To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure what I like best. The fact that I will get the shot, or the looks of utter bemusement on the other faces. Because, after all, a little-bitty point and shoot camera is just one step over a toy, and in many cases, only a toy. Everyone knows that you can’t possibly get a serious shot with just a toy. Why, in this age of the extraordinary DSLRs out there, would anyone actually use a toy?
But, there are a couple of reasons I carry a small point and shoot camera almost everywhere I go.
First off, it fits into my jean pocket. It fits in there completely, too, with barely a noticeable bulge. It is comfortable, unobtrusive, reasonably protected from the various things that happen to me, and mostly importantly: with me. And a camera that is with you is a camera that will get the shots that would otherwise be missed.
Captured with a small camera.
Case in point: not so very long ago I was driving down the road when the most incredible blue rays of light appeared in the sky. Since I wasn’t expecting to do any photography, my good cameras were safely at home, since I would be parking in a public place, and why take a risk for no gain? But of course, I had my small camera with me, and of course, it took the shot, and I had a photo that I would not otherwise have had. Even better, the kind folks at MIT were able to identify the atmospheric phenomenon that I saw, making a great candid shot into something very wonderful.
Second off, these small cameras can be amazingly powerful. Sure, their sensors are small, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use that to your advantage. One product in particular comes to mind: The GigaPan. This amazing device takes point and shoot cameras just like mine and, using a robotic device, produces absolutely incredible results. You might recall one of the most stunning successes of this… the incredible image of President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address by David Bergman. Sure, this one photo is composed of 220 separate ones, but that just illustrates the amazing power a “toy” camera can have. (Note: I do not currently own a GigaPan, so I am simply going by what I am told. My research suggests, however, that this device works as advertised. Generally, I really do not care for people who talk about what they do not own, so I am not endorsing this. I am merely using it as part of my point that small cameras can pack a big wallop)
To be perfectly fair, small cameras have their limitations. They might boast an incredible pixel count, but pixels don’t matter all that much: it’s the sensor itself that does. We’ll leave that topic for another day.
What about you? What other uses have you found for a small pocket-sized camera?
Happy Shooting!
(Claim Q7G57V9HYSRR)
