--- title: Best Point and Shoot Camera: Sony RX100 V description: The Sony RX100 V is one of the best point-and-shoot cameras you can buy — with a catch or two. canonical: https://time.com/4702027/best-point-shoot-camera-sony-rx100-v/ author: Alex Fitzpatrick article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-03-15T14:06:31.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:44:19.762Z og:title: This Is One of the Best Point-and-Shoot Cameras You Can Buy og:description: It's much better than your smartphone og:url: https://time.com/4702027/best-point-shoot-camera-sony-rx100-v/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt71d25d558f8c4f8e/6988cbafab6d77a5f66adeff/rx100v_image7-large2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: rx100v_image7-large2 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: This Is One of the Best Point-and-Shoot Cameras You Can Buy twitter:description: It's much better than your smartphone twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt71d25d558f8c4f8e/6988cbafab6d77a5f66adeff/rx100v_image7-large2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # This Is One of the Best Point-and-Shoot Cameras You Can Buy > Sponsored content. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ## Video: How to Take Great Vacation Photos of Your Kids [Watch (HLS stream): How to Take Great Vacation Photos of Your Kids](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Pl9rlNhc.m3u8) (3:23)  _Published 2016-07-30. From underwater photos to action shots, slow-motion and composition ideas, Marvi Lacar and Ben Lowy have mastered the art of photographing their kids. In this video, they share their best tips and tricks to take great vacation photos of your kids._  by [Alex Fitzpatrick](https://time.com/author/alex-fitzpatrick/)  ## Alex Fitzpatrick Mar 15, 2017 2:06 PM UTC   by [Alex Fitzpatrick](https://time.com/author/alex-fitzpatrick/)  ## Alex Fitzpatrick Mar 15, 2017 2:06 PM UTC As a person with a little bit of knowledge about cameras and a lot of experience spending far too much money on them, I often get asked: “Hey Alex, what’s the best point-and-shoot camera I can buy?” For years, a very good answer to that question has been Sony’s remarkable RX100 series. With its latest iteration, the [Sony RX100 V](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MCRBY4X/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fsp%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=timetechafitzgadgets-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01MCRBY4X&linkId=6c232dede54d5a357a6425bca691bf89), that holds true — but there’s a catch. The RX100 V packs a remarkable feature set into a pocketable camera, provided you have sizable pockets. Most notably, it has a stellar 1-inch sensor along with a solid 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 Zeiss lens. It can record images at a blistering 24 frames per second, while an improved autofocus helps get subjects in focus near-instantly in most situations. It’s also capable of recording 4K video, which is crucial if you’re interested in going beyond still photography. A tilting rear screen is handy for getting otherwise difficult shots.  Sony RX100 V Sample Image Sony RX100 V Sample Image In practice, all of that jargon translates to a camera that’ll blow your smartphone out of the water. That’s mostly thanks to the 1-inch sensor — generally speaking, the bigger the sensor, the better the quality (the iPhone 7, by contrast, has 1/3-inch and 1/3.6-inch sensors.) Big sensors also help DSLRs and similar high-end cameras produce the creamy background blur that smartphones can only attempt to replicate through [algorithmic trickery](http://time.com/4506167/iphone-7-plus-features-portrait-mode/). Of course, lenses play a huge role in image quality as well, and the RX100 V’s glass is thankfully no slouch. **Read more:** [Why it’s still worth owning a digital camera](http://time.com/4637469/digital-cameras-which-should-i-buy/) Using the RX100 is as simple or as complex as you want it to be. It’s completely fine in fully automatic mode, like driving a BMW 3 Series in the “Comfort” setting. That makes it a great choice for people who want high-quality photos without learning the ins-and-outs of settings like aperture, shutter speed and ISO. But like that BMW, it’s capable of far more in the right hands, allowing users to tweak all sorts of settings (though some are buried in confusing menu options.) Newbies can grow into this camera, while experienced shutterbugs might love it as a more portable supplement to their bulky DSLR.  Sony RX100 V Sample Image Sony RX100 V Sample Image Still, there are two caveats to consider with the RX100 V. First, if you’re considering this as a DSLR replacement, you might wind up disappointed. The photo quality is great, but the camera’s diminutive size makes it difficult to quickly tweak some settings on the fly. And while the Zeiss lens is great and covers a wide range of focal lengths, it’s permanently affixed to the body, which may frustrate photographers used to swappable lenses. I also wish it had a touchscreen for easier focusing, which feels like table stakes for a camera at this price point in 2016-17. Second, and more importantly, is the price. Sony’s RX100 V will set you back $999, which is far above what many folks might consider spending on a point-and-shoot camera. If money is no object, I feel it’s worth it. But, thankfully, there are alternatives to consider. The previous cameras in Sony’s RX100 series are still extremely capable and can now be had at a discount. [The RX100 III](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K7O2DJU/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fsp%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=timetechafitzgadgets-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00K7O2DJU&linkId=4a4a06d6c2fdbc49716805c1c5661846), for example, is $700 on Amazon, and can be had for around $500 if you’re comfortable buying used. (I almost always buy used camera gear as a way to save money.) You’ll miss out on the RX100 V’s improved autofocus, faster shooting and 4K video, but most casual photographers can do without those specs anyway. [Sony’s a6000](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I8BICB2/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fsp%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=timetechafitzgadgets-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00I8BICB2&linkId=d2710b8c9e8becf6da8cbc00cf2f11bb), meanwhile, is a highly capable mirrorless camera that’s usually available for around $650 with an included lens. It has some advantages over the RX100 V, including the ability to change lenses — you might use a wide-angle lens to capture sweeping vistas on your next vacation, for instance, while opting for a telephoto zoom lens during your child’s soccer game. And it’s still small, but the protruding grip makes it far less pocketable than the RX100 V. [Canon’s PowerShot G7 X Mark II](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BV14OXA/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fsp%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=timetechafitzgadgets-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01BV14OXA&linkId=5a7aa81361e1051453061741cc3a9f57) is another well-reviewed point-and-shoot that’s about $679\. Like the RX100 V, it has a honking 1-inch sensor, and its 24-100mm lens actually covers a wider focal range than the Sony. But you won’t get the Sony’s lightning-quick autofocus or shooting speeds. For an absolute budget option, you could do worse than the [Canon PowerShot ELPH 350 HS](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AA093UW/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fsp%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=timetechafitzgadgets-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01AA093UW&linkId=636bbefe33662023823f41dd65efc938), available for around $260\. But at this point, you might be better off sticking with your smartphone, assuming you have one with a decent camera. **Buy now:** [Sony RX100 V, $998, Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MCRBY4X/ref=as%5Fli%5Fqf%5Fsp%5Fasin%5Fil%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=timetechafitzgadgets-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01MCRBY4X&linkId=6c232dede54d5a357a6425bca691bf89) [(_Read TIME’s affiliate link policy_.)](http://time.com/4605406/time-affiliate-link-policy/) _The sample images in this article are “straight-out-of-camera” and unedited._ ## Transcript My name is Benjamin Lowy. And I'm Marvi Lacar. Together we are professional photographers who are also parents of two children. Kids being kids they don't always have patients for us to break out all our professional gear so in those instances we use what everyone else has in their back pocket. Their smart phone camera. [ MUSIC ] [ NOISE ] You don't need an underwater camera to photograph your kids in the pool or in the ocean. [ MUSIC ] All you need is a simple waterproof case. [ MUSIC ] Great angles include getting under your kids and silhouetting them with the sky above them. [ MUSIC ] The screen is so touch sensitive, sometimes the trigger button for the shutter doesn't work under water and I would recommend using the volume keys to set off your cameras shutter. This is a totally under used feature. [ MUSIC ] The volume key can also set off another great feature, which is the button mode. [ SOUND ] It's extremely useful when the kids are moving really fast. You can also hold down the shutter button to activate the burst mode. One of the best things to do is to move With them, when shooting in burst mode. [ SOUND ] This way you can follow the action as they move and work towards making a more dynamic composition. [ MUSIC ] Here we have a simple backyard slip and slide. Throw in some slow motion into the mix and you You can create these stunning videos. Grandmas love these videos. [ INAUDIBLE ] [ MUSIC ] If you want something dramatic like your child standing in a shaft of light, touch and lock focus on your subject and then drag your finger down to lower the brightness. [ BLANK_AUDIO ] Because of the camera's construction almost everything in your image will be in focus unlike traditional cameras This seeming disadvantage can actively be used to stack your image composition. Like having two kids eating ice- cream on two different planes. We share our images on social media but you can also take these photographs out of the digital realm. And use apps to seamlessly create prints on the [ UNKNOWN ] That's me, that's me, two years old. The most important part is to really just be out there with your kids. And take some photos when the moment comes. 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