Our Point-and-Shoot Camera Shootout

In today's New York Times, Telstar Logistics Fleet Management Officer Todd Lappin takes eight pocket-friendly point-and-shoot cameras for a test drive... so you don't have to.

Our review proceeds from three key assumptions:

1) Because "photos always turn out much better when you have a camera on hand to take the picture," pocket-friendly cameras offer significant advantages over bigger DSLRs; and

2) These days, most point-and-shoots offer pretty good image quality; and

3) The most significant differentiator between point-and-shoot cameras is ease-of-use, as dictated by the design of the camera's user interface (tactile feel, switch positioning, screen menus, etc).

So which camera won our point-and-shoot shootout? Read all about it!

LINK:
Finding the Right Point-and-Shoot Camera (New York Times camera review by Todd Lappin.)

Comments

[Cianna Timbers]

Just read this article in the New York Times. It's great to see someone make a connection between ease of use and camera performance when reviewing cameras. This is also an example where the argument can't really be made that the user will just figure it out and ease of use won't have an effect over time. Just think how many times we've all handed our cameras over to a friend/stranger to take a group photo only to realize later that it was completely botched? Yes, usability is still important...

-CT
http://www.mauronewmedia.com/blog

[Evan]

Congrats on being published in the NYT!

[Richard]

My biggest concern when getting a camera is that it takes a normal memory format (SDHC these days) rather then propitiatory ones (so that eliminated sony right off the bat, and I have never being a fan of internal memory)

Also taking a standard miniUSB cable is a feature that makes great ease of use since everyone has several, whereas the propitiatory cables are always left behind - that's also a great case against the internal memory since you cant pull it out and put it in another device if the cameras flat or you have left the cable.

and turn on to shoot delay - that's horrible on some cameras - I used a friends one in the past that was at least 5 seconds from turn on just to let it do its little beeping tune on turn on before it even started to think about doing anything, whereas my old canon A460 is good to go in about 2.

The one thing I hate about my canon is that it has no option for mass storage mode, so I dont get a drive letter with the photos on it when I connect it to a computer

[Virginia Postrel]

I want a camera where I can actually see what I'm taking a picture of in bright sunlight. Do any of these qualify?

[jeremy]

I think only SLR digital camera able to let you taking picture of in bright sunlight.

[gaia gold]

Just read this article in the New York Times. It's great to see someone make a connection between ease of use and camera performance when reviewing cameras.

[Lisa]

I have nice camera in my mobilephone, but i always like to take snaps from my digital camera. It's very light weight and easy to use. Best among all autofocus.