Pocketable point-and-shoot cameras are having a serious moment.
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New and old models are selling out, with most camera manufacturers struggling to keep up with demand.
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The Fujifilm X100VI, a very popular camera on social media, took me five months to receive after placing my pre-order.
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As a tech reporter (and a photography enthusiast), I test cameras year-round — I’ve tried over a dozen cameras to get.
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Below are some of the best point-and-shoot cameras, plus expert advice about what makes these cameras worthwhile.
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The best point-and-shoot cameras in 2026
My top picks come from camera brands like Sony, Leica and Ricoh.
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Some options on this list were sent to me by the brands for testing purposes for this story, others were not.
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I list key specifications I think you should know below each recommendation.
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If you find any of them confusing, you can learn more about the basics of photography, including terms like aperture, shutter speed and ISO, on sites like Adobe, MasterClass, Skillshare, and Expert Photography.
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This is one of the highest quality, most fully-featured compact cameras on the market.
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It is also one of the most coveted — I received mine five months after I placed my pre-order.
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It has the largest and most detailed image sensor on our list (by far), and can capture incredibly sharp, detailed photos.
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This is made easy with the advanced auto-focus system — the camera uses AI-based subject detection to automatically focus on birds, animals, cars and even the individual eyes of a person’s face.
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The built-in image stabilization also means your shaky hands are less likely to cause blurry photos.
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It has multiple dials and switches for precise control over your photography and videography.
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One of my favorite settings is the 20 Fujifilm film simulation modes, which are essentially “looks” with their own color, saturation, shadow detail and other settings to mimic the look of literal Fuji film.
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The list of useful features goes on and on and on, but the camera does have a few limitations.
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The Fujifilm X100VI is the largest and heaviest camera on our list — I can fit it in large coat pockets, not a pants pocket.
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It also does not have a zoom lens.
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Both make it less flexible as a travel camera than our picks from Sony and Leica.
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You can learn more in my Fujifilm X100VI review.
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If you are looking to spend under $200, but want something with more control than an instant camera, consider this budget Kodak camera.
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Former NBC Selected associate reporter Bianca Alvarez took the Pixpro FZ55 abroad — it was so small and lightweight that she brought it everywhere without a second thought.
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It has a smaller sensor that lacks detail compared to our other picks, but it is one of the most affordable point-and-shoot cameras on the market.
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It also makes for a good gift to anyone looking to try out photography.
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Just note that it won’t perform very well in low-light environments.
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Anyone looking for a compact camera that takes high-quality photos and doesn’t skimp on features should consider the Sony RX100 VII.
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NBC News associate art director Kara Birnbaum says this is the best point-and-shoot camera she has ever used.
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The images look crisp and clean, even in dark lighting, especially compared to similarly compact cameras from Panasonic and Kodak.
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Plus, the small size makes it easy for Birnbaum to bring it with her everywhere and snap photos when inspiration strikes — something that’s harder to do with her other cameras.
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If this sounds like your dream camera but is out of your budget, consider the Sony ZV-1 as an alternative — it is more streamlined for taking videos, not photos, but has a similar design and controls.
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We can help you find
Best compact camera
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Former NBC Selected commerce editor Jordan Bowman has taken some of his best photos with Ricoh GR cameras — he brings one almost everywhere.
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After all, the best camera is the one you have with you.
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It takes sharper, more detailed photos than nearly all of our other recommendations (except the Fujifilm X100VI).
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Much of that image quality is because of this camera’s large sensor, which captures more sharp detail and a wider range of light and shadows than our picks from Sony, Leica, Kodak and Panasonic.
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That image quality comes at a cost — the camera has a fixed lens that cannot zoom in or out.
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But the fixed lens has a wide field of view that’s great for street photography and snapshot style photos, says Bowman.
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While it looks like a regular point-and-shoot camera, the Canon Powershot V1 is a video camera at heart, with features largely focused on easily capturing video content.
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It has easy to understand touch screen controls (along with dials and buttons), snappy autofocus and an included microphone cover that helps muffle wind noise.
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…and 81 more, not listed.
The Aporia
