Best Point-And-Shoot Cameras For Raw Photography

Point-and-shoot cameras are a great option for those who want better image quality than a smartphone but don't want to carry around a heavy camera. While most professional cameras and DSLRs offer the option to shoot in RAW format, it is less common for point-and-shoot cameras. RAW format is an uncompressed and unprocessed file format that gives you more flexibility when editing photos. Here are some of the best point-and-shoot cameras that offer RAW format shooting:

- Fujifilm X10: This camera features RAW shooting and in-camera RAW processing. It has a 12MP EXR CMOS sensor and a 4x optical zoom lens.

- Canon PowerShot A1400: This camera is designed for photographers who want complete manual and creative control. It offers RAW shooting, an optical viewfinder, a vari-angle LCD screen, and HD video recording.

- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII: This camera is a great option for travel and features a 20MP 1-inch sensor and a 24-200mm zoom lens. It also has a pop-up electronic viewfinder and a tilting touch screen.

- OM System Tough TG-7: This rugged and waterproof camera is perfect for adventurers and divers. It has a 12MP sensor and a 24-100mm lens, and can go as deep as 50 feet underwater.

- Ricoh GR IIIx: This camera packs a lot of features into a pocketable design, including a 24MP APS-C sensor, a sharp 40mm F2.8 equivalent lens, and 3-axis stabilization.

Pros and cons of shooting in RAW

Shooting in RAW has its pros and cons. RAW image files are often mistakenly referred to as "digital negatives." In reality, they are neither negatives nor images. They are a collection of image-related sets of data composed of separate elements that can be manipulated as a unit by your computer using compatible software. RAW image files preserve the highest possible quality of your photo. They retain all the unmodified, uncompressed data captured by the camera sensor to produce a viewable image.

• Better image quality
• Flexible editing options
• Sharper images, less noise
• Ability to make additional edits at a later date

And some cons:

• RAW files take up more space
• Shooting in RAW slows down the camera

Best compact cameras with RAW support

Canon PowerShot G12

The Canon PowerShot G12 is a camera designed for photographers who want complete manual and creative control. It has the ability to shoot raw photos, and features an optical viewfinder and a vari-angle LCD screen. It also has a built-in neutral density filter and can record HD Video with stereo sound at 30fps.

Fujifilm X10

The Fujifilm X10 features RAW shooting and in-camera RAW processing (SilkyPix RAW conversion software is supplied with the camera).

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 is a compact camera with a fast, wide lens and full manual control. It has a hotshoe and can shoot in RAW.

Nikon Coolpix P7100

The Nikon Coolpix P7100 is a compact camera with a hotshoe and full manual control. It can shoot in RAW.

Olympus XZ-1

The Olympus XZ-1 has a fast, wide lens, full manual control, and a hotshoe. It can shoot in RAW.

Sony ZV-1

The Sony ZV-1 is a compact camera with a fast, wide lens, full manual control, and a hotshoe. It can shoot in RAW.

Cameras that support RAW format

RAW format is an uncompressed and unprocessed file format that gives you more editing flexibility than JPEG. While most professional cameras and many DSLR cameras offer the option to shoot in RAW, it is less common for point-and-shoot cameras to have this feature. Here are some of the best point-and-shoot cameras that support RAW format:

Fujifilm X10

The Fujifilm X10 is a 12-megapixel camera that features RAW shooting and in-camera RAW processing. It has a 4x optical zoom lens and a 2.8-inch LCD screen.

Canon PowerShot A1400

The Canon PowerShot A1400 is a 16-megapixel camera designed for photographers who want complete manual and creative control. It offers RAW shooting, an optical viewfinder, a vari-angle LCD screen, and HD video recording with stereo sound.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII

The Sony RX100 VII is a premium compact camera with a 20-megapixel sensor and a 24-200mm zoom lens. It features an electronic viewfinder, 4K video recording, and a tilting touch screen. It is an excellent choice for travel photography.

OM System Tough TG-7

The Tough TG-7 is a rugged and waterproof point-and-shoot camera with a 12-megapixel sensor and a 24-100mm lens. It is a great option for divers, hikers, and adventurers, offering high-magnification macro capabilities and an f/2 lens for low-light photography.

Ricoh GR IIIx

The Ricoh GR IIIx is a compact camera with a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor and a sharp 40mm f/2.8 equivalent lens. It offers sensor-shift stabilization, responsive autofocus, and a variety of smart on-body controls. It is a popular choice among photo enthusiasts and artists.

Leica Q3

The Leica Q3 is a full-frame compact camera with a 60-megapixel sensor and a 28mm f/1.7 lens. It features in-camera crop functionality, a tilting touch-sensitive LCD, 8K and 4K video recording, and IP52 weather protection. It is an expensive but luxurious option for everyday and travel photography.

Point and shoot cameras with RAW format

Point-and-shoot cameras are a great option for those who want something better than a smartphone camera but don't want to carry around a heavy SLR or mirrorless camera. While most professional cameras and many DSLR cameras have the option to shoot in RAW, it is a less common feature for point-and-shoot cameras. RAW is an uncompressed and unprocessed file format that gives you more editing flexibility than a JPEG.

Canon PowerShot A1400

This camera is designed for photographers who want complete manual and creative control. It has an optical viewfinder, a vari-angle LCD screen, and a built-in neutral density filter. It also offers HD video recording with stereo sound and 30fps.

Fujifilm X10

The Fujifilm X10 features RAW shooting and in-camera RAW processing. It has a 2.8-inch LCD screen and a 4x optical zoom lens.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII

The Sony RX100 VII is a great option for travel. It has a 24-200mm zoom lens, a 20MP sensor, and a pop-up electronic viewfinder. It also offers 4K video recording and eye detection for people and pets.

OM System Tough TG-7

The Tough TG-7 is a rugged and waterproof point-and-shoot camera. It has a 24-100mm lens, a 12MP sensor, and a 3-inch LCD screen. It is a great option for divers, hikers, and adventurers.

Ricoh GR IIIx

The Ricoh GR IIIx puts a lot of camera into a pocketable design. It has a 24MP APS-C sensor, a sharp 40mm F2.8 equivalent lens, and sensor-shift stabilization. It also offers quick autofocus and instant snap focus.

Leica Q3

The Leica Q3 is a full-frame compact camera with a 60MP sensor and a 28mm F1.7 lens. It also features in-camera crop functionality, a tilting touch-sensitive LCD, and 8K and 4K video recording.

RAW vs JPEG

Most modern digital cameras offer the option to shoot and save images in either RAW or JPEG format. Both formats have their own advantages and disadvantages, and photographers should use the most appropriate format for their needs.

JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group, the name of the group that created the standard. JPEG is a lossy raster file format that compresses an image to reduce its size. This compression results in a loss of data and detail, and the image may appear grainy or pixelated. JPEGs are 8-bit files, limiting the number of colours to 16.8 million. They are, however, widely used and compatible with many modern devices and software.

A RAW file contains all the uncompressed and unprocessed image data captured by a camera's sensors. It is a type of raster file format that maintains lossless quality. RAW files are significantly larger than JPEGs and other image file formats. They offer a wider dynamic range, greater colour spectrum, and more shades of colour. A 12-bit RAW image can contain up to 68.7 billion colours, while a 14-bit RAW image offers a potential 4.4 trillion colours.

Advantages of shooting in RAW

• Higher quality files for editing
• Wider dynamic range and greater colour spectrum
• More shades of colour
• Lossless, unprocessed, and uncompressed, maintaining their original quality
• Better sharpening potential
• Can adjust white balance and colour space after capture
• Can be used as proof of ownership and authenticity

Disadvantages of shooting in RAW

• Larger file sizes that take up more storage space
• Slower operational speed due to lengthier write times
• Require more time for manual adjustment and post-processing
• Not supported by all software and devices
• Longer backup times

When to shoot in RAW

RAW is a good choice when:

• You want the highest quality files for editing
• You want more control over the final image
• You are shooting rare, special moments that cannot be recreated
• You want to adjust the white balance and colour space after capture
• You want to use the image as proof of ownership and authenticity

When to shoot in JPEG

JPEG is a good choice when:

• Convenience and speed are more important than critical image quality
• You don't want to spend time on manual adjustments and post-processing
• You want to shoot more images at a faster frame rate
• You plan to share the images quickly and easily
• You are working with limited storage space

Frequently asked questions