Best Point-and-Shoot Cameras Available Right Now

In a stunning reversal of fortune, point-and-shoot cameras—which have long been dismissed as defunct—are currently experiencing a major resurgence. In both new and used markets, sales of point and shoots are way, fueled in part by nostalgia and the perceived shortcomings of smartphone cameras. With expanded feature sets, manual exposure controls, built-in and/or external flash support, and optical variety, today’s point-and-shoot options can make incredible images with little additional footprint. To that end, we’ve compiled a (non-definitive) list of some of the best point-and-shoot digital and film cameras available today.

Best Premium Camera: DSC-RX100 VII 

If you want the point-and-shoot with all the bells and whistles, look no further than the Sony DSC-RX100 VII. Released to market in 2019, its hard, black, palm-sized shell houses a 20.1MP 1" Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor, a BIONZ X image processor, and a ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* f/2.8-4.5 Lens with a 24-200mm full-frame equivalent zoom range. A robust trio in any form factor, let alone one that fits in your pocket and weighs less than 11 ounces. Its rear LCD screen extends out from the back, swiveling up and down along the horizontal axis for easy use at difficult shooting angles. A built-in, pop-up flash with a 1/2000s sync speed makes it a great choice for casual use at parties and to provide fill-light when shooting into backlit scenes. It also features strong autofocus performance, up to 20fps continuous shooting, RAW file output, a pop-up viewfinder, support for 4K video at 30fps, high-frame rate options, a microphone input, and a micro-HDMI port for HDMI output, making it a versatile option for those who would want a pocketable camera for content creation.

Recently, this camera has seen a surge of popularity among concertgoers and patrons of other events where interchangeable lens cameras are forbidden. The reach of the zoom, the 4K video capabilities, autofocus, solid low-light performance, and of course, portability lend this camera well to concert and other live event photography. Beyond its chart-topping status in the live music category, the camera nonetheless remains a premium choice for travel and everyday carry.

Best for Beginners: Pentax 17 

Fueling the point-and-shoot renaissance is the film renaissance, as both the disposable film cameras and the compact film cameras of yore have seen a return in popularity. So much so, in fact, that not one but two brand-new film cameras have been released in 2024, with the Pentax 17 film camera getting our endorsement as the best option for those new to the film experience. The Pentax 17 is a 35mm half-frame point-and-shoot film camera, meaning it captures images that measure 17 x 24mm on 35mm roll film, doubling the number of exposures per roll and producing images that have a natural vertical orientation. Simple, elegant, and functional, the camera was built using a wealth of inspiration from Pentax’s rich history of film camera development and promises a fun shooting experience with the unique aesthetic results that film provides.

Benefitting beginners, the camera does most of the heavy lifting in terms of determining exposure, with ISO/ASA, three stops of exposure compensation, and the built-in flash as the only user-available exposure adjustments. The lens is an HD PENTAX HF 25mm f/3.5 traditional optic, which uses six zones of manual zone focusing for setting the focus point. More than anything, it’s a camera made to make photography fun and a tangible experience, especially for first-time film-users.

Best for Vloggers: Sony ZV-1 II 

Featuring the same sensor-image processor and dimensions as the pocket-friendly RX100 VII, the ZV-1 II digital camera is optimized for content creation with an expanded, vlogger-friendly feature set and a wider, brighter field of view. Released in 2023, the camera incorporates features from the ZV-E1, such as a suite of automatic touch specialty functions like Touch AE, Touch Tracking, Touch Focus, and Touch Shutter, along with the Cinematic Vlog setting, a compilation of presets for creatives looking to output cinematic content without getting too technical. The rear LCD touchscreen features a side flip-out design ideal for filming yourself or taking selfies in a natural and intuitive manner. The 3-capsule microphone has been upgraded with an intelligent mic that recognizes faces and objects and prioritizes audio capture from the direction of the subject. The ZV-1 II also features Product Showcase Setting, Background Defocus function, Soft Skin Effect, and Face Priority Auto-Exposure.

The camera favors auto-mode capture, so users seeking manual controls for stills and video might find other options more favorable. It’s fast to start and easy to use, and its 4K video comes out of the camera clean with a bevy of frame rate and aesthetic adjustments available. The ZV-1 II is your best bet for a video-centric compact camera that simplifies the content production process.

Best Rugged Camera: OM System TG-7

The seventh iteration of its TOUGH series of rugged adventure cameras, the OM System TG-7 digital camera represents a minor upgrade to a tried-and-true line of compact and portable cameras that get the job done in the wild. Nonetheless, it remains the undisputed champ in this category: equipped with a 12MP 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor that can capture great images and record video in 4K 30p, the camera also sports a 25-100mm equivalent f/2-4.9 lens capable of extreme macro photography. Its Pro Capture mode shoots at 10 fps before the shutter is even released, and the TG-7 features interval shooting for the first time at up to 299 images with the option to create Time Lapse video.

Beyond the capture specs, the TG-7 boasts a laundry list of certifications and accessories to bolster its inclement weather and exotic locale bonafides. It’s IPX8-rated waterproof for underwater use to depths of 50’, freezeproof to temperatures as low as 14°F, shockproof to drops from as high as 7’, crushproof to withstand pressure up to 220 lbf, and dustproof to protect the internal components of the camera. The camera’s 17 dedicated accessories benefit macro, underwater, and lens conversion applications. A Field Sensor System allows you to record important data about your environment and include it in your photos and videos, including GPS, air pressure, cardinal direction, and temperature. In short, it’s the obvious option for any would-be Indiana Jones.

Best for Instant Prints: FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI EVO Hybrid 

Given the overlap between analog and digital in the resurgence of point-and-shoot cameras, it’s inevitable that a hybridized option would appear on the list: the FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI EVO Hybrid Instant Camera. Characterized by its retro looks and 100 distinct combinations of creative lens and film effects, this camera keeps what’s fun about instant film photography while adding the versatility of digital effects. It even has a moving lever that’s used to initiate the printing process. The lens is a nice 28mm equivalent wide-angle prime and focuses as close as 3.9" from your subject. Next to the lens is a small selfie mirror to help line up your self-portraits and, on the back of the camera, is a 3.0" 460k-dot LCD monitor for framing the rest of your shots. The camera also has a built-in flash that’s perfect for working in low light and giving that in-the-moment party effect.

The final component, and one of the most important benefits to the hybrid instant camera, is wireless connectivity. This means the camera can serve double duty as an instant film printer using photos taken from your mobile device, or you can use your smartphone to trigger the shutter remotely, such as when you want to be in a group photo. This process works seamlessly with the dedicated mini Evo app, which is just a clean interface for selecting image files from your phone and sending them to print.

Best Pocketable Camera: Ricoh GR III 

Darling of street photographers who value exceptional image quality and discretion, the Ricoh GR III and its brethren pull off the stunning logistical feat of stuffing an 24.2MP APS-C sensor – the largest of any camera on this list – into a truly pocketable all-black body that barely weighs nine ounces with battery and media. The compromise is a fixed length f/2.8 prime lens – full-frame equivalent of 28mm in the GR III and 40mm in the GR IIIx – that, while delivering RAW and JPEG images of stunning color, tonality, and sharpness, relinquish the versatility of a camera like the RX100 VII. Make no mistake: on image quality alone, the GR III bests the premium Sony compact, while matching or surpassing its low-light and autofocus capabilities. However, the sheer breadth of the things the RX100 VII does well outclasses the GR III, whose poor video capabilities, fixed focal length, lack of an optical viewfinder or built-in flash, and relatively poor battery life make it a poor choice for those in search of a general use, Swiss Army Knife-like point and shoot.

Nonetheless, the Ricoh remains incredibly popular and is as difficult to acquire as the FUJIFILM X100VI. As mentioned before, the series has a cult following among street photographers, aided in part by features like Snap Focus and three user-customizable modes, but the camera acquits itself well in travel and everyday carry settings. It’s important to note that the camera is not weather-sealed, and that its TOUGH cousin is a much better option for down-and-dirty adventurism. But don’t let that deter you – in 2024, the Ricoh GR III and its brothers are the undisputed kings of the candid.

Best for Wildlife and Sports: Nikon COOLPIX P950 

While not compact in the strictest sense, the bridge/superzoom class often gets lumped in with their smaller cousins by virtue of the spatial compression they are able to achieve in putting say, an 83x zoom lens on a lightweight and wieldable body. Here, we must recommend the Nikon COOLPIX P950 Digital Camera, released in 2020, that pairs a 16MP 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor with a full-frame equivalent 24-2000mm f/2.8-6.5 lens for an incredible reach that benefits sports and wildlife applications. It’s boosted by Nikon’s Vibration Reduction optical image stabilization system which compensates for the effects of camera shake to realize sharper results when shooting handheld. The sensor and EXPEED processor also enable quick continuous stills shooting up to 7 fps at full resolution for working with moving subjects. In addition to stills, the P950 is also capable of UHD 4K video recording at up to 30 fps and Full HD recording at 60 fps.

The DSLR-esque body – one that admittedly does not telegraph “compact” – does incorporate a bright 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder and a large, vari-angle 3.2" 921k-dot LCD to enable working from high, low, and front-facing angles. Unlike any of the other cameras on this list, the COOLPIX P950 has both a pop-up, in-body flash and a hot shoe for connecting an external flash. In short, you’re getting the full functionality and optical quality of a DSLR at point-and-shoot prices. Sure, you’re sacrificing a little on the side of image quality – but no smartphone will fill the frame with a tree-perched horned owl. You’ll have to crop in for that.

While these are our choices for the top of the line in point-and-shoots, it’s by no means exhaustive. And who knows, you might be more inclined to something from our Used Department, where you might just find the vintage digicam of your Y2K-core dreams. Whatever your thoughts and ideas are on the state of play for the compact camera in 2024, let us know down below in the comments!