Best Point and Shoot Cameras under INR 25,000

There are many types of photographers out there: they may be a the hobbyist trying to bring out the inner creativity in them or the serious professional who makes a living out of photography and for each of them there is a camera that suits the taste. For all those who cannot afford a DSLR or want to have a much more compact and no-hassles camera in your pocket, a point and shoot camera is the perfect fit for you.

So what should you be looking for while searching for the best one that fits your budget?

First, you need to look for one that has a large sensor size as that is what affects picture quality the most. Do not get fooled by the high megapixel count that each brand tries to project onto your brain. Even a 10 megapixel camera can outperform a 21 megapixel camera based on its sensor size. Generally, the sensor size is 1/2.3″ diagonally in compact cameras, while the better ones come at 1/1.7″.

Second, watch out for the zoom magnification of each camera. Generally, the higher the multiplier, higher is the magnification. For example, a 30x zoom will produce a more zoomed in picture than a 21x zoom provided both have the same focal length. Ah, what’s that you ask? Focal length is the distance between the lens and the image sensor when the subject is in focus. It is expressed in millimeters like 28 mm, 35 mm etc. A smaller focal length will give you a wide angle picture while a higher one gives you telephoto capabilities. So if the range is 28-140 mm, it covers both ends of the spectrum.

Finally, if you love taking videos in outdoors for any occasion or you have a YouTube Channel, then look out for a camera that offers 1080p videos.

After considering all the aforementioned factors we have come up with the best point and shoot cameras under INR 25, 000 in India.

Nikon Coolpix B700 (INR 23, 189)

The only point and shoot camera in this list with an optical viewfinder, the Nikon Coolpix B700 leverages this aspect to offer the best battery life among its competitors. Featuring a CMOS 1/2.3″ sensor with up to 20.2 Megapixels, this camera can certainly perform well in all conditions including low light scenes. For all those people, who would love to capture wildlife unnoticed, this camera can go up to 1440 mm focal length with 60x zoom level. It does support wide angle as well with a minimum of 24 mm. With a flip-out screen, it can be used for videography as it supports 4K Resolution at 30fps. The con here would be that it is as big and bulky as a DSLR. So, those of you looking for a compact camera that fits in your pocket, please stay away from this.

Bottom-line: Even if it is bulky, all-round photography, optical viewfinder and 4K Video are its strengths.

CANON PowerShot SX720 HS (INR 22, 299)

If you are looking for something that fits in your pocket and shoots better photos than your smartphone, then look no further. The Canon Powershot SX720 HS fits the description with a body that’s only 36mm thick. The salient features of this camera lies in its zoom capabilities. At 40x zoom (24-960mm), you will not miss the action happening at long distances. Having shaky hands? No problem. The inbuilt Image Stabilization software automatically corrects the shake to give you a clear image. The bonus feature here is that you can share your photos to social media right from the camera itself. Plus, if you are interested in hacking the software inside for more customization, check out CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) which offers more options like RAW photos and more. The cons to this camera is that the screen is fixed and hence is more suited towards photography even though it offers 1080p full HD videos.

Bottom-line: Compact and classy with a pop-out flash, this camera offers excellent image stabilization along with a long range zoom.

Nikon Coolpix B500 (INR 15, 399)

This one is like the younger brother of the Coolpix B700. It certainly beats the B700 in the size department as it is much more compact along all dimensions. If you are willing to forego the optical viewfinder and the 4K video recording for a price drop of INR 6000, then you should go for this. This camera also offers a 39.1x zoom factor along with a better battery life of a whopping 600 shots.

Bottom-line: Inexpensive yet great camera with a much more compact size than the B700.

Sony DSC-WX500 (INR 21, 558)

The most compact camera of the bunch, the Sony DSC-WX500 offers a lot to the average consumer. The camera has a 180 degree flip-out screen that is unique to its form factor. It also offers an ISO range up to 12800 which is great for low-light photography. Supporting a cinema style videography of 1080p @24fps, the camera is suited for taking great videos as well. It also supports NFC and Wi-Fi so that you can transfer photos to any NFC capable phone by just tapping the phone to the camera. This is ideal for travelers as it fits in your pocket easily.

Bottom-line: Small form-factor, great flip-out screen, excellent video abilities and NFC.

If you are willing to stretch the budget a bit, then have a look at the Sony DSC-HX400V as well or if you are a photography enthusiast with no prior experience and are willing to plunge into the learning curve, go for a DSLR.

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