Technology is rapidly evolving in the photography world. Point and shoot cameras, which used to be used exclusively by hobbyists and tourists, are now more powerful than ever! Many of them can now track faces, auto focus on close-up foreground objects, and shoot HD video with sound. We've come quite a long way from the classic screen-less disposable cameras! With the demand for compact, user-friendly point and shoot cameras skyrocketing, some of the world's favorite brands are rolling out new products that meet professional photography standards.
Point & Shoot Cameras are Changing
The modern point and shoot cameras were heavily popularized by the well-loved Kodak disposable cameras. They were inexpensive, easy to use, and yielded fairly good results for the average tourist and scrapbook enthusiast. However, with the dawn of a more technological age, people demanded more from their casual documentation methods. Users wanted more digital camera features like live-view screens, adjustable focus, and even video. One of the first cameras to oblige this new market was the Casio QV-10. While video recording point and shoots wouldn't come around for another few years, the QV-10 satisfied a large part of the demand. For the low, low price of $750 in 1995, you could snag one of these digital point and shoots with a built in memory of 2MB. As the designs improved, however, these pedestrian cameras took a turn for the more professional.
Sony ZV-1
To kick off 2020, Sony released a gorgeous new addition to their point and shoot camera collection: the
ZV-1. The 3" side flip out touchscreen, background defocus function, and Face-Priority Auto Exposure make this camera great for both photos and videos. This point and shoot camera quickly made its way into the vlogging community with these professional-grade features. The f/1.8-2.8 maximum aperture range makes this camera ideal for outdoor shooting, and can hold its own while you walk and record thanks to the Active SteadyShot.
Another feature that you won't find on a standard point and shoot is the right hand grip. This seemingly innocuous detail makes the ZV-1 a thoughtful addition to the affordable point and shoot category while still giving you the luxuries of a professional camera.
https://youtu.be/T2KO-7Z20ZY
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Other Great Point & Shoot Cameras
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200
Olympus Tough TG-6