The best compact cameras to buy (Point-and-shoot)

Compact cameras are the best traveling companions for unforgettable shots. Which one should I choose? Here is the best compact camera for your budget.

In 1880, Kodak launched an advertising campaign that would revolutionize the photography market: “Press the button. We do the rest.” And that’s the way it has been since then. The compact cameras have been our faithful companions of travel and adventures until the arrival of smartphones.

Simple, elegant, and discreet, it offers clear images and does not require prior technical knowledge or cause a greater problem to the user except the mere fact of pressing the button and shooting, as the Sony DSC-HX60 is our most valued camera.

Currently, compact cameras are gaining great relevance in the world of photography. Its small size and great features make this camera an interesting option to purchase.

However, we must take into account several aspects, such as image resolution, recording quality, or price, among others, to know which is best suited to our needs. If, on the contrary, you prefer to take photos with your mobile, it is important to know the best phone with the best mobile camera at the moment. And if you are looking for something more professional in this article, you can find the best SLR cameras, in case your needs or tastes are different.

Compact cameras vs Bridge cameras

Within the compact camera market, we will differentiate between two types of devices: compact cameras and bridge cameras.

Compact cameras: as a general rule, they are the first cameras that we buy to start enjoying photography. They are easy to use, they weigh little, you do not have to change the objectives, and they have automatic programs where you can not worry about the technique to simply unleash your creativity.

Bridge cameras offer larger optical zooms, a reflex-style grip, and better controls. They increase not only their benefits but also their price.

If our thing is simply to give the button and enjoy without complications, a compact camera is a good option for children to enjoy without major problems. We’ll just adjust the budget, and that’s it.

What features should I consider before buying the best compact cameras?

Let’s see some issues to consider when buying a compact camera:

Megapixels. The more megapixels, the better the image quality we will have. Although the quality of the image is determined by several parameters, the quality of the sensor is the most important.

Optical zoom. It helps us photograph objects that are at a distance. The higher the optical zoom, the better photographs we can take of objects away from our camera. In this case, we always recommend carrying a tripod to help us take these types of images.

Rear screen or electronic viewfinder. They are very intuitive to see how our photography has been. The bigger your size, the better. Some cameras also allow us to move and rotate these backs to take more comfortable photographs.

Optical stabilizers. They help us to correct the movements and vibrations of the camera when we are going to shoot.

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC connectivity. It allows you to send photos simply to our mobile devices and tablets, so you can share them with your friends.

ISO. It will help us to be able to photograph in difficult light conditions. The higher your rank, the better the pictures we will take.

Weight. Light and small cameras are ideal to carry in your pocket, backpack, or purse.

The top 8 best compact cameras of the moment

In this article, we have collected the ones we have considered the best compact cameras on the market, a total of eight cameras with many differences between them but one aspect in common: great quality. So, if your goal is to get one and you do not know which compact camera to buy, stay with us.

In addition, we have included a water camera that can perfectly be considered compact. If you need to know the best water cameras here, you have a comparison with the most relevant at present.

Sony DSC-RX100 M6

Best compact cameras reviews

We started our compilation with a compact camera that has just hit the market, but that comes to stay for a long time in it. This is nothing more or less than the Sony DSC-RX100 M6.

Among the main features of this Sony, we can find the following: a total of 20.1 megapixels of resolution, the ability to record video in 4K, an optical zoom of 8x, an image stabilizer, WiFi connectivity, NFC, and Bluetooth. If that was not enough, a touch screen and tillable 3 inches.

It should be noted that we have one of the cameras with the highest price for this compilation, but that, for the great quality it offers and the great features it has, it is worth paying.

Discover more and the price here

Sony DSC-HX60V: Compact Camera with Zoom

Compact Camera with Zoom top rated

We are talking about a camera with a CMOS sensor of 20.4 MP. Robust, easy to use, and with a large 3-inch rear screen.

It has a Wi-Fi and NTC connection to be able to pass our photographs to our mobile device and has a high ISO range (100–12800), which will help us to photograph when the light conditions are not good.

It is a camera that does not weigh too much (245 g) and has an optical stabilizer to correct the small movements and vibrations of the camera when we are going to shoot. This compact camera stores our images in JPG format and does not have the possibility of recording in RAW format. Also, record the video in full HD.

It has a powerful zoom of 30 times that will help us photograph objects that are far enough away from us. It also has an image stabilizer that prevents vibrations when shooting.

An important feature is that this camera allows us to go further if we want to continue learning and enjoying it: we can shoot in semiautomatic and manual modes, in addition to controlling the exposure through its intuitive shooting mode dials, or incorporate an external flash through the built-in shoe.

For performance and price, this camera is perfect as it is compact to use and ideal for getting started in the world of photography.

Discover more and the price here

Canon PowerShot SX620 Digital Camera

top Canon digital compact cameras

It is a very light camera, weighing only 158 grams, and very small—a bit larger than a credit card.

This small and elegant compact camera offers a CMOS sensor of 20.2 megapixels. Its 3-inch backrest will help us see the photographed images.

We can comfortably photograph groups of people and also landscapes thanks to its 25mm angular optics coupled with its optical zoom of 25 magnification.

Its ISO range is lower than the one analyzed above, from 80 to 3200. It has Wi-Fi connectivity, and one of its strengths is the ability to record video in full HD at 1080p.

In addition, it includes fun creative effects where you can take pictures with a fisheye effect or create thumbnails to scale from a photo or a video. The power is through batteries. A fantastic option in terms of quality, size, and price.

Discover more and the price here

Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 2 reviews

If you are looking for a compact camera that stands out for its value for money, look no further, because the Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II is your best choice.

We could emphasize, among other things, its objective, which is manufactured by the German-owned Leica, and the possibility of shooting in RAW and recording in 4K.

Despite this, we cannot overlook such important features as its 17 megapixels of resolution, its optical zoom of 3.1x, its image stabilizer, and its WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

However, this is not here, since this compact camera also has a manual focus ring, with which you can manually focus on the area you want.

Discover more and the price here

Fujifilm XF10

Fujifilm XF10 Digital Camera

Just released to the market, the Fujifilm XF10 is a compact camera that, at first glance, seems simple enough but offers a quality that will surprise you. And, despite the resolution in megapixels it has, this Fujifilm offers great image quality.

In this way, this compact camera has a resolution of 8.3 megapixels, the ability to record video in 4K, a 0x optical zoom, and an electronic image stabilizer. In addition, it has Bluetooth connectivity and a 3-inch touchscreen.

Discover more and the price here

Nikon COOLPIX W100

best waterproof digital compact cameras

This fun off-road camera can dive up to 10 meters under the sea and resist falls of up to 1.8 meters in height.

Although it does not have a large sensor, it offers 13.2 megapixels and a 2.7-inch LCD screen. Allows video recording in HD.

In addition, it has a fairly low ISO range of 125–1600 and a 3x optical zoom.

We can conveniently send our images to our mobile devices through the file transfer system of Nikon SnapBridge.

We cannot say that it is a spectacular camera, but it is an ideal camera for children. They can have a great time at the pool or beach and capture great moments on vacation and travel. This is one of the best waterproof digital compact cameras.

Discover more and the price here

Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 with Zoom and Stabilization

Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 Digital Camera

This small camera stands out for its thinness and simple handling. Equipped with a 20-megapixel sensor, it allows us to photograph with a 10x zoom lens and an image stabilizer that will help us to record or photograph without the need for a tripod.

Shoot at wide-angle with its 24mm lens, allowing you to shoot great landscapes. It also allows video recording in HD (720p) at the touch of a button.

Its rear screen is 2.7 inches in size and has Wi-Fi connectivity to share and also shoot remotely from our mobile phone.

Discover more and the price here

Nikon CoolPix A300

Nikon Coolpix A300 20 MP Point Shoot Digital Camera

We bring you, this time, a compact camera that, by its appearance, we could say is a small reflex camera: the Nikon Coolpix A300. It is a Nikon camera that has 20.1 megapixels of resolution, HD video recording, 8x optical zoom, and an image stabilizer. In addition, it also has Bluetooth connectivity and a 2.7-inch screen.

For its part, if we take into account the recording quality of this camera, which is HD, we think it would be appropriate to get one that offers a higher recording quality, such as Full HD or 4K. However, this Nikon, with its HD video recording, offers fairly good quality in its videos.

Discover more and the price here

Conclusions

The world of compact cameras is vast and we can find thousands of models. For this reason, we have to be clear about what we are looking for and what use we are going to make of it and, once these questions have been raised, make a decision.

A total of 15 models of compact digital cameras make up this list, which we hope you have helped when it comes to telling you about any. If so, we would like you to leave your opinion in the comments and tell us which compact camera is the best for you.

Also, in case you know a compact camera that you think deserves to be on this list and is not … Leave it in the comments and we will value including it in this article!

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