Best compact digital camera reviewed here. While the demand for point-and-shoot cameras have taken a hit thanks to the popularity of the smartphone camera, some of the smartphone cameras still lag in picture quality. If you’re not yet ready for the cost or technical difficulty of an interchangeable lens system, you can checkout these best compact cameras (not the cheapest) that take amazing pictures, are compact in size, and boast of innovative high-tech features, including Wi-Fi connectivity, built-in visual stabilization systems, and intelligent auto-focusing technology. We have listed several compact digital cameras here to help you find the one that is right for your needs.
Top 10 Compact Point-and-Shoot Cameras
These compact cameras are the staple, everyday camera in this age of digital photography. These cameras have seen a minor revolution from their earlier “bare-bone” design (because of competition from smartphone cameras).
Image manipulation is common, with the inclusion of diverse shooting and scene modes on every camera, along with options for editing the images on the camera itself.
The best compact cameras today offer ultra zoom (massive optical zoom), they are well-built, with quality plastics, and have a nice grip. The mode dial on the top has a nice positive feel, while the buttons on the rear are well spaced out. The rear dial takes you through onscreen options and has smooth operation. They have reasonable size LCD, and the optical viewfinder is a carbon copy of what you see on your LCD (not really an optical unit, but as far as non-dslr go, it is pretty much the norm). When zooming, the lens feel better. These cameras produce decent detail, and good highlighting. Colors are neutral, the dynamic range is good (but slightly limited). Video capture offers good quality.
Few years back, the maximum zoom you could expect on your point and shoot camera (not the ultra zooms) was 5x-8x, but not any longer. The need for more optical zoom in compact form factors led to this category of camera called Travel Zooms.
The more popular ones in the list that we have put forth had increased optical zooms with image stabilization. Please note that these are not the cheapest options. If you’re looking for the cheapest point-shoot/compact cameras (under 100 bucks), click here.
These models are have slightly better features and cost around a couple of hundred dollars or so. These are good options for most shutterbugs looking for cameras with nice zoom and reasonable quality. Here are some good options:
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Canon PowerShot SX620 Digital Camera
The slim and sleek PowerShot SX620 HS camera is perfect for vacation, family occasion or everyday fun. Powerful 25x (25-625mm) Optical Zoom, image stabilization, built-in Wi-Fi and NFC lets you share images to social sites. 20.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor and the DIGIC 4+ Image Processor capture beautiful shots during day or night. 1080p Full HD video recording at your fingertips.
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Fujifilm FinePix XP80 Waterproof Digital Camera (Editor’s Pick)
The Fujifilm FinePix XP80 Waterproof Digital Camera looks stylish, is waterproof and equipped with standard features in the segment. 16.2-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor delivers good quality images even in low light. Captures full HD Movies.
- Pros: Waterproof/Freeze proof/Dustproof, sturdy, Optical Image Stabilization, LCD with anti-reflective coating
- Cons: Battery drains faster
Color Options: Several colors – blue, graphite black, yellow.
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Canon EOS M 18.0 MP Compact Systems Camera
With 18 mega pixels, the Canon EOS M captures high quality images that are excellent in color and clarity (the images can be printed on an A2 sized sheet with detailed clarity). Compact and easy to carry, it can also serve as a backup camera for professional photographers.
Captures HD videos. Continuous tracking of moving objects in focus. Compatible with Canon EF-S and EF lenses. Compatible with several types of cards. Comes with touch screen for easy selection.
In general, the camera you buy needs to have:
- Good build quality and ergonomics
- Excellent image and video quality
- Slim form factor
- High resolution display
- Should offer good value for money
Here are some more compact cameras:
Though there are several models out there in this category that are good, usually a few products walk away with all the accolades, which have the right mix of everything to tempt the user, and which outsells all the other products in that category.
Also checkout, compact video cameras
Compact Digital Cameras: Buying Guide
Slim is in vogue now, and it applies to electronics as well. Nobody likes owning bulky stuff and manufacturers have realized that as well. Televisions, computer monitors, phone and cameras are all becoming thinner and compact. The best part about the compact/point and shoot cameras is that they look stylish, are easy to carry and simple to use.
Though most use only the auto functions on such cameras, some of these do offer advanced features that can help you learn advanced techniques. With a wide range of features and capabilities packed in a small & compact body, a point and shoot camera offers great value if you’re interested in taking photos.
A Compact / Point and Shoot Camera is the easiest to use, compared to other cameras, and lets you take quality pictures without having to do any manual settings. Not everybody would like to prepare for a shot by making several menu settings. All they want is to click a button and expect the photos to be there. That is where Point and Shoot Cameras make perfect sense. Here we take a look at the best digital compact cameras.
Because of advances in digital camera technology, these small digital cameras have become cheaper yet are packed with features. So even though you may want something for hobby photography, or need one that you can take along on holidays, you get cameras that have the capabilities to click cool pics, and even videos.
Be it young adults, parents or young children, everyone loves to click pictures, especially when it is some important occasion or a family outing. So owning a camera is must for most of us nowadays.
What to Look For?
Compact cameras are reasonably priced, give great results, and most of them are simple point-and-shoot cameras (just point the camera towards the subject and click).
Easy-to-Use Features
Here are some more characteristics of these cameras.
- These are small in size
- Easy to use
- Auto functions make it ready to use
- Comes with rechargeable lithium-ion battery (no need of changing batteries)
- Comes with video recording capability
These come with many more features, the important factors to consider when you are purchasing the best small digital camera are:.
- Company. – Pick a company you trust.
- Cost – Buy once, buy right..but don’t go overboard with your purchase
- Image quality – Make sure you are happy with the image quality.
- Ease of use – Easy to use cameras get used more than the difficult ones.
- Megapixels – Not an issue nowadays, modern cameras have plenty of megapixels.
- Size and Weight – The smaller lighter cameras are easier to carry.
- Battery life – Long battery life helps ensure you don’t get caught without power.
- Battery type – Are they rechargeable or regular? Which type are you most comfortable with?
- Memory card size – If you are taking high resolution pictures make sure you get enough memory.
- Video quality – Small Digital cameras can capture videos as well. Make sure the quality is good.
The quality of most small digital cameras today is amazing, and they are pretty reasonably priced. Remember, the best small digital camera is the one that meets your needs.
Stick to your Budget
Sticking to your budget is important irrespective of what you buy. We spoke about compact cameras with large sensors, but then they are on the expensive side (assuming you’ve never owned a DSRL camera).
There are many who are obsessed about cameras and feel that something entry level cannot take good pictures. However, the fact is that for many, a digital camera in the range $200 to $250 dollars would also serve well.
After all, a camera is a tool to take pictures. There are many photographers who use high-end cameras that produce stunning pictures, but they also own compact cameras and they have no problem taking great shots with their $200 camera. In fact, some of their favorite pictures are shot using their cheap cameras. So you really don’t have to go overboard with your purchase.
Popular Brands / Series
Canon, Sony, Panasonic, Fujifilm & Olympus are the more popular brands that make compact cameras. Among that too, most users look at the Canon PowerShot & Sony CyberShot series for their options. Some of the popular Brands / Series of compact cameras:
One of the best things about the current lot of digital cameras is that you can very well categorize them into two types – one that is the more professional grade DSLR types – and the other is what you can define as compact. So frankly speaking though there are so many models, it is good that there are just a couple of categories. And I guess that’s what I like the best about the digital cameras of today.
And it’s not that these compact point-and-shoot ones give bad results, the pictures captured can be amazing. Though there are limitations in case you want to capture action sports or zoom in a long distance or take pictures in dark; a DSRL will be more apt for those scenarios.
But these are good enough for most purposes and you can easily carry them around. Most cameras nowadays have advanced features where it can distinguish faces from other objects in a picture, it can tell if the person being photographed is smiling or blinking and so on. Many models also have the capability to take multiple pictures on one click of the shutter to help you choose the best one.
Want something more advanced? Go in for a bridge camera or a compact system camera!
A bridge camera has more features than a point-and-shoot camera. And if you want more control over the features, with the ability to change lenses, go in for a Compact system camera. A compact system camera lies somewhere between a point-and-click and a digital SRL camera! These have a bit more features than the point-and-shoot cameras, allow you to fiddle with the settings, and tend to be a bit more expensive as well. These are also known as mirrorless or mirrorless system cameras.
To Conclude
Not everyone likes to do an elaborate setup before taking every shot. There are many who would prefer to have their cameras to be very easy-to-use, and also don’t want to spend a fortune on these gadgets. This is where these compact cameras make perfect sense.
If you are a beginner photographer, or a casual user who take pictures only on certain occasions, then you may not need something really fancy.
These are also great for children to start learning about photography, and women do have some stylish options when it comes to point and shoot digital cameras.
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- Sony W800/B 20.1 MP Digital Camera
Sony Lens w/ 5x Optical Zoom, Image stabilisation, 720p HD videos, Sweep Panorama mode-up to 360, Smile Shutter technology automatically captures smiles, easy Mode for simplified use. - Samsung WB350F 16.3MP Digital Camera
- Sony W800/B 20.1 MP Digital Camera
16.3 MP, 21x Optical Zoom for great shots up front or from a distance, instantly share photos online, 3.0″ Touch Screen LCD, 1080p HD Video (microSD card required).
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- Sony W800/B 20.1 MP Digital Camera
Bright f/1.8 lens with 5x optical zoom and 24mm wide angle view, 12.1 megapixel, exceptional low-light performance, 1080p Full-HD Video, wirelessly transfer images online, zoom while shooting and play back videos on an HDTV via the HDMI output.
- Canon PowerShot S3 IS – a 6 megapixel camera with a 12x optical zoom and image stabilization
- Canon Powershot S2 IS – a 5 megapixel camera with a 12x optcial zoom and image stabilization
- Panasonic DMC-FZ50 – 10.1 megapixels with 12x optical zoom lens and image stabilization
- Sony Cybershot DSC-H5 – 7.2 megapixles with 12x optical zoom and image stabilization
- Canon PowerShot SD800 IS – a 7.1 megapixel compact camera with a 3.8x wide angled optical zoom and image stabilization
- Canon Powershot A620 – 7.1 megapixels and a 4x optical zoom
- Canon PowerShot S5 IS – 8 megapixels, 12x Optical Zoom and Image Stabilization
- Fujifilm Finepix S5200 – 5.1 megapixels, 10x optical zoom and image stabilization
- Canon Powershot SD550 – 7.1 megapixels and a 3x optical zoom
- Nikon Coolpix 5400 – 5.1 megapixels with a 4x optical zoom
What Is a Point-and-Shoot Camera?
A point-and-shoot camera is any camera that lets you take pictures fast, without worrying about focusing the lens. Most have built-in flashes and a variety of automatic settings. The lens may zoom in and out, depending on the model, but generally can’t be removed from the camera body. While these cameras aren’t as complicated to use as a DSLR, with some practice you can get some really breathtaking photos from a good point-and-shoot camera.
Here are some tips to get you started towards some amazing point-and-shoot photography.
Before Taking Your First Shots
1. Learn to use the various Settings / Modes
Before going out for your first photo shoot with your point-and-shoot camera, take several minutes to read the manual and to examine the settings that your camera comes with. Most point and shoot cameras have a variety of shooting modes for different situations. Knowing which are available to you beforehand can save you a lot of time and frustration, as well as ensuring that you get the perfect picture when the opportunity arises. Here are a few examples:
Portrait Mode: Best used whenever you’re taking a picture of someone’s face, or several people in a close group. Creates a soft lighting effect and can add a soft blur to the background. Use this setting on other subjects to make them pop from from their surroundings, in what is called a bokeh effect.
Hand-Held Night Mode: While not available on all cameras, this mode allows you to take night shots without needing a tripod. The camera takes a series of photos using a fast shutter and then assembles them into one shot, resulting in a crisp image with enough light that would otherwise be available only with a longer shutter speed and a tripod.
Snow or Beach Mode: This mode compensates for white backgrounds, like snow-filled streets or bright sunlight on the sand, without other details being too dark.
Miniature or Diarama Mode: Also known as tilt-shift, this mode makes the subject appear to be a miniature model. It’s done by keeping the subject in focus while adding a soft blur to everything in the background and the foreground.
2. Get a Memory Card or Two
Check your camera for a small slot that will accept a memory card, or check your owner’s manual. Most cameras today use micro SD cards for extra storage. This is an inexpensive way to ensure that you always have room for a few extra thousand photos. We recommend SanDisk, a U.S. company that has been recognized for producing quality digital storage for years. The 32GB to 64GB cards are extremely inexpensive and for less than $100 you can get a SanDisk 200GB Ultra 200GB Micro SD memory card. For a few dollars more you can get an even faster 200GB MicroSDXC Class 10 Ultra memory card. You may not notice the speed when taking photos, but you should see a difference when uploading photos to your computer. If your camera has a larger SD slot, remember that most micro SD cards come with an adapter so you can use them too.
3. Check the Image Quality
Increase the image size to get better details.
At their default settings, many point-and-shoot cameras take low-quality photos with small file sizes. This is a good setting if you haven’t added an SD card yet, or if you are just posting photos to Facebook, which reduces large photos anyway. However, if you want to print copies of your pictures, or show them on your new HDTV, you will want to use larger image files with a higher quality. Besides the standard JPG file format, many good point-and-shoot cameras can shoot in RAW mode, just like a DSLR. While RAW files take up a lot of storage space, they give you the highest quality images. In fact, RAW files aren’t even photo files at all, but contain the raw image data that JPGs and GIFs use to assemble an image. Note that you will need a RAW image editor to process these files, like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom.
Taking Great Photos
1. Stabilize Your Camera
Even under normal lighting situations, the slightest tremble of your hand can make the details in your photos less clear than they would otherwise be. When you take a photo, hold your camera firmly with both hands and keep as still as possible before taking a picture. Keeping your elbows against your chest does a lot to reduce camera shake. If the camera has a viewfinder, rest the top of the camera against your brow to make the camera even more stable. If there is a steady object close by, like a wall or a pillar, lean your arm against it when taking a shot.
Use a tripod for long-exposure shots.
When taking photos without a flash in low-light situation means a longer shutter speed, so keeping your camera stable is essential. Brace yourself as well as possible and breath steadily. Begin exhaling just before pressing the shutter button and keep exhaling until the shot is complete. With some practice you can actually get shots just as sharp as someone using a tripod. Of course, if you do have a great tripod like the Slik Sprint Pro II, the screw hole on the bottom of many point-and-shoots will probably fit on it. There are also miniature tripods designed just for point-and-shoot cameras, like the JOBY GorillaPod that are portable and extremely flexible.
2. Pre-focus Before You Focus
Focusing a camera can steal precious seconds from the perfect shot. The camera can take even longer to focus if it has been turned off or gone into sleep mode. You can eliminate most of the waiting time by pre-focusing your camera before taking the shot. To do this, point the camera at your subject and press the shutter button half-way down. The camera will make some noise as it focuses and when it stops, release the button.
For action shots, like when you’re waiting for someone to cross the finish line, pre-focus on any object close to where the person will be – including a spot on the ground — before they arrive. Even if the person isn’t exactly where you expected them to be, the camera will take much less time to adjust the focus a short distance than it would a longer distance.
3. Use the Flash Sparingly
Few good pictures ever come from a built-in camera flash. Not only does a flash tend to wash out details and cast dark shadows behind your subject, it can wear down your battery and cause frustrating delays as the camera waits for the flash to charge before engaging the shutter.
When you can’t avoid using a flash, try diffusing its light by taping a small piece of tissue paper over it. In some cases this may make the photo slightly less bright than what you intended, however it’s much easier to brighten a photo than it is to darken an overexposed shot, either with an image editing program or by using the camera’s own image editing options.
4. Avoid the Digital Zoom
When you need to get close and personal to your subject, step in as close as you can first and use the optical zoom second. Using the digital zoom on a point-and-shoot camera will always give you an inferior photo. This is because the digital zoom basically crops and expands your photo as you take the image, which most cameras allow you to do after you take the shot anyway. So using a 2x digital zoom uses half the pixels as a normal shot, while a 4x digital zoom reduces the pixels by four times.
5. Adjust the White Balance
White balance is often distorted when shooting indoors.
If you have ever taken a shot indoors and found everything looks yellow or blue, you’ve experienced an issue with white balance. Most good point-and-shoot cameras give you an option to adjust the white balance for your shot. For a custom white balance, just adjust the setting under the same light that will illuminate your shot until the image on the screen looks good to your eyes. There should also be several pre-settings that change the white balance for you. Settings like day light, cloudy and fluorescent change the white balance for the situations they name. Tungsten is one you may not be familiar with — use it when you are indoors with a lot of incandescent lights to remove the yellow hues. Again, look at the screen, that should be a tell-tale sign.
6. Be Creative and Have Fun
The more photos you take with your point-and-shoot camera, the better you will understand what works and what doesn’t in different situations. When you get a new camera, it’s a good idea to take it out for an afternoon and use different settings for the same photo so you can see how they effect each shot. Explore different compositions by taking photos from different angles and distances. Rather than having your subject centered in every shot, for example, place them near the side of the shot to give them context within their surroundings.
Whether you’re using a cellphone, a point-and-shoot camera, or a DSLR, using different angles almost always creates more interesting pictures. If you simply stand in front of the subject and take the photo at eye-level, the shot is usually uninteresting because that’s the same perspective everyone has of everything they see. Squatting down to a low angle, or finding a safe way to get above your subject will create a photo that is more interesting because it comes from a perspective only toddlers and giraffes normally see.
Whatever your style is for taking photos, your point and shoot camera is a great, light-weight accessory you can bring anywhere. The quality and the range of features will almost always give you better, more memorable photos than what you could ever get with the camera on a smartphone.
Budget Cameras
Best budget cameras reviewed here. These are compact, lightweight, enexpensive, but take decent pictures and some even record videos. While these may still have lots of features, they are not going to take high resolution pictures, so forget about taking photos that will generate poster-sized prints. But then, not everyone needs a high-end digital compact or interchangeable-lens camera. If you’re looking for a small, cheap, pocket camera and don’t want to spend much, these affordable cameras should suit your requirements. These are great to have if you are traveling or for those special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. You may even use it for everyday purposes. You may skip to the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00I8BIC9E” locale=”US” tag=”studiopsis04-20″]best budget point and shoot camera on Amazon[/easyazon_link].
Best Budget / Cheap Digital Cameras
Compact cameras are a great choice for the causal user and also for beginner photographers who are looking for a good quality, portable camera as a backup to their DSLR or bridge camera.
While most modern smartphones have a decent built-in camera, a dedicated camera usually has more features (even if its a cheap one) which is required to take your photography to the next level And these days a compact, point and shoot camera (with good specs) will not burn a hole in your pocket.
Here are the top budget cameras available on the market. These are inexpensive (most are under 100 bucks) yet deliver high-quality images.So go ahead and save money with these inexpensive digital cameras.
Nikon Coolpix A10
The Nikon Coolpix A10 is a great little camera for beginners, its easy to operate, is lightweight (just 160g), and captures high quality images with its 16.1MP sensor.
Features motion blur reduction (which reduces camera shake), HD video recording (720P), ‘smile timer’ (takes the picture when the subject is smiling).
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Sony W800/S 20.1 MP Digital Camera
Sony Lens w/ 5x Optical Zoom, Image stabilization, Capture videos in 720p. Take stunning images in Sweep Panorama mode-up to 360. Smile Shutter technology. In camera guide helps navigate features. Charge your battery via USB3.
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Nikon COOLPIX L32 Digital Camera
5x Wide-Angle NIKKOR Zoom Lens. Large 3.0-inch LCD makes it easy to frame and review shots, Smart Portrait System captures nice selfies and portraits. Records 720p HD video with sound. Electronic Vibration Reduction helps keep your shot sharp and steady.
Best Budget Camera to Buy
FujiFilm FinePix AX655 16MP Digital Camera w/5x Optical Zoom
The FujiFilm FinePix AX655 with 16 megapixels takes high-quality pictures and videos, the 5x optical zoom lets you get close to the action. It has built-in flash for situations with poor lighting. Above all, its compact and lightweight.
Captures both far-away and close-up shots with ease. TFT LCD screen makes it easy to frame your shots. Rechargeable battery lets you take up to 420 pictures on one charge.
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Best Digital Camera with Wi-Fi
Samsung WB35F 16.2MP Smart WiFi & NFC Digital Camera
The Samsung WB35F looks stylish, fashionable, and is available in various colors. It features a good 12x optical zoom on it, has a 2.7″ LCD. The auto made takes great pictures on its own, thanks to the optical image stabilization which ensures your pictures are not blurry as a result of camera shake. The best part is that this camera comes with built-in Wi-Fi, which means you can take pictures and videos and share it on social media, without having to connect the camera to a computer first.
SMART features – Social Media Upload, E-mail, Photo beam, Direct Link, Mobile Link, PC Auto-backup, Remote. Viewfinder, All Share. 16.2MP CCD Sensor – superb clarity and detail
This camera has all the modern and amazing features for a very affordable camera like this.
Feature Rich Cheap Digital Camera
Nikon Coolpix L29 16.1 MP Point and Shoot Camera
The Nikon Coolpix L29 digital camera comes with 5x optical zoom, has various scene modes for different setting, it can take 720p HD videos. It also has built-in flash for those poorly lit situations. Its compact, lightweight, reasonably priced and takes high-quality photos.
Budget Digital Camera from Sony
Sony DSCW830/B 20.1 MP Digital Camera
The Sony DSCW830/B digital camera features 8x optical zoom, 2.7-Inch LCD, takes images with 20-megapixel resolution (which is quite good), records 720p HD videos, has several click modes (such as panorama). The camera even has built-in image editing features. Its compact and easy to use.
More Budget Digital Cameras
While it is difficult to find a very good digital camera for a price like hundred dollars, but you can find cameras that will suit the casual user. Here we have reviewed the best digital cameras in this price range. These are good cameras for casual use – be it for a long trip or for taking pictures of your family at home. These are among the bestselling budget cameras available on the market. They look attractive, take high-quality pictures and are built to last. If you are looking for an easy-to-use point and shoot digital camera but have a limited budget, these compact digital cameras can be purchase for around 100 bucks, making them ideal for beginners.
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