Best Point-And-Shoot Camera for Travel- (Top Pick In 2021)

Do you know the main characteristics of a travel camera? They have the abilities to fit in your pocket and can take pro-level shots on the go.

The combination of being compact and offering advanced levels of customization are rare. But we found some gems in the best point-and-shoot camera for travel category after hours of hard work.

Point-and-shoot is the only class of cameras that can meet our requirements for street or tour photography. In this article, you can get to know more about compact cameras and see the models perfect for pros as well as beginners.

Our Selected 5 Best Point-And-Shoot Cameras at a Glance:

1. Best Overall: Fujifilm X100V (also mentioned: Sony RX100 VII)

2. Runner-Up: Panasonic Lumix FZ80 (also mentioned: PANASONIC LUMIX ZS200)

3. Best Budget: Canon PowerShot SX730 (also mentioned: Canon PowerShot ELPH 360)

4. Other consideration: Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II (also mentioned: Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II)

5. Other consideration: Olympus Tough TG-6 Waterproof Camera

What Is Point-And-Shoot Camera?

In the realm of digital cameras, the smallest type is known as the point-and-shoot or compact camera. Some even call it a P&S camera in short. Such cameras come with an automatic system including flash, and other exposure options so that travelers without much knowledge on photography can take decent shots.

What Is The Purpose Of A Point And Shoot Camera For Travel?

We love traveling a lot, and it requires one to pack lightly with the simplest gears. That is because you will always be moving from one place to another, and lightweight, compact gadgets are the perfect companion.

Huge DSLR cameras are the perfect cameras for professional photography, but even professionals don’t prefer it when it comes to travel photography. So, we are reviewing the best point and shoot camera for travel bloggers.

Compact cameras serve the purpose of shooting everyday events without spending too much time in one shot. You can focus and click on the go with the best image quality possible in these cameras.

From battery backup to automatic settings, point and shoot cameras are perfect for travelers all around the world. Now, let’s see how you can pick the best point and shoot camera for traveling.

Best Overall: Fujifilm X100V Digital Camera

Features We Like:

• Dedicated dials
• Small camera with a good grip
• Large APS C sensor
• Intuitive settings

When we were reviewing different point-and-shoot camera models, we couldn’t pick the best model until this one. More or less, all of the high-end models are powerful, capable, and features unique functionalities.

But the Fujifilm X100V trumps them all by their smart design and quality. Its dedicated dials for the different settings make this camera invisible. You can put all your attention in the viewfinder and change the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and other parameters without even looking.

Those are helpful for travel photography or street photography. It also has a large 3″ LCD with a joystick navigation system. That is what makes this camera perfect for professionals as well as beginners.

Is this the best-advanced point and shoot camera?

We couldn’t help but notice the Sony RX100 VII because of its capabilities. It is the only rival in the top-pick category and a worthy one. The features, focal length adjustments, and image quality of this model almost changed our minds.

But the experience of using the touch display was horrible compared to the X100V. Also, X100V has the perfect focal length, which is 35mm, according to the photography experts.

Apart from the quality, we need to talk about its portability. This model is slightly heavier than other models on this list, but that won’t be a problem. It has a solid feel and grip for that weight and metal body. Our recommendation is to use a neck strap, and you can prevent silly accidents.

So, is this the best bet?

Yes, this is the best value camera you can find without any doubt. Its 26.1MP camera lens with 117 focusing points or zones can take the perfect shot. While focusing on an object, you can use its hybrid viewfinder.

What it means is that the X100V has both optical and electronic viewfinders, which can help travel photography. It also can shoot up to 11 still images per second in burst mode.

For video making, you can rely on the 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. With a single charge, you can take up to 350 shots, which is more than others. Though it is not waterproof, you can always buy a waterproof case to stay worry-free.

Fujifilm X100V is the best compact camera for professional photographers, which is suitable for travel photography. You can rely on this camera for its automatic settings, even if you are not a pro.

Available On Amazon

Runner-Up: Panasonic Lumix FZ80 4K Digital Camera

Features We Like:

• Superzoom
• 4K capabilities
• Great battery life

You can consider FZ80 as the best point and shoot camera under $300 because of its 60X optical zooming ability. Also, the high-resolution viewfinder and 169 focusing points help focus objects from a great distance and take perfect shots.

But all those great features couldn’t give it the first place due to several limitations. First of all, it has a 1/2.3″ MOS image sensor that can’t perform like the large APS-C CMOS sensors.

Aperture and ISO are supportive modules for increasing the sensor’s abilities, but this model also lags in this section. On the other hand, the weight and dimension of the camera are not so travel-friendly. That’s the trade-off for the price, and some fantastic features are the portability.

Should you even consider it?

Yes, of course, you should consider buying this model if zoom and decent digital camera quality can satisfy your needs. Other models of the same price range can’t beat this camera.

When we read the reviews, we understood that the camera would maintain the expectations of wildlife photographers (not professional).

Now, if we look at some other models from Panasonic, we can find another great option that matches all the criteria of travel compact cameras. It is the PANASONIC LUMIX ZS200 that has a large APS-C CMOS sensor and all other necessary functionalities.

Let’s get back to our review and overview of other benefits of the FZ80. Those include a great battery life of taking more than 330 shots per charge and a good flash range that you won’t find in other models. You can shoot any object within 14.1 meters of the camera in the dark.

If a lightweight and compact design is not your primary concern, the Lumix FZ80 will be the best option for a very reasonable price.

Available On Amazon

Best Budget: Canon PowerShot SX730 Point & Shoot Camera 

Features We Like:

• Tilt LCD screen
• 40x optical zoom
• Digi 6 image processor
• High temperature and humidity tolerance

We have chosen Canon PowerShot SX730 as the best budget model despite its high-price because there are no other less expensive decent models to recommend. Its metal body and nice weight give it a premium feel, making it the best budget point and shoot camera.

It has a quick access menu and user-friendly interface for customizing the options. The LCD screen helps a lot in the process, and you can tilt it to take selfies or make vlog videos.

The battery of the camera is capable of taking up to 355 still pics at a single charge, which is more than enough. That’s not the main attraction however. The package includes a separate charger and battery so that you can buy a spare and tour without worrying about power.

You may get disappointed a little bit seeing the ISO and aperture limits of this camera compared to other top models. But that won’t decrease the image quality a lot.

So, who should consider buying it?

If you are looking for a small point-and-shoot camera with high zoom and durable build-quality, PowerShot SX730 will be the perfect one.

Available On Amazon

Other Considerations

Canon PowerShot Digital Camera [G7 X Mark II] 

Features We Like:

• 8 fps burst shooting
• Large image sensor
• Great low-light performance

G9 X Mark II is the successor of Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and both are cameras worth mentioning. Some critics highly recommend both models as the best Canon point and shoot camera for travel, but there are a few issues.

We can start with the focal length of the G7 X Mark, which is 24mm. Also, no image stabilization and a small range of aperture are not acceptable. Finally, we couldn’t consider it for the poor battery backup of the model, and cannon should work on that.

Other than those issues, you will find that both G7 X and G9 X are perfectly capable of taking the runner-up position. So, read the reviews of the users from Amazon, and it can help you decide without any hesitation.

Available On Amazon

Olympus Tough TG-6 Waterproof Camera

Features We Like:

• Underwater photography
• Shockproof and fog proof
• 4K video

Having underwater activities while traveling to some places is very common. So, we have reviewed this last model with the capability of resisting water. Likewise, dust, fog, or shock can’t damage its internal parts or decrease the image quality.

All of its specs and features are perfect for travel photography, but the flash and aperture range don’t have the standard values. So, please don’t expect great shots from this camera in low-light situations.

Those who can’t use the advanced features of the compact cameras and want something durable can buy this one without any worry.

Available On Amazon

Key Features Of The Best Point-And-Shoot Camera For Travel

Image quality and camera specs are essential features to talk about cameras. But we are here to help travelers, and our priorities are set around the traveling requirements.

Lens

Prime lens or zoom lens; we, as a beginner, often can’t decide. Also, it is not possible to declare one as the standard of a good point and shoot camera for travel.

The prime lens offers only one focal length, which is great for travelers with not much knowledge of photography. On the other hand, professional photographers prefer a zoom lens for their abilities.

Here, we have reviewed models with a focal lens that have both customizable and preset auto settings. However, a focal length of 25mm and higher is recommended by the traveling-experts. In this particular category, 35mm focal length is considered the closest to our eyesight, and it can capture realistic still photos.

Portability

The best point-and-shoot camera for travel must fit in your pocket. The slim and small design of these compact cameras has made digital photography while traveling fun again.

We have found lots of different suggestions and models, but all of them are not portable. So, find something lightweight, easy to hold, and small in dimension. Also, buy a microSD card with enough capacity to store your whole journey.

Quick Capture

The name point-and-shoot says its purpose. Such cameras should come with options and automatic menu settings so that you can take shots right away.

If you read the reviews of our selected models, you will know that there are customizable options too. For this reason, both beginners and advanced users can get the right one. Moreover, the sensitivity and automatic white balancing features correct the image.

Battery Backup

When we have to cover 4 or 5 spots in a day, we don’t get enough time to recharge the battery. So, choose a point-and-shoot camera that has the battery life of capturing at least 300 still photos. However, in case of emergencies, you should keep Anker PowerCore 20100mAh power bank to keep your gadgets alive.

Connectivity

Different connectivity options are also helpful for travelers to connect the camera to phones or computers. And the ones we mean are WiFi, Bluetooth, and NFC. Also, USB, Audio/Video, and HDMI ports can transfer the audio, video, and image files directly to your PC.

Quality

Now, let’s talk about the image and video quality of the cameras. First and the most common parameter that we all understand is the pixel count. For example, people judge a camera at first glance and declare that a 16MP camera is better than 20MP one.

That is not the logical way of concluding, and other factors such as ISO, sensor quality and size, image-stabilization feature, aperture, quality of flash, etc. should be considered too. Again, the video resolution and fps at HD or FHD resolution help us get an idea about its quality.

Zooming

All types of cameras come with a certain zooming ability, but the difference is in the method. Some can perform optical zooming, and some are only capable of electronic zoom. We prefer optical zoom as the image quality does not decrease like an electronic one.

Easy Navigation

Large display and dials are the key features for quick navigation. A high-quality screen lets you preview and capture the moment perfectly. If you check out the best point and shoot camera for travel photography, you will notice several control-wheels. Those are very helpful for professionals to adjust the exposure settings quickly and naturally.

File Format

Lots of cameras don’t have enough processing power to convert the image or video formats. So, travelers should go with the models that support raw as well as JPEG and MPEG-4 formats to make life a little bit easier.

Water-resistant

The last one is the water, dust, fog, and shock-resistant features of a camera. It is not a compulsory feature for all travelers. Those who go for underwater activities, or love extreme conditions and risks must ensure such features.

Others

All of the top manufacturers of compact cameras ensure that the models can operate in hot or cold weather ranging from 0°C to 40°C. But all of them can’t stay operational in humid conditions. So, if you are planning to visit countries with high humidity, you should choose accordingly.

Now, the checklist of the essential features with standard values will help you find the best point-and-shoot camera for travel.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Do professional photographers use point and shoot cameras? Yes, they use compact cameras even without all of the advanced-level exposure settings. So, you can rely on the best point-and-shoot camera for travel,  which is Fujifilm X100V.

But which point and shoot camera have the best image quality? That is not easy to answer as taking a legendary shot depends on both the camera quality and the skill of the photographer.

That’s the reason we have picked such a model that has both automatic and customizable options designed for both beginners and professionals. If you have the budget and a tour plan, don’t hesitate to buy the X100V.

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