium compacts give you the combination of small size and performance that you're looking for. They're not the cheapest option, but buying second hand is a possibility in most cases. If you want something that's truly pocketable I would recommend looking at the Sony RX100 series. There are various different versions with different lenses and capabilities, starting with the Mk I and going up to the Mk VII. They all have a 1" sensor and good optics. My personal choice would be the Mk III.

Other alternatives in that category are the Panasonic Lumix TZ100 (ZS100 outside the US) and the TZ200 which both have good zoom ranges, and the Canon G7X MkII (there's a Mk III but it doesn't sound like much of an improvement and it costs more). The Lumix lenses aren't as bright as those from Sony and Canon, which may be a factor if you do a lot of indoors shooting (the lower the f-stop the brighter the lens, as I'm sure you know).

Where shooting style is concerned, others are recommending that you always fill the frame with the subject. I would say that sometimes a subject benefits from having a setting and sometimes it's a good idea to include some of the surroundings for the purpose of providing context and/or story-telling. But you didn't ask about composition so I won't say any more about that. I'll just recommend leaving your options open.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Welcome to our forum!

1. Find an interesting subject.
2. Choose a good composition.
3. Be very steady, using something to support you and/or the camera, if possible.

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

That’s what I’m missing!!! #3 something to support me and my camera. !!!!!