Are you looking for the best compact camera you can buy? Then look no further, as this buyer’s guide is for you. Compact cameras, aka ‘point-and-shoot’ cameras, aren’t as simple as they used to be, and these cameras all offer far more than you might expect…
With the best will in the world, it’s not always practical to have a large camera with you. That’s when having a compact camera comes in extra handy; something that you can easily slip into your pocket and be ready to shoot with at just a moment’s notice.
The compact camera market is diverse, but it has undeniably changed a huge amount in the past few years. It’s no longer a case of simple ‘point-and-shoots’, as for the most part, your smartphone can fulfil that job.
Now, a compact camera has to offer something extra – that could be a larger sensor, a longer zoom, 4K video, rapid shooting or something else entirely.
In this unmissable buyer’s guide we take a closer look at some of the best compact cameras that you can currently buy and give our expert recommendations about what each one is best for…
Best compact for action: Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII
Price: £1,150
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII – at a glance
- Sensor: 20MP Exmor RS CMOS, 13.2 x 8.8mm
- Lens: 24-200mm equivalent, f/2.8-4.5
- Pop-up electronic viewfinder
- Screen: 3-inch, 921,600-dot tilting touchscreen LCD
- 20fps shooting
- 4K video recording
- Dimensions: 101.6×58.1×42.8 mm
- Weight: 302g
The ultimate offering in portability and overall image quality has to be the Sony RX100 VII. Sony’s RX100 range is what introduced the one-inch sensor to the market, and the camera which others tend to follow. We’re now in the seventh generation from the original camera, and the tech which is packed into this miniature marvel is quite something.
Not only do you have a one-inch sensor, you get a 24-200mm (35mm equivalent) lens which offers an f/2.8-f/4.5 maximum aperture. High-speed shooting is available – pretty incredible for a pocket camera – you can shoot at 24fps. The autofocus system is also pretty impressive, so you could conceivably use this camera to shoot sports and action.
Other exciting features include 4K video, in-built wi-fi and a tilting LCD touchscreen. You also get a cleverly hidden electronic viewfinder which pops out from the corner of the camera.
So, what’s the drawback? Well – it’s the price. You need to pay top whack to get all of these features in such a small package, and the RX100 VII currently retails for around £1,000. That’s a heck of a lot of money to spend on a compact camera, but you do get something seriously impressive for your cash. If you don’t have those kind of readies available, take a look at some of the older RX100 models. The RX100 V is still a fantastic, somewhat more affordable, option but its lens doesn’t have as much optical zoom.
Read our Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII Review
Best all-rounder: Panasonic Lumix TZ100
Price: £389
Panasonic Lumix TZ100 – at a glance
- 20.1MP image sensor
- 10x optical zoom; 25-250mm equivalent
- Light Speed DFD AF technology
- 4K Movie
- 5-axis image stabilisation
- Screen: 3-inch, rear LCD screen
- Available in grey and silver or black
- Dimensions: 110.5×64.5×44.3mm
- Weight: 312g (with battery and card)
In most cases, compacts which feature a large (one-inch) sensor, have a restricted zoom. However, Panasonic’s TZ100 manages to bridge the gap between premium compacts and superzooms, with its 10x optical zoom offering.
While 10x doesn’t get near the heady heights of the 30x or 40x zooms elsewhere in this list, the 25-250mm equivalent should be more than enough for most situations. Alongside this, there’s a rich feature list which includes 4K video shooting, 10fps shooting, built-in WiFi and an electronic viewfinder.
The main drawback is a rather small electronic viewfinder, though it does offer a 1.16-million-dot resolution, but a 3-inch rear LCD with touch sensitivity helps with the handling. The screen is fixed, which is a shame when composing from awkward angles, but it did perhaps help to keep the overall size of the camera down.
Overall, this is a very likeable camera and it’s probably the best compromise of all the cameras here – you get a bit of everything for your cash, and the price isn’t outrageously high either. Image quality is very good, and while it’s not going to match your DSLR, the fact that you can fit it into your pocket makes it particularly appealing as a travel camera.
Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100 review
Best value compact: Panasonic Lumix LX15
Price: £429
Panasonic Lumix LX15 – at a glance
- Sensor: 20MP, 1-inch sensor
- Lens: 24-72mm equivalent, f/1.4-2.8 lens
- Screen: 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD
- ISO range: 100-12,800 (extendable to ISO 25,600)
- 10fps shooting
- 4K video recording up to 15 minutes
- 5-axis hybrid image stabilisation
- Dimensions: 105.5x60x42mm
- Weight: 310g
Aimed squarely at the Sony RX100 audience, the Panasonic LX15/LX10 is a small camera with a one-inch sensor and a 24-72mm equivalent focal length range. It goes one small step better than the RX100 V, offering a maximum aperture of f/1.4 at its widest angle, and then dropping to a still very usable f/2.8 at the far end of the zoom.
Unlike the TZ100, the screen on the LX15 is hinged, meaning you can tilt it to face forward – which is useful for selfies, but also opens up the opportunities to take other awkwardly angled shots.
This being Panasonic, 4K video and 4K photo modes are included with the LX15 – both of which are appealing to a wide range of people. One big downside here though, especially for enthusiasts, is the lack of a viewfinder.
The LX15 is another very likeable compact camera from Panasonic, which produces great images at a fraction of the price of the Sony RX100 V. Depending on what you need from a camera, this could be the better choice if you don’t want to spend too much.
Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX15 review
Best for image quality: Canon G7X Mark II
Price: £569
Canon Powershot GX7 Mark II – at a glance
- Sensor: 20.1MP, 1-inch CMOSsensor
- Lens: 24-100mm equivalent, f/1.8-2.8 lens
- ISO range: 125-12,800
- Screen: 3-inch touchscreen, 1.04 million dots LCD
- 8fps burst shooting (5.4fps with AF)
- Dimensions: 105.5×60.9x42mm
- Weight: 319g (with battery and card)
Canon’s long established G-range of premium compact cameras has a diverse line-up with something to suit most different users. The Canon Powershot G7X Mark II has a one-inch sensor and a 24-100mm equivalent zoom lens. That slight extra reach of the zoom lens when compared with the Sony RX100 V and Panasonic LX15 arguably makes it a tad more appealing, especially considering that the maximum aperture of f/1.8 still only drops to f/2.8 at this point.
The 3-inch screen is tilting and touch-sensitive, but sadly there’s no in-built viewfinder here – something which would be extremely welcomed by enthusiast photographers. Furthermore, for those interested in capturing video, you’re limited to just Full HD with this Canon compact – that’s unlikely to be too much of an issue for the average shooter, but it helps to show the age of the camera.
The overall result is a camera that may not be quite exemplary, but that will be very pleasing to use and dependable in a variety of situations for a lot of people.
The image quality is great, with attractive colours, and it delivers good low-light performance. If you already own a Canon DSLR, you’re likely to find sticking with the same brand very appealing… and this little camera is a very appealing choice.
Read our Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II Review
Best travel zoom: Panasonic Lumix TZ90
Price: £319.99
Panasonic Lumix TZ90 – at a glance
- Sensor: 20.3MP, 1/2.3-inch size
- Lens: 24-720mm equivalent, 30x optical zoom
- Screen: 3-inch, 1040k-dot touch-sensitive LCD screen, tilts 180 degrees
- Viewfinder: 0.2-inch, 1,166k-dot, 100% field of view, 0.46x magnification
- ISO range: 80-3200
- 4K video recording (can get 30fps stills)
- Dimensions: 112×67.3×41.2mm
- Weight: 322g (with battery and card)
Panasonic’s second latest travel zoom compact (behind the TZ95) builds on the successes of all that came before it. It features a 30x optical zoom, but in return for that large zoom range, you need to accept a smaller sensor than its one-inch comrade, the TZ100.
Probably the most well-featured superzoom compact on the market, as well as the huge zoom, you get an in-built viewfinder (albeit small), 4K video shooting, a touch-sensitive screen, manual controls, raw format shooting and a body which just about fits in your pocket.
A great choice for those looking for something to take on their travels, in low light it suffers by comparison to its larger sensor rivals. If you’re mainly going to be using it on your sunny holidays, you shouldn’t worry too much about that.
The Panasonic Lumix TZ90 was updated by the TZ95 with a slightly larger EVF and the addition of Bluetooth, but the TZ90 remains excellent value for money.
Read our Panasonic TZ90 vs Panasonic TZ100 comparison
Best compact for vlogging: Sony ZV-1
Price: £699
Sony ZV-1 – at a glance
- Sensor: 20.1MP 1in BSI CMOS
- Lens: 25-70mm equivalent, f/1.8-2.8
- ISO range: 125-12,800 (extendable to ISO 64)
- Viewfinder: N/A
- Screen: 3-inch, fully articulated touchscreen
- 24fps continuous shooting
- 4K video recording (25fps)
- Dimensions: 105.5 x60x43.5mm
- Weight: 294g
The Sony ZV-1 has been specifically designed to be an excellent compact camera for vlogging and video recording, and thanks to a 1-inch sensor, a high quality lens, and some video friendly features, it delivers the goods.
It features 4K video recording and specific video features to make vlogging even easier, with a ‘Product Showcase’ mode, as well as a Background Defocus switch. You’ll find a multi-direction microphone on top, which is provided with a ‘deadcat’ that’s designed to reduce wind noise, and a screen that can be turned around for vlogging and selfies.
Although it’s clearly aimed at vloggers if there’s one feature that might tempt serious photographers to try the ZV-1, it’s the rare delight of getting a fully articulated screen on a pocket camera. This is something you’ll usually only find on larger SLR-styled bodies, like the Canon G5 X and G1 X Mark III, which really stretch the definition of ‘pocketable’.
If you want to use an external microphone you can, as there’s a microphone socket on the side, as well as HDMI output. Overall, the ZV-1 is a really interesting little camera that takes RX100-series technology and gives it a video-centric twist. Its vlogging features generally work well, and appear cleverly targeted to its intended audience.
Best retro compact camera: Fujifilm X100V
Price: £1,299
Fujifilm X100V – at a glance
- Sensor: 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4
- Processor: X-Processor 4
- Lens: 23mm F2.0 lens (35mm equivalent)
- Viewfinder: Hybrid Viewfinder (OVF&EVF)
- Screen: 3-inch, 1.62-million-dot, two-way tilting touchscreen
- 4K video at 30fps
- Compatible with legacy conversion lenses
- Dimensions: 128×74.8×53.3mm
- Weight: 478g (with battery and card)
The Fujifilm X100V isn’t just a good looking camera, it also takes some excellent photos thank to a 26MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor, and an updated lens design improves macro performance. The lens on the front is a 23mm f/2.0 prime lens, giving a 35mm equivalent (in 35mm terms).
You’ll also find Fujifilm’s latest Film Simulation modes, with a number of black and white film options, including ACROS, as well as the option to add a film-like grain effect to images, great for those gritty black and white street photographs.
There’s a hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder that can give you the best of both worlds, and give you the true rangefinder camera experience. The touchscreen on the back tilts which can help with awkward angles, or when you want to ‘shoot from the hip’.
If you’re interested in recording video, then you’ll find the camera has 4K video recording at 30fps, although the lack of image stabilisation may be a deal-breaker for some. The X100V is a gorgeous little camera that’s as satisfying to look at as it is to shoot with. It has a special thing going for it in the way it inspires you to venture out and take pictures, as it’s very easy it is to carry and produces great images.
Read our Fujifilm X100V Review
Best pocket camera: Ricoh GR IIIx
Price: £899
Ricoh GR IIIx – at a glance
- Sensor: 24.2MP APS-C CMOS, 23.5×15.6mm
- Lens: 26.1mm f/2.8 (40mm equivalent)
- ISO range: 100-102,400
- Continuous: 4fps shooting
- Screen: 3-inch, 1.04m-dot, fixed touchscreen
- Video: Full HD 60p/30p/24p
- Dimensions: 109.4×61.9×35.2mm
- Weight: 262g (with battery and card)
The Ricoh GR IIIx, like the Fujifilm X100V, has an APS-C CMOS Sensor, which is impressive considering the compact size of the camera. It features a 26.1mm f/2.8 lens, equivalent to 40mm (in 35mm terms), and the camera has a clever ‘Snap’ focus system so you can quickly get shots without any delay from focusing, making it another great street camera.
The Ricoh GR IIIx is the latest digital iteration of the cult classic Ricoh GR film camera, and is designed to be a pocketable camera (weighing just 262g) that you can take anywhere. There’s also built-in sensor-shift shake reduction, which moves the 24MP sensor on 3-axis to counter any shake.
There’s a 3-inch touch-screen on the back, and you’ll find dual command dials making it easier to change settings quickly. The GR IIIx handles really well. It has a rapid sub-one-second start up time, quick shutter response, comfortable single-handed operation and intuitive controls.
It’s also worth noting that its excellent predecessor – the Ricoh GR III, which has a wider angle 18.3mm f/2.8 (28mm equivalent) lens – remains on the market from £689.
The Ricoh GR IIIx is a well positioned niche alternative to smartphones and big cameras, offering a wonderful mix of the two. There’s enough in it to compel smartphone users considering a ‘real’ camera, and experienced photographers who want a ‘proper’ photographic tool in their pocket. But, first and foremost, it needs to deliver excellent image quality in any kind of light… and the GR IIIx achieves this thanks to the combination of its 24MP APS-C sensor, DNG raw capture and sharp 40mm f/2.8 lens.
Best waterproof camera: Olympus Tough TG-6
Price: TG-6 kits from £379
Olympus Tough TG-6 – at a glance
- 12MP image sensor
- 4x optical zoom; 25-100mm (35mm equivalent)
- Waterproof down to 15m
- Shock resistant – 2.1m (dropping from height)
- Crushproof (to 100kg)
- Freezeproof (to -10°C)
- 4K Movie
- 16 scene modes
- Available in black or red
- Measures 66x113mm
Olympus has been making tough, waterproof, compact cameras for a very long time now, and it’s culminated in the Olympus Tough TG-6, the sixth version of the premium waterproof camera.
Over the years it’s been refined, with improvements made to image quality, video recording, and strength. You’ll even find there’s a range of accessories available for this camera that can improve close up flash performance or add extra protection to the camera.
The camera uses a 12MP sensor along with an f/2.0 lens which gives it an edge over entry-level waterproof cameras, and will help with the low-light conditions you find underwater. Thanks to the folded optics used in the construction of the lens, the camera has an impressive level of macro performance letting you get detailed close-up shots.
4K video recording is included. Fans of macro photography will be impressed by the built-in focus stacking, and there are some manual controls available for when you’re shooting.
Read our guide to the Top 12 Best Waterproof and Underwater Cameras
Best compact for low light: Panasonic Lumix LX100 II
Price: £799
Panasonic Lumix LX100 II – at a glance
- Sensor: 17MP Four Thirds MOS sensor
- Lens: 24-75mm equivalent, f/1.7-2.8
- Screen: 3-inch, 1.28M dot touchscreen
- ISO range: 200-25,600 (standard), ISO 100 (extended)
- Continuous shooting: 11fps max (5.5fps with AF-C)
- 4K video at 30p
- Dimensions: 115.0 x 66.2 x 64.2mm
- Weight: 392g (including battery and card)
The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II offers a multi-aspect ratio sensor, based on a Four Thirds sensor, and combined with a bright f/1.7-2.8 zoom lens with optical image stabilisation, you get a camera that can perform well in low-light shooting situations.
There’s a 3-inch touchscreen, but unfortunately this doesn’t tilt. You’ll also find a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.76m dots.
The metal bodied camera benefits from a number of external controls and switches, and this makes it a great tactile camera to use, letting you set different settings even when the camera is switched off.
As you would expect with a premium camera, you can record 4K video, and the camera has built-in Wi-Fi so you can transfer images to your smartphone, as well as control it remotely. Despite coming out back in 2018, the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II remains a very versatile and easy-to-carry travel companion.
Read our Panasonic Lumix LX100 II Long Term Review
We hope that’s been of some help to you when choosing your next compact camera. Do you think we’ve left out any other top options? Please feel free to suggest them or ask any questions. Have a look at more buying guides here.
