2026 Compact camera roundup 9 January 2026

 

January 2026 Sydney

In the good old days we had big cameras which were DSLR types, and compact cameras which were much smaller and had an integrated prime or zoom lens. The two types were clearly different.

But then came mirrorless interchangeable lens types  (MILC) which can be much smaller than DSLRs, blurring the line between interchangeable lens models and fixed lens compacts.

So in this little roundup I will include both types, concentrating on cameras designed primarily for stills photography or a hybrid of stills and video.  There has in recent years been a profusion of models designed specifically for vlogging which I will leave for others to discuss.

As we run through the many options I will offer some thoughts and some recommendations, which are intended for users mainly interested in stills photography with occasional video as a secondary interest.  If I do not specifically recommend a model that means I don’t recommend it at all.

I note an increasing trend to models without a viewfinder. I live in Sydney and travel around Australia. I have yet to encounter a camera without viewfinder which is consistently usable outdoors so I cannot recommend any of them.

Before going further I want to offer some thoughts about the issue of pocketability.  Over the years I have found that the photography device which is happiest in a pocket is the smartphone. These things are slim, and fit into most pockets. They are also substantially sealed against the ingress of moisture, dust, bits of junk and all manner of stuff which finds its way into pockets. When it comes to proper cameras, my experience is that they are best carried in a small bag or pouch of a type designed for the purpose. 

Canon.  I have owned and used all the Canon cameras and lenses referred to here except the SX740HS

Canon  Compacts

* Powershot G7X.3 has apparently gone back into production due to popular demand. This model has a 15.9mm diagonal sensor and no EVF. The price has increased substantially in recent times.

* Powershot SX740HS is a minimalist compact with the teensy-tiny 7.7mm diagonal sensor,  a 40x zoom and no EVF.

* Powershot Elph 360 HSA/IXUS 255HSA is a very small bar of soap style compact with no EVF, and a 12x zoom on a tiny 7.7mm diagonal sensor, which was originally released in 2016. For its rebirth some features have been deleted and the price increased.

Canon APSC MILC models

* The EOS R10 works well as a compact. The R10 has the best handling, user interface, controls and ergonomic design of all the cameras listed in this roundup.

I rate the R10 as Recommended.  The only potential downside is the lack of IBIS making stabilised lenses desirable.

* The EOS R50 is a bit smaller and less expensive but much less enjoyable to use with fewer controls and more cramped handling.

* The RF-S 18-45mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM kit lens delivers better results than some might imagine.

* The wider RF-S 14-30mm f4-6.3 IS STM lens is good and also works well on Canon EOS RF-S bodies.

Unfortunately there is a dearth of compact stabilised primes for Canon R mount APSC models.

Small, unstabilised full frame lenses like the RF 28mm f2.8 and RF 50mm f1.8 are very sharp but perhaps best used on the R7 which has IBIS but is getting us out of compact territory.

Canon full frame models

* This is also getting us a bit out of compact land but the EOS R8 with the RF 24-50mm f4.5-6.3 IS STM is a handy combination which offers a nice user experience, is not over-large and delivers very good results.

Fujifilm   I have owned and used the X100.5 and used the original X100 and an      X-T1.

 Fujifilm compacts

* The overpriced X-100.6 is still in hot demand and has received many positive reviews. I usually get angry or contemptuous feedback when I write negative reviews about Fujifilm cameras. The X-100 series make good pictures but that can be said of most cameras these days. The problem I have with them is the concept, design and operation of the controls and the overall user experience which I find confusing and over-complicated with operational dissonance between the hard controls (shutter speed, aperture, ISO) and the soft controls (front and rear dials and button functions).

* The X-Half  is described by DP Review as “profoundly silly”. I am not sure if the words profoundly  and silly fit well together, but you get the idea. Enough said.

Fujifilm APSC MILC models

Several reviewers have suggested skipping the X-100.x option and using one of the smaller MILC models instead.  These include but are not limited to the

* X-M5 (no EVF)

* X-T30.3 (SLR style, EVF, reasonable price) 

* X-E5 (has EVF but expensive)

Each of these can be paired with any of a selection of small primes such as the XF 27mm f2.8, XF 23mm f2.8 or XF 18mm f2.

There are also two compact zooms, the XC 13-33mm f3.5-6.3 OIS and XC 15-45mm f3.5-5.6 OIS PZ.

So for those who like the Fujifilm way of doing things there are plenty of options available.

Kodak

In 2013 J.K Imaging located in Gardena, L.A County California, obtained the license to make and sell cameras branded KODAK.  Actual manufacture is carried out somewhere in Asia, possibly China. The first models branded Kodak Pixpro were released in 2018. Fast forward to 2025 and there are many models sold under the Kodak Pixpro label and they are selling very well in Asia. Model variants and designations appear to change rapidly but in January I found several Kodak AstroZoom models and Kodak FriendlyZoom models for sale, ranging from AUD520 down to AUD250 retail.

They all appear to use the tiny 7.7mm diagonal sensor. Some have a zuperzoom, others a more moderate zoom. I do not see an EVF anywhere.

Buyer beware, especially with regard to servicing and warranty issues. I have not used any of these cameras.

Leica

* The Q3 in various iterations is usually described as a compact full frame camera although there are full frame MILCs available from Sony which can be smaller than the Leica if paired with a compact prime.

* The D-Lux 8 is an evolution of the D-Lux 7 which was an evolution of the original Lumix LX100 of 2024. I bought one in 2024 and gave it a thorough workout on many different types of subject. Unfortunately I came away disappointed as I have been with each iteration of this camera line from the original LX100 through LX100.2, D-Lux7 and D-Lux8. The D-Lux 8 has inconsistent autofocus, decent but average lens and image quality, fiddly handling and mediocre ergonomics even with the accessory grip.

Nikon

Nikon appears to have abandoned compacts altogether, in order to concentrate on their Z mount MILC lines.

However I bought and used the original Z50 when it was released in 2019 and reviewed it in 2020. The Z50.2 was released in 2024 with several upgrades. I labelled the Z50 “my new favourite compact camera” in 2020 because of its appealing combination of compact size, good image quality and good handling.

The Mark 2 version uses the same body and sensor which are no bad thing.

I found the Z DX 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 VR lens and overall capability very good.

There are also a few compact primes including the Z DX 24mm f1.7 and 28mm f2.8 which match the Z50 well.

I rate the Z50.2 with Z DX 16-50mm lens Recommended  with the caution that the camera body lacks IBIS.

The Nikon Zfc is basically a Z50 re-housed in a faux-traditional body style for those who are attracted to such things. It comes in eight different colors !

OM System

I have little experience with Olympus/OM cameras. I bought, used and was disappointed with the original OM-D E-M5 in 2012. I hated the menus and found the autofocus unable to track anything moving.  I gather from positive reviews that recent OM System models are much improved in all respects.

* OM has continued the Olympus line of tough waterproof compacts which review well.  

* The EM-10.4 is an Olympus carry-over.

* The OM5.2 is new in the sense of being a minor upgrade to the OM5 of 2022.

* OM System has some compact primes like the 25mm f1.8 Mk2 and 17mm f1.8 Mk2 and the 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 mk3 which is a decent compact zoom.

I think that for the Olympus/OM System faithful an OM5.2 could make a viable compact kit. It seems to be a decent enough camera. But there are plenty of alternatives from brands with a stronger market presence and more robust future prospects.

Panasonic Lumix

Lumix once made many compact and bridge models with built-in lens. Looking at products available in Australia we appear to be down to just one compact, the TZ99, which started life as the ZS40/TZ60 of 2014 evolving to the ZS80/TZ95 of 2019. This uses the tiny 7.7mm diagonal sensor fronted by a 30x zoom lens. I owned some of these cameras over the years, finding none of them able to produce decent images at any focal length.

* Then in 2024 Lumix removed the EVF, increased the price and declared this to be a new model. Seriously………..?

* The FZ80D is a slightly upgraded version of the previous FZ80, a mediocre bridge camera also using the tiny 7.7mm diagonal sensor.

The Lumix G100/100D is a very compact Micro Four Thirds model which was promoted as a video/vlogging model but which works better as a compact camera for still photos. I bought the G100D with the very nice little 12-32mm f3.5-5.6 kit zoom. I quite enjoyed using this kit and the results were pretty good. I might have kept it if the autofocus had been a bit more reliable and the controls better designed with a top rear second control dial instead of the dial co-located with the cross keys on the back of the control panel.

I rate this Lumix G100D plus 12-32mm lens  Recommended as a compact for still photos, with a warning that it uses old style DFD contrast detect AF and a try before you buy advice about the ergonomics.

Pentax/Ricoh

Pentax/Ricoh makes a range of waterproof, shock proof and industrial purpose fixed lens models  and 360 degree rotating models.

The Ricoh GR compact line began as film cameras and now continues as digital cameras currently in the GR.4 iteration. These are very small but also very capable models but all of them lack an EVF. An expensive optical viewfinder can be purchased separately.

The Ricoh GR models have something of a cult following and they certainly are interesting. I had the GR2 and GR3 for a while but found them unusable outdoors in Australia on any sunny or bright overcast day.

Sony

Like Lumix, Sony once made many compact and bridge models but these days we appear to be down to just one stills/video hybrid with the 15.9mm sensor,  the Cybershot RX100.7.

I had the RX100.5A a few years ago. It packed a lot of technology and good image quality into a tiny package but I soon tired of the cramped controls, sub-optimal ergonomics and that irritating pop-up-pull-out-push-back-push-down EVF. The current RX100.7 is basically the same but with a longer zoom range.

There is also the recently released full frame RX1R.3 compact for which Sony wants Australians to pay AUD8000. …….Really …?

Most Sony compacts these days are vlogging oriented models, most of which have had good reviews.

Sony APSC MILC

* Currently available we have the  a6400 and the more recently released and higher spec a6700. I had the a6500 a few years ago so I am familiar with the experience of using these cameras which like the RX100 series, pack a lot of technology into a very compact package.  

Either will work well with the basic kit Sony E 16-50 f3.5-5.6 OSS Mk2. This lens is decent but not outstanding optically and would work well in a compact kit.

There are also several third party primes which could be used and the Sony E 20mm f2.8.

For the photographer who is happy to work with the ergonomic limitations of the Sony a6XXX models either the a6400 or a6700 could form the basis of a capable compact kit.

I rate the Sony a6400 and a6700 as Recommended  but try before you buy and be sure you are happy with Sony handling and ergonomics. I am not but other users have no problem with the Sony user experience. Handling is improved with an aftermarket accessory grip but that increases the height.

Sony full frame MILC

The Sony A7C.2 and A7CR are remarkably small for full frame MILCs. The compact dimensions necessitate a very small EVF and more crowded controls than more conventionally sized models.

There are plenty of compact primes which could pair well with either of these models, however most of Sony’s full frame zooms are a bit oversize to be regarded as compact. The Sony FE 28-70 g3.5-5.6 OSS will do the job, but I think this is an old DSLR design which has been extended to fit the E mount.

The compact nobody makes

This is my mockup 15 which incorporates my ideas and results of my research into ergonomic design of small cameras.

This has dimensions: width 119mm, height 77mm, depth 55mm. This is the same size as the Fujifilm X-100.6 and smaller than a6700 but with much better handling, control layout and ergonomics than either of those models.

I really wish someone would make a proper compact camera using this design.

Mockup 15  The ergonomic compact, shaped to fit the hands and fingers.

Summary

In this little roundup I have not recommended a single camera with built-in lens.

Over the last 10 years we seem to have gone around in some kind of circle and come back to the point where the best compact cameras are actually small mirrorless interchangeable lens models while most compacts with built-in lens are cheap and cheerful snapshot models of limited capability.

I have no interest in these things at all but it appears there is quite a substantial buyer cohort  who buy and presumably use them.

I still cling to the belief that if one of the main players made a camera like my Mockup 15 and did the job properly, that there would be a market for it from buyers who appreciate a proper camera in a compact form.