personalized Camera Recommender, an online tool that suggests a camera based on your use, your preferences and your particular needs (click on the previous link).
Buying a compact camera is almost as complicated as buying an SLR , or almost more, because nothing more than these impossible names that they have already gives you a headache ? and the offer is infinite. But at Blog del Fotógrafo we are here to lend you a hand and make your life (photographically speaking) much easier. That is why today I am going to save you time and effort by showing you a small selection of the most compact ones.
And there is no best camera, but the one that best suits each person. That's why there are so many brands, models and colors ?, because there are almost as many different types of photographers as there are stars you see in the sky. If your priority is pocket size because you want to take it everywhere with hardly any weight or occupancy, this is your article. On the contrary, if more than the size you need it to be as economical as possible, better take a look at this other article with 5 compact cameras for less than 150 euros (and 3 for very little more).But what has been said, those are for those looking for the lowest price, the ones that I show you are the ones that are best equipped in the most "compact" size. And if what you want is something similar to a compact camera so that you don't have to worry about changing lenses but you don't care about the size and it does have a lot of zoom, these bridge cameras or these other cameras with a lot of zoom may be your best option.
(By the way, before we go any further, we're running a worldwide petition for compact camera makers to give them less impossible names ;P? ) Kidding aside, here are some of the best scents in small bottles:
1. SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-WX500 (THE STREET)
A compact without a viewfinder, which does not have a very bright lens but does have a very powerful optical zoom, with a focus motor and quick ignition. Solidly built and with a dial for adjustments, it offers very intuitive handling. It has Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity
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- Weight: 236 g with Li-ion battery
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- Dimensions: 102x58x36 mm approximately
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- Screen: 3.0 in. (7.5 cm) (4:3) Tilt vertically up to 180º (useful for waist-high shots and self-portraits)
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- Zoom: 30x
- Zoom: 30x
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- Objective: Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 30x, equivalent to a 24–720mm ƒ/3.5-6.3 (retractable)
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- Maximum aperture: f/3.5-6.3
- ISO: ISO 80-12800 (although from 400 the noise is already too noticeable)
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- 18.2 effective megapixels
- 18.2 effective megapixels
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- Sensor: 1/2.3 type (7.82mm) Exmor R CMOS
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- Price: N/A
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- Limitations: it is not the most recommended for interiors or night photos
- Ideal for: street photography and stolen portraits.
2. SONY RX100 (THE COMPACT FOR PROFESSIONALS)
It stands out for its small size, its image quality and for the good performance of the manual focus. It offers a large aperture (f/1.8), with an elegant lightweight aluminum design, it doesn't have a viewfinder, but with this size... Due to its characteristics it would be almost like an SLR in a compact body.
- Weight: 213g (body only), 240g (with battery and stand)
- Dimensions: 101.6 x 58.1 x 35.9mm
- Screen: 3.0 in. (7.5cm) (4:3)
- Zoom: 4x Optical 14x Digital
- Objective: 28-100mm Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T*
- Maximum aperture: f/1.8-4.9
- Maximum shutter speed: 30 s
- ISO: 3200 (acceptable up to 1600)
- 20.2 megapixels
- Sensor: CMOS Exmor 1.0 (its size is (being small) one of the largest (13.2 x 8.8 mm), which allows for higher image quality
- Burst: 10fps
- Video: AVCHD (up to 1,920 x 1,080 / 50p at 28 Mbps) / mp4 (up to 1,440 x 1,080 / 30 fps at 12 Mbps) / VGA (up to 640 x 480 / 30 fps at 3 Mbps)
- Price: N/A
- Limitations: its ergonomics, since its design does not precisely facilitate a good grip and therefore a good hold when shooting and avoiding trepidations. It has no cover to protect the retractable lens and no place to attach a filter.
- Ideal for: low-light scenes
- Battery life: 330 photos / 165 minutes
3. CANON POWERSHOT SX730 HS (THE TRAVELER)
A very compact camera with functions such as Wi-Fi, NFC or Bluetooth connectivity or stabilizer, a very simple camera but with a very powerful and versatile zoom. In a 35mm camera we would be talking about a focal length that goes from 24mm to 960mm. It is also capable of focusing at a distance of 1 cm. A simple camera, for those who do not have great pretensions in terms of photography or manual controls, but want a very versatile focal length with a powerful zoom.
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- Weight: approx. 300 g (battery/batteries and memory card included)
- Dimensions: 110.1 x 63.8 x 39.9mm
- Screen: LCD 3´0″ vertical folding 180º
- Optical zoom: 40x
- ISO: 80-3200 (from 400 obvious noise level)
- 20.3 megapixels
- Aperture: f/3.3 – f/6.9
- Speed: 1-1/3,200 s
- retractable flash
- Stabilizer
- Processor: DIGIC 6
- Video: Full HD with 5-axis stabilizer
- Price: N/A
- Limitations: not RAW
- Ideal for: Travel photography
- Battery life: 250 photos in normal mode
4. LUMIX LX15 (THE BRIGHTEST)
This is one of those cameras that makes you wonder how so many features can fit into such a small package. With a one-inch sensor, 4k video recording, a Leica lens with f/1.4 aperture, manual controls, and very good image quality, this compact camera is a great, very compact camera built with very consistent materials.
- Weight: 280 g without battery and memory card, 310 g approx. with battery and SD memory card
- Dimensions: 105.5 x 60 x 42mm
- Screen: vertical and ascending folding
- Zoom: 3x
- Lens: LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMILUX
- Focal Length: 26.4mm (24-72mm 35mm equivalent in 4:3)
- Maximum aperture: f / 1.4-2.8
- Image Stabilizer
- ISO: 100 to 25,600
- 20.1 megapixels
- Sensor: 1” MOS
- Burst: Up to 10 fps (depending on AF, card type, and whether you were shooting JPG or RAW)
- Video: 4K
- built-in flash
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Price: €530.16
- Limitations: it does not have a viewfinder, the grip is not very good for shooting with one hand, it seems that it can slip and the menu is not the easiest or most intuitive to use
- Ideal for: portraits , self -portraits , street photography , travel , low light situations , etc. Perhaps for what it is least useful is for sports or action photography , for everything else... great!
- Battery life: approximately 260 images
5. NIKON COOLPIX A900 (GOOD, NICE AND CHEAP)
A great option to consider if your price is adjusted. The most notable are its 20 megapixels, its 35x zoom, connectivity and 4k video recording, as well as the Timelapse option.
- Weight: Approx. 298 g (including battery and memory card)
- Dimensions: 113 x 66.5 x 39.9 mm (excluding protruding parts)
- Screen: 3″ folding
- Zoom: 35x
- Lens: NIKKOR
- Maximum aperture: f/3.4 to f/6.9
- Focal Length: 4.3 – 151mm (24-840mm equivalent in 35mm format)
- ISO: 80-1600
- 20 megapixels
- Sensor: 1/2.3-inch CMOS
- vibration reduction
- Video: 4K UHD/30p, time-lapse
- Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth LTE and NFC
- built-in flash
- Price: N/A
- Limitations: it is not one of the best in terms of image quality, although in terms of value for money it is very good.
- Best for: Any situation that requires a lot of zoom
- Battery life: Approx. 270 shots
