We’ve all got a smartphone in our pocket or hand right now that probably has a camera with a higher resolution on paper than many point and shoots on the market. Software on phones like the Pixel 3 have pushed the boundaries of what small lenses are capable of, so you might be asking yourself if it’s worth bringing a dedicated camera on your next trip at all?
You can see the answer to that question in the video above or read on.
Shrinking Markets
Recently, while doing a Road Tested! on the 4 year old Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 to see how well it’s held up, I realized the question became less about the camera and more about the technology itself. There are some clear advantages to traveling with only a phone and what they can’t do, bulkier DSLRs do better than point and shoots, similar prices. Small markets generally mean a more specific target market, here’s whether or not that’s you.
First, let’s start off with the current phone you’re using. For this article, I’m generally talking about flagship phones that are 1-2 years old at most. The iPhone X, 8, Samsung Galaxy 9, Google Pixel 2 and above – that class of phone. Older phones might be adequate but they don’t do a good job of bridging few large gaps with point and shoots listed below.
Wide Zoom
Because of the limited size of smartphones, manufacturers have had to come up with creative ways at implementing a zoom lens. Some use a two-camera setup (one for wide, the other telephoto) but in general, optical zoom on smartphones is limited. (Digital zoom – a software trick – isn’t very good, although the Huawei Honor View 20 I saw at CES was promising.)
Obviously cameras with interchangeable lenses like the Panasonic Lumix G85 give you a lot of angle options but if you don’t want to carry the bulk, the ZS70K is a pocket-sized camera with a massive range. And not just zoom range but the often neglected wide-angle.
For travel photos, wide angles are generally more useful. Often, you can get closer to stuff but if there’s a ledge, crowd, or some other obstacle behind you, the wider the angle, the fewer steps backward you need to get one of the world’s largest buildings into view.
Some Considerations Being Eliminated
A few years ago the low-light performance of most smartphones was one of the big selling points for getting a dedicated camera (with its bigger lens). On Google phones at least, that’s not a problem anymore. See below:
Apple and other manufacturers will eventually copy catch up on this incredible software-enabled feature; not only keeping up with point and shoots but leaping well ahead of them.
Niche Functions
Still photos, portraits, action shots, and video are all equally on par with most point and shoot cameras. In many ways point and shoots can outperform a smartphone, but it’s probably not worth the weight or an additional $500. There are some exceptions though; like if you want a microphone jack to record high-quality audio (not impossible with phones either), use HDMI for output, or spare your phone’s battery life.
Additionally a point and shoot can also give you another angle to shoot from (i.e. multiple cameras), tend to sit up better without having to lean on stuff, and aren’t as tragic of a loss or theft than your precious smartphone. Ultimately, good point and shoot cameras worth buying are in the $500 range, bumping right up to cameras like the mirrorless G7. At those prices, unless physical size is extremely important for you, a slightly bulkier camera with lens options might be best, otherwise a new smartphone is likely all you’ll need to carry.
This is an updated version of a post originally written in 2017, a lot has changed in cameras since then.
shoot can also give you another angle to shoot
Definitely another angle to look at it from 🙂
“Ultimately, good point and shoot cameras worth buying are in the $500 range, bumping right up to cameras like the mirrorless G7. At those prices, unless physical size is extremely important for you, a slightly bulkier camera with lens options might be best”
Agreed, good point and shoots like Canon G7X or Sony RX100 will be $500 or more.
But a slightly bulkier camera with lens options will be 4 figures.
Unless of course you stick with the kit lens, but then you are better of with a smaller compact camera, both for size and image quality.
I agree – though unless you stay in the mirorrless realm you can find some like the Lumix G7 or G85 even which drops down to $500 with the Panasonic lens. It’s like you say though, the case for a point & shoot is becoming less compelling for most people at those prices. Usually it’s people with an older phone or who feel they “need” a camera for a trip, when often a smartphone will do as well, if not better for those purposes.
I guess I wrote gibberish, cause u understood just the opposite of what I was saying 😉
Panasonic G7 and G85 with kit lens are inferior in every way to a pro compact like Canon G7X or Sony RX100 or Panasonic LX15.
Unless u spend at least as much on lenses as on the body (better twice as much), there’s no reason to get a mirrorless.
If you get a Micro Four Thirds like you suggest, you pretty much have to buy the Panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 or Olympus 12-40 mm f/2.8 for around $900 unless you shoot mostly with prime lenses. Otherwise what’s the point compared to a pro point and shoot?
Of course if you spend all that dough, you have to ask yourself why you didn’t just get a Panasonic LX100 II, which is better in every way.
I’m biased of course. I use a Canon G7X,. Smartphones don’t even come close yet. Smartphones will probably catch up once they come with 9+ sensors.
Hah, I’m an idiot 🙂 I tend to lean mirrorless for portability since I travel so much and with lots of gear as it is plus really like the video the Panasonics produce out of the box.
I agree with what you’re saying though, it’s a big grey area in terms of price, there’s a lot of overlap and of course phones jumping in too. Though I disagree the pro compacts are better in every way (missing the headphone jack on the RX100 is a big one).
For many people though, these distinctions are not important. Mostly, if you’re looking for a point and shoot for a trip, you’re probably not looking at anything else. But if you’re up at $500, then some of those people might be enticed to spend relatively the same amount but go with a more versatile camera. If you’re will to jump up in form factor (the bulkier device) you might do it but if you definitely don’t want bigger, than for many people sticking to a phone vs. the point and shoot is probably money best saved for more traveling 🙂
I didn’t know we were talking about vlogging. Actually I don’t know any pro compact with a microphone jack, not even Panasonic LX15 or LX100 II have one. If you really need a camera for professional vlogging, then mirrorless is probably the right choice.
For photography it just doesn’t make any sense to spend $500 on a shitty kit lens when you could have a pro compact with a much better build-in-lens for the same money.
Of course you can use a good lens with the mirrorless, but that means you’re gonna spend $1500, not $500.
If you buy the mirrorless now to maybe get a real lens later, that won’t happen 95% of the time. And if you find out you are one of the 5%, you will be happy to have a very decent second camera and also you don’t have to hold back on Full Frame cause u already have some APS-C or MFT body. That’s the best “upgrade path” 😉