Capture Moments With The Best Point-And-Shoot Camera
Smartphones have long overtaken point-and-shoot cameras in popularity, but there are still many reasons why you may want to invest in a fixed-lens camera. Ergonomics is one of them: a small camera in your hands might lead to a more comfortable photography experience than a smartphone would. Dedicated cameras also have greater zoom than smartphones, and some of them have bigger image sensors so that you can get a little background blur in your images.
Read on to learn more about the top-quality point-and-shoot cameras of 2023, as well as the many reasons to buy a fixed-lens camera, what to consider if you want to purchase one, and how to get the most out of these devices.
Comparing the Top Point and Shoot Cameras of 2023
Panasonic LUMIX ZS60 Point-and-Shoot Camera: Best Overall
The Panasonic LUMIX ZS60 point-and-shoot camera is a small, portable camera with many modern features that will appeal to anyone who wants a camera with high zoom without investing in an interchangeable lens camera. Although the boxy shape of the camera isn't very enticing, it still boasts clean lines, textured grips and excellent performance. The best part is that it has a powerful zoom with integrated optical image stabilization to lessen blur at a distance.
The camera has a built-in flash and an autofocus-assist lamp located in the front, while its primary mode dial, power key, stereo mics and video record button are on the top deck. Scrolling through menu options and choosing a focus point is easy thanks to the camera's touch controls.
One of the LUMIX ZS60's most useful features is a tiny but functional electronic viewfinder, which lets you bring the camera to your eye for greater stability or if the sun is washing out the LCD. This camera is the best on our list because of its compact size, portability and appealing features.
Olympus Tough TG-6 Point-and-Shoot Camera: Most Sturdy
The Olympus Tough TG 6 Point-and-Shoot Camera has a solid build and image quality while being very simple to use and operate. The camera offers innovative underwater shooting capabilities and has the option to focus when not in underwater macro mode. You can choose a focus point manually from a collection of 25 square boxes centered in the middle of the picture, or you can let the camera choose one for you automatically.
In terms of controls and handling, the Olympus is a typical point-and-shoot camera. It has a cloth wrist strap that can be used on land and underwater, and its handgrip is fairly deep. Moreover, the camera has Wi-Fi for connecting to your smartphone and GPS for navigation. You can also use the Log toggle switch on top of the camera body to quickly turn the GPS on and off.
Canon PowerShot SX740 Point-and-Shoot Camera: Most Convenient To Use
The Canon PowerShot SX740 is a fun and convenient point-and-shoot camera that is easy to carry around in your backpack or purse. On top of its portability, this small camera's zooming capability and practical features make it one of the top products on the market. This device can generate crisp, clear images by correcting unintentional shaking from the camera or body movement and can record in-depth detail from any vantage point thanks to its zoom extension feature.
The PowerShot's Intelligent Image Stabilization technology lets you capture photos and videos in crystal-clear, exceptional quality. It's also Wi-Fi compatible: you can use the free Camera Connect app to transfer pictures and videos instantly to a compatible smart device. Even better, you can create stunning time-lapse videos with the dedicated Time-lapse Movie mode. And if you feel like capturing a picture from a video, you can use 4K frame cropping to take still pictures from your videos by using it as an image extraction tool.
Nikon Coolpix B500 Point-and-Shoot Camera: Easy Sharing
The Nikon Coolpix B500 Point-and-Shoot Camera is excellent for sharing moments with others. This is largely in part due to its SnapBridge technology, which enables a constant Bluetooth connection with your smartphone to send photographs as you snap them. And because the camera supports Wi-Fi, you can transfer larger-sized photos to your phone faster than you could through Bluetooth.
The Coolpix B500 is a bridge camera with a 16-megapixel sensor, a powerful optical zoom and a digital zoom of up to 80x. It features a thick hand grip that extends far from the body and feels secure. The body is textured, which contributes to the camera's premium feel, despite its relative lightness.
Although it has various shooting options, this camera neither supports manual control nor RAW format shooting. However, you may enjoy its Smart Movie Show feature, which lets you make quick clips that last only a few seconds. You can subsequently combine these clips into a single video since everything is done automatically in-camera.
Kodak PIXPRO Astro Zoom AZ252 Point-and-Shoot Camera: Most Beginner-Friendly
The Kodak PIXPRO Astro Zoom AZ252 stands out from other point-and-shoot cameras thanks to its variety of zoom modes, which allow you to finely edit your photos' exposure, focus and white balance. This camera has an optical zoom, so you can effortlessly shoot far-off subjects. You can also shoot macro photos, which will provide images with fine details and ideal saturation.
The BSI-CMOS camera sensor on this device produces 16 million pixels, allowing you to snap photos with excellent quality. The pixels in the shots won't distort even if you zoom in or crop the images because of the larger 16MP sensor — ideal for beginners who may not know how to work around these limitations while using other cameras. Additionally, you can share your pictures on social media directly through the camera on top of storing files on your smart device.
Finding A Quality Point-And-Shoot Camera: A Buyer's Guide
Point-and-shoot cameras have increasingly diversified in order to stay relevant, which makes choosing one from the many available options challenging. We prepared this buying guide to help you make a more educated decision by looking at the factors you should consider before purchasing this type of camera.
What To Consider When Buying A Point-And-Shoot Camera
Zoom
Optical zoom and digital zoom are key features when comparing different point-and-shoot cameras. Despite digital zoom's ability to provide a more excellent zoom range, image quality often suffers. Some cameras have both optical and digital zoom features. Optical zoom lenses are the best option if you frequently use the zoom function.
Megapixel Count
It's a common misunderstanding that having more megapixels means better photographs — that's not the only factor that impacts an image's quality. Sensor size significantly affects your images' clarity, particularly in low-light conditions. Pick a point-and-shoot camera with a bigger image sensor if shooting in low light is essential to you. A smaller sensor may be more desirable if greater zoom is more crucial.
LCD Screen
When selecting your camera, high-quality LCD screens are crucial. Higher-quality LCDs feature more vibrant colors and are easier to see in direct sunlight. A large LCD is recommended for more precise shot previews.
Viewfinders
Most point-and-shoot cameras include LCD screens to aid in framing shots rather than viewfinders. Although more expensive, larger LCD screens provide a greater perspective of your framing. Certain high-end compacts still feature optical viewfinders to compose in intense light when it is impossible to see an LCD screen due to glare.
Memory Cards
Most digital cameras support SD and SDHC format cards for higher read/write speeds and storage size. You certainly don't want to erase photographs to create room for others, so you should choose a camera that helps you store your memories.
Camera Modes
Photographers can easily make the most of any scene thanks to the numerous shooting modes built into point-and-shoot cameras. Instead of manually adjusting the settings yourself, the camera will detect a situation and adjust accordingly, saving you time.
Face Recognition
Most modern digital cameras provide facial recognition features to help you identify your subjects' faces in a scene. When it detects your face, the camera locks the appropriate exposure and focus for the scene. Similar to face recognition technology, some cameras include smile recognition technology that recognizes a person's smile and automatically takes a photo of them.
Battery
Most point-and-shoot cameras come with recharging lithium-ion batteries for extended usage. Some still use standard AA batteries, which may be useful for individuals who don't always have access to a power outlet.
Wireless Connectivity
Wi-Fi connection is a great way to share images on social media sites with the help of the built-in Wi-Fi now found in many of today's point-and-shoot cameras. Some cameras come equipped with NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, which enables them to link immediately to a smartphone for picture preview and sharing.
Benefits Of Using A Point-And-Shoot Camera
Affordable
Point-and-shoot cameras are an excellent choice for anyone who wants to snap high-quality pictures on a tight budget. These reasonably-priced cameras are ideal for amateur photographers who want to generate photographs of a higher caliber than those taken with their phones. Even the most expensive point-and-shoot cameras cost less than smartphones.
Simple To Use
Full-auto modes and fixed lenses are core features of point-and-shoot cameras, although more expensive versions offer some additional adjustments. Point-and-shoot cameras are an excellent choice for casual or novice photographers who want to take quick pictures without worrying over settings or shooting modes.
With their built-in zoom lenses and superb image quality, point-and-shoot cameras enable the photographer to capture various images with little to no adjustments made to their settings.
Compact
Point-and-shoot cameras are convenient to carry around — especially while traveling — because you don't need to bring any other attachments or accessories, such as additional zoom lenses.
Quiet
Point-and-shoot cameras are a fantastic choice for candid photography in a calm environment or taking pictures of wildlife because they function quietly.
How To Make The Most Of A Point-And-Shoot Camera
Read The Manual
Although it might seem obvious, reading the manual is the simplest way to make the most of your point-and-shoot camera. This is the quickest approach to becoming acquainted with your camera's features, settings and menu options. With all the knowledge available on the Internet nowadays, you can also find video tutorials on operating your specific camera.
Not All Point And Shoots Shoot RAW
Some models prefer to shoot in RAW. If yours does, shoot in RAW. Doing so preserves all visual data (unlike compressed JPGs) and gives you more control over post-processing. If your camera does not support RAW, take the highest resolution JPG possible. Remember that you cannot extend JPGs as much as RAW photos when it comes to post-processing.
White Balance
The white balance settings on your camera will impact the overall color hue of your photographs. If your camera offers white balance settings, you should be able to choose between daylight, tungsten, cloudy, fluorescent, auto, shade and custom settings.
Adjust your white balance to auto or based on the appropriate lighting for the situation so that your photographs don't come out overly yellow or blue. Don't be alarmed if you accidentally set the white balance to the wrong setting. It's possible to adjust it in post-production, mainly if you shoot RAW.
Learn The Fundamentals Of Photography
Sure, the rules are designed to be broken, but composition is one that you can't get away with. Practice composition whether you're using a high-end DSLR or a simple point-and-shoot. Learn how to place subjects and fill the frame. Study the rule of thirds, symmetry, leading lines, repetition and other design principles.
Avoid Flash In Low-Light
Softer, indirect lighting is preferable to harsh, direct illumination. When photographing an indoor portrait, try positioning your subject close to a window and utilizing all available natural light.
When natural light is scarce, desk lamps, LED lights and the like are an excellent substitute. Position them away from the camera and the subject for softer, better and more flattering lighting. You may also disperse the light by putting a white plastic bag in front of its source.
Zoom
You can put your camera on a tripod and use a slow shutter speed or zoom the lens as you capture the photo for a more dramatic effect.
Get To Know Your Settings
If you're new to photography, you may be unfamiliar with the various shooting modes. Take a series of photographs of the same subject using different modes and adjusting the settings between images.
People Also Ask
Can I focus with a point-and-shoot camera?
Yes. The three most common focusing modes on point-and-shoot cameras are face detection, continuous focusing and center spot. When the small square visible on the LCD becomes green, your camera has focused on that area. Some cameras also beep to let you know they are in focus.
Is autofocus available on my point-and-shoot camera?
Most cameras use autofocus for focusing, adjusting exposure options and built-in flash units.
Can I get a blurry background with a point-and-shoot camera?
It's possible to get a picture with background blur with this type of camera. However, you'll need a larger sensor and a superior lens.
Can I get a bokeh with a point-and-shoot camera?
While it's thought that you need high-end cameras to get a bokeh, that's not the case. All you need is some photography skills, and you will be able to get the bokeh effect even with your point-and-shoot camera.
Can I use a point-and-shoot camera for professional use?
Due to their portability and ease of use, point-and-shoot cameras are widely used by professional photographers in addition to DSLRs. DSLRs may be a fantastic catch for great photography, but these cameras are very large, making them impractical for many.
