best compact cameras

Sony Alpha A5000 - Review of a Compact Mirrorless Camera

Who wants a great camera but doesn't love the idea of hauling around a heavy bag full of lenses and a big' ol DSLR!? If you're in the market for an easier on-the-go option, today's post is for you. We're going to hear from another Mom who happens to be my lovely sister! She has sent me photos from this point-and-shoot camera and I am impressed. I never really LOVED previous point-and-shoot cameras I owned, so my first thought about them was always a big "no thanks"! Her experience with her Sony is definitely changing my mind. Check out her opinion and user review of the small but powerful Sony Alpha A5000. 

Hi! My name is Aarika and I wanted to share with you how much I have LOVED my Sony Alpha A5000. We got it for three hundred somethin' from Best Buy on Black Friday a couple years ago. It usually retails for $450 so we scored a good deal. 

What I love MOST about it:

  • It is smaller than a standard DSL-R camera so I take it everywhere in my purse all the time. I know sometimes people get really nice expensive cameras and they hardly use them because they're bulky and hard to lug around. That's why we settled on a mirrorless camera.  

  • Although it is smaller, it has a great lens. I think the lens and camera quality give it the ability to take really great pictures that exceed the quality, depth and interest of a standard point and shoot. 

  • I use it on auto (always) and get great photos.  

  • I LOVE the videos it takes. The focus on the subject and the blurred background make the videos so interesting and beautiful.  

  • It has an awesome share feature where it can send photos and video right to your phone or computer.  

  • Although I don't own any other lenses, I like the idea that I could change out the lens if I ever became more interested in photography.

  • We purchased the three year warranty that covers drops, spill and loss and that gives me such peace of mind (especially having young kids).  

  • ALL the point-and-shoot cameras we used prior to having the sony never captured the kids in motion! So many shots were blurry. This camera can take pictures mid-sword fight that are clear and show the expression and detail of their faces (I usually I use the flash in those moments and am pretty happy with the outcome)!

Cons

  • I did have a hard time finding the right sized case for it and ended up buying one from a British seller on eBay which has been perfect!

  • My camera seemed slower to start up when I would turn it on after a year of owning it. I called SONY and learned the reason was that I needed to reformat my SD card. After doing that it is it back to it's usual snappy self.  

To read more about mirrorless cameras, check out this great article. Here's a quote from that article explaining the benefit of mirrorless cameras: 

"Mirrorless cameras are interchangeable lens cameras that don't have the mirror and optical viewfinder that define a DSLR. In most other respects, they're extremely similar: with only a few exceptions, most mirrorless cameras these days are built around the same sized sensors as DSLRs, increasingly have similar lenses available, and can offer the same image quality."

If you're looking for a compact camera that quality-wise still packs a punch, the Sony Alpha models are definitely worth looking into! Check them out!

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Top Five Point and Shoot Cameras Under $500

Christmas is right around the corner! Here is another great gift guide with my round-up of the top five point and shoot cameras under $500.00! If you're looking for a step up from your camera phone, but still want something compact and easy to travel with or fit in your pocket, check out these sweet little cameras. 

1. Sony DSC-RX100/B - $398.00 (amazon)

Best compact point and shoot cameras under $500 - www.mommatography.com

  • 20.9 Megapixel 1"-type Exmor CMOS sensor

  • 28-100mm eauivalent F/1.8-4.9 lens

  • Up to 10 frames per second

  • ISO 125-6400 + expandable

  • 3" LCD screen 

  • 1080p video

This camera is stunning. There are newer versions, but they cost much more and this quality at this price is hard to beat! It has excellent image quality due to its large sensor, with a fast auto-focus and an awesome f1.8 Carl Zeiss lens with 3.6x zoom. This lens is sharp! The body is ultra-slim and sleek. When it was first released, some said it was "...the most appealing pocket-sized digital camera yet" and it was "a monumental achievement in the technology" (for point and shoot cameras). 

2. Sony Alpha a6000 - $548.00 (amazon)

Best compact point and shoot cameras under $500 - www.mommatography.com

  • 24 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor

  • ISO 100-25600

  • Hybrid AF with 179-point cocal plane phase-detection 

  • Up to 11 frames per second continuous shooting

  • 3-inch tilting LCD with 921,000 dots

  • OLED electronic viewfinder

  • Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC (wireless sharing)

OKAY this one is JUST over $500, but it might be work the extra $50!! This is an amazing mirrorless camera that has an amazing sensor (same as most entry-level DSLRs), offers manual modes, has a great autofocus, allows you to shoot in a RAW format, shoots HD video and has wi-fi sharing. My sister has this camera and she has been really impressed with it, and loves it. It's a high-quality, high-class camera and it even comes in white! You also have the option to interchange lenses

3. Canon Powershot SX710 HS - $279.00 (amazon)

Best compact point and shoot cameras under $500 - www.mommatography.com

  • Built-in Wifi connectivity, wireless transfer of images and video to compatible mobile devices

  • 20.3 Megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor with DIGIC 6 Processor

  • 30x optical zoom (25-750mm)

  • Large 3-inch LCD with wide viewing angle

  • Stunning 1080p HD video with a dedicated movie button

This well-designed, well-built canon boasts an incredible zoom lens, image-stabilization, noise-reduction and the ability to share photos to social media and mobile devices. It performs well in low-lit settings and has a quick focus. You also have full control of your exposure (manual mode). The flash isn't annoying and only pops up if you push the button and tell it to. The quality and zoom this canon has at this price makes it a great buy!

4. Nikon Coolpix S9900 - $272.95 (amazon)

Best compact point and shoot cameras under $500 - www.mommatography.com

  • 30x optical zoom telephoto lens with vibration reduction

  • 60x with Dynamic Fine Zoom and enhanced digital zoom

  • Swiveling vari-angle display

  • 3.0-inch 921,000-dot LCD screen

  • Wi-Fi and NFC sharing

This 16 Megapixel camera has great quality and detail and packs a pretty great zoom lens, with vibration reduction. It also allows automatic and manual controls for honing creative skills. The video has a time-lapse option, which is also fun. Some complain about poor photos in low-light; if you have the patience to try the manual shooting modes this can be avoided. If you want to leave it on full-auto mode, you might not love the results in lower-lit settings. People love the design and build of the camera, the swivel LCD screen and the great zoom.

4. Olympus TG-4 - $349 (amazon)

Best Compact Point and Shoot Waterproof Camera - www.mommatography.com

  • 4X wide-angle optical zoom with fast f2.0 high speed lens

  • Waterproof to depths of 50 feet, freeze proof to 14 degrees F, shockproof to 7 feet, crushproof to 220 lbs. 

  • RAW capture, Underwater HDR & Modes

  • Wi-Fi / GPS / e. Compass

  • 1080P HD Video

This tough camera is basically disaster proof and still takes sharp and bold photos! You can drop it from 7 feet, take it in cold-weather climates and completely under water for great images. If you're looking for an adventure and a great camera to carry along with you, this is one of the greatest rugged cameras out there AND it still fits in your pocket!

Images Courtesy of Amazon.com.

 

Better photos await.