9 Best Point and Shoot Cameras under $500 to Choose in 2025

Point & shoot cameras under $500 which are affordable, compact and easy to use.

Such devices are perfect for beginners who want to take better photos than they can with a smartphone. These cameras offer a step-up in image quality and allow you to experiment with different lenses, which can help you become more creative and develop your own style.

Did you know that some point and shoot cameras come with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC features? This means you can easily share your photos wirelessly through social media sites.

When it comes to choosing a cheap camera under $500, there are a few characteristics that matter to me.

Firstly, I look for a camera with a large sensor and high-quality lens. This is crucial for producing sharp and detailed images with good contrast and depth. A larger sensor captures more light and detail, resulting in sharper and more vibrant images.

Secondly, I prefer a device with a simple design that is easy to use. As a photographer, I want to focus on capturing the moment rather than fiddling around with complicated settings.

Lastly, I look for a camera that is sturdy and can handle the rigors of daily use. This is especially important for outdoor portrait photography where the camera may be exposed to harsh weather conditions.

The Olympus Tough TG-6 is an incredibly tough point and shoot camera for macro photography under 500 dollars, which makes it perfect for adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts.

It's also a waterproof camera that can withstand being submerged up to 49 feet deep, dustproof, shockproof, crushproof (able to withstand up to 220lbs of weight), and freezeproof (can operate in temperatures as low as -10°C). This means that you can take it with you on any adventure, without worrying about damaging it.

The camera also has a 12-megapixel sensor that produces excellent image quality, even in low light. One of the standout features of the TG-6 is its ability to capture images up to 0.3in away, which is perfect for macro shots.

The camera also has a 'digital microscope' mode that allows you to zoom in up to four times more, which is great for capturing fine details.

With the help of this 4K camera under 500 dollars, you can record video in the 4K format at a speed of 30 frames per second. This $500 camera has a 25–600mm zoom as well as a full-range f/2.8 aperture.

The ELMARIT lens allows you to take incredible pictures even if you are photographing in low light.

The autofocus has high-speed performance. With an advanced DFD and fast AF, this point and shoot camera immediately measures the distance between the foreground and background to get excellent focus on the subject.

You will also appreciate the five-axis correction/tilt correction and wonderful image quality.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 is a compact camera with a beautiful vintage design that is both stylish and functional. It is super intuitive and easy to use, making it a great option for beginners and professionals alike.

The camera features a range of shooting modes, including Party, Kids, Landscape, and Macro, which allows for flexibility in capturing various photographic opportunities.

Another advantage is the camera's advanced autofocus mode, which can focus on subjects as close as 11.8 inches away. Instax Mini 90 has a fixed 60mm f/12.7 lens with zone focusing settings and a dedicated macro position, which makes it easy to capture sharp images of small details and objects.

It also includes an optical window finder with target spot and parallax adjustment guides, which makes it easy to line up your subjects when you are shooting in close-up mode.

Canon EOS Rebel T7 is an excellent choice for anyone who is just starting out with photography and looking for an affordable Canon camera. Its main strength lies in its 24.1-megapixel APS-C sensor and DIGIC 7 image processor, making it super easy to capture high-quality images that are clear and sharp.

The camera also has built-in Wi-Fi and NFC that allow you to share images through Canon's Camera Connect app, making it easy to share your work with others. This feature is useful for transferring files to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram with just one click.

One of the most impressive features of the EOS Rebel T7 is its optical image stabilizer, which can correct for any movements made by the camera lens. This feature is a lifesaver when taking photos or video in a variety of conditions, making it a must-have for any beginner photographer looking for an affordable and super easy device.

For its price range, the Panasonic Lumix FZ80 is the best camera under 500 dollars that boasts an impressive 60x zoom lens that allows you to get up close and personal with your subject. The camera's 4K video recording functionality is also a plus, making it an appropriate device that produces high-quality footage suitable for professional use.

One of the standout features of this Panasonic camera is its Wi-Fi capability, allowing you to transfer images and remotely control the camera using a smartphone or tablet, adding to its convenience.

One interesting feature of the Lumix FZ80 is the Post Focus mode, which allows you to selectively select points of focus in a picture after the fact. This can be particularly helpful for macro photography or when trying to capture a specific detail in a scene.

DJI Osmo Action is a pretty impressive action camera under $100. It boasts a lot of features that can capture professional-quality video, making it a great travel camera, like 4K recording at 60 frames per second and HDR support.

The RockSteady Electronic Image Stabilization system is also a game-changer in terms of video stabilization, and it can operate in both time-lapse and hyperlapse modes.

One of the things that really stand out about the Osmo Action is the front-facing touch screen, which lets you control the camera without turning it around. That's a huge plus for those who want to take videos with their hands free.

Canon EOS Rebel T100 point and shoot camera under $500, one of the main advantages of which is its affordability. For the price, it offers some decent specs, including an 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor that produces high-quality images with good detail and color reproduction.

The autofocus system is also a standout feature, with nine cross-type points that ensure accurate focus, even in challenging lighting situations.

Another plus is the T100's battery life, which can produce up to 500 shots per charge. And it's lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry around and perfect for travel photography. Additionally, the Canon EOS Rebel T100 is a great camera for beginners looking to shoot video, with 1080p full HD video recording capabilities.

One of the main advantages of the GoPro Hero10 is its GP2 chip, which provides faster, better resolution, and higher frame rates. This means you can capture stunning 5.3K 60p video and 23-megapixel photos with enhanced low-light performance.

The HyperSmooth 4.0 video stabilization technology, which eliminates the need for a GoPro gimbal, is also game-changing in all modes, allowing you to record smooth, professional-looking footage.

This GoPro camera is also one of the best point and shoot camera under 500, supporting a wide range of Mods, including the Media and Max Lens Mods that add a bi-directional microphone and cold shoe mounts.

It can also be used as a vlogging camera, thanks to the front display that shows your live view and allows you to frame shots.

Panasonic LX10 point and shoot camera under $500 is a great option for a compact and lightweight, which makes it very easy to carry around with you wherever you go. It has a 20-megapixel large sensor that provides excellent image quality, and the fast built-in lens allows you to capture stunning photos in low light conditions.

This Panasonic camera offers 4K video recording, which is a fantastic feature at this price range.

Also, the camera has a unique lens mold technology that helps to create smooth bokeh, making your photos look even more professional. The camera has a fast and accurate autofocus system that uses Panasonic's Lightspeed AF technology, making it a great option for capturing action shots.

Megapixels. You are mistaken if you think that the number of megapixels is the main key to a quality image. In fact, the most important characteristic is the size of the sensor.

First of all, it affects the clarity of your photos. Therefore, when choosing the best point and shoot camera pay attention to the sensor size.

Zoom. Cameras can use digital or optical zoom. Digital zoom gives you a greater range of magnification but the quality of the photos decreases. Optical zoom makes the digital camera a little bulky. In general, for those who are interested in zoom lenses it is better to opt for a camera with optical zoom.

LCD screen. High-quality LCD screens are a valuable part of any budget video camera. I recommend choosing models with a 3-inch display to be able to effectively preview and evaluate the picture.

Camera modes. Automatic selection of the most suitable shooting camera modes is one of the most important advantages of the best cameras under 500 dollars. This feature not only simplifies your work but also speeds it up.

Battery. Modern point and shoot camera manufacturers provide models with their own rechargeable lithium ion batteries. As a rule, they have quite a long life so probably you won’t need third-party camera batteries. Regular AA batteries fit certain cameras and you can use them if you cannot charge the device through a power outlet.