Pocket-sized and powerful, point-and-shoot cameras are often referred to as handbag cameras. Perfect for the modern-day photography enthusiast who is constantly on the move, a point-and-shoot is far less bulky than your average DSLR or mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera.
The popularity of film cameras has skyrocketed in recent years, with even the most casual of photographers investing in easy-use 35mm point and shoots despite the extra costs associated with photo development. Even so, the digital point-and-shoot remains as sought-after as ever – perhaps due to social media blogging and vlogging and the consequential need for quick-upload digital cameras. Vintage options from the early 2000s are receiving rave reviews too. Durable and high-quality, they offer a bloomy, nostalgic film-like quality without the need to pay for expensive film cartridges and development.
Nevertheless, some photographers still prefer the tactile and nostalgic nature of film photography – yet also tend to shop for vintage, second-hand point-and-shoot cameras. Known for his laser-focused yet beautifully bloomy and nostalgic film portraits, Amsterdam-based photographer Tobias Ibelings has shared his top point-and-shoot tips.
What exactly is a point-and-shoot camera and what are the benefits of using one?
“A point-and-shoot camera is typically a small camera with a fixed lens that fits in your pocket and has very limited settings and is therefore very easy to use. Cameras like this help simplify photography – with point-and-shoot cameras you don’t have to worry about settings like aperture or shutter speed. All you need to worry about is the actual frame that you’re taking a photo of,” explains Ibelings. “This makes it perfect for things like festivals, vacations, or anywhere else you just want to capture moments from but don’t want to deal with the technical hassles of photography.”
What do you love about point-and-shoot cameras?
“The fact that they’re small and easy to use. I try to keep one on me in my day-to-day life, making sure that I’m always ready to take a photo if I happen to bump into something interesting. It’s not as practical to always be walking around with a big, heavy and often expensive DSLR/SLR camera when you are just going about your day. This is why the pocket-size cameras are so practical for everyday use”.
How do you master using a film point-and-shoot camera?
“I actually believe they are an amazing tool for developing your photography skills,” says the photographer. “I believe that one of the most important things in any photo is composition. With a point-and-shoot camera, composition is the only thing you really have to pay attention to, most other things are determined by the camera. So instead of having to focus too much on the technical settings you can just focus on the actual frame.”
He continues: “The key to getting better photos is just taking more photos. Most point-and-shoot cameras can just slide right into your pocket, so you can always have it on you. Whenever you see something that looks interesting to you, take the picture. The more photos you take, the more you learn about both photography and your own style. Try things, play around, try different perspectives, get creative, but most importantly, have fun with the photos that you’re taking. Even if it doesn’t end up being an amazing image, it might still be a beautiful memory later on.”
Do professional photographers use point-and-shoot cameras?
“Definitely. I think everyone that calls themselves a photographer at least should have one,” confirms Ibelings. “We all learn and grow from repetition, and you can never know when you run into that ‘once in a lifetime’ moment, but when you do, you want to have a camera on you to capture it.”
What’s your favourite point-and-shoot camera?
“I would have to give it up to the Olympus-MJU series, they’re good, easy to use and fit perfectly into almost any pocket. However I must say, I don’t find them to be aren’t particularly durable and a tad overpriced at the moment. I have picked up many random ones at thrift stores and pretty much all of them were fine. There is a pretty famous saying that goes: The best camera is the one you have on you. People tend to obsess over specific models and brands, but it really isn’t all that important.”
We’ve curated a selection of some of the best film and digital point-and-shoot cameras on the market. From vintage to contemporary models, keep scrolling to keep capturing memories.
Best point-and-shoot cameras at a glance
Best point-and-shoot film cameras
- Best for photophiles: Canon AF35M - £196, Etsy
- Best for creativity: LomoApparat Neubau Edition 21mm wide-angle camera – £100, Selfridges
- Best for fully refurbished 60s charm: Olympus Trip 35 Vintage 35mm - £145, Etsy
- Best for 90s babies: Olympus Stylus Epic / Olympus Mju II - £160.53, eBay
Best point-and-shoot digital cameras
- Best for quality and price: Sony W830 Compact Camera - £130, Amazon
- Best for an all-rounder for vloggers: Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III - £699.99, Argos
- Best for nostalgic 00s shots: Casio Exilim EX Z90 - £100.40, eBay
- Best for professional shooters: Fujifilm X100V Digital Camera - £1,349, Jessops
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Point-and-shoot film cameras
Canon AF35M
Best for: photophiles
Beloved by millennials and Gen Z-ers alike, the Canon AF35M point-and-shoot is a brilliant compact film camera which is equipped with a fantastic 38mm f.28 lens. The first 35mm autofocus compact camera that Canon ever produced, this beautiful, hard-wearing, and tactile piece of kit is also considered a collector’s item by photophiles across the globe.
You can tell that the Canon AF35M is relatively old-school considering it’s powered by AA batteries. The battery life isn’t top-notch on these older models either, so be prepared to replace the batteries regularly.
Equipped with an active autofocus system, the Canon AF35M has a shooting distance range of 0.9m (3ft) and a filter thread diameter of 48mm. Prefocus is available using the self-timer lever, while the self-timer itself offers a delay of approximately 10 seconds and is activated by pressing the shutter button and self-timer lever at the same time.
The flash is a built-in pop-up, and the recycling time (which is the interval between the firing of the flash and the relighting of the pilot lamp) is about eight seconds. The number of flashes is measured at approximately two rolls of 36-exposure film.
We’re big fans of this dinky yet powerful vintage dream, but it’s relatively hard to source – so snap up yours from the AnalogueCameraClub via Etsy before they’re all gone.
Buy now £196.00, Etsy
LomoApparat Neubau Edition 21mm wide-angle camera
Best for: creativity
A contemporary analogue point-and-shoot with oodles of vintage-inspired charm, the LomoApparat Neubau by Lomography is a wonderfully playful camera which has been designed with creatives in mind. Dressed in exclusive Italian leather, this 35mm camera is equipped with a 21mm wide-angle lens and is powered by AA batteries.
Equipped with fixed aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings, the LomoApparat is the definition of an easy-use, high-quality point-and-shoot film camera. Nevertheless, shot customisation is still possible with our favourite feature: the unique coloured gel filter slider. This brilliant gadget comes with five colourful gel lenses to give your photos a dazzling splash of pigment.
For just £100, the LomoApparat set also comes with an included close-up magnifying lens, a splitzer lens and a kaleidoscope lens. The creative possibilities are endless, yet you won’t ever have to fiddle with complicated camera settings. It’s a win-win situation. We also love the fact that you can double-expose shots with this fantastic camera.
Buy now £100.00, Selfridges
Olympus Trip 35 Vintage 35mm Film Camera | Tested & Fully Refurbished
Best for: fully refurbished 60s charm
Step into the 1960s with this beautiful vintage 35mm film camera from Olympus. This point-and-shoot is wonderfully retro in terms of both style and function and is equipped with a sharp 40mm f/2.8 lens. Its brilliant automatic settings are amplified by the accurate solar-powered metering system, so you can capture beautiful photos without ever worrying about over-exposure.
A value-for-money option which will never require batteries unlike the vast majority of point-and-shoots from later decades, regular customers of RetroCameraFix on Etsy consistently rate the seller five stars, declaring how they simply can’t believe that their restored camera is vintage at all – for it functions like a brand new one.
Easy-to-use focus settings and automatic exposure settings make the Olympus Trip 35 a veritable point-and-shoot, but absolute beginners will be delighted by the fact that RetroCameraFix includes a dedicated how-to guide with every purchase.
Buy now £145.00, Etsy
Olympus Stylus Epic / Olympus Mju II
Best for: 90s babies
Originally issued in 1997, the Olympus Stylus Epic – which is also known as the Olympus Mju II – is a brilliant 35mm compact camera. Equipped with an array of brilliant features including a splash-proof body, razer-sharp autofocus, super speedy prime lens and integrated auto-flash which recharges in approximately 3.5 seconds – you simply can’t go wrong.
One of the most popular point-and-shoot film cameras on the market even today, the Olympus Stylus Epic is beloved for its ease of use and high-quality output. Suitable for absolute beginners and veterans alike, you can expect perfectly sharp yet bloomy photos with soft, nostalgic edges.
Buy now £160.53, eBay
Point-and-shoot digital cameras
Sony W830 Compact Camera
Best for: quality and price
The quality-to-price ratio of the Sont W830 is almost unheard of. Expect ultra-high-definition photos and video clips from this pocket-sized wonder, which is equipped with a 20.1MP sensor, ZEISS lens with 8x optical zoom, fast autofocus, and Optical SteadyShot image stabilisation.
Intelligent Auto ensures that your camera settings immediately adjust to your shooting conditions, which ensures perfect exposure every time, and you can even edit or retouch images on the camera itself thanks to the ‘Beauty Effects’ setting.
Whether you’re shooting 360-degree panoramas or ultra-zoomed videos, the camera remains compatible with iMovie and Final Cut Pro for all your editing needs.
Buy now £130.00, Sony
Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III
Best for: an all-rounder for vloggers
The G7X Mark III may feel a bit pricey based on its looks, but it’s a superb all-rounder with video features that will make it attractive to serious vloggers as well as those who want a good quality record of a holiday or event.
The sensor is a one-inch design, using stacked CMOS tech, and resolves 20MP, enough for an excellent quality print up to about A2 in size. This, combined with the same Digic 8 processor found in some of Canon’s best DSLR cameras, means you can shoot images at a maximum speed of 30fps (though this locks the focus - 8.3FPS is the top speed with AF, which is still a pretty good number).
Video tops out at 4K/30fps, and videographers will be interested to know there’s a 3.5mm socket for connecting an external mic. Connect to Wi-Fi, and you can stream directly to YouTube, or turn it into a webcam for use with your PC. The lens is fast, with a maximum aperture varying from f/1.8 to f/2.8 as it zooms from a full-frame equivalent of 24-100mm, and the flip-up touchscreen on the back makes selfies and vlogging easier. There’s no optical viewfinder, however.
Buy now £699.99, Argos
Casio Exilim EX Z90
Best for: nostalgic 00s shots
If you’re looking to craft a photoshoot which looks as though it’s been shot on film yet captured with the precision and ease of a digital camera, look no further than the Casio Exilim EX Z90. Originally launched in January 2011, the Exilim remains available via secondhand sellers in a variety of contemporary hues – though the stardust gold option happens to be our personal favourite.
This compact camera is equipped with an array of autofocus modes, including autofocus monitor, multi-point autofocus and even auto-focus sport. Whichever mode you operate in, the super-fast shutter speed makes this digital point-and-shoot ideal for action-packed shoots. It has a focal length of 35-105mm, a max aperture of between f./3.1-5.9, a max resolution of 4,000 x 3,000 and is additionally rechargeable by USB.
Buy now £100.40, eBay
Fujifilm X100V Digital Camera
Best for: Professional shooters
As one of the higher-priced cameras on our list, you would expect this option from Fujifilm to do a lot, and it does. The X100V is the fifth camera in the X100 series and has been redesigned to be far more ergonomic and weather-resistant whilst still maintaining its classic retro look.
The new features of this camera include a Colour Chrome lens which helps increase contrast in pictures automatically and an auto-focus which helps capture fast-moving objects without the blur.
Buy now £1349.00, Jessops
