Cameras are a big part of our lives now days. We use them to capture our precious moments to cherish them forever, along with taking pictures and shooting videos for your work-related needs. With the technology increasing day by day, you can get the best results out of your cameras. There are many cameras which you can find that can provide you the desired results as per your preferences and needs. If you are looking to buy best point and shoot camera for yourself, then you have come to the right place. We are going to be reviewing the best point and shoot cameras under $300 for you guys, so you can get the best results without putting too much stress on your wallet.
What is a Point and Shoot camera?
A point and shoot camera is basically a digital compact camera, which can be used simply to take the pictures without any kind of hassle and technical expertise. As the name suggests, you can simply just point it and click away. Most of these cameras use autofocus technology and automatic viewfinder. These cameras also have automatic settings for aperture and exposure. These cameras are really compact and the best option if you want to get a camera under a budget.
Best Point and Shoot Cameras under $300
Let us not waste any more time and get right to our list of the best point and shoot cameras, which you can get under $300.
Canon PowerShot SX620
First up on the list is a lightweight and compact camera known as Canon Powershot SX620. With the lightweight of just 190g, this camera is easy to hold an even easier to carry around. With a 20MP sensor you can take crisp and clear photos every single time. The great thing about this camera is the intelligent image stabilization feature, which makes sure you get to shoot steady photos even while your hands get a bit shaky. There is a built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, so you can quickly share the images on social media right through your camera. It is extremely easy to operate and not a hassle at all. You won’t get stuck in the complicated settings. You will also get the freedom to take pictures of really far away objects too, thanks to the 25x optical zoom.
Pros
- 25X optical zoom
- Image Stabilization
- Wi-Fi and NFC
- Easy Operations
Cons
- Screen does not articulate
- No headphone or microphone ports
Sony DSCWX220
Next on the list is Sony DSCWX220 which is a really great and portable camera. It features an 18.2MP sensor and an extremely compact body of just 121g, which is easy to carry around with you. This proves to be a really great travel buddy, so you can take it with you wherever you go in a carefree manner. It is really quick to focus which can never let you miss a great shot. The sensors are really good and perform well in the low light settings as well. It also supports full HD video recording too. On the other hand, you don’t get any touch screen functions and the battery time is a bit low, which can be a bit of a drawback for some people. But other than that, it is a really good camera to buy if you are on a budget. There is also one more great thing in this camera which is face detection and smile detection. It automatically takes a picture whenever someone smiles.
Pros
- Lightweight body
- Easy and quick focus
- HD video recording
- Good low light performance
Cons
- No touchscreen functions
- Battery life a bit low
Panasonic Lumix ZS50
Panasonic has been a trusted name in the industry and rightfully so. The next camera on our list is a masterpiece by Panasonic known as Lumix ZS50. It is a great camera with surprisingly fast autofocus. With the snappy auto focus you can never miss a shot. Just point your camera and click away. It is equipped with a built-in viewfinder, so it always knows where to focus. The Leica lens has a 30X optical zoom which lets you take pictures of objects even from a faraway place. Even when you zoom to the fullest, the pictures are always detailed. It has a 12.1MP sensor and gives you 10fps burst mode. The body and design are pretty durable and can go with you for a long time. The body is quite strong and but it is a bit heavier than the rest of compact cameras.
Pros
- Quick auto focus
- Built-in viewfinder
- 30x optical zoom
- 10fps burst mode
Cons
- A bit heavy
Nikon Coolpix B500
Nikon Coolpix B500 features a 16MP sensor which takes really crisp and detailed pictures. The zoom you get from this camera is really great. You get 40X optical zoom lens so you can take pictures with precision. Even if you take a picture of an object which is placed on top of a bridge, without any kind of hassle. One more great thing is the connectivity option you get from this camera. It is equipped with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC, so you can share pictures online without wasting any time. Video shooting performance is also pretty good and you can shoot up to 1080p videos at 30fps.
Pros
- 40X optical zoom
- 1080p video at 30fps
- Bluetooth, NFC, and Wi-Fi
Cons
- Heavy body
- Size is too big
What to look for in a camera?
There are a number of things which you need to look for in a camera, to make sure that what you are buying is worth your every penny. This also makes it easy for you to buy something, when you actually know what you are looking for. Below mentioned are some of the things you need to keep your eyes open for, while a buying a best point and shoot film camera under $300.
Sensor Size
There is a very common misconception that the pixel count affects your overall picture quality. But it is not entirely true. There is also one more thing in addition to the megapixel count, which affects the picture quality and that is the sensor size. The larger your sensor is, the clearer and crisp your picture quality will be. Especially if you are in need of getting good results in the low light setting, then you should look for a point and shoot camera with a larger sensor size.
Zoom
Zooming feature lets you take the pictures even from a faraway place. Zooming cameras are best for birding and wildlife photography. There are two types of zooms, one is digital zoom and the other is optical zoom. Even though the digital zoom can give you more zoom range, but it can compromise on the quality. In some cameras you can find both optical and digital zooms, which can give you good performance without any lack in the quality. Even though optical zoom lenses are a bit bulkier but it is always recommended to go for optical zoom.
Viewfinder
Viewfinder basically finds the objects or the person where you want the focus to actually be. As there are very less point and shoot cameras which feature viewfinder, so it is also pretty hard to find one. These cameras mostly offer LCD screens you can see what to shoot and how the frame will look like. But the result you get from these LCDs is not always top notch. So, you need to buy a camera with an automatic viewfinder.
Image Stabilization
There are times when you take pictures, but the final results are not as you might have expected. When you take pictures while holding a camera in your hands or while moving, the shakiness can cause the image to get blur. The image stabilization feature never lets shakiness destroy your picture. You should look for a camera, which is equipped with an image stabilization feature to give you best results every single time.
Wireless Connectivity
Sharing your pictures and videos which you took should be as simple as possible. That is why your camera should also be equipped with wireless connectivity life Wi-Fi and NFC. This lets you share images without having to connect the data transfer wire. You can easily share the pictures on social media directly from your camera.
Water and Dust Proof
The conditions in which you are taking pictures are not always welcoming. There are times when you are travelling with your camera, and it starts to rain, or the camera falls into dust. If your camera is not water or dust resistant, then it will ruin your device and cost you some big bucks to have it repaired. Your camera should be dust and waterproof so that you can use it in a carefree manner, without having to worry about getting it damaged.
Size and Weight
Portability of your camera matters the most because you need to take it with you wherever you go. If your camera is not lightweight, then it will put too much stress on your shoulders and hands. Plus, if the size of your camera is bulky, then it would be really uncomfortable for you to hold it, while you are taking pictures. The camera you want to buy should be as compact and as lightweight as possible.
Some Useful Tips
If you want to get the best pictures every single time, then you might be needing more than just a good camera. You need to keep in mind a few things before you go to click pictures. Below mentioned are some useful tips which you should keep in mind to get the perfect shot every single time.
Lighting
Lighting is probably one of the most important things which affect your photography. You need to make sure the lighting is absolutely perfect if you want to take a great shot. Try to use more natural light and outdoor settings, because it will look good and save you some bucks as well. If you are outside, then make sure that sun is always behind you, so you get proper light and no shadows or glares.
If you are taking pictures in indoor settings, then have good quality lighting equipment with you as well. You can find really cheap lights which provide good results. Use the lighting according to your need and according to the backdrop, because too much heavy lighting is also not good for your pictures.
Background
Background is another important thing to keep in mind while you are taking pictures. If your background is messy and dull, then it will certainly have an impact on the object in your picture. So, make sure to keep the background as fresh as possible. You can use different colors with backdrop or a curtain. You can also use the natural scene and background as well.
Use Stand or Tripod
Taking pictures with hands can never always be good for the shot. Sometimes the hands are a bit shaky which can cause blurriness in your pictures. It is recommended that you always use a stand or a tripod to get the best quality every single time with precision.
Keep Extra Battery and Memory
Photography is a thing of absolute patience. You never know when your shoot will end or how many times you have to take the same shot. During all of this, you can run out of battery and memory at any time. It is always good to keep an extra battery with you. Because if you are in the middle of a shoot and you run out of battery, then it won’t be a good option to charge your battery at that moment. You need to have an extra battery with you so you can replace it and keep the clicks going. Just like battery you should also have some memory cards lying around as well, so that your shoot never gets interrupted due to lack of memory.
Bottom Line
Well, there you have it, this was our list for the best point and shoot camera under $300. All of the cameras which we included in our list are absolutely performance oriented and easy on your wallet too. We also added a buyer’s guide as well so you can make up your mind and take a better decision. So, keep in mind the above mentioned things and you will the right point and shoot camera for yourself.