Can a professional photographer use a point and shoot camera?

Question

I am a professional photographer and use a DSLR ...
But have never known why a point and shoot just wouldn't do.
That had always been my opinion ... but why?

.........

Why so mean ppl? wow ...

I am hiring an assistant as I am just starting wedding photography (been doing children and seniors for the past year professionally) and a email from the applicant was asking that same question ... so I thought I would have a more well thought out answer if I would ask someone else ...
I KNOW that they have larger sensors ... larger pixels of the sensors that produce less noise and p-s cameras have very tiny sensors ... higher ISO on bigger pixels because more light falls on it and causes more photo-electrons.
I know about the quality of the optical glass ...
but what else is there?
I just wanted to see what the other responses were ...

Yes ... it should seem odd to you that a professional would be asking these questions. I went from a film slr to a digtial slr ... so I know nothing about point and shoots ... and I'm just trying to find out all the information I can about the differences in the two.
But as a professional .... a point and shoot "just won't do" .... lol :) I didn't know if there was more info that I could find out :) Thanks!

Answer 1

Sure, though if a pro is using a P&S, it's likely a higher-end camera, something with at very least manual controls and perhaps a wider-angle lens on the wide end.

Personally, I know photojournalists who have used point-and-shoots, including the Fuji line and the Sony R1, and wedding photographers who have carried a Canon G3 in addition to everything else.

Alex Majoli, an award-winning photojournalist with the Magnum agency, has used point-and-shoots extensively, covering the war in Iraq, Congo and elections with cameras from Olympus:
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-6468-7844
http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.PhotographerDetail_VPage&l1=0&pid=2K7O3R13S3S3&nm=Alex%20Majoli

Answer 2

As the pros above have explained to you. I moved to digital SLR 7 years ago, I still know the differences between a DSLR and a point and shoot camera - as I would expect all pros would. I assume you edited in the additional information after the others pointed out how oddly you asked the question.

You are new in the business its ok not to know everything, go borrow a point and shoot off someone for a day then you will know more.

Answer 3

I used a point-and-shoot on a trip to the beach a few months ago while my DSLR was in the shop and the lack of image control drove me nuts. The worst was the shutter lag, but the lack of control over the exposure caused me to "miss" some beautiful shots of both still (landscapes) and action (my daughter) images. Not to mention the pixelated quality of the end photographs...
At least the glimmer of a good eye should shine through an image despite the lack of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, but when you're being paid to document something (a wedding, current events, fashion), you should produce a significantly better product that the customer can create themselves (otherwise why would they hire you?). That includes the best equipment to create the best image in conjunction with your artistic eye.

Answer 4

Try some extreme lighting conditions with your "point and shoot."

Subject in a dim lit room, standing directly in front of, and facing away from a brightly lit outside window.

Two subjects in the same frame, one standing close and the other, across the room. You need both to be in focus.

One subject against a medium distant, busy background. You only want the main subject in focus.

You are responsibe for photographing the finish line at the end of a close automobile race.

Your subject is the launch of a space shuttle and your closest point of vantage is a half a mile away. Or, for that matter, you want that close up of a kestrel's eye, and the bird is 100 feet up a tree.

A fern's spores are about to pop and the frond is perfectly back lit, three inches from your lens.

The most spectacular thunderstorm in twenty years is occuring across the entire vista of the Grand Canyon. And you've got to get, at least, one good panoramic shot.

All of the above happen on the same day. And all you've got is your Wallgreen's single use, disposable camera. I'll bet your publisher sends you back to taking pictures for Auto Trader Magazine, the next day.

But, to be fair, before I went digital, I used to carry a Polaroid point and shoot to check out composition and lighting, before I commited many frames to film.

Answer 5

Yes a professional should be able to get the best out of a point and shoot camera but can generally get more out of an SLR or large format camera which have a greater range and are capable of producing higher quality images, it's the fact that they know how to use it that gets the job done not the camera itself.

Answer 6

I read other answers and felt too, that it was odd that a professional would be asking this sort of question.

My first reason I thought was that the time lag was much shorter when I use a DSLR (especially if I pre-focus) over a P&S.

Other of course, able to change the lens, and so on.

Answer 7

I,too, know at least three professionals who carry point and shoots, but not as their main cameras. They have them so that they are always ready to take a shot should the occasion occur and one likes to use the flip up LCD to take photos stealthily in NYC.But to show up at a wedding using one??No Way!

Looks unprofessional, the client expects you to own better equipment than they have, lag, some lack RAW,some lack eyepieces,less control.

Answer 8

you lack any ability to control exposure, focal length and focus, so you are forced to accept whatever the P/S camera decided is the right measurement.... And even if you can manipulate the ISO settings, it really doesn't look nearly as good as the real (SLR or DSLR) cameras

Answer 9

if you wanted to be a professional photographer you would want to concider the pros and cons of a point and shoot.

well, for example. a point and shoot is easy to carry around, easy to use, and now a days their quality is getting better and better.

however, with a point and shoot you lack control over depth of field, controlling shutter speeds, controlling white balance, iso, manual focusing etc.

Answer 10

do you think you are fooling anyone? If you were a pro you would not ask such a silly question........heres some clues

1. control
2. sensor size
3. write speeds
4. ability to choose the correct lenses for the job
5. et cetera et cetera

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