Why Buying a Point-and-Shoot Camera in India Is Pointless

From lack of new options, price-gauging, and lackluster products overall, there's no time like never to buy in India. Or anywhere else.

Warning: Meandering Article Ahead…

Let me begin by expressing my satisfaction with my full-frame Sony mirrorless camera, which fulfills at least 99% of my photography needs. I rely on it for work, for street photography, and simply for personal enjoyment. It has become an integral part of my photographic journey, and I couldn't be happier with it. In my opinion, the Sony A7iii was the epitome of value when it hit the market in 2018, and I see no reason to upgrade anytime soon. Despite Canon and Nikon's efforts to match or surpass Sony in the full-frame mirrorless arena, my A7iii has remained steadfast over time. Even the imminent release of Sony's A7iv, purportedly packed with new advanced features, hasn't tempted me to consider parting ways with my trusty A7iii.

However, I must confess, there are moments during holidays or when I'm out capturing street photography when I yearn for a compact point-and-shoot camera that requires minimal fuss. Something I can easily slip into my pocket without the need for additional lenses, accessories, and the inevitable bag to carry it all. Sometimes, I simply want to walk out the door or board a flight to a different time zone with a camera tucked into my pocket and forget about it, much like my phone. This leads me to my first complaint.

Image courtesy of Pexels

In late 2021 (yes an update to this article is long overdue!), most point-and-shoot cameras on the market, and I'm tempted to say all of them, lag behind even the most basic Android smartphones in terms of features. What do I mean by features? Let's just say that when manufacturers' marketing departments boast about their products having Wifi and NFC capabilities, it's a clear sign that you're about to encounter the pinnacle of mediocrity. I encourage you to browse online, especially on platforms like Amazon India, or explore offerings from major camera brands available in India. You'll find that advanced features and genuinely useful functions are typically reserved for models starting at around the $1,000 mark or close to it.

I'm talking about the Ricoh GR3s and the high-end Sony RX100 Mark 7s. These are severely over-priced products when you consider the value for the money in comparison to smartphones. And no, I can't believe I'm defending smartphones because I absolutely hate the ergonomics and the shitty low-light performance -- in all of them. That being said, I've had phone shots published in magazines and online. These few worthy mentions were exceptions to my general rule: I prefer to use a "real camera" when I'm playing photographer.

• Hence the grand struggle as to what camera to have on me at all times, my phone or a pocket-sized point-and-shoot?

The Problem With the Concept of a Useful Point-and-Shoot Camera in the Age of the Smartphone

We all know that the compact and point-and-shoot camera market has taken a clobbering during the Rise of the Smartphone until recently. Not only in these niche markets but the entire digital camera market. Naturally, the law of supply and demand has come into play here. It's easy to see this in the high-end market for point-and-shoots like the above-mentioned Ricohs and Sonys: these cameras still fetch premium prices and there are enough customers to keep these camera lines going.

The problem as I see it is that there really are no mid-market point-and-shoots worth a damn in the $200 - $500 range. Why do I say this?

The average price of a smartphone purchased in India is coming in at around $150. The average price of a purchased smartphone in the United States is over $500 if you can believe that! By comparison, the features and capabilities of smartphones in these above figures far exceed the capabilities of digital point-and-shoot cameras in the same sales price range. I've done the homework on this, especially for the paltry consumer offerings in India.

Is it even fair to compare apples and oranges? I mean, is it a little too simplistic to say that digital point-and-shoots should be as capable in features as smartphones selling for the same price?

I think the answer to this question is yes if those brands want to continue selling point-and-shoots in the future. Here's why.

The Price Gap Between High-End Point-and-Shoots and Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera Systems is Narrowing Dramatically

Now, I'm about to draw a comparison that might seem like apples to oranges. As a professional photographer, I regard full-frame mirrorless cameras as the gold standard in photographic capabilities, setting aside medium format and large format options. When it comes to factors like image quality, ergonomics, dynamic range, lens swapping/selection, and overall performance, full-frame mirrorless cameras excel. What's more, we've reached a juncture where entry-level prices for full-frame mirrorless systems are beginning at around the $1,000 range.

What does this mean for consumers? If you want a full-frame mirrorless body only to get started, you can expect to shell out only $1,000 for both Canon and Nikon offerings. Even with a kit lens, you're assured of better image quality thanks to the laws of physics: larger sensors enable greater light intake and resolution. Smaller sensors, particularly those found in smartphones, still can't match the quality of full-frame images, regardless of the numerous computational algorithms packed into phone cameras. They simply can't circumvent the physics of the issue without resorting to entirely different pixels through various AI techniques.

This is in addition to the fact that when you compare JPEG images from any camera system side-by-side on a phone screen, it's highly unlikely that anyone could distinguish between those taken by a professional camera, a smartphone, or a point-and-shoot. These comparisons, which you might have encountered, are at best misleading. Because when you enlarge any of those images on a larger monitor, the stark differences in image quality become apparent, revealing the impact of the laws of physics to the human eye.

My Quandry

Image by Craig Boehman

Let me state for the record that if you have the big bucks to hand over the camera manufacturers pimping their dying point-and-shoot product lines, more power to you. If I had a couple of thousand-dollar bills I could afford to snatch from somebody's money tree, I'd probably quit complaining and purchase two point-and-shoot cameras, knowing full-well that they're not even on par with smartphones for features. Otherwise, I could use those same two-thousand dollars, buy a new full-frame body and maybe one or two high-quality lenses that would last for a lifetime compared to the nonsensical lifespan of a smartphone, which is highly susceptible to the unwritten laws of Planned Obsolescence. Not only that, smartphone manufacturers have actually been fined for intentionally slowing down their own products so that consumers would have to upgrade. And we haven't had a single case yet of digital cameras that spy on us, although if that's not here already then I'm sure will happen at some point when the tech catches up to NSA protocols.

I've voiced my grievances about the limited features of point-and-shoot cameras extensively without delving into supporting evidence. I'll largely leave it at that because if you've owned a point-and-shoot in the past, you're likely familiar with their capabilities. This hasn't changed significantly, and it largely depends on how much you're willing to invest to bridge the gap between performance and features, as well as compatibility and similarities with your smartphone.

But here lies my dilemma, one that I've hinted at and you may have already overlooked if you've reached this point: I desire something pocketable that can capture decent photos while also being compatible with the internet and a comprehensive set of post-processing tools. And I'm not willing to shell out a thousand dollars for this convenience. Not even $500.

Some photographers might argue, quite rightly, that point-and-shoot cameras serve their purpose adequately—they simply need to capture images, which can then be retrieved and edited. And indeed, I concur with this viewpoint, to a certain extent.

The tipping point for me, aside from being unwilling to fork out a small fortune for a Ricoh GR3 or Sony point-and-shoot model, is the issue of potential. Point-and-shoot cameras are advancing at a sluggish pace, while phone-makers are continually pushing boundaries and achieving remarkable feats.

The Potential for Smartphones in the Age of the Dying Point-and-Shoot

In addition to post-processing capabilities already available on your smartphone, such as the mobile versions of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, as well as other surprisingly useful editors like Snapseed (my personal favorite mobile editor), there are numerous other apps available that offer fantastic possibilities for those who rely on their smartphones to source some or all of their images.

Adobe Capture: A fantastic little app that, alongside a couple of other neat tools, allows you to capture color palettes and "Looks," and import them as LUTs into Adobe Photoshop. While this capability may be beyond the scope of even the most avid point-and-shoot enthusiasts, it's incredibly useful for my post-processing workflow in creative projects. I'll be sharing an upcoming article on how to use Capture later this month, so stay tuned for that.

Luminar Neo: Luminar Neo is the successor to Luminar AI, offering a professional photo editing suite powered entirely by AI technology. This software will be available as a standalone application or as a plugin for platforms like Photoshop. What's even more intriguing is that they'll be launching a mobile app that integrates seamlessly with your desktop Neo, effectively bridging the gap between different platforms.

I currently own and utilize Capture and Luminar AI, leveraging both for editing pictures captured on my smartphone—without the hassle of concerning myself with whether or not I have a fancy point-and-shoot camera that can connect to the internet.

Let's close this section out by conjecturing that regrettably, the best and most useful innovations are happening on mobile platforms, especially when it comes to photography. I don't even think this point is debatable, is it? As a writer for the New Yorker once put it, cameras have become "networked devices with lenses." And the only thing the big names in the point-and-shoot market have done in response -- here's looking at you, Sony, Canon, and Nikon -- is say, "Hey look, we can connect to the Internet too! "We haven't done much to compete with smartphone cameras in terms of innovation, but buy our product anyway!"

I predict that the only way point-and-shoot cameras will survive is if they actually incorporate phone capabilities. It may sound like a joke, but I'm only half-kidding.

How to Save the Point-and-Shoot From Extinction – for Real

This message is directed towards Sony, possibly the only company currently capable of rescuing the point-and-shoot from extinction within the next five years and prolonging the lifespan of these devices. I apologize if this offends you, Sony. However, your compact point-and-shoot cameras will face the same fate as others unless you heed my advice. As someone who genuinely desires a pocketable camera that surpasses smartphones in features, usability, and overall performance, I urge you to take action.

I'll share my somewhat unconventional thoughts (which could actually work!), but even if Sony magically granted my wish for the following specifications and features (finally, some specifics!), it might be too late to initiate an R&D campaign and rush it to market. Nevertheless, here's my wish list nonetheless.

The Lenses

That's correct, plural. Just like high-end smartphone cameras, my reimagined point-and-shoot will feature multiple lenses with real optics and digital zoom capabilities. One of the lenses will be a dedicated portrait lens with an effective aperture of 1.4, equivalent to full-frame. Another will be a macro lens capable of magnification beyond anything a phone has achieved thus far. And of course, a zoom lens to cover the other end of the spectrum, perhaps reaching up to 100x zoom. Does it sound crazy? Absolutely. Maybe the initial release won't include the 100x zoom, but who knows? It could be added in the first or second firmware update. Ah-hah!

The Sensor Size

A full-frame 35mm sensor, no compromises. Ricoh managed to fit a stunning APS-C sensor into a compact package, so surely Sony can engineer a full-frame sensor to fit into a slightly larger form factor while still maintaining pocketability. They're already making progress with their A7C; they just need to shrink it down a little further.

Wi-Fi, NFC, and More!

Being connected to the internet should be a given, akin to how a camera requires light to function effectively. My envisioned point-and-shoot would utilize Wifi, NFC, VPN, CNN, and beyond! This camera would seamlessly connect to the internet just like a smartphone, even capable of making phone calls—no joke this time. At the very least, it would automatically link to every social media platform for sharing images and videos. Imagine filmmakers needing to upload footage directly to YouTube right after capturing a tornado touching down. That's the kind of seamless connectivity I envision—pure magic. Think it's impossible? Consider how slim smartphones have become. Is it so far-fetched to imagine a slightly larger form factor, resembling a point-and-shoot, making phone calls?

On-Board Editing Capabilities

This concept isn't as outlandish as it may seem. Lens manufacturer Zeiss actually released an overpriced ($6,000) product called the ZX1, which integrates Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. From the reviews I've seen, it does a poor job of editing, but at least Zeiss is forward-thinking. If point-and-shoot cameras are to avoid extinction, each one will need to incorporate a full editing suite. And it must outperform any smartphone in terms of editing capabilities.

What Else? The X-Factor

Believe it or not, I don't think this unconventional point-and-shoot of mine would survive the Age of the Smartphone without a distinct X factor, even if it could make phone calls. What could constitute this X factor? I'll leave this section blank, except for one crucial caveat: the price would have to match or beat the average global selling price for a smartphone. Regardless of any other features this point-and-shoot might boast—whether it's waterproof to 100 meters, indestructible, equipped with lasers, or capable of mind-reading—the camera's retail price would have to be the most significant X factor, if nothing else is considered.

Similar to what Sony did when they released my beloved A7iii in 2018 at a game-changing $2,000, Sony would have to replicate this feat once more to withstand the smartphone onslaught and survive the point-and-shoot extinction event.

My Conclusion? To Hell with Point-and-Shoots!

At the start of this rambling piece, my intention was to compare several mid-range point-and-shoot cameras to determine which one I might consider buying in India. However, somewhere along the way, I had a change of heart. Why invest a significant sum of money just to settle for something less than ideal?

Why should I have to settle for less and pay more to get less???

That's precisely the kind of point-and-shoot currently available on Amazon India, should you wish to verify for yourself. It's the settle-for-less-pay-more-to-get-less type. Stepping back from the dismal purchasing options available to Indian residents, I reluctantly acknowledge that this seems to be the only model accessible to all of us, regardless of where we enjoy taking pictures.

Until the day arrives when someone brings my dream point-and-shoot to life, I'll continue relying on my phone as my ever-present camera.