Which compact cameras are worth buying?

Contributing Reporter

UpdatedFri, November 28, 2014 at 5:00 PM UTC

Plenty of people have switched to smartphones for their photography needs, but that doesn't mean standalone cameras are dead just yet. Companies like Fuji, Canon and Olympus continue to make great DSLRs and interchangeable lens cameras for photographers who are serious about their picture-taking. But what about users who aren't that advanced, but still want something that packs a little more oomph than the average smartphone? There's a sub-category of cameras just for that, known as compacts. They're easy enough for a novice to use, but still offer plenty of options for experienced users. We've taken a look at a few of the more outstanding models on the market to help you decide whether it's worth carrying a separate camera for those precious photogenic moments.

If one of the things you've been missing about having a camera is that classic '60's styling, then Fuji has you covered with the FinePix X100S. *Pocket-Lint* calls it "a slice of retro-style camera pie" that they thought was "swanky," but they also admitted it "isn't going to be for everyone." Those who buy this camera for its old-style look will be rewarded with picture quality that *Digital Versus* says "beats pretty much anything else on the market right now," with *Digital Trends* finding the richness and accuracy "terrific." *DigitalCameraReview* felt it's "one of the highest performing point-and-shoot cameras currently on the market" at the time of its review. Since then, Fuji has introduced the X100T, which is also worth a serious look if you have the cash to spend.

Price: $899

Canon takes on the compact market with the attractive PowerShot G7 X, offering a small build that *Digital Photography Review* found solid, though it warns the compact shooter can be "a bit slippery." That sums up a lot of things about the camera, which *CNET* liked for its excellent photos, but dinged for its "generally sluggish autofocus performance." *Tom's Guide* also loved the image quality, but had another point of contention with the battery life, calling it "pretty poor." However, in spite of a handful of flaws, *Tom's Guide* still places the G7 X among the "best of the current bridge cameras."

Price: $649 and up

Smartphones and point-and-shoot cameras aren't known for having good zoom functions, forcing those who need the ability to upgrade to an ILC or DSLR. The Stylus 1 fills that niche by providing what *CNET* calls an "excellent" zoom lens with fine photo quality, and T3 says the "sharp and colorful" pictures are "crisper" than they expected from a camera with this kind of zoom. The Stylus 1 also performs in the speed department, offering a startup time that *Digital Versus* feels is "on par" with Olympus' OM-D series of interchangeable lens cameras and autofocus "way ahead of its main rivals too."

Price: $479 and up

The Lumix LX100 makes a play for the top and comes up just short, but it's still an extremely strong contender in the compact camera market. *Reviewed.com* says the image quality "simply shined," with its 4K video quality "nearly a match for the Panasonic GH4." Accompanying that picture-taking ability are "classic looks and handling" that gave *Digital Photography Review* a rather "gratifying user experience," and *TrustedReviews* sums it up by stating that the "level to which the Lumix LX100 lets you feel you're getting your hands dirty with the mechanics of photography is simply fantastic."

Price: $879 and up

Sony has been setting a strong example for compact cameras since the introduction of the original RX100 back in 2012, and the third iteration of the line has raised the bar even higher. *Pocket-Lint* finds it lives up to the reputation of its predecessors by doing "a sterling job when it comes to its images," and *Photography Blog* says it might even provide slightly better results. The RX100 III also ups its game by adding a pop-up viewfinder, which *PC Mag* found "extremely sharp and lifelike" and "a pleasure to use." In our own review of the camera, we said, "You can't do any better than this." However, if you don't care for the viewfinder, the older RX100 models are still available for a much lower price.

Price: $798

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Fuji FinePix X100S

If one of the things you've been missing about having a camera is that classic '60's styling, then Fuji has you covered with the FinePix X100S. Pocket-Lint calls it "a slice of retro-style camera pie" that they thought was "swanky," but they also admitted it "isn't going to be for everyone." Those who buy this camera for its old-style look will be rewarded with picture quality that Digital Versus says "beats pretty much anything else on the market right now," with Digital Trends finding the richness and accuracy "terrific." DigitalCameraReview felt it's "one of the highest performing point-and-shoot cameras currently on the market" at the time of its review. Since then, Fuji has introduced the X100T, which is also worth a serious look if you have the cash to spend.

Price: $899

Frank Spinillo contributed to this report.

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Which compact cameras are worth buying?

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