The Unlikely Renaissance of the Point-and-Shoot Camera

(Bloomberg Businessweek) -- With the advent of the smartphone, the point-and-shoot camera would seem ­redundant. The whole idea, after all, is a device that’s small enough to fit in a pocket and requires you only to “point and shoot.” The category is nonetheless having a creative renaissance after years of declining sales. At the two most recent Met Galas, musician Frank Ocean and model Kendall Jenner brought along their ’90s-era Contax T3s to document the festivities.

Think of the new point-and-shoot as Gen Z’s version of the vintage Polaroid, but one that’s lighter, can take high-­definition video, and elevates the quality of your images in the quickest and most space-­effective way. Many new models can even be paired with phones, so you can have your shot and Instagram it, too.

We road-tested the latest offerings from Ricoh, Fuji, and Panasonic—plus a few classics of the genre—and present six compact cameras that deliver, whether it’s for a splash-prone pool party or a gala of your own.

The Status Purchase

When the Leica C-Lux came out in 2018, it bridged the gap between an accessible, easy-to-use compact and one that still retains the brand’s prestigious analog aura. A touchscreen quickly gets you to the camera’s functions, and the body, though small, still has solid heft. It also offers an impressive zoom ranging from 24mm (very wide) to 360mm (very tight), but with a pedigree like this, the real fun is in the act of shooting. $1,050

The Road Tripper

In addition to portability and 4K video, Panasonic’s Lumix ZS200 has impressive zoom capabilities that don’t sacrifice image quality. It has the same range, basic dimensions, number of megapixels (20), and weight (12 ounces) as the Leica C-Lux but at a lower price. Consider it for your safari vacation or the next U.S. Open—situations when you’ll want to zoom in without actually moving. $798

The Rough-Terrain Handler

Waterproof down to 82 feet, able to sustain falls from almost 6 feet, and functional in temperatures as low as 14F, the Fuji FinePix XP140 works well enough in places it’s designed for—that is, underwater and extreme environments. Other cameras can capture higher-quality images, but rather than risk your phone or an expensive digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, you can stick this small model, which came out in March, in your pocket before you dive into the pool or scale that mountain. $260

The Powerful Street Magnet

Don’t underestimate its cuteness: The little Ricoh GR III, also new this March, is a powerhouse of speed and resolution, which makes it best for outdoor events and capturing flurries of activity. If you want to “dabble” in street photography but don’t want to carry around a larger DSLR, the Ricoh slips into a shirt pocket. It doesn’t come with a built-in flash, though, and the lens is fixed, so, no, you can’t zoom. $900

The Hypercompetent Do-It-All

Elegant and rounded, the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100 comes with image stabilization and a 10-frames-per-second continuous shooting mode to capture a scene fast. Don’t expect to zoom far with this camera, but it can go up to 100mm for a tighter shot. And the pictures look so gorgeous, you’d think it’s a DSLR. Add in superior on-the-go video capabilities, and it’s a no-brainer multitasker. $448

The Nostalgic-for- the-’90s Play

If vintage inspires you, grab a Contax T3. This camera shoots 35mm film—yes, the kind from “back then”—which you have to get developed. It’s so old, it’s not in production anymore; you’ll need to track down an owner on EBay or another secondhand site. But among film-based point-and-shoots, it’s quite simply the best. Its Carl Zeiss lenses produce vivid images, and a built-in flash can light up the scene from more than 7 feet away. From $1,500

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Gaddy at jgaddy@bloomberg.net, Chris Rovzar

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