A compact camera is basically a small camera which is often referred to as a point and shoot camera. Compact cameras are the most popular type of camera on the market as you don't have to know much about photography to take good photos with them. Compact cameras are still cameras that are mainly designed for simple use and operation.
The cameras include a viewfinder for composition, but use automatic systems for focusing and exposure as well. Some compact models don't have a manual focusing system. Most compact models have flash units built in for taking photos indoors or in darker settings. Most film based compacts use 35mm film, although some use 110 and Advanced Photo System films. The advantages of compact cameras are their size, relatively low cost and the ability to produce good photographs with minimal input from the photographer. Prices on compact cameras can range from about $20 to over $1,000.
