When do you use your compact?

[Bossy]

I'd get rid of it and buy another lens for the slr.
Here is why.
For anything serious that you do with a camera, you'll be doing it with the SLR while shooting in raw .
The compact or bridge, or what have you, then becomes a boat anchor with a lens.

You gotta get the right compact!

I only shoot RAW with my compact. The 14 bit -- that's right 14 bit -- RAW files from my compact are excellent! I control exposure in either P, S, A or full M mode on my compact which by the way also allows me to sync up an external flash if needed.

If the auto focus on my compact isn't doing the job I switch to full manual focus. It's macro capability is awesome and also permits full manual focus.

My compact has a fully articulated live-view AMOLED screen that makes the LCD on your SLR just look sorry. It permits me to do things like shoot around corners that no SLR can do and/or take photos from 3 inches above the ground without lying on my belly -- try that with your SLR.

The zoom lens on my compact is better than any kit zoom lens sold on any SLR. It's also better than most non-kit zooms sold on most SLRs. It's also an f/1.8 max aperture zoom -- good luck getting that on your SLR. Yes, I can't carry extra lenses around and change then as needed. I'm stuck with this single awesomely superior optic and if it's not the focal length I need, I'm screwed. I take my compact to the grocery store. Who takes their SLR and multiple lenses to the grocery store?

Yes my compact has a smaller sensor that's noisier at high ISOs. Fortunately that f/1.8 zoom lets me keep the ISO down. And yes it takes it's good old time writing those gorgeous 14 bit RAW files to the SD card so it's not too good for sports action -- pisser!

Then again, at half the price, it swats down the IQ of just about any entry level SLR with a cr*p kit zoom and it fits in my pocket and goes everywhere I go. I use it almost every day.

Joe

Does your compact have a name?

 

[Timoris]

Amoled? Most likely Samsung.

Although it sounds like a Panasonic or Canon.

Most new SLRs now have articulated screens, the T3i or 600D comes to mind.
Same with some EVILs and the G12.

Still trying to figure out if that post was sarcastic or not.

 

[Dao]

Why do people "insist" on calling them "Micro 4/3rds"? The original designation is E.V.I.L.s

Electronic
Viewfinder
Interchange
Lens

MUCH more awesome. :-D

It is because all Micro 4/3rds at this point belongs to E.V.I.L, but not all E.V.I.L are Micro 4/3rd.

 

[Ysarex]

I'd get rid of it and buy another lens for the slr.
Here is why.
For anything serious that you do with a camera, you'll be doing it with the SLR while shooting in raw .
The compact or bridge, or what have you, then becomes a boat anchor with a lens.

You gotta get the right compact!
[snip]
Then again, at half the price, it swats down the IQ of just about any entry level SLR with a cr*p kit zoom and it fits in my pocket and goes everywhere I go. I use it almost every day.

Joe

Does your compact have a name?

Samsung EX1.

Here's a recent photo. This is not cropped or sized. I minimally processed it by converting the RAW file (RAW Therapee) without adjustments for lens distortion so you can see how bad the lens really is -- there's some pincushion. I took RT's minimal input sharpening and cut it down by 1/3. I applied no output sharpening of any kind nor any noise reduction either input or output. So this is a half-processed photo that will give you an idea of the camera's capability.

I saved it as a high quality JPEG. It'll take some time to download. Examine the detail along the frame edges. Look for CA. RT does some default CA removal and otherwise provides manual CA adjustment. I didn't touch it. I do get some CA from this lens when I push it, but it's always been so slight it comes right out in the converter. I can see a hint of CA in this photo along some edges which I would have otherwise taken out. I'm impressed.

http://photojoes.org/cheapy.jpg

Joe

P.S. Years ago I decided I wanted a camera with me at all times. I went through a collection of various P&S cameras, some pretty good, but I always wound up as others noted here giving them to the kids or nephews and nieces, and hoping the next one would be better. I was accustomed to the quality I got from my SLR. I was accustomed to exposure control. I was accustomed to RAW file processing, etc. So this last go around I decided to look harder for a compact without compromise. It doesn't exist, but the EX1 is darn close. That f/1.8 zoom makes the camera just a little too big. The sensor is just a little too small, etc. But I'm not giving this one to a relative.

 

[usayit]

I am shooting with "compacts" more often than not... with Rangefinders, micro 4/3, and Panny LX3 (largest to smallest). More than happy not to lug around a large DSLR system.

 

[shortpants]

I don't have one, so never. When I did, mostly it was in the diaper bag in case my kid did something cute. I lugged around enough crap so the DSLR didn't come along very often.

 

[ahcigar1]

I keep a compact in my daughters diaper bag for fast out and about photos when she does something cute or new and want to get a quick snapshot.

 

[skieur]

Only for quick shots and not so friendly areas.

Yup, particularly at night. Compacts are also great for areas where you are not supposed to be taking pictures and when you are going out for dinner in a nice area but your wife does not want to be accompanied by a dork weighed down by camera equipment.

skieur

 

[imagemaker46]

Took my old compact with to a death metal concert and played with it, haven't looked at anything yet, but am not expecting any wall hangers, maybe something different.

Well they were different. A few had a lot of noise and a few had more than a lot of noise. But it was a good concert.

 

[DiskoJoe]

DSC01320 boocamera by DiskoJoe, on Flickr

 

[gsgary]

Never don't have or want one, i use a 35mm rangefinder instead

 

[Joel_W]

I sold my P500 bridge camera when I purchased my DSLR as I had no real use for it. I upgraded so that I can have even more control of the photographic process in the areas like Florals, macros, etc. that are my main interests. I do have a P&S: a Kodak C713, which I use often. I use it in situations that would put my Nikon in natures Harms way, such as on my boat when I'm fishing, nasty weather conditions, etc. I'll pack it in my carry on when my trip doesn't have photography as one of it's main objectives.

 

[Kolander]

Never. My Sony Cybershot sleeps on a shelf years ago. Small and quick, I agree, but its quality isn't worth at all.

 

[Alex_B]

I use a compact in the mountains, when I have only one hand free. Or when in the water.

 

[manaheim]

I use it when I need to prop up the corner of the table.

I also use it to weigh down papers.

On occasion I've been known to use it to prop open the door.

Once I used it as a projectile to stop a mugger.