Which compact camera offers the best value under $300?

Question

Honestly ive been shooting with my old Canon 5D for ages but its just too bulky for this backpacking trip i have coming up in three weeks. i thought it would be easy to find a decent point and shoot for cheap but man the prices for the older rx100s or g7x mark iis are just ridiculous now. its like everybody wants a vintage look or something? anyway i need to find something actually worth the money that isnt a total toy.

budget is strictly under 300 bucks

needs to fit in a jacket pocket

would love some manual control for aperture and shutter speed

decent autofocus because im gonna be taking quick shots of people

What am i missing in the used market? maybe some older lumix or nikon stuff i forgot about...

StormBreaker23 · Accepted Answer

I've spent years tracking sensor performance and honestly, you can still find gems. In my experience, the S-series Canons were the peak of pocketable manual control before everything got bulky.

Canon PowerShot S120 12.1MP f/1.8 CMOS

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 20.2MP 1-inch Sensor The original RX100 still beats most modern phones for depth because of that 1-inch sensor, and you can usually find one for under 300 if you're patient.

Sylviadab · Answer

Yeah the market is honestly a nightmare lately. It sucks how much the prices have jumped for basic gear that used to be cheap. I was looking for a backup recently and felt pretty disappointed by what 300 bucks gets you. Tbh id just look for any older Panasonic Lumix compact. They usually have great manual options and better value than the hyped brands. Just stay patient and you will find one.