What’s the best point and shoot camera (Page 2): How much Post Processing do you anticipate doing? Do you hope to use JPEGs Straight Out Of Camera, or do you assume that you will...

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Fletcher91 wrote:

Thanks so much. I realize I’m talking about different things. Was just on vacation in Costa Rica and a friend had a canon SX410 IS....and got great pictures of birds. I did ok to, but his were excellent. I just thought I’d rather have a newer version. Are megapixels what makes the difference? I believe the zoom was 40x on the canon and 20 megapixels. Mine had 16 megapixels

How much Post Processing do you anticipate doing? Do you hope to use JPEGs Straight Out Of Camera, or do you assume that you will create a 'raw' file, and then spend time manipulating that 'raw' file to create a final result??

edhjr Loc: Needham, MA

Panasonic zs70 is an amazing camera. wide angle to long zoom; can use with auto or manual settings. Always in my pocket or bag, really versatile and capable!!!!!!!!!!! I upgrade when a new version comes out. Wife has previous model and our daughter has the one before that. All used regularly. Shoot D500 and D850 a lot but almost never leave the house without the zs70. Check it out.

Fletcher91

Most likely JPEGs I’ve never used a raw file

Fletcher91

Thank you

Fletcher91

Most likely JPEGs , I’ve never used raw files

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Super zooms get their capabilities because they have even smaller sensors than most. If you are more interested in quality get one that captures in raw. Even though they're called Point-N-Shoots, understanding the menu is key to getting the most out of these cameras.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Fletcher91 wrote:

Most likely JPEGs , I’ve never used raw files

Most P&S cameras have so-called 1/2.3" sensors. These are small sensors, which have three issues:

(1) The cameras have strict ISO limits, and even within those limits the upper values are noisy.

(2) The camera has limited Color Depth, much lower than what JPEG can convey. When I was young, my family spent time at Torch Lake, MI. At the southern end, where we stayed, the water was 4' or less for perhaps a mile out, but it eventually became very deep, so the range of colors we could see on a sunny day, from shallow water, sandbars, and deep water, caused the locals to call this the "Place where the rainbow stores its colors". A 1/2.3" sensor might have trouble capturing all this variation well.

(3) The camera has limited Dynamic Range. In sunlight, Caucasian skin may lose its detail. In forest glades, you can capture shadow areas, or sunlit leaves, but not both.

We can make suggestions, but ultimately you will have to research areas such as these.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

And that's the problem with point & shoot cameras - they break way to easy. Sorry - but point and shoot's are notoriously fragile. May I suggest that you spend a bit more and look at the Sony or Fugifilm systems. You can use them almost like a point and shoot with the LCD screen on the back and you will get much better results in image quality. You will have to deal with lenses but at least you will not be spending good money on bad equipment.

Fletcher91 wrote:

I’d like to purchase a camera that’s fairly easy to use for taking great pictures of birds and wildlife, Sunsets etc. I had a Nikon Coolpix B500 very briefly but the lens got stuck and I had to return it. My pictures did get pretty nice even though it was new to me. How do I get the sharpest and clearest photos from a camera. And what camera would work best for me. I want to stay around the $300 amount

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Panasonic Lumix FZ70 is a fine camera and in your price range.

https://www.dpreview.com/products/Panasonic/compacts/panasonic_dmcfz70

Whatever your choice use your new camera in good health!

hj Loc: Florida

The OP mentioned a Nikon point-n-shoot breaking. Don't judge all Point-n-shoot cameras by Nikon's reputation. In addition to my Canon DSLRs I have had many, many Canon Point-n-shoot cameras and have never had one go bad. Canon's are not fragile as you suggest. The only Nikon I ever bought was unusable within two days.

DanielB wrote:

And that's the problem with point & shoot cameras - they break way to easy. Sorry - but point and shoot's are notoriously fragile. May I suggest that you spend a bit more and look at the Sony or Fugifilm systems. You can use them almost like a point and shoot with the LCD screen on the back and you will get much better results in image quality. You will have to deal with lenses but at least you will not be spending good money on bad equipment.

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

rmorrison1116 wrote:

You really need to finish reading a response before you criticize it. The camera you recommend is the Canon SX60HS. What camera did I recommend? The Canon SX60HS; imagine that.
I too own an SX60HS, a G1X III, several other bridge cameras, and about a dozen DSLR'S, including a Canon 7D II, a Nikon D500 and a Canon 5DSr and 5D IV, along with a whole bunch of Canon, Nikkor, Sigma and Tamron lenses, so I'm pretty sure I have a clue of what I'm speaking about.

What I took issue with was that you stated that bridge cameras don't have the needed zoom for photographing birds. This just isn't true. Since you own all those bridge cameras you are aware of this. You went on to recommend a DSLR to an OP who had asked about a point and shoot in the $300.00 range. Yes, at the very end of your post you tacked on a recommendation for the SX60 after you had stated a DSLR with a 150-600mm lens was a much better idea. A confusing post is what I responded to. I don't doubt your knowledge, I just disagree with a couple of statements that were made.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Fletcher91 wrote:

I’d like to purchase a camera that’s fairly easy to use for taking great pictures of birds and wildlife, Sunsets etc. I had a Nikon Coolpix B500 very briefly but the lens got stuck and I had to return it. My pictures did get pretty nice even though it was new to me. How do I get the sharpest and clearest photos from a camera. And what camera would work best for me. I want to stay around the $300 amount

If you already have a high end smart phone, you're probably always going to have the best point and shoot camera (the one you have with you!), unless you have a real point-and-shoot. $300 isn't going to get you much.

http://www.dpreview.com has all the reviews you need. https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/buying-guide-best-cameras-under-500 is a good place to start.

As for your, "How do I get the sharpest and clearest photos from a camera?" question, we could spend thousands of lifetimes answering that! Go to the top of this page and click Photography Digest, first.

mjbrock2012 Loc: Grants Pass,Oregon

Ditto the Canon SX50. It's a great choice IMHO

Rashid Abdu Loc: Ohio

Have you thought about the Sony Rx 10 1V camera? Look it up. It may be just what you need.

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

Rashid Abdu wrote:

Have you thought about the Sony Rx 10 1V camera? Look it up. It may be just what you need.

The Sony RX10 IV is a great camera, but it sells for around $1,600.00, the OP mentioned a budget of around $300.00.