Do I need a compact camera? (Warning: Photo Geek Post)

I THINK I need a compact camera.

I thought of this because I realized that I haven’t been productive in terms of my photography this year. At least, so far. This isn’t because I can’t think of or find anything interesting to shoot. This isn’t because I don’t have time to shoot anymore. And certainly, this isn’t because I’m tired of taking photos anymore! So why?

One of the reasons why I got into photography is because I wanted to capture the beauty of the world. I want to share to others how I see the world. I enjoy traveling so much so I make it a point to bring my DSLR with me during out of town trips. No problem here. However, I can’t afford to always travel. It’s very expensive. Aside from that, I pay utility bills now. Yes, you heard that right. I pay the water, telephone, internet, and, just recently, my cell phone bills. So, sometimes, I’m just stuck here in the metro working every single day.

Q: Can I be productive in terms of my photography while working my ass off in the office?

A: Of course I can.

Right? Well, it depends.

You see, DSLRs take stunning photos but at the cost of being too bulky to lug around everywhere. I can’t bring it with me all the time. I'd have to bring two bags: one for my office and gym stuff and one for my camera. You can always put you camera in your office and gym bag. Yes, if I wanted to destroy it. It’s not practical for us commuters in Metro Manila to have several big bags. You know why.

So to answer the question ‘Why?’ above, I guess it’s because I don’t have my camera with me all the time. And lately, I haven’t been to any out of town trips. And I rarely have photo shoots.

Q: So do I need a compact camera?

A: I DON’T KNOW!!!
Q: Will I be more productive if I have a compact camera?
A: I STILL DON'T KNOW!!!
Q: Am I wasting your time with this blog post?
A: Yes.

Since I’m too lazy to work this morning, I browsed the net for affordable yet reliable (at least according to the reviews) compact cameras. Affordable because I don’t want to blame myself too much if I end up not using the camera that much. G11, GF1, and LX3 are not part of what I consider affordable.

Here are some:

1. Panasonic FX38 – P11,000

2. Fujifilm Finepix F200EXR – P13,999 (Although, this is bordering the expensive bracket already)

3. Canon Powershot A2100 IS – P13,800

Of course, I also have to take into consideration the opportunity cost. If I buy a compact camera, I’ll be one step further away from buying a strobe (AB 800) or a lens (24-70 f/2.8) for my DSLR.

Q: What are my other options?

A: a) Go out and shoot when I get home; b) Shoot something inside the house; c) Shoot anything every weekend.

Option A is impossible for me since I’ll be coming home from the gym. Too tired to function by then. Haha!

Option B is possible. Hope the lights arrive soon.

Option C is possible although harder to achieve.

I’ll try to do both B and C first then I’ll decide if I’d still buy a compact camera.

Photos courtesy of:

http://blogs.zdnet.com

http://digital-photography-school.com

http://letsgodigital.org