10 best compact cameras of 2015
1. Panasonic LX100
A compact masterpiece, with a, big sensor, classic controls, fast zoom and even a viewfinder
Sensor: Micro Four Thirds, 12.8MP | Lens: 24-75mm, f/1.7-2.8 | Monitor: 3-inch, 921K dots | Viewfinder: Yes | Continuous shooting: 11fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Expert
Keen
photographers usually go for a DSLR or a compact system camera, but
they also want something that will slip in a pocket for those days when
the big camera needs to stay at home. Usually, that means putting up
with a smaller sensor – but not this time. Somehow, Panasonic has
shoehorned a CSC-sized Micro Four Thirds sensor into a compact camera
body. Not only that, it's added an aperture ring on the lens, a shutter
speed dial on the top AND an electronic viewfinder. It has a
specially-designed super-compact wide-aperture lens and it can shoot 4K
too. Expensive, but amazing and unique.
2. Fuji X30
A compact camera for enthusiasts that's packed with features and style but still affordable
Sensor: 2/3-inch X-Trans, 12MP | Lens: 28-112mm, f/2.0-2.8 | Monitor: 3-inch tilting, 920K dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 12fps | Movies: 1080 | User level: Intermediate/Expert
But
you don't have to pay a fortune for a top-quality high-end compact
camera. We like the Sony RX100 III with its 1-inch sensor, but we're
actually going to go for the Fuji X30, and for two reasons: it's very
good value for money for what it delivers, and the 2/3-inch Fuji X-Trans
sensor punches well above its weight, with excellent film simulation
modes, dynamic range expansion and shadow/highlight contrast control.
It's nicely made, too, with a solid-feeling body, traditional manual
zoom ring and a very good electronic viewfinder.
3. Fuji X100T
Fuji took a chance with this retro-themed fixed lens compact – and made its reputation
Sensor: APS-C X-Trans, 16.3MP | Lens: 35mm, f/2 | Monitor: 3-inch, 1040K dots | Viewfinder: Hybrid optical/EVF | Continuous shooting: 6fps | Movies: 1080 | User level: Expert
The
X100T is a beauty both to look and and to use, but it's not for
everyone! It's a relatively large, retro-styled camera with a fixed
focal length 35mm equivalent f/2.0 lens, and designed for photographers
who hanker after the weighty feel and manual external controls of
traditional 35mm rangefinder cameras. It's a relatively specialised
camera you'll use for a certain type of subject (street photography, for
example) and most owners are likely to have other cameras too. The
original X100 revived Fuji's fortunes and gave its rivals the jolt they
needed to develop their own classically-designed cameras.
4. Sony RX10
Hard to categorise and easily overlooked, the RX10 scores with a brilliant lens and a big sensor
Sensor: 1-inch CMOS, 20.2MP | Lens: 24-200mm, f/2.8 | Monitor: 3-inch tilting, 1440K dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 10fps | Movies: 1080 | User level: Intermediate/Expert
Actually,
that 'big' sensor is relative. DSLR and mirrorless camera owners would
sneer at a 1-inch sensor, but it's much bigger than the sensors used in
regular compact cameras and bridge cameras and this has a big impact on
picture quality. The problem for the RX10 is that its 8.3x zoom range is
too short for it to be considered a 'bridge' camera so people don't
know how to categorize it. But that 24-200mm lens is remarkable – its
constant f/2.8 maximum aperture is unheard of in a compact camera with
this kind of zoom range.
5. Panasonic FZ1000
Bridge cameras usually match yucky, small sensors with crazy big zooms... but not this time
Sensor: 1-inch, 20.1 megapixels | Lens: 25-400mm, f/2.8-4 | Monitor: 3-inch articulating, 921K dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 12fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Intermediate
The
Sony RX10 is impressive enough, but the Panasonic FZ1000 takes it a
step further. 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 better quality. Like the Sony RX10,
the Panasonic FZ1000 uses a 1-inch sensor, and while the zoom tops out
at 400mm equivalent, that's still plenty for all but the most extreme
uses. If you want both zoom power and quality, the FZ1000 is the answer.
6. Canon SX60 HS
Big-zoom bridge cameras don't deliver the best quality, but the SX60 HS is best-of-breed
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch back-illuminated CMOS, 16.1MP | Lens: 21-1365mm, f/3.4-6.5 | Monitor: 3-inch articulating, 922K dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 6.4fps | Movies: 1080 | User level: Basic/Intermediate
Having
just complained that regular bridge cameras use small sensors that
compromise the quality, we're still going to recommend the Canon SX60
HS. The Panasonic FZ1000 is big and expensive, and the Canon is much
more manageable in both respects. Its 1/2.3-inch sensor has a
back-illuminated design for better light gathering, and while its 65x
zoom has now been beaten by the 83x zoom on the Nikon P900, it's still
right up there with the biggest on the market. You get an articulating
LCD, full manual controls and the ability to shoot raw files, so the
SX60 is about as good as regular bridge cameras get.
7. Panasonic TZ70/ZS50
Travel cameras combine big zoom ranges with pocket-sized bodies, and the TZ70 is the best
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch CMOS, 12.1 | Lens: 24-720mm, f/3.3-6.4 | Monitor: 3-inch, 1040K dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Continuous shooting: 10fps | Movies: 1080 | User level: Basic/Intermediate
Most
of us like to travel light, and this has led to a big market in
versatile 'travel', or 'long-zoom' compacts. Panasonic kicked off this
whole camera genre with its TZ-series, and these are still the best. The
latest model, the TZ70, has a 30x zoom and some remarkably powerful
features, including full manual exposure modes, the ability to shoot raw
files and even an electronic viewfinder. The small sensor is a
necessary evil for this type of camera, but Panasonic has bravely
dropped the resolution to 12 megapixels to give better sensitivity and
all-round quality.
8. Olympus Tough TG-4
If you like to live on the wild side, the TG-4 can take as much punishment as you can
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch CMOS, 16MP | Lens: 25-100mm, f/2.0-4.9 | Monitor: 3-inch, 460K dots | Viewfinder: No | Continuous shooting: 5fps | Movies: 1080 | User level: Basic/Intermediate
We
haven't yet had Olympus's latest TG-4 in for review, but we've tested
the TG-3 and we like it a lot. You normally think of cameras as delicate
electronic devices, but the TG-4 is as tough as they come. It's
shockproof to a height of 2.1m (the height you can drop it from),
crushproof (resisting a force of 100kg), waterproof (down to a depth of
15m) and freezeproof (down to -10 degrees centigrade). You also get a
surprisingly fast 4x zoom lens – f/2.0 at its widest focal length – and
built-in GPS, so that you can follow your adventures on a map.
9. Canon PowerShot D30
Tough and smart-looking at the same time, the D30 is waterproof down to an amazing 25m
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch back-illuminated CMOS, 12.1 megapixels | Lens: 28-140mm, f/3.9-4.8 | Monitor: 3-inch, 461K dots | Viewfinder: No | Continuous shooting: 1.9fps | Movies: 1080 | User level: Basic
Still
on the subject of tough cameras, we also like the Canon PowerShot D30.
It's a lot cheaper than the Olympus TG-4 and a little less aggressive in
its styling. It goes even deeper, too, with a depth rating of 25m, and
all this combines to make it a tough and practical family camera. But
while the D30 does have GPS, like the Olympus, there's no Wi-Fi – and
there's no 'crushproof' rating either. The image quality isn't quite on a
par with the Olympus's (which also shoots raw files, by the way) and
the macro mode can be a bit hit and miss, but you can't fault its value.
10. Sony W800
It's cheap, it's simple and it still gives you a 5x zoom – the Sony is our top low-cost buy
Sensor: 1/2.3-inch, 20.1MP | Lens: 26-130mm, f/3.2-6.4 | Monitor: 2.7-inch, 230K dots | Viewfinder: No | Continuous shooting: 0.5fps | Movies: 720 | User level: Basic
If
price is the biggest factor, then you can hardly do better than the
Sony W800. At this end of the market you have to tread a careful line
between 'cheap' and 'rubbish', and the W800 keeps you firmly on the side
of 'cheap'. Its 20MP 1/2.3-inch sensor and 5x zoom lens deliver
perfectly satisfactory quality for a budget point-and-shoot camera, and
both the build quality and the styling are a cut above what you might
expect at this price. It's small, light, easy to use and gives you just
enough manual control to cope with the occasional tricky situation.
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