Plan your
round the world trip
Compact Camera

Comparison of Compact Cameras

Our survey

We carried out a large survey between 22nd and 25th August 2019, amongst 890 people who had gone on a long trip. We asked them many questions about the devices they used to take their photos. Learn more about our methodology

25% of long-term travellers took a compact camera.

Most used brands

The most used compact camera brands by RTW travellers are:

  • 34%: Sony
  • 24%: Canon
  • 19%: Panasonic Lumix
  • 10%: Olympus
  • 6%: Fujifilm
  • 5%: Nikon
  • 2%: Leica

Most used models

We’ve grouped the devices together by series, as some old models are no longer on sale today.

Brand and Series Model Number of Users Amongst Our Survey Respondents Release Year
Sony RX100 Series
Total 31
RX100 Mark VII 0 2019
RX100 Mark VI 0 2018
RX100 Mark V 0 2016
RX100 Mark IV 5 2015
RX100 Mark III 10 2014
RX100 Mark II (no longer sold) 5 2013
RX100 11 2012
Sony HX Series
Total 7
HX99 1 2018
HX90V 1 2015
HX60V (no longer sold) 3 2014
HX50V (no longer sold) 2 2013
Sony TX Series
Total 1
TX30 (no longer sold) 1 2013
Canon G Series
Total 19
G7 X Mark III 0 2019
G5 X Mark II 0 2019
G9 X Mark II 1 2017
G1 X Mark III 1 2017
G7 X Mark II 7 2016
G5 X 7 2015
G3 X (no longer sold) 1 2015
G7 X (no longer sold) 1 2014
G12 (no longer sold) 1 2010
Canon SX Series
Total 8
SX740 HS 2 2018
SX730 HS 1 2017
SX720 HS 1 2016
SX620 HS 1 2016
SX700 HS 1 2014
SX240 HS (no longer sold) 2 2012
Canon D Series
Total 1
D30 (no longer sold) 1 2014
Panasonic Lumix TZ Series
Total 19
TZ200 1 2018
TZ90 3 2017
TZ100 7 2016
TZ80 3 2016
TZ70 2 2015
TZ60 (no longer sold) 1 2014
TZ40 (no longer sold) 2 2013
Lumix LX Series
Total 4
LX100 2 2014
LX15 1 2016
LX5 (no longer sold) 1 2010
Olympus Tough Series
Total 12
TG-6 0 2019
TG-5 7 2017
TG-4 (no longer sold) 4 2015
TG-3 (no longer sold) 1 2014
Fujifilm X Series
Total 7
X100F 2 2017
X100S 1 2013
X100 (no longer sold) 2 2011
X30 (no longer sold) 2 2014
Nikon Series
Total 6
W150 (no longer sold) 1 2019
W300 (no longer sold) 1 2017
A900 (no longer sold) 1 2017
P520 (no longer sold) 1 2013
P7700 (no longer sold) 1 2012
AW100 (no longer sold) 1 2012
Leica D-Lux Series
Total 2
D-Lux 7 1 2018
D-Lux (no longer sold) 1 2017

Selection criteria

Sensor

The sensor is one of the most important parts of a camera. It converts light rays into electrical signals. A large sensor makes it possible to have a shallow depth of field (which in turn makes it possible to have a subject in focus and a blurred background) and offers better rendering in low or contrasting light.

The number of megapixels isn’t a determining factor when choosing a camera. All cameras sold today have enough megapixels to make satisfactory enlargements.

The higher the maximum ISO sensitivity, the more light the sensor can store and therefore take indoor photos without flash or photos of moving subjects.

Lenses

On compact cameras, the lenses aren’t interchangeable.

The focal length of the lens determines how much your subject will be magnified. Its maximum aperture is stated in this way: f/number(s).

The smaller the f, the larger the aperture, allowing you to take photos in low light, without needing to increase the ISO sensitivity or use your flash.

Size and weight

Compact cameras are smaller and lighter than other cameras. With the lens, they weigh between 14.1 ounces and 2.2 pounds (400 grams and 1 kilo). The bigger your camera, the more it’ll weigh down your bag and attract unwanted attention, and the harder it’ll be to get out to capture scenes from everyday life.

Video

Lots of compact cameras now shoot in 4K resolution (or UHD) which offers more detail, precision and clarity than shooting in Full HD. 4K also has the advantage of allowing you to crop. This is particularly useful for stabilising your image in the post-production editing process, since the software doesn’t need to insert pixels. But, be careful, as 4K requires a lot of storage space, as well as a high-performance computer if you plan on video editing.

Screen

The larger the rear screen and the number of megapixels, the easier it is to view photos and navigate. A rotatable screen also makes framing easier. A touch screen simplifies menu navigation and lets you scroll through photos, just like on a smartphone.

Speed

The higher the maximum shutter speed, the more blur-free photos you can take of moving subjects. However, the compact cameras that we compare here all have the same shutter speed: 1/2000s. Burst mode allows you to take several images in a row automatically. The higher the maximum burst speed, the more likely you are to get a good shot.

Connectivity

  • WiFi: this is the most common connection on cameras. It’s high-speed and is used for downloading your photos or displaying the viewfinder on a smartphone or tablet when controlling the device remotely. However, it’s energy-consuming and requires you to disconnect your phone from the Internet.
  • NFC: this is a limited-range and low-speed connection. It’s used to directly pair two devices without a password. With the arrival of Bluetooth Low Energy, the usefulness of NFC has become questionable.
  • Bluetooth: this connection consumes very little power and doesn’t require you to disconnect your phone from the Internet. It maintains a constant connection with a smartphone to synchronise the camera clock, automatically retrieve GPS coordinates to add to photos and continuously upload photos to your phone.
  • Built-in GPS: this lets you add GPS coordinates to photos. It’s not essential when the device has a Bluetooth connection (see above).
  • Mic input: this allows you to connect a better quality microphone than the one already built into the camera.
  • Flash bracket: this lets you attach an external flash or other accessories.
  • USB: a USB 3.0 connection is ten times faster than a USB 2.0 connection.

Stabilisation

With optical stabilisation, it’s the lenses that move in the lens so that the image follows the movements of your camera. 5-axis stabilisation combines optical stabilisation with mechanical stabilisation in the sensor to compensate for five different movements. Electronic stabilisation is usually the least efficient.

Battery life

Mirrorless cameras’ battery life is usually shorter than that on DSLRs. It varies a lot from one model to another. You could carry an extra battery and a portable charger to avoid running out of power. But, that’ll increase the weight of your gear.

Shockproof and waterproof

Some compact cameras, like the Olympus Tough TG-6, are designed to withstand drops from a person’s height and to be able to take pictures underwater, which can come in handy if you’re diving or snorkelling when travelling.

Comparison of 13 Advanced Compact Cameras

In this table, we compare the technical features and prices of models which, according to our survey, are the most used by long-term travellers. We’ve also included the most recent models from the same series, even if they weren’t used by our survey respondents.

Sony
RX100
Sony
RX100
Mark III
Sony
RX100
Mark IV
Sony
RX100
Mark V
Sony
RX100
Mark VI
Canon
G7 X
Mark II
Canon
G7 X
Mark III
Canon
G5 X
Canon
G5 X
Mark II
Olympus Tough TG-5 Olympus Tough TG-6 Lumix TZ100 Lumix TZ200
Sony RX 100 compact camera Sony RX100 Mark III compact camera Sony RX100 IV compact camera Sony RX100 Mark V compact camera Sony RX100 Mark VI compact camera Canon G7X Mark II compact camera Canon G7X Mark III compact camera Canon G5X compact camera Canon G5X Mark II compact camera Olympus TG-5 compact camera Olympus TG-6 compact camera Lumix TZ100 compact camera Lumix TZ200 compact camera
Guide price $190
(£250)
$550
(£480)
$660
(£580)
$800
(£700)
$970
(£850)
$630
(£550)
$800
(£700)
$585
(£510)
$970
(£850)
$290
(£250)
$450
(£390)
$370
(£325)
$860
(£750)
Release year 2012 2014 2015 2016 2018 2016 2019 2015 2019 2017 2019 2016 2018
Our survey
Number of survey respondents who chose this model 11 10 5 0 0 7 0 7 0 6 0 5 1
Overall score out of 10 7.4 8.2 8.4
New model. not enough respondents
New model. not enough respondents
8.3
New model. not enough respondents
8.3
New model. not enough respondents
7.7
New model. not enough respondents
8.2
New model. not enough respondents
Photo quality out of 10 8.3 8.6 8.8 8.4 8.5 8 8.6
Video quality out of 10 6.8 8.4 8.6 8.3 7.8 8.3 8.8
Responsiveness out of 10 7 8.2 8.4 7.7 8 8 8
Ergonomics and functions out of 10 7.7 8.4 9.4 7.9 8.8 8.2 8.4
Dimensions
Body length 102 mm 102 mm 102 mm 102 mm 102 mm 106 mm 106 mm 112 mm 111 mm 113 mm 113 mm 111 mm 111 mm
Body depth 58 mm 58 mm 58 mm 58 mm 58 mm 61 mm 61 mm 76 mm 61 mm 66 mm 66 mm 65 mm 656 mm
Body height 36 mm 41 mm 41 mm 41 mm 43 mm 42 mm 41 mm 44 mm 46 mm 32 mm 32 mm 44 mm 45 mm
Weight
Weight with battery and memory card (CIPA standard) 240 g 290 g 298 g 299 g 301 g 319 g 304 g 377 g 340 g 250 g 253 g 310 g 340 g
Sensor
Sensor size (name) 1″ 1″ 1″ 1″ 1″ 1″ 1″ 1″ 1″ 1/2.33″ 1/2.33″ 1″ 1″
Sensor size (in mm) 13.2 x 8.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm 6.2 x 4.6 mm 6.2 x 4.6 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm
Number of effective pixels 20.2 Mpx 20.1 Mpx 20.1 Mpx 20.1 Mpx 20.1 Mpx 20.1 Mpx 20.1 Mpx 20.2 Mpx 20.1 Mpx 12 Mpx 12 Mpx 20.1 Mpx 20.1 Mpx
Sensitivty (ISO range) 125 –
6 400 ISO
125 –
12 800 ISO
125 –
12 800 ISO
80 –
12 800 ISO
80 –
12 800 ISO
125 –
12 800 ISO
125 –
12 800 ISO
125 –
12 800 ISO
125 –
12 800 ISO
100 –
12 800 ISO
100 –
12 800 ISO
125 –
12 800 ISO
125 –
12 800 ISO
Lens
35mm equivalent focal range 28-100 mm 24-70 mm 24-70 mm 24-70 mm 24-200 mm 24-100 mm 24-100 mm 24-120 mm 24-120 mm 25-100 mm 25-100 mm 25-250 mm 26-390 mm
Maximum aperture f/1.8-4.9 f/1.8-2.8 f/1.8-2.8 f/1.8-2.8 f/2.8-4.5 f/1.8-2.8 f/1.8-2.8 f/1.8-2.8 f/1.8-2.8 f/2.0-4.9 f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Optical zoom 3.6x 2.9x 2.9x 2.9x 2.9x 4.2x 4.2x 4.2x 5x 4x 4x 10x 15x
Video
Video size (name) Full HD Full HD 4K 4K 4K Full HD 4K Full HD 4K 4K 4K 4K 4K
Video size (in pixels) 1920 x 1080 pixels 1920 x 1080 pixels 3840 x 2160 pixels 3840 x 2160 pixels 3840 x 2160 pixels 1920 x 1080 pixels 3840 x 2160 pixels 1920 x 1080 pixels 3840 x 2160 pixels 3840 x 2160 pixels 3840 x 2160 pixels 3840 x 2160 pixels 3840 x 2160 pixels
Number of frames per second 50 frames/s 50 frames/s 30 frames/s 30 frames/s 30 frames/s 60 frames/s 25 frames/s 60 frames/s 25 frames/s 30 frames/s 30 frames/s 25 frames/s 30 frames/s
Sound Stereo Stereo Stereo Stereo Stereo Stereo Stereo Stereo Stereo Stereo Stereo Stereo Stereo
Screen
Size 7.5 cm 7.5 cm 7.5 cm 7.5 cm 7.5 cm 7.5 cm 7.5 cm 7.5 cm 7.5 cm 7.6 cm 7.6 cm 7.5 cm 7.5 cm
Number of dots 1,228,800 dots 1,228,800 dots 1,228,800 dots 1,228,800 dots 1,228,800 dots 1,040,000 dots 1,040,000 dots 1,040,000 dots 1,040,000 dots 460,000 dots 1,040,000 dots 1,040,000 dots 1,240,000 dots
Touch screen
Rotatable
Speed
Max. mechanical shutter speed 1/2000 s 1/2000 s 1/2000 s 1/2000 s 1/2000 s 1/2000 s 1/2000 s 1/2000 s 1/2000 s 1/2000 s 1/2000 s 1/2000 s 1/2000 s
Max. burst speed in high definition 10 frames/s 10 frames/s 16 frames/s 24 frames/s 24 frames/s 8 frames/s 20 frames/s 6 frames/s 20 frames/s 20 frames/s 20 frames/s 11 frames/s 10 frames/s
Connectivity
Wifi
NFC
Bluetooth
Built-in GPS
Mic jack
Flash bracket
USB USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0 USB 2.0
Other specifications
Stabilisation Optical Optical Optical Optical Optical 5-axis 5-axis 5-axis 5-axis Electronic Electronic 5-axis 5-axis
Viewfinder Electronic
1 440 000 Mpx
Electronic
2 350 000 Mpx
Electronic
2 350 000 Mpx
Electronic
2 350 000 Mpx
Electronic
2 360 000 Mpx
Electronic
2 360 000 Mpx
Electronic
1 166 000 Mpx
Electronic
2 300 000 Mpx
Built-in flash
Battery life (CIPA standard) 330 shots 320 shots 280 shots 220 shots 240 shots 240 shots 265 shots 210 shots 230 shots 340 shots 340 shots 260 shots 370 shots
Weather resistance Waterproof (15 m),
shockproof (2.1 m),
crushproof (100 kgf), freezeproof (-10°C))
and dustproof
Waterproof (15 m),
shockproof (2.1 m),
crushproof (100 kgf), freezeproof (-10°C)
and dustproof
Where to buy?
Buy on Amazon Amazon Amazon Amazon Amazon Amazon Amazon Amazon Amazon Amazon Amazon Amazon Amazon

Our top compact cameras

Less than $500 (£400)
Lumix TZ100

In our opinion, in this price range, it’s the Lumix TZ100 that offers the best value for money:

  • 10x optical zoom, in comparison to 4.2x for other cameras in this price range.
  • It has a 1” type sensor that gives better image quality than 1 / 2.33” type sensors.
  • It supports 4K video.
  • It has a touch screen.
  • It’s fast. It can take 11 shots per second in burst mode.
  • It features 5-axis stabilisation.
  • It has a 1,166,000 megapixel electronic viewfinder.
Lumix TZ100 compact camera

Less than $850 (£750)
Lumix TZ200

In our view, in this price range, it’s the Lumix TZ200 that offers the best value for money:

  • 15x optical zoom, compared to 5x for other cameras in this price range.
  • It has a 1” type sensor that gives better image quality than 1 / 2.33” type sensors.
  • It supports 4K video.
  • It has a touch screen.
  • It can connect via Bluetooth.
  • It features 5-axis stabilisation.
  • It has a 2,360,000 megapixel electronic viewfinder.
  • Its battery life lasts pretty long for a compact: 370 shots.
Lumix Tz200 compact camera