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I'm going on a big trip in two months and am planning to buy a new camera for the experience. I know the majority of people today use their phones for taking photos, but I've never cared for this option. It doesn't help that I have a low-end Android phone that doesn't take great pictures, but that's only part of it. I simply prefer the familiarity of the camera. When I'm off in a faraway land, I'd prefer not being stressed over picture-taking. I'd rather just enjoy myself.
That being said, anybody have a recommendation for a good quality digital camera?
I'll third the recommendation on the Coolpix, with some caveats - it doesn't have a true manual mode and you'll find yourself subject to the idiosyncrasies of the autofocus and exposure calculations. Most of the time it gets them right, but sometimes some post work in photoshop is needed. It is frustrating though that sometimes a shot will be lost because you can't manual focus. You also can't change lenses, which for a point-n-shoot or vacation camera is fine, but not happy for true professional work. The biggest drawback is the lack of a regular viewfinder. In bright light the exposed viewscreen is barely visible. You either suffer with it or try to make some sort of sunshield.
The zoom is excellent for the price range, not going into digital zoom until much later than most cameras. The standard AA batteries is a big plus. Movie mode is OK, but with the weird digital stuff when there is movement of the camera while the stabilization is going.
Be aware that if you have a regular camera and are going to places like craft shows or galleries, people are going to look at you crosseyed and frown.
I like to photograph nature and wildlife, mainly birds. A cell phone is useless for bird photography as they are often at a distance that is beyond the capabilities of a phone. I have a Canon superzoom (65x optical) that performs nicely and it goes with me whenever I go out and about for recreation.
I have my Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III Digital Camera for taking planned out picture, vacation etc. Phone cameras are decent (I just got a Samsung Galaxy S* and it has a great camera), and it's nice to have on occasions I don't want to carry around my "real" camera. At the end of the day, the Sony beats out any cellphone camera I have seen although the gap has become considerably narrower in recent years.
I always hated crappy phone pictures. It bugs the crap out of me. I can't stand to look at sh*tty quality when it comes to pictures. I have a refurbished Nikon 7100. Very happy with the quality. The downside is big and bulky and lens quickly add up if you keep buying them.
There are many good choices beyond cell phone cameras. Others here may also be surprised that Nikon is not the only decent manufacturer. There's Canon, Sony, Panasonic (Lumix), Olympus, Pentax and others. I use Canon SLR for my serious shooting, but for lightweight and as a camera for my spouse, got a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 because it had very specific features I wanted, including RAW. Your needs will be different, so don't be swayed by others talking about what they like. You are not they.
There are a number of good sites that compare various styles.
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