These days, just about everyone has a smartphone camera in their pocket that can outshoot some professional DSLRs, and it may seem unnecessary to consider the best point and shoot camera under 300 dollars. With such easy access to cameras, it can be tempting to use a cell phone camera for every occasion. But despite the high pixel counts and flashy features, cell phone cameras have their limitations. In many cases, their pictures have an unshakeable digital look and do not scale well, so if you want to view the photos on a large monitor or print out posters, they may not hold up.
When you need something with a little better image quality and flexibility, but don’t want to break the bank with an expensive DSLR, a point and shoot will do the trick. Point and shoot cameras are easy to use, capable of producing stunning images, and are still highly affordable. Whether you’re going on an exotic vacation, photographing your kids’ sports games, or want to develop your photography skills, consider investing in a point-and-shoot. This list combs through the market to find best point and shoot camera under 300.
COMPARISON TABLE
PRODUCT FAQ
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1. WHAT IS A POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA?
2. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF POINT AND SHOOT CAMERAS?
3. WHAT FACTORS SHOULD YOU CONSIDER TO FIND THE BEST POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA UNDER 300?
HOW WE REVIEWED
Image by Nijwam Swargiary via Unplash.com
We took our time carefully researching every popular model of point and shoot on the market and have come up with an unbiased best-of list to help you choose the best camera for your needs.The following products were reviewed based on features, pros & cons, price, and warranty. Of course, no camera is perfect, so be sure to consider exactly what you’re looking for in a camera before making your purchase.
OVERALL PRICE RANGE
We took our time carefully researching every popular model of point and shoot on the market and have come up with an unbiased best-of list to help you choose the best camera for your needs.The following products were reviewed based on features, pros & cons, price, and warranty. Of course, no camera is perfect, so be sure to consider exactly what you’re looking for in a camera before making your purchase.
WHAT WE REVIEWED
CANON POWERSHOT SX530 HS
NIKON COOLPIX S7000 16 MP DIGITAL CAMERA
SONY DSCW800/B 20.1 MP DIGITAL CAMERA
NIKON COOLPIX L340 20.2MP DIGITAL CAMERA
SAMSUNG WB350F 16.3MP CMOS SMART WIFI
CANON POWERSHOT ELPH 180 DIGITAL CAMERA
FUJIFILM FINEPIX XP130 WATERPROOF DIGITAL CAMERA
KODAK PIXPRO FRIENDLY ZOOM FZ53-RD 16MP DIGITAL CAMERA
CANON POWERSHOT ELPH 190 IS 20 MP DIGITAL CAMERA
CANON POWERSHOT ELPH 360 HS DIGITAL CAMERA
CANON POWERSHOT SX530 HS
- Canon PowerShot SX530 HS Premium Ritz Camera Bundle Including:
- Sandisk SDHC 32GB UHS-I/U3 Memory Card, Tripod
- Ritz Gear Deluxe Premium Zoom Photo Pack
FEATURES
The Canon Powershot SX530 is a 16 MP point and shoot camera with an optical zoom range of 24mm to 1200mm and an additional 200x of digital zoom. It includes multiple scene modes, including portraits, low light, snow, and fireworks. There are also auto settings for backlit subjects and sunset.
Other nifty features are subject tracking, hybrid mode (which combines movies with still photography) and intelligent stabilization. It also features Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, and best of all, full HD 1080p video. For a mid-range price at around $250, it’s a strong contender for the best point and shoot camera under 300, and a steal for all of the features packed into it.
Pros
Cons
WHERE TO BUY
NIKON COOLPIX S7000 16 MP DIGITAL CAMERA
FEATURES
The Nikon Coolpix brand wraps a strong feature set into an attractive price point. This 20 MP camera has an optical zoom ranging from 25mm to 500mm—not quite as large as the Canon, but still impressive. It features a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, and full HD video recording. The sensor is a bit small, so you should expect to be using it mostly in bright light—dark scenes will have noise and loss of detail. But color reproduction is good, it’s got optical stabilization, and it is highly portable.
Pros
Cons
WHERE TO BUY
SONY DSCW800/B 20.1 MP DIGITAL CAMERA
- MP Super HAD CCD sensor for beautifully detailed images. Blink Detection
- Sony Lens w/ 5x Optical Zoom and 360 sweep panorama
- Reduced blur with SteadyShot Image stabilization
FEATURES
If you want a bare bones but dependable point and shoot, the Sony DSCW800 is an absolute steal. At under $100, this little beast has a 20.1 MP sensor and has a built in image stabilization system. It’s easy to use and produces some solid images. Of course, its budget price exists for a reason, so you’re stuck with only a 5x zoom and subpar video. But if you just need an affordable camera for simple occasions, it will more than do the trick.
Pros
Cons
WHERE TO BUY
NIKON COOLPIX L340 20.2MP DIGITAL CAMERA
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes...
- 28x optical zoom, 56x Dynamic Fine Zooms
- 20.2-MP CCD sensor for bright, sharp photos and HD videos;Frame coverage: Approx. 99% horizontal and vertical (compared...
FEATURES
Pros
Cons
WHERE TO BUY
SAMSUNG WB350F 16.3MP CMOS SMART WIFI
- Share your best photos instantly with Family and Friends with Built-in Wi-Fi with NFC
- SMART features - Social Media Upload, E-mail, Photo beam, Direct Link, Mobile Link, PC Auto-backup, Remote Viewfinder,...
- 21x Optical Zoom for great shots up front or from a distance
FEATURES
Pros
Cons
WHERE TO BUY
CANON POWERSHOT ELPH 180 DIGITAL CAMERA
- 8x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer helps you capture images with flexibility and ease
- 20.0 Megapixel CCD sensor combines with the DIGIC 4+ Image Processor to help deliver stunning image quality. Focal...
- 720p HD video capabilities.Focusing Range:Normal: 2.0 inch infinity (W), 4.3 feet. (1.3 meter) infinity (T)
FEATURES
The ELPH 180 is another solid offering from Canon at a budget price. It’s well within the range to be the best point and shoot camera under 300. It’s got a 20 MP CCD sensor, meaning it will be best for more detailed scenarios like nature or art photography. The DIGIC 4+ image processor boosts its image quality, and it has pretty sharp 720p HD video. The 8x optical zoom is not super impressive, but at least it includes optical image stabilization.
Pros
Cons
WHERE TO BUY
FUJIFILM FINEPIX XP130 WATERPROOF DIGITAL CAMERA
- 16.4 MP BSI CMOS Sensor
- Waterproof to 65ft/20M, freeze proof to 14 Degree/-10 Degree, Shockproof to 5.8ft/1.75M, and dustproof
- Fujinon 5x (28-140mm) wide angle optical zoom
FEATURES
The Fujifilm Finepix series has become a best-seller for its balance of low price and high quality, and the XP130 is a particularly unique take on the point and shoot camera. Equipped with a 28-140mm lens, its relatively average specs of a 16 MP sensor and 5x zoom are not the selling points; rather, its utility lies in its rugged, all-terrain capabilities.
Fully waterproof, the XP130 is usable in pretty much any environment you can imagine. It is waterproof up to 6This is a camera for adventurers who want to be able to take their camera anywhere. Whether you’re a mountain climber, diver, or simply have messy kids, the XP130 is a reliable companion for outdoorsy types looking for the best point and shoot camera under 300.
Pros
Cons
WHERE TO BUY
KODAK PIXPRO FRIENDLY ZOOM FZ53-RD 16MP DIGITAL CAMERA
- 5x optical zoom
- 28mm wide angle
- 16 megapixels
FEATURES
The Kodak PIXPRO is another budget point and shoot with a sleek design. The 5x zoom is none too impressive, but it has the benefit of being lightweight, compact, and dirt cheap. The LCD screen is only 2.7 inches, and the pictures aren’t amazing, so it probably isn’t the best point and shoot camera under 300; but for the price, it gets the job done.
Pros
Cons
WHERE TO BUY
CANON POWERSHOT ELPH 190 DIGITAL CAMERA
- 10x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer helps you capture images with flexibility and ease
- Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC allows for easy sharing and transferring of images and videos; Digital Zoom : 4x
- 20.0 Megapixel CCD sensor combines with the DIGIC 4+ Image Processor to help deliver stunning image quality
FEATURES
The Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 is a mid-range point and shoot with some nifty features. Its 20 MP CCD sensor has a 10x zoom range, from the generously wide 24mm to a respectable zoom of 240mm. it also has a nice macro mode which allows you to shoot subjects as close as 1cm away. Like the ELPH 180, it is equipped with the DIGIC 4+ image processor, speeding up the CCD sensor.
It also has an LCD viewfinder: useful for bright shooting conditions. Other features include facial recognition, motion tracking, a long exposure mode, and intelligent optical image stabilization. The video mode shoots up to 720p HD. For a moderate price point, it packs in a ton of features and is well worth looking into.
Pros
Cons
WHERE TO BUY
CANON POWERSHOT ELPH 360 HS DIGITAL CAMERA
- 12x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer helps you capture images with flexibility and ease
- Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC allows for easy sharing and transferring of images and videos
- 20.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor combines with the DIGIC 4+ Image Processor to help deliver stunning image quality even in low...
FEATURES
The Canon Powershot ELPH 360 has a 20.2 MP CMOS image sensor, with an optical zoom range of 25mm to 300mm. It includes an LCD viewfinder and macro mode, just like the ELPH 190. It also includes the DIGIC 4+ image processor, enhanced low-light performance. It has full HD, 1080p video, with ISO ranging from 80 to 3200. Other features include Hybrid Auto, group face recognition, and long exposure time-lapse mode.
Pros
Cons
WHERE TO BUY
THE VERDICT
So there you have it: ten of the top contenders for the best point and shoot camera under 300. If we had to choose a winner, it might be the Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 for its balance of image quality, features, and video quality. But it all depends on your needs; if you’re on a tight budget, the Canon ELPH 180 might do the trick, or if you’re planning to go on some outdoors adventures, consider the Fujifilm FinePix XP130.
You can’t go wrong with any of the cameras on this list, but we hope we’ve helped you make an informed decision on what will be the best point and shoot camera under 300 for your needs. Happy shooting!
Featured Image by Sonnie Hiles via Unsplash.com
