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Point-and-shoot digital cameras are still better than your average smartphone when it comes to taking high-quality photos. The Sony RX100 IV is the best one you can buy with its tremendous image quality and ability to shoot at high speeds.
Point-and-shoot cameras aren’t as popular as they were several years ago. The lower part of the market has become dominated by smartphone cameras, while DSLR cameras rule the upper end of the market. That doesn’t mean you should ignore the best point-and-shoot cameras, though. These cameras still have some benefits that smartphone and DSLR cameras can’t match, making them a perfect choice for certain photographers.
Benefits of point-and-shoot cameras
As the Digital Photography School website explains, point-and-shoot cameras have some areas where they outperform both DSLRs and smartphone cameras.
- Optical zoom lens: The optical zoom measurement indicates the ability of the point-and-shoot camera lens to magnify the scene. An optical zoom is preferable to a digital zoom, which is found on smartphone cameras, because the optical zoom mechanism doesn’t sacrifice image quality to achieve the magnification like a digital zoom does.
- Small camera body: Point-and-shoot cameras nearly always weigh less than DSLR cameras, while also offering a smaller camera body. So if you’re looking to travel with your camera or if you want to carry it in a pocket, the point-and-shoot camera is a great choice.
- Overall cost: A point-and-shoot camera has the lens built into the camera body, meaning it will have a lower cost over the long run than DSLR cameras, where you’ll be buying extra lenses. The lens on a DSLR camera can detach from the camera, and adding a new lens provides different capabilities for the DSLR. Because the point-and-shoot camera lens is built in, you’ll often hear this type of camera called a fixed-lens camera.
- Tough and waterproof features: Certain point-and-shoot cameras are able to be used in water because they have a sealed camera body that keeps the water out. Don’t try dunking many smartphone cameras or DSLRs in water (at least without a protective case), or you’re going to end up with an expensive paperweight. Some point-and-shoot cameras also are shockproof, meaning they can survive a fall of several feet without breaking.
Downsides of point-and-shoot cameras
Point-and-shoot cameras certainly won’t fit every photography situation you may encounter, though. The best DSLR cameras are just so strong in so many areas, and smartphone cameras are just so convenient, that it’s tough for an inexpensive point-and-shoot camera to compete in the following areas.
- Image quality: We at Business Insider shot a series of photos that compared a DSLR camera, a point-and-shoot camera, and a smartphone camera. The DSLR camera, thanks to a larger image sensor in terms of physical size, is able to outperform both point-and-shoot and smartphone cameras with regard to image quality nearly every time, especially in low-light conditions. The image sensor is the chip inside the camera that measures the light from the scene to create the photograph.
- Limited manual control features: Although point-and-shoot cameras do offer many more manual control features than they did a few years ago, experienced photographers still greatly prefer the DSLR cameras because of the full manual controls they offer. Point-and-shoot cameras are designed to be easy to use, which typically means limited manual control over the settings.
- Convenience: Because people carry their smartphones with them everywhere, the smartphone camera has grown in popularity in a hurry in the past several years. It’s so convenient to use the smartphone camera that people almost consider it a hassle to have to carry a separate point-and-shoot camera, even if it fits in a pocket.
SEE ALSO: The best DSLR cameras you can buy
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The best point-and-shoot camera overall
Why you'll love it: The Sony RX100 IV point-and-shoot camera's large image sensor produces great low-light photography and it takes great photos in every situation.
Great image quality holds back a lot of cameras in the point-and-shoot market, as they cannot stand up to their more advanced DSLR brethren. When shooting with the Sony RX100 IV, though, you won’t have to sacrifice much in terms of high-resolution photos or strong image quality in all types of shooting conditions.
This Sony camera includes a 1-inch image sensor, which is just a bit smaller than the image sensors found in entry-level DSLRs. Additionally, the RX100 IV is a fast performer, ranking near the top of the point-and-shoot category. Ken Rockwell’s review of this Sony camera praises the strong images it produces in all lighting conditions.
If you also want to shoot video with your point-and-shoot camera, the RX100 IV is about as good as it gets. Imaging Resource points out the camera's 4K video resolution and HDMI output port as great bonus features that aren’t typically included on point-and-shoot models.
Another great move Sony made with the RX100 IV was its decision to include a viewfinder. I hate to date myself, but I can remember when every camera — film and digital — included a viewfinder.
For the past several years, viewfinders have become rare on point-and-shoot cameras, as beginning photographers often prefer to frame scenes using a display screen. However, as you become more familiar with cameras, you’ll find it just feels more natural to use a viewfinder to record photos.
Amazon buyers generally love the camera, but a few reviews point out a couple of potential drawbacks to the Sony RX100 IV. Some reviewers report overheating problems when recording 4K video, others dislike the 5-minute clip recording limit for video, and some reviewers are displeased with its high price tag.
However, you get what you pay for, and the RX100 IV's ability to create great looking photos in all sorts of shooting conditions makes it well worth the money — especially when you compare it to the competition.
Pros: Excellent image quality in all shooting conditions, fast shooting performance, very good low-light photography results, 4K movie recording, includes a viewfinder
Cons: High price tag, limited optical zoom capability to 2.8X
The best big zoom point-and-shoot camera
Why you'll love it: The Canon PowerShot G3 X digital camera is smaller than most big zoom models, but it will capture faraway subjects beautifully.
Those seeking a great camera for travel will love the Canon PowerShot G3 X. It’s a strong all-around model with a 25X optical zoom lens that’ll help you capture subjects that are far away or nearby. It’s able to shoot almost equally well in sunlight as well as in low light. It’s not a huge camera, either, so you can carry it easily while traveling, as multiple customers at buyers on Amazon mention in their reviews.
When I tested the PowerShot G3 X for a Steve’s Digicam’s review, I was especially impressed with its versatility. It records great photographs, and it offers plenty of impressive extra features, such as a large touchscreen LCD that also tilts, allowing for selfies and odd-angle photos.
Having a touchscreen LCD is a great feature in a point-and-shoot camera, making it easier to operate for inexperienced photographers. When I go on a trip, I really want a versatile camera, because I’m not always sure what kind of shooting conditions I will encounter.
In ePhotozine’s review of the G3 X, the camera’s 1-inch image sensor and strong optical zoom lens received high marks. A 1-inch image sensor is just a little smaller in physical size than what’s found in entry-level DSLR cameras, so the PowerShot G3 X is able to create great looking photos.
However, the camera does see its performance levels slow considerably when shooting in the advanced RAW image format, which has no compression applied to it, unlike the more common JPEG image format.
You will have to pay a large price for the PowerShot G3 X, so it may not appeal to everyone seeking a point-and-shoot camera. But if you want top-flight image quality in an easy-to-use camera that offers a lot of versatility, the G3 X is one of my favorites.
Pros: Large image sensor yields great photographic quality, 25X optical zoom lens is a great size, camera is thinner than most big zoom cameras, LCD screen is touch enabled and tilts
Cons: High price tag, camera is heavy, no viewfinder
The best pocket-sized point-and-shoot camera
Why you'll love it: The Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II is a fast performing camera that you can take anywhere because it fits right in your pocket.
It’s tough to argue with the results from the Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II camera. As one Amazon buyer points out, the G9 X Mark II offers the best image quality in a camera that can fit in a pocket.
Because the G9 X Mark II includes the latest image processor from Canon – the Digic 7 – this camera is a really fast performer versus other point-and-shoot cameras. Photography Blog highlighted the speed of the camera in its review, and many buyers point out the same thing.
One Amazon customer review highlights the PowerShot G9 X’s fast performance speeds, including its ability to record at up to 8 frames per second when shooting in burst mode, which is extremely impressive for a point-and-shoot camera.
Additionally, the Mark II offers improved battery life and image quality in low light versus its predecessor, the G9 X. Even with that improvement, the Mark II’s battery life is not as good as I’d like to see, offering only about 235 shots per charge.
When shooting in low light, the G9 X Mark II is able to create images with limited noise. Typically, point-and-shoot cameras really struggle with high levels of noise in low-light photos, so the G9 X Mark II is well above average in comparison with the competition.
The ePhotozine review of the Canon G9 X Mark II focuses on the 1-inch image sensor that Canon chose to include with this camera. With an image sensor that’s larger than what’s typically found in a point-and-shoot camera, the G9 X Mark II can outperform others in its class in terms of image quality.
You’ll find a 3-inch LCD screen with touch capabilities on this camera, too, making it easier to use for inexperienced photographers than cameras without touchscreens. Overall, the G9 X Mark II is a great camera for people on the go.
Pros: Small camera body that fits in a pocket, excellent results in low-light photos, extremely fast performer with high burst rate, includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity
Cons: Only a 3X optical zoom lens, below average battery performance
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