Even professional photographers sometimes eschew their digital SLR and other high-end camera(s) and carry a point-and-shoot.
Smaller size, easier to pocket, less obtrusive, lightweight, risky terrain… there are many reasons why even pros like to have a good point-and-shoot camera available at all times.
For those with experience, what’s the best point-and-shoot camera that also shoots RAW and why? If you’d like to prove links to images you’ve taken (on SmugMug, flickr, personal website, etc.), please do!
Leica X1
Dunno if it’s the “best” in the pro photo world.
Canon ELPH 300 HS is what I have, and love it. thin and shoots some damn good pics, and 1080 HD video.
The question was, “What’s the best point-and-shoot camera that shoots RAW?”
The Canon ELPH 300 HS doesn’t shoot RAW.
It is capable of raw. Canon just turns it off.
CHDK turns it back on.
Needing to install a custom firmware for it to shoot RAW would have been a good bit of information to add to your initial post.
I too have this camera and you piqued my interest with this CHDK. Googling it, shows that it’s not supported.
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/ELPH300
I’m partial to Canon point and shoot cameras and Canon SLRs. For SLRs it’s really a toss up between Canon and Nikon as regards how comfortable you feel with a particular brand and accessories like lenses and flash. I prefer Canon for its warmer colors and more accurate rendition of palettes but it’s a personal preference. I like the way the Canon SLR body is shaped and to me lightness without sacrificing picture quality. I hate toting a complex SLR around that shoots incredible pictures but weighs a ton.
I recently went through a review to get a great quality camera for the wife. We chose the Canon S95 camera. It consistently gets top ratings, is built really well, small and takes amazing shots. I know some Pros who use it as a backup or testing camera before they get out the big and bulky pro camera.
Agree. It’s been replaced by the S100, which is better, smaller, faster. http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-S100-vs-Canon_PowerShot_S95
After a thorough review of pocketable cameras, I chose the Canon S95 as well. It’s nice that I can leave my digital SLR at home and still get really good results shooting RAW. It’s a very capable little camera.
I know the new S100 has a different sensor than the S95 so, for that reason, I can’t vouch for it. I don’t think there are enough reviews in yet to make an informed decision. It’s best to read multiple reviews and not rely on just one, as there’s always the possibility for bias.
While I am not sure you would call it a pocket camera the Canon G12 is about as close to DSLR quality in a small camera you can get. Here is just one of many G12 flickr groups http://www.flickr.com/groups/canon_g12_from_snapshots_to_greatshots/
I second the G12. It has Canon ‘L’ quality glass, if I recall correctly.
The G12 is only pocketable if your entire wardrobe consisted of field jackets and cargo pants.
Leica d-lux 5. Although there is a cheaper Panasonic vetsion made on the same assembly line, the Leica has a better warranty and better firmware. This is the best point and shoot camera. Period.
Another vote for the Lumix LX3, now superseded by the LX5. Nice RAW pix, manual options, but it has a lenscap so not as pocketable as some of the slimline models others are proposing.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3/5 and Leica D-Lux4 Flickr group http://www.flickr.com/groups/843626@N22/
I have the Fuji X100 and it’s incredible.
although it’s from a small company, I hear great things about the new Ricoh GXR w/the APS-C sensor module, right up there with Leica X1 (also APS-C).
smaller sensor cameras like Canon G12, Leica D-Lux5, etc cannot compare in dynamic range, lowlight capability, and detail to new larger-sensor point and shoot models.
I’d suggest the Fuji X100. Large ASP-C sensor custom mated to a very sharp fixed focal length length lens, it has become a very popular carry camera with professional photographers because of the excellent high ISO performance and tack sharp lens and images. The build quality and looks rivaling old range finder cameras as well as modern Leica’s don’t hurt either.
I agree with the others: the best point and shoot is the Leica d-lux 5, no question. The X1 is perhaps better, but it’s no longer point and shoot, at least not in terms of price!
I use my iPhone for pictures and video. Great outside but not as good in low light. I understand the iPhone 4S is better than my iPhone 4 is. When I get one later this year, I will find out.
The iPhone is always with me and the new jump to photo on start up is great. 2 pushes on the home button and a touch on the icon and you are ready to shoot.
iPhone 4/4S is a good camera but does not shoot RAW format. Unfortunately.
Canon Powershot S100 sounds like a winner to me.
Agreed! I have the S95 and it is great, the S100 looks even better!
Love the Sony Alpha NEX-5. Takes great shots and video. Hardly ever have to use flash as sensor quite large. Worth a look.
Fuji x100
I have a feeling, since it’s quite new on the market, that the Nikon 1 series might be a very good contender, It’s close to the Sony NEX range. Nikon always have had better lenses for the camera than Sony.
LEICA M9
1
I just got my hands on one of the new Canon S100’s a couple of weeks ago and am still in the process of forming an opinion. So far I am very satisfied with it. It is a very small camera so should be judged only against cameras of a similar size to be fair. It’s new sensor does perform better under low light at higher ISO’s with much less noise.
Fuji X100.
Great small camera. Big sensor. Low noise even at HI ISOs. Can be used in full auto when you want or has REAL manual controls when you want to be creative.
Easily fits in a jacket pocket.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3/5.
iPhone is always with me though and gets a lot more efficient use and purpose for point and shoot, though- the 4S camera is also party damn good, but not close to the DNC 3/5.
Panasonic LX3/5 with Ricoh LC-1 auto lens cap
The Fuji X10 would also be a good alternative to the X100. Not as big a sensor, but still good quality at a lower price.
Fujifilm F505 EXR. Tiny. 15x zoom. 16 megapixels. jpeg and RAW. Extremely good low-light performance (extracts detail and merges best exposure of 3 subliminal shots to create perfect pic without flash). Similarly in extra detail mode. Full HD movie mode (stereo mics). Variable dynamic range settings. Built-in flash (though I never use flash). Full auto and P A S M, plus the usual 18 extra modes. 360 deg Panorama mode with artificial horizon for accuracy. Excellent battery life. Self-timer (2 secs and 10 secs) and shoots-when-sees-face mode (put down camera, walk away from it, turn towards it ..it shoots). Takes SDHC cards. Tiny. F500 series now being superseded by F600 series. (F500 jpeg only, F505 jpeg & RAW, F550 jpeg, RAW and GPS. Smaller than – but fatter than – and iPhone 4S. Did I mention 16 mpxls..?
No choice… the only one is the Fuji x100
Tom
Fujifilm X100 12.3 MP APS-C CMOS EXR Digital Camera with 23mm Fujinon Lens and 2.8-Inch LCD.
Custom 12.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
The FinePix X100 features a custom 12.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS high-performance sensor, internally optimized and developed exclusively for this model. Optimization of the angle-of-incidence in conjunction with the specially developed lens maximizes light gathering efficiency extending to the perimeter of the sensor for a sharper image with exceptional clarity. When shooting HD movies, the combination of the large-sized sensor and the large aperture F2 lens, lets users create a soft out-of-focus image–a capability not available in conventional compact cameras. The ideal combination of a fixed focal length lens, high-sensitivity sensor (approximately 10 times the sensitivity of a conventional compact*) and a high-performance image processor captures extremely high quality images from low sensitivity to high sensitivity. In standard form, the planned ISO range is from 200 to 6400, but this can be expanded to include 100 and 12800.
The newly developed EXR Processor takes EXR processing to new heights. Combined with the high-sensitivity sensor, the EXR Processor achieves the highest resolution, sensitivity and dynamic range ever produced by a FinePix digital camera for the ultimate in image quality. The high-speed CMOS sensor read-out and the EXR Processor’s enhanced focusing system contribute to the high-speed AF performance, while the combination of the optical viewfinder and extremely low shutter lag time enhance the image capture experience.
Fujifilm X100 is a very interesting camera, but, I do not think it meets the criteria. It is too big to pocket or put in a belt pouch. It has a single focal length of medium wide angle. There is no zoom lens. The lens is not interchangeable, so, you cannot trade to one.
It is a unique boutique sort of camera.
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In my book a point and shoot needs to be small enough to where in a pouch on my belt. Unfortunately, that leaves out lots of really good cameras.
The largest and best of these from an enthusiast point of view is the Cannon G12 and its Nikon look alike the Nikon P7100. A smaller camera that takes the same level of pictures is the Cannon S95 is (soon to be the S100).
In my opinion these are the good point and shoots. I would love to have a bigger sensor camera (better low light performance)_ I could wear on my belt, but, bigger cameras come with bigger lenses (the optical physics requires it) and so I stay with a full size SLR for my good camera. If I have to wear it around my neck I might as well use all the good lenses and the much bigger sensor.