Good Image Quality Older Pocket Cameras: It might be nice/fun to have a compact/pocket camera for quick shooting that was better than a phone. I find the phone telephoto is cumbersome.

frjeff Loc: Mid-Michigan

It might be nice/fun to have a compact/pocket camera for quick shooting that was better than a phone. I find the phone telephoto is cumbersome.
So thinking of buying an older unit (understanding the compromises; by virtue of its age). I enjoy shooting and owning vintage guns, driving vintage cars, dinking old bourbons, etc.
So I need input as to which cameras might fit the bill. Thoughts?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Is your premise accurate? An old pocket camera is better than a phone? What camera, what phone? If you weren't really serious in 'better' or even 'as good as', any old camera will be fine. I had a Sony Cyber-Shot W80 (7MP). Did a great job. But, it used an odd sized (shape) SD card and a Sony-unique USB cable. If I lost that cable, I'd have no way to get the images off the card. When the battery died and wouldn't recharge, the only place I could find replacement batteries were Turkey. This would still be my pocket camera if the batteries from Turkey hadn't taken 3-weeks to arrive. A bit of polish on the JPEGs and they're ready / great for sharing online. And superior to my cheaper smart phone.

If you go with something other than current technology, make sure the camera uses at least today's standard cables and cards and you can get a new battery. Consider too a camera that captures on RAW to maximize the potential of the images.

mffox Loc: Avon, CT

Panasonic ZS-70: 1" sensor, 20MP, nice image quality, fits in your pocket.

Olympus SZ-2: If you can find one. Olympus quality, 16MP, really fun to carry around. Also pocketable.

RJWagons Loc: Lake Ridge Virginia

I use a Canon G7X and am very pleased with the quality, the size and about everything. I believe there is also an updated version now. Very handy pocket size.

therwol Loc: USA

RJWagons wrote:

I use a Canon G7X and am very pleased with the quality, the size and about everything. I believe there is also an updated version now. Very handy pocket size.

I have the same camera. It's one of the top tier, 1 inch sensor compact cameras, and its price reflects the quality. (Around $650). If the OP is looking for a camera that's better than a phone, it is one option, but if I were buying again, I might look for something with a longer zoom.

Canon recently released the Mark III version of the camera. It adds 4K video.

I think that the OP may be looking to find something older and used (and cheaper).

frjeff Loc: Mid-Michigan

I think that the OP may be looking to find something older and used (and cheaper).

Yes.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

frjeff wrote:

It might be nice/fun to have a compact/pocket camera for quick shooting that was better than a phone. I find the phone telephoto is cumbersome.
So thinking of buying an older unit (understanding the compromises; by virtue of its age). I enjoy shooting and owning vintage guns, driving vintage cars, dinking old bourbons, etc.
So I need input as to which cameras might fit the bill. Thoughts?

Get an older pocket camera that has a built in viewfinder. The great majority of newer pocket cameras unfortunately do not have this feature.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

If you can live with no EVF, the old Nikon S8200 is a very good one. I had one and took a lot of nice images with it. I don’t recall the megapixel count, but it had a 14X zoom (roughly 300mm eq.) It’s simple—no shooting modes, it’s all automatic. There a few scene selections. I gave it to my granddaughter and she totes it around all the time, taking photos. I think she’s to the point that I think I can teach her some things.

repleo Loc: Boston

rook2c4 wrote:

Get an older pocket camera that has a built in viewfinder. The great majority of newer pocket cameras unfortunately do not have this feature.

The Panasonic LF-1 is a great pocket camera from 2013 camera if you can find one - actually there is a used one on Ebay at the moment - see link. It is a co-branded version of the Leica C Type 112. 12MPix with a Leica 28-200mm F2.0 lens. It has a small but useable EVF and possibility of manual control. I have had two of them. It is durable with a metal body, but you hardly notice it in a pants pocket - only 190 grams. Great images.

https://www.ebay.com/p/166874948?iid=303324263891&chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=303324263891&targetid=475515102861&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9002019&poi=&campaignid=6469981122&mkgroupid=79220336802&rlsatarget=pla-475515102861&abcId=1141176&merchantid=6296724&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5dPuBRCrARIsAJL7oeiymRyTSU_CfyZtXLz5rqFIeBL8Xok-qE3hkmpVciG92zEtI9OGNXwaAl6IEALw_wcB

ed2056 Loc: Warwick, RI

I picked up a Nikon P5000. What a fun camera. Has all the bells and whistles, EV, viewfinder, hot shoe for speedlight. 10 MP. In its day it was a $500 camera. I picked one up on Ebay under $100, including manuals, S/W, Box, cables, etc. Last summer I spent a week in DC and only took the P5000. Excellent results. Good luck.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

frjeff wrote:

It might be nice/fun to have a compact/pocket camera for quick shooting that was better than a phone. I find the phone telephoto is cumbersome.
So thinking of buying an older unit (understanding the compromises; by virtue of its age). I enjoy shooting and owning vintage guns, driving vintage cars, dinking old bourbons, etc.
So I need input as to which cameras might fit the bill. Thoughts?

I owned a Canon pocket camera I bought about a decade ago. It was 7.1 megapixels. A good camera. I sold it, and used that meager money towards my first 10 megapixels DSLR. I suggest you get a later model pocket camera. Suggestions will be given. I own a Sony 20 megapixels pocket camera too, I bought 4 years ago. Good luck.

Lonnie77 Loc: Kennedale, Texas

Cannon G10.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Canon G16 - for specs, see:

https://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/powershot-g16

Expect to pay about $250-$300

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Modern smartphones produce very good pictures. Some have a moderate telephoto lens, most don’t. I agree that tough zooming is a pain and a digital zoom reduces quality. Other than that, when I use my iPhone 10X I live within its limitations. The accessory tele lenses don’t interest me.

bw79st Loc: New York City

frjeff wrote:

It might be nice/fun to have a compact/pocket camera for quick shooting that was better than a phone. I find the phone telephoto is cumbersome.
So thinking of buying an older unit (understanding the compromises; by virtue of its age). I enjoy shooting and owning vintage guns, driving vintage cars, dinking old bourbons, etc.
So I need input as to which cameras might fit the bill. Thoughts?

The Canon PowerShot S100 12.1 MP (not the Digital ELPH model) will fit in a shirt pocket yet takes very nice photos. I took this in 2013 using an S100.