Which compact camera offers the best value under $400?

If you want to beat an iPhone in low light for under $400, you gotta look at the lens speed and sensor size data. The 1-inch sensor is basically the minimum for a real upgrade over a phone.

• Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II 20.1MP 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 is the strongest contender here for your dinner and street shots. The f/1.8 aperture at 24mm combined with the 1-inch sensor provides a massive advantage for gathering light. Its zoom range is way more versatile for street photography compared to a fixed lens.
• Sony ZV-1F 20.1MP 20mm f/2.0 is super light but the fixed 20mm focal length is extremely wide. It is mostly a vlogging tool. It lacks optical image stabilization and uses a contrast-only autofocus system which can hunt a lot in dim restaurants. Modern Sony tech usually refers to their phase-detect AF, which this specific model actually omits to keep costs down.
• Panasonic Lumix ZS100 20.1MP 25-250mm f/2.8-5.9 has the sensor size you want, but the lens hits f/5.9 really fast as you zoom. Youll end up with tons of noise if you try to use that zoom at night in Seattle. For a $400 budget, the Canon is the most balanced tool for what you need. If the price on the G7X is too high on eBay, definitely check out a used Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III 20.1MP 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8. It has the same sensor size and fast aperture as the Canon but usually goes for a bit less right now.

TIL! Thanks for sharing

Building on the earlier suggestion regarding the Canon, I actually have to respectfully disagree about it being the best path for reliability. Over the years, I have seen quite a few G7X units suffer from lens ribbon cable issues or dust getting into the sensor, which is the last thing you want on a trip to Seattle. In my experience, if you want something that genuinely outclasses a phone in low light while staying under that $400 mark, you should look at these instead:

• Sony RX100 III: It is an older model but the build quality is far superior to the ZV-1F. The f/1.8-2.8 lens is sharp, and having a built-in viewfinder is huge for street photography when the sun is reflecting off the back screen.
• Panasonic Lumix LX10: I have tried many compacts and this one is often overlooked. It has an f/1.4 lens which is basically the king of low light in this price bracket. It is a much better choice for dinner shots than the ZS100. I have found that the Sony RX100 series tends to hold up better over time compared to the newer, more plasticky vlogging-focused cameras. Just make sure whoever you buy from on eBay has a solid return policy because used gear can be hit or miss.

Honestly, finding a decent compact under $400 right now is kind of a nightmare because used prices are so inflated. I bought a ZV-1F hoping it would be a solid travel companion but it was a total letdown. The fixed 20mm lens is way too wide for street shots and you basically have to crop everything, which kills the quality. It felt like a step sideways from my phone, not an upgrade. If youre dead set on that budget, skip the ZV series and try to hunt down an older Sony RX100 III. At least it has a built-in viewfinder and a faster lens for those dinner shots. I was actually venting about this over on Smartphone Board recently because, tbh, modern phones do better processing than these older point-and-shoots unless you really know how to edit RAW files. Most of these used value picks just arent as good as expected anymore and youll probably be disappointed with the low light noise.