INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Compact cameras and the market they live in have changed a lot over the last few years
Smartphones have decimated the entry-level range of point-and-shoots and as a result, manufacturers have concentrated on putting in more
advanced features into compact cameras to make them more attractive.In addition to the move towards larger sensors to boost image quality
that can rival DSLRs in some cases, some compact cameras sport lenses, long zoom ranges or wide maximum apertures
Wi-Fi connectivity is also now de rigueur on most compacts, so you can transfer shots quickly to a phone for sharing on Facebook etc.Many
photographers used to be very snooty when it came to compact digital cameras, but they now make a great alternative to a DSLR or mirrorless
And those who are new to photography and are thinking moving up from a smartphone have some pretty sophisticated choices at their disposal
as well. There are small cameras that can slip into a pocket yet have huge zoom ranges, and large bridge cameras that look like DSLRs, but
have a fixed lens and lots of automated easy-to-use options.These cameras prove that you don't have to buy one that needs interchangeable
lenses to get great shots.If you need a bit more help figuring out what kind of camera you need, then read this article: What camera should
I buyOr if you already know what kind of camera you want, then check out our more specific compact camera guides:1
Fujifilm X100FTHe X100F is the perfect compact for the enthusiast photographerSensor: APS-C CMOS, 24.3MP | Lens: 23mm f/2 | Monitor:
3.0-inch, 1,040,000 dots | Viewfinder: Hybrid optical/EVF | Continuous shooting: 8fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: ExpertBeautiful
designHybrid viewfinder1080p videoFixed focal length lensIt may be one of the more expensive options here and it's not a compact for
everyone, but if you're after a high-quality camera, you're not going to be disappointed with the X100F
Everything about it oozes class. Unlike a lot of compacts here, it has a fixed lens as opposed to zoom, but this 35mm equivalent f/2.0 lens
is paired with a DSLR-sized 24.3MP APS-C sensor that delivers cracking results
There's also the tactile external controls and clever hybrid viewfinder - you have the option of electronic and optical views that make it a
You'll need some photo knowledge to get the best from it, but the X100F is an exquisite camera.Read the full review:Fujifilm X100F2
Panasonic Lumix ZS100 / TZ100Panasonic's premium travel camera has a larger sensor than the rest on the listSensor: 1-inch type, 20.1MP |
Lens: 25-250mm, f/2.8-5.9 | Monitor: 3.0-inch touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 10fps | Movies: 4K | User
level: Beginner/Intermediate1-inch type sensor10x zoom range lensSmall electronic viewfinderFixed screenPanasonic invented the travel-zoom
camera genre - compact cameras that you can fit in a pocket but that have long zoom lenses built-in
Despite strong competition, the ZS range (known as TZ outside the US) has continued to dominate sales. In a response to attract new buyers,
Panasonic's response has been to keep the camera body about the same size as earlier TZ-series cameras but to squeeze a much larger 1-inch
sensor into the Lumix ZS100 (TZ100 outside the US)
This enables the pixels to be about 2.4x bigger than they are in models like the Lumix ZS50 / TZ70, helping the ZS100 produce much higher
The zoom lens isn't quite so extensive, but you get an electronic viewfinder that makes it easier to compose images in bright sunny
conditions. Panasonic's recently announced the Lumix ZS200 / TZ200, boosting the zoom range to 24-360mm - review coming very soon
Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix ZS100 / TZ100 review3
Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IVExpensive, but highly capable
Offers a huge focal range Sensor: 1-inch CMOS, 20.2MP | Lens: 24-600mm, f/2.4-4 | Monitor: 3.0-inch tilt-angle touchscreen, 1.44m dots |
Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 24fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Intermediate/ExpertSuperb sensorHigh quality zoom lensExpensiveMenu
system could be betterIf you're looking for a powerful all-in-one bridge camera, then the RX10 IV from Sony is the best there is
You'll pay a premium for that performance, but when you look at what else is out there for the same price, the RX10 IV is virtually in a
league of its own. Featuring a huge 24-600mm f/2.4-4 zoom lens, the RX10 IV builds on the RX10 III with an overhauled AF system that now
does justice to the rest of the camera, while the 1-inch, 20.1MP sensor is capable of achieving excellent levels of detail. Handling is
very polished, it feels like a DSLR in the hand and complemented by a large and bright electronic viewfinder
That's not forgetting the ability to capture video in 4K and shoot at up to 24fps
Impressive stuff.Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV review4
Panasonic Lumix LX10 / LX15With some stiff competition, this is our pick of the 1-inch compactsSensor: 1-inch type, 20.1MP | Lens: 24-72mm,
f/1.4-2.8 | Monitor: 3.0-inch touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Viewfinder: No | Continuous shooting: 6fps | Movies: 4K | User level:
Beginner/intermediateUltra-fast f/1.4 lensFast AF systemNo viewfinderLack of proper gripPanasonic's muscled its way into the growing premium
1-inch compact sector with the brilliant Lumix LX10 (known as the LX10 outside the US), and is the perfect balance of performance, features
and price. First, the bad news - there's no built-in EVF and the smooth finish doesn't offer the best handgrip, but the 24-72mm lens is one
of the fastest around with a maximum aperture of f/1.4. Add to that some polished handling with dual control rings and a touchscreen,
snappy AF and 4K video capture, and you have one of the best compact cameras around. Read the full review: Panasonic Lumix LX10 / LX154
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VSony's super-high speed sensor tech is brilliant but pricey Sensor: 1-inch, 20.1MP | Lens: 24-70mm, f/1.8-2.8 |
Monitor: 3.0-inch tilt-angle display, 1,228,800 dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 24fps | Movies: 4K | User level:
Intermediate/expertHigh-speed shooting and 4KBuilt-in EVFThe tech makes it expensiveNo touchscreenSony's original RX100 was a landmark
camera that fused a 1-inch sensor in a compact, metal body with the controls and image quality demanded by enthusiasts
The RX100 V goes a step further, though, with a 'stacked' sensor design for high-speed data capture
This means it can shoot 4K video, amazing 40x slow motion and still images at 24fps in continuous burst mode
That's not forgetting the neat little built-in electronic viewfinder that its rivals lack
It's a pricey option and does have its quirks, but if you're looking for a versatile, pocket-sized compact with a quality zoom lens, you
won't be disappointed. Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V review5
Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark IIA pocket powerhouse of a compact cameraSensor: 1-inch, 20.1MP | Lens: 28-84mm, f/2-4.9 | Monitor: 3.0-inch
touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Viewfinder: No | Continuous shooting: 8.2fps | Movie: 1080p | User level: Beginner/IntermediateCompact
sizeSimple to useLimited zoom rangeNo 4K videoWhile there's now a decent selection of premium 1.0-inch sensor compact cameras to choose
from, the Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II sets itself apart thanks to its dinky proportions and streamlined controls
The highly pocketable dimensions do mean there are sacrifices to be made, with the PowerShot G9 X Mark II featuring a relatively short focal
length zoom lens. However, if you're looking for a neat compact camera that can produce vastly superior images to your smartphone, and has
decent connectivity options and simple-to-use controls - the PowerShot G9 X Mark II is an excellent choice
Read the full review:Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II6
Sony Cybershot RX100 VSony's super-high speed sensor tech is brilliant but pricey Sensor: 1-inch, 20.1MP | Lens: 24-70mm, f/1.8-2.8 |
Monitor: 3.0-inch tilt-angle display, 1,228,800 dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 24fps | Movies: 4K | User level:
Intermediate/expertHigh-speed shooting and 4KBuilt-in EVFThe tech makes it expensiveNo touchscreenSony's original RX100 was a landmark
camera that fused a 1-inch sensor in a compact, metal body with the controls and image quality demanded by enthusiasts
The RX100 V goes a step further, though, with a 'stacked' sensor design for high-speed data capture
This means it can shoot 4K video, amazing 40x slow motion and still images at 24fps in continuous burst mode
That's not forgetting the neat little built-in electronic viewfinder that its rivals lack. It's a pricey option and does have its quirks,
but if you're looking for a versatile, pocket-sized compact with a quality zoom lens, you won't be disappointed. Read the full review: Sony
Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 / FZ2500The FZ2000 / FZ2500 combines a bridge camera zoom with a big 1-inch sensor Sensor: 1-inch, 20.1MP | Lens:
24-480mm, f/2.8-4.5 | Monitor: 3.0-inch articulating display, 1,040,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 12fps | Movies: 4K |
User level: Intermediate1-inch sensorSuper-fast AFComparatively largeNo weather-sealingThis trend towards bigger sensors shows up in the
Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 (known as the FZ2500 in the US)
Bridge cameras are very popular because they offer a colossal zoom range at a modest cost
To design a big zoom, though, the makers have to use a tiny sensor – and here Panasonic took the wise choice to sacrifice zoom range for
The Panasonic FZ2000 uses a 1-inch sensor, and while the zoom tops out at 480mm equivalent, which is relatively short for a bridge camera,
that's still plenty for all but the most extreme everyday use. We love the FZ2000 because it delivers both image quality and zoom range -
if you're looking for something a bit cheaper, the older FZ1000 is still available.Read the full review: Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 / FZ25008
Sony Cyber-Shot WX220Cheap and cheerful 10x compactSensor: 1/2.3-inch CMOS, 18.2MP | Lens: 25-250mm, f/3.3-5.9 | Monitor: 2.7-inch display,
460,000 dots | Viewfinder: No | Continuous shooting: 1.5fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: Beginner10x zoom lensCompact designLimited
featuresSmall screenIf you're looking for a compact camera that can do a better job than your smartphone - the WX220 ticks a lot of boxes,
especially when you consider the extra flexibility offered by the 10x optical zoom, running from 25-250mm. Images are bright and punchy,
with decent detail – ideal for sharing online or printing at typical sizes, and it's nice to see Wi-Fi connectivity included as well. The
2.7-inch screen is a little on the small side, but that does help in keeping the dimensions of the camera to a pocket-friendly size
The WX220 may not have lots of bells and whistles, but what it does, it does well.Read the full review:Sony WX2209
Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark IIISensor: APS-C CMOS, 24.2MP | Lens: 24-72mm, f/2.8-5.6 | Monitor: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,040,000
dots | Viewfinder: No | Continuous shooting: 7fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: Intermediate/ExpertBig sensor in a small body Refined
touchscreen controls Limited zoom range No 4K video recording The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III can be termed as the compact sized DSLR
The reason behind this is the APS-C CMOS sensor which Canon has used inside a small body
The image sensor along with the DIGIC 7 processing unit delivers good quality of images
The camera also comes with Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth connectivity which allows faster transferring of files to other smart devices.Read the
full review: Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III9jrzXAgqCu4wrH4PPz4dp7.jpg#
