Camera buying guide: 10 Wi-Fi point and shoot cameras under Rs 20,000

We recently reviewed the Samsung WB350F  and while we were not quite impressed with the image quality, we sure loved its wireless functionality. The ability to transfer images wirelessly or control the camera using your mobile devices, certainly opens up many options for photographers and enthusiasts. Over the years, we have seen a lot of point and shoot cameras with onboard Wi-Fi and NFC. With powerful cameras in our smartphones, it makes sense for camera makers to continue to use this functionality to stay relevant.

With the school summer vacations upon us, we are sure that a lot of you are looking at getting a new camera. For those of you who want a camera with Wi-Fi on board, we have compiled this list of 10 point and shoot cameras, which come with an on-board adapter. If transferring images wirelessly to your mobile devices for immediate sharing is a priority for you, then these point and shoots are worth considering.

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Sony CyberShot DSC-WX80 - Rs 10,490

[caption id=“attachment_221488” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Sony Cybershot WX80 is one of the more affordable point and shoots with[/caption]

This is a budget-friendly offering from Sony which offers onboard Wi-Fi functionality. The Sony WX80 features a 16.2MP Exmor R sensor coupled with a BIONZ image processor. It comes with an 8x optical zoom Carl Zeiss lens with a maximum aperture of f/3.3. It also offers a 10fps burst shoot mode. Features such as filters, sweep panorama which can be applied to still as well as movies is a definite plus. It is available online for close to Rs 9,960.

Nikon Coolpix S6500 - Rs 11,950

[caption id=“attachment_221485” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Nikon Coolpix S6500 is a comparatively affordable option over the S9700[/caption]

If you are on a budget but still want a Wi-Fi-enabled point and shoot with good optical zoom, then the Nikon Coolpix S6500 is for you. Featuring a 16MP CMOS sensor along with 12x optical zoom, the Nikon S6500 features a 3-inch LCD screen on the rear side. It boasts of a 7 fps burst shooting mode and supports full HD movie recording mode. It comes with around 20 scene modes, 12 filter modes and even a Glamour retouch mode for beautifying portraits. On the shooting modes front, the S6500 does not offer the manual modes. You can get the S6500 for around Rs 10,500 online.

Samsung Smart WB150F - Rs 14,990

[caption id=“attachment_221487” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Samsung WB150F offers 18x optical zoom[/caption]

Samsung Smart WB150F is the younger sibling of the WB350F, sporting a 14.2MP CCD sensor and an 18x optical zoom. Although it is an older model, it offers pretty much most of the features seen on the WB350F in terms of filters, scene modes and shooting modes (it offers program modes as well as the aperture priority, shutter priority and manual modes). It does lack a touchscreen that was seen on the WB350F. Wi-Fi functionality is well implemented on Samsung cameras, as we saw with the Samsung WB350F. You can still get it online for around Rs 11,990.

Nikon Coolpix AW110 - Rs 16,950

[caption id=“attachment_221483” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Nikon Coolpix AW110 comes with water-proof, freeze-proof, shock-proof and freeze-proof chops[/caption]

This camera is meant for adventure junkies as it comes with all the drop-proof, water-proof, shock-proof and freeze-proof chops. While the rugged cameras from a couple of years back concentrated more on the hardware aspects, Nikon AW110 offers interesting overall feature set as well. This includes GPS, onboard Wi-Fi, an altimeter to measure heights and more. It is waterproof up to 59-feet, can operate in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celcius and can be dropped from 6 feet without suffering any issue. It can also shoot full HD movies. It shoots 6fps in the burst mode and has a 3-inch OLED screen with a 5-level brightness adjustment.

Sony CyberShot DSC-WX300 - Rs 17,990

[caption id=“attachment_221479” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Sony Cybershot WX300 is a light and slim point and shoot with 20x optical zoom[/caption]

Sony DSC-WX300 is touted to be the world’s smallest and lightest point and shoot camera with 20x optical zoom. It weighs just 166 gms with the battery which is quite light as compared to the other cameras seen above. Housing an 18.2MP Exmor R sensor along with the BIONZ image processor, the Sony WX300 lacks fully manual shooting modes. It is safe to assume that the WX300 is targetted at the casual users, who want a good-looking camera which is easy to carry around and offers higher optical zoom range while offering decent images. Features such as full HD movie shooting mode and wireless  functionality are like an added benefit on this camera.

Canon Powershot SX510HS - Rs 17,995

[caption id=“attachment_221481” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Canon Powershot SX510HS is an ultrazoom with 30x optical zoom[/caption]

Canon Powershot SX510HS is a 12.1MP ultrazoom camera offering upto 30x optical zoom. It comes with a DIGIC 4 image processor. Considering it comes with the HS moniker, you can rest assured of good image quality, as we have seen with some SX series cameras such as the **Canon SX50HS.**  There is a feature called the Zoom Framing Assist, which eases locating subjects while you are at the telephoto end and helps you get a focus lock on the subject. This is quite helpful, because at the telephoto end of a 30x zoom camera, you will need to do a lot of manual seeking before you get the object in your frame. Apart from this it comes with all the PASM modes. It has a dedicated movie recording button and can shoot full HD videos. Using the Canon CameraWindow app on Android and iOS, you can transfer images as well as use the app for remote image capturing via the camera. While the MRP listed on the official Canon website is around Rs 17,995, you can get it for around Rs 15,500 in the market.

Canon Powershot S110 - Rs 17,995

[caption id=“attachment_221484” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Canon PowerShot S110 offers a larger sensor with a fast f/2.0 lens[/caption]

Canon Powershot S110 is an upgrade to the S100 which had impressed us. The S110 has a comparatively larger sensor at 1/1.7-inch size, and it comes with a fast f/2.0 lens. There is a 3-inch capacitive LCD touchscreen on the rear side, which will assist in navigation. To add to this there is a dedicated control ring around the lens element of the camera. There is RAW format support. The Canon Powershot S110 offers all the manual modes as well. Along with the added wireless functionality, makes this quite a feature-rich proposition under 20k. The official Canon pricing is around Rs 17,995, but you can get it around Rs 16,200 at e-tailers. Considering the S100 launched at Rs 25,000, the price point of S110 which has Wi-Fi onboard is quite tempting.

Nikon Coolpix P340 - Rs 18,950

[caption id=“attachment_221482” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Nikon Coolpix P340 has a 1/1.7-inch sensor and a fast f/1.8 lens[/caption]

Nikon Coolpix P340 sports a 1/1.7-inch 12.2MP CMOS sensor and comes in a compact form factor. Just like the Canon S110, the Nikon P340 sports a control ring around the lens barrel. It is one stop faster than the Canon S110’s lens at f/1.8 making shooting under low light situations easier. It also offers 5x optical zoom. The Nikon P340 comes with program, aperture priority, shutter priority as well as manual modes making it ideal for someone looking at an advanced point and shoot. It boasts of shooting 10 frames per second in the burst mode. Using the Nikon Wireless MobileUtility, you can transfer images to your mobile devices or use the camera as a remote viewfinder.

Nikon Coolpix S9700 - Rs 18,950

[caption id=“attachment_221486” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Nikon Coolpix S9700 offers a massive 33x optical zoom[/caption]

If you are looking at a huge optical zoom in a compact travel zoom camera, then the Nikon S9700 is an option worth considering. Offering massive 30x optical zoom, the Nikon S9700 is ideal for those of you who are into landscapes and wildlife photography, but do not have a big budget. Housing a 16MP CMOS sensor, featuring all manual modes, full HD shooting mode, makes the S9700 interesting. Add the on-board GPS and wireless functionality and you have a complete package in this compact camera. If you want most of the features within the S9700 except for the GPS function and around 22x optical zoom, you can consider the comparatively economical Nikon Coolpix S9600 at Rs 16,950

Canon Powershot S200 - Rs 19,995

[caption id=“attachment_221480” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Canon Powershot S200 has a 1/1.7-inch sensor and comes with a control ring around the lens[/caption]

Canon Powershot S200 also sports a 1/1.7-inch sensor although it is a 10.1MP one. It has the same fast f/2.0 lens and a control ring like the S110. It features an aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, manual mode, program mode along with the SCN modes and filter modes. The 3-inch screen on the rear side is non-touch. Unlike the S110, it lacks the RAW file support. The Powershot S200 is priced around Rs 19,995 considering it launched more recently than the S110.