The Best Point and Shoot Cameras to Buy in 2019 For Shooting Great Photos Without Complications

Often, we require a simple yet effective camera for taking photos of daily memories. While DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and bridge cameras are great professional choices, point and shoot cameras have now evolved to a point that they offer many professional features while still maintaining a compact footprint. Of course, most modern flagship smartphones offer stunning camera capabilities but if you want something extra and better control over the output, a point and shoot camera is the way to go.

There are some factors that should be kept in mind before purchasing one. The size of the sensor and quality of the lens are the most important factors, which determine the output quality. Cameras that offer RAW shooting functionality should be prioritized over those that don't as RAW files are bereft of any post-processing that JPGs undergo and you can non-destructively edit them. Ease of handling and intuitiveness of the software are also important, especially if you are planning to gift one of these to technologically-challenged people. A neat addition would be the ability to transfer files easily from the camera to a smartphone or tablet wirelessly. At this size, not many cameras offer massive zooms but the latest offerings sport a zoom in excess of 35x.

With those in mind, here's our listing of the 8 best point and shoot cameras that will absolutely delight shutterbugs.

1. Fujifilm X100F

The Fujifilm X100F is expensive but it offers a lot of camera for the price. The images are very SLR-like and but the features are still easy for beginners to quickly learn and use. The camera features a distinctly classy design and has an expanded ISO range varying from ISO 100 to 12800. It can shoot in both JPG and RAW so you will have a lot of flexibility when it comes to image output. The camera also supports WiFi connectivity, which means you will be able to pair it with your smartphone or tablet to view images or control the camera remotely. There is no 4K video recording but 1080p videos can be shot at up to a 60 fps frame rate.

The Fujifilm X100 makes for a great point and shoot camera that offers excellent auto and manual modes. However, the X100 is not waterproof and there is no GPS functionality built in.

• Pros: Excellent for stills and video; Wi-Fi control; Expanded ISO
• Cons: Not weatherproof; No built-in GPS

2. Sony Cyber-Shot RX100 VA

The Sony RX100 VA is the latest iteration of the popular RX100 series of point and shoot cameras from Sony. The camera features an inbuilt ND filter, which will remove around 3 light stops, allowing you to easily take photos in bright environments. You can easily pair with your smart device, allowing you to transfer images. Those who need to shoot fast moving objects will appreciate the RX100 VA's high-density AF tracking. The camera flash can be given a little tilt while shooting to ensure the flash produces softer, bounced light. Video recording is possible at 4K but it limited to short 5 min clips. FHD recording works great and is encoded in the XAVC S format that supports bitrates up to 100 Mbps.

While the Sony RX100 VA offers great image quality, it comes at a premium. At this price, we expect superior build quality, which unfortunately is not present in this camera. Therefore, one needs to handle this with care. The EVF also has a slower refresh rate compared to the competition. Battery life is also on the lower side.

• Pros: Excellent image quality; Supports 4K video
• Cons: Expensive; Poor battery life for video; Build quality not up to the mark

3. Ricoh GR II

The Ricoh GR II is for those who want a simple but effective point and shoot camera without having to wade through deep menus to change settings. It is also one of the best value point and shoot camera on our list. You don't get impressive burst capabilities but it shoots nearly 6 fps before filling up the buffer. The sensor is large enough for a compact camera and can provide a sensitivity of ISO 25600. Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC mean that it is easy to transfer photos or control the camera directly from your smartphone or tablet. The camera also starts up pretty quickly; faster than many cameras in this list.

The biggest disadvantage of this camera is that it offers a maximum aperture of just f/2.8 so low light pictures might not turn out very well. Cranking up the ISO above 1600 further complicates the problem.

• Pros: Value for money; Wi-Fi and NFC
• Cons: Slow burst speeds; Not very suited for low light photography

4. Olympus TG-5

The Olympus TG-5 is for those who need a camera that can keep pace with their adventures. The camera also features GPS and WiFi functionality so you can have location information added to your shots. An extremely sturdy and rugged camera that can be used by both photographers and videographers alike. The camera supports raw image capture at a whopping rate of 20 fps and can even shoot 4K videos. What's more, the camera shoots 4K videos at a high bitrate of 75 Mbps. The camera is waterproof and is extremely sporty in design. The camera is also very usable for taking macro shots- the minimum focusing distance is very low and you can get very close to the subject for superb close-ups. The f/2.0 lens allows for excellent low light shots and the array of sensors can append the data to the image.

The Olympus TG-5 can be your perfect get-away companion but it helps to note that, for some odd reason, the camera connects only to a phone for Wi-Fi transfer but not to standalone networks. The user interface also needs to be more intuitive.

• Pros: Great for adventures; Vast array of sensors
• Cons: Does not connect to standalone Wi-Fi networks

5. Canon PowerShot SX740 HS

The Canon PowerShot SX740 HS offers the functionality of a bridge camera while still offering the pocketability and ease of use of a point and shoot. The SX740 HS supports automatic exposure control and will also allow you to remotely fire the camera using a smart device when connected to WiFi. The camera lens has a 40x zoom ability, which is one of the largest found in a point and shoot camera. You can also record 4K video at 30 fps and extract still images from the video.

The camera also supports face detection and has a quick focusing mechanism. There are not many issues with the PowerShot SX740 HS and the image stabilization works great even at the 40x zoom range. The price also makes it a worthy option to consider.

• Pros: Massive zoom; 4K 30 fps recording
• Cons: None as such

6. Panasonic Lumix LX10K

The Lumix LX series is known for its full manual controls and the 1-inch sensor offers excellent picture quality in any lighting condition. The focal length ranges from 24 mm and extends till 72 mm. The camera lens has an aperture of f/1.7-2.8, which helps you capture low-light shots with ease. The build quality is good but the body is very slippery to hold. The responsive touchscreen and dual control rings offer a good user experience.

The camera can also shoot 4K videos at 30 fps frame rate. However, there is no EVF so you will have to resort to using the LCD for framing the photo. Overall, an amazingly capable camera that will delight both photographers and videographers.

• Pros: Great for wide-angle shots; Fast AF
• Cons: No EVF; Slippery body

7. Nikon Coolpix A900

The Nikon Coolpix A9000 offers great performance in a small package. For a compact point and shoot camera, the 35x optical zoom is a great feature to have. The A9000 comes with Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth to help easily connect to smartphones and tablets. Low light performance is great and the telephoto zoom lens is well stabilized for blur-free shots. Unlike many other point and shoot cameras, the Coolpix A9000 offers recording 4K videos in stereo sound with 5-axis hybrid vibration reduction.

The overall build quality of the A9000 is excellent with the only gripe being the flimsy flash when it is fully extended. Performance under almost all lighting conditions is excellent. However, there is no GPS built-in so geotagging photos is not possible.

• Pros: Excellent image quality; 5-axis hybrid VR
• Cons: No built-in GPS

8. Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS70K

The Panasonic Lumix ZS series is known for offering good imaging performance in a compact camera body and the ZS70 is no different. You get a capable 30x optical zoom along with RAW shooting capabilities. The EVF is smaller compared to many other offerings but gets the job done. The 49-point AF is a tad smaller than the competition but you should be not having any issues in getting the focus right. 4K video recording is offered as well and you get a variety of metering modes that cater to a wide range of scenes.

Overall, there aren't many negatives for this camera. The small sensor might put off many but when you shoot in RAW, you get excellent quality images that can rival cameras that are twice its price.

• Pros: Good performance for the price; 30x optical zoom
• Cons: Small sensor; Lower AF points

Final Words

Dear readers, that was our list of the best point and shoot cameras to buy in 2019. Remember that while point and shoot cameras offer ease of use in a compact body, the functionality is still limited compared to what you can get with a DSLR or mirrorless camera. While smartphones are now capable enough to replace point and shoot cameras, not many offer RAW shooting ability or large sensor sizes. Just make sure you select a point and shoot that offers a good set of functionality that is well above what your phone can offer.

We hope that this article has addressed your needs. If you need any further information, please feel free to share your views in comments.

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