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What do I need a camera for, you may be asking yourself. After all, the smartphone in your pocket is a camera—isn’t it?
It certainly is, but the truth is that your smartphone is far from the best camera. Real cameras these days are easy to hold, have image stabilization so your pictures will come out well, have plenty of zoom to capture distant sights, can shoot high-definition video, and offer Wi-Fi and other wireless abilities so you can quickly share images.
Here are six compact point-and-shoot cameras that deliver great pictures—at a great price:
Canon PowerShot SX620
The Canon PowerShot SX620 is a handsome camera that’s loaded with features. The SX620 includes a 25x Optical Zoom and a 20.2-megapixel camera sensor for beautifully detailed photos, helped by its image stabilization technology. The camera also lets you shoot your own movies with its powerful 1080p high-definition video capacity. You can even preview everything on the bright 3-inch LCD display. The camera, which weighs in at 6.42 ounces, also has a pop-up flash and includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for easy sharing and transferring of images and videos.
Fujifilm FinePix XP140
The Fujifilm FinePix XP140 has both looks and features that set it apart from other point-and-shoot cameras. Its rugged body provides a clue that it’s designed for photographing outdoors in rain, snow and other challenging environments. The FinePix is said to be waterproof up to 25 meters, shockproof up to 1.8 meters, and even freezeproof up to -10°C. While its maximum resolution is slightly lower than some of the competition at 16.4 megapixels (as is its 5x optical zoom), it offers a robust design and can also produce UHD 4K videos at 15p.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX220
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX220 is a point-and-shoot featherweight packed with power. The DSC-WX220 weighs just 3.07 ounces (less than half the 6.7 oz. of the Fujifilm FinePix XP140), yet boasts some amazing features. These include an 18.2-megapixel CMOS sensor that can capture high-definition 1080p videos at 60p. It also packs a Sony G lens with up to 10x optical zoom and 40x digital zoom, with a long focal length of up to 250mm. You’ll also be able to preview your shots on its sharp 3-inch clear LCD screen with multiple brightness levels.
Panasonic Lumix ZS50 Camera
Barely making the $300 cutoff is the Panasonic Lumix ZS50. But the quality of this camera begins with its super-long Leica lens with 30X zoom (24-720mm) that can help bring distant objects in close. The camera also includes a lens-mounted control ring for changing settings.
This beautiful camera boasts enhanced low-light sensitivity for improved sharpness even without a flash. The ZS50′s built-in eye viewfinder eliminates outdoor glare problems on sunny days. The camera is capable of RAW shooting, which allows you to capture all image data without compression, so you can create higher quality images with these larger files. Of course, you can also capture pictures in the traditional JPG format.
Nikon COOLPIX B500
The Nikon CoolPix B500 is considerably larger and, at 19 ounces, heavier than traditional point-and-shoot cameras. On the other hand, it delivers a superb combination of megapixels, zoom capability, and HD video plus connectivity, as it includes built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth for photo sharing. The CoolPix B500 has an actual glass lens from Nikkor with great telephoto capability, including 40x zoom. It’s equally adept at shooting 1080p full HD video as you watch on its rotating, flip-up 3-inch LCD. The camera boasts a 16-megapixel low-light sensor and uses Lens-Shift Vibration Reduction to make taking great pictures effortless and easy. It even has a High Shutter Speed of up to 1/4000s for capturing action.
Canon PowerShot ELPH 360
The PowerShot ELPH 360 is another option from Canon that offers plenty of features in a sleek format—and at a price less than $200. The ELPH 360 boasts a full 20.2 megapixels of resolution. The camera also features a 3-inch color LCD screen, so you can review your photos before sharing. The easy-to-use ELPH can be your constant companion. While its 12x optical zoom capability may lag some competitors, it can still help capture a close-up of a child’s face on stage, or a wide shot of the audience. The camera includes an optical image stabilizer to help keep images sharp with minimal shake and blur. It’s easy to share such memories thanks to its built-in Wi-Fi and NFC capability. The camera will also record video at 1080p full-HD resolution. There’s even a Story Highlights mode that combines your images and video, then adds effects, to help you create a short movie.
