Digital point-and-shoot cameras were once the preference of many a family photographer, but smartphones have largely overtaken them in popularity, ease of use, and imaging acumen in recent years. However, even if you’ve got the latest iPhone, Galaxy, or Pixel in your pocket, a dedicated camera might still offer superior ergonomics, more zoom power, a larger image sensor, and tougher build quality. They remain a particularly worthy investment if you carry around just a basic feature phone, too.
Below are the top point-and-shoots we’ve tested, along with some helpful buying advice for this compact camera segment.
The Best Point-and-Shoot Camera Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Olympus Tough TG-6
Best Waterproof and Rugged Camera
Why We Picked It
There are only a few waterproof point-and-shoot cameras on sale these days, but the Olympus Tough TG series was a regular favorite even when the field was crowded. The TG-6 continues the tradition with a useful 24-100mm f/2.0-4.9 zoom lens that does a good job for underwater, low-light, and macro photography. The camera is practically indestructible and can go as deep as 50 feet underwater.
Who It’s For
If you’re looking to take photos in places where you wouldn’t dare take your smartphone, a tough point-and-shoot is a good pick. The TG-6 is suitable for divers, hikers and adventurers, and other rough and tumble use. We like it better than an action camera for stills, especially since the TG-6 is so good for macro, something GoPros don’t do. Video fans should think about an action cam instead.
PROS
- Tough, waterproof build.
- Add-on lenses and macro lights available.
- Sharp rear LCD.
- Wide aperture lens.
- 4K video.
- Wi-Fi.
CONS
- Not a touch screen.
- LCD can pick up scuffs and scratches.
- Video feature lag behind action cameras.
- Wi-Fi app pushes spammy notifications.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Best Premium Travel Camera
Why We Picked It
The Sony RX100 VII is the ultimate travel camera. It slides into a pocket, but pairs a 24-200mm zoom lens with a 20MP Type 1 image sensor. It also hides a pop-up electronic viewfinder in its frame. It’s one of the most expensive compacts available, but you get top-flight picture quality and a killer lens for the money.
Who It’s For
Creators who prefer the ergonomics of a real camera over a smartphone are the target market here. The RX100 VII keeps up with the latest iPhone Pros in picture quality and has an ample zoom lens, but it’s the ability to engage the EVF and bring the camera to your eye that really sells it over smartphones.
PROS
- Sharp 8x zoom lens.
- Electronic viewfinder.
- 1-inch sensor design.
- 20fps capture with subject tracking.
- Eye detection for people and pets.
- Tilting touch screen.
- 4K video with external microphone port.
CONS
- Expensive.
- Can’t start video while images are writing to card.
- Limited touch functions.
Kodak Ektar H35
Best Starter Film Camera
Why We Picked It
Film photography is enjoying another renaissance, with a new generation of creators looking to film chemistry as a welcome alternative to digital capture. The Kodak Ektar H35 is an all-plastic film camera—even the lens is plastic—that comes with an aggressive $50 sticker price. The H35’s neatest trick is its half-frame capture—you get 72 shots on a roll of film, not 36, a good thing when a roll of film costs as much as a takeout lunch.
Who It’s For
The H35 is a good fit for anyone who wants to try taking some film photos but doesn’t want to deal with shopping for a used film SLR or rangefinder. The ease of one-button operation makes it possible for anyone to get quality snapshots and there’s some charm to the images you get from a plastic lens.
PROS
- Works with standard 35mm film cartridges
- Half-frame capture gets 72 shots per roll
- Attractive design and price
- Retro, analog charm
- One-button operation
- AAA power for flash
CONS
- Easy to forget to turn off flash
- Plastic lens struggles against backlight
Ricoh GR IIIx
Best Image Quality From a Pocketable Camera
Why We Picked It
The Ricoh GR IIIx puts a lot of camera into a pocketable design. First off, there’s the 24MP sensor with sensor-shift stabilization and the same APS-C dimensions as you find in swappable lens cameras. The lens is a wide standard 40mm f/2.8 with a macro mode and responsive phase detection autofocus. If you prefer a wider view, Ricoh also makes the GR III, which is the same camera just with a wider 28mm lens.
Who It’s For
The Ricoh GR series enjoys a bit of cult status among photo nerds. Pros and artists who don’t always want to carry a big camera and aren’t satisfied using a phone should enjoy it in particular. It’s a small camera but has smart on-body controls and picture quality that goes toe-to-toe with swappable lens models.
PROS
- APS-C sensor in a pocketable design
- Tack-sharp 40mm F2.8 equivalent lens
- 3-axis stabilization
- Quick autofocus and instant Snap Focus
- Bright touch screen
- Telephoto conversion lens available
CONS
- Short battery life
- Omits dust and splash protection
- No in-body flash
- External optical viewfinder is a pricey add-on
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III
Best Pocket Camera for Hybrid Creators
Why We Picked It
The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is just about as good a camera as you can find for the price. The combination of its Type 1 sensor and bright 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens can produce excellent photos in dim light, as well as draw soft, defocused backgrounds without the need for computational assists. A tilting touch screen serves as your viewfinder. Finally, the G7 supports live streaming and 4K video, too.
Who It’s For
The G7 X Mark III is a good match for creators who want a small, pocketable camera with some zoom power. Its controls should satisfy both beginners who rely on Auto mode and pros who want manual flexibility. The only thing missing is an eye-level viewfinder; you should spend more on a Sony RX100 series camera if that’s a must-have feature.
PROS
- Pocket-friendly design.
- 1-inch sensor.
- Bright zoom lens.
- Tilting touch LCD.
- Fast focus and burst rate.
- 4K with mic input and live streaming.
CONS
- 4K video not available in all modes.
- Face detection doesn’t work with burst shooting.
- Lens not as crisp as some others.
- No EVF.
Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo
Best for Digital Capture and Instant Prints
Why We Picked It
The Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo is a clever mashup of digital and analog photography. The camera snaps basic quality digital shots with its 5MP sensor, plus has loads of in-camera creative filters so you can experiment and get creative. A built-in printer lets you make Instax Mini film photos from any photo you snap with the Evo, a feature that should be a hit with creatives and partygoers.
Who It’s For
No one will confuse the Instax Mini Evo for a pro camera and serious photographers might struggle with its simplistic controls and dull LCD panel. However, if you’re open to having some fun with photography, trying different filters, and making prints on-demand, the Evo serves as a charming digital-instant camera and a conversation starter at family gatherings.
PROS
- Slick retro styling
- Fun digital filter effects
- Lets you print only what you want
- Digital capture with chemical film prints
- Bluetooth connection and smartphone app
CONS
- Poor LCD quality
- Inelegant controls
- No in-camera editing tools
- Can only send printed images to smartphone
- 5MP sensor isn’t anything special
Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II
Best Tactile Controls in a Small Camera
Why We Picked It
The Panasonic LX100 II is an example of a small camera with an oversized Micro Four Thirds image sensor. It sports a useful (but fixed) 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 lens and discrete dials to set shutter speed, aperture, and EV that should please fans of retro controls.
Who It’s For
This camera should satisfy photographers who desire a small, fixed-lens camera but don’t want to give up too much to get it. The sensor and lens work together to nab good photos in both bright and dim light, while the tactile controls make it feel more like a proper camera than the smartphones most of us use for snapshots.
PROS
- Bright zoom lens.
- Micro Four Thirds image sensor.
- 11fps burst shooting.
- Strong control layout.
- Touch LCD.
- 4K video and photo options.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
CONS
- Pricey.
- Not quite pocket-friendly.
- Doesn’t have in-body flash.
- Fixed LCD.
- No mic input.
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200
Best Pocketable Zoom for Travel
Why We Picked It
The Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 has the longest zoom lens in a pocketable Type 1 sensor camera. The 15x lens (24-360mm f/3.3-6.4) is good for landscapes and travel, plus is especially advantageous for trips to the zoo or a national park. Its eye-level viewfinder is not as large as the one in the Sony RX100 VII ($1,300), but the ZS200’s $800 asking price is a lot easier to stomach.
Who It’s For
This is a good camera for creators who care more about zoom power than low-light capture. It has the most zoom power of any Type 1 compact, so you can manage wide-angle views and zoom in to capture far-off subjects. If you want an RX100 VII, but can’t handle the price, the ZS200 might be the one for you.
PROS
- 15x zoom power.
- 20MP 1-inch image sensor.
- 9.4fps burst capture.
- Raw image support.
- Touch LCD.
- Sharp 4K video.
- Wi-Fi.
CONS
- Narrow aperture.
- EVF on the small side.
- LCD doesn’t tilt.
- Crop limits wide-angle 4K video capture.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VA
Best in Low Light
Why We Picked It
Sony invented the Type 1 premium compact with the original RX100 and launched several iterations over the years. The star of the fifth-generation camera remains the 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens, a low-light maven that’s also quite sharp. It also includes a pop-up OLED viewfinder.
Who It’s For
The RX100 VA is the Type 1 camera to get if you prefer a bright lens for low-light work instead of the dimmer, but longer zooming 24-200mm f/2.8-4 in the newer RX100 VII. The 24-70mm zoom is a good match for wide shots and head-and-shoulder portraiture, plus has a useful macro capability. If you don’t need a viewfinder, think about the similar and more affordable Canon G7 X Mark III.
PROS
- Larger sensor than smartphones.
- Wide aperture lens.
- Speedy autofocus and burst shooting.
- In-lens neutral density filter.
- 4K video.
CONS
- Restricted functionality after long bursts and slow-motion video capture.
- Not a touch screen.
- Expensive.
Sony ZV-1
Best Compact for Vloggers
Why We Picked It
Creators who prefer making videos to taking photos need to look for a slightly different set of features than many of the other options on this list offer. The Sony ZV-1 puts its video foot forward. It uses the same 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom and Type 1 sensor as the RX100 VA, but drops the pop-up viewfinder in favor of a high-quality stereo microphone. The screen design is also a boost for video; it swings out to the side and faces forward, so you can monitor the frame whenever you present material to the camera.
Who It’s For
Sony says the ZV series name directly references its target market: Gen-Z vloggers. We won’t pigeonhole video creators by age group, but the ZV-1 is a camera to get if you care more about video and less about stills. It goes as far as to include some special focus and exposure modes for vloggers who review products while they are in the frame. As one example, the ZV-1 automatically adjusts the exposure to keep your face properly bright if it falls into shadow during a recording.
PROS
- Compact form factor
- Flip-out touch screen
- Bright, sharp zoom lens
- Excellent in-camera audio
- External mic and flash support
- 4K video capture
CONS
- A wider-angle lens would be welcome
- Limited touch features
- Face detection struggles when wearing protective mask
- Underwhelming battery life
- No in-camera flash
Buying Guide: The Best Point-and-Shoot Cameras for 2023
What Cameras Can You Get on a Tight Budget?
Compact cameras come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from pocketable models with zoom lenses to premium fixed-lens entries from Fujifilm and Leica. We cover the high-end options further down the page, but if you’re after a superzoom model, check out our picks for the best bridge cameras.
The Olympus Tough TG-6 sets itself apart from smartphones with its rugged, waterproof build
(Credit: Paul Maljak)
Mere mortals shopping for a basic camera need to spend only a couple hundred dollars to get a quality model. Most of these cameras are older—it has been a few years since Canon refreshed its basic PowerShot Elph line and other brands have seriously scaled back their compact lineups.
Recently, we’ve seen more retraction because of the ongoing chip shortage and a shift in focus to the high-end segment. Many of the small cameras we’ve recommended in the past to budget customers have vanished.
How PCMag Tests Digital Cameras
We recommend you shop based on brand when trying to find a camera in the $300-and-under price range. You are likely to have the best luck with Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Panasonic, Ricoh, or Sony. Skip digital cameras from other brands, including famous photo names like Kodak and Vivitar—these are licensed products and not of high quality.
Spending More on a Point-and-Shoot Camera Is Worth It
You have more options and can walk away with a better camera if you spend a bit more. For around $400, you can get our favorite waterproof model, the Olympus Tough TG-6. It’s not quite indestructible, but it offers a 50-foot waterproof rating (which is good for divers), high-magnification macro capabilities, and an f/2 lens for use in dimmer light.
The Panasonic ZS200 has a 1-inch sensor and a long zoom lens
(Credit: Zlata Ivleva)
If you don’t need a tough camera, look for a model with a Type 1 (or 1-inch class) image sensor. The Panasonic ZS100 is the most affordable Type 1 in stock today. It goes for around $500, but we think it’s worth spending more for the ZS200, a newer version that costs $650.
You can spend more on a Sony RX100 series or Canon G7 X Mark III for better optics and more features. We also love the Canon G5 X Mark II, but it’s been in and out of stock in recent months, so it’s a roll of the dice if you’re able to find one to buy.
On the very high end, you can opt for a camera with a sensor as large as you get with interchangeable lens models. The Panasonic LX100 II has a zoom lens, while the Ricoh GR III and IIIx use primes. These cameras match consumer APS-C and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless models in image quality. The Fuji X100V (below) is another stunner with a big APS sensor, but it’s nearly impossible to find for sale at retail. And even if you do, it sells above its $1,400 MSRP.
The Fujifilm X100V uses an APS-C image sensor and includes a hybrid optical-electronic viewfinder
(Credit: Jim Fisher)
If you’re a luxury shopper, you can go full-frame. The Leica Q2 and Q2 Monochrom, Sony RX1R II, and Zeiss ZX1 represent the current crop of fixed-lens cameras with full-format image sensors. They’re all multi-thousand-dollar propositions, but enthusiasts who can afford them are sure to enjoy the experience and get stunning photos.
Many of these premium models include an electronic viewfinder (EVF) to help you compose your scenes.
Beyond the Confines of Your Pocket
If you’re looking for something a bit more capable than a pocket camera, you can check out our overall favorites from across all camera categories or use a mirrorless camera alongside swappable lenses to document your life.
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