Compact point-and-shoot cameras draw renewed buyer interest

Compact point-and-shoot cameras are drawing renewed demand, with NBC Select reporting that both current and older models are selling out and manufacturers are having trouble keeping pace. The rush matters for shoppers because the category now spans inexpensive pocket cameras, premium fixed-lens models and video-focused options that may be hard to find in stock.

NBC Select tech reporter Harry Rabinowitz said he tests cameras throughout the year and tried more than a dozen models for the publication’s 2026 recommendations. He said some cameras in the guide were supplied by brands for testing and others were not.

Rabinowitz pointed to the Fujifilm X100VI as the top overall choice, while noting availability problems. He said he waited five months after placing a preorder for the camera, which NBC Select listed at $1,799 through B&H Photo Video.

Premium picks emphasize image quality

According to NBC Select, the Fujifilm X100VI has a 40.2-megapixel APS-C sensor, a 35mm fixed lens, a hybrid optical and digital viewfinder, built-in flash and image stabilization. Rabinowitz said its autofocus can detect subjects including birds, animals, cars and a person’s eyes, and he cited Fujifilm’s film simulation modes among the camera’s useful features.

The X100VI has trade-offs, NBC Select said. Rabinowitz described it as the largest and heaviest camera on the list at 1.12 pounds, large enough for some coat pockets but not pants pockets, and said it does not include a zoom lens.

NBC Select named the Ricoh GR IV the best compact option. The camera was listed at $1,599.95 at Amazon and Ricoh, with a 25.74-megapixel APS-C sensor, a 28mm fixed lens, no viewfinder, no built-in flash and a weight of 0.58 pounds.

Former NBC Select commerce editor Jordan Bowman said he has taken some of his best photos with Ricoh GR cameras and brings one almost everywhere. NBC Select said the GR IV’s fixed wide-angle lens suits street photography and snapshot-style shooting, while limiting users who want optical zoom.

Budget, zoom and video models round out the list

For shoppers looking below $200, NBC Select chose the Kodak Pixpro FZ55 as its budget pick. The publication listed the camera at $139.99 at Amazon and B&H Photo Video, with a 16-megapixel sensor, a 28-140mm zoom range, built-in flash and a weight of 0.23 pounds.

Former NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez took the Kodak Pixpro FZ55 abroad, according to NBC Select, and found its small size made it easy to carry throughout the trip. NBC Select said the camera’s image quality can be inconsistent and that it does not perform well in low light.

NBC Select selected the Sony RX100 VII as the best zoom model. The camera has a 20.1-megapixel 1-inch sensor, a 24-200mm lens, a pop-up viewfinder, built-in flash and a weight of 0.66 pounds; NBC Select listed it at $1,483.02 at Best Buy.

NBC News commerce photo editor Kara Birnbaum said the RX100 VII is the best point-and-shoot camera she has used, according to NBC Select. She said its images look crisp and clean even in darker settings, particularly compared with similarly compact Panasonic and Kodak cameras, while NBC Select noted that the model was released in 2019 and remains pricey.

For video, NBC Select named the Canon PowerShot V1. The camera was listed at $849 at Amazon, Best Buy and B&H Photo Video, with a 22.3-megapixel 1.4-inch sensor, a 16-50mm lens, a flip-up tilting screen, no viewfinder and no built-in flash.

NBC Select also highlighted the Kodak Charmera as a toy camera option, listing it at $34.99 through B&H Photo Video. Across the recommendations, Rabinowitz said shoppers should look at specifications such as sensor size, focal length, screen type, viewfinder, flash, weight, aperture, shutter speed, ISO range, resolution and battery life.

This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.