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The POINT and SHOOT Camera
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Point and Shoot digital cameras have become as common as wrist watches.
We will focus on exploring two specific areas of this topic:
- What is it?
- Should I get one as my next digital camera?
This type of camera is the camera equivalent of the automotive world's stripped-down, no-frills, manual transmission, no-electric-anything Nissan Sentra.
(The Nissan Sentra is being used only as an example because I had to use some car name. In case there are lawyers lurking around, I will say that I like Nissans and have owned 4 of them in my lifetime. Please don't sue me, just write a letter and I will change it to Toyota.)
It used to be that this type of camera offered few or no manual controls. It's intended role was to serve as a very simple camera that takes basic pictures, and is easy to carry.
With that in mind, manufacturers have made just about everything on the camera, automatic. The operator of this camera pretty much doesn't have to mess with anything. You turn it on, aim, and push the shutter. That's it.
At least, that's how the point and shoot started out; but as users enjoyed their convenience, more features were demanded. In many cases, little point and shoot cameras of today rival the capabilities of pro-sumer models of 3 - 4 years ago.
Should I get one as my next digital camera?
Believe it or not, many years ago, I thought the same thing when I was about to buy a camera (it was film).
The store owner made one statement (which turned out to be absolutely true) that convinced me to get a much more advanced camera.
He said... "Most of the higher end cameras also have point and shoot modes available."
I thought, "What a perfect situation... I'll start with the Point and Shoot modes and eventually work into the more advanced-creative functions." And, as they say...the rest was history.
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