Digital cameras haven’t yet become obsolete, even though smartphone cameras have definitely become more popular over the years. And while smartphone cameras are definitely better than they were 10 years ago, they still don’t quite have an edge over digital cameras.
Are you looking for a high-quality digital camera on a budget but don’t know what to get?
You’re not alone. That’s why we’ve created a guide for the best digital cameras under 200 USD!
Are you still searching for a digital camera that is cheaper than 200 USD? Well, we also have a guide for the best digital cameras under 100 USD!
The 5 Best Digital Camera Under 200 USD 2022
| Digital Camera | Type | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PANNOVO | Children's | Small, attractive design, very lightweight, easy to use, built-in 800 mAh battery, take photos at 4000 pces, super picture compression format, 1GB memory card | |
| Samsung WB1100f (First Pick!) | Any | Built-in WiFi with NFC, wifi connectivity for simple sharing, SMART features, 35x optical zoom, 720p HD VideoCCD image sensor, 16.2-megapixel CCD sensor | |
| Nikon COOLPIX Digital Camera | Any | 38x optical zoom telephoto lens, vibration reduction, 76x dynamic fine zoom, low-light 16mp CMOS image sensor, 3.0-inch 921,000-dot Tilt LCD display, full HD 1080p videos with stereo sound, build-in wifi and near field communication, long-lasting battery, auto-focus technology | |
| Fujifilm FinePix S9200 (Second Pick!) | All | 16.2MP ½.3-inch backlit CMOS sensor, 50x optical zoom, full HD movie capture, AA batteries, auto-focus technology side-lever zoom control, powerful optical image stabilization | |
| Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 | All | 12,1 effective megapixels, 2.3-inch CMOS image sensor, 4x wide optical zoom and 4x digital zoom, 3.0 inch pure color LCD, wide viewing angle, build-in flash with red-eye correction, full 1080p HD video, optical image stabilizer, smart AUTO, USB 2.0, SD card slot |
Keep in mind that some of these prices fluctuate, but are generally under the 200 USD mark. Now that you have an idea of which are the best digital cameras for under 200 USD, let’s scroll down even further to take an in-depth look at each product!
PANNOVO – Best Children’s Product
PANNOVO is a relatively new brand with a large number of young technology personal and complete testing facilities. They create products generally for children or to protect and observe children, such as nanny cameras!
This camera’s beautiful appearance and adorable design will have any child reaching for it! It’s very lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry even in the smallest hands. They make a wonderful gift for just about any occasion!
Despite the fact that it is a children’s camera, it does not lack on features. It has an adjustable time stamp, along with 2592×1944 photo resolution: 5.0MP. The built-in 800 mAh battery has the ability to take a picture at 4000 pces, and comes with a 1GB SD card, which can hold up to 800 photos. It also supports video recording at 1920x1080P!
Before using, make sure to take off the protective film on the screen. Als, make sure that the battery is fully charged, and insert the SD card (not included) before starting it up.
What We Liked
- Great, friendly design to attract children
- Lightweight and compact, easy to carry
- Supports both photos and video-recording
What We Didn’t Like
- Not the highest quality overall
Samsung WB1100f – Editor’s Favorite
First off, the 22.3-millimeter ultra-wide-angle lens is going to completely enrapture you, no matter if you’re shooting a large green space or a bustling cityscape; you’ll always have the precision to cover an entire horizon with immense detail.
The 16.2-megapixel CCD sensor was created so that you can easily capture high-quality, low-noise images with a high number of pixels, along with excellent lighting. The CCD’s sensitivity makes it easy to capture vivid, yet natural-looking, high-quality photos, no matter what kind of conditions you find yourself in.
On the rear of the camera, you’ll find an impressive 3-inch HVGA display that auto-detects environmental illumination, adjusting the LCD brightness accordingly for the best possible viewing; much like what our smartphones do! The camera body and display are both created so you have a solid grip.
Something we really loved about this Samsung digital camera, is the WiFi capability! You no longer have to wait to plug in and transfer! It makes it easy to post photos and videos, along with comments if you’d like, to YouTube, Facebook, and many other social media sites. You can also email to friends and family or use the Group Share function, which lets you send photos up to four people at the same time. It also comes equipped with 2 GB of free Dropbox online storage, or 50 GB if you own a Galaxy Smartphone!
In addition, you can use the Photo Beam technology, by simply tapping the camera on any NFC-compatible smartphone to automatically share your image!
If you want to take videos, you can take a 720p HD-quality MPEG video at 30 frames per second. It’s definitely not the best, but not the worst, either.
The Smart Auto feature automatically analyzes the current shooting environment, selecting the correct mode to give you the best possible photo.
If you want to make things a little artsier, use the Smart Filter lens effect. You can use anything from a mini look to vignettes, to fish eyes to make your photos look even cooler!
One of the features we were hard-pressed in finding under 200 USD, was the remote viewfinder! If you choose to connect your digital camera with a certain smartphone, simply turn on the Remote ViewFinder app to transform your cell into a viewfinder! You can operate your camera up to 30 feet away, as well as preview images, adjust settings, frame the scene, and tag the location!
What We Liked
- Very durable, solid structure
- Ergonomic design provides solid hold
- Viewfinder option; NFC connectivity along with WiFi
- Takes both photos and videos
What We Didn’t Like
- A bit more on the expensive side of the spectrum
Nikon COOLPIX L840 – Product Most Like DSLR
As far as updates go, its optical zoom went up to 38x from 23x in the L830, and while they both have the 22.5mm wide-angle focal length, the telephoto reach is now a 35mm equivalent 855mm. The lens has a Vibration Reduction, essential for capturing sharp shots.
It still has a 16.0-megapixel CMOS sensor, now with a sensitivity range of ISO6400 and 7.4 frames per second of continuous shooting.
What we loved about this one, was the fact that it now was WiFi connectivity, for remote camera control, as well as wireless image sharing with NFC devices like smartphones and/or tablets. By enabling the WiFi feature, you’re instantly activating a wireless hotspot for your smartphone or tablet to connect to!
Download the Nikon Wireless Mobile Utility app and everything is good to go. If your device is NFC-enabled, you can complete the connection by just tapping it against the L840.
Creating high or low angle shots is simple, as the 3.0-inch screen tilts 90 degrees both up and down. However, it doesn’t flip 180 degrees like some others do, so may want to stick with your smartphone for selfies. In addition, the screen isn’t touch-sensitive, and no electronic viewfinder.
The Scene button on the back panel allows you to change shooting modes. You can select between default, scene-detecting Scene Auto Selector mode, along with 18 individually-selectable scene modes, and a sweep panorama function.
Along with that, by clicking on the Scene button, you have access to 9 filter effects, along with a short movie show function that automatically compiles video clips into a 30-second movie with custom background music and special effects.
Going even further, they’ve now included a Smart Portrait System. It’s in many ways like Snapchat; it applies virtual foundation makeup, smooths skin, softens the image, and also regulates the saturation and brightness. If you want more retouch options, go down to Glamor Retouch to adjust things like chin size, skin glare, eye color, and much more.
Lastly, you have an Auto mode. You can adjust white balance, ISO sensitivity, as well as autofocus using the Menu button. You can also get into the continuous shooting mode here, along with image size and quality options.
We really liked the fact that the flash had a kind of DSLR-esque feel, as it needs to be manually ejected using a release button, so there’s no chance it’ll go off when you don’t want it to.
Next to it, you’ll find the switch for the secondary zoom control, great for fine adjustments. In front of that is the Snap-back button. By pressing and holding, it will zoom out a bit to let you see a larger field of view. If you release the button, the lens will automatically zoom back to its previous focal length.
The camera comes with four AA batteries, a strap, lens cap, as well as a USB cable.
So, what didn’t we like? We did notice that the auto-focus was really slow, and even if you are patient, it’s not always successful. As mode selection is done via a menu, it obviously takes a bit of time. Finally, if you’re going to use max-zoom, you absolutely need a tripod, because the included stabilization will not do it for you.
What We Liked
- Great, quality build construction at times very similar to a DSLR
- Various zoom options with secondary zoom control
- Various modes to adjust portraits
- WiFi connectivity/NFC capabilities
What We Didn’t Like
- Auto-focus is very slow and doesn’t always work
- Mode selection takes a while
Fujifilm Finepix S9200 – Product with Best Build and Design
The ultra-zoom bridge camera looks and is handled much like a DSLR. In addition, it features an impressive 50x zoom lens, covering a 35mm equivalent focal range of 23-1200mm and includes a 3-stop lens-shift image stabilization.
Included, is a ½.3-inch 16.3 megapixel backlit CMOS sensor, a 3-inch 460k-dot LCD monitor, a 201k-dot electronic viewfinder, and full 1080p HD movie recording up to 60 fps with stereo sound and 5-Axial image stabilization.
This is a great product no matter if you’re an absolute beginner or a more experienced photographer. Its build is a bit heavier and built to withstand some bumps. The molded curves of the body and shiny black finish generate a very professional, attractive look that is also very practical. You’ll find the ergonomic layout both comfortable and very intuitive.
The non-interchangeable 50x zoom lens is quite versatile, offering a focal range beginning at 24mm and ending at 1200m, which would take at least two super-zoom DSLR lenses to accomplish!
What we liked about this camera in terms of zoo, was that to avoid blur from camera shake, they’ve included a belt and braces solution of high ISO sensitivity, a built-in mechanical stabilizer, and digital image stabilization if needed.
It, much like the previous item on our list, features a pop-up flash, which is activated by the specific button on the right. The stereo sound speakers are located right behind the flash, and there’s also a dual-purpose AF-assist illuminator and self-timer lamp. Another thoughtful addition, is the side lever to let you smoothly, easily use the zoo with your left hand.
With full HD movie capture, you can make incredible videos, just as well as photos. The full 50x zoom range can be accessed in the Motion JPEG format movie mode, with it offering full 1920×1080 pixel footage up to 60 frames per second, constantly adjusting the auto exposure and focus with the stereo sound. However, know that you can also manually focus all of these factors.
It records videos up to 29 minutes long, with longer times available if you go into VGA and SVGA modes. The Movie button on the back makes it quick and easy to shoot a movie without missing anything. There is a self-explanatory playback button for rapidly looking at your recently-taken photos.
What We Liked
- Very high-quality build construction
- High-quality zoom controls
- Takes a high-level quality of video and photos
- Works well in just about any kind of shooting conditions
What We Didn’t Like
- A bit heavy
- Can take some time to understand
Canon Powershot ELPH 100 – Best Budget Product
If you’re looking for one of the best digital cameras under 200 USD, then definitely give it a go. It delivers good images, a good performance, and good features, however, there’s not one thing that’s excellent.
As you may be able to tell from the photo, it’s quite small, as well:
No bigger than a deck of cards, in fact. This is definitely one of the best digital cameras for traveling due to the fact that it’s literally pocket-sized. It weighs in at a mere 4.9 ounces and measures 2.7×2.2×0.8 inches. The camera comes in a variety of colors: grey, pink, silver, and orange, all with silver accents.
You’ll see that a zoom switch, power button, and auto/low-light shooting mode slider switch are located on top of the camera. The bottom has the tripod mound, along with the battery and memory card housing. On the rear are the rest of the controls: a directional pad, two menu buttons, and a button to start video recording at any moment.
The rest of the rear is taken up by the 3-inch, 230,000-dot LCD screen. It’s sharp enough, but nothing to write home about.
We noticed that it performs slightly better in low light, but nothing notable, again. The user interface is quite simple, as is the camera in its entirety. It’s surprisingly fast regarding boot-up: an average of 2.1 seconds.
We will say that the images are not anything special; if you’re a beginner, this is a great camera, as it will give you everything you need to start out, and is very straightforward.
What We Liked
- Excellent for beginners and travelers
- Very small and lightweight
- Performs very well in low lighting
- Great budget product
What We Didn’t Like
- Pretty average
How To Choose The Right Digital Camera Under 200 USD For You
Choosing the best digital camera under 200 USD isn’t an easy feat, but if you follow all of our buying guides, you won’t have to worry at all about which one is best for you. Everyone has diverse needs and styles, so the same one isn’t going to work best for every person!
Size
Are you a traveler or someone who plans on taking your camera with you on places like public transportation? If that’s the case, then you’re probably going to want to go with a camera which is more lightweight and compact. It doesn’t hurt to think about extras like straps, too, for an extra sense of security and convenience.
Also, think about weight; as not all small cameras are lightweight and you don’t want it weighing down your pant pockets! However, if weight isn’t an issue, then definitely don’t hesitate on purchasing a more solid camera. Oftentimes, these are more high-quality and will last you longer through bumps and whatnot.
Price
Now, obviously each camera on our guide today is priced extremely well, as they’re all under 200 USD. However, some are less expensive than others. If 200 USD is still a bit too much for you, then there are a couple options on our list that will help you out, without sacrificing quality.
Quality
This is a very important factor if you really want excellent, professional-level photos. Just because a camera is in the same price range as another does not mean that they have the same level of quality. In fact, two cameras could be priced the same and be absolutely worlds apart in terms of quality.
Make sure to look at how it performs in various shooting conditions, how many megapixels it has with shooting and recording video if it has speakers, what kind of zoom features it has, if there’s a superior level of stability, etcetera. These factors all add up.
Looks
Okay, we get it, no one really wants to be seen with an unattractive or amateur-looking camera! However, we would like to mention that just because a camera looks “cool” or looks to be of a higher quality, doesn’t necessarily mean it is.
Something that you do want to look for though, is its weight; how solid is the body? Is it going to be able to withstand a drop or two? Is it comfortable to hold or does it give your hands cramps?
Screen
Some people are very picky about the screens on their cameras! Most nowadays are LCD screens, but not all are HD. Most on our list are, so you don’t have to worry about that. If you don’t have the best eyesight, you may want to choose one with a larger screen as well, so you can better see what you’re shooting, your shooting options, menu, etc.
Extras
Are you looking for a basic camera or something more advanced? More advanced features include things such as photo touch-ups, like being able to adjust the contrast, the size of facial features, add makeup, or extra bits of convenience such as being able to turn your camera into a mobile hotspot or having the ability to connect via NFC to your smartphone or tablet!
Summary
So, which of the best digital cameras of 2022 was your favorite? We actually had two, ourselves. The first was the Samsung WB1100F. It features a solid construction, along with an ergonomic design that fits comfortably in your hands while shooting. You can tell that it’s quite durable.
If you’d like, you can connect to your tablet or smartphone through NFC and easily transfer photos. In addition, you can also download the associated app and use your phone as a viewfinder! It’s pretty impressive and quite useful.
Our second favorite was the Fujifilm Finepix S9200. It has very similar features to the Samsung, but we found it had a better zoom control. They both perform well in just about any shooting condition you can imagine.
So, which was your favorite digital camera under 200 USD?
