The Best Cameras of 2016
Pro-caliber pics and video right from your pocket
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Lucky you, Instagrammers: your epic shots no longer require bulky DSLRs. These six point-and-shoots are sharp and adventure ready. Best of all? They fit in your pocket.
Nikon 1 J5
Best For: Aspiring Pros
The lightning-fast 1 J5 can reel off an astonishing 60 frames per second in high definition. A touchscreen makes it easy to adjust settings on the fly, and it flips and twists for more angles. Even better, the camera works with more than 12 lenses and transfers files to your phone or desktop via Wi-Fi.Â
Price $500
Moment Case and Lens
Best For: Instagram Heroes
The sturdy Case, for the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, makes you a better smartphone photographer by serving as a mount for Moment’s superb glass lenses. The sleek cover offers a sturdy grip and has its own shutter button, which depresses with satisfying heft.Â
Price $70 and $100
Canon PowerShot SX710 HS
Best For: Zooming InÂ
Not many shooters this small pack a 30x zoom capable of capturing wide angles and distant objects with binocular-like sharpness. Even fewer come with a high-res 20.3-megapixel sensor. But these impressive specs belie the camera’s amateur-friendly features, including a single ring to control zoom and intuitive graphics in manual mode. Â
Price $350
GoPro Hero4 Session
Best For: Mounting Anywhere
At less than three ounces and just over a cubic inch, the Session is GoPro’s smallest action cam to date. It’s also the simplest to use, with a single button that turns the video (a decent 1080p at 60 frames per second) on and off. The camera housing is waterproof, so no additional case is required.Â
Price $400
Garmin Virb XE
Best For: Fitness Addicts
The Virb XE captures HD footage, then, with an app’s help, overlays it with data such as power, heart rate, and speed. The desktop software makes editing a breeze, and there’s even a mobile app for compiling quick social-media clips on your phone.Â
Price $400
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-4
Best For: Playing Rough
Lots of rugged cameras can withstand a beating, but few take good photos. The TG-4—which captures 16-megapixel images in RAW rather than JPEG for better depth and easier editing—does both. It also handles low-light conditions like a champ, thanks to 6,400 ISO and a fast, light-sensitive aperture.Â
Price $380