Last update:June 7, 2022
If you’re about to buy (or give away) a compact camera, this mega-guide is for you. In it I recommend the best compact cameras that as an amateur photographer you can acquire at this time.
INSIDE THIS ARTICLE… đź“–
What is the best compact camera?
The ones in this article are, in my humble opinion, the best compact cameras. Below I explain what has caught my attention in each of them and what makes them the “best”.
The criteria I used for the following selection was both my experience as a photographer, and the possibility that we have from this medium to test many camera models that brands send us. This has allowed me to form an idea over time regarding which are the compact cameras that give the best results at a photographic level. In other words, in this guide you will find the “crème de la crème” of compact cameras.
An important fact: it is not enough that a compact digital camera looks good to me personally. That’s why 10 o’clock top compact cameras that you will find in this guide all have a very high general rating by users who have used them. They all have 4 stars (out of 5) on Amazon, at least.
If you decide on a compact camera from this list, you may be interested in purchasing it through Amazon. In my humble opinion, it is the store that offers the best price while maintaining a level of guarantees, customer service and returns that I have not seen so far in any other store.
Before you buy your next compact camera
When it comes time to buy a new camera, you should not lose sight of some issues that I find important:
- What use do you plan to give your compact photo camera? The features of your future compact camera will depend largely on the use you want to give it. Being very clear about what you want will help you focus on those specifications that you consider essential for your next camera.
- Beware of scams: It is known that stores and manufacturers have an incredible ability to make us believe things that are not entirely true. We already save you this with this careful selection that includes only compact cameras of proven quality and utility.
All the cameras featured in this mega-guide have passed our rigorous quality criteria. The camera you are looking for is waiting for you below.
In addition to indicating the strong points of each of these compact cameras, I will also leave you a link where you can buy the camera at a good price.
Without further delay, let’s discover them then.
Top 10 best compact cameras
Here I leave you what, from my humble point of view as a photographer, are the 10 best compact cameras of the moment. (Yes, I regularly update this article so the information you will find below is very up to date).
SonyDSC-HX60
Probably one of the best compact cameras available right now, as it outperforms even many current SLR cameras: with 20 megapixel resolution, Full HD video recording at 60 fps, ideal for recording slow motion scenes , and a built-in lens with a generous 30x zoom, which many professional SLR owners wish they had.
It also has an image stabilizer, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity to connect it to a mobile phone or tablet, among many other functions.
It is also one of the cameras that has received the best ratings on Amazon, which has catapulted it to the top 3 of compact cameras.
Ideal for users looking for a balance between power and price. Also, it is perfect for users who need a powerful zoom, whether it is for bird photography, nature, travel, or even sports etc.
Although it is easy for a compact digital camera to reach 400 or 500 euros, the price of the Sony DSC-HX60 is currently around 200-odd euros, offering a good performance/price ratio. For this reason, it has become one of the cameras that I recommend the most on a personal level lately.
Panasonic Lumix GX80
Imagine having in your hands a tool with a 16-megapixel resolution (enough for amateur use), a 3-inch tilting screen, not one or two, but 5-axis optical stabilizer (for ultra-sharp photos), and the ability to shoot your photos in RAW format, the same format professional photographers shoot with, not to mention the ability to record 4K video.
Can you imagine it?
This has a name and it’s called the Panasonic Lumix GX80, a true beast, practically a professional SLR camera in a compact body, although retaining the possibility of exchanging lenses, as if it were a true professional SLR. And although technically it is not a compact, we have included it here for all these characteristics and because with this lens that carries the example, it is practically like carrying a compact.
The Lumix GX80 is the perfect camera for the user who is looking for the ultimate, both in photography and for those video shots, which you will get in true 4K.
If you are a selfie lover, or have children/friends/family, its rotating screen makes it ideal for family photos and self-portraits.
In short, if you are looking for power, the Lumix GX80 is your camera. Right now it is available on Amazon for around 400 EUR
SonyDSC-W830
Available in several colors (black, silver, pink and purple), the Sony DSC-W830 boasts a powerful 20 megapixel sensor, 8x optical zoom, image stabilizer to save your photos from those moments when your hand shakes when shooting, and a series of extras that make it a very good option. Among those extras is the “beauty” effect that the Sony DSC-W830 brings, with which you can instantly retouch portraits, from the camera itself, eliminating small imperfections and enhancing the beauty of the subject, without having any knowledge of portrait photography.
Ideal for the hobby photographer looking for an incredibly small compact camera with more than decent features. But above all, if you are on a fairly tight budget, the Sony W830 is your camera 🙂
The Sony DSC-W830 is priced at around 130 EURwhich makes it one of the cheapest compacts out there right now.
Panasonic Lumix TZ70
Equipped with Leica optics (one of the best optics on the market), a powerful 30x optical zoom (30x), rare to find in a compact of this size, the Panasonic Lumix TZ70 entertains its owner with all the functionalities that a modern compact camera today must have: Wi-Fi connectivity, very useful to connect the camera with the mobile for example and see in real time what is being photographed with the camera from the mobile, video recording in Full HD and slow motion or its built-in image stabilizer make it one of the best compact cameras to consider.
If you are looking for a good balance between price and performance, this is your camera. Right now the Panasonic Lumix TZ70 is costing about 300 EUR in photo shops. By the way, for very little difference you can upgrade to the Lumix TZ80 that incorporates 4K video recording among other better ones (available here).
Canon IXUS 185
Who said there were no good compact cameras under 100 EUR? For example, the Canon IXUS 185, one of the compacts that offers the best photo quality, with its 20 megapixel resolution, its 8x optical zoom, and its easy creative functions that will help you obtain incredible photographs even if you do not have much experience. as a photographer.
A perfect camera for small pockets, both for its small size and for the ridiculously small price it costs. Available in 3 colors, its price is around 100 EUR on Amazon.
Canon IXUS 190
The Canon IXUS 190 is another great alternative for those who are on a small budget but don’t want to do without state-of-the-art features. The Canon IXUS 190 impresses with its combination of 20 megapixel resolution, 10x optical zoom (when the usual optical zoom on a compact is usually no more than 3-5x), image stabilizer to save you the frustration of blurry photos , along with a long list of extras that will make your “shot” much easier (creative filters, Wi-Fi connectivity, …).
Ideal for travel photography, nature, among others. It is perfect especially if you do not want to spend a lot on your next compact camera. The Canon IXUS 190 is currently under 200 EUR.
Panasonic Lumix TZ57
Very few manufacturers are able to pack so much functionality into such a small body and price. Taking into account its price, the features of the Panasonic Lumix TZ57 leave one speechless: 16 megapixel resolution, an optical zoom not 3 or 10, but 20x (20x), folding screen, ideal for selfies or photos between colleagues or family, Wi-Fi connectivity to connect the camera to your smartphone or tablet, optical image stabilization, something that is normally reserved only for high-end cameras, are just some of the advantages that you carry in the tiny body of the Lumix TZ57.
Ideal camera for people who want to take family photos, retreats, selfies, or even for nature and travel photography, thanks to its not inconsiderable 20x zoom magnification.
Available in 2 colors, the Panasonic Lumix TZ57 costs between 150 and 200 EURa very affordable price considering what the camera can do.
SonyDSC-RX100M3
The many years of experience and the enormous commitment that Sony has always shown in the compact camera market have made it one of the largest manufacturers of this type of camera.
One of Sony’s “jewels” is the RX100M3, one of the few compact cameras with an f/1.8 lens aperture and image stabilizer, two key features in photography and with which you can capture incredible photos full of light and with a level rare to find in this class of “pocket” cameras.
The Sony RX100M3 also boasts a 20-megapixel resolution, a 3-inch LCD screen that can be tilted 180Âş, ideal for vlogging, Full HD video, Wi-Fi and NFC, and all the other features that we could expect from it.
Its price is somewhat high but sometimes you could find it on sale. Currently around 500 and some EURa very well invested price if what you are looking for is a camera for portraits or family photography.
Canon PowerShot SX740 HS
I always say that you can’t have everything in a camera. Except in the Canon SX740 HS, which imposes with its powerful 40x zoom…