As cell phone cameras get more and more sophisticated, some photo enthusiasts have started using them as a replacement for an everyday point-and-shoot. But even if you have the hottest new iPhone, the best point-and-shoot camera options have a few benefits over using a cell phone for photography.
If you’re looking for a camera with quality optical zoom and overall zoom range, good battery life, Wi-Fi connectivity, plenty of megapixels, and other handy bells and whistles, a dedicated point-and-shoot camera more than fits the bill. Plus, you can now achieve DSLR- and mirrorless-like results with a device you can easily slip into your pocket.
How to Pick the Best Point-and-Shoot Camera
The best point-and-shoot cameras create high-quality images and allow you to take good photos in almost any condition. However, for this type of camera, performance differs a lot from one model to another. Here is what you should have in mind when shopping for a point-and-shoot camera:
Sensor Size
Sensor size is a major factor in image quality and camera performance in low-light conditions. Cameras with large sensors have higher resolutions, better color and detail accuracy, and less noise. At the same time, they are heavier and more expensive.
Focal Length
Because compact cameras have fixed lenses, you need to decide from the beginning whether you want a prime or zoom lens and what focal length you need. Most compact cameras have general-purpose wide-angle lenses. However, some cameras have wide zoom ranges that also give you telephoto focal lengths.
Lens Quality
Lens quality is essential for a point-and-shoot camera. Optical design dictates the level of distortions and aberrations, depth of field quality, and smoothness of the bokeh effect. Maximum aperture dictates performance in low light conditions.
Image Stabilization
Image stabilization dictates how much you have to worry about camera shake. Point-and-shoot cameras are designed to be handheld and take snapshots fast. Therefore, image stabilization is a must. Look for cameras with built-in shake reduction and lenses with optical image stabilization.
Autofocus Performance
As compact cameras are used in Auto mode all the time, autofocus performance dictates your reaction speed. If you want to capture candid moments and always be prepared to take a photo, look for cameras with fast, silent, and smooth autofocus systems.
Best point and shoot cameras available today:
- Fujifilm X100VI Digital Camera
- Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III
- Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
- Canon PowerShot ELPH HS 360
- Ricoh GR III
- Ricoh GR IIIx HDF
- Kodak PIXPRO FZ55
- Kodak PIXPRO WPZ2
- Leica Q3
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
- Sony ZV-1
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
- Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000M2
- OM Tough TG-7 (TG-6 also available)
- Nikon COOLPIX P950
Fujifilm X100VI Digital Camera
The FUJIFILM X100VI digital camera is everything that makes a good point-and-shoot camera and is highly praised in a competitive market – especially in 2024 when brands are competing for your attention and hard-earned cash.
Firstly, the X100VI is known to be of high quality thanks to its 40MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 5 HR Sensor. From this alone, it can help users deliver high-res photos in any setting. Secondly, this little thing can shoot videos in 6.2K quality at 30 fps. If you want more frames, dial the X100VI to shoot in 4K with 60 fps.
Even though this camera exudes peak optical modernity, it can still take you back to the good old days when film dominated the photography scene. Within the X100VI is a cache of 20 or more film simulations you can choose from, so you can decide how vintage you want each photo to shoot right as you shoot them.
Other features of this impressive digital camera are the inclusion of 6.0 stops of in-body image stabilization, an internal 4-stop ND filter, a REALA ACE film simulation, AI-trained autofocus, and native support for frame.io.
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III
The PowerShot G7 X MARK III looks like a point-and-shoot camera but acts like a professional camera. It features a 1.0-inch 20.1 MP CMOS sensor and powerful DIGIC 8 Processor, fast autofocus, fast continuous shooting, and high image quality.
The camera is equipped with a 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens that offers 4.2x optical zoom, optical image stabilization, and a versatile focal length range. It works equally well for landscape photographs and portraits, environmental shots, and close-ups.
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
The predecessor to the new Powershot G7 X Mark II unsurprisingly shares similarities with the Mark III – but it still has a lot of advantages over it that make the former a worthy point and shoot camera to add to this list.
It costs less than the Mark III, becoming a more budget-friendly choice. Additionally, because of different processing demands, the G7 X Mark II typically offers a slightly longer battery life. Another similarity is that the Mark II carries the same 20.1-megapixel 1.0-inch type CMOS sensor but has a DIGIC 7 image processor.
Canon PowerShot ELPH HS 360
The PowerShot ELPH HS 360 is a staple compact camera even in 2024. It can compete with modern cameras, thanks to its wide 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4+ image processor, helping users capture clear images even on cloudy days and nights.
Get close to the action with this camera’s 12x zoom, giving you ideal flexibility for many niches such as street photography and travel photography. While you’re on the go, the camera keeps up with your pace with its Image Stabilizer to help keep your images sharp.
Ricoh GR III
Another one of the best point-and-shoot cameras out there right now is the Ricoh GR III. This high-performance camera features serious portability with ultimate precision and power—starting with its six-element, four-group optical system Ricoh built to help creators capture sharp images with edge-to-edge clarity.
The camera features shake reduction to ensure any subtle hand quivers don’t affect image quality. Additionally, users can play around with numerous built-in scenes to capture the right mood and vibe for each situation. The 24.24-megapixel sensor promises images have top-notch resolution, while the LCD monitor makes the camera easy to use, too.
Ricoh GR IIIx HDF
The Ricoh GR IIIx HDF might be your dream point-and-shoot camera for its Highlight Diffusion Filter (HDF) alone, but it has more than an innovative filter reminiscent of vintage film photography to win you over. Turn on the GR IIIx HDF camera and watch it do all the work thanks to Zone Select AF, which automatically identifies the optimal focus point within a 3×3 focus area, helping you take sharp and accurate pics.
With the GR IIIx HDF camera, pre-photoshoot prep comes with up to three pre-programmed Custom White Balance Settings. This feature allows for quick adaptation to varying lighting conditions that you might be subjected to, so you can maintain an accurate color representation all throughout.
Also, this magnificent camera has a quick toggle Fn button to allow for easy and quick switching between having the HDF on or off.
Kodak PIXPRO FZ55
“The perfect camera for a road trip!” says satisfied users of the Kodak PIXPRO FZ55, a reliable camera with features that scream simplicity, convenience, and good image quality.
Maximum resolution with this affordable digital camera is 16 Megapixels and 1080p for videos. View your memories through its 2.7-inch LCD screen, where you’ll witness its 5x optical zoom and 28mm wide angle lens in its full glory.
Kodak PIXPRO WPZ2
Are you a fan of bright-colored digital cameras? The Kodak PIXPRO WPZ2 is the perfect waterproof digital camera for you, coming in blue, red, and yellow variants.
What else does it offer besides its vibrant and shockproof exterior? Well, this camera by Kodak has multiple scene modes to help you get the right shot both above and under water. You can also capture 1080p HD video with this camera, bringing faraway subjects closer with its 4x optical zoom and 6x digital zoom. So much is possible with its 16MP CMOS Sensor with built-in BSI technology that helps the camera handle light sensitivity and ensure image quality even in low-light situations.
Leica Q3
If you’re a Leica lover, the Leica Q3 is the point and shoot camera for you. Every improvement and new feature in the Q3 easily makes it one of the best digital cameras today. In fact, the only thing it shares with its older sibling (the Leica Q2) is the fast lens. The lens comes integrated with macro mode that caters to photographers who are versatile in their craft.
The Leica Q3 is compact, has wireless charging capabilities, and a state-of-the-art hybrid autofocus system. Additionally, at its heart, the Leica Q3 has a BSI CMOS Sensor with Triple-Res technology, meaning you can choose between resolutions of 60, 46, and 18MP. Smaller resolutions allow for faster camera operation and smaller file sizes – which is great for when you’re taking your amazing point and shoot camera everywhere you go! Smaller file sizes means more space to capture amazing memories.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
If you’re a tourist or a wildlife enthusiast, this point and shoot is the one for you, and here’s the primary reason why: Its ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens with a zoom range equivalent to 24 to 720mm, the perfect tool for your situation.
Need more reasons to love it? We’ve gotcha. Even with its size, it carries advanced shooting features that are astounding for a point and shoot camera to have. Users can record 4K ultra-HD videos with full pixel readout and high frame rates. If you really wanna elevate your shots, the Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 lets you shoot in RAW format, too – so you can have all the fun you want in post-processing.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC RX100 VII pairs portability with serious power. This makes it one of the best point-and-shoot cameras on the market. This seventh-generation camera features a built-in ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 zoom lens. The fast aperture promises this lens-and-camera-combination works well in travel photography or low-lit situations—or even for dabbling into astrophotography. And, the autofocus speeds of 0.02 seconds promise ultra-precision when it comes to focusing.
Sony infused its 357 phase detection autofocus system into this camera, with 425 contrast-detection areas for the ultimate ease of focusing. The camera’s LCD touchscreen continues the usability—with everything from touch shutter to touch-focus functions.
Sony ZV-1
Sony’s ZV-1 is the perfect point-and-shoot camera for vloggers. It features color technology to make all skin look soft and vibrant, without appearing oversaturated. There’s even a soft-skin effect to generate an ultra-smooth and flattering look. Another perk for vloggers is the ZV-1’s speedy Hybrid AF system. This autofocus system ensures you, the subject, remain crisp and in focus.
Plus, the built-in bokeh switch lets you turn on a soft blurred background to ensure you stand out (and the living room you forgot to clean up stays subtly blurred with no viewers to the wiser!). The camera has even more features for everything from product reviews to creative transitions. Every vlogger needs the Sony ZV-1 in their kit.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300
The Lumix FZ200’s successor, the DMC-FX300, is a strong addition to a successful line of cameras. It generated buzz from Lumix fans for its exceptional lens with a full range f/2.8 aperture (35mm camera equivalent) which helps one take clear and detailed images, even when they’re taken from afar.
Besides its aperture and zooming capabilities, the DMC-FZ300 is built for the outdoors. So, you can take it to the beach or dust-prone areas – it’ll capture any scene as clear as a summer day. Get the best out of your shot with its 12.1-megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor and Lumix’s Venus Engine image processor.
Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000M2
Is a hybrid and highly adaptable imaging system just what you’re looking for in a camera? If it is, then the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000M2 is the point and shoot camera that you absolutely need. It has a stunning imaging system protected by an ergonomic body and improved with intuitive controls.
Perhaps its most standout feature is Panasonic’s 4K PHOTO Mode, which lets users capture and combine sequential exposures to produce dynamic still images. However, this bridge camera is not Panasonic all around. It has a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 16x versatile zoom lens, which covers an equivalent focal range of 25-400mm.
Olympus Tough TG-7
Many spend a lot of time searching for a point and shoot camera that will really stand by their side in any adventure. That is, until they come across the OM SYSTEM Tough TG-7 Digital Camera, a point and shoot that is a successor to the wonderful Tough TG-6.
It’s called tough for a reason; waterproof up to 50 feet, shockproof up to 7 feet, and crushproof up to 220 pounds! The TOUGH TG-7 is the point and shoot camera that will thrive in any outdoor setting. It has a wide maximum aperture of f/2.0 and a remarkable ISO range of up to 12,800 – so you know you’re gonna get some awesome pictures to show your friends. It’s compatible with USB-C for faster data transfers between your devices, just in case you need to upload something ASAP or make more room for more outdoor photos.
Nikon COOLPIX P950
The Nikon COOLPIX P950 is a point and shoot camera (that is also a bridge camera) that has a jaw-dropping 83x optical zoom and 166x digital zoom. Such high zoom capabilities plus a compact size just mean that this camera is great for traveling or the general outdoors, where your subjects might be out of reach!
Move through the world with no worries when you step out with the COOLPIX P950 thanks to its Dual Detect Optical VR feature that has reliable super-telephoto stabilization. Even when you shoot in Normal Mode, your images are protected against any image blur, being able to snap photos with a shutter speed 5.5 stops faster than its competitors.
Final Thoughts: So Worth It!
No smartphone could replicate the happiness and nostalgia that comes with snapping good photos with a good point and shoot camera. It fits the vibe of retro while still connecting you to modern times, so yes, it will be a worthy addition to your travel bag or even just slung around your wrist while out with family and friends.
No matter the setting, a good point and shoot camera does just the trick.
