If you think buying a compact camera means sacrificing features such as manual controls and great pictures, you’re mistaken. We’re going to look at some pocketable digital cameras that may be small, but are certainly not slim on features.
Sony DSC-RX100 IV
With the DSC-RX100 IV, Sony has created the most advanced compact camera in the market, including slow motion capture at up to 960 fps and Anti-Distortion Shutter, which used to be available only with pro-use gear. Other features on the RX100 IV include a 25-point autofocus system, built-in electronic viewfinder, an F1.8-2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens with 24-80mm range, 4K video recording, built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, support for RAW format, full manual controls and a control ring that surrounds the lens body, allowing users to adjust exposure, zoom and other functions.
Price: Rs. 69,990
Leica Q
The Leica Q, with clean lines, smooth surfaces and formal minimalism, is a fixed-lens camera with a full-frame 24 megapixel sensor, a built-in 28mm f 1.7 ASPH lens, lightning-quick AF, a 3.68 megapixel electronic viewfinder, plenty of physical controls for manual operation and a new Maestro II processor for burst shooting up to 10 fps. It’s everything we dreamed Leica would make for landscape and street photography.
Price: $4250
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100
Panasonic’s LX series has been a bestseller most of the last decade, and the LX100 is literally a wishlist of all you want from an enthusiast compact camera. It features a Micro Four Thirds sensor with a 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 Leica lens, an electronic viewfinder (EVF), 4K video shooting, high speed AF, high speed burst shooting at 11 fps with the mechanical shutter and 40fps with the electronic shutter, aperture and control rings, and integrated Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity.
Price: $899.99
Fujifilm X100T
The X100T is one of the best performing low light compacts, thanks to its SLR-size APS-C sensor. This is not a camera for everyone, since it comes with a fixed 23mm f/2.0 lens – that’s a 35mm equivalent, but that’s what also makes it the most appealing camera for street photography. Featuring a retro design that is reminiscent of the Leica M-series, the X100T comes with a 16.3 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor, a speedy EXR II processor, a spiffier AF system, 1080/60p full-HD video recording a speedy 6 frames per second (fps) in burst-mode shooting, easy to use manual controls, Wi-Fi, and Fujifilm’s own special colour array design for excellent color quality.
Price: $1299.95
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
Canon’s powerhouse compact, the G7 X Mark II features a 20 megapixel, backilluminated, 1” type CMOS sensor with 4.2x Optical Zoom 24 – 100mm, f/1.8 – f/2.8 lens; 1080/60p video recording; 9-blade aperture diaphragm for beautiful bokeh effect; built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, the DIGIC 7 image processor, a tilting, 3-inch touchscreen that is both touch-sensitive and selfie-capable, 31-point AF, intelligent image stabilization, full manual controls and a lens control ring.
Price: Rs. 44,995
Olympus Stylus TOUGH TG-4
Sometimes you need a camera that is tough enough for a kayak ride through the rapids, or a hike deep into the mountains. Enter the Olympus Stylus Tough TG-4 – submersible to 15m; functional in conditions as cold as -10°C; impact-resistant to 2.1m; crushproof to 100kg and dustproof. And it’s not all brawn. The TG-4 features a 16 megapixel backlit 1/2.3” CMOS sensor, TruePic VII image processor, a 4x f2.0 lens with an adapter ring for add-on lenses, 1080p Full HD video recording, GPS, and built-in Wi-Fi for easy sharing through your phone as and when you get data connectivity.
Price: Rs. 41,465
Sony CyberShot RX1R II
Sitting pretty on top of Sony’s Cyber-shot lineup is the RX1R II, a fullframe sensor-toting fixed lens ultracompact that even professionals will approve of. The RX1R offers a 42 megapixel 35mm full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor, a Carl Zeiss Sonnar T 35mm F2 prime lens, Full HD recording , continuous shooting at up to 5fps at full resolution, a built-in pop-up flash, intuitive manual controls with aperture and focus mode dial, blazing fast autofocus with 399 AF-points and image quality that rivals the best dSLRs in the market.
Price: Rs 2,59,990
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ100
If you are looking for an enthusiast compact with a 1-inch sensor and a long zoom in a pocketable size, the Lumix TZ100 is your best option. It offers a 25-250mm equivalent focal length (that’s 10X optical zoom), RAW shooting ,4K video capabilities, touchscreen and an electronic viewfinder, all squeezed into a well-built body that can fit in your pocket.
Price: $699
Fujifilm X30
Fujifilm has been at the forefront of the innovations in the compact camera market, and the retro-chic X30 is one of our favorite compacts. Featuring a 12 megapixel 2/3-inch X-Trans CMOS II sensor that’s larger than your usual compact cameras; a 4x, 28-112mm, f/2.0-2.8 zoom lens with a manual zoom ring; large optical viewfinder; 1080p movie recording; hybrid auto focus system; 12fps burst shooting and plenty of scene modes for no fuss photography, the X30 will delight with its sharp and bright images. For enthusiasts, the camera offers a considerable array of manual controls too.
Price: Rs. 47,112