• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Blog posts
    • TravelOur travels around the world
    • Travel tipsour best tips to travel better
    • Travel BudgetAll our travel budgets
    • Hikingall the hikes we did
    • Digital Nomadworking remotely while traveling
    • Thoughtssome thoughts about travel
  • Countries
    • Europeour good old continent
      • Austria
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Estonia
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Italy
      • Latvia
      • Lithuania
      • Norway
      • Slovakia
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Sweden
      • Turkey
    • Asiaasian adventures
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Georgia
      • Indonesia
      • Laos
      • Myanmar
      • Singapore
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • South Americalatin america
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Chile
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • World Trip
    • Free Ebook to prepare a round the world trip
    • How to Travel around the World
    • How to chose the best backpacker insurance
    • The BEST backpacker insurances compared
    • Our Backpacking Gear for a round the world trip
    • How to choose the best travel camera
  • Home
  • About us
    • Hi! We’re Fabienne and BenAfter living in Vienna for 2 years and travelling around the world for 19 months, we left our comfortable life in Switzerland behind to become nomads. Click here if you want to know more about us!
  • Images
    • travel pictures
    • travel videos
  • Others
    • Newsletter
    • How to support us
    • Novo-map WordPress plugin
    • Our ethic as travel bloggers
    • readers testimonials
    • Contact us
  • Français

modes pasm
Come and join us!
  • 11.5K
  • 12.3K
  • 4.5K
  • 1.1k
  • 7K
  • 36.4KTRAVELERS
Novo-monde Travel tips

Best compact camera 2023 (point and shoot camera) to travel the world

Last Update: 26/01/2023 3 COMMENTS

sony rx100
The Sony RX 100: 1st compact camera with a 1-inch sensor

If you want a small and discreet camera that takes much better pictures than your smartphone, the Compact camera family (or point and shoot camera) might be for you.

In recent years, the Compact cameras have made huge progress, thanks in particular to the arrival of the Sony RX 100, which introduced a 1 inch larger sensor (these point and shoot cameras with larger sensors really made this type of camera popular again). Compact cameras are particularly interesting for travelers who do not want to carry a camera and several lenses when they go on a trip. They also have the advantage of being super discreet, which can be very useful in some countries.

last update : 26/01/2023

Which compact or point and shoot camera to choose: the criteria

Without going back over all the criteria for choosing the right camera, which I have already mentioned here, I will just go back over a few interesting points specific to the point and shoot cameras:

  • Sensor size: As I explained in the other article, sensor size is a very important criteria in choosing your camera, especially in the compact camera family.sensor sizes for digital cameras You will notice in the table below that I only compare point and shoot cameras with sensor sizes of at least 1 inch. I made this choice because I don’t think it’s worth buying a compact camera with a smaller sensor… Otherwise, it is just better to use a good smartphone with a sensor of similar size. With these 1 inch sensors, you will get much better image quality in low light or high light contrast situations than with your mobile phone.
  • Compact camera = 1 lens: point and shoot camera means only one fixed lens! And as in the photo the lens is as important as the body, you will have to make sure that the lens of your compact is good and versatile. The idea is to have a lens that lets in as much light as possible (small f-number) and has an acceptable focal length in order to be able to zoom in sufficiently if necessary (a 24-70 equivalent is already a good start).
  • Electronic viewfinder: The electronic viewfinder is the element that allows you to put the camera in front of your eye and frame your photo without using the screen. It is almost a norm in the mirrorless range but by far not all point and shoot cameras offer electronic viewfinders. Personally, I find these viewfinders essential for taking pictures in situations where there is a lot of light, which makes it difficult to use the screen. And honestly, I couldn’t do without a viewfinder now.
  • pasm camera modeslearn how to use your camera modes (PASM): More than a criteria, it’s an advice I give you. All the cameras below allow you to use the PASM modes (which I explained here in the article on how to choose your camera). So do yourself a favor and learn how to use them and try not to always use the automatic mode of your camera. By using these modes you will really take full control of your camera and learn to make the right settings according to the situation and the picture you want to take.

The comparative table below is interactive. You can choose the devices you want to compare, remove the lines that do not interest you… and to reset the table, simply reload the page. For a better reading, do not compare more than 2-3 models on mobile and 6-7 on computer.

Choose de compact cameras you want to compare










Criteria Sony RX 100Sony RX 100

Buy it onlineSee on Ebay

Sony RX 100 M3Sony RX 100 M3

Buy it onlineSee on ebay

Sony RX 100 M4Sony RX 100 M4

Buy it onlineSee on ebay

Sony RX 100 M5Sony RX 100 M5

Buy it onlineSee on ebay

Sony RX 100 M6Sony RX 100 M6

Buy it onlineSee on ebay

Panasonic LX15Panasonic LX 10

Buy it onlineSee on ebay

Panasonic TZ 100Panasonic ZS 100

Buy it onlineSee on ebay

Panasonic TZ 200Panasonic ZS 200

Buy it onlineSee on ebay

Panasonic LX100 IIPanasonic LX100 II

Buy it onlineSee on ebay

Canon G9X M2Canon G9 X M2

Buy it onlineSee on ebay

Canon G5X M2Canon G5 X M2

Buy it onlineSee on Ebay

Criteria Sony RX 100

Buy it onlineSee on EbaySony RX 100

Sony RX 100 M3

Buy it onlineSee on ebaySony RX 100 M3

Sony RX 100 M4

Buy it onlineSee on ebaySony RX 100 M4

Sony RX 100 M5

Buy it onlineSee on ebaySony RX 100 M5

Sony RX 100 M6

Buy it onlineSee on ebaySony RX 100 M6

Panasonic LX 10

Buy it onlineSee on ebayPanasonic LX15

Panasonic ZS 100

Buy it onlineSee on ebayPanasonic TZ 100

Panasonic ZS 200

Buy it onlineSee on ebayPanasonic TZ 200

Panasonic LX100 II

Buy it onlineSee on ebayPanasonic LX100 II

Canon G9 X M2

Buy it onlineSee on ebayCanon G9X M2

Canon G5 X M2

Buy it onlineSee on ebayCanon G5X M2

Characteristics of the camera
effacerPrice 350-400$ 500-600$ 600-800$ 800-900$ 1100-1200$ 600-700$ 600-700$ 700-800$ 800-900$ 400-500$ 800-900$
effacerWeight 240gr 287gr 295gr 299gr 301gr 310gr 310gr 340gr 392gr 206gr 340gr
effacerSize 102 x 58 x 36 mm 102 x 58 x 41 mm 102 x 58 x 41 mm 102 x 58 x 41 mm 102 x 58 x 43 mm 105.5 x 60 x 42 mm 110.5 x 64.5 x 44.3 mm 111 x 66 x 45 mm 115 x 66 x 64 mm 98 x 58 x 31 mm 111 x 61 x 46 mm
effacerToughness – Waterproofing 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5
effacerBattery life 330 pictures 230-320 pictures 230-280 pictures 210-220 pictures 220-240 pictures 260 pictures 260-300 pictures 250-370 pictures 240-300 pictures 235 pictures 180-230 photos
effacerSpeed min exp : 1/2000
img/sec : 10
min exp : 1/2000
img/sec : 6.7
min exp : 1/32000
img/sec : 16
min exp : 1/32000
img/sec : 24
min exp : 1/32000
img/sec : 24
min exp : 1/4000
img/sec : 6-10
min exp : 1/16000
img/sec : 6-10
min exp : 1/16000
img/sec : 10.1
min exp : 1/16000
img/sec : 11.2
min exp : 1/2000
img/sec : 8
exp min : 1/25600
img/sec :20
Sensor
effacerSize 1 inch 1 inch 1 inch 1 inch 1 inch 1 inch 1 inch 1 inch 4/3 1 inch 1 inch
effacerResolution 20.2mpx 20.1mpx 20.1mpx 20.1mpx 20.1mpx 20.1mpx 20.1mpx 20.1mpx 17mpx 20.2mpx 20.2mpx
effacerISO range 125-6400 125-12800 125-12800 125-12800 125-12800 125-12800 125-12800 125-12800 200-25600 125-12800 125-12800
Lens
effacerFocal range (full frame equivalent) 28-100 24-70 24-70 24-70 24-200 26-78 25-250 24-360 24-75 28-84 24-120
effacerMax aperture f1.8/4.9 f1.8/2.8 f1.8/2.8 f1.8/2.8 f2.8/4.5 f1.4/2.8 f2.8/5.9 f3.3/6.4 f1.7/2.8 f2/4.9 f1.8/2.8
Additional functionalities
effacerIn body or lens stabilization Lens stabilization Lens stabilization Lens stabilization Lens stabilization Lens stabilization Lens stabilization Lens stabilization Lens stabilization Lens stabilization Lens stabilization Lens stabilization
effacerViewfinder no electronic viewfinder with 1,440,000 dots (480’000 pxs) electronic viewfinder with 2,359,296 dots (786’432 pxs) electronic viewfinder with 2,359,296 dots (786’432 pxs) electronic viewfinder with 2,359,296 dots (786’432 pxs) no electronic viewfinder with 1’166’000 dots electronic viewfinder with 776,600 dots electronic viewfinder with 921,600 dots no electronic viewfinder with 2,360,000 dots
effacerScreen fixed screen with 1,228,800 dots (307,200 px) tilt screen (vertically) with 1,228,800 dots (307,200 px) tilt screen (vertically) with 1,228,800 dots (307,200 px) tilt screen (vertically) with 1,228,800 dots (307,200 px) tilt screen (vertically) de 1,228,800 dots (307,200 px) tilt screen (vertically) with 1’040’000 pxs fixed screen with 1’040’000 dots (413,300 px) fixed screen with 1,240,000 dots (413,300 px) fixed screen with 1,240,000 dots (413,300 px) fixed screen with 1’040’000 pxs tilt screen (vertically) with 1,040,000 dots (345,600 px)
effacerVideo full HD full HD 4k and full HD 4k and full HD 4k and full HD 4k and full HD 4k and full HD 4k and full HD 4k and full HD full HD 4k and full HD

Best Compact Camera (point and shoot): my opinion

If you have a tight budget, the 1st version of the Sony RX 100 is now incredible value for money. For a little over 300$ you will have a good compact camera with a 1-inch sensor, stabilization and a versatile lens. However, at this price you will not have an electronic viewfinder and the ISO range is not the best. But still, we’re talking about 350$!

panasonic zs100If you have a little more budget, I would choose either the Sony RX 100 M4 or the Panasonic ZS 100. For around 6-700$, you get two high-performing cameras with electronic viewfinder and 4k video. The RX 100 has a slightly brighter lens and a tilting screen while the ZS 100 has a larger focal range. It’s up to you to see what’s most important for you.

Of course if you have more money to throw in, go for Sony’s 2 high-end compact cameras (the Sony RX100 M5 and the Sony RX100 M6) which are incredible in absolutely every aspect. The M5 has a slightly brighter lens while the M6 has a wider focal range and is thus a more versatile (on the other hand you have to pay the price!). In this price range there is also the Canon G5X M2 which is a great alternative to Sony since late summer 2019.

Note: I have not added the latest Sony RX100 M7 to this list as it’s too expensive in my opinion for a compact camera… But it’s without a doubt the best compact camera in 2021.

I also recently added the Lumix LX100 II which is a rather interesting device because it is the 1st compact with a micro 4/3 sensor that remains really small (less than 400gr). In addition, the lens is very bright for beautiful pictures in low light and a beautiful depth of field for a camera of this size. But honestly, if a compact camera gets bigger than that with a micro 4/3 sensor, I would rather recommend to go for a mirrorless camera instead.

Best compact (point and shoot) camera : my choice

sony rx100 m4If I had to choose only one of these cameras in 2023, I would undoubtedly choose the Sony RX100 M4. Since the release of these big brothers the M5, M6 and M7, its price has dropped (around 700€) which makes it for me the compact camera with the best quality/price ratio on the market at the moment. It has a tilting screen (for selfies 😉 ), a very bright lens, it shoots in 4k, shoots up to 16 frames/sec please… the top of the top for a very low price.

See the Sony RX100 M4 online

See the Sony RX100 M4 on ebay

P.S. This article contains affiliate links so if you buy a compact camera by clicking on one of our links, we will get a small commission. Please also note that we are not sponsored by any brand and this is our sincere opinion about the best compact cameras in 2023. Finally, you will not find any Amazon links in this article because we do not support the questionable ethics of this company.

Pin it on Pinterest

best compact camera
compact camera
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
5/5 – (4 votes)

Novo-monde in your inbox

Receive the latest news from the blog directly in your inbox! Guaranteed 100% Travel and 0% Spam !

loader

Travel destinations
Backpacking
Digital nomadism
Hiking
Thoughts (ecology, society)

Protected by reCAPTCHA / Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

You might also like

Our complete guide to buy a camera in 2023 (+ why we chose our gear)
meilleur appaeil photo de voyage
Comparison of the best mirrorless cameras (Hybrid cameras): the 2023...
meilleur appareil photo hybride voyage
Comparison of the best DSLR cameras (Reflex cameras): the 2022 guide
comparatif appareil photo reflex

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maria Kadoglou

    3 years ago

    Could you please tell me if these cameras have a manual focus possibility?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Benoit

      3 years ago

      Hey Maria,

      All these cameras have manual focus possibilities if you want to 🙂

      Reply
      • Maria Kadoglou

        3 years ago

        Thank you, Benoit.

        Reply

Join the discussion Cancel reply

Protected by reCAPTCHA / Privacy Policy - Terms of Service


© 2023 · made with by Fabienne and Benoit from Novo-monde
Legal mentions