DW wants binoculars and point and shoot camera

[traveldawg]

I carried my Canon 80D and all the lenses last year and never used it. iPhone has been doing well. Wife tries those impromptu photos throughs the windshield while moving with her camera (Nikon Coolpix P1000 - or something like that), and it is just as inconvenient for quick grabs.

If I wanted just a point-and-shoot I'd be in the rangefinder category - one you just point and click. It might limit creativeness & such but it would be fine for those quick shots - as long as she keeps it ready and on her lap.

Binoculars - it really depends on what you intend to do with them - hike, stationary, tripod mount, etc. Decided that then decide..... I've had a pair of Nikon zoom binoculars for a long time. They are heavy but get the job done for special occasions (not for carrying daily). We also carry a small pair compact pair with us when hiking; something in the 8x42 category.

The next time I would just get a nice monocular for hiking & such. Light, easier &, I think quicker to focus and zoom.

[Second Chance]

... If I wanted just a point-and-shoot I'd be in the rangefinder category - one you just point and click.

Hmmm... with a rangefinder you have to look through a small viewfinder and focus the lens system until the top and bottom halves of your subject line up. That's a lot slower than a modern autofocus digital camera (and digital rangefinders are running between $800 and $8,000!) I used a 35mm rangefinder (along with a 2-1/4 x 3-1/2 medium format folding camera) for a while in the '60s before I got my first 35mm SLR.

Rob

[WhittleBurner]

Hi Marcy,
I'm getting invalid attachment for the first pic.

Fixed.. I hope

[livinthelife]

Looking for any recommendations on portable binoculars and a point and shoot camera for DW. She was very frustrated with the lag in the camera in her phone and would really have liked a small binocular on this season's trips.
TIA

I used to have a really great Panasonic point and shoot. I keep my camera on a wrist loop at all times, so I'm ready for quick shots. The Panasonic I could hit the "on" button and the button to actually take the picture at the same time and get what I was (more or less) aiming at.

I now have a Lumix, because I needed a waterproof point and shoot. It works great, also, and it has sports mode as well as one for taking pictures through windows (like from the truck while traveling).

[AllenV]

Binoculars: We use Athlon Optics Midas ED

These are reviewed in Wirecutter (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/r...st-binoculars/

We have had them for a few years now and use them for a mix of Birding and Larger Fauna. These are ones that usually ride in the door-pocket of the truck. Better, clarity and brightness in dim light than our older, cheaper, Nikon and Bushnell.

Point and Shoot: I have Canon M200 mirrorless for snapshots. Very light and small. Many, many options in this category. You may need to read a few reviews (again, in wire cutter, for example) and decide what fits your needs and wants. The M200 has interchangeable lenses, this may be a no-no for you.

[AllenV]

And another point I forgot to mention:
The compact mirrorless cameras come with and without RANGEFINDERS.

The Canon M200 does not have a rangefinder. One must look at the screen on the back of the camera. This can be an issue in bright light, such as if the sun is hitting the screen. Then it can seem dark. A rangefinder does not have this shortcoming, but rangefinders can be a bit "approximate" in framing the image in some focal length and distance-to-object situations.

[AllenV]

I am starting to remind myself of Monty Python skits

And another point: Above I mentioned rangefinders. They come as Optical and Electronic. The electronic rangefinder will correctly show the framing of the image in all situations. They also come at a cost premium.

[dryfly]

I recommend Vortex binoculars. Not the cheapest, but excellent quality.

For digital cameras, what kind of photography is she looking to shoot? Landscapes, close-ups, wildlife, etc.? It will depend on the type of photos she is looking to capture.

Most inexpensive, brand name, digital, point and shoot cameras should do okay.

I second the suggestion on Vortex. They have several models depending on what price you are looking at. For the last 2 years Bass Pro has had the Vortex Viper 10X50 on sale for half price on black Friday. Might happen again. I've compared mine to much higher priced glass and I'm well pleased.

[MtnGuy]

I have a relatively new iPhone, so can't comment about the android phones, but my experience has been that the phone camera is SO good that it is VERY rare for me to take out my Nikon DSLR. I have never seen a lag that was more than on my DSLR; it may be worth doing a youtube video and going through the settings on your phone.

Huge advantage with the phone is that I always have it in my pocket. I really don't want to carry a camera too.

This is basically what we do now also.

Our iPhone 12 Pros have a 2x optical lens which does a pretty good job. And the phones are usually with us….can’t take pictures if the camera is left at home. I have a nice older Canon SX Power Shot (that I also use underwater with a housing), but I think the IPhone does just about as good. We took the SX on our last trip and never used it.

I sometimes carry an older Canon Rebel with a 75-300 mm lens if we expect to see game on hikes and keep it in the truck while traveling.

[West of Ordinary]

I'm a Canon guy. My R5 and choice of lens' works well for me. However, my wife is a different story. She also wanted a point and shoot. Something small and lightweight. She likes to use it for travel photography and wildlife. For wildlife, you need a lens with some reach. We found the Sony RX 100 VII. It has a very respectable 24-200mm lens length for what she wants to do. The image quality is extremely good. I would suggest that you look up the specs to see if that is what you want. I would also suggest that she hold one in her hands before buying to make sure that she is comfortable with the ergonomics.