Crazy for Compact Cameras

12/12/2025

What do you think about the article's author's picks for cameras for young people?

As photographers, we hope our kids aspire to follow in our footsteps on our photo adventures. Of course, the hardware they use, like the hardware we use, may determine whether children and teens continue to enjoy the photographic experience. I agree that some of the listed cameras are good choices. However, there are other, more important things you can do to spark a young person's interest.

First of all, besides selecting an easy-to-handle and simple-to-use model, you don't set any expectations, nor do you instruct beyond showing how to turn the camera on and off. Show an interest in the images they capture. Ask why they took the photo. Study their images to see what draws their eye. Take a sincere interest in their pictures. Their photos will teach you much about your photo partner. When you and they are comfortable, ask how they might improve their photos. Have them critique YOUR photos. Make it a fun exchange. My young photo students surprise me with their interest in specific subjects and their creativity. One enjoys shooting her cat at floor level. Another only shoots selfies with friends. Your interest in their "portfolio" is far more profound than the cameras they use.

My suggestion for a first camera is to let the young person use or be gifted a camera you are familiar with. Even an old smartphone works. Once they show an interest, let them work with you to determine what kind of camera they would like to use on their own. Always let them be the most important person in all their photographic choices.

Claire Gillo rounds up the best kids cameras on the market for all ages of children, so they can grow into super snappers

12/11/2025

You may have seen too many of these in the hands of "creatives." Used versions of the Nikon Coolpix S6900 have been going for as much as $1,000.
$1,000?!

Following up on the irrationally exuberant enthusiasm of compacts such as the three versions of the Canon G7X, this is the "it" camera for many.

I've never used one. But as I look at its specifications, it doesn't stand out from others in its generation and price range when it was released ten years ago. Perhaps its two features, certainly not unique in its day, give it some creative credit:
1. An articulating screen.
2. A "kickstand" allowing unheld selfies in portrait or landscape format.

It's not a bad camera. A CMOS sensor, image stabilization, and respectable zoom range make it a decent travel camera. I see the models in the used market today have come down from the crazy $ 800-plus range to a more affordable $260-$400 range. Still, you can find similarly spec'd, used compacts for way less. Look elsewhere if the S6900 has caught your attention.

Nikon COOLPIX S6900 Digital Camera with 12x Optical Zoom and Built-In Wi-Fi (Black)

12/02/2025

A Cyber Week compact mirrorless model worth your attention

Olympus (now OMDS) introduced the Micro Four Thirds sensor technology years ago. By doing so, they've produced incredibly small but feature-rich cameras in the classic SLR style. Images of the camera make prospective buyers think OMDS' latest models are large and bulky. In reality, they're almost comically small. I've owned and used many Olympus models and have always been satisfied with their compactness, features, handling, and performance.

This week, the Olympus OM-D E-M 10 Mark IV with lens is on sale. With several useful features beyond the more popular models on the market and the ability to go beyond point-and-shoot, it's a bargain when considering your first real camera.
Some features:

20.3MP Micro Four Thirds (MFT) Sensor
UHD 4K30p Video Recording
OLED Electronic Viewfinder
Tilt Touchscreen
5-Axis Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity
14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ Lens

Downsides:
The viewfinder tilts but does not fully articulate.
No weather sealing

Find them this week for less than $700.

12/02/2025

Don't limit yourself to hyped cameras!

If you follow this page, you know that by "compact" camera, I don't exclude models that are beyond camera/lens point-and-shoots. Since I introduced this page, even if you haven't followed it, you and I have seen the re-emergence of the small cameras and, with that, increasing prices. At the same time, capable, albeit slightly larger, models begin to compete price-wise.

I see more and more small cameras in the hands of young and older users who discover what many of us already know - not only are slightly larger models cheaper, but they are more capable with features that can take them into the future.

As prospective photographers despair over the cost of popular new and used cameras that can cost well over $1,000, a large number of competent models are worth a look. Consider the cameras in the attached article. You'll find some brand new gems at, perhaps, half the cost of what the popular "creatives" are using. And, of course, they are even more attractive in the used market.

If you're looking for a cheap camera, you may want to consider more than point-and-shoots, as trends push prices higher

12/01/2025

I always mention that the used market, including KEH and other resellers, offers the best deals in cameras. But if you're gifting and you MUST buy new, Cyber Monday is a day for discounts.

Some of these deals will remain in place for a while, but they can disappear anytime after today.

The best Black Friday compact camera deals are here – and these are the ones that deserve your attention

11/27/2025

What has a 64-megapixel sensor, can shoot 4K video at 30fps, has a f/1.8 aperture, and costs less than $100? A retro-ish pocketable that is probably more fun than it is practical. And it's pretty practicable.

Inside, the P100 isn’t pretending to be a full-on Sony replacement from the 2000s, but it does try to modernize the formula. NBD has fitted it with a 64-megapixel sensor — and it can shoot 4K video at 30fps.

11/24/2025

Smartphone camera images are amazing when you shoot within their limitations. One limitation for many of them is the inability to photograph in the telephoto range. The latest iPhone model does achieve a focal length equivalent of 100mm (in 35mm terms) while Apple claims 200mm but that is done by cropping. (Would you like me to explain "equivalent focal length" sometime?) Smartphone users are disappointed when they try to shoot wildlife and other unapproachable subjects.

For decades, compact point-and-shoot camera models achieve well beyond 100mm optically while bridge cameras reach as far as 3,000mm. Of course, no one expects professional-grade images with a compact camera but for posting on the Internet, prints up to 24 X 16, or viewing on an UHD TV monitor, users of most any compact camera are pleased with the results.

You can't miss seeing scores of deer in Olympic National Park. Most are nearly domesticated and may approach you. But it's best for both the animal and you to keep a respectful distance. That doesn't mean you can't shoot a close up. Here, I grabbed my point-and-shoot to capture a friendly face.

11/20/2025

Yes, I posted this video before, but I think it's worth seeing today - especially Chris's comments at the end. Would you buy a Panasonic Lumix GM5? And more intriguing, would you buy an updated version?

I agree that OM Systems would do well by offering a rangefinder design, even smaller version of its Pen F digital. What do you think?

Ten years have passed since Panasonic released the GM-5. If I had to pick one camera to keep, this would be it.

11/15/2025

A compact camera at the end of a long hike encouraged me to take just one more image that I probably would have dismissed had I had my big boy camera.

You can always carry a camera, even if it isn't a pro-level behemoth.

11/13/2025

In one of my most overlooked posts on this page, nine years ago, I made a case for the Canon 360. A decent zoom range, high-resolution sensor, and a compact size made me recommend the camera. It was so tiny, you could completely hide it behind Apple's smallest iPhone. But did anyone take me seriously in a time when point-and-shoots were all but ignored?

Today, you're lucky to find its re-release at a cost twice what I paid. Interested buyers should first check the used market for the original 360.

The Canon PowerShot Elph 360 HS A / Ixus 285 HS A is smaller than your phone, more convenient than your camera, and takes a great photo!

11/06/2025

As the year heads into winter, grab your last (mostly) snowfree shots as I did with my compact, point-and-shoot.

11/06/2025

Why I don’t “get” the Ricoh GR IV

I read many reviews of the GR IV and, despite all the fawning, I can’t find a reason for the cultish following. I’ve received messages asking why I’ve totally ignored this extremely popular, compact camera, including direct inquiries from fellow photographers. Lovers of the Ricoh mention its compact design, ease of handling, simple interface, sensor size, and image quality – all commendable features. But when you consider the Ricoh’s cost, all of a sudden, competing cameras, and not all of them contemporary, make a compelling case.

Many, like me, categorize cameras by sensor size. With an APS-C sensor, the GR IV is up against a myriad of small, we’ll call some “compact”, models. As a fixed-lens model, the lineup shrinks to less than a dozen models. One, namely the Fujifilm X100 VI, is also popular in the same market, which consists of young “creatives” and street shooters, as well as a few niche photographers. The two cameras, priced at around $1,500 and $1,700, respectively, are usually out of stock. At the same time, and off the cuff, I can think of other cameras that beat the Ricoh and Fujifilm for features, with some costing nearly half the price.

The Nikon Z50 is a third less expensive, features an APS-C sensor and an electronic viewfinder (EVF), and accepts a number of lenses. The Nikon Z30 is significantly smaller, features a similar sensor, but lacks an EVF, and can be purchased for half the price. Even the fixed lens 12-year-old Nikon Coolpix A, a model that could be confused for the Ricoh, has all the features of the GR IV and is on the used market for less than $400. The Canon R100, at a third of the Ricoh's cost, also features the same sensor size, EVF, and access to a large set of lenses. The Sony a6### line of APS-C cameras is slightly larger than either the Ricoh or Fujifilm models, but it features an EVF and can accommodate more than 100 lenses. With the Sony a6100 and compact 16-50 mm kit lens, it’s barely larger than the Ricoh, and a quarter of the cost of the Ricoh.

But who am I kidding? Today’s “creatives” need to be seen AS a creative as much as they are actually one. Being seen behind today’s “it” models gives them cred even if they paid dearly for the look. My point, of course, is to choose what you want, but think first if it’s more important for you to create images or to be seen creating images. What do you think?

These two popular cameras are seemingly always out of stock but are they truly superior to competing models costing less than half their costs?