The Best Digital Cameras Under 300 for the Budget Minded Folks

Digital cameras or point and shoot cameras have come a long way from the time I used to use them and even though I have shifted to the mirrorless system almost entirely, I still understand that spending thousands is not something that everyone is comfortable doing and therefore, the existence of best point and shoot cameras still make sense.

However, digital cameras can be expensive when you are looking for higher-end options but if you want the best digital camera under 300, you are in the right spot as this article is made to cater to all those who are looking to save money and we are going to help you do just that.

Best Digital Cameras Under 300

If you are looking for a one-stop solution for all your photography needs, then just pick the Panasonic DC-ZS70K as it serves as one of the finest cameras in the price range, and delivers a solid range of features that you can use, too.

It is safe to say that over the past couple of years, we have come to realize that Panasonic cameras have become a fan favorite and for all the right reasons, too. These cameras are affordable, deliver fantastic results, and compete with the big boys without breaking a sweat. So, it is obvious that the cameras that you are looking at are genuinely good and are faultless, as well. Because having such capabilities are not at all easy.

With that out of the way, the Panasonic DC-ZS70K is the camera we are looking at as it is one of the better offerings available and will deliver great overall performance for anyone who is willing to go for it. There is a number of things that I do love about this camera, so let’s get started.

For starters, the camera offers an excellent zoom range, which might be an oversight for some people but if you do want something that will allow you to zoom in and get all the action without any worries. The camera also comes with selfie functionality that works really well, so you never really have to stress over that.

Not just that, there is enough selfie functionality that can be accessed and will give you amazing results, to be honest. Again, it is not something that is going to be a problem for many. The camera also brings 4K recording, which is one of the most competitive features at the price you are paying for this camera.

However, the place where this camera truly shines is when you are looking at the fact that this comes with one of the most effective image stabilization, allowing you to truly use the camera without any issues.

While I do love this best camera under 300, I do notice that there are a few issues that you have to keep in mind. For starters, the viewfinder is on the smaller side, and I did notice some lag, as well.

Overall, however, this camera does shine and it has been ages since I got the chance to use an affordable point and shoot camera that delivers exceptional performance but I guess here it is, the time is here for this one.

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Canon has a legacy of delivering us some of the finest cameras in the market and that is not something that seems to be changing any time soon, either. If you are genuinely in the mood for something that is different and special, then getting your hands on a good camera is always the right thing as they are not going to let you down.

With that said, the Canon PowerShot SX540 is an excellent camera that you can use for almost all purposes; especially when you are talking quick photography, and well, this is what this camera is all about.

For starters, you are getting access to 50x optical zoom, which allows for an excellent zoom range, and you can always capture whatever you wish to capture. Not just that, the simple form factor also allows you to carry this camera wherever you want and that is what makes this so good.

The thing that I love the most about this camera is the manual exposure mode that allows you to truly experiment with exposure parameters and take the pictures that you want to take without any issues.

For a point & shoot, you are also getting a pretty decent continuous shooting speed of 5.9 fps, and a 3-inch LCD is always a blessing that will allow for a great experience.

There are a few downsides, too. However. For starters, the rear LCD does not articulate, which can be an issue for some people. At the same time, the resolution on the rear LCD is not as high as some would prefer.

Overall, I could say that the Canon PowerShot SX540S is a good offering that gets most of the jobs done without costing you a lot of money. This is a rare quality we get to see on devices these days and I am happy that this camera does fit on this.

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Canon’s PowerShot has long been the fan favourite and the best part about these cameras is that they started out as big, bulky cameras and over the past couple of years, they have become a lot more compact and that is what makes them so, so good for overall usage, and well, taking quick pictures.

With that said, the Canon PowerShot SX620 is one of the best cameras that you can get your hands on and the best part is that you are looking at something that is small, but at the same time, manages to pack enough punch that will ensure great overall results to a point that you are not going to be disappointed at all.

To start, I do love the fact that this is one of the most compact cameras available in the market, to a point that it can fit in your jeans and while I would not suggest that to everyone, it is true about this camera. You are also getting wireless capabilities which makes this camera really good for quick and easy accessibility.

The camera also offers in-camera stabilization which is one of my favorite features about this camera and well, you are not getting anything wrong. So, if you do want something, why not go with this and you will be all good.

The camera also offers FHD video recording, and you also have access to powerful zoom capabilities, which are always welcomed since they make the shooting experience all the better.

While the camera does give you enough perks to keep you occupied, there are a few downsides, too. For starters, there is no RAW format, and you are also not getting any microphone input, which can be a letdown for many.

Overall, the Canon PowerShot SX620 is a definitive upgrade over the past PowerShot cameras, and although it does have some drawbacks, too. If performance is what you are looking for, this camera is not going to let you down.

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We all remember the time when Kodak cameras would dominate the market but over the past couple of years, that has changed. However, if you are still up for something that is affordable and gets all the jobs done, then the good thing is that you will not have to look that far.

The Kodak PixPro AZ421 is an affordable alternative for anyone who wants a camera that does not cost a lot of money and honestly, that is not really a problem. The camera is an affordable offering that gets the job done. The camera comes with a decent LCD that allows you to look at the pictures clearly.

Kodak has proven that the design on this camera is respectable, to say the least. You really will not have to worry about any elements going out of the way as it fits perfectly and well, that is the plan. The camera has a really good battery life, so you are all sorted there.

I think that the best thing that I can highlight about this camera is the fact that you are looking at something that is very good for beginners, so if you are just starting out, this camera is a good offering.

Now, I do have a few gripes regarding this camera. For starters, the screen is not touched, so you will be left at the mercy of buttons. You are not getting any sort of ingress protection, and well, the camera does lack most of the advanced features.

Simply put, there is no taking away from the fact that the Kodak PixPro AZ421 is an affordable camera, and well, if you want to get something that will get things sorted, this is the camera you need to get your hands on as the performance is excellent.

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Rugged cameras have a market of their own and while it might seem like you do not need your hands on one right away. If you do find yourself shooting in such conditions, I would say that investing in a rugged camera makes a lot of sense as it would allow you to take pictures of whatever you want, with ease. Additionally, you won’t have any risks looming over your head as to how you are going to manage all of this, either.

Now, the good thing about this camera is that it is not going to cost you a lot money, which is always a great thing that you can get behind. The value for money is great and I think that is what most people want to go with and well, that is how it should be, too.

You also have to look into the fact that you are looking at the camera that is easy to use, and well, you are not going to run into any issues with the camera, either. The overall accessibility is good and even if you are handing to some kid, the shooting experience should be good and should work just fine.

The best bit about this camera, however, is the fact that you are getting something that is rugged, and for a very cheap price, too. The camera can easily withstand all the bumps that might happen, and well, you are getting something good and reliable.

Moving on to the downsides, there is much to not like about this camera, and well, the main thing that you are going to encounter here is that the shooting options are limited at best, and not just that, you are also getting a camera that does not have excellent image quality as it is passable at best.

Overall, the Nikon W150 serves as an entry-level digital camera that you can get for under 300 or sometimes even cheaper than that but if you genuinely are looking for something that delivers good performance, you might want to get something else, and something better.

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Panasonic’s Lumix lineup of cameras is definitely an impressive one whenever we are talking cameras; the best thing is that this line spans from your average cameras, all the way to some really good offerings, too. So, if you are in the market and you are exploring, there is something for everyone and that is what makes Panasonic what it is.

The camera that I am looking at today is the Panasonic Lumix FZ80 and this is one of the cameras that you have to get your hands on because not getting this camera is only going to make an issue for anyone. There is a lot to love about this camera, to be honest, and if you do want something that can solve most of your issues in terms of performance, this is the one that you need to invest in.

Now, the thing that I love about this camera the most is that it comes with a massive 60x zoom; I am not a fan of zoom cameras in general but having this big of a zoom on a point and shoot camera makes a lot of difference because you have access to a lot of focal lengths in a single lens without the stress of changing things.

However, the redemption does not just end there as the camera does bring more features, too. For starters, you have fast autofocus and the fact that the camera offers 10 fps RAW capture, making everything so much better. You are also getting access to 30 FPS 4K photo capture.

Panasonic has also added a touch LCD and a sharp EVF that helps because you are only getting a better experience. Thankfully, the camera also comes with wireless capabilities, making it even better.

There are a few downsides to the camera despite so many good things. For starters, there is no EVF eye sensor and the rear LCD is fixed at best. You are also getting a fixed rear LCD which is another downside that a lot of people might run into. Although I am grateful that there is RAW support, the RAW buffer is limited at best, and there is no 24 FPS video capture.

Overall, I would say that that the Panasonic Lumix FZ80 is actually one of the better cameras available in the market. Especially when you combine the RAW support, zoom capabilities, as well as access to a 4K video. The camera gets most of the jobs done without any issues.

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While I never personally owned a Panasonic camera, I am well aware of its legacy and the work that they have done for the camera industry, and well, it has always been one of the best and it continues to be that way, too. If you are looking for something that is good and reliable, you are looking at a great camera that will work just fine and that too, without any issues.

The Panasonic Lumix ZS50 made its way to my table and while it is just a good compact camera, it also is something that does deliver a great performance and well, if you want to get your hands on a camera that is good at almost everything it does, this is the one. Best part? You do not have to spend a lot of money on it, either.

For the shooters, you can actually record crisp 1080p videos using the camera, and the results that you are going to get will be stunning, to say the least. There is nothing to be disappointed as far as the camera is concerned, and that is what I love here.

Additionally, the size of the camera is another thing that I really enjoy because you are looking at something that is not really going to be a lot of weight and you will have the benefit here as you can just not worry about the weight or the size of the camera.

The high-speed shooting and night performance is another great thing that a lot of people do love about this camera, and well, I can attest to that.

However, the one feature that I do love about this camera is the excellent macro photography option that allows for a great overall experience and well, we can never really overlook that.

As far as the downsides are concerned, I did not really run into any issues during my experience but having so many modes can be confusing, and well, you have to be stuck with using Panasonic cable if you want to charge your device.

Overall, I can easily say that the Panasonic ZS50 is definitely a good camera that you can buy this very instance. Sure, it is small but don’t let the size fool you because the performance you are getting out of this camera is definitely the one that you will need to sort out and we cannot really overlook that.

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The last camera that I am looking at is from Nikon once again and honestly, Nikon cannot be considered a brand that needs any recognition from anyone thanks to how good their cameras are, and have been for as long as one can remember.

This is one for those who are not in the mood to spend a lot of money. The Nikon Coolpix B500 is one of the higher-end cameras in the Coolpix lineup and for all the right reasons, too. For starters, you are getting access to a 16-megapixel sensor, which delivers great performance across the board, making this camera a really good offering for the price.

Not just that, you are also getting wireless connectivity suite including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC. So, if you want to have quick transfers and the right kind of accessibility, this is the camera that you should be going for, and you are all sorted. Not to forget, you are also getting access to full HD video recording at 30 FPS. So, you are all sorted there.

Another thing that I do love a lot about this camera is the fact that it offers a 40x optical zoom lens, which is always helpful and gets most of the jobs done with ease.

With the positives out of the way, there are also some downsides that I would like to address here. For starters, you are not getting any optical or electronic viewfinder, and despite being the best point and shoot camera under 300, it comes with a larger and heavier body, which is one thing that you must make a note of.

In conclusion, the Nikon Coolpix B500 gets a lot of things right and is not a bad camera by any means; the fact that this does deliver good performance overall is something that one should be lauded rather than criticizing. It manages to pull all the punches within the weight and is excellent.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Digital cameras are still a lot more relevant than one might think to be honest. If you have been aimlessly searching for something that is good, you can finally rest and be at ease because this round-up focuses on all the best cameras that you can find on a budget.

The cameras that we have mentioned here are going to deliver stellar performance and will cater to all sorts of requirements. One just needs a realistic approach as far as the usage is concerned and you are all good to go.