Point & Shoot Cameras

Updated October 2026

Back when we started this site, the point-and-shoot was the camera most people owned. Phones have taken most of that job. Compacts are still around, though, and a few kinds are worth a look.

Travel-zoom and superzoom compacts reach much farther than any phone, which matters at a soccer game or on safari. Premium compacts have bigger sensors, which means cleaner low-light shots and more natural background blur. Rugged models go where you wouldn't take a phone (see waterproof cameras). And instant cameras like Fujifilm's Instax print the picture right there, which kids and party guests love.

Some people also just like the handling: a real shutter button, a grip, sometimes a viewfinder for bright sun. Using a separate camera keeps your phone's battery for the drive home, too.

The downside is that a basic, cheap compact often won't beat a recent phone. It's also one more thing to charge, and you can't change lenses. If you want that kind of control, look at DSLR and mirrorless cameras.