Let's Get the Definition out of the Way
There's no formal definition for what qualifies a particular camera as a
point-and-shoot, but in my opinion, it is a camera which is relatively compact, has a fixed lens, and
primarily operates automatically, both for focus and exposure. These sorts of cameras are typically
targeted towards a casual or beginner photographer, though their use is certainly not confined to such a
demographic. Some notable point-and-shoot users would include
Daido Moriyama,
Ryan McGinley,
and Hiromix.
With the above definition given, let's briefly discuss some cameras that
arguably would not meet the criteria. Compact is the defining characteristic
of the Rollei 35, reigning as the smallest full-frame
35mm camera for some time, but I would not count it as a point-and-shoot. The exposure and focus (though
that's scale-focus only) are set manually, requiring more intervention from the user than my definition
allows. However, with autofocus and autoexposure available, I would count the new
Rollei 35 AF as one.
Another edge case would be the Holga.
Though this camera is larger than most point-and-shoot's, I wouldn't say that's the reason this one is
exempted (it is on the smaller side for a medium-format camera). It's the
manual focus and film advance. The user has to pay attention to a little window on the back to ensure
proper frame advance, and given that the shutter is uncoupled from the film advance, the user has to be
careful of accidental multi-exposures (though of course, this is part of the charm for some people).
I want to highlight here that autofocus is not necessarily a requirement
of a point-and-shoot, but manual focus is a deal-breaker. Fixed-focus does meet the
criteria, as no adjustments by the user are needed. The
Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim (also
branded under SuperHeadz and Reto) is such a camera. This brings me to a rather contentious assertion:
the Pentax 17 is a point-and-shoot.
If you set the dial to "Auto," not only is exposure automatically set, but the lens focuses to inifinity,
no matter what the focus ring is set to, thus becoming fixed-focus.
Finally, I'll mention instant cameras. Certainly, cameras like the many
Instax iterations and
most Polaroids fit the
definition. I'm not going to discuss instant cameras here, though, because I consider shooting on
instant film to be a different approach to photography, not just a different medium. Maybe it could be a
topic some other day.
Point-and-Shoots I've Had
My very first camera was a point-and-shoot, as it is with many. I don't remeber
how old I was (maybe 8?), but I do quite vividly remember the camera: a
Remco Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 110 camera.
It superimposed the image of one of the Turtles in the corner of each photo, which was very weird and silly.
I distinctly remember taking photos with it on a field trip to the Dallas Zoo, many many years
ago! After that camera, I occasionally used disposables, until highschool, when I
started learning photography in earnest.
For several years, I used fully manual SLR's (and a Holga) exclusively, until I
found an intriguing little camera for sale locally: a
Lomo Fisheye 2. It was fun to
shoot with playfully, until it fell out of my hands after being jostled, and it broke into pieces. Here's
a few shots I took back then:
A few years later, I found a new-old-stock
Konica Big Mini F for sale at
my local camera shop for an obscenely low price, given what they go for now. Still in the early days of
the big surge in film point-and-shoots interest (when it was possible to find a deal on a working Contax
T2 if you looked hard enough), I knew I had found a big score, and I was excited to try out the Big Mini!
Well, after I got back my first roll, I learned that even unused cameras might still need their light
seals replaced. Easy enough job, and I was quickly back out with my second roll. That was probably the
most disappointed in a camera I've ever been! The results were pretty middling (not
just my composition, but the actual camera-dependent aspects), and when I received a message from
someone on Facebook wanting to trade, I happily accepted their offer.
I shipped out the Big Mini F to Cyprus (first time I ever had to fill out a
customs form), and in return, I got a
Fujifilm Silvi F2.8. This is a model not
talked about much, but it was a really interesting camera. Sporting a 24-50 f/2.8-5.6 zoom lens, it was
perfect for carrying around everywhere. I like the character, and I think it's a decent choice for anyone
looking for something off the beaten path (also perfect for selfies with its two shutter buttons and
front-facing mirror)! Here's a few shots I took with the Silvi:
Some years after the Silvi, I picked up an Olympus Mju-II, a very highly lauded point-and-shoot. It was a fun carry-anywhere camera, and I found it an easy companion to include. I will say, though, the reputation of that lens is certainly overinflated compared to the reality. It isn't nearly as sharp and contrasty as a lot of people claim, and for the prices they command these days? Skip it. Also, that tiny viewfinder is not friendly to glasses-wearers! Here's a few sample photos:
The point-and-shoot, and maybe the camera I've used the most, was a Ricoh GR Digital III, which I bought in 2014. This was obviously not the similarly named Ricoh GR III, released in 2019, but an earlier model released in 2009, utilizing a much smaller 10MP, 1/1.75" sized CCD sensor. Even though I've always primarily been a film shooter, this supremely pocketable, digital point-and-shoot was one of my very favorite cameras! I very happily shot with it until 2021, when the sensor started having issues with lines in a lot of the pictures. I'd love a good replacement, but the film GR's are notoriously temperamental, and the modern digital GR's suffer from issues like dust and the lens barrel getting stuck (plus, used prices on a GR II or III are just too high). Maybe I'll pick up a new GR once (if) the issues get sorted out. Anyways, here's some shots from that tiny camera:
I will admit, I was an absolute menace with this little camera, haha!
I usually ended up converting most of my photos to black and white, so if I did get a new GR, I'd probably go for the Monochrome variant.
The macro mode was actually really good on this camera, and I used it a lot more often than I thought I would!
Would I Recommend Getting a Point-and-Shoot?
Oh, wholeheartedly! With one major warning, though: Don't spend too much on a hyped-up camera. With film point-and-shoots, especially, you risk taking a fragile, complicated, non-repairable gamble. Unless you find a lucky deal, I don't think any of the well known film point-and-shoots are worth anywhere near the prices people are paying for them right now. Also, don't shy away from zoom-equipped models! The fixed focal length cameras get all of the attention, so you can still find good deals on lesser-known zooms. However, even if you get the best deal in the world, you may find that point-and-shoots are just not your style, which is totally valid, but I always encourage experimentation. Try something new; you might fall in love!
A quick note: The next blog post will be quite late. I try to post these every other Monday, but two weeks from now, I'll be on a big adventure on a little bike. I'm excited to share that experience once I'm back!
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