Compact
Compact Digital Cameras (Point-And-Shoot)
What are compact digital cameras/point-and-shoot cameras?
There are various types of digital cameras depending on their size and picture quality. You can choose from ultra compact/subcompact, compact, medium, large, SLD and SLR digital camera. As the name suggests, a compact digital camera is a small size digital camera and thus easy to carry. Compact cameras are also known as point-and-shoot cameras.
Like other, digital cameras (or digicams), a compact digital camera clicks digital images using an electronic image sensor. Since the images are stored digitally, they can be transferred to a computer and edited further using any picture editing or graphics software.
Why compact digital cameras/point-and-shoot camera?
Among digital cameras, the most popular ones are compact and ultra compact ones due to their pocket small size and light weight. Subcompacts or “ultra-compacts” are less than 20 mm thick and can be slipped in your pocket. Typical compact digital cameras are also convenient to carry but in a handbag not in pocket. These have automated settings and thus keep things simple for casual users. Both types of digital cameras can be bought if you are looking to buy a camera to capture family events or for vacations.
How point and shoot cameras differ from Digital SLR?
With DSLR cameras getting cheaper and more user-friendly, most buyers get confused what should be their pick. When deciding, one must remember that digital SLRs are bulky and not easy to operate. Hence, if you want to click casual pictures or are new to photography, a compact digital camera or point-and-shoot camera is what you should buy. You can buy a digital SLR at later stage, if you want.
Compact Digital Cameras: Pros and Cons
Pros: Inexpensive, easy to carry, pre-programmed modes a plus for amateurs, wide range of megapixels and zoom options, quiet operation, LCD framing, good image results in auto mode
Cons: Comparatively low image quality than DSLR, slow (shutter lag), limited to preset modes as most don’t have manual controls so it is a disadvantage for professionals, no exchangeable lenses, limited or no flexibility
Price Range
Point-and-shoot cameras are available in $99 – $400 price range. So if you are looking for a digital camera within budget or a feature rich camera, you have a wide range of options.
Top Compact Point-and-Shoot Cameras
• Canon PowerShot S95 – Offers perfect combination of automated and manual controls.
• Nikon Coolpix S9100 – Good image quality and creative controls, ideal for newbie and skilled shooters,
• Nikon Coolpix P300 – Great hardware and performance for its price, with an F1.8 lens, manual controls, user-friendly
• Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS – Remarkable compact cameras with professional camera capabilities
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX10 –Ultracompact, 7X zoom lens, 3D shooting, and smooth 1080i video
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20 / ZS10 – 16x stabilized zoom with 24mm; 1080i video; GPS.
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 – Pocket super zoom camera with 10x zoom, 1080i video, 10fps burst, GPS, clever modes.
• Canon ELPH 300 HS / IXUS 220 HS – Slim, stylish, 5x zoom with 24mm wide, 1080p video.
• Canon PowerShot A1200 – Budget camera, 4x zoom with 28mm wide; 720p video; viewfinder.
• Canon IXUS 310 HS / PowerShot ELPH 500 HS – Large touch-screen; 24mm lens; 1080p; good in low-light.
See our best camera reviews in the following categories:
- DSLR camera reviews
- Compact (point and shoot) camera reviews
- Video camera reviews
- Trail camera reviews
- Underwater camera reviews