When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission. Updated July 9, 2025 It's sad to say, but the golden age of compact cameras is pretty much over, thanks to the rise of smartphone cameras that are, in many cases, good enough for most people.
Manufacturers seem to realize this, too; the major players have only released a small handful of compact zooms in the past few years, and most were very minor updates on old designs. The ones that remain can be difficult to find in stock, even when the companies that make them promise they're still a part of their lineups.
However, that doesn't mean the category is completely dead. Even today, there are several types of compact cameras, and some have capabilities that pretty much no phone can match. This list calls out the few that are still available and looks at what they're good for – because there are still cases where a compact camera is a great option.
Our recommendations:
Enthusiast camera
Best enthusiast compact: Canon PowerShot G7X III
Best do-it-all compact: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Best interface: Leica D-Lux 8
Waterproof cameras
Best waterproof compact: OM System Tough TG-7
Long zoom camera
Best ultra-zoom camera: Nikon Coolpix P1100
Vlogging cameras
Best vlogging compact: Canon PowerShot V1
Enthusiast compacts
The final niche in which it's difficult for a smartphone to compete is for enthusiast photography. No matter how good smartphone image quality gets, it's difficult for a phone to provide the feeling of connection to the process of taking photos that an enthusiast compact with lots of direct controls can offer.
We've picked cameras with large sensors that deliver good image quality, zoom lenses and direct controls. Some have built-in electronic viewfinders for shooting when it's bright outside, again giving a more pleasant experience than a smartphone.
Best enthusiast compact: Canon PowerShot G7 X III
20MP Type 1 Stacked CMOS sensor | 24-100mm equiv. F1. 8-2. 8 lens | 4K/30p video capture
Photo: Dan Bracaglia
Buy now:
Buy at Amazon. comBuy at B&H PhotoBuy at MPBWhat we like:Nice grip and well-placed controls4K/30p recording with live streaming to YouTubeFast burst shooting
What we don't:Lens is soft at wide-angleLimited battery lifeContrast-detect only autofocus
The Canon PowerShot G7 X III is an enthusiast compact built around a 20MP Type-1 (13. 2 x 8. 8 mm) Stacked CMOS sensor with a bright 24-100mm equivalent F1. 8-2. 8 zoom.
The large sensor, and zoom that covers a really useful range help set it apart from a smartphone but it's clicking control dial around the lens and the dedicated exposure compensation dial that really help you feel you're in the driving seat of the photo-taking process that makes us enjoy it so much.
This camera is frequently out of stock, but Canon has told investors it was ramping up production of its compacts, citing the popularity of the G7 X III, and has assured us it's still in production.
"If you're after a pocketable high-quality compact, the Canon G7 X Mark III is well worth a look"
Though it's jacket-pocketable, the G7 X Mark III has a decent-sized grip and feels secure in the hand. The 'clicky' control rings around the lens and on the rear of the camera give good control over aperture, shutter speed and ISO, and the exposure compensation dial on the top plate is a nice touch. The touchscreen interface on its tilting 3" LCD is polished and responsive.
Overall, we're impressed by the upgrades on this model. The Mark III brings improved video and continuous shooting performance while maintaining excellent controls and a competitive price point. If you do a lot of wide-angle shooting, there are options with better lenses, but if you're after a pocketable high-quality compact, the Canon G7 X Mark III is well worth a look.
Read our Canon PowerShot G7X III review
See the Canon PowerShot G7X III studio scene
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What about the PowerShot V1?
Canon's PowerShot V1 may tempt photographers hungry for a new compact thanks to its pairing of a large Type 1. 4 (18. 4 x 12. 3mm) sensor and ultra-wide angle 16-50mm equiv. lens. However, we wouldn't recommend it unless you really need that lens or plan to shoot just as many videos as stills; the controls simply aren't engaging for photography enthusiasts.
Best do-it-all compact: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
20MP Type 1 Stacked CMOS sensor | 24-200mm equiv. F2. 8-4. 5 lens | Hybrid AF system
Photo: Dan Bracaglia
Buy now:
Buy at Amazon. comBuy at B&H PhotoBuy at MPBWhat we like:Industry-leading autofocusExcellent image qualityOversampled 4K video
What we don't:User interface can be overwhelmingLow light performance limited by slow lensSlippery gripExpensive
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII is built around a 20MP Stacked CMOS sensor and a long, flexible 24-200mm equivalent lens. It's not as bright at the long end as the zooms on the now-discontinued Mark VA or the Canon G7 X III, but it provides a lot more reach, still in a compact package.
Like the Canon, the RX100 VII can be difficult to find, but Sony tells us it's still making it. It also uses micro USB to charge instead of the near-ubiquitous and, in the EU, legally-mandated USB-C. US buyers should also be conscious of price; the camera launched at $1200, but when it's available, it now seems to be selling for around $1700, though Sony hasn't said if this is the result of tariffs or other factors.
"The RX100 VII is the most capable pocketable camera ever made"
The RX100 VII has a limited number of direct controls, but offers extensive customization for making the most of them. A touchscreen can be used for choosing a focus point or initiating AF tracking in video. The camera also includes the single-press pop-up viewfinder we liked so much on its predecessor.
The RX100 VII is easily the most-capable compact camera on the market thanks to its great image and video quality, fast shooting, versatile lens and a highly-capable, easy-to-use AF system, though all of that comes with a high price tag.
Read our Sony RX100 VII review
See the Sony DSC-RX100 VII studio scene
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Best interface: Leica D-Lux 8
17MP crop of Four Thirds sensor | 24-75mm equiv F1. 7-2. 8 | 4K video
Photo: Richard Butler
Buy now:
Buy at AdoramaBuy at B&H PhotoBuy at LeicaWhat we like:Photo-focused interfaceLarge sensorBright lens
What we don't:Zoom is laggy and slowLens not always sharpest
The Leica D-Lux 8 is an enthusiast compact with one of the largest sensors with a fixed zoom lens.
The D-Lux 8 combines an enjoyable shooting experience with a large sensor and bright lens. It's expensive, for sure – a situation made even worse for US buyers thanks to tariffs – but it is one of the few enthusiast compacts to receive a refresh in recent years, so we felt it deserved a spot on this list.
"The D-Lux 8 is a lovely camera to shoot with and offers a lot of image quality in a compact package"
The D-Lux 8 has an elegant and photo-focused interface, with dedicated dials for shutter speed and aperture, and a couple of buttons that are easy to customize. It's engaging and enjoyable to shoot with.
The D-Lux 8 is a lovely camera to shoot with and offers a lot of image quality in a compact package. But, for us, its image quality doesn't live up to its promise, or its price tag.
Read our Leica D-Lux 8 review
See the Leica D-Lux 8 studio scene
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Waterproof cameras
Waterproof cameras are another specialty that smartphones can't necessarily displace. Many flagship phones are waterproof to a decent degree but you shouldn't try to submerge them to any appreciable depth or use them in salt water. Waterproof cameras also tend to be pretty rugged, designed to withstand a lot more mistreatment than a phone will withstand, meaning you can carry them with you at all times, without ever having to worry about it. Great for bikers, climbers and custodians of small, inquisitive but not necessarily careful children.
Best waterproof camera: OM System Tough TG-7
25-100mm equiv. F2. 0-4. 9 lens | 12MP Type 1/2. 3 sensor | Waterproof to 15m (50ft)
Buy now:
$497 at Amazon. comBuy at B&H PhotoBuy at MPBWhat we like:Bright, wideangle lensBuilt-in GPS, compass and manometerRaw image capture allowing creating editsRange of accessories
What we don't:12MP is fairly lowLens isn't very bright at long endLimited battery lifeRelatively expensive
The OM System Tough TG-7 is a rugged, waterproof compact with a 25-100mm equivalent zoom lens. It is fully waterproof down to a depth of 15m (50 ft).
The OM System isn't the only rugged waterproof still on the market, nor the cheapest, but it has several major factors in its favor. The first is that it lets you shoot Raw images, which gives you the ability to correct the white balance, which even the best cameras tend to get wrong when shooting underwater. Another factor is that there is a range of accessories for the TG-7, including a light guide that directs light from the built-in flash into a circle around the lens, letting you illuminate close-up objects.
"The TG-7 is relatively expensive but packs in a host of useful features that help it stand out"
Beyond this there are a few details that different users may find handy: it has an unusually wide-angle lens with a bright maximum aperture, helping the performance underwater and in low light. It also has a built-in GPS, compass and pressure sensor that lets you log your adventures. These all add up to a camera that's worth the added expense, we feel.
Read our hands-on with the OM System TG-7 article
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Long zoom cameras
Perhaps the greatest weakness of smartphones is their lack of zoom capabilities. Many of the best phones have a camera with a slightly longer focal length and then try to crop into their images and use AI algorithms to try to approximate the fine detail to give the impression of zooming, but this has its limits.
Dedicated cameras aren't constrained by the need to slip into your pocket, which can afford them the space to have an optical zoom lens to gain you more reach than your smartphone can deliver. There can be a trade-off: the small sensors required to put lots of zoom in a relatively small camera will be outshone by the computational cleverness that smartphones bring to bear on their images. But superzoom cameras can gain you the kind of reach that no current smartphone can get near.
Best ultra-zoom camera: Nikon Coolpix P1100
16MP 1/2. 3" BSI-CMOS sensor | 24-3000mm equiv. F2. 8-8 lens | 4K video capture
Photo: Barney Britton
Buy now:
$1097 at Adorama$1097 at B&H PhotoWhat we like:Focal range cannot be matched by any cameraRespectable image quality, given camera's purposeRaw supportWell-built, with logical control layout
What we don't:Large and unbalanced when zoom is extendedLens is slow at long end, reducing sharpnessNo touchscreenPoor battery life
The Nikon Coolpix P1100 is a very slightly refreshed version of the P1000, with the biggest difference being the adoption of a USB connector. Its Type 1/2. 3 (6. 17 x 4. 55mm) sensor will be out-performed by a good smartphone's clever merging of multiple images but the Nikon's gargantuan 24-3000mm equiv. lens is its selling point.
The small sensor means image quality isn't the camera's strength, but its frankly ludicrous zoom reach means it can photograph distant subjects in a way no other device (smartphone or dedicated camera) can.
The P1100 is a large camera that weighs a substantial 1. 4kg (3. 2lbs). We found it can be difficult to compose a photo at 3000mm equiv since the stabilization can't fully correct hand movement. A 'snapback' function quickly zooms out so you can locate your subject. The P1100's fully articulating LCD, is not touch-enabled. Connectivity to smartphones works well.
"When it comes to zoom power, there's no camera that comes close to Nikon's Coolpix P1100"
The P1100's image quality depends greatly on the focal length. Photos are generally on par with other small-sensored cameras, with pleasant colors and a bit too much noise reduction. It offers Raw, though, so you can choose your noise/detail balance and modestly brighten shadows. Heat haze, coupled with the lens's slow maximum aperture limit image quality at the longest focal lengths.
The P1100 has very good video quality for a camera with point-and-shoot roots. It can capture 4K video at 30p (with no crop) as well as 1080/60p and time-lapse/super-lapse clips. There's a manual exposure mode, a zoom microphone and a socket for addition an external mic. Electronic Vibration Reduction is available at 1080p and below.
When it comes to zoom power, nothing comes close to Nikon's Coolpix P1100. Whether it's taking a portrait from 2 blocks away or getting up close and personal with a bird in the distance, this lens can do it. That said, while other cameras can't match that lens, many will offer better image and video quality for the same money, especially those with larger sensors.
Read our review of the existing P1000 model
See the Nikon Coolpix P1000 studio scene
In memoriam
Since we last updated this guide, our pick for the best long-zoom camera, the Sony RX10 IV, appears to have been fully discontinued. It was essentially the only high-end long zoom camera on the market, with a large Type-1 (13. 2 x 8. 8mm) Stacked CMOS sensor and a 24-600mm equivalent F2. 8-4. 0 zoom lens, and competent (though not cutting-edge) autofocus. If you're looking for a camera with excellent reach and image quality, it may be worth poking around for a used model; it's unclear whether we'll see the likes of this camera again.
Vlogging cameras
Smartphones are great for vlogging, but a dedicated vlogging camera can shoot better quality video, have more sophisticated microphones (and provide options for connecting better mics), and can autofocus very reliably, dependably delivering YouTube-ready footage.
Best vlogging compact: Canon PowerShot V1
16-50mm F2. 8-4. 5 zoom | 22MP 18x12mm Dual Pixel CMOS sensor | 4K/60 with crop
Buy now:
$979 at Amazon. comBuy at B&H PhotoBuy at CanonWhat we like:Attractive output in stills and videoVersatile wide-angle zoomFan for extended video recording
What we don't:Relatively large bodyFull width video has appreciable rolling shutterOptimized for vlogging vs stills
The Canon PowerShot V1 is a mid-sized vlogging compact with a relatively large sensor and wide zoom lens.
It offers a competitive suite of vlogging features, a built-in ND filter and good stabilization options. It's also comfortable to hold pointing towards you, and lets you access key settings from the touchscreen. It includes microphone and headphone jacks and a fan for extended recording sessions.
AF performance is good, with reliable tracking AF and effective subject recognition. The camera is generally pretty responsive, with the zoom reacting quickly to input.
The V1's wide lens means you can crop-in for its 4K/60p mode and still maintain a wide-angle view. The full-sensor footage exhibits quite high levels of rolling shutter, so you may have to use the cropped 50/60p mode for capturing shots with lots of movement.
The V1 is a capable option with a useful zoom range, and while its slower sensor may not be the greatest for capturing fast action, it has all the features you'd need to start capturing the world around you.
Read our full PowerShot V1 review
Why you should trust us
This buying guide is based on cameras used and tested by DPReview's editorial team. We don't select a camera until we've used it enough to be confident in recommending it, usually after our extensive review process. The selections are purely a reflection of which cameras we believe to be best: there are no financial incentives for us to select one model or brand over another.
. dpreview.com2025-7-10 16:45
