Compact Camera Reviews

Each and every one of these best-in-class compact digital cameras delivers big camera performance in a small camera package. Light enough to carry with you every day, everywhere, these are high quality digital cameras that are perfect for travel, discreet street shooting and casual family snaps.

Nikon recently introduced the Coolpix P950, a bridge-style super-telephoto zoom camera that features an 83X, 24-2000mm equivalent zoom lens and a boatload of creative options, including P, A, S and M Modes, Raw file options and UHD 4K30 video. We put a production sample through the gauntlet and here is what we found.

Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII ($1298), to give it its full name, is the latest in the company’s series of pocketable premium fixed lens cameras. The Sony RX100 VII is the follow-up to what has become a long line of Sony RX100 cameras, preceded by the RX100 VI, the RX100 V, the RX100 IV and so on.

Every zealous photographer I know would enjoy owning a compact camera that has a large sensor, full manual options and available Raw format. Throw in a wide-angle lens, great performance in high ISO/low light situations and a size that fits in your pocket and you have a winner anyone would relish. That brings us to the Fujifilm XF10. Or does it? I had a chance to use one for an extended period. Read my evaluation in this review.

Ricoh recently announced the latest in their series of high quality, ultra-portable digital cameras, the GR III. Smaller than its predecessor, this new Ricoh compact camera has a 24-megapixel APS-C format CMOS image sensor, 28mm (equivalent) prime lens and a host of features normally found on professional DSLRs. 

Leica just launched the Leica Q2, a 47.3MP compact camera that's the successor to the popular full-frame Leica Q. The Leica Q2, which has an attached (i.e. non-interchangeable) prime lens, features splash/dustproof construction, 4K video, an all-new OLED viewfinder and an improved Maestro image signal processor that has a base of ISO 50.

Integral zoom lens cameras are often referred to as “bridge” cameras: the idea being that they bridge the gap between compact and DSLR models. If there’s a bridge connection here it’s in the rather incredible zoom range of the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV ($1,700, retail price) that spans the far shores of 24-600mm equivalency.