Photo by Nijwam Swargiary on Unsplash
Point and shoot cameras are awesome. These are typically small digital cameras that are compact enough to fit in your bag, around your neck, or sometimes even in your back pocket like a cellphone. And while there are a lot of perks to having a point and shoot camera, one of the best aspects is the affordability. You can get the best point and shoot camera under $100 without even trying.
Because you don’t have to deal with lenses with super expensive sensors or any of the hassle that goes with professional cameras, point and shoots are super affordable. They still offer great image quality, they’re better for taking with you on vacation to take photos of you and your friends, and they are great for capturing memories. Disposable cameras used to be all the rage, but they have been replaced by the modern point and shoot!
Let’s be honest, most of us are not professional photographers, no matter how many pictures we post on Instagram. To get the most out of your amateur photography without spending more than $100, you definitely want to pick up one of the cameras on today’s list. All these cameras are affordable, they all have the best features, and they are all worthy to take with you on your next trip to Europe!
The Most Affordable Point And Shoot Cameras
1. Canon PowerShot D20 12.1MP Waterproof Digital Camera
No trip to the beach is complete without your waterproof digital camera. The PowerShot D20 can handle all your beach fun and diving adventures with professional ease. The camera is waterproof up to 33 feet, can withstand temperatures of up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and it is impact-proof up to five feet. The camera even comes equipped with a GPS tracker so that you always know where your adventure pictures were taken. The camera is slim, it fits in your pocket, and it is incredibly sturdy. It is also colorful to match your adventurous mood.
This is definitely one of the better cameras to take with you into the great outdoors. It has a high-sensitivity CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4 image processing. It works well in low light, it has 5x optical zoom, and the lens is 28 millimeters wide. All you need to do is point the camera and click the button and you get great photographs. But the real treat is that you can use this camera underwater, making it ideal for your summer trips to the beach.
Pros
- Waterproof & Shockproof
- 1MP CMOS Sensor
- Small & Thin
- Durable/Made to Last
- Stylish in Blue
Cons
- Photos Are Noisy
- No Delete Button on Screen
2. Sony DSCW800/B 20.1 MP Digital Camera
This 20.1-megapixel camera from Sony is quite a surprise coming in at under $100. It has incredible power, a 5x optical zoom, and an impressive HAD CCD sensor the produces beautiful images. It also has blink detection and 360 sweep panorama. This camera has all the best features normally found in cameras that cost $500 or more. The camera comes included with image stabilization to reduce the blur and keep your pictures crisp and clean. It also has a recording format so that you can record movies while on the go in 720p HD.
This is definitely a walking around camera for the city. Point, click, and move on. The menu is extremely easy, the digital zoom works perfectly, and you don’t have to pay a fortune for the privilege. The camera looks sharp in black, it’s small enough to easily carry around and put into action at a moment’s notice, and it doesn’t take a professional photographer to work it. This is definitely one of the better, more high-end point and shoot cameras.
Pros
- 1 Megapixels for Beautiful Images
- Image Stabilization
- 720p HP Movie Recording
- Stylish & Sleek
- Outstanding Quality for the Money
Cons
- Slow Shutter Speed
- No Optical Viewfinder
3. Nikon COOLPIX A10 Digital Camera
Nikon always makes fabulous cameras, and their point and click COOLPIX A10 is one of their newest and most affordable digital cameras. If you want to capture beautiful memories with your family and friends, this is the small camera to do it with. It has an easy automatic mode that picks the ideal settings for your particular shot, and it also comes equipped with a smart portrait system that is excellent for taking close-up pictures of people. The camera has 5x optical zoom, a NIKKOR glass lens, and 16.1 megapixels.
The camera also comes included with video capabilities, allowing you to record you and your friends in full 720P high-definition video. And don’t worry about shaky hands, as the electronic VR offsets any camera movement to keep your pictures very sharp and blur-free. To make things easier for you, the camera even runs on AA batteries, so you never get stuck waiting for a charge. Basically, the COOLPIX A10 is extremely convenient, it’s lightweight and portable, and it’s a great hanging around camera to use when you’re with your friends.
Pros
- Electronic VR for Image Stabilization
- 5x Optical Zoom
- Full 720p HD Video Recording
- Convenient Automatic Mode
- Smart Portrait System
Cons
- Shutter Button is Finicky
- No 1080p Video Recording
4. Kodak PIXPRO Friendly Zoom Digital Camera
The PIXPRO might just be Kodak’s most affordable and best-rated point and click camera. The PIXPRO comes with everything you need to get outside and start taking awesome pictures of the world at large. It comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, it has one-touch HD video, and it comes equipped with a 28mm wide-angle lens. The camera features a slim design, thin enough to store in your front pocket. It also has a 5x optical zoom for you to get those far-away shots that are impossible to do with your smartphone.
Additionally, the camera features auto-detection settings that are simplistic and easy for beginners. It has a large 2.7” LCD screen so you always know your photo is going to turn out great before you click the button. For such an affordable camera, the PIXPRO Friendly Zoom really has it all, and it is far below the $100 mark. If you know nothing about cameras, or you just want something small to fit in your pocket while going on a family outing, this is definitely the best option for you.
Pros
- One-Touch HD Video
- Large 28mm Wide-Angle Lens
- 5x Optical Zoom
- Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
- Small Enough to Fit in Your Pocket
Cons
- Poor Photos in Low Light
- Focus Can Be Tricky
5. Canon PowerShot SX260 HS 12.1MP Digital Camera
There are a lot of camera manufacturers producing small and affordable point and click cameras, but maybe nobody produces as many quality cameras as Canon. Their PowerShot series is particularly infamous for taking excellent photos without costing you lots of money. And while PowerShot cameras range everywhere from $50.00 to $500, this particular version is a 12.1-megapixel digital camera that fits in your pocket, can be taken with you everywhere, and is less than $100!
This super-slim camera comes with 20x optical zoom, which is 4x more than most other cameras in the same price range. It has optical image stabilization, a 25mm wide-angle lens, and a high-sensitivity CMOS sensor. The camera also uses DIGIC 5 image processing to give you the richest and clearest photos, even when taking pictures in low-light environment. What’s even more is that this is the only camera on the list for under $100 that offers 1080P full HD video recording in stereo. Everything about this camera is extremely high tech, from the zoom, to the image stabilization, all the way to the GPS tracking that allows you to always remember where your photos were taken.
Pros
- 1080p HD Video Recording
- 20x Optical Zoom
- Impressive Technology & Affordable Price
- GPS Tracking
- Face ID & Smart Automatic Systems
Cons
- Flash Can Be Troublesome
- Video Recording is Average
Final Thoughts
All five cameras we looked at today are amazing. They are all right around the $100 mark, and they all come with some seriously impressive features. But if we were to recommend one camera from the list, or indeed in the whole world that deserves your $100, it would definitely be the Canon PowerShot SX260 HS Digital Camera. All the other cameras are basically the same price, only they come with fewer features, they have smaller screens, they have worse zoom capabilities, and they can’t even do 1080p HD video.
The only reason not to choose the PowerShot SX260 is if you want to go underwater, or if you want something to take with you in a more adventurous scenario where you could be getting wet. If that were the case, you would be better off with the PowerShot D20, just because of its waterproof feature.
Keep in mind that these are the very lowest end of the point and click camera spectrum. There are some cameras that cost 10, 20, and even 30x more than any of the cameras on today’s list. The cameras we talked about are ideal for people who don’t have a lot of experience with photography, who are not interested in fancy lenses or high-tech gimmicks, and who just want a simple piece of equipment to tuck into their pocket while out and about.
In the way of specs, there is not much else to consider with these cameras other than price, megapixels, zoom range, and build quality.
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