Buy smartphone just for camera, not phone service?

[Mooncatt]

Something like this may be up your alley.

http://www.sony.com/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-hx90v

Notice the rear screen can flip up 180° for selfies. There's a lot of others that have similar flip screens now, this was just a random one I picked to link.

 

[novicenew]

Thanks. I hope I can find a something cheaper though. It cost $428.

Something like this may be up your alley.



Notice the rear screen can flip up 180° for selfies. There's a lot of others that have similar flip screens now, this was just a random one I picked to link.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

There was no price range mentioned, so I'm going to throw my hat into the "buy a nice camera" instead of buying a phone.

My recommendation: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Cyber-sh...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU5004276

It's an updated version of the one I have, which has since gotten a lot cheaper: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DSCRX100...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU5004276

There is also a model in between, which might be the sweet spot of price/performance: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DSC-RX10...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU5004276

If selfies are really important than you would want the Mark 3 or 4 (the first and last link) because the screen can rotate 180 for you to frame your shot.

 

[hallux]

Thanks. I hope I can find a something cheaper though. It cost $428.

Therein lies your problem. Any phone that will cost you less than the device Mooncatt linked is going to give you sub-par pictures. If all you want to do is post them on FB, Twitter or Instagram it MIGHT be ok but if you want pictures you'll be proud of and can print to hang on the wall or do a slideshow for your friends you want a real camera.

If you're hellbent on the ability to easily take selfies being the #1 feature then by all means go buy a smartphone, just don't expect great quality photos from a device costing less than $400. If you want pictures that will be crisp, high quality, presentable in places other than social media, the Canon PowerShot Elph 150 is a little more than 1/4 that price ($115 on Amazon), has a 10x OPTICAL zoom, a better sensor than you'll find in any phone (megapixels disregarded, though it IS a 20 MP sensor). With the money you save, you could grab a Moto G for your selfie requirement and still come out spending less money. Be aware, those cameras (like most digital cameras) use a proprietary battery pack, though there are 3rd-party ones to be had on eBay that will work fine, and I highly suggest having at least one spare fully charged as well as an additional SD card.

Sure, I take pictures with my phone. However, when I went on my trip to Mexico City for work I was the only one of the 5 of us that had an actual camera when we went sightseeing. When I go on trips like that, I always make sure it's in my bag and the picture I posted before is reason enough for that.

Here's another example of a picture taken with my 18 MP mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The Powershot might not get as nice of a picture as this but it'd still be better than a phone.



Bottom line, as good as phone cameras are, if you have to ask the question "should I get a camera or will a phone be good enough" the answer should be to buy a camera.

 

[novicenew]

I don't know what a good price is, but I'm hoping it's less than these ($498-$948). Thanks, though.

There was no price range mentioned, so I'm going to throw my hat into the "buy a nice camera" instead of buying a phone.

My recommendation:

It's an updated version of the one I have, which has since gotten a lot cheaper:

There is also a model in between, which might be the sweet spot of price/performance:

If selfies are really important than you would want the Mark 3 or 4 (the first and last link) because the screen can rotate 180 for you to frame your shot.

 

[novicenew]

Thanks. I'll have to do some research on cameras.

Therein lies your problem. Any phone that will cost you less than the device Mooncatt linked is going to give you sub-par pictures. If all you want to do is post them on FB, Twitter or Instagram it MIGHT be ok but if you want pictures you'll be proud of and can print to hang on the wall or do a slideshow for your friends you want a real camera.

If you're hellbent on the ability to easily take selfies being the #1 feature then by all means go buy a smartphone, just don't expect great quality photos from a device costing less than $400. If you want pictures that will be crisp, high quality, presentable in places other than social media, the Canon PowerShot Elph 150 is a little more than 1/4 that price ($115 on Amazon), has a 10x OPTICAL zoom, a better sensor than you'll find in any phone (megapixels disregarded, though it IS a 20 MP sensor). With the money you save, you could grab a Moto G for your selfie requirement and still come out spending less money. Be aware, those cameras (like most digital cameras) use a proprietary battery pack, though there are 3rd-party ones to be had on eBay that will work fine, and I highly suggest having at least one spare fully charged as well as an additional SD card.

Sure, I take pictures with my phone. However, when I went on my trip to Mexico City for work I was the only one of the 5 of us that had an actual camera when we went sightseeing. When I go on trips like that, I always make sure it's in my bag and the picture I posted before is reason enough for that.

Here's another example of a picture taken with my 18 MP mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The Powershot might not get as nice of a picture as this but it'd still be better than a phone.



Bottom line, as good as phone cameras are, if you have to ask the question "should I get a camera or will a phone be good enough" the answer should be to buy a camera.

 

[novicenew]

Thanks. I'll have to do some research on cameras.

Therein lies your problem. Any phone that will cost you less than the device Mooncatt linked is going to give you sub-par pictures. If all you want to do is post them on FB, Twitter or Instagram it MIGHT be ok but if you want pictures you'll be proud of and can print to hang on the wall or do a slideshow for your friends you want a real camera.

If you're hellbent on the ability to easily take selfies being the #1 feature then by all means go buy a smartphone, just don't expect great quality photos from a device costing less than $400. If you want pictures that will be crisp, high quality, presentable in places other than social media, the Canon PowerShot Elph 150 is a little more than 1/4 that price ($115 on Amazon), has a 10x OPTICAL zoom, a better sensor than you'll find in any phone (megapixels disregarded, though it IS a 20 MP sensor). With the money you save, you could grab a Moto G for your selfie requirement and still come out spending less money. Be aware, those cameras (like most digital cameras) use a proprietary battery pack, though there are 3rd-party ones to be had on eBay that will work fine, and I highly suggest having at least one spare fully charged as well as an additional SD card.

Sure, I take pictures with my phone. However, when I went on my trip to Mexico City for work I was the only one of the 5 of us that had an actual camera when we went sightseeing. When I go on trips like that, I always make sure it's in my bag and the picture I posted before is reason enough for that.

Here's another example of a picture taken with my 18 MP mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The Powershot might not get as nice of a picture as this but it'd still be better than a phone.


Bottom line, as good as phone cameras are, if you have to ask the question "should I get a camera or will a phone be good enough" the answer should be to buy a camera.