7 Best Compact Point & Shoot Cameras in 2024

Imagine a small, lightweight camera that fits nicely into your pocket while still delivering results similar to high-end professional cameras. While many of the cameras on this list can do exactly that, there are a few minor compromises you’ll have to accept due to their compact size. Each of these compact point-and-shoot cameras is designed for different types of shooters, such as street photographers, content creators, sports and wildlife shooters, or those looking for a travel-friendly camera to capture moments with friends and family. Regardless of your needs, here are my top picks to help you make an informed decision.

7. Olympus Tough TG-6

Olympus Tough TG-6

Coming in at number seven, we have the Olympus Tough TG-6. Priced at around $550 and weighing only 253 grams, this camera isn’t going to win any awards for image quality. Don’t get me wrong, it’s decent but nothing to get excited over. What makes this camera exciting are its unique features, which aren’t available in any other compact camera that I know of.

It’s waterproof up to 15 meters (45 feet), shockproof and can be dropped from up to 2.1 meters (7 feet), crushproof withstanding up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds), and freeze-proof to -10°C (14°F). This is one of the best cameras to have in your pocket if you plan on documenting an apocalypse-type situation. The 12-megapixel 1/1.23” sensor and fixed 25-100mm equivalent f2-f4.9 lens can shoot RAW photos and record 4K videos up to 30 fps and 1080p videos up to 60 fps for some decent slow motion. It has a built-in flash but no EVF, and the 3” screen doesn’t rotate or tilt.

Unfortunately, there is no mic input, so you’re stuck with the onboard mic when recording videos. The Olympus Tough TG-6 is really designed for underwater divers, hikers, and other outdoorsy folks who want to incorporate location and altitude into the metadata of their photos. The environmental sensors include a GPS, altimeter/depth gauge, compass, accelerometer, and thermometer, and it can track your journey as you snap shots. The cool thing about having GPS data is that you can search photos by location in software like Lightroom and Apple Photos.

6. Lumix ZS200D

Next, we have the LUMIX ZS200D, priced at around $700 and weighing 340 grams. It packs a 20-megapixel 1” sensor and a 24-360mm equivalent f3.3-f6.4 lens, providing 15x optical zoom without losing any quality.

Lumix ZS200D

On top of that, it also has a 2x digital zoom, effectively reaching 720mm, making it ideal for wildlife, sports, and birding enthusiasts. It has a nice EVF, good battery life, and a pop-up flash. You can shoot RAW photos, 4K videos up to 30 fps, and 1080p videos up to 60 fps, with IBIS in video mode to reduce camera shake and micro jitters.

Lumix also included a timelapse feature, which can be a lot of fun.

The cons are that you’re stuck with the onboard mic as there is no mic input, and the aperture only opens up to f3.3 at its widest, so it’s not the best for low light. However, the Lumix ZS200D has the longest reach of any compact camera I’m aware of, so if that’s your main focus (no pun intended), then this might be a nice fit for you.

5. Ricoh GRIIIx

Ricoh GRIIIx

Coming in at number five, we have the Ricoh GRIIIx. This camera is priced at around $1100 and weighs only 262 grams, which is pretty insane considering they managed to fit a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor into this compact little body. The 40mm equivalent f2.8 lens gives you tack-sharp photos. The GRIIIx is a dream camera for many street photographers and seems to have developed a cult-like following, most likely due to the amazing image quality packed into such a discreet, pocketable body. The 3” screen doesn’t tilt or rotate, but that’s not really a big deal for the street photography crowd. Camera shake isn’t an issue due to the leaf shutter and IBIS, and the built-in ND filter is a nice touch. The cons are that it doesn’t have an EVF, the battery life could be better, and it doesn’t do well at shooting video, but that’s understandable given the target market of this camera. If 40mm is too tight of a focal length for your style of street photography, you could opt for the original Ricoh GRIII, which is a very similar camera except that it has a 28mm equivalent lens. If you are die-hard about street photography, you could also go for the Fuji X100V, which has an even larger cult following than Ricoh cameras. It’s not as compact, though, which is why I didn’t include it in this list.

4. Canon G5X Mark II

Next up, we have the Canon G5X Mark II, priced just under $900 and weighing 340 grams. It packs a 20-megapixel 1” sensor and a 24-120mm equivalent f1.8-f2.8 lens, giving you up to 5x optical zoom while maintaining a pretty bright aperture through the whole focal range.

The tilting screen allows for low-angle shots and is okay for vlogging too. It also has a handy pop-up EVF, and Canon threw in an internal ND filter for shooting in bright conditions. You can get 4K video up to 30 fps and 1080p video up to 120 fps for some super slow-motion footage. The ergonomics are great considering how small this camera is, making it my number one pick for enthusiasts or casual shooters looking for a travel-friendly compact camera to take photos of friends and family. My only real gripe with the G5X II is that it doesn’t have a mic input, and the onboard mic isn’t ideal. Other than that, it’s a great little camera.

Canon Powershot G5X Mark II

3. Sony ZV1 Mark II

Sony ZV-1 Mark II

Coming in at number three, we have the Sony ZV1 Mark II, the newest camera on our list and priced very fairly at about $900. If your main focus is content creation and vlogging, this camera might be your best choice. It also takes decent photos but leans more toward the video side of things. It packs a 20-megapixel stacked 1” sensor and an 18-50mm equivalent f1.8-f4 lens, giving you 2.7x optical zoom, which isn’t much reach, but it is the widest lens of all the cameras on this list. The ZV1 Mark II weighs 292 grams and features a fully articulating screen, a mic port, and is one of the only compact cameras that offers log recording, which is great for video shooters because it gives you better dynamic range and flexibility in color grading. The autofocus in both video and stills is among the best out there, and it shoots video up to 120 fps. The original ZV1 didn’t have a lens this wide but did have up to 960 fps for super slow motion, which is unheard of in this price range. I’ll leave links to both in the description below. The cons of the ZV1 series cameras are that they’re lacking when it comes to stills. It’s not that they can’t take good photos, but the lack of physical dials and buttons and no IBIS make photography a little more challenging.

2. Sony RX100 VII

Coming in at number two, we have the Sony RX100 VII, a very similar camera to the ZV1 because it’s a great content creation tool but also equally good at taking photos. If you’re looking for an all-in-one compact content creation and photography camera, then this would be my number one pick. It’s priced at about $1100 but worth the investment, in my opinion. The 20-megapixel 1” stacked sensor gives you great videos and photos.

The Sony RX100 VII has a 24-200mm equivalent f2.8-f4.5 lens, giving you 8.3x optical zoom, and you get an additional 2x digital zoom, making the effective reach of this camera 400mm. There is a 3” tilt-up screen, making it good for low-angle shots and decent for vlogging. It packs a nice pop-up EVF and even has a built-in flash.

When it comes to video, the RX100 VII can shoot 4K up to 30 fps, 1080p up to 120 fps, and if you drop the resolution lower than 1080, you can get up to 960 fps.

Sony RX100 VII

The autofocus is great in both video and stills mode. It has Slog-2 flat picture profile, an intervalometer for time lapses, a mic port, and can shoot up to 20 stills per second with continuous autofocus. This is my pick for those looking for a compact fixed-lens camera that’s equally good at photography and videography.

1. Canon R50

Canon R50

Finally, my number one choice, the Canon R50, might be a bit controversial because some of you might not consider it to be a compact point-and-shoot camera, but I disagree. Most of the cameras I talked about weigh around 300 grams and have fixed lenses. If you’re willing to carry an additional 100 grams or so, you can get an interchangeable lens camera, allowing you to do everything from street photography to wildlife by swapping out a lens. For example, the Canon RF 16mm f2.8 pancake lens on the Canon R50 would still fit into your pocket if you really wanted to. It wouldn’t be as compact as the other cameras, but it wouldn’t be big or heavy by any means. The advantage is a much more capable camera for both photos and videos, which you can grow with by swapping out the lens. You’d get the versatility of a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses while still keeping the weight down and having a professional setup. The price is around $700 for the kit lens combo. If you have some extra cash I’d also grab the 16mm f2.8 pancake lens. This would be a compact setup offering amazing image quality.

Recent AI tools have revolutionized photography and videography making the camera that you choose less important than it used to be. That’s why I highly recommend that you read my article on the best AI tools for creatives.

Not looking for a compact point and shoot camera? Then check out my suggestions on street photography cameras, travel cameras, mirrorless cameras and more in the articles below:

* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The links above earn commission. Thanks for the support!