Best small P+S camera

TenaciousTins · Dec 25, 2011

I am looking to get a small, inexpensive P+S for taking pictures and maybe videos inside airports and aircraft or whatever my family and I are on for transportation when going places. I don't want it to be so big it's noticeable so I can get away with shooting inside airports...mind you, I am always careful to not get any agents in the pictures and I don't want to break many rules but I like to document where I've been. However, I'm not about to lug my DSLR everywhere. I mean, I take it with me, but I don't want to be shooting with it inside airports and aircraft. I'm taking a trip to Australia in March and would love to have better documentation than iTouch pictures. Frankly, the pictures from that iTouch were so grainy and distorted even in the best light.

So what would you recommend?

bobandcar · Dec 25, 2011

I am a very beginner but the pictures from my Nikon s3000 look pretty good. It's tiny 3 by 4 by half inch.
It's way better than my iPod touch!

Destin · Dec 25, 2011

Canon s95 is the best small point and shoot on the market right now. Period.

As far as itouch photos, they must have slacked on that camera. I have an iPhone 4 and It has totally eliminated my need for a point and shoot.

usayit · Dec 25, 2011

Canon S95 or Panasonic LX5

S95 is smaller in size.

Canuk · Dec 25, 2011

Destin said:
Canon s95 is the best small point and shoot on the market right now. Period.

As far as itouch photos, they must have slacked on that camera. I have an iPhone 4 and It has totally eliminated my need for a point and shoot.

Curious if you have printed any of the images from your iPhone? I have the 4s and use it for what it is, great for webshots and when I need to send a quick email of something for work. I dont however have any illusions of printing these images for any sort of print work.

I use a G12 for a point and shoot but its not really small, but great images.

2WheelPhoto · Dec 25, 2011

TenaciousTins said:
I am looking to get a small, inexpensive P+S for taking pictures and maybe videos inside airports and aircraft or whatever my family and I are on for transportation when going places. I don't want it to be so big it's noticeable so I can get away with shooting inside airports...mind you, I am always careful to not get any agents in the pictures and I don't want to break many rules but I like to document where I've been. However, I'm not about to lug my DSLR everywhere. I mean, I take it with me, but I don't want to be shooting with it inside airports and aircraft. I'm taking a trip to Australia in March and would love to have better documentation than iTouch pictures. Frankly, the pictures from that iTouch were so grainy and distorted even in the best light.

So what would you recommend?

May as well use your smartphone and save a couple of bux.

che · Dec 25, 2011

Canon A1200 is a very cheap P+S and I am happy with the IQ and features for the money. The main benefit for me is the inbuilt viewfinder.

enzodm · Dec 25, 2011

che said:
Canon A1200 is a very cheap P+S and I am happy with the IQ and features for the money. The main benefit for me is the inbuilt viewfinder.

+1 since you asked for "Inexpensive", which the S95 is not. I bought one for when is better not to have something expensive with me.

RebeccaAPhotography · Dec 25, 2011

TenaciousTins said:
I am looking to get a small, inexpensive P+S for taking pictures and maybe videos inside airports and aircraft or whatever my family and I are on for transportation when going places. I don't want it to be so big it's noticeable so I can get away with shooting inside airports...mind you, I am always careful to not get any agents in the pictures and I don't want to break many rules but I like to document where I've been. However, I'm not about to lug my DSLR everywhere. I mean, I take it with me, but I don't want to be shooting with it inside airports and aircraft. I'm taking a trip to Australia in March and would love to have better documentation than iTouch pictures. Frankly, the pictures from that iTouch were so grainy and distorted even in the best light.

So what would you recommend?

Thanks. Us airport workers do NOT like to be photographed lol. In all honesty we really don't.

TenaciousTins · Dec 25, 2011

Lol I am very careful to not "shoot" workers

Or anyone else for that matter...I really pay attention to that as I don't want to offend anyone. I mostly like to take pics of my surroundings so that the next time I am due to go there or someone else is, I can show them what it looks like so they aren't as confused. I am SUCH a visual person, and when I was getting set to go on my first trip to Australia last year, I wanted as many pics of things as possible as I'd only flown once and certainly not on any trip like that. In general, my pics stay with me and don't get published even on Facebook...I just like to have the visuals there for those who need it. I also like to have something to do to pass the time LOL

Here are a few pictures I took from my trip from this year, using my iTouch (which isn't an old one, I got it last Christmas)

FWIW, I don't own a Smartphone although I would love to! But I just have a dinky LG Rumor LOL it takes worse pictures than this iTouch!

The pics from the iTouch aren't THAT bad but unless I'm missing something in the settings or something, just about any P+S would be better.

TenaciousTins · Dec 25, 2011

Wow the Canon A1200 looks exactly like what I want. THANK YOU all for your advice.

In case anyone is wondering, the in-flight shot is from a Qantas A380, economy section. Nice jet. Enjoyed my flights! The land shot is over Sydney area in Australia...the cloud shot is from the sunrise going into Australia...and the airport shot is from LA.

photo guy · Dec 25, 2011

Canon, Sony, Nikon, Kodak are all nice P&S cameras

TenaciousTins · Dec 25, 2011

Destin said:
As far as itouch photos, they must have slacked on that camera. I have an iPhone 4 and It has totally eliminated my need for a point and shoot.

Yes, quick research tells me that the iTouch camera is only 0.7mp while the iPhone is 5mp. Makes no sense to me at all! It's so called good video is trashy too, although not terrible, but I'd rather it be a little better.

Dillard · Dec 25, 2011

Destin said:
Canon s95 is the best small point and shoot on the market right now. Period.

As far as itouch photos, they must have slacked on that camera. I have an iPhone 4 and It has totally eliminated my need for a point and shoot.

True story. If you can afford the 95, you can still find s90's for a great price. They're not quite as nice, but still great!

TenaciousTins · Dec 25, 2011

Dillard said:
Destin said:

Canon s95 is the best small point and shoot on the market right now. Period.

As far as itouch photos, they must have slacked on that camera. I have an iPhone 4 and It has totally eliminated my need for a point and shoot.

Click to expand...

True story. If you can afford the 95, you can still find s90's for a great price. They're not quite as nice, but still great!

.
I would love to be able to say that I can afford either one of those but I need to keep the budget around 120 or less. Saving up for shopping for my trip...as well as saving up for my next trip. I try to go every year but I am only working as an on-call laundry lady at a hotel so...it adds up slowly! But I don't need anything real fancy although I'd love an S90 or S95 but the A1200 will do exactly what I want no problem. I'd be happy with an iPhone or SmartPhone quality picture lol just don't like 0.7mp for some reason!