The 8 Best Point and Shoot Cameras of 2020
Updated April 19, 2020
Point and shoot cameras offer many of the features of DSLR cameras, yet are smaller, lighter, and more portable. Before moving on to the important specifications of the 8 best point and shoot cameras of 2020, we will explain some key features of point and shoot cameras.
Max Image Resolution - the maximum number of pixels in an image taken with the point and shoot camera
Optical Zoom - the zoom of the point and shoot camera caused by movement of the lens; although optical zoom may cause some very minor image distortion, it does not cause the image degradation of digital zoom
Max Video Resolution - the maximum number of pixels in a video frame captured with the point and shoot camera at a given frame rate (specified in "fps" or frames per second)
Max ISO - the maximum light sensitivity setting of the point and shoot camera; although high ISO settings will produce noise in the resulting image, the maximum ISO setting provides an indication of how well the point and shoot camera performs in lower light
Screen Size - the size of the screen on the back of the point and shoot camera measured diagonally
NFC - Near Field Communication (NFC) is used by point and shoot cameras to initiate communication over Wi-Fi in a more convenient fashion (e.g., by placing a smartphone near the camera without entering information to manually setting up the Wi-Fi connection); NFC as used by point and shoot cameras is only available in Android phones (not iPhones)
Built-In Wi-Fi - the ability to communicate images and videos between the point and shoot camera and another device over Wi-Fi; Wi-Fi can be added to some point and shoot cameras without built-in Wi-Fi using a Wi-Fi SD card or a Wi-Fi adapter
Bluetooth - the ability to transfer images from the point and shoot camera to another device over a Bluetooth connection
Smartphone Remote Control - the ability to control the point and shoot camera using a smartphone
Weight - the weight of the point and shoot camera with the battery installed
Specifications
| Manufacturer and Model | Max Image Resolution | Optical Zoom | Max Video Resolution | Max ISO | Screen Size | NFC | Built-In Wi-Fi | Bluetooth | Smartphone Remote Control | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon COOLPIX B700 | 20.2 MP | 60x | 3,840 x 2,160 (4K) at 30 fps 1,920 x 1,080 at 60 fps | 3,200 | 3 inches | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 20 ounces |
| Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 | 18.1 MP | 60x | 3,840 x 2,160 (4K) at 30 fps 1,920 x 1,080 at 60 fps | 6,400 | 3 inches | No | Yes | No | Yes | 21.76 ounces |
| Nikon COOLPIX B500 | 16 MP | 40x | 1,920 x 1,080 at 30 fps | 6,400 | 3 inches | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 19.1 ounces |
| Canon PowerShot SX730 | 20.3 MP | 40x | 1,920 x 1,080 at 60 fps | 3,200 | 3 inches | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.7 ounces |
| Canon PowerShot SX620 | 20.2 MP | 25x | 1,920 x 1,080 at 30 fps | 3,200 | 3 inches | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 6.42 ounces |
| Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 | 20.2 MP | 12x | 1,920 x 1,080 at 30 fps | 3,200 | 3 inches | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 5.19 ounces |
| Sony DSCW830 | 20.1 MP | 8x | 1,280 x 720 at 30 fps | 3,200 | 2.7 inches | No | No | No | No | 4.23 ounces |
| Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 | 20 MP | 10x | 1,280 x 720 at 25 fps | 1,600 | 2.7 inches | Yes | Yes | No | No | 4.34 ounces |
| Manufacturer and Model | Max Image Resolution | Optical Zoom | Max Video Resolution | Max ISO | Screen Size | NFC | Built-In Wi-Fi | Bluetooth | Smartphone Remote Control | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon COOLPIX B700 | 20.2 MP | 60x | 3,840 x 2,160 (4K) at 30 fps 1,920 x 1,080 at 60 fps | 3,200 | 3 inches | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 20 ounces |
| Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 | 18.1 MP | 60x | 3,840 x 2,160 (4K) at 30 fps 1,920 x 1,080 at 60 fps | 6,400 | 3 inches | No | Yes | No | Yes | 21.76 ounces |
| Nikon COOLPIX B500 | 16 MP | 40x | 1,920 x 1,080 at 30 fps | 6,400 | 3 inches | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 19.1 ounces |
| Canon PowerShot SX730 | 20.3 MP | 40x | 1,920 x 1,080 at 60 fps | 3,200 | 3 inches | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.7 ounces |
| Canon PowerShot SX620 | 20.2 MP | 25x | 1,920 x 1,080 at 30 fps | 3,200 | 3 inches | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 6.42 ounces |
| Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 | 20.2 MP | 12x | 1,920 x 1,080 at 30 fps | 3,200 | 3 inches | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 5.19 ounces |
| Sony DSCW830 | 20.1 MP | 8x | 1,280 x 720 at 30 fps | 3,200 | 2.7 inches | No | No | No | No | 4.23 ounces |
| Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 | 20 MP | 10x | 1,280 x 720 at 25 fps | 1,600 | 2.7 inches | Yes | Yes | No | No | 4.34 ounces |