For all the recent advancements in the quality and versatility of smartphone photography, not to mention clever AI photo modes, the best compact cameras still offer something more than our handsets. Whether for travel snaps, street portraits or pocket-friendly video, our favorite compacts deliver a unique shooting experience compared to the best camera phones.
Of all the hundreds of compact cameras we've tested, our personal favorite is the Fujifilm X100VI. It combines everything we'd want from a compact: gorgeous looks and handling, excellent image quality and stunning Film Simulation effects, plus effective image stabilization all in a tidy package. But here's the thing about compact cameras: different models are better suited to different photographers.
That's why we've spent so much time testing so many options in the real world. We review as many compacts as we can, using them in genuine, real-world conditions – all to understand which ones are worth recommending, and for who. You'll find the results of those reviews below, together with some top tips to help you choose.
Top 3 picks
Use the overview below for an instant summary of the best compact cameras you can buy right now. When you find one that ticks your boxes, you can use the links beneath each entry to jump down to our full write-up.
The best compact for enthusiasts overall
A sharp street shooter, the X100VI takes Fuji’s TikTok-famous X100 series to new heights, with a 40MP sensor and image stabilization.
The best pocket compact for features
With strong image quality, sharp 4K videos and class-leading AF, the RX100 VII is one of the most capable compacts right now.
The best compact for video creatives
A bright lens, superb autofocus and useful design features make the Sony ZV-1 a powerful pocket option for shooting video.
Best by use-case
The best photo quality from your pocket
Responsive, pocketable and intuitive handle, the GR IIIx uses a versatile 40mm f/2.8 lens to produce sharp RAW stills.
The best for keen hobbyists
A brilliant compact for enthusiasts, the Lumix LX100 II offers excellent stills quality, responsive autofocus and good physical controls.
The best all-rounder for photographers
The Canon PowerShot G5 X II blends a capable core with useful features, a quality build, and great controls and handling.
The best money-no-object compact
The Leica Q3 is the most powerful, most enjoyable, most expensive compact camera. Price aside, it’s tactile and high quality.
The best compact instant camera
Combining retro looks with point-and-shoot simplicity, the Go Generation 2 produces rich instant prints that are perfect for sharing.
Best for vlogging
This fantastic tool for solo vloggers is super-portable and super-stable thanks to its gimbal, plus it's affordable.
Tim is TechRadar's Cameras Editor. With more than 15 years’ experience as a photographer and journalist, Tim has been lucky enough to test countless cameras – including many of the best compacts. As a result, he’s developed a deep practical understanding of what makes a good compact camera. He notes, “smartphones are now incredibly capable photography tools, but compacts can still offer something more. If you’re looking for a dedicated camera with superior features and handling, the premium models in this list are definitely worth considering.”
The best compact cameras in 2024
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Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best compact cameras in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best compact camera for most people
Fujifilm X100VI sample images
✅ You want a versatile everyday camera: A sharp sensor and image stabilization make the X100VI a flexible tool for shooting on a daily basis.
✅ You like a retro-modern hybrid: The X100V blends old-school looks with modern features, including a superb hybrid viewfinder.
❌ You want the best value overall: Its new skills are welcome, but the X100V offers many of the same core features for less – if you can find it in stock.
❌ You like to use different focal lengths: The fixed 23mm focal length is a calling card of the X100 series, but some will find it too limiting.
The Fujifilm X100V went viral for its retro design, pocket-friendly proportions, hybrid viewfinder and fixed 23mm f/2 lens. The X100VI takes the same concept and upgrades it again, boosting resolution to 40MP and adding in-body image stabilization for the first time. It also borrows the class-leading autofocus from the Fujifilm X-T5. In our review, we found results pin-sharp across the entire sensor, with the increased pixel count offering greater flexibility when cropping. Together with impressive subject tracking autofocus and effective stabilization, we think it’s an even more rounded compact for street shooting.
Our tests also revealed the X100VI to be a more capable filmmaking tool, courtesy of 6.2K 10-bit video support. The fixed focal length will still be a limiting factor for some, as will the single UHS-I SD card slot. You need an adapter for full weather-proofing, too. Given the sold-out demand for the X100V, it’s also unsurprising that Fujifilm has increased the price for its successor. But from our time living with the X100VI, we think it’s the pinnacle of the X100 series, and the best premium compact for everyday use.
Read our in-depth Fujifilm X100VI review
The best pocket compact for features
Sony RX100 VII sample images
✅ You need a complete pocket camera: The RX100 VII is arguably the most rounded pocket camera for photo and video.
✅ You shoot action: Lens zoom is limited, but the performance is not with super fast autofocus and continuous shooting.
❌ You want excellent handling: Small it may well be, the RX100 VII isn't the most ergonomic option available.
❌ You rely on a touch screen: The function of the touch screen is limited, with no support for menu navigation.
In many ways, the RX100 VII is still best compact around right now. Its autofocus system, we found, is comfortably ahead of any other pocket camera, tracking moving subjects with great reliability and making clever use of its Face and Eye AF, even in video mode. Video quality is superb, while image quality is also stellar. But all of this comes at a huge price, and for many people that could be a deal-breaker.
Still, we can't avoid including it in this guide, as it's one of the best options around. If your budget allows, then you won't find a more powerful compact than the Mark VII. But if you're happy to sacrifice some of the latest autofocus features and a microphone jack, check out the RX100 VI, which offers most of its performance but costs a little less.
Read our in-depth Sony RX100 Mark VII review
The best compact video camera
Sony ZV-1 sample images
✅ You want a powerful vlogging camera: The Sony ZV-1 is the best compact camera for YouTubers right now, shooting smartphone-beating 4K video.
✅ You want a compact you can grow with: Sony has made the ZV-1 simpler for beginners to use, but it's also jam-packed with pro features.
❌ You mainly want to shoot stills: While it's no slouch for stills, the lack of a viewfinder and moderate zoom range will limit some photographers.
❌ You need an all-weather action camera: The ZV-1 is packed with features, but one that's missing is weather-proofing.
If it's mainly video rather than stills that you're looking for from a compact camera, then the Sony ZV-1 is the one of the best options around. Not that it isn't also very capable at shooting still photos – it has the same sensor and processor as Sony's latest RX100 series cameras, after all – but the ZV-1's main strength are its video powers. That includes its class-leading autofocus powers, which helps it tenaciously lock onto people and moving objects in your frame. During testing, we found it to do an excellent job of keeping moving subjects in focus and tracking our eyes across most of the frame. Of course, the video quality from its 20.1MP 1-inch sensor is nothing short of impressive as well.
These are backed up by a 3.5mm mic port for boosting audio quality with an external microphone, and a hotshoe to help mount the latter. Its bright 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 doesn't give you the same reach as the RX100 VII, but it does ensure that you get lovely background blur in both stills and videos – perfect if you mainly shoot portraits or vlogs. Sony has since released the ZV-1 II, but for us the successor was a puzzling update that in real world use offered little extra than the ZV-1 to justify its pricier tag.
Read our in-depth Sony ZV-1 review
