The point and shoot cameras dominate a large part of the camera industry which are often called P&S cameras as well. The P&S cameras give comparatively excellent image quality along with their affordable prices and easy-to-handle features.
Even the cheapest P&S’ would give you an equal quality image as compared to some DSLR cameras. Whereas there is no comparison between the image quality captured by a dedicated P&S camera and your smartphone.
You do need not to be an expert photographer to take the image with a point-and-shoot camera. Just take it out, focus on the object, and shoot.
Why Prefer A Point and Shoot Camera?
Automatic Function
Point-and-shoot camera function automatically which means it regulates shutter speed, focus, and light modes itself. There are some more advanced point-and-shoot cameras which are more expensive.
You generally do not require any extra accessories with a point-and-shoot camera such as batteries or lenses.
Multiple Shooting Modes
A point-and-shoot camera has multiple shooting modes such as landscape, portrait, daylight, night portrait, museum, etc. You can choose any shooting mode as per the requirement of the moment. Amazingly, you don’t have to switch the modes as the P&S does it automatically. Happy. Me as well.
Wifi and Bluetooth
A large variety of point-and-shoot cameras allow you to connect with your social media accounts and share your images directly. Awesome. You can share high-quality images online instantly.
A Dedicated Camera
A point-and-shoot camera is a dedicated camera made to shoot only which is why its image quality is incomparable with ones captured by your expensive smartphone. A P&S is always a better choice for photography and video recording. You’ll not regret buying after observing its user-friendly function and excellent shooting quality.
Dark Mode Shooting
A P&S gives considerably better quality in low-light settings than commonly available smartphones. You need not change the shooting modes even. It switches to a dark mood and light mode itself. That’s satisfactory because I often forget to do so.
What to look for in a point-and-shoot camera
Auto Detect and Correct
You should look for a point-and-shoot camera that offers anti-blink mode, red-eye reduction, and facial recognition features. These features enhance the image quality automatically.
Large Sensor
The image quality mainly depends upon the large sensor size as it has a direct impact on image clarity particularly in low light settings. If you frequently shoot in such conditions then you should go for a point-and-shoot camera that has a large sensor and if you like zoom more, then opt for a small sensor.
Optical Zoom
Smartphones use digital zoom which affects image quality whereas a point-and-shoot camera uses optical zoom which doesn’t let the image quality be compromised. Therefore, you should always choose a P&S camera if you want to be a photographer.
LCD/touchscreens
These days, many versions of point-and-shoot cameras come with LCD touchscreens with a wider width. Some expensive and latest models have even larger and fast touch-operated LCDs which facilitates viewing your shots later.
Routinely, a 3-inch LCD screen is sufficient enough to view your image and video recordings.
Capability to Shoot in Touch Conditions
Whether for personal reasons or professional, individuals like to capture images in rainy and stormy seasons. Some of you like to shoot while having picnics at a beach or playing near it whereas your friends may like to capture extreme close-up shots of sports and wildlife.
The point-and-shoot cameras satisfy every individual’s requirements and are built to be waterproof, shockproof, crushproof, and dust-resistant. Therefore, you should also go for one like.
Megapixel Count
It is necessary for image quality when it is zoomed. The more the count of megapixels the more your image stays stable while zooming.
Image Stability
Image stabilization has become commonplace among point-and-shoot cameras. this feature protects image stability, particularly in low-light settings. So you should not forget to keep the image stability characteristics of P&S cameras while buying one.
Best Point and Shoot Camera Under $300
After knowing the user-friendly features of point and shoot camera, you would be thinking if any P&S camera is available for under $300. Yes, it is available. We have combined a list of best point and shoot camera under $300:
1. Kodak PIXPRO FZ43
It is among the cheapest option as it comes under $140 only. It offers high resolution with a 16-megapixel camera image sensor along with a focal length range of 27mm to 108mm. It comes with an LCD screen and simple functions.
The Kodak PIXPRO lets you have quality images with a little spending. Its sensor performs well than some DSLR camera versions. Whereas its focal length allows you to capture wide-angle and telephoto images.
It easily fits in your palm and records a video 720p which is excellent for travel vlogs. The Kodak PIXPRO requires two AA batteries which facilitate longer hours of shooting.
2. Nikon Coolpix B500
It is a 16-megapixel digital camera built in the shape of a small DSLR camera. It supports a deep and strong grip. The B500’s zoom lens is 40x along with a focal length of up to 35mm. these features make it even better than some expensive cameras available in the market.
It has a built-in 3-inch TFT LCD screen with 921k resolution dots. It is a full HD1080p recording cam with Bluetooth and wifi connectivity. These features make Nikon B500 a top choice for sports and wildlife photography.
Furthermore, it includes an image stabilization feature to take photos in low lights with zoom. Similarly, its battery life is amazing as an alkaline battery lets you take up to 600 shots whereas, with a lithium battery, the number goes up to a maximum of 1200 shots. What else can you desire?
Now, it is logical to think that a camera with such features would have a high price. But you would be surprised that this amazing camera is available for just under $250.
3. Sony DSCWX220
Sony DSCWX220 stands at 3rd number in our list of best point-and-shoot cameras under $300. It is particularly ideal for beginners or the ones who want to shift a dedicated camera for making quality images.
It comes in a handy shape with a maximum of 22mm ultra-compact body thickness. You can keep it in your pocket without anybody noticing that you carry a camera with you. The Sony WX220 has a BSI-CMOS sensor which ensures image quality in low-light situations.
Moreover, it has purposefully built buttons to view menu settings, capture images, and record videos. It also has a mini HDI port and a multi-USB port to facilitate sharing your media on your mobile and computers. The DSCWX220 comes with a 10x optical zoom and a focal length of 25 to 250 mm.
It comes with a 2,7-inch view screen with 460k resolution dots. However, it doesn’t offer any touch function. It can record full HD1080p video. Its maximum price is $200.
4. Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
The PowerShot by Canon comes with a 1/2.3-inch screen, CMOS 20.3 MP sensor, and a 40x zoom lens which is equivalent to a 24-960mm full-frame lens. Its aperture length ranges between f/3.3-6.9. The most amazing features include full HD1080p recording which is a surprising feature in such tiny shooting machines.
The SX730 HS’ 5-Axis Dynamic IS helps image stability. Its WiFi connectivity option allows you to share your memorable moments on social media platforms directly.
5. Olympus TG-6 Sensor
It is another amazing point-and-shoot camera that has a 12-MP BSI-CMOS sensor along with advanced Action Track Sensors. The Olympus is capable of capturing excellent quality images with its anti-shake features.
The TG-6 offers a wide-angle lens with a fast speed of f/2.0-4.9. One of its specialties is its anti-fog glass which allows you to shoot in foggy weather as well. Similarly, its advanced sensor lets you record Ultra High Definition 4K videos.
The Olympus TG-6 is super reliable as it can survive a sufficient level of shocks. It stays waterproof up to 15m depth. It also survives dust and freezing conditions. Furthermore, it has a built-in GPS, compass, altimeter, accelerometer, and thermometer.
All of these features along with WiFi connectivity, make the Olympus TG-6 Sensor the best pick on our list which should not be missed in your buying list.
Summing Up
Point-and-shoot cameras are user-friendly at affordable prices. They give you better shooting quality than your smartphones. You can easily handle a point-and-shoot camera as it often comes with minimum excellently built features which do not require any professional expertise.
Moreover, our list of best point-and-shoot cameras under $300 would help you to choose one. I am glad to share that I have decided to buy one. Have you decided so? Please share in the comments.
