The Lumix ZS99 is a compact point-and-shoot camera with a big zoom range, making it easy to take everything from big group photos to close-ups of wildlife, the moon and architecture. It even records 4K video. It's a great option for taking photos that aren't possible with a phone, though its overall image quality lags behind others on this list.

Why I like it:

It's compact, has a great zoom range and takes good pictures in a variety of situations.

Who is this for?

Anyone who wants a versatile digital camera that will work great in a variety of situations. It's an easy-to-use camera for travel and wildlife photography for posting on social media. 

Who shouldn’t buy it:

The image quality is good, but not amazing. There are other cameras on this list that can take better-looking photos, but each has their own drawbacks. The Panasonic's biggest issue is that it's not great in low light, though it does have a built-in flash for that retro "Y2K" look. Also, while there are manual features so you can adjust shutter speed and aperture like a "big" camera, they don't have the range of higher-end cameras, so there's little reason to use any manual modes beyond learning how to use them. Also, the screen, which can pivot up so you can take a selfie, doesn't rotate like others.

The Sony ZV-1 II recommended below is also worth considering. It's more expensive but smaller and has a big 1-inch sensor, so it's better in low light and captures smoother out-of-focus backgrounds (bokeh) for better portraits. Its zoom lens can go wider, but it lacks Panasonic's telephoto reach.

The Ricoh GR IV is an extremely compact, fixed-lens camera with a larger APS-C-size sensor (more typically found in DSLRs). It's capable of impressive image quality, but it's this camera's ability to capture that quality while still fitting in a pocket that makes it stand out from its direct competitors, like the Fujifilm X100VI and Leica D-Lux 8. 

Why I like it:

The small size and big image sensor are a fantastic combination, resulting in extremely high-quality images from a camera that can fit in your pocket. There's a naturalness to its photos that is hard, if not impossible, to match with phone cameras. It's significantly less conspicuous than any other large-sensor camera on this list. It's so pocketable that you can just have it on you at all times, ready to capture a moment, without the bulk of any other camera with this level of image quality. The larger, more expensive Fujifilm X100VI has easier access to functions with its many dials, plus its famous picture recipes, but pretty much everything you can do with the X100VI you can do with the GR IV, with either a few extra steps in the menus and/or some additional work in Photoshop or Lightroom.

Who is this for?

Anyone interested in a compact, stealthy camera for travel, street photography or everyday use that delivers better image quality than phone cameras.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

Updated in 2025, the GR IV isn't much different than its predecessor, the GR III. However, that camera has held its value so well that it's hard to find it used for much less than the GR IV is new. The IV is better enough that it's worth that premium. Like its predecessor, the IV's video capabilities are mediocre, maxing out at 1080p/60. Your phone will likely take better videos. The IV also lacks some of the fancier shooting options of the Fujifilm X100VI, but with a little extra work, you can get similar results. For most people, the base GR IV and its built-in neutral density filter is the best option. There's also the GR IV HDF, which swaps out the NDF for a Highlight Diffusion Filter that softens highlights for an ethereal, otherworldly glow. If you want to restrict yourself to black-and-white photography, there's also the GR IV Monochrome.

If you'd told me before I started testing point-and-shoots for this guide that not only would I want an expensive, fixed-lens, APS-C camera, but I'd also actually buy one, I wouldn't have believed you. Yet here we are. After two weeks with the Fujifilm X100VI, I spent my own money and bought one. In two decades of reviewing gear, that's only happened a handful of times. This camera is special, but it's not for everyone.

The raw specs are impressive for the category, though not hugely so. It has a clever hybrid viewfinder, with an optical view, an electronic view and a combination of both. Myriad dials and buttons give you fast access to various (and often programmable) features to help you capture the photo you want. The large screen folds out to assist when the camera is above or below eye level. 

While the larger sensor and bright lens are certainly a good foundation for quality photos, it's the camera's film simulations that make it such a joy to use. Until this camera, I've never used a color mode preset in any camera I've owned. I want a natural look from the camera, letting me edit to taste later before I post an image. But the film simulations here do such a good job of adjusting an image's aesthetic that little to no editing is required. It's a radically different way to photograph anything in the modern era -- a more filmlike way, if you will.

Why I like it:

People thought I was crazy buying a camera like this when I had a full-frame DSLR, but after owning it for 6 months, including 2 months of travel, I still absolutely love it, and I'm glad I bought it. I'm able to take photos I love with it, with little to know post processing. I still think it's not for everyone, but if you know how to take advantage of its features or are willing to learn, it's great.

Who is this for?

Anyone looking to elevate their photos and who has the knowledge of how to take advantage of the X100VI's various modes and settings (or are willing to learn).

Who shouldn’t buy it:

It's not impossible to get similar results with a different camera, with a small amount of effort. Both the Ricoh GR III (which also has an APS-C sensor) and the Leica D-Lux 8 can capture images of similar quality, for instance. With some time in a photo editor, or just "slapping a filter" on a photo before posting on Instagram, you can get very similar results. You can even save presets, though not as many as the Fuji, to get specific results directly from other cameras. 

The biggest issue with the X100VI, however, is its popularity. Good luck finding one. Or at least, good luck finding one at the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Waiting lists are long, and despite Fujifilm continually ramping up production, limited availability seems like it'll be the case for the near future. Also, for a point-and-shoot, it's larger than you might expect. It's bigger than the Leica or Ricoh, though it's still smaller than a typical DSLR and many interchangeable-lens mirrorless cameras. Overall, this shouldn't be a first real camera unless you know exactly what its myriad features do and why you'd want them.

The Kodak PixPro FZ55 looks like a camera transported through time from 2008... and it performs like it too. If you want that classic digital camera aesthetic to your photos, this camera can absolutely do that.

Why I like it:

The FZ55 is a fully-functional digital camera, including optical zoom, a flash and even some manual settings. If you're going for that 2000s "digicam" vibe every shot will have that look.

Who is this for?

Nostalgia hunters or anyone looking for an inexpensive digital camera. The other options here offer better image quality, as do most phones, but the FZ55 works and doesn't cost a lot.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

Image quality is pretty mediocre and even a phone from a few years ago will take better photos. This is just for people who don't want to use a phone or who specifically want that 2000s-era look to their pics.

The Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay Plus is a portable photo printer with a built-in digital camera. Essentially, it's a Polaroid instant camera for the modern age. It's chunkier than many of the cameras on this list because it's mostly a printer, housing a replaceable cartridge with 10 prints inside. The camera portion itself is fairly mediocre, leaning perhaps a bit too hard into the "classic" digital camera aesthetic that's quite popular right now. The LiPlay Plus has an interesting twist: Sound. When you take a picture, you can record a few seconds of audio, which will get uploaded to Fujifilm's servers via the camera's app. A QR code is printed on the photo that links to a site where you can hear the audio. It's a clever way to capture a moment. Perhaps most usefully, the LiPlay Plus has image sensors on the front and back, making lining up selfies significantly easier than with previous Instax models.

Why I like it:

It's a camera and a printer. It's great to be able to physically share a picture you just took with a friend. The LiPlay Plus isn't quite pocketable, but it's small enough to be portable. The printer is actually better than the camera, but conveniently, you can connect to the LiPlay Plus to your phone and have it print photos you took with it or any other camera.

Who is this for?

Anyone who likes the idea of being able to print photos on the go while having the convenience of a screen and the ability to record a few seconds of audio.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

The built-in cameras are quite poor, about on par with the cheapest options on this list. It's convenient if you don't want to carry another camera, but for many people, the low-fi nature might get old, and they'll just use the LiPlay Plus as a photo printer.

The Leica D-Lux 8 is a sort of runner-up in both the travel and phone upgrade categories. It has something neither the Ricoh nor the Fujifilm do: an optical zoom. It's not much, ranging from a fairly wide 24mm to a slight telephoto 75mm, but it's more than the fixed offerings of the others. Inside is a 22MP Micro 4/3 sensor, of which 17MP is used. The body's design is gorgeous in that timeless Leica way. 

Why I like it:

It's a compact camera with some zoom and great image quality. Images are sharp with rich color and a soft bokeh. It's not specifically "better" than the Ricoh or Fuji but does offer something a bit different than both.

Who is this for?

Anyone who wants something smaller than the Fuji and with the added flexibility of a zoom lens.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

Like any Leica product, it's pricey. The Fujifilm has a larger APS-C sensor for similar money and has all its fun film simulations. The Ricoh GR III also has a larger sensor and is even smaller and cheaper. Neither has a zoom, however. Other than the price, there's nothing wrong with the D-Lux 8, but it's not the standout in any particular category either.

The Nikon Coolpix P1100 is in a class by itself, mostly because the superzoom camera category has basically disappeared. The fact that Nikon released this refreshed model last year is all the more astonishing. The P1100's 125x optical zoom range, 24-3,000mm (35mm equivalent) is rather remarkable for a camera this size and price. It's capable of zooming in on subjects really far away for photos that seem like you were right next to them. It lets you capture images and videos that you couldn't get at all with a phone and really, any other camera without spending many thousands of dollars on lenses.

Why I like it:

It offers more zoom than any other camera. If your goal is to get up close to something, nothing can do that better more than the P1100.

Who is this for?

If you're an avid birder, you're headed on a safari or visiting a National Park known for animals, the P1100 can absolutely let you capture images not possible with other cameras. However, other cameras can take better photos. So it comes down to what you're really looking for. If you don't absolutely need that incredible zoom range, the Panasonic ZS99 (at the top of this guide) has "just" a 30x zoom but uses the same size image sensor, is cheaper and far smaller.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

There are some tradeoffs. The P1100 uses a very small image sensor, smaller than what's found on many modern phones. As such, the camera struggles in low light. Compounding that issue, the lens is a fairly slow f8 when fully zoomed in, meaning you need a fairly slow shutter speed to let in enough light to get a correctly-exposed image. This means that even with optical image stabilization, you're usually dealing with lens shake/blur and if your subject is moving at all, it could be blurred to. The images you capture also don't have the detail or vibrancy of other modern cameras. However, none of those have the P1100's zoom range.

The Pentax WG-8 is a compact, rugged point-and-shoot camera that's waterproof down to 65.6 feet (20 meters). Its 20-megapixel sensor can record 4K30 video, and it even has a 5x optical zoom. However, the camera's small sensor size and relatively slow lens make low-light imaging poor. A bright flash, though, helps underwater. 

Why I like it:

It's a rugged and inexpensive waterproof camera with optical zoom and a built-in flash.

Who is this for?

Anyone looking for a rugged camera, either as a kids first camera or to take on adventures where it will get wet.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

The image quality is reasonable but definitely doesn't stand out. This camera's main selling point is its ruggedness. It will work great for images and videos, especially while you're snorkeling or swimming and for posting on social media. 

There are two things to consider. First, a GoPro or other action camera will produce better images and video and be physically smaller. With a dive case, they can go even deeper than the WG-8 for around the same price. However, GoPros have a fixed, wide-angle lens, which isn't as flexible as the WG-8's zoom in some situations. 

The other thing to consider is the OM System TG-7, mentioned below. On the outside, it's nearly identical to the WG-8, but it has a slightly different zoom range. Its image quality is generally better, and it can zoom while recording. More usefully, there are a lot of accessories available from OM System, including a dive case that lets you get to scuba depths with the camera, as well as wide and tele lens converters, flash diffusers and more. The TG-7's starting price is higher, though, at $500. It's a better camera; if image quality is your primary goal, that's the one to get. If the camera's ruggedness is what's most important, the price of the WG-8 makes it the best option.

Ostensibly a vlogger camera, the Sony ZV-1 II is an extremely capable point-and-shoot overall. A large, 1-inch sensor sits behind a zoom lens that ranges from an ultrawide, GoPro-esque 18mm to a portrait-friendly 50mm. A fully articulated screen lets you see what you're capturing with the camera in nearly any position. If you don't need the long reach of the Panasonic ZS99's zoom, the Sony can capture better photos and does so in a smaller body. It's far more expensive, though. 

Why I like it:

This is a great step up from a phone or GoPro while offering similar ease-of-use to both.

Who is this for?

Anyone who wants to get better photos and videos compared to their phone, but isn't interested in spending the money on a larger, more elaborate setup.

Who shouldn’t buy it:

Though it's generally easy to use, there are a few issues. The LCD screen was nearly impossible to see when using the camera outside with my sunglasses on. The polarization matched perfectly -- a problem I didn't have with any other camera I tested in normal use. The lens, great for selfies and arms-length recording, doesn't let you "zoom in" on things, like the Panasonic can. A list price of $900 is also expensive, close in price to the Ricoh GR III with that camera's far larger, better in low light, APS-C sensor. Though with that camera, you lose any zoom or articulated screen.

If you don't mind the higher price and prefer wide over telephoto, the ZV-1 II is a great all-around point-and-shoot camera that takes great photos and videos.