Are there any decent low-cost point-and-shoot cameras left, especially AA-powered models?

Question

I’m using an older Sony DSC-P72 and, despite its limitations, I prefer its image quality to many very cheap compact cameras I’ve seen recently. In the low-end price range, a lot of current models seem to prioritize megapixel count over sensor quality, lens quality, and overall image processing.

I also often travel where charging proprietary batteries is difficult, so AA-powered cameras are especially appealing since I can carry rechargeables or buy disposable batteries locally.

Are there any modern point-and-shoot cameras in the budget range that offer image quality comparable to or better than an older compact like this? And are there any worthwhile AA-powered options, or do you generally need to spend more and accept proprietary batteries to get clearly better results?

user1620 · Answer

To start there are unfortunately less and less camera models that run on AA batteries. Here is the complete list. If you look at the breakdown, most of them are compact or ultra-zooms.

The compacts are mostly generic but there are some stand-out models. One is the Canon Powershot SX130 which has full manual controls and a stabilized wide-angle 10X optical zoom. Image quality is good but for its price.

The ultra-zooms are larger and a few models use CMOS sensors but will cost you 2 or 3 times more compared to the SX130. That will improve quality a little but certainly not by the same factor as the cost.

Better image quality in a fixed-lens camera comes from cameras with larger sensors, all of which use proprietary batteries and cost noticeably more.

Are there any decent low-cost point-and-shoot cameras left, especially AA-powered models?

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