Best point and shoot inexpensive cameras

I think you need to double or triple that budget to get something that's a meaningful improvement over what the last couple of generations of phones can offer.

Really? I remember my Canon point and shoot from our last trip took wonderful pics inside, so clear. My sons have newer iPhones, so perhaps we will test them out. Everything always looks fine online, but they never do print copies, so we’ll need to check.

The 13 proMax takes amazing pictures

I agree with Scudder. On my last trip (November) I left my phone at home and just used my camera (iPhone 10x), and my pictures turned out great. In low light, the images are not quite as sharp as a high end point and shoot, but they are close. Also, telephoto doesn't let you get as close without getting blurry pictures. But normal outside shots are great. The newer phones are even better. I don’t think you’ll do better than a relatively new phone with a $200 camera.

I agree with Scudder. The point and shoot camera market has disappeared as most new phones are now up to the job.

There isn’t anything available at your budget that would be better than a phone. Alternatively, look for a second hand camera such as the Sony Alpha A6000 or the Sony A6300.

Count me in with Scudder and the rest of the gang. Cell phones have pretty much destroyed the low end point and shoot market. The only remaining point and shoots tend to be pricey. A lot of folks speak highly of the Sony RX100. The current model is about $1300, although I think there are some earlier models still on the market for less money.

My phone is a Google Pixel 3a and it takes amazing photos

I have an iPhoneX. I’m not impressed with the picture quality. I think my sons have an 11. Maybe it’s time to upgrade my phone, solely for the camera.

On our recent trip, I used my Samsung Galaxy A32 (48 mp) part of the time and it did a great job. We are ditching the Fuji point and shoot. It doesn’t come close to what my new phone can do. My only problem with the cell phone camera is at times depending on the light I cannot see the back of the screen to see what I am shooting. The other issue (if you care about such things) is that it doesn’t shoot in “raw” so editing is more limited but I think most casual photographers don’t care about such things.

To me, another question is: would you carry both the phone and the camera? Or leave the phone at home/hotel?
If you are OK to leave your phone behind, then there are still some decent compact cameras around the $300 mark, hardly better than a current phone but still perhaps better than yours?
But if you need your phone, you might as well use the money towards a new phone.

Among current camera models, the Canon powersShot ELPH 180 is just under $160 US dollars +tax, not including digital storage card or camera case. The Canon powerShot ELPH 190 is just under 180 US dollars.

Neither of these models have manual features. And they are both missing the settings wheel present on the higher end Canon models.

I don't consider myself a photography guru but I never got into taking pictures with a cell phone. I have an old model Canon powershot 710 IS that still physically works except it takes grainy pictures in low light unless i set the shutter speed very low but then I can't hold the camera still enough. I keep my camera set to manual and then adjust it every time i take a picture. I don't use the flash. Also my camera keeps showing that the batteries are low even if I just put newly recharged batteries in. All the current Canon models run on a proprietary rectangle shipped rechargeable battery that you have to take out of the camera and put in a charger to recharge. My powershot 710 runs on 2 AA batteries. If you search e-bay you can find a lot of old-model refurbished used Canon cameras for well under $200. Remember that some of the old-model cameras can only handle memory cards up to 4 or 8 gigabytes.

I have a Sony DSC-HX80 which is small and easy to use, purchased new in 2018 for about $350 as I recall. At the time I had an older model iPhone which did not take good pictures. However, when I upgraded to the iPhone 11 pro the camera quality greatly improved. If you are planning to upgrade your phone anyway, maybe hold off investing in a camera until you check out the phone camera. The 11 pro takes great pictures and videos.

I've got a Samsung Galaxy S20 but it's photo quality has never approached that of my Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II. The camera is suitable for never every travel situation I've encountered and yet is the size of a pack of cigarettes. It easily fits in pants pockets and allows me to keep my cell phone protected and less likely to be lost. A bonus is that it's got an attractive retro look. I know that the camera would be an expensive loss but the cell phone is much more critical obviously.

I myself like the small proprietary batteries because I have 5 of them. I charge all of them in advance and take a few with me each day so that I always have power even when I'm recording video with the camera. It easily handles very large SD cards and I bring one for each day of travel. I start a new empty SD card every morning to keep my previous photos protected. I like being able to shoot in RAW as well.

The camera has been getting somewhat difficult to find. Amazon hasn't been able to keep them in stock but sometimes there are some good buys at electronics shops (Focus Camera, etc.) in the $420 - $460 range.

Here's the model I'm using now: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N9MCH0E/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_5?smid=&psc=1

I noticed a big difference in iPhone cameras when I got the 11pro. Before that I had an 8 and it wasn’t very good so I took a dslr every trip. Now I just use the phone unless I’m specifically photographing something where the manual features are important.
The night mode on the newer phones is better than my basic kit lens on a dslr and better than a low end point and shoot. Ideal is a high end multi-lens set up for a dslr, but that’s both very expensive and very impractical for travel!

If you have access to an iPhone 11 or better (like a friend with it who will let you take a few photos) try it out. Go in a medium-lit or dark-ish room inside and try to take decent photos of the furniture and of your friend. See what you think. Maybe it’s not for you, but it’s worth a try.

Unfortunately for those that prefer cameras, the improvements in phone cameras has greatly reduced the availability of lower end point and shoot cameras. The market is primarily cell phone cameras or higher priced specialty cameras for photo hobbyists. Not to say you can’t find one, but that it’s a smaller market than in the past.

It's about double the amount, but I'm very happy with my Canon SX740HS. I bought it for our fall trip to Yellowstone, Tetons, and the Buffalo Round-Up in Custer State Park. The zoom is impressive (at least to me).

I had the iPhone 10 (XR) and it took very good pictures. My husband has the 12 and his camera is much better than mine was, and it had the night mode which is really nice. Around Christmas time, my camera acted up and we had a big trip coming up, so I got the 13pro. OMG, amazing photos! I debated about bringing my DSLR along as well, but honestly the phone took just as good, if not better, photos so I left the big one behind.

I can't get enough of my, Apple 12.9inch I pad Pro. I use it at work and vacationing. Yes, it is bulky, but you paid for great pictures.

This is going to sound rude but…..

Please don’t use a 12.9” screen to take the photos unless you are in a well lit location far away from anyone else. A screen that big blocks other peoples view and the brightness is distracting in dim places such as churches

I gave up trying to take great pictures, since the only people who are going to see any of my snapshots are via email or on their phone screens, where photo quality doesn't matter. But I prefer to use a low-end P&S to using my phone, mostly because I figure the more often I pull my phone out, the more likely I am to misplace or drop it. I bought a <$150 Nikon last trip, because it still used AA batteries.

PS Consumer Reports does a review practically annually, so there should be some good recs there.

My preference is for bridge cameras, but the decent ones tend to be more than $200. However, I buy them used, from Camera stores. So, they have been checked over, and I know they're working well. I still spend more than $200, but I have gotten cameras that originally retailed for more than twice what I paid.

These days, my preference is for a bridge camera with a 1" sensor, which usually means sacrificing some reach (e.g. 20x instead of 40x). The Panasonic Lumix are rated really highly at Digital Photography Review, and that's what I have.

That said, I just got an iPhone 12, and on my last trip, I used it far more than my bridge camera. It takes fabulous pics. Sony Cybershots are also highly rated, and I notice there are a couple of them listed here for under $200 (probably not 1" sensors, though): https://www.adorama.com/l/Used/Photography/Cameras/Digital-Point-and-Shoot-Cameras?sf=Price There are some Panasonic Lumix's listed here, too, for between $169 and $279.

You can look up expert reviews of the cameras you're considering here: https://www.dpreview.com I also like to us this comparison site if I have more than once option to consider: https://cameradecision.com

I think there is still value for a camera, esp. for shooting photos in dim lights or of moving objects. However, the price may be higher than $200.

For phones, there are iphones and Sony phones. My 6-year old Sony phone still takes better photos than the current model of Samsung.

Like a lot of people I use a phone camera AND a digital SLR. Comments:

Indoors or under dark clouds the phone camera takes the better pictures. The colors are more vibrant and the picture has more detail and contrast.

The phone camera automatically adjusts the time the picture was taken that is stored in the file, the SLR clock has to be manually changed (I always forget, it's never on anyone's travel checklist). So in a place like NZ that is 19 hours ahead, the date on the SLR photo file is one day off.

Normally outdoors the SLR camera takes better pictures.

Telephoto zooming is much better on the SLR because the picture quality on the phone camera degrades.

Lesson: I am always glad I took pictures with both cameras.

My husband has always taken a Panasonic Lumix and I have used a Canon Powershot, but for our next trip we are going to rely on phones. He has an I-phone 11 and I have a Google6Pro. In the past we have managed all of the chargers, adaptors, and batteries, but in looking at the pictures we have taken with our phones as compared to the cameras we can't see a great deal of difference. Of course, we don't print enlargements and we don't try to do artistic photography.

Panasonic Lumix is a really good camera!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS25

This is what I have and have not had occasion to wish I had 'something better'

Not a current production, but you may find it in a camera store that deals in used cameras. ( or online)

My husband has the Panasonic Lumix 4K Digital Camera. He's had it for a couple of years and is very pleased. The way it can zoom in to items far away without being blurry is fabulous. He never vacations without it.