Bob they are lovely images I would be happy to shoot something like that

Great Shots Bob

I love my Little digi cam... have got my heart set on a DSLR but it will take a bit of saving up for! Untill then I am quite happy to plod along with my finepix.

stunning pics bob.

wildwalker i rest my case

bob knows his way around a compact as do many people

Not bad --- for a pocket camera. LOL And here's one of the crazy old photographer. The lake shot was taken in May but in the mountains that's still a bit early to be riding a motorcycle.

A good point - I was often 'challenged' with my 6MP Nikon D50 to prove that it was better that a 10MP compact camera. With the kit lens it was touch and go but with a good lens.........

I know we've all gone digital but the image still comes through a lens. For me - the lens defines the quality of what's captured and the MP count just governs how well that image can be stored.

Whether it's 2 or 21 MP - a camera's sensor will only record what the lens can produce.

What's the point in having an ultra high zillion MP 'sharp' rendition of a lower quality capture.




That said - I'd love a decent compact

Another thing that goes against compacts is the physical size of the sensor. It is far smaller than that of a DSLR. What this means is that the photosites are very small indeed and have to be electrically amplified more than a larger photosite. This results in far higher levels of noise.

Try using a compact at iso 400 and see the amount of noise there is in the image.

Steve

*Cough* The title said PRAISEfor the pocket digital camera.....

Quite a few members on here use P&S cameras and there are some very good ones out there, and not everybody can afford an DSLR, and the expense of different lenses. So I think the fact that you can very good images on a small camera for a fairly low price is excellent.

I loved all my P&S, and do use them still when I don't want to be carrying my camera bag, but still want to be able to take some pics. Like Stormey a couple of my fave pics are taken with my P&S

Like this one...



or this one..



Yeah they would of been even better with a DSLR but it was what I had at the time, and I still have the camera as it is bloody good

I just don't like snobbery about things, sometimes people don't want the hassle of a DSLR but enjoy taking pictures, or just can not afford one. Photography should be for anyone,and it doesn't matter what you use.
At the end of the day a camera is only as good as the person using it.

Sorry if it sounded like I was bashing P&S compacts 'cause that was not my intention.

I am definitely not a camera elitist and have taken pictures with all sorts of cameras.

There is a saying going along the lines of "a good photographer will take a good picture with a bad camera, whereas a bad photographer will still take a bad photo with a good camera".

A compact camera is limiting and there is no point in trying to hide that fact, but what they do is let you concentrate on the picture taking and handle all technical stuff for you.

Give a compact to a child and see the photos they take. Different angles, odd subjects and they break all the rules, and guess what, the images are great and refreshing.

I'm not knocking compacts, they have their place in photography the same as Full Plate cameras, DSLR's, film cameras (yes I still use film and one of my cameras I picked up second for next to nothing), pinhole cameras and disposable cameras.

It ain't the equipment, it's the end result that matters.

Steve

Steve, sorry that wasn't directed at you, or anyone in particular.

It's just that Bob started the thread to praise of the P&S, and I really do believe you can take very good shots on them.
Obviously, there are some things you are limited on , but I still think there are some really good ones out there, and would hate to think that anybody thought you can only do good stuff with a DSLR.

I mean look at Hayley , she came third in a competition with a pic that she had shot on her P&S.


I totally agree the camera is only as good as the person using it

Apologises Steve, it wasn't mean to sound like I was "having a go" at anyone

I Adore my little P&S. I still get some cracking images with it, the reason I upgraded to the DSLR was because I had SO much fun with the P&S but wanted to have a bit more control.

I still take the P&S out with me on walks etc - having had to play with the settings on the DSLR i now play more with the settings on the P&S - learning all the time.

Its Great!!!