Most of the time when I am taking photos I use my Canon 50D. I have a Canon Powershot ELPH as well, but most of the time that is used for photos of the kids when we are out and about. The Powershot is lightweight and easy to use. I generally don’t think about it much, it might be fair to say I take it for granted. For this post I would like to share two photos that would not have been possible without my small camera:
ISO 200 9mm 0ev f4.5 1/13
This photo was taken in a very tight space. My 50D would not have been able to fit in this space and focus. The Powershot settings I adjusted, waited for the robin to leave the nest, took a quick picture, and then hurried away. This shot is nothing complicated, it is just a quick shot, I wanted to be in that space for the least amount of time possible.
Then there are times when your larger camera is in use, but you see another photo:
ISO 200 20mm 0ev f/5.6 1/40
I had my larger camera set up for documenting the robin’s nest, and this bunny was very curious about what was going on, or maybe just hungry. Without the smaller camera, I would have no photo.
Now, I am not ready to give up my 50D, but I just wanted to put in a good word for my Powershot. Any thoughts on your favorite camera(s)? feel free to share in the comment section.
Cheers!
Photography Journal Blog 
Thank you for the good word about the Powershot cameras, that is the only camera I have that is not part of a phone.
LikeLike
Thanks, it is a good camera 🙂
LikeLike
I understand perfectly! Both cameras are useful and needed! Great nest shot too!
LikeLike
Thank you, and I’m glad you like the nest shot 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely post, thanks for sharing. The bunny is adorable! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, yeah the bunny was just so cute. There actually were two of them looking around but this one actually seemed interested in what I was doing.
LikeLike
I love the eggs photo. What a clear shot. We had a nest in the junipers last year and I don’t know whether I ‘looked’ too many times or another animal got into it because we found all the eggs on the ground.
LikeLike
Thanks, nests are delicate and a lot can happen to them. The one in the same spot last year did well, I know a cat tried to get at it, but it wasn’t able to get up there.
LikeLike
I had a small elph and I had to take it to the Caribean with me because I was just off crutches and my Nikon was too heavy. The photo I got from that little camera were amazing. So I can’t blow them up to poster size but the pictures were good enough for web and my albums.
LikeLike
Yes, the Powershot just shoots in jpeg, so that does limit the file size and also there are some post-editing constraints. It weighs like nothing though, and I am sure you got some great shots.
LikeLike
That nest photo is *beautiful* – the colours, textures and shapes.
LikeLike
Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
I also have a point-and-shoot camera – in difficult situations it usually doesn’t make pretty pictures – but if you know its deficits you can also make incredible pictures.
(Well, my “good” camera is not perfect as well 🙂 )
LikeLike
I think you make a good point, not every camera is perfect in every situation.
LikeLike
Love the nest pic. Those eggs look very exciting. Can’t wait to see the babies. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, it is really exciting for me to track this nest. I’m hoping to have babies soon 🙂
LikeLike
Great photos! : ))
LikeLike
Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
I agree completely. I’ve been traveling and all I had was my phone. I probably could have taken stronger images with my T3i, but since all I had was my phone it was the best camera of all. 🙂
LikeLike
As “they” say, the best camera is the one you have with you 🙂
LikeLike
If anyone would like to see what Chris has been “up” to and examples of photos from his phone, check out his post:
http://learnruncreate.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/weekly-photo-challenge-up/
Cheers!
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
I LOVE that nest shot. Beautiful coloring. Very spring-y. I actually have had a few Canon Powershots. I just upgraded to a Canon EOS Rebel in February, but when I bought my bag for my camera I made sure it had a spot for my powershot. I really believe that for a point and shoot it is a GREAT camera, especially when used in good lighting. I wanted to be able to have it for just some snapshots along the way. Glad I made the right choice 😀
LikeLike
🙂 Glad to validate your choice. I hope you like your Rebel, but I do think you will find that the point and shoot is still valuable. My powershot is pretty new because my old point and shoot died over the summer. There wasn’t even a question in my mind that I would replace it.
LikeLike
Enjoyed this post. Cute bunny. I have a few cameras including a Canon Powershot SX50 -the 50x optical zoom is great for wildlife shots.
LikeLike
Thanks:) A nice zoom can come in handy, I agree.
LikeLike
Those eggs are such a beautiful colour!
LikeLike
I agree! and it’s amazing how quickly those will become birds 🙂
LikeLike
Love the photos, especially the eggs – their blue colour is just very striking!
LikeLike
Thanks! they are beautiful, and I think you would be interested (as an artist) to see just how even that color is.
LikeLike
Nice shots! I agree with you about the point-and-shoot. If I am going somewhere with the grandkids and want to take photos, I will usually take my point-and-shoot and set it on auto. It’s much easier to carry around than my Canon DSLR.
LikeLike
Exactly, sometimes the bigger camera is just too much to have to keep track of when you know you are going to be busy 🙂
LikeLike
My point and shoot Canon Ixus 130 produces a lot more photos than my DSLR, but I get the best results with my DSLR. I always have my pocket camera with me at all times, even when I’m just going to get milk at the local shop down on the corner.
LikeLike
I try to keep my point and shoot on me at all times as well, it’s just good practice if you ask me.
LikeLike
Compact camera’s and camera phones do a great job as long as you don’t ask them to do the impossible. In fact, for many portrait / record shot scenarios they can be much easier to use and produce better results than the traditional DSLR – I make this point every year when asked to do the annual awards night photographs at the football club. No defence needed – horses for courses with a significant degree of overlap!
Love the blue of those eggs – I hope there will be lots of chicks 🙂
LikeLike
ps – example… Image taken by a fellow fan on a cameraphone at http://www.wingatefinchley.com/lowestoft250413.php vs same scene through 200mm zoom on dslr at 1/640 and f2.8 (6400 ISO) – http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin_addison/8682224521/in/set-72157633355895924 . It’s all that extra glass combined with the desire to stop the action. Of course, if you look at the rest of the set you know that the compact / mobile phone couldn’t have taken them. The cameraphone shot captures the atmosphere beautifully but it’ll never catch Ahmet in full flight 😉
LikeLike
You are right, and these are two excellent examples that illustrate your point really well. Thanks for adding this in the comment section.
LikeLike
I think what you are saying about not asking them to do the impossible is well said, and true of any camera really. I will be posting again this weekend about the nest so far. It is doing well 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: From Above, A Nest Story | Photography Journal Blog
For what it is worth, I decided I was getting too old to lug the DSLR and lenses everywhere. So the pocket compact goes everywhere, and the Canon SX50HS gives me 50x zoom when I need it. It is not ultra compact, but light enough. Now, if I could just hold it steady without a tripod, I’d really be laughing 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, isn’t it great how much this technology has gotten lighter? It is great to be able to be able to enjoy the moment and get the shot without wearing yourself out.
LikeLike