Best Point And Shoot Camera Under $200

Photo by Nijwam Swargiary on Unsplash

Today we’re looking for the best point and shoot camera under $200. It used to be that you had to pay a fortune to get a solid camera, but that’s no longer the case. If you want to upgrade your photography skills, take better photographs, and have all the versatility of a professional camera, you can now do so for under $200 or pretty close!

Most cameras for under $200 still have fantastic optical zoom, great image quality, plenty of megapixels to give you clear images, and a slim design. The best thing about a point and shoot camera is that most of them can fit in your pocket. Some have 4K video quality, some of them are great for taking nighttime photographs because they have a large ISO range, and we even have one on the list today that is 100% waterproof!

The best point and shoot camera under $200 is going to be your best friend while traveling or roaming around the city. These cameras are ideal for everyday photography, for capturing all the most important moments of your holidays, and for amateur photographers to better improve their skills.

While it’s true that many point and shoot cameras have similar megapixels to your smartphone, they’re actually much better. This is because they have more advanced technology inside them that simply can’t fit inside a cell phone. Even though the megapixels might be the same, the hardware inside any camera is always going to be leagues better than what can be fit inside of a slim smartphone. This is something to keep in mind when comparing megapixels.  

1. Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 Digital Camera

There are a lot of different models of Canon PowerShot. This particular version is one of the most affordable. It’s also super stylish. You can pick it up in black, purple, or silver, and it offers 12x optical zoom with an upgraded optical image stabilizer so that you can capture the most fantastic images even from a distance. The tiny digital camera also has integrated Wi-Fi and NFC, allowing you to easily share and transfer all of your images and videos to any mobile device. Plus, the large LCD screen makes taking pictures easy even when shooting at a wide angle.

The camera does lack 4K video, but it can still take 1080p HD movies and has a 20.2MP CMOS sensor with the advanced DIGIC 4+ image processor to give you stunning image quality no matter what levels of light you’re dealing with. That means this is a great camera to take with you on a party night when you might be taking photos in a dark location. Overall, this is one of the better cameras you can pick up for much less than $200. It’s small, it fits in your pocket, and people have nothing but good things to say about it.

Pros

• Comes in Purple
• 12x Optical Zoom
• Superb Image Quality
• 2 Megapixels
• Slim Design

Cons

• Slow Focus
• Not Ideal for Macro Shots

2. Sony DSCWX220 Cyber Shot Digital Camera

Meet one of the most affordable cameras from Sony. The Cyber-Shot is a phenomenal little unit with 10x optical zoom and one of the most impressive CMOS sensors on a small point and shoot camera. It offers a great battery life, giving you up to 210 shots in a single charge. And when it comes to charging, you can easily recharge the camera thanks to its rechargeable battery. With the micro USB cable, you can even charge the camera while on the go.

You only get 18.2 megapixels with this digital camera, and an LCD that is slightly shy of three inches, but that’s because this unit is meant to fit in your pocket. It still takes better photos than you could ever hope for with your smartphone, and the Sony G Lens ensures that all your images are in focus and absolutely gorgeous. You can even create a spectacular blurred background effect for doing portrait photography.  

Pros

• 10x Optical Zoom
• Impressive CMOS Sensor
• Designed for Your Pocket
• Ideal ISO Range
• Simple Connectivity

Cons

• No 4K Video
• Only 18.2 Megapixels

3. Fujifilm FinePix XP140 Waterproof Digital Camera

No list is complete without a great waterproof camera. The Fujifilm FinePix is waterproof up to 82 feet below the surface. It also has an outstanding ISO range of between 100 and 12800, making it great for taking photographs underwater even when there isn’t a lot of light. The shutter speed is very fast, the camera is shockproof, freezeproof, and dustproof, and the new Smile Shutter feature makes sure that you never miss another moment again.

Another great thing about this very affordable camera is that you can capture the world in crystal-clear 4K resolution. In fact, you can take 4K movies at 15 frames a second, which is unheard of for such a small and affordable camera. It also has Bluetooth capability, it’s rugged and hard to destroy, and it has a 5x optical zoom lens that even works when underwater, allowing you to snap photos of the sea life that’s out of reach!

Pros

• Waterproof @ 82 Feet
• Shockproof/Freezeproof/Dustproof
• Unique Smile Shutter
• Bluetooth Capability
• Compact & Rugged

Cons

• Image Quality Fluctuates
• 4K Not Great

4. Canon PowerShot SX620 Digital Camera

The Canon PowerShot SX620 is the second PowerShot model on our list, and it’s one of the best in terms of zoom quality. This camera offers a spectacular 25x optical zoom, allowing you to capture images of wildlife far away. It also uses an intelligent IS system to help optimize image stability so that even if your hands shake, your pictures will turn out clear. Like any good pocket camera, this unit comes in three different colors, including red and silver, and it can be purchased with an included 64GB memory card. The LCD screen is large, the Wi-Fi and NFC are built-in for easy sharing, and the CMOS sensor boasts 20.2 megapixels.

The ISO is a little low, but the camera makes up for it with a generous battery life and quite a few different settings that will make any professional photographer quite happy. It’s an ideal camera for travel, you can use it to snap clear photographs at all your parties, and you can capture 1080P full HD videos!

Pros

• 3 Color Options
• 25x Optical Zoom
• Integrated Wi-Fi & NFC
• Awesome Image Quality
• Large LCD Screen

Cons

• Complicated for Beginners
• No Panoramic Setting

5. Kodak PIXPRO Astro Zoom Digital Camera

The final camera on the list for today is the Kodak PIXPRO. This has one of the best optical zooms available not only in an affordable camera, but in any standard Kodak camera. It offers a 42x optical zoom. It also comes with a large, 3” LCD screen! You can pick this model up in white, red, or black, and it comes with a powerful CCD sensor so that you can enlarge, zoom, and crop until you drop! And you never lose any clarity or quality while playing with your images.

The lens that comes included on the camera is 24mm wide angle, and it allows you to get closer to your subjects to fit even more inside your frame. The camera also uses face detection. It’s able to recognize facial features for the best results when taking pictures of your friends and family, or clients. Plus, the blink/smile detection means that you always snap the picture at just the right time. There’s even a face beautifier mode and other touch-up features so that you can improve facial flaws, enhance the skin tone, and beautify the eyes of your portrait subjects even before uploading the images to another device.

Pros

• Fantastic User Reviews
• 42x Optical Zoom
• Face Detection
• Panorama Mode
• Optical Image Stabilization

Cons

• Low Megapixels
• No Manual Focus

Final Thoughts

If you’re still undecided on which camera you should purchase, there are a few things to keep in mind that might help with your decision. First off is the zoom capability. Most cameras inside this small price bracket are not going to let you change the lens. This means you need to check the optical zoom level of your favorite model and understand that it won’t be getting better with modifications. This might not seem great, but some of the cameras we talked about, like the Kodak PIXPRO, offer amazing zoom quality.

Then there’s the battery life. This is an extremely important consideration. If you’re wandering around taking photos for the entire day, the last thing you want is your battery to die before you’ve finished checking out all the sites. The good news is that most small digital cameras will come with a rechargeable battery, and many of them can be charged on the go using a portable charger.

On the other hand, you might need to have some spare batteries with you in case your camera can’t make it through the whole day. This is always something you want to keep in mind for convenience.

Image quality is obviously super important as well. We’re talking about cameras on the lowest end of the price spectrum, so you might not always get 4K video and ultra-realistic image quality. However, you can still get a camera that takes a decent picture. It’s always recommended to check the reviews before making your final purchase to see the kinds of photos people have been taking with any particular camera.