The best compact cameras of 2017
Table of contents:
- The best compact cameras of 2017
- Fujifilm X100F
- Panasonic Lumix ZS100 / TZ100
- Panasonic Lumix LX100
- Panasonic Lumix LX10 / LX15
- Canon PowerShot G7 X II
- Sony RX100 V
- Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 / FZ2500
- Sony RX10 III
- Sony WX220
- Leica Q (Typ 116)
The compact camera market has changed quite a bit in recent years, as smartphones have come to replace the point-and-shoot models that used to be very popular with fans and therefore manufacturers have changed their strategy to add more advanced features to cameras to make them more attractive. For this reason we bring you our guide to the best compact and bridge cameras. Do not miss it!
In addition to having opted for larger sensors with image quality capable of rivaling some DSLRs in certain cases, some compact cameras boast lenses with enormous zoom and fairly large apertures. On the other hand, Wi-Fi connectivity is also a practically standard function in most compact cameras, since it allows you to quickly transfer photos to a mobile to share them on Facebook.
Index of contents
The best compact cameras of 2017
If you are thinking about improving the quality of your photos and you do not want to buy a DSLR or a mirrorless camera, you should know that there are currently quite interesting options in the compact camera market, since the photos taken with some of these cameras They are really impressive without you having to change the lens all the time as it happens in the case of SLRs. In addition, compact cameras are also much cheaper.
Here we reveal a list with the 10 best compact cameras of the moment, but if you notice that any camera that you like is not present, do not hesitate to suggest it to us through the comments.
Fujifilm X100F
Sensor: APS-C CMOS, 24.3MP | Objective: 23mm, f / 2.0 | Screen: 3 inches, 1, 040, 000 dots | Viewfinder: Hybrid Optical Viewfinder / Electronic Viewfinder | Continuous shooting: 8fps | Video recording: 1080p | User level: Expert
+ Excellent design
+ Hybrid viewfinder
- 1080p recording
- Fixed focal length lens
It may be one of the most expensive compact cameras on our list and the truth is that some might not even consider it as a compact camera, but if you are looking for a high-quality camera, the Fujifilm X100F will not disappoint you at all.
Unlike other compact ones, the Fujifilm X100F has a fixed lens instead of zoom, but it incorporates a 24.3-megapixel APS-C sensor with a 35mm equivalent format and an F / 2.0 aperture, capable of achieving impressive results.
In addition, the Fujifilm X100F also boasts external touch controls and a smart hybrid viewfinder, but you will also have the option to switch between the optical and electronic viewfinder. Of course, it should be noted that you will need some knowledge to get the most out of this exquisite camera, but with a little dedication your photos will undoubtedly be spectacular.
Panasonic Lumix ZS100 / TZ100
Sensor: 20.1 MPx, 1 inch size | Objective: 25-250mm, f / 2.8-5.9 | 3-inch touch screen, 1, 050, 000 dots | Electronic viewfinder | Continuous shooting: 10 FPS | Video recording: 4K | User level: Beginner / Intermediate
+ 1-inch sensor (4 times larger than in other compact cameras)
+ 10x zoom lens
- Small electronic viewfinder
- Fixed screen
Panasonic was practically the inventor of the genre of compact cameras for tourists with a lot of zoom, but to keep up with the high competition in the market, the company incorporated in the ZS100 cameras a 1-inch sensor, much larger than in other compact cameras on the market.. This enables pixels to be approximately 2.4 times larger than models like the Z250 / TZ70 and helps the camera produce higher quality images.
This compact 250mm zoom camera isn't too expensive, either, but you'll still benefit from an electronic viewfinder that makes it easy to compose photos in high-light conditions.
BUY PANASONIC LUMIX ZS100
Panasonic Lumix LX100
Sensor: Micro four thirds 12.8 MPx | Objective: 24-75mm, F / 1.7-2.8 | 3-inch screen, 921, 000 dots | Electronic viewfinder | Continuous shooting: 11 FPS | Video recording: 4K | User level: Intermediate / Expert
+ Great sensor, small body
+ Traditional controls
- Flash prone lens
- Modest resolution
Some photographers choose to always have a DSLR with them, but others also use lighter cameras at times when they prefer to leave DSLRs at home. For those moments, Panasonic has created the Lumix LX100, a compact camera that despite its small size incorporates an impressive micro sensor that is four thirds the size of a CSC.
In addition, the company also added a ring to control the aperture from the target, as well as a wheel to adjust the shooting speed and an electronic viewfinder. On the other hand, the LX100 can also be bought very cheaply today, since its price has dropped considerably since the day of its launch, and to this day it is still a camera with enormous potential.
BUY PANASONIC LUMIX LX100
Panasonic Lumix LX10 / LX15
Sensor: 20.1 MPx 1-inch | Objective: 24-72mm, F / 1.4-2.8 | 3-inch touchscreen, 1, 040, 000 dots | Viewer: No | Continuous shooting: 6 FPS | Video recording: 4K | User level: Intermediate / Beginner
+ Ultra-fast lens with F / 1.4 aperture
+ Very fast autofocus system
- It does not have a viewfinder
- Lack of proper grip
Aside from having a 1-inch sensor, four times bigger than the sensor of other compact cameras, the Lumix LX10 (known as LX10 outside the USA) presents the perfect balance between performance, features and price.
The bad news is that it does not have an electronic viewfinder and its design does not allow a perfect grip, but its 24-72mm lens is one of the fastest there is in addition to having a maximum aperture of F / 1.4.
If we add to all this that the LX10 includes two control rings and a touch screen, in addition to an excellent autofocus system and the support for video recording with 4K resolution, we are in front of one of the best compact cameras on the market.
BUY PANASONIC LUMIX LX15
Canon PowerShot G7 X II
Sensor: 20.1 MPx 1-inch | Objective: 24-100mm, F / 1.8-2.8 | 3-inch flip-up touch screen with 1, 040, 000 dots | Viewer: No | Continuous shooting: 8 FPS | Video recording: 1080P | User level: Beginner / Intermediate
+ Good grip
+ Excellent low-light performance
- Does not have a viewfinder
- No 4K recording
The incorporation of the latest DIGIC 7 image processor in the Canon PowerShot G7 X II brings several performance improvements over the original model, while the handling of the camera is also more optimized.
Its 4.2x optical zoom is greater than that of other cameras such as the Sony RX100 IV or the Panasonic LX10 / LX15, in addition to its variable aperture of F / 1.8-2.8 and its 20.1-megapixel sensor with 1-inch size. make the G7 X II a very versatile and powerful camera in low light situations.
If you don't have a problem with the lack of an electronic viewfinder and are used to using only the screen to take photos, then the G7 XX II is a pretty good alternative and much cheaper than the Sony RX100 IV.
SHOP CANON POWERSHOT G7 X II
Sony RX100 V
Sensor: 20.1 MPx, 1 inch | Objective: 24-70mm, f / 1.8-2.8 | Flip -up 3-inch screen, 1, 228, 800 dots | Electronic viewfinder | Continuous shooting: 24 FPS | Video recording: 4K | User level: Intermediate / Expert
+ High shooting speed and 4K recording
+ Built-in electronic viewfinder
- something expensive
- Without touch screen
Sony's first RX100 was an innovative camera that integrated a 1-inch sensor into a very compact metal body, with controls and image quality that met the demands of the most enthusiastic.
Now the new RX100 V goes one step further and features a "stacked" sensor for very high-speed content capture. This means that you will be able to record videos in 4K resolution or with a super slow motion effect (slowing down 40 times), as well as photos at 24 frames per second in burst mode.
On the other hand, it should not be forgotten that the Sony RX100 V incorporates an electronic viewfinder that is not found in some of its rivals. It is a somewhat expensive option but it has its advantages.
If you are looking for a compact camera with a lot of versatility and a zoom lens, the Sony RX100 V will surely not disappoint you.
BUY Sony RX100 V
Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 / FZ2500
Sensor: 20.1 Mpx 1 inch | Objective: 24-480mm, F / 2.8-4.5 | 3-inch jointed screen, 1, 040, 000 dots | Electronic viewfinder | Continuous shooting: 12 FPS | Video recording: 4K | User level: Intermediate
+ 1 inch sensor
+ Very fast autofocus
- Something big
- Without sealing against the adversities of the weather (rain, dust)
The trend of using larger sensors is also visible in the Panasonic Lumix FZ2000, a "bridge" camera with a huge zoom capacity.
To design a lens with so much zoom, manufacturers often turn to smaller sensors, but in this case Panasonic made the wise decision to sacrifice the zoom range for better quality.
In this way, the Panasonic FZ2000 incorporates a 1-inch sensor, and although the zoom limit is the equivalent of 480mm, it is a great figure considering that you can photograph very far things without problems.
In addition to offering an excellent zoom, the Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 also provides good image quality and is not very expensive, so if you are interested in a camera of this type, do not hesitate to take a look at the FZ2000, especially some samples of photos that you can take with it. If you want an even cheaper option, the FZ1000 is still available for sale.
WE RECOMMEND YOU Canon shows off its impressive 120 megapixel Canon 120MXS cameraBUY PANASONIC LUMIX FZ2000
Sony RX10 III
Sensor: 20.2 MPx CMOS and 1-inch size | Objective: 24-600mm, F / 2.4-4 | 3-inch folding screen with 1.23 million dots | Electronic viewfinder | Continuous shooting: 14 FPS | Video recording: 4K | User level: Intermediate / Expert
+ Excellent sensor
+ High quality zoom lens
- Face
- The menu system could be better
Sony took the 24-200mm sensor found in the RX10 II and increased it to 24-600mm before adding it to the successor to the range, the RX10 III.
Also, the constant maximum aperture of F / 2.8 was replaced in the new model by a variable aperture of F / 2.4-4, while the 20.1 megapixel CMOS sensor on the RX10 III is capable of achieving an excellent level of detail, at while providing great performance with high ISO.
Although somewhat heavier than its predecessors due to the enormous zoom it brings, the RX10 III has a good grip and sometimes it even gives you the feeling of handling a DSLR and not a compact camera.
Finally, note that the Sony RX10 III is also equipped with an electronic viewfinder and the ability to record 4K videos. The only problem could be its price, considering that it costs more than some DSLRs or mirrorless cameras.
BUY SONY RX10 III
Sony WX220
Sensor: 18.2 Megapixel (1 / 2.3-inch) CMOS | Objective: 25-250mm, F / 3.3-5.9 | 2.7-inch, 460, 000-dot screen | Viewer: No | Continuous shooting: 1.5 FPS | Video recording: 1080p | User level: Beginner
+ 10x optical zoom
+ Compact design
- Limited benefits
- Small screen
If you want a compact camera capable of doing a better job than your smartphone, then the Sony WX220 could help you wonderfully, especially considering the high flexibility offered by its 10x optical zoom, which ranges from 25 to 250mm..
Photos taken with the Sony WX220 are very bright and well saturated, and are ideal for sharing on social media or even for printing in standard sizes. In this sense, the WX220 also has Wi-Fi connectivity and although its screen is somewhat small, with only 2.7 inches, the camera is much lighter and more manageable than other models in the same range.
BUY SONY WX220
Leica Q (Typ 116)
Sensor: 24.2 megapixel full-frame | Objective: 28mm, F / 1.7 | 3-inch touchscreen, 1, 040, 000 dots | Electronic viewfinder | Continuous shooting: 10 FPS | Video recording: 1080p | User level: Expert
+ Full-frame sensor
+ Very fast and sharp lens
- Very high price
- The front grip is an extra
When photography was based on the use of reels, most compact cameras had 35mm reels, just like professional SLRs. This means that as long as your camera had a good lens, you could take exceptional photos. But digital photography has changed the landscape, and many compact cameras have smaller sensors that make capturing perfect images a challenge.
Leica and Sony are the only two companies that make compact cameras with a Full-Frame sensor, and while Sony's RX1 models are excellent, the Leica Q (Typ 116) has won our hearts.
The biggest disadvantage of the Leica Q is in its price, since it rivals the prices of most premium DSLR cameras, but for that money you also get a Leica Summilux 28mm lens with F / 1.7 ASPH aperture, an electronic viewfinder with 3, 680, 000 dots, a 3-inch touch screen with 1, 040, 000 dots, extra fast autofocus system, manual exposure controls and the possibility of creating spectacular photos.
Despite its high price, the Leica Q has sold very well in recent times, and the company has even had supply problems.
BUY LEICA Q (Typ 116)
We recommend reading our best PC hardware and component guides:
- PC Gaming configuration. Best laptops on the market. Best processors on the market. Best motherboards on the market. Best SSD of the moment. Better graphics cards.
We hope you liked our top of the 10 best compact cameras of 2017. If you have any option that is not on our list, do not hesitate to share it with us in the comments section below.
Best ip surveillance cameras 2017
Guide to the best surveillance cameras on the market with Wi-Fi, cable, night vision, economic connectivity, software management and different environments.
The best compact cameras with superzoom of 2017
If you are looking for a bridge camera with superzoom for beginners or advanced, don't miss our top of the best superzoom cameras of 2017.
The best yi cameras with great discounts on geekbuying
The best Yi cameras with great discounts on Geekbuying. Find out more about Yi brand cameras with great discounts.