Do modern point and press cameras have better dynamic range than older ones ?

[BADGER.BRAD]

I'm really enjoying using my £7 Kodak point and press (eBay find) which I find really convenient to carry whilst doing my many other hobbies and activities. Being able to combine photography with my other hobbies is great but sometimes in high contrast situations (the low sun we are getting at this time of yea being a real problem) the poor old point and press really struggles I just wondered if modern point and press cameras are any better or is it just the small sensor that will let them all down ?

 

[Brazo]

The 1 inch sensored Sony RX100 at base iso has nearly a stop more DR than a full frame canon 5D mk3.

So yes they can be good. Although of course a Sony full frame sensor bats both into the weeds.

 

[Mintchocs]

The size of the sensor is a limiting factor but technology is getting better to cope with dynamic range. A point and shoot with the ability to shoot RAW would be better than one that only shoots JPEG.

 

[woof woof]

I had a Panasonic LF1 that I was quite impressed with and was definitely a lot better than my older compact cameras. One thing that helped its image quality was the f2 at the widest end of the lens. There are a couple on evil bay and one is well within budget at the mo but what the final price will be I don't know.

If you do go for a more modern compact camera be aware that when pixel peeping at 100% things can look a bit of a mushy mess but whole pictures can look very nice.

Another option could be an early MFT camera but these are quite a bit bigger than the credit card footprint sized shirt pocket cameras. I had a quick look at a dealer and they have a Panasonic GF1 and a 14-45mm lens for a shade under £100.

 

[BADGER.BRAD]

I think I will have to go for a MFT camera in the future , Bright summer sun or dull weather it produces great photos but anything with a lot of contrast and it has real trouble (like this low autumn sun) Having used film mainly in the past I've not really suffered this, for £7 what can I expect really !

Cheers all

 

[Cagey75]

I think I will have to go for a MFT camera in the future , Bright summer sun or dull weather it produces great photos but anything with a lot of contrast and it have real trouble (like this low autumn sun) Having used film mainly in the past I've not really suffered this, for £7 what can I expect really !

Cheers all

The whole contrast detection thing with MFT is highly over dramatised, I never have any such trouble. This bad AF thing came about with video and just seemed to gather legs