Best Point and Shoot Digital Cameras for Professional Photographers in the Field

Professionals and demanding photographers don't always want to take their large, higher end cameras with them. This can be because of the size, or the danger of damage. Other times, they simply wish to take a small, more discrete backup camera with them at can fit in a pocket or bag without taking up a lot of room.

If you're looking for a camera that can handle the demands of several different situations without faltering too much, then this article is for you. Below is a list of four cameras that hold their own and that would make a wonderful addition to any photographers collection.

Panasonic Lumix TZ5K

The Lumix TZ5K is an amazing little camera, and comes in at a modest price of $250 (or less). This camera is small enough to fit in a pocket, purse, bag, or glove box, yet it is robust and comfortable to hold. It look stylish and tough, and would not be embarrassing for a professional to carry around.

The TZ5K features a 9-megapixel sensor and 10x optical zoom. It can capture fast moving subjects in normal mode, has excellent image stabilization, and the zoom can clearly capture subjects up to 500ft away. The photos come out clear and crisp in low-light shots, without over-exposure issues, and the noise is kept low.

Images are clear and crisp, and saturation levels are thorough and accurate. You can capture action shots, still images, and landscapes very easily in auto mode without needing adjustments. The widescreen shooting mode makes sure you capture everything in one shot.

Canon Powershot SD870IS

The Powershot SD870IS is a small, neatly designed point and shoot digital camera, and has all the features you could want in a small, pocketable design.

The SD870IS features an 8-megapixel CCD sensor and wide angle lens for light resolution, wide photos. The camera is equipped with 4x optical zoom, which is enough to get a close up for relatively distant objects. This Powershot is an image stabilization equipped gadget, so you can get clear shots even at full zoom or slower shutter speeds.

The LCD display is a large three inches, which is quite a good size for any camera, especially one as small and sleek as the SD870IS. The screen is bright, and you will be able to get clean, crisp views of your photos, making it easier to decide if the shot is worth keeping, or erasing for memory conservation.

Canon Powershot A620

Yes, there are two Powershot cameras on this list - that is because they are such wonderful cameras. This camera, the A620, is the cheapest on the list, and boasts nothing more than average specs for what seems to be an average point and shoot. That, however, would be incorrect, as this camera is very good at taking pictures, and does such a wonderful job, in fact, that it has been the only camera I've taken on trips at times. The photos are very nice, with even exposure and sharp details. The coloring is good, and the resolution is certainly high enough for most people.

The A620 features a seven megapixel CCD sensor with 4x optical zoom and a two inch display. The camera is equipped with a DIGIC II processor, which writers images faster than average, and the movie mode is a nice added bonus with the ability to shoot footage up to 60 frames per second.