Crazy for Compact Cameras

06/02/2026

Alternatives to the “Best” compact cameras

A recent article on top choices for compact cameras appeared on the NBCnews Website last month. The selected models appear below. In the right hands, each has its merits and can produce outstanding photos. However, as you read and see recommendations in any media, keep in mind that authors and publishers seek sponsorship from manufacturers and, whether they believe it or not, they are biased.

Firstly, no one gets special consideration (i.e., favors) for recommending older gear, and few prioritize value as the top criterion. Many authors have little experience covering years, even decades, of owning and using cameras. Therefore, read articles on the “best” of anything with a grain of salt. On the other hand, Crazy for Compact Cameras is totally non-commercial, doesn’t sell anything, isn’t sponsored, and is presented by a former professional photographer who has used compact cameras since the 1970s. My words are 100% my own.

Today, I offer options to the listed cameras and short reasons why.

Best budget
Kodak Pixpro FZ55
Alternative: Your phone. The FZ55 offers no real advantage over your smartphone unless it’s important that others see you shooting with a real camera.

Best zoom
Sony RX100 VII
Alternative: Sony RX100 VI. I won’t argue that the Sony RX100 VII beats the pants off any other compact camera in nearly every aspect except for price. I shoot with the VII version and love it. However, its previous version, the VI, is nearly identical but for a few features that may not be vital to many. It’s $400 - $500 less expensive on the used market. Don’t dismiss the Canon G7X MkII or MKIII. Same compact form and similarly sharp lens as the Sony but both lack an EVF.

Best superzoom
Panasonic Lumix ZS99
Alternative: Canon PowerShot SX740 HS. It doesn’t have an EVF but it’s smaller, lighter, has a greater zoom range, and half the price of the ZS99. Its biggest fault is that it doesn’t shoot in RAW, which may be a show stopper for many.

The best, if it's in stock
Fujifilm X100VI
Alternative: This is an easy one. Or a hard one to choose because there are many. But I’ll give you a choice. The first is the previous version X100V which has a similar-looking body and a lower-resolution sensor, 26 vs 40 megapixels. That’s about it. If you’re not presenting images on anything larger than an 8 x 10 print or computer monitor, you’ll be hard-pressed to see a difference. (I’ve delivered 12 megapixel images to pleased national clients.) Second choice: The Fujifilm X-T50. With its compact, retro-style body, you won’t be mistaken for an out-of-touch “creative.” Its main advantage is the ability to take a variety of lenses, making it more versatile than the X100VI. And it’s in stock! Third Choice: Gonna go rogue on this one, but if you must go with retro styling and can deal with a Micro Four Thirds (as thousands of others do), the Olympus Pen F offers oodles of features, accepts interchangeable lenses, is well-built, and sells used for a third less cost.

05/25/2026

Circling back to Olympus

A while back, someone messaged me that I spent too much time covering Olympus cameras. I got the message and talked about a wide range of other small cameras. Yet, my affinity toward Olympus runs deep and, I believe objectively, for good reason.

Firstly, the picture that accompanies this article is a fake meant to draw the attention of readers who believe Sony is the beginning and end of worthy cameras. The body is actually an Olympus OM-D E-M1 which is one of, if not the best, buy for aspiring photographers especially for landscape and travel shooters.

Disclaimer
I've never used this version of the camera but, instead, I have years of experience shooting with its descendent, the OM-D EM1 MkII. Both share advanced features both in number and in superiority compared to even the latest, high end models from Canon, Fuji, and Nikon.

The MkII version was an update that included a higher resolution sensor, 20 megapixels vs. 16 megapixels, a faster image processor, and a fully-articulating screen vs. a tilting screen. Those are the significant differences. Watch the video that covers most of the specs that both models share.

For cameras as aged as they are, they could compete favorably in today's market. Their big advantage is price.

If you shoot mostly landscape, wildlife, and travel photos, Olympus shines with small and light bodies, weather sealing, and the ability to carry extra lenses in a space that might fit only a single body at, at most two lenses.

Some may balk at the cameras' Micro Four Thirds (MFT) sensor believing it to be too small. Put that argument against the many professionals and advanced amateurs who shoot with these daily. Have a look at the video. If you believe you can find a similarly spec'd and performing camera at a similar price. I'm willing to listen and write about it.

7.5K likes, 492 comments. "No Competition: The Best Budget Camera of 2026"

05/24/2026

In which I become a Debbie Downer...

Is the Panasonic Lumix L10 really the most exciting camera of the year? Frankly, not for me.

You've probably read about this latest model from Panasonic. I appreciate that they're offering another compact camera. It seems the company can still release both full-frame and compact cameras. But I'm disappointed.

I think Panasonic should be complimented but it missed the boat in focusing on a camera that tries to compete with the flagship compacts from Canon and Sony. As I read through the specs, there's nothing wrong with the L10 and it will most likely enjoy brisk sales for a while. At the same time Canon, Sony, and to some extent Fuji, own the market segment already. But as Panasonic tries to gain some traction in an already crowded field of established cameras, it seems to have lost sight where it has alway been a winner: the maker of the best compact compacts.

The L10 is hardly small. It's bigger and, I presume, heavier than some APS-C cameras, doesn't seems to have a build worthy of its asking price, and seems to be pieced together from parts leftover from the LUMIX parts bin. Nothing new and nothing hardly "exciting" as the headline exclaims.

Instead, if Panasonic really wanted to excite the market, it would go back to its roots and to a design that begs for an update. Ten years ago, the Panasonic Lumix GM1 and GM5 rocked the compact world with a truly tiny, interchangeable lens, pocketable, camera. The latter model even came with an electronic viewfinder. The cameras were fitted with Micro Four Thirds (MFT) sensors that allowed the diminutive form factor that endeared themselves to owners then and since. They've long been discontinued but have held their values in the used market well.

Rather than going head-to-head with a new model in a market dominated by others, Panasonic could do an end-around with an updated GM5 with contemporary features starting with at least a 20 megapixel MFT sensor. A 24 megapixel sensor would make the rest of the market sit up and listen! An OLED viewfinder would replace the obsolete "scan and pan" headache-causing sequential EVF. Of course, you'd need the latest image-processor software. At the same time, a more affordable GM1 upgrade could omit the EVF. Finally, offer both with the standard kit zoom but introduce an upgraded 17mm or 20mm f/2 premium prime at the same time. It's time to get a new, truly compact camera and no one could do it better than Panasonic. They did it before and they can do it again.

A tour of what it is, and how it works.

05/23/2026

Need to feel a bit better about buying your latest compact camera. Have a look at this.
(BTW, I have both the Canon G7X AND the Sony RX100 MkVII so one man's favorite isn't the another man's favorite.)

GET THE SONY ZV-1 ON AMAZON (affiliate links):Sony ZV-1: https://amzn.to/4niJE4RSony ZV-1 Mk II: https://amzn.to/4ng4NMSSony ZV-1f: https://amzn.to/4cZ2OcuCo...

05/23/2026

You can't get decent bokeh with small sensors"

Hold my beer.

Creative use of out-of-focus elements in a photo, literally puts the focus on your subject. Some argue that full-frame sensors are the only good way to achieve bokeh. That may be true in many situations. But, if you practice simple steps, you can create gorgeous bluring with small-sensor camera and zoom lens.

Using my compact camera with its 1-inch sensor, I back away from my subject, zoom in as much as possible, and set my aperture to its biggest size (here, f/2.8), and take the exposure.

Try this technique and you may surprised at the effect.
Shoot lots!

05/20/2026

Which casts the bigger shadow?
It's not a trick question but a rhetorical one.

At one time, I would choose between these two cameras. For money shots, it was always the Nikon. For casual bike rides and hikes, the Olympus would be my pick. Today, I own neither.

Did I simply split the difference between the full-frame model and the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) compact? Yes. Kinda. Maybe not. I will say that I held on to my Nikon for years after retiring and was pleased with its performance and reliability. But after several miles of hiking covering uneven terrain over the years, carrying both a full camera kit in one bag and loads of personal gear in another. The combined weight became a hindrance, taking away much of the fun and length of my treks. Also consider that while leading photo tours, I was carrying an additional load, including a full-size first-aid kit, contingency gear, an emergency radio, extra water and snacks, and sometimes other students' packs. Therefore, I began exploring smaller, lighter photo gear.

I experimented with everything from point-and-shoots (I still carry the very capable Sony RX100 MkVII) and many MFT models. I even tested bulky bridge cameras that were massive, but I didn't have to carry lenses. But the better solution escaped me until I was hired as a real estate marketer.

I saw a Sony a6000 with a lens on sale at a giveaway price and thought I'd experiment with a compact APS-C model. I was no stranger to the format, as I had shot with crop-sensor cameras for nearly two decades. But the Sony was tiny, relatively fast, and unobtrusive. The photos I shot were not used in any marketing material but were for my own use to prompt my writing. I was impressed enough with the speed, performance, and handling that I quickly bought Sony's a6500 and, when it was available, the a6700.

Today, those APS-C models are my go-to cameras for everything. A body and three lenses fit nicely in a small bag that would not even carry my full-frame camera and one lens. I understand all about image quality and know that a 26-megapixel crop sensor cannot compete with a 36-megapixel full-frame sensor. But I do not need the quality of a pro camera body. And I certainly do not need the weight, bulk, resolution, and nth-degree quality in my images when they will be displayed on nothing more demanding than a 5K 60-inch TV or 5K monitor.

Setting your own needs rather than following the corporate style guide requirements of demanding clients gives you the freedom to choose a wide variety of gear at affordable prices and in easier-to-carry sizes and weights.

Shoot lots!

05/19/2026

Would you consider getting a compact camera that shoots monochrome (black and white) only?

The Ricoh GR IV Monochrome wins top prize at Japan's Camera Grand Prix 2026 – and its biggest 'limitation' is the point

05/10/2026

Compared to the earliest DSLRs, even the largest current pro cameras feel "compact."

From some connections I made with Nikon a quarter-century ago when I reviewed cameras and lenses online, I was able to attend early announcements and demos of cameras in which Nikon helped develop. Among them were the Kodak DCS and the very first copy of the Nikon D1.

Back then, I was shooting with the Nikon N8008s and a borrowed F4. I was able to handle the new monsters that were heavy and unwieldy. Much of the weight was from the built-in hard drives. The prices of the early Nikons were north of $20,000 and were eagerly purchased by news agencies and well-financed stringers. I never dreamed I would be shooting exclusively on digital cameras with several times the resolution, twice the dynamic range, on cameras lighter than my film cameras that cost a twentieth the price.

Camera technology progressed quickly in the next 10 years. Today, we don't see the leaps in technology like we did back then but prices seem to have stabilized and affected more by supply chain and inflation than by the cost of innovation. Still, the future of photography with the introduction of AI, LIdar, and other techno voodoo will continue to fascinate photographers. Ready or not, here it comes.

I can't believe I had never heard about this camera until now. This is the Kodak DCS 760, and APS-H Kodak CCD sensor DSLR released in 2001. It's a frankenste...

04/24/2026

No all compacts are worthy

I'm sure I'm very much like you when I say that just because I'm a fan of compact cameras, I'm not necessary a fan of all small cameras. Even if they include a famous brand name on their front plate (ahem Kodak).

While cheap and an actual camera, I don't think this camera and those like it are worth it at any price. Some may mention this is a good starter camera for a child or beginner. I say, an old unused smartphone shoots better images, is as easy to carry, and is free.

The supremely affordable, compact and lightweight Yashica DigiPix 100 has a certain retro charm, complete with ‘vintage’ image quality!

04/12/2026

It's the Shohei Ohtani of compact cameras. The Sony RX100 MkVII does everything well. Some are suggesting its recent price drop is the result of decreasing sales. I'm pretty sure nearly everyone who wanted a copy already bought one. Others are suggesting that the price drop means an updated model is imminent. Regardless, as I always mention, no new camera has never made an older camera less competent. The MkVII is nearly perfect and I can't imagine a future model being much more compelling. Perhaps if they could squeeze in a Micro Four Thirds sensor and a similarly fast lens with, perhaps, a 24-120mm (equivalent) focal length zoom, and wrap it up in a not much larger body, and offer it at less than $2,000, it might raise an eyebrow or two. Still, given a choice between the current model and the fantasy model I suggested, I would still buy the MkVII.

What about you?

The Sony RX100 VII drops to $1,498, its lowest price of 2026. Save on this premium compact camera with 24-200mm zoom.