Would you like to take more than your smartphone camera on your next vacation? Upgrading to a point and shoot camera could be a simple way to improve your holiday photos.
But there are so many models available on the market, how do you choose?
The greatest advantage of a modern point and shoot camera is that it offers excellent image quality, is lightweight, and is simple to use. If you are not interested in learning about ISO, aperture, or shutter speed, a point, and shoot camera is the simplest route to fantastic images.
We have compiled a range of the best point and shoot cameras that offer great image quality. Some of the cameras have been verified by Wirecutter NYT.
Top 5 Bestsellers Point And Shoot Camera
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The 10 Best Point And Shoot Cameras in 2022
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI
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Weight: 213 grams. | Sensor Size: 13.2 x 8.8mm. | Lens: 24-200mm f2.8-4.5. | LCD: 3in, 12 M dots. | Burst Mode: 24 fps. | Video: 3840 x 2160.
Compact but powerful, the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI has 5-axis image stabilization, suitable for any type of hand-held photography.
The lens zooms to an impressive 200mm, offering great telephoto opportunities to shoot wildlife or sports photography. Plus, you never miss a shot as it can shoot up to 24 frames per second. The RX100 VI records Ultra HD 4K video with Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG) to increase highlight and shadow details, creating HDR-like video quality.
The F/2.8 lens is great for creating a bokeh effect with a shallow depth of field. Very useful if you are into portrait photography. The only downside is that this camera is expensive and has a short battery life, only lasting 240 shots.
Pros
- USB charging
- Fast autofocus
Cons
- Expensive
- The battery only lasts 240 shots
Canon PowerShot ELPH 360
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Weight: 150.25 grams | Sensor Size: 1/2.3in | Lens Focal Range: 24-300mm | Lens Aperture: f3-f7 | LCD: 3in, 461k dots | Burst Mode: 7.2 fps | Video: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
The Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 is a simple and sleek camera. It is perfect for vacations, thanks to 2 modes specifically geared toward creating travel logs. The nifty Hybrid Auto mode records a few seconds of video before you take each photo and compiles it to produce a recap of the day. A similar feature, Story Highlights, compiles videos and photos into a recap reel with music and effects.
You can shoot full HD video footage, however, you cannot zoom in while recording. The camera has a versatile 12x zoom, useful for shooting both landscapes and subjects from afar.
Unfortunately, it has limited low light sensitivity, resulting in noise and smudging. The battery life is poor and it only shoots in JPEG format.
Pros
- Affordable
- Compact and portable
Cons
- The operating temperature does not go below 0°C
- The battery only lasts 180 shots
Nikon Coolpix P1000
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Weight: 1415.20 grams. | Sensor Size: 1/2.3in. |Lens Focal Range: 24-3000mm. | Lens Aperture: f2.8-f8. | LCD: 3.2in, 921k dots. | Burst Mode: 7 fps. | Video: 3840 x 2160.
The Nikon Coolpix P1000 has a long telephoto lens with a zoom capability of 3000mm. This superzoom is enough to even take a close-up night shot of the moon! It is also useful for capturing far-away wildlife (able to capture subjects up to 70 meters away). At the wide end of the lens, we noticed that it can also capture crisp macro photography.
As a bonus, it has a Snapback Zoom feature, which lets you relocate a subject that has moved out of the frame once you have zoomed in. The camera also has image stabilization of 5 shutter speed stops. This means your images will look as sharp as if you took them with a shutter speed that is 5 times faster.
It also has a handy Vari-angle LCD display and offers a 4K video resolution.
However, it has a small sensor, which unfortunately produces noisy images in low-light conditions. Plus, it can be a bit heavy for a point and shoot camera.
Pros
- Incredible zoom
- Vari-angle LCD display
Cons
- Bulky with a heavy lens
Fujifilm X100F
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Weight: 469 grams. | Sensor Size: 23.6 x 15.6 mm. | Lens: 35 mm f2.0-f16. | LCD: 3in, 1040k dots. | Burst Mode: 8 fps. | Video: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD).
The Fujifilm X100F is a stylish option with a look and function similar to a traditional film camera.
It has a unique randomized pixel array, similar to a natural structure of film stock. This harnesses the subtleties of color and lighting to produce color-rich imagery. The camera sensor works together with an advanced processor to expand the light sensitivity range from ISO 100 to 51200: this gives amazing low-noise images in low-light conditions. A hybrid viewfinder combines optical clarity and electronic information for easier manual focus. The camera also features an electronic shutter which significantly boosts shutter speeds–a plus for fast-moving urban and sports photography.
On the downside, we noticed the camera does have slow autofocus. Plus the max video resolution is 1920 x 1080–there is no 4K video.
Pros
- Ability to replicate traditional film
- Great image quality
Cons
- Lacks 4K video
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
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Weight: 319 grams. | Sensor Size: 13.2 x 8.8mm. | Lens: 24-100mm f1.8-2.8. | LCD: 3in, 1040k dots. | Burst Mode: 8 fps. | Video: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD).
The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II is a pocket-sized camera that works really well in difficult lighting conditions. It boasts a fast maximum aperture (f/1.8 lets more light in), a wide dynamic range, and a light sensitivity of up to ISO 12800.
During our tests, the camera performed well in high-ISO settings (no visible noise until ISO 3200). Which makes this camera great for indoor and night photography. At f/1.8, the lens gives lovely bokeh effects and suppresses flare, which is useful for outdoor portrait photography. This point and shoot camera is also equipped with 5-axis stabilization to prevent blurry photos due to camera shake.
The LCD screen tilts 180° upwards to enable selfies, or 45° downwards to take photos from unconventional angles. Very useful for getting the perfect composition angle.
Pros
- 5-axis image stabilization
- Pocket-sized
Cons
- Short battery life
Olympus Tough TG-5
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Weight: 250 grams. | Sensor Size: 1/2.3in. | Lens: 24-100mm f2- f4.9. | LCD: 3in, 461k dots. | Burst Mode: 10 fps. | Video: 3840 x 2160.
Made for risk-takers, the Olympus Tough TG-5 is one of the most durable point-and-shoot cameras you can find.
It’s crushproof, shockproof, waterproof, dustproof, and cold-proof. Additionally, the display shows environmental information including a temperature sensor, a compass, and GPS. This camera offers a focus stacking option to maximize the depth of field, great for landscape photographers. It also supports continuous shooting of up to 20 frames per second: fantastic for action photographs. Most importantly, it saves your images in RAW format. Allowing you to later edit images without losing any image data.
The camera’s image sensor and built-in CPU reduce noise in low lighting situations. TG-5 also has specific underwater modes, which correct and enrich colors in underwater images. This point and shoot camera also have a large zoom range: which is great for macro photography. However, there is no touchscreen display and the LCD screen has low resolution.
Pros
- Displays GPS, compass, and thermometer
- Long battery life
Cons
- No touchscreen display
Panasonic Lumix LX10
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Weight: 309 grams. | Sensor Size: 1in. | Lens: 24-720mm f1.4-2.8. | LCD: 3in, 1040k dots. | Burst Mode: 30 fps. | Video: 3840 x 2160.
Lumix LX10’s 5-axis stabilization means you can take sharp photos while hand-holding even in low light conditions. Plus, it has a staggering number of creative controls, scene guides, and retouch capabilities, and it comes with a Leica lens!
The most interesting features, however, are the 4K photo modes. This includes a Post Focus function which takes 4K MP4 footage with shifting focus points: this allows you to choose what you want to be in focus after the shutter has been pressed. You can tap any part of the image, and the camera will create a JPEG file with your chosen focus point.
The camera also has a Screen Grab feature, so you can create a JPG image while recording 4K video. The only downside is the battery life, which only lasts about 260 shots
Pros
- 50 frames per second electronic shutter speed
- Advanced noise-reduction
Cons
- Short battery life (260 shots)
Canon PowerShot SX740 HS
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Weight: 277 grams. | Lens: 24-960mm f3.3-6.9. | Sensor Size: 1/2.3 in. | LCD: 3in, 922k dots. | Burst Mode: 10 fps. | Video: 3840 x 2160 (Full HD).
One of the most impressive features of the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS is the 960mm zoom. To accompany it, there is a Zoom Framing Assist feature, which helps relocate a lost subject once you have zoomed in. This is perfect for telephoto and macro shots of small animals or insects.
The camera can also capture 4K video and shoot at a rate of 10 frames per second. With an advanced 5-axis dynamic image stabilization, you can minimize blurry photos due to camera shake. Furthermore, it has been designed for beginners. We especially liked its guided menu with the Feature Assistant function that provides brief overviews of various settings.
It is also ideal for vloggers thanks to its LCD screen, which can tilt 180°, enabling you to watch the video while you shoot it. However, it does not perform well in low-light situations and there is no option to shoot in RAW format.
Pros
- Easy to use
- 180° tilt LCD
Cons
- poor low light performance
Nikon Coolpix L820
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Weight: 540 grams. | Sensor Size: 1/2.3in. | Lens: 22.5-900mm f3-5.8. | LCD: 3in, 921k dots. | Burst Mode: 7.4 fps. | Video: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD).
The telephoto zoom on the Nikon Coolpix L820 can reach an impressive 675mm. Zoom images are nice and crisp thanks to its Vibration Reduction feature. This Nikon camera also comes with Hybrid image stabilization (mechanical + digital) which works surprisingly well for zoom shots.
It also has an advanced low light sensor for taking decent photos at low light conditions. During our tests, we noticed that the focus time is exceptionally fast, which makes it great for shooting unexpected, candid moments. It has a D-lighting function which improves dynamic range and optimizes color contrast.
L820 has 2 user-friendly menus that are easy to navigate. However, it does not connect to Wi-Fi or GPS, and there is no option to shoot in RAW format.
Pros
- USB charging and AA battery compatibility
- Beginner-friendly interface
Cons
- No WiFi or GPS
Fujifilm FinePix S1
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Weight: 920 grams. | Sensor Size: 2/3in. | Lens: 24-1200mm f2.8-5.6.| LCD: 3in, 920k dots. | Burst Mode: 10 fps. | Video: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD).
The Fujifilm FinePix S1 is a great weather-resistant camera that features an exceptionally fast (bright) 1200mm zoom lens. The zoom range is ideal for many types of photography such as portraits, wildlife, or macro.
A Vari-angle LCD gives the camera versatility and room for creativity, while the electronic viewfinder is perfect for shooting in low-light conditions. The camera’s 5-axis stabilization and a Face Detection feature also make it a great candidate for portrait and sports photography. Plus, its manual focus and exposure controls will suit the needs of many aspiring enthusiasts.
There are also Film Simulation modes that let you change color and tonal qualities to mimic Fuji photo film, plus it has long battery life. On the downside, it is heavy and images turn out noisy if you shoot above ISO 800.
Pros
- Sealed against rain and dust
- Long battery life
Cons
- Heavy
- Images become noisy above ISO 800
Which Point and Shoot Camera will you Choose?
Choosing the best point and shoot camera depends largely on what your shooting priorities are. You can read more about the best Point and Shoot Camera list.
Our selection ranges from advanced models that let you freeze fast-moving subjects, to lightweight options that will fit in your pocket.
So now the choice is up to you. Do you already use one of the models we’ve shown? Or do you have another we have missed off the list? Let us know in the comments below.