Which compact camera features matter most for better low-light photos when traveling?
Asked 1/24/2012
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2 answers
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I’m choosing a small travel camera mainly because my current 6MP Olympus takes poor night photos. I’ve been looking at the Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Sony DSC-HX7V, but I’m open to other models if they offer clearly better low-light performance for both photos and video.
I’m not an advanced photographer, so I’d like simple guidance: what should I look for in a compact camera if low-light image quality is my priority? Are there small cameras that do noticeably better at night, and would a slightly larger camera be worth considering?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
5
I own the Canon Powershot S95, and it has a fast f/2.0 lens when used at its widest setting. I have some amazing quality photos taken at night or in low indoor light with it.
That said, the Auto Focus can be slow and hunt in the low light. So if you are in a situation with low contrast it can be frustrating to use as it's focussing. However when it finds it, it's great. Also the built in flash (for close ups, party photos etc) helps a lot.
It also has full DSLR-style P/A/S/M modes so you can tripod mount it in the dark and have full control over exposure. ISO noise is well controlled.
In summary, it gives really sharp nice pics, in low light (AF issues aside).
It has been replaced now by the Powershot S100, perhaps that is better with the AF?
Cheers.
Originally by user7566. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user7566
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For low light, the key things to look for are a faster lens (lower f-number), the ability to use higher ISO reasonably well, and—most importantly—a larger sensor if you can accept a slightly bigger camera.
Based on the answers, a compact with a fast lens like the Canon PowerShot S95/S100 is a stronger low-light choice than a typical small-sensor travel zoom. An f/2.0 lens lets in more light, which helps for night and indoor shots. The tradeoff is that autofocus may slow down or hunt in dim light.
Also remember that any compact camera can still struggle at night. A small tripod or support can improve results a lot for static scenes by allowing longer exposures.
If low-light performance is your top priority and you can spend more and accept a somewhat larger body, a Nikon 1 J1–type camera should outperform most compacts because of its larger sensor.
So: prioritize fast lens + larger sensor, and consider using a tripod for night scenes.
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