Today, bulky and expensive DSLRs aren’t the only cameras on the market that appeal to people. You can also get point-and-shoot cameras under $1000 that do the trick quite well, indeed.
Moreover, if you want to enhance your photography and videography skills but don’t want to spend much, a point-and-shoot camera seems to be the best solution. You don’t need additional lenses or a lot of photography knowledge before you start operating them. They are ready for action straight out of the box!
Similarly, a point-and-shoot camera is a perfect choice for taking incredible photos to post to Instagram, impress your client, or keep in your pocket as you go on vacation. These compact cameras feature bigger sensors and advanced lenses that are better than any of the best smartphones available. As a result, you get better zoom reach and low-light performance.
A lot of camera manufacturers these days are focusing on the point-and-shoot action and there is a wealth of models available for you to choose from. Today, we’ll help you narrow down the best point-and-shoot cameras under $1000.
1. Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
The PowerShot G7 X Mark II is a premium point-and-shoot camera from Canon that boasts a one-inch 20.2-megapixel sensor and looks more like a DSLR camera. Sure, it doesn’t offer the image quality of a DSLR, but it outperforms many of the point-and-shoot cameras on the market.
With a compact and upgraded design, the camera offers almost anything people want from a point-and-shoot camera under $1000. Thanks to the powerful DIGIC 7 Image Processor with improved autofocus tracking and enhanced IS, you get crisp, clear images with great detail and without any noise. It also allows you to capture 1080p videos with up to 60 fps.
Along with an ISO range of up to 12,800 (can be stretched to 25,600), the latest DIGIC 7 processor gives you the ability to capture noise-free images in low light, without even using the flash. This enables you to shoot with faster shutter speeds and further increases your chance of getting stunning images. The maximum continuous shooting speed of the camera remains at eight fps.
The rear monitor of the PowerShot features a touchscreen and can be tilted up and down for increased shooting flexibility. Like the original G7 X, it incorporates the same 4.2x optical zoom lens with a bright and variable aperture of f/1.8-2.8, equivalent to 24-100mm.
As for connectivity options, you can easily share your images with an iOS or Android device using the camera’s built-in Wi-Fi/NFC. We talk more about that in our Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II review.
2. Sony RX100 IV
All of Sony’s RX100 cameras have been in production and widely available since their launch, meaning it’s highly likely that one of these cameras will suit your budget and requirements. While the latest cameras in this series are quite expensive, the Sony RX100 IV hits the perfect spot between features, size, performance, and cost.
This point-and-shoot camera under $1000 is a solid all-around performer. There is a high-grade pop-up viewfinder on top of a powerful one-inch 20.1MP sensor and a ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm (35mm equivalent) f/1.8-2.8 lens. The camera includes a tilt-angle LCD and offers a frame rate of 16 fps.
Image quality is outstanding and you get a decent AF performance. As for the video, Mark IV has the ability to shoot 4K at 30 fps and HD at a staggering 1,000 fps for slow-motion, making it one of the best picks for filming as well. You can use Wi-Fi or NFC for cable-free communication between your camera and any other smart device.
While the Sony RX100 IV may not be the cheapest option for you, it offers the best value for the money with its compact design, solid build, premium image quality, and decent video recording capability.
3. RICOH GR II
The GR II packs a bigger sensor and fixed wide-angle lens into a small, pocket-sized body. It’s an ideal option for everyday photography. It’s also suitable for street photographers.
Featuring a 16MP APS-C CMOS sensor and an 18.3mm f/2.8 fixed aperture GR lens, this point-and-shoot camera delivers remarkable, professional-grade images, making it a reliable low-light camera.
With the camera’s high-speed autofocus mode, you’ll be able to shoot quickly. While the burst shooting capability isn’t as fast as some other small-sensor cameras offer, it’s certainly enough for your street photography needs.
The camera brings along a three-inch fixed screen with 1,230 dots of resolution. You can shoot FHD videos at up to 30 fps and make use of exposure compensation during video recording.
Moreover, the GR II comes with significant upgrades over its predecessor, such as improved continuous shooting capability, white balance and noise performance, built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, and a lot more. However, if you’re mostly into street photography, check out our review of the RICOH GR III.
4. Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000
The Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000 is the only point-and-shoot camera on the list that offers 4K video capture. It employs a powerful, one-inch 20MP sensor, along with a Leica 16x optical zoom lens that is equivalent to 24-400mm in 35mm terms. The lens uses a variable f/2.8-f/4 aperture.
Featuring a full set of manual controls, the FZ1000 appeals to a lot of photography enthusiasts who want to make creative decisions. An upgraded white balancing system, coupled with the latest Venus imaging engine, provides enhanced shadow adjustments. The Panasonic LUMIX F1000 enables you to alter the image parameters after taking the shot and apply plenty of Photo Styles.
Image quality is outstanding with beautiful colors and contrast. As for video quality, it’s impressive as well, with plenty of features such as reliable focus, face and eye detection, focus peaking, and more. In addition, you can create 8MP stills from the video.
Furthermore, the camera has a tilt-angle screen with maximum flexibility, making it quite suitable for vloggers out there. It also incorporates a 0.39-inch OLED EVF with a 2,359 dot resolution. As you’ll learn in our review of the Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000, you can use Wi-Fi for sharing images and remote shooting.
5. Nikon COOLPIX P900 (Budget Winner)
The Nikon COOLPIX P900 is an amazing point-and-shoot camera under $1000, featuring a massive zoom range of 83x, with a 24-2,000mm-equivalent lens. If that’s something you are looking for, this camera should be on top of your list.
The lens uses a maximum aperture rating of f/2.8 at its widest point and can go up to f/6.5. While using a camera with an extreme zoom reach, you would certainly need a respectable optical stabilization system. The P900’s Dual Detect Optical VR system, with up to five stops of image correction, ensures that you get images without any visible blurry effects.
With a big, bulky design, the P900 is heavy and it’s not one of those point-and-shoots that will easily fit into your pocket. The camera offers full manual control but sadly lacks RAW capture. However, it produces quite decent JPEGs with beautiful colors and offers an accurate white balance.
Moving to video capture, it has the ability to record 1080p videos at up to 60 fps. Like many point-and-shoot cameras, it makes use of the 1/2.3-inch, 16MP back-illuminated BSI CMOS sensor.
The rear LCD on it is a three-inch, 921 thousand dot, fully-articulated screen. The EVF features an eye-detect sensor, which is automatically activated and deactivated when your face gets close (an incredibly useful feature).
The P900 is equipped with Wi-Fi, NFC, and GPS for geotagging your images. You can also download a free app from the Play Store that allows you to share your data or remotely control the camera. If you are getting into travel, astrophotography, or wildlife photography, you will certainly want to get your hands on this camera.
If you feel like this super-zoom point-and-shoot camera is what you were looking for, our full review of the Nikon COOLPIX P900 will give you the remaining details.
Point-and-Shoot Cameras Under $1000: They’ve Still Got It
Point-and-shoot cameras under $1000 are still available (and relevant) in 2020. For now, they still deliver higher-quality results than smartphones, especially in challenging conditions. With advanced sensors, longer optical zoom, improved low-light performance even without the flash, and the ability to capture fast-moving subjects, these point-and-shoot cameras offer more than your best smartphone.
