Compact Point & Shoot

Compact Point & Shoot Cameras

Small in size and easy to use, these compact cameras are ideal for the casual photographer. They are typically equipped with autofocus, have built-in flash units, and automatically set the exposure options for you. When compared to a smartphone, point & shoot cameras still tend to offer more functionality, including better image sensors, optical zoom and longer battery life.

The very first compact point-and-shoot camera was introduced in 1888 by George Eastman of Kodak. The 3” x 4” x 6.5” box camera was designed to make photography more accessible to the general public, since other cameras in operation at the time required glass-plate negatives and an excess of other equipment. The steep $25 price tag made purchasing by the general public slightly prohibitive, but with further developments, Kodak was able to launch what many consider to be the original compact point & shoot—the Brownie—at a cost of only $1.

Although today’s cameras offer limited control over exposure settings, there are some distinct advantages to selecting a compact point & shoot. Their small size and low weight make them ideal travel companions since they are easy to carry and don’t require special camera bags. Since all of the key camera components are fixed, there’s also no need to bring along extra lenses or additional equipment. These cameras are fairly easy to use, and require little to no setup. And although the price range across brands like Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Panasonic and Sony can vary, compact point & shoot cameras are generally an affordable option compared to their DSLR or mirrorless counterparts.