digital camera with viewfinder and lcd screen brands

Framing and shooting through a viewfinder allows the photographer to stabilize the camera and reduce the shake since it is closer to the body. Besides, Viewfinders come handy under bright sun light where LCD screens are very hard to read under bright sunlight. With the electronic viewfinders, you can also preview your photos without taking your eye off the camera.

Here we have listed the Best 20 Compact Cameras with Viewfinder sorted by score. Leica Q2 is at the top of our list with a Overall Score of 80, followed by Fujifilm X100V and Zeiss ZX1.

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A point-and-shoot camera is a really handy bit of kit if you don"t want to carry anything heavy or fuss about complicated settings. They can fit in your pocket so you can take them everywhere with you and lots of them come with a built-in flash for when it"s dark. You"ll instantly notice the upgrade in image quality compared to shooting on a smartphone but you won"t need to spend any additional money on lenses.

With so many point-and-shoot cameras on the market, choosing the right one for you can be a challenge. It"s a good idea to think about how advanced you need it to be, what features you can live without and how much you"re willing to spend. Cheaper cameras will a much smaller sensors and likely won"t be able to shoot in RAW but if you"re happy to splurge a bit, you can get some seriously advanced bits of kit that will fit in your pocket. Whether you"re looking for an upgrade from your smartphone to take on holidays, day trips, or special occasions, we"ve put together a list to suit all needs and budgets.

Even the most expensive point-and-shoot will still cost you a lot less than one of the best DSLRs or best mirrorless cameras plus you don"t need to buy additional lenses or a flash. Many professional photographers will own a point-and-shoot as well as their main camera which they keep on them at all times should a photo opportunity arise.

We think the cameras on our list are fantastic value for money. There"s a mix of older and newer models because we think some point and shoots just can"t be beaten such as the Panasonic ZS80/TZ90(opens in new tab). What you want to shoot and how much time you want to spend processing them after using some of the best photo editing software will define which camera to go for.

Cheap and simple– Even the most basic point-and-shoot cameras will offer better image quality and more zoom capabilities than your phone. They might not have some of the more advanced features of more expensive models but at they"re affordable and will get the job done.

Waterproof– Whether or not you"re an outdoorsy person, a waterproof camera is a great option as they"re more robust and can be used near water or in the rain without any qualms. They"re great for beach holidays, using by the pool, or taking on adventures as they are rugged enough to handle getting dropped.

Longer zooms – One of the advantages of point-and-shoot cameras with a smaller sensor is that often they have longer zoom ranges. Most basic cameras will have a zoom range of 3-5x but some of the more expensive models will give you a 30x optical zoom. These larger zoom ranges are great for taking on holiday where you might want to photograph objects in the distance.

Better quality – The best point-and-shoot cameras will have larger sensors which make them better in low light, the lens is often capable of wider apertures down to f/2.8 and sometimes you can even set the camera to shoot in raw - perfect if you didn"t quite expose an image properly. The more advanced cameras do cost more but the features often make it worth it.

Now that the best camera phones(opens in new tab) produce such good quality images you might wonder why you"d bother investing in a point-and-shoot but believe us, there is a massive difference in image quality. Even the smallest sensors in the cheapest point and shoots are usually bigger than the tiny ones in your smartphone. Features such as the built-in flash will also be much better quality than a phone flash and the zoom will cover a bigger range.

If you are looking for a really high-end point and shoot, check out our guide on the best compact cameras which covers more advanced and more expensive models. However, if you"re just looking for a camera that is a step up from your phone camera and won"t cost you much, scroll below to see the best point and shoots available.

If you want a camera that does what it says on the tin the Olympus Tough TG-6 is exactly what you need. It might have a small 1/2.3-inch sensor but all things considered, it produced good image quality and it can shoot 4K video. It has a 25-100mm with an aperture of f/2 at the wide end and f/4.9 when it"s at its maximum zoom. It includes lots of interesting features that really come to life when shooting in clear water such as Macro and Microscope modes which allow you to get up close and personal. The ability to capture RAW stills and shoot at up to 20fps also make this camera a very good choice. The best thing of all is that it can really take a bashing making it perfect for families with little ones. It"s a superb travel camera that benefits from excellent waterproofing - perfect for the more adventurous (or clumsy) type.

Perfect for placing in the hands of smaller members of the family who want to take pictures, this toughened water and drop-proofed Nikon Coolpix W300 point-and-shoot should appeal to butter-fingered big kids too, or simply those seeking to achieve more adventurous outdoor photography without risking their smartphone or larger camera set up. Image quality is perfectly adequate and as a way of capturing shots, we might not necessarily otherwise attempt, it comes into its own.

The Fujifilm FinePix XP140 can pretty much handle anything you throw at it. Whether you"re taking it 25m underwater, accidentally drop it from heights of 1.8m or want to use it in sub-freezing temperatures, this is a camera that won"t let you down. Not only has it got a really tough build, but it also delivers high-quality images no matter what the lighting conditions, but it can also shoot UHD 4K and it"s really easy to operate. Even someone who isn"t particularly tech-savvy could capture some really nice images. One of the downsides is you can"t shoot in Raw and there isn"t a manual mode so if you"re a bit more of a serious photographer it may not be the camera for you (check out the Olympus TG-6 instead). However, if you just want a camera that you won"t break, won"t get water damage, and can take some pretty pictures, the Fujifilm XP140 is ideal.

Those seeking big zoom power from a relatively compact all-in-one setup are directed to the 16-megapixel Nikon B600. Frill-free and a little lightweight in build it may be, despite its mini DSLR type, looks, but that is reflected an extent in the price, while the simplicity of operation and handling makes it accessible to a wider audience. Some three years on from its original pre-pandemic release, this camera offers plenty of visual ‘poke’ for everyday family photography and video capture.

Despite being five years old, the Panasonic Lumix ZS70/TZ90 is still one of the best, most affordable compact cameras you can buy, in our opinion. It has an enormous 30x zoom which is equivalent of 24-720mm. Even when fully zoomed in, the picture quality isn"t bad and built-in image stabilization helps with camera shake. If you"re going traveling, the combination of a massive zoom, small body, and WiFi capabilities make it the perfect companion.

It features a small viewfinder as well as an LCD screen for you to view your images. The 49-point focus system isn"t the most advanced but it"s speedy enough to capture most things. Image quality is pretty good considering it"s only got a 1/2-3 sensor and its metering system helps to balance exposure no matter where you"re shooting.

There is actually a newer version of this camera but it doesn"t have such a large zoom and you end up paying more. If you wanted a camera that has the better low light performance you might be better off checking out the Panasonic Lumix ZS200/TZ200 as it has a larger 1-inch sensor.

If you"re after a camera with incredible zoom capabilities look no further than the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS with a focal range equivalent to 24 - 960mm on a full-frame camera. It has a 20.3MP 1/2.3-inch sensor and an LCD screen that can be flipped to face the front making it perfect for selfies. For anyone looking to shoot video too, it can film in 4K and as a max continuous burst shooting mode of 10fps. The Canon PowerShot SX730 HS can be found slightly cheaper if you don"t need 4K video and it still has Full HD recording. The image quality and autofocus performance on this camera are pretty good and overall it"s an excellent camera for the price.

The Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II is a rather sophisticated-looking point-and-shoot camera, courtesy of its rather minimalist yet traditional appearance and streamlined controls, which have the benefit of keeping the body endearingly dinky. Despite this, it"s something of a beast under the bonnet, with a 1-in sensor paired with a wide-angle 28-84mm equivalent lens, whose maximum aperture at wide-angle is a respectable f/2. There"s no viewfinder, but the 3in LCD on the rear also responds to touch, which again ensures that physical controls can be kept to a minimum. To sum up, this is a neat-looking, well-specced point-and-shoot compact camera that can produce vastly superior images to a camera phone – and it"s rather nice to look at and use.

While the RX100 VI does cost more than most point-and-shoot buyers are willing to countenance, we couldn’t include it here for the simple reason that this series represents pretty much the best the world of compact cameras has to offer. As the name implies, the VI is the sixth iteration in a series that Sony has been perfecting for many years, providing an exceptional blend of image quality and portability. While the VI has since been superseded by the VII, we reckon this model offers an outstanding balance of power and value for money.

Super-smooth 4K footage and dynamic burst shooting – it’s all here, and there are plenty of extra features that many cameras on this list don’t offer, such as the pop-up electronic viewfinder. And all this is housed in a camera small enough to pop into a pocket – provided you don’t mind a few of the controls being a little fiddly to use, it’s a boon for travel photography and videography alike.

If you like the sound of the RX100 VI but are still put off by the cost, then check back through previous models in the RX100 series, as they are without exception very good, and most of them are popular enough to still be in production. And, alternatively, if you"ve got more cash to splash then definitely take a look at the current flagship, the Sony RX100 VII(opens in new tab).

We test cameras both in real-world shooting scenarios(opens in new tab) and in carefully controlled lab conditions. Our lab tests measure resolution, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio. Resolution is measured using ISO resolution charts, dynamic range is measured using DxO Analyzer test equipment and DxO Analyzer is also used for noise analysis across the camera"s ISO range. We use both real-world testing and lab results to inform our comments in buying guides.Round up of today"s best deals

An articulating or vari-angle LCD – commonly called a flip screen – is a useful addition to a camera. The screen is mounted on a swivel, allowing you to flip the screen away from the camera body and rotate the LCD 360 degrees.

Flip screens have traditionally been useful for taking photos at unusual angles. For instance, framing a bug’s-eye view from ground level used to mean setting your camera down low and awkwardly trying to see through the optical viewfinder. There was usually a lot of guesswork involved.

With a vari-angle, or flip screen, you can now set the camera up at ground level and angle the articulating LCD up towards you and frame the scene in live view.

Likewise, a flip screen allows you to shoot overhead by swivelling the screen down. Street photographers might also appreciate a swivel screen because it can let you shoot more discreetly. Shooting from the hip is a lot easier with a flip screen and gives you more control. Hold the camera against your body and angle the swivel screen upwards so you can frame your shot, then shoot discreetly.

Despite all these advantages for shooting stills, it’s probably the rise of vlogging that has seen the popularity of cameras with flip screens soar. Like shooting self-portraiture, vlogging requires placing yourself on the other side of the camera, and before flip screens were a thing this required a lot of careful setup and trial and error.

But swivel LCD touchscreens mean you can now place your camera in front of you, frame your shot accordingly and simply tap the screen to take a picture or start recording. If you have even modest ambitions to post videos on YouTube, a camera with an articulating screen will undoubtedly be the best option for you. In this guide we’ll round up the best cameras with flip screens.

Metering: 384-zone metering with Evaluative metering (linked to All AF points), Partial metering (approx. 6.1% of viewfinder at centre), Spot metering: Centre spot metering (approx. 3.1% viewfinder at centre), Centre weighted average metering

Autofocus: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Advanced Animal AF (recognising dogs, cats and birds) supported in all video modes with 100% coverage and up to 1053 "AF segments"

The Canon EOS R5 leaves little doubt that Canon is now serious about the mirrorless camera market. It has phenomenal specification with features like a 45Mp full-frame sensor, phase detection autofocusing that covers the whole frame, eye AF for humans and animals that works in video and stills mode and a class-leading viewfinder paired with a vari-angle touchscreen.

The Canon EOS R5 is built to a similar standard to the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and has a magnesium alloy construction along with weatherproof seals. Its handling is also similar, but the control arrangement has changed to accommodate the vari-angle screen.

It’s great to have a vari-angle screen on the EOS R5. It makes it much easier to shoot video from above or below head-height while keeping the kit size and weight down. Also, as the screen is touch-sensitive you can control the camera with a few taps.

Autofocus: Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Advanced Animal AF (recognising dogs, cats and birds) supported in all video modes with 100% coverage and up to 1053 "AF segments"

While the R6’s viewfinder is the same size as the R5’s (it’s a 0.5-inch type), its resolution is lower at 3.69million dots instead of 5.76million. That’s the same as in the EOS R and on par with the electronic viewfinders in the Sony A9 and Nikon Z7. It’s a great EVF specification for a camera of this level.

There’s also a 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen with 1.62million dots. We’re a fan of vari-angle screens because they make shooting portrait or landscape format images from above or below head-height much easier than a fixed screen. And a tilting screen is only of help with landscape format images.

Both the viewfinder and the screen provide an accurate preview of the image as it will be captured. Overall, Canon’s control arrangement on the R6 and use of touch control is excellent and the vari-angle screen is a real asset.

Autofocus system: Hybrid AF with 759 phase detection points and 425 contrast detection points, Still images: Human (Right/Left Eye Select) / Animal (Right/Left Eye Select) / Bird, Movie: Human (Right/Left Eye Select), sensitive down to -4EV

After we reviewed the Sony A7 III, a flip-out touchscreen was at the top of our wishlist for improvements we’d like to see on the next iteration of Sony’s full-frame all-rounder. Sure enough, Sony has given the A7 IV a vari-angle screen that can be flipped face forward or be angled to help compose low- or high-level shots in either landscape of portrait orientation.

What’s more, the A7 IV’s 3-inch 1,036,800-dot screen is touch-sensitive and users can now navigate the menus and settings with a tap. In previous Sony touchscreen LCDs, you were limited to setting the AF point via touch.

Sony has also carefully thought through the design, as well, placing the A7 IV’s mic port just above the screen on the side of the camera so it can still move freely when an external mic is plugged in.

OM System has given the OM-1 a very bright 1.62-million dot vari-angle touchscreen. It’s a 3-inch screen and like on the OM-D E-M1 III and OM-D E-M1X and it’s mounted on a vari-angle hinge. This vari-angle hinge means the screen can be angled for clear visibility whether you’re shooting in landscape or portrait orientation.

Like the screens on existing Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras, the OM-1’s screen is touch sensitive. It responds quickly to a tap and it’s a shame that OM System’s hasn’t extended the touch control to the new main menu.

In overcast conditions and indoors, the OM-1’s screen gives an excellent view it also performs well in brighter conditions. my toughest test for this was when skiing on a bright sunny day trying to video my companions ahead of me. Keeping them framed as we all moved over the piste was challenging, but thankfully, I was able to see them on the screen.

Key video specifications: 4K (3840x2160) 4:2:2 10-bit LongGOP H.264 29.97/23.98p/25p and 150Mbps for up to 30mins, 4K (3840x2160) 4:2:0 8-bit LongGOP H.264 29.97/23.98p/25p and 100Mbps unlimited, Full HD (1920x1080) 4:2:2 10-bit LongGOP H.264 59.94/29.97/23.98p/50/25p and 100Mbps unlimited

Although Panasonic Lumix S5 is smaller than the GH5, it has a well-proportioned and ergonomically shaped grip. A rubber-like coating also ensures that the camera feels secure in your hand. It’s also weather-sealed so you don’t need to worry if the weather changes when you’re out on a shoot.

Despite the shrinkage in size and weight, the Panasonic Lumix s5 has both a 3-inch 1,840,000-dot vari-angle touchscreen and a 2,360,000-dot OLED electronic viewfinder built-in.

The Panasonic GH5 has a vari-angle screen and it was high on the request list for the S-series camera when their development announcement was made. However, the S1 and S1R have 3-way tilting screens. These are useful if you’re shooting in landscape and portrait format images, but they’re not as intuitive or flexible to use as a vari-angle screen and they can’t be seen from in front of the camera.

Happily, the Lumix S5’s screen delivers what many were hoping for and it can be flipped around to face forwards. It means that the S5 could also be a good full-frame vlogging camera.

Further good news is that, like the viewfinder, the S5’s screen provides an excellent preview of the image. If you’re shooting outdoors in bright conditions it’s worth activating the Live View Boost to brighten screen to make the scene easier to see. The screen is also very responsive to touch.

Sensitivity range: Stills (normal): ISO 100-25600 (expandable to ISO 50-25600), (V-Log) ISO 250-12800 (expandable to ISO 125-12800), Video: (Normal) Dynamic Range Boost OFF (Base ISO 100): Auto / 50 (Extended ISO) / 100-12800 Dynamic Range Boost ON (Creative Video Mode) (Base ISO 800): Auto / 800-12800 (V-Log) Dynamic Range Boost OFF (Base ISO 250): Auto / 125 (Extended ISO) / 250-12800 Dynamic Range Boost ON (Creative Video Mode) (Base ISO 2000): Auto / 2000-12800 (Hybrid Log Gamma) Dynamic Range Boost OFF (Base ISO 250): Auto / 250-12800 Dynamic Range Boost ON (Creative Video Mode) (Base ISO 2000): Auto / 2000-12800

Maximum stills continuous shooting rate: Mechanical shutter: H: 14 frames/sec (AFS/MF), 8 frames/sec (AFC) (with Live View) M: 6 frames/sec (AFS/MF) (with Live View), 5 frames/sec (AFC) (with Live View) L: 2 frames/sec (AFS/MF/AFC) (with Live View) Electronic shutter: SH75: 75 frames/sec (AFS/MF) SH60: 60 frames/sec (AFS/MF) SH20: 20 frames/sec (AFS/MF) H: 14 frames/sec (AFS/MF), 7 frames/sec (AFC) (with Live View) M: 6 frames/sec (AFS/MF) (with Live View), 5 frames/sec (AFC) (with Live View) L: 2 frames/sec (AFS/MF/AFC) (with Live View)

The Panasonic GH6 has a 3.0-inch 1,840K-dot tilt and free-angle touchscreen with an aspect ratio of 3:2 on its rear. The tilting aspect of the screen isn’t immediately obvious, but pressing the button underneath the monitor’s bottom left corner releases the mechanism so the screen can be tilted up from the bottom.

There are two stop points in the screen’s tilt movement. The first one is at the right point to enable the screen to be flipped out to the side of the camera without catching on the viewfinder while the second one at about 45° gives a more comfortable viewing able when shooting at waist-height.

To the uninitiated, the tilt and free-angle combination may seem a bit over the top but it means that the screen can be flipped out and twisted to face forwards, up or down, without fouling on any of the cables that may be connected to the ports on the left side of the camera (mic, USB-C and full-size HDMI).

With 1.84-million dots, the 3-inch screen gives a good view of the scene and doesn’t suffer to badly from reflections even in sunny conditions (at least not in March in the UK). However, even when shooting video, there are times when it’s preferable to use the 3,680k-dot 0.76x OLED viewfinder. This has a contrast ratio of 10,000:1 and gives a sharp, accurate preview of the scene.

The GH5 is Panasonic’s flagship compact system or mirrorless camera and it has a mini-DSLR design, featuring a high-quality electronic viewfinder and vari-angle touch-screen. As a Micro Four Thirds camera it’s compatible with an extensive collection of Micro Four Thirds mount lenses from Panasonic and Olympus as well as third-party manufacturers.

While its viewfinder is still a 21mm OLED device, its resolution has been bumped up from 2,360,000 dots to 3,680,000 dots from the GH4 and the magnification is 0.76x rather than 0.67x. It provides a very clear and detailed view of the scene.

Panasonic has also upgraded the rear screen and it now measures 3.2-inches across the diagonal and has 1,620,000 dots. It’s still a vari-angle unit but instead of an OLED screen it’s an RGBW LCD. It provides a nice sharp view and the revised menu, which has fewer pages but more lines, is clear. The screen also responds quickly to tap of your finger.

The GH5 is a complex camera and it will take some getting to know, but all the main controls that you want on a shot-by-shot basis, for example to adjust exposure and white balance or to set the AF point are within easy reach. There are also plenty of customisable buttons to help you get it working as you want.

Sensitivity: Video: ISO 80-102,400 expandable ISO 40-409,600. ISO base in S-Log is ISO 640 but it can be expanded down to ISO 160. Stills: ISO 80-102,400 expandable 40-409,600

Autofocus system: Hybrid with 759 phase detection points and 425 contrast detection points, Real Time Eye AF (Human and Animal for stills, Human for video)

Slow and Quick (S&Q) mode options: NTSC: 1fps,2fps,4fps,8fps,15fps,30fps,60fps,120fps, 240fps4, PAL: 1fps,2fps,3fps,6fps,12fps,25fps,50fps,100fps, 200fps

Maximum continuous shooting rate: 10fps with mechanical or electronic shutter for up to 1000 uncompressed raw files when a CFexpress Type 1 card is used

Like previous A7S models, the Sony A7S III has a full-frame sensor with 12.1 million effective pixels. Keeping the resolution down benefits its low-light capability by keeping noise levels down.

As well as a host of improvements to its video specification, the Sony A7S III introduces the highest-resolution electronic viewfinder we’ve seen to date and it’s the first Sony A7-series camera to feature a vari-angle screen.

According to Sony, the 3-inch vari-angle screen wasn’t a request for the A7S III, it was a demand. It’s certainly something I’ve mentioned on many occasions.

In the past, the argument against one has been that a vari-angle hinge is less robust than a fixed screen and that ‘most dedicated videographers use an external monitor’. Those two points may still be true, but one of the key benefits of using a camera like the A7S III is its small size. If you start having to add an external monitor it makes it bigger and heavier.

Sony is also at pains to point out that the A7S III is for new videographers as well as experienced shooters and many of those people are unlikely to want to also lash out on a monitor.

It’s good to see that there’s an option to show a red outline around the on-screen image when the camera is recording. There are times when this is more useful than the usual flashing red dot.

After the 8K-capabilities of the Canon EOS R5, the Sony A7S III might seem a bit of an anti-climax. We’re sure some videographers were hoping for a big jump in resolution from the 12mp A7S II. However, Sony already has the 61Mp A7R IV and the 24Mp A7 III, so sticking with 12Mp means that the A7S III has even better low-light capability than its predecessor but with a much better autofocus system, a vari-angle screen and the highest-resolution viewfinder around.

As with Canon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras, including the flagship Canon EOS R3, the R7 has a vari-angle touchscreen. This is great for composing low- and high-level shots in landscape or portrait orientation. Because Canon has embraced full-touch control, it’s also useful for changing camera settings with a tap.

Overall, Canon’s new flagship APS-C mirrorless camera has a layout and design all of its own, yet it retains some of those signature Canon design marks that will help people quickly adapt to using it.

Although the 0.39-inch 2.36million-dot electric viewfinder on the Canon EOS RP doesn’t match those in recent high-end mirrorless cameras for resolution, it still provides a decent preview of images. And let’s not forget, the RP is much more affordable than other new full-frame mirrorless cameras.

With Exposure Simulation activated, you get an accurate view of the final image’s brightness as well as the colour. However, if you want to see the depth of field, you’ll need to customise one of the camera’s buttons to that purpose. Or of course, you can take a quick shot. That could be avoided, however, if Canon showed the preview with the selected aperture applied.

Like the EVF, the 3-inch screen’s 1.04-million-dot resolution doesn’t really wow these days, but the fact that it’s mounted on a vari-angle hinge is great. That means you can twist it around to give you a clear view whichever angle you’re shooting from. And unlike a tilting screen, it’s useful if you’re shooting in portrait or landscape orientation.

We love that Canon has enabled the RP’s touchscreen to be used for browsing the Quick and main menu, selecting settings and browsing through images as well as setting the AF point. It really speeds using the camera and makes it more intuitive. It’s also good that this isn’t at the expense of physical buttons and dials.

Autofocus system: Intelligent Hybrid with up to 425 points plus subject detection for humans, animals, birds, automobiles, motorcycles, aeroplanes and trains

Viewfinder: 0.5 inch 5.76 million-dot OLED Color Viewfinder with 100% coverage Eyepoint: approx. 24mm Diopter adjustment: -5~+3m-1 Magnification: 0.8× with 50mm lens

Among the many improvements Fujifilm put into the X-H2S over the X-H1 is an upgrade of the LCD screen. Instead of the 3-way tilting screen of the X-H1, the X-H2S has a vari-angle screen that can be flipped out and rotated to face forward for vlogging. This means it’s useful when the camera is above or below head-height in landscape or portrait orientation.

There are a number of handling changes in the X-H2S in comparison with the X-H1, and anyone looking at the camera with fresh eyes cannot fail to be impressed by its build and capability.

The X-T3 was a great camera, but one of our few complaints about it was that its screen has a dual-tilt mechanism that is a little more fiddly and less intuitive than a normal vari-angle screen.

It also solves another issue with the X-T3 when shooting with the camera below eye-level, the viewfinder blocks the view of part of the screen, even when it’s tilted. With the X-T4, you just need to swing the screen out the the side and angle it for a clear view.

The fact of the matter is that many small cameras go far beyond your standard point-and-shoot model. They offer stunning image and video quality. Plus, they take up less space than their bulkier and pricier siblings, and they often weigh less, too.

Compact cameras are generally more expensive than they used to be, but if you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive compact camera with a viewfinder, the Panasonic LUMIX DC ZS70K may be the perfect model for you.

Panasonic is one of the strong players in the compact camera arena, and the LUMIX range is very well regarded. The ZS70K packs a 20.3 MP MOS sensor and a Leica DC VARIO ELMAR zoom lens. So despite its lower price, you’re still getting a really great product!

Beginners and casual users will be able to use this camera with ease thanks to its user-friendly interface and automatic shooting modes. But this camera also caters to advanced users, offering manual exposure and RAW-format shooting along with manual focus and focus-stacking options.

For video shooters, there is 4K (UHD) video with a high video bit rate of 100 Mbps and an articulating touchscreen LCD. You can also capture some stunning timelapse footage with this camera.

The built-in electronic viewfinder is quite small but does its job in a more than adequate way. All in all, this is a great camera that has something to offer for photographers and videographers who don’t want to spend a ton of money on their cameras.

It’s not the smallest of point-and-shoot cameras out there, but it’s relatively inexpensive. It also features a whopping 67X optical zoom and is styled to look like a mini DSLR camera.

Optical stabilization technology helps keep photos sharp when a camera shake is detected. It’s got beginner-friendly features like face, smile, and blink detection, and it boasts a variety of scene modes, including Night, Portrait, Panorama, and Sunset.

There is an electronic viewfinder as well as a 3-inch (7.62cm) articulating LCD screen so you can evaluate what you’re doing. The viewfinder features an amplified signal from the sensor to give you a brighter image – this makes it easier to see the preview. The viewfinder also has an adjustable diopter, which you can change to suit your vision.

Other features include built-in Wi-Fi, optical image stabilization, and 27 intelligent shooting modes to cover a variety of shooting scenarios. This makes it perfect for the beginner or casual photographer.

The wide-angle lens lets you capture pretty much anything, from landscapes, group shots, and street photos to wildlife and nature shots. It’s the perfect companion to take on vacation or to a party.

In the age of digital compact cameras, this Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 may seem a bit ancient, but there’s something special about the nature of instant photos you can hold in your hand (just like the old Polaroids).

The Instax Wide 300 produces some of the most consistently good-quality prints with spot-on exposure, color saturation, and clarity. While many other instant film cameras have headed toward the smaller Instax Mini film format, the Instax Wide is the better choice as the photos are similar in size to classic Polaroids.

The Instax Wide 300 can create images 2.4 x 3.9 in (9.91 x 6.1 cm) in size on a 3.4 x 4.3 in (10.92 x 8.64 cm) piece of film. It also features a retractable 95mm f/14 lens with a two-range focus zone setting. This is great for making sure your images are sharp. It also sports a 0.37x optical viewfinder with a target spot to help you compose images.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III is small enough to fit in a pocket, yet it boasts a high-quality 20 MP sensor. It’s not the newest compact camera with a viewfinder in the Sony RX100 line, but it still offers a lot for the price.

The RX100 III boasts an impressive ISO range of 125-12,800, with a 25,600 ISO available in the multi-frame noise reduction mode. The large maximum aperture throughout the zoom range makes this a good camera for shooting in low light.

Images can be captured in JPEG or RAW format (or in both formats simultaneously). There are advanced manual controls like Shutter and Aperture Priority as well as Manual mode. There are also options for those who are less experienced.

The RX100 III has a 5-axis image stabilization system and a manual-focus assist option. It features a zebra highlight clipping warning. Video fans will enjoy the 4K output, and there is Wi-Fi connectivity and an NFC chip.

Sony has a seemingly endless array of compact cameras, and another excellent option with a viewfinder is the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99. This portable camera has some fantastic features, including its sensor, zoom lens, display screen, and image processor. If you are looking for a versatile device that can take great-quality images, this is a top option.

The viewfinder uses a pop-up design that some people may not like. However, the design ensures that the camera retains its compact shape and that you can use the large touchscreen for composing if needed. The viewfinder is positioned on the left-hand side of the camera for improved convenience.

Aside from the adaptability of the screen and EVF, the Sony HX99 also has an excellent 18.2 MP sensor and uses the BIONZ X image processor (one of the latest processors from Sony).

We like the Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens, which provides an equivalent focal range of 24-720mm. This gives you the flexibility to capture wide-angle landscape photos, close-up wildlife shots, and everything in between. The lens has a control ring, which is usually a feature reserved for pro cameras and lenses. This makes quick settings changes a breeze as you can program the ring to adjust different functions like shutter speed, aperture, and exposure compensation.

Canon has a solid range of compact cameras – although most of the PowerShot range do not have viewfinders. That’s where the Canon PowerShot G5 X excels. It is a high-quality device that has an EVF, which is centrally located and has a great resolution of 2.36 million dots. It also offers edge-to-edge clarity and 100% image coverage.

The camera has a 20.2 MP sensor and uses the DIGIC 6 image processor. It’s an older image processor and other Canon cameras utilize better technology; however, it still does a decent job.

The PowerShot G5 X has a zoom lens with an 8.8-36.8mm equivalent range. This may not offer telephoto capabilities, but the lens has an excellent maximum aperture range of f/1.8 to f/2.8, which makes it ideal for capturing beautiful bokeh.

Another useful feature is the beautiful 1.04M-dot multi-angle LCD touchscreen. And if you want to use the camera for recording, it can capture HD footage at 60p. It offers decent connectivity, too (with both Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities). This means you can download photos and video directly to an external device like a smartphone or laptop after shooting.

The RX100 range of cameras continues to feature some of the best compact cameras with viewfinders, including the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII. This is the latest model in Sony’s RX100 series and has some incredible features for photography and video recording. For instance, the viewfinder pops up and provides you with a high-resolution real-time display.

So that you can take different types of photos, this camera has a Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200mm zoom lens. Although it doesn’t have the same zoom capabilities as the DSC-HX99, at 200mm you still get very nice reach. Additionally, it has a fantastic maximum aperture range of f/2.8 to f/4.5.

You can expect superior image quality due to the 20.1 MP sensor. Pair this with the BIONZ X image processor, and you have a potent point-and-shoot camera capable of taking professional-grade photos. We like that it has an ultra-fast (20 FPS) burst mode with no display blackout.

The AF uses AI technology that helps improve tracking. The autofocus has an eye-AF mode for humans and animals, which makes it a great portrait and pet photography camera.

If you’re considering upgrading your kit, downsizing your kit, or want a second camera, then a compact camera with a viewfinder will fit the bill. Technology moves fast and newer models are coming out frequently, but the Panasonic LUMIX DC ZS70K will still serve you well, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III is a great higher-end alternative.

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