Discover the best compact camera to buy this year. A buying guide with our ranking on which compact cameras to consider taking into account the price and technical characteristics.
- Best Cameras: Buying Guide
- Canon or Nikon?
- Economic camera
In this article, I’ll walk you through the best compact cameras with extended zoom, small size and comfortable grip, to highlight the pros and cons of each model.
Table of Contents
Which compact camera to buy
The compactor point and shoot cameras do not require special photographic knowledge, as all the known automatisms of the compact cameras are manageable through a selector ring for the different modes.
Zoom is the big advantage of compact cameras over smartphones. The machines I have shown you even allow you to work at 33x even over minimum distances. For a traditional format photo, all this translates into a focal length of almost 900 mm.
However, these extreme focal distances also have disadvantages for the photographer: the longer the focal distance is, the more difficult it will be to hold the camera still in the hand. In low light, however, it will be necessary to set a higher ISO value on the camera than that selectable for shorter focal distances, since telephoto lenses extended to the maximum turn out to be less bright. This all affects image quality as consistent digital noise is visible and sharpness decreases.
Thanks to the automatic mode, compact cameras allow you to take quality photos. The presence, in some models, of the integrated viewfinder guarantees bright and clear images. The sensors are usually the same size as smartphones even if with twilight and high ISO value, the image quality is penalized, and sharpness and details are lacking. Using the flash and setting a low ISO value should solve the problem.
Many compact cameras have a PictBridge connection, made using the USB standard. Many printers have a USB type-A port that can be connected via cable to the camera’s Mini-B type port. Using the camera software, the user is able to send the photo to the printer without using the computer.
Ranking of the best compact cameras
If you want to buy a top compact camera, I advise you to take into account the following elements: the zoom, the Megapixels (12MP are more than enough), the semi-automatic or manual shooting mode to adjust the ISO parameters, aperture and exposure time.
Best budget compact camera (under $ 200)
Sony DSC-W810
Best budget compact digital camera.
Pro
- Panoramic photographs
- Full HD movies
- Fast charging times
- It supports both SD and micro SD
Versus
- The battery wears out easily
Sony DSC-W810 is a compact digital camera with a 20.1 MP Super HAD CCD sensor and a 6 x Optical Zoom. It is packed with features that allow you to take clear and sharp HD photos and videos (720p). For evening photos you can instead use the Party Mode function while to use a buffer area around the edge of the sensor and avoid vibrations, use the SteadyShot technology. Other options are Sweep Panorama to get panoramic photos. Finally, if the subject is too far away, you can take advantage of the convenient 6x optical zoom to capture all the details of the scene.
Sony DSC-WX350
Best compact camera 200 euros.
Pro
- Small and comfortable
- Quality photos
- Versatile and quality zoom
- Economic
- Quick transfer of images to the smartphone
Versus
- Display not very visible in the light
- Poor performance in low light
- Complicated menu
The Sony DSC-WX350 is a compact travel digital camera with 18.2 MP and an Exmor R CMOS sensor. It features a 20x optical zoom with the possibility of making Full HD videos with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The powerful Exmor R sensor works with the Bionz image processor to enable you to reproduce sharp and bright images. Super-resolution pixel technology will allow you to analyze each pixel and convert images by restoring detail across the entire zoom range. Thanks to the wide ISO range of 80-12,800 you will get great results even at night and in low light.
Sony DSC-W830
It is the best compact camera with a 25mm wide-angle lens.
Pro
- 20MP high-resolution sensor
- 25mm wide-angle lens
- Face detection focus
Versus
- Lack of viewfinder
- 720p HD video
- Small LCD screen
- Slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
Available in different colours, the Sony DSC-W830 compact camera has a 20.1MP Super HAD CCD sensor. It mounts an 8x optical zoom with the possibility of making 720p HD videos.
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Best mid-range compact camera (between € 200 and € 700)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80EG-K
Among the best compact mid-range cameras.
Pro
- Photo quality
- Small size
- Lots of features
- Ring in correspondence of the objective to be used in a multifunctional way
- Quality optical viewfinder
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80EG-K is a perfect pocket camera for your travels. It features an 18.1MP MOS sensor with a LEICA lens and 30x zoom. The viewfinder is 0.20 inches and the aperture is F3.3 – 6.4. It enables 4K video recording to preserve the memories of your travels and thanks to the integrated 4K technology you can capture images at 20 fps and turn your shots into unmissable moments. The MOS sensor and the Venus Engine processor allow you to take perfect photos even in low light environments. The image data retains its original colours and with the Live View, Finder function you can see every little detail and capture the subject as you wish. There is no shortage of focus technology useful for low light conditions and HYBRID Optical Image Stabilizer Plus functions to film with one hand without blur and Level Shot to keep videos stable even for shooting from above.
