Whither compact cameras

[threemonkeys]

I find myself mildly curious about compact cameras. There used to be lots of them on the market. But today in Dick Smith I noticed that the formerly large display now only has a handful of models on it. Now that is hardly surprising with the ever increasing quality of cameras in phones. On the other extreme, serious photographers don't seem to use compact cameras - they use DSLRs or some other "full size" items*.

But there still appears to be a gap there for the compact cameras. They still have better lenses and better sensors than even the best phones (not forgetting optical zoom) and they fit in a pocket. But I don't know when I last saw anybody using one. Is the gap more illusion than actual? Are they an obsolete technology?

The reason I'm curious is because I have just finished watching a documentary series about a properly obsolete technology - bulletin board systems. They were a technology that went from peak usage to being properly obsolete in about 6 months. I couldn't help wondering if these small cameras are in the same category. And yet, there was a tiny Panasonic Lumix with 10x optical zoom and 16Mpixel and I couldn't help thinking what a nice thing that would be to own.

Anybody out there still using a compact camera?


*Really I have no idea what those full size cameras entail - I an not a serious user of camera technology. Not ones that don't fit in my pocket anyway.

Comments

[crazyscot]

Odd. Dick Smith's website seem to list plenty of compacts.

I have an aging compact, an elderly DSLR and a recent bridge camera (looks like a DSLR but doesn't have interchangeable lenses). For me, it's horses for courses: the compact fits in a pocket or on my belt and is easy to whip out, but is not as flexible as the others. The bridge, being the most recent acquisition, has the best screen and longest zoom. The DSLR has the highest quality lens, best range of settings, and the ability to swap lenses. Both the bridge and DSLR have filter rings, which I use.

[threemonkeys]

I did have a look at the web site after I had been at the store and they certainly do have more. I did notice that there were a few clearance lines at the store (stacked haphazardly in a cupboard low down) which were all the Fuji and Nikons models. It could be that Dickies are dropping those lines in which case I suspect those brands will be gone from the web site soon.

And you learn something new every day - I hadn't heard the term "bridge camera" before.

[fred_mouse]

I adore my compact, and I consider them an appropriate entry level option for kids, who I would not give a smart phone to.

[threemonkeys]

Ah-ha. That answers another query I had. There was one very cheap and simple camera that I saw and I was wondering what the market was for it. The answer is obviously kids - "my first camera'.