The Best Compact Cameras, Tested and Reviewed (2024)

I was recently thumbing done a photograph publication astatine the room and ran crossed a double-page dispersed of a assemblage surrounding a personage taken successful 2008. The photograph itself wasn't great, but thing jumped retired astatine me—everyone was holding a compact camera. Canon Powershots, Nikon Coolpix, Sony Cybershots, and others I didn't admit littered the scene. Fast guardant a fewer years, sprout the aforesaid image, and those cameras are present smartphones.

I get it. The telephone is ever with you and bully capable for the selfies and snapshots astir radical capture. But … shooting with your telephone isn't overmuch fun. I deliberation this is wherefore we've seen a immense resurgence successful involvement successful compact cameras. People emotion “vintage” compact integer cameras, and immoderate laughably atrocious cameras from the aboriginal aughts are selling connected eBay for much than they did new, acknowledgment to viral videos. To prevention you from overspending, I've tested and ranked each the compact cameras I could get my hands on—these are the champion point-and-shoot cameras I've tried.

Check retired our galore camera buying guides, similar the Best Mirrorless Cameras, Best Action Cameras, Best GoPro Hero, Best Instax Cameras, Best Camera Bags, and our step-by-step instructions connected How to Choose a Camera.

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What to Look for successful a Compact Camera

If you privation to upgrade from your smartphone to a dedicated camera, determination are 3 cardinal things to look for:

Size and weight: If it doesn't acceptable successful your pocket, are you going to transportation it around? Part of the entreaty of a pouch camera is that, ahem, it really fits successful your pocket. Except for the Fujifilm X100VI, each the cameras successful this usher are tiny and airy capable to transportation successful your pocket.

Image quality: The larger the sensor the better, but also, the amended the lens, the sharper and much contrasty your images volition be. I've chiefly suggested fixed-lens cameras for this reason; they typically person faster, sharper lenses.

Extra features: Phones are decent snapshot cameras, but they seldom person bully macro lenses, built-in neutral density filters, oregon accelerated autofocus. If you're investing successful a pouch camera, look for bully extras similar these.