Best compact camera 2024 (point and shoot camera) to travel the world

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 in 2012 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 : 10/07/2024

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. 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.
• learn 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 Sony RX 100 M5 Sony RX 100 M7 Panasonic LX15 Panasonic TZ 200 Panasonic LX100 II Canon G7X M3 Canon G5X M2 Ricoh GR III Ricoh GR IIIX

Criteria	Sony RX 100 M5 Buy it onlinesee on Ebay	Sony RX 100 M7 Buy it onlinesee on Ebay	Panasonic LX 15 Buy it onlinesee on Ebay	Panasonic TZ 200 Buy it onlinesee on Ebay	Panasonic LX100 II Buy it onlinesee on Ebay	Canon G7 X M3 Buy it onlinesee on Ebay	Canon G5 X M2 Buy it onlinesee on Ebay	Ricoh GR III Buy it onlinesee on Ebay	Ricoh GR IIIX Buy it onlinesee on Ebay
Critères	Sony RX 100 M5 Boulangersee on Ebay	Sony RX 100 M7 Boulangersee on Ebay	Panasonic LX 15 Fnacsee on Ebay	Panasonic TZ 200 Boulangersee on Ebay	Panasonic LX100 II Fnacsee on Ebay	Canon G7 X M3 Boulangersee on Ebay	Canon G5 X M2 Boulangersee on Ebay	Ricoh GR III Boulangersee on Ebay	Ricoh GR IIIX Boulangersee on Ebay
Characteristics of the camera
Price	800-900€	1000-1300€	450-600€	600-700€	850-950€	700-900€	800-900€	1000-1100€	1100-1200€
Weight	299gr	302gr	310gr	340gr	392gr	304gr	340gr	257gr	262gr
Size	102 x 58 x 41 mm	102 x 58 x 43 mm	105.5 x 60 x 42 mm	111 x 66 x 45 mm	115 x 66 x 64 mm	105 x 61 x 41 mm	111 x 61 x 46 mm	109 x 62 x 33 mm	109 x 62 x 35 mm
Toughness – Waterproofing	1/5	1/5	1/5	1/5	1/5	1/5	1/5	1/5	1/5
Battery life	210-220 pictures	260 pictures	260 pictures	250-370 pictures	240-300 pictures	235 pictures	180-230 pictures	200 pictures	200 pictures
Speed	min exp : 1/32000 img/sec : 24	min exp : 1/32000 img/sec : 90	min exp : 1/4000 img/sec : 6-10	min exp : 1/16000 img/sec : 10.1	min exp : 1/16000 img/sec : 11.2	min exp : 1/25600 img/sec : 30	min exp : 1/25600 img/sec :20	min exp : 1/4000 img/sec :4	min exp : 1/4000 img/sec :4
Sensor
Size	1″	1″	1″	1″	4/3	1″	1″	APS/C	APS/C
Resolution	20.1mpx	20.1mpx	20.1mpx	20.1mpx	17mpx	20.2mpx	20.2mpx	24mpx	24mpx
ISO range	125-12800	125-12800	125-12800	125-12800	200-25600	125-12800	125-12800	100-10240	100-10240
Lens
Focal range (full frame equivalent)	24-70	24-200	26-78	24-360	24-75	24-100	24-120	35	40
max aperture	f1.8/2.8	f2.8/4.5	f1.4/2.8	f3.3/6.4	f1.7/2.8	f1.8/f2.8	f1.8/2.8	f2.8	f2.8
Additional functionalities
In body or lens stabilization	lens stabilization	lens stabilization	lens stabilization	lens stabilization	lens stabilization	lens stabilization	lens stabilization	in body stabilization	in body stabilization
viewfinder	electroinic viewfinder with 2,359,296 dots (786’432 pxs)	electroinic viewfinder with 2,359,296 dots (786’432 pxs)	no	electroinic viewfinder with 776,600 dots	electroinic viewfinder with 921,600 dots	no	electroinic viewfinder with 2,360,000 dots	possible to add an optical viewfinder	possible to add an optical viewfinder
Screen	tilt screen (vertically) with 1,228,800 dots (307,200 px)	tilt screen (vertically) with 1,228,800 dots (307,200 px)	touch screen that can be rotated 180 degrees with 1’040’000 pxs	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 dots	tilt screen (vertically) with 1,040,000 dots (345,600 px)	touch screen with 1’037’000 dots	touch screen with 1’037’000 dots
Video	4k et full HD	4k et full HD	4k et full HD	4k et full HD	4k et full HD	4k et full HD	4k et full HD	HD	HD

Best Compact Camera (point and shoot): my opinion

If you’re on a tight budget, you’ll find a number of excellent and relatively inexpensive (€5-700) panasonic cameras. On the one hand, the panasonic LX15 with a bright lens (but unfortunately no electronic viewfinder), and on the other, the panasonic TZ200 with a crazy zoom lens (24-360) that’s a little less bright, of course.

If you have a little more budget, I’d go for either the Sony RX 100 M5 or the Canon G5X M2. For around €8-900, you get two high-performance cameras with electronic viewfinders, very bright lenses and 4k shooting. The Canon offers a slightly longer focal range, but otherwise these 2 cameras offer very similar performances.

Obviously, if you don’t have a limited budget, go for Sony’s top-of-the-range expert compact (the Sony RX100 M7), which is a beast in every respect.

I’ve also recently added the Lumix LX100 II, a rather interesting camera, as it’s the 1st compact with a micro 4/3 sensor that remains really small (less than 400gr). What’s more, the lens is very bright, for great low-light photos and depth-of-field for a camera of this size.

In the same vein, the Ricoh GR III and GR III X offer an APS-C sensor with in-body stabilization while weighing in at a tiny 250gr. Obviously, the compromise comes from the fact that these cameras have a fixed focal length (35 or 40mm depending on the model)… but the image quality you can get with one of these cameras is pretty mind-blowing given their size… no wonder they’re so popular with street photographers.

Best compact (point and shoot) camera : my choice

If I had to choose just one of these cameras in 2024, I think I’d go for the Sony RX 100 M5. With the release of its big brother, the M7, its price has come down considerably (to around 800€), making it, in my opinion, the compact camera with the best quality/price ratio at the moment. It has a tilting screen (for selfies 😉 ), a very bright lens, an electronic viewfinder, shoots in 4k and up to 24 fps… the best of the best for a reasonable price.

Check out the Sony RX100 M5 online

Check out the Sony RX100 M5 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.

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