New Point and Shoot Cameras in 2016
Although mobile photography continues to rise globally, point and shoot cameras remain an important tool for many professional and amateur photographers. Its clear and crisp output compared to that of mobile devices is one of the many reasons CNET suggest people should stick to traditional cameras.
A great way to test cameras is by taking snaps of images in extreme light conditions, from nature to indoor photography. This also highlights the superiority of traditional cameras, and shows the limitations of many smartphones cameras. An example of a testing setting is a casino, where the light is unpredictable and often poor. Reuters photographer Eric Gaillard released his Monte Carlo Casino photographs a while back, capturing some wonderful shots, but talked in-depth about how hard it is to take these sorts of action pictures with smartphones.
Some of Gaillard’s popular images feature table games, where he managed to capture spontaneous reactions of some of the players. And while this scenario is somewhat of a dying art because of the rise of mobile gaming that has now changed the landscape of the industry, with the likes of casino gaming platform Spin Genie showing how easy it is to port games to mobile such as the much love and age-old roulette, Gaillard’s pictures gained mainstream recognition because they reminded people of years ago. It evoked memories of how the industry was once popular, and how point and shoot cameras can capture the most magnificent of pictures and moments regardless of the lighting.
Additionally, with the help of point and shoot cameras, it’s easier to take these images, without having to bring out a bulky DSLR. But, what are the top point and shoot cameras to consider upgrading to or buying this year? Here are some suggestions:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
For $499, this compact camera by Sony is the best point and shoot camera released this year. It has an impressive 1-inch sensor, 20.2 megapixels, 100% low light performance and dynamic range, and offers RAW format for images. Based on 203 customer reviews on Sony.com, they gave this one a 4.5-star rating with an excellent performance rating for its ‘picture quality’ and ‘features.’
Nikon Coolpix L840
This is Gadget Review’s number one pick. Nikon Coolpix L840 features an image sensor of 1/2.3-inch, 16-megapixel resolution, 38 times optical zoom lens, and an option to record a full HD movie. Although it’s not touchscreen unlike most of the cameras in this list, it comes with Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity for fast transferring of files that are highly unique. For $217, this camera is a great mid-range tool for photographers.
Olympus Tough TG-4
Do you want to try underwater photography? The best compact camera to choose is the Olympus Tough TG-4. This mid-range camera ($328.99) offers you a 16-megapixel resolution, 1/2.3-inch sensor, and an option to change video resolution from 480p, 720p, or 1080p. It also comes with a Wi-Fi connection and GPS, exactly what every adventurer or outdoor photographer would want from a camera.
Canon PowerShot G16
A bit more expensive than the first three on this list, is the Canon PowerShot G16. But, who wouldn’t spend a little more if it means you get a more powerful point and shoot camera like this? It features a 1/1.7-inch sensor size, close to the perfection offered by the Sony camera. Its color accuracy is 100%, while low light performance and dynamic range are at 90%. Although its lens is clocked only at 12.1-megapixels, it still offers impressive photographs. After all, it’s not in the number of pixel count, but the quality of images it can produce and the ability of the photographer to take great images.