My friend Ed Hansberry made a post to the Mobius mailing list, where we were discussing digital SLR cameras, asking whether or not he was the only one that liked point and shoot (P&S) cameras. This was my reply.

Ed,

I think everyone that has a DSLR also has a P&S - the two technologies are not mutually exclusive in any way. I never leave my P&S behind, even if I’m bringing my DSLR, but I will sometimes leave my DSLR behind and only use my P&S. P&S cameras are great, but there are some things they’re not so good at:

• fast shutter release (for getting that picture right away - even the worst DSLR is faster than the fastest P&S)
• flexible lens choices (though there are some P&S cameras with amazing zoom)
• low-light photography (noise free, focusing without much light)
• super-sharp images (I love my Canon SD 870, but the image quality it has pales in comparison to any DSLR)

On the other hand, P&S cameras have video while “real” DSLRs do not. The best camera you have is the one you have on you - so there have been many instances where my P&S camera got great pictures that my DSLR did not simply because I have my P&S on me. (more…)