What's the best point-and-shoot camera? Technically, it's the smartphone you're carrying in your pocket. Thanks to improved camera tech, iPhones and the like have overtaken the traditional digital camera as everybody's favorite go-to gadget for capturing our everyday moments, essentially becoming today's modern point-and-shoot. It appears that neither adding Wi-Fi or lowering prices could stop the declining sales of the pocket camera of yesteryear.
Related: Relive your most epic thrills and spills with the eight best action cams
A few short years ago, we thought the point-and-shoot's days were over. (What's a point-and-shoot? It's used to describe an all-in-one pocket camera with a fixed lens that's easy to use, but it could also include larger long-zoom shooters or advanced models that could rival DSLRs. in image quality). Companies were cutting models or pulling out of the sector entirely. Sony, which manufacturers a significant percentage of camera sensors, saw overall sales of point-and-shoot cameras continue to decline — year over year — based on its research.
Despite the gloomy forecast, however, there is a bright spot. While sales are down at the low-end, there's an uptick in premium point-and-shoot models that offer advanced features and high-end specs. Many of these cameras offer larger sensors, not to mention telephoto zoom, rugged build quality, and other specialty components not found on today's smartphones. This growth could be attributed to so-called step-up users who are upgrading from smartphones and low-end point-and-shoot cameras in an effort to improve their photography, without having to opt for an interchangeable lens camera that might require a greater level of expertise.
Of course, these premium point-and-shoot cameras carry a price tag to match. There are plenty that cost less than $500, though, and offer greater performance and features than the digicams of yesteryear. Meet the new generation of the point-and-shoot cameras. Here are our 10 favorites for 2016.
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV ($948)Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV Gall
MoreSony's RX100-series defies the limitations of a tight space. With every new model, Sony demonstrates its engineering chops. This "pocket rocket" is highly compact, yet it has a large 20.1-megapixel, 1-inch sensor that uses a new "stacked" design that provides faster performance, like 40x super-slow-motion at 960 frames per second (fps), 1/32,000th electronic shutter speed, 16-fps burst mode, and 4K movie capture. If you're looking for a versatile pocket camera with a hot-rod engine, this is the ultimate. Read our full review.
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Canon PowerShot G3 X ($850)PowerShot G3 X_Lifestyle_4_waist_level
MoreThe G3 X is one seriously heavy camera, but that's because of the 25x, image-stabilized optical zoom lens, which touts a max f/2.8 aperture at its widest angle. Categorized as a long-zoom point-and-shoot, the G3 X is powered by a 20.2-megapixel, 1-inch sensor, and offers loads of advanced shooting modes and features commonly found in a Canon DSLR. The red accent around the dials and buttons even channels the coloring of Canon's high-end cameras and lenses. With that said, it's on the pricier side — in line with a Canon Rebel DSLR — and it lacks a viewfinder. Read our full review.
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Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II ($3,298)Sony Cyber-shot RX1R II Gall
MoreIf you were a pro photographer, the RX1R II might be the pocket camera you carry. At more than $3,000, you better have the budget to buy one, too. But this advanced point-and-shoot is special not just because of the many modes and features, but the 42-megapixel full-frame (35mm) sensor inside — one of the highest you can currently get. It also has a fast, fixed prime lens (35mm at f/2.0) that delivers superb images. This isn't a camera for everyone — for the price, you can buy a full-frame DSLR or mirrorless camera — but it feels so luxurious in the hands. Read our full review.
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GoPro Hero4 Silver ($360)You're probably thinking, what's an action camera doing on this list? Yes, the Hero4 Silver is designed to capture motion (i.e. adventure sports), but it's also terrific as a tiny point-and-shoot camera. The 12-megapixel sensor shoots wide-angle shots at up to 4,000 x 3,200, or 7-megapixel stills in wide or medium fields of view. GoPro also built in other shooting modes, too, like burst, time-lapse, and night-lapse, the latter of which is adjusted for nighttime photography. Want even more control? Use ProTune to access settings for white balance, color, sensitivity, and more. Best of all, if you want a truly pocket-sized camera, the tiny Hero4 Silver is a good fit. We've seen images printed on large paper, and they look impressive enough to hang on a wall. Read our full review.
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Canon PowerShot G9 X ($430)The G9 X is the slimmer sibling to its older, beefier G3 X brother, but both share the same 20.2-megapixel, 1-inch sensor. The G9 X functions more like the popular PowerShot S-series we've loved in the past, but the larger sensor delivers better quality images than the 1/1.7-inch used in the PowerShot S120 — and it's only $100 more. Although it has advanced shooting features, it's more of a simple point-and-shoot than the G3 X, and features a shorter 3x lens. Consider this the budget alternative to Sony's RX100 cameras. We've spent a good amount of time with the G9 X, and find the image quality not only pleasing, but also a nice replacement to the much-loved S-series.
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Sony Cyber-shot RX10 II ($1,200)Imagine the RX100 IV as a larger camera with a premium lens, and what you get is the Cyber-shot RX10 II. It shares the technologies found in the smaller camera, but the RX10 II has a 8.3x Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens with a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the focal range. It has a DSLR-like body that provides the user with a good grip, and it's weather-sealed against the elements. Sony also upgraded the camera's video-capture capabilities, rendering it a budget-friendly filmmaking camcorder that's well suited for things like YouTube. The price, however, puts it in the enthusiast category; if you decide to go this route, you'll need to decide if you want a fixed lens solution or opt for an interchangeable DSLR or mirrorless model. For a longer zoom, Sony has a third version of the RX10 (Mark III) with a 25x (f/2.4-4) zoom, for $1,500. It's nearly double the cost of Canon's G3 X, but you get Sony's latest and amazing tech.
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DxO One ($440)The DxO One is an unusual camera in that it's designed to work with an iPhone with a Lightning connector. When paired, the iPhone is used as a viewfinder and for changing settings, as well as a means for sharing to your favorite social networks. The camera itself, however, uses a 1-inch, 20.2-megapixel sensor, which is far larger than the one inside the iPhone. With the 32mm f/1.8 lens, it's able to capture higher quality images, too, and it can shoot in uncompressed RAW. It's expensive and its phone compatibility is limited, but this small camera packs the performance of a Sony RX100 II. Read our full review.
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Olympus Tough TG-Tracker ($350)Rugged cameras are essentially point-and-shoot cameras that are built to be tanks, and the new Tough TG-Tracker is the most powerful yet. Like all rugged cameras, it's waterproof, freeze-proof, dustproof, and shockproof. But what sets it apart is a sensor that captures data — latitude, longitude, altitude, direction, temperature, etc. — and overlays it on top of your video content (up to 4K). This is great for, say, a point-of-view bike ride where you want to see how fast you're going at any given moment. It also makes for a great vacation camera, since it's easy to pack yet can take a hit in any weather condition.
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Ricoh GR II ($620)If Sony's $3,300 RX1R II is out of reach, Ricoh's GR II could be considered the runner-up. It has the largest sensor (size wise) out of every camera listed here except the RX1R II – a 16.2-megapixel APS-C sensor, the same-size sensor used in many DSLR and mirrorless cameras. While it isn't full-frame, it shoots higher quality than a 1-inch variant. The camera is also easy to operate, but it can be more sophisticated if you want it to be. The GR II has a fixed 18.3mm lens with an f/2.8 aperture. The camera is a minor refresh over the original GR, but adds Wi-Fi and some performance enhancements. Read our review of the original GR.
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Panasonic Lumix ZS60 ($450)Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS60-lens
MoreThe Lumix ZS60 is a compact point-and-shoot with a very long 30x Leica lens — a pretty impressive feat considering the size of the camera. It can shoot 4K video, and has Panasonic's 4K Photo feature, which is comprised of three different burst-shooting modes that let you extract a JPEG still from a 4K video. Long-zoom cameras like this are great to take on vacations, and the ZS60 is light enough to carry without sacrificing the zoom capability of a DSLR or larger super-zoom. However, the convenience comes at the expense of a smaller sensor, and it works best during the day as sensitivity is only good up to ISO 800. But for the price and features, the ZS60 is an attractive pocket cam. Read our full review.
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Source: 10 point-and-shoot cameras that make your smartphone look sad
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