9 Best Compact Cameras Under $200 (2018)

This is one tiny camera you don’t want to miss. Boasting lightning-fast FPS at ten frames per second (FPS) and liquid smooth HD video with 1080p at 60fps, this is a pocket cannon that is bound to please. For all those friends who will pose the classic compact camera question, “Why don’t you just use your phone?” This camera answers firmly, “10x optical zoom. 50 percent more resolution.”

Not that everything’s perfect for everyone, some users report that this camera is tough to use, particularly those with big fingers. That said, most report finding it simple. It’s praised for its compatibility with vlogging, and extensive feature list (three to five image sizes, adjustable color temperature, and panoramas). For people who like slideshows, this camera also outputs full 4K to a television or monitor so you can show off your shots on the big screen.

Boasting 10x zoom, a 20 megapixel sensor, and 720p video recording, this is one little camera you don’t want to snooze on. It boasts a wide array of features including image stabilization (hence the IS), a variety of scene modes, smart auto, and you can download a Canon app which can trigger the camera without touching it. You can also use Wi-Fi to sync up your photos and share them.

This camera is great if you want to take simple shots and immediately integrate them with a phone. Many praise its ease of use and speed in going from out of your pocket to capturing the moments you want. It is a point-and-shoot in the truest sense of the term: simple, fast, and effortless.

For someone looking for something a little different, the Ghost Hunting Camera may be what you’re after. While it won’t offer any of the conventional modes or features of normal photography cameras, it will let you take 24 megapixel pictures. It’s not the smallest camera on our list, but it should easily fit into a back pocket or jacket pocket.

Onto the exciting part: it lets you record ghosts or people playing soccer, and everything in between. This camcorder excels with video, shooting 1080p at 30 frames per second. It has a switch that permits the user go between full spectrum (normal mode) or into infrared mode (mode that lets you see in the dark or record ghosts if any are around). The one big drawback to these cool features is that the camera’s battery life only lasts an hour.

If you’re looking for an adventure and don’t need all of the features of a normal stills camera, this camcorder might offer you one heck of a good time.

Not the fastest gun in the west, but for the slow and steady, this camera delivers. The DSCW830 is a budget Sony compact with 8x optical zoom. The worst thing one can say about it is that it’s not very responsive when shooting pictures. For those looking to catch lightning fast-moments, those exact split seconds, this is not the camera for you. For everyone else, it’s superb.

Boasting many features including tracking focus, live view, and face detection, it’s able to help you grab the pictures you want. At 20.1 megapixels, these pictures can stand to be blown up and are sharp as a tack. The camera’s tiny size means it’s easy to bring along with you no matter the situation.

For those looking to get close to the action, the Kodak PIXPRO Astro Zoom may be the choice for you. While it’s definitely got its limits (namely for anything indoors or low light), there are few cameras in this price range and size (relatively compact) that permit one to zoom this much (for instance, the last camera on our list zooms farther and has better images, but it’s more expensive).

The camera also offers several interesting, unique features including: face detection that works for cats and dogs, face beautifier, and blink/smile detection to help aid in capturing those fleeting moments of smiles (fake or otherwise). The camera also has a panorama mode.

For the budget-minded photog looking for a simple solution, the PIXPRO Friendly Zoom has got you covered. Boasting 4x zoom, a variety of modes, and a look that says, “I’m practical and easy,” this is the ideal camera for those looking for a cheap, simple photography solution.

It’s a no-frills camera, but it covers all of the bases: it records video. It zooms. It has enough modes to capture any kind of moment (including sports, so you can catch quick movements). At this price, it’s a great value particularly for beginners and those looking for the basics.

While technically this is not a camera, the iPhone 5S has a camera that is very decent. Boasting 8 megapixels and full 1080P video recording, what you lose in megapixels you make up for in recording options. The iPhone 5S lets one record slow-motion 120 frames per second video. This is unique in this price range.

The iPhone 5S is also very small. Battery life is decent, and it comes with all the goodness an iPhone allows: apps, flashlight, and yes, a second camera (the selfie camera on the front). It may not be what you had in mind when you thought about compact cameras, but it can make a great gift for the photography-minded.

Note: Just above this price, one could also buy an iPod Touch 6 ($199.99 on Amazon), but AppleInsider compared the iPhone 5S and iPod Touch 6 and concluded, “for camera enthusiasts, we’re going to have to give the edge to the iPhone 5s.”

With 20 megapixels and 5x zoom, this is a powerful Sony camera. It records 720P video and has special features like Panorama mode, which can capture a sweeping 360 degrees.”Smile Shutter,” another unique feature, automatically captures smiles.

The camera also has SteadyShot Image Stabilization and excellent auto modes, meaning you can always grab the moments you want without doing too much work. If even that seems overwhelming, one popular aspect of this camera is the “Simple” mode, which makes everything as easy as it can be.

If this camera is in your price range and compactness isn’t a major factor, this still small (yet DSLR like) camera will blow you away. Boasting 28x optical zoom and 20.2 megapixels, one can get extremely close to the action with amazing detail. This is the point and shoot camera you are looking for.

Unlike most cameras in this price range, it can handle low light decently and autofocuses well in many environments. Unlike most cameras in this price range, it bizarrely takes four AA batteries (but they last a long time). Unlike many cameras in this price range, this camera blows the rest of them out of the water. This camera might even work as a suitable B-camera for those who own a nice DSLR, but don’t want to invest in a huge zoom lens. 28x magnification is hard to beat.