Cameras


The Best Advanced Compact Cameras

October 21, 2019

By Greg Scoblete

Editor’s Choice: Leica Q2

The Q2’s full-frame sensor has nearly double the resolution of its predecessor at 47 megapixels. Beyond the pixel bump, the camera has a wider ISO range, from 50 to 50,000, and a dynamic range of 13 stops. Despite the increased resolution, Leica managed to keep the continuous shooting speed the same at 10 fps using a mechanical shutter. The camera can record 4K video in both DCI (4096 x 2160 at 24 fps) and UHD (3860 x 2160 at 30 fps and 24 fps). You can capture full HD video at up to
120 fps. Unlike the Q1, this camera has a weatherproof build.

Price: $4,995
us.leica-camera.com

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Panasonic Lumix ZS80

This pocketable Panasonic uses a 20-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch MOS image sensor capable of recording 4K/30p video. You’ll find a built-in 24-720mm lens with optical image stabilization to keep things crisp. Using the camera’s 4K Photo mode, you can isolate 8-megapixel stills from short bursts of 4K video. In regular burst mode, you can snap at 10 fps with focus fixed on the first frame or at 5 fps
with AF-C engaged.

Price: $450
shop.panasonic.com

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Sony RX100 VII

The RX100 VII debuts a new Single Burst Shot mode that snaps up to seven JPEG/RAW images at either 90, 60 or 30 fps, allowing you to isolate the perfect shot from a rapid-fire burst. It can also deliver a more conventional burst mode of 20 fps with AF and AE tracking and no live view blackout. The RX100 VII uses a newly developed 1-inch stacked 20.1-megapixel Exmor RS CMOS image sensor with 357 focal-plane phase-detection AF points and 425 contrast-detection AF points. It can deliver what Sony claims is the world’s fastest autofocus acquisition at .02 sec. thanks to a new lens drive control.

Price: $1,200
sony.com

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Ricoh GR III

The APS-C-sized sensor in the GR III has 24 megapixels and an ISO range of 100 to 102,400. There’s no optical low pass filter, though there is a simulation mode that mimics the effect using a shifting image sensor. Like the GR II, the GR III has an 18.3mm f/2.8 lens (28mm equivalent) but it has been redesigned to improve image quality and reduce distortion and chromatic aberration. The new lens can focus closer, too, down to 6cm in Macro mode with a magnification ratio of .35x. The lens’s nine aperture blades stop down to f/16 and the lens has a built-in, two-stop ND filter. Also new for the GR series is in-camera image stabilization.

Price: $900
us.ricoh-imaging.com

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Canon PowerShot G7 X III

The new PowerShot G7 X III delivers a host of vlogger-friendly functionality such as a flip-up display, YouTube live-streaming and a portrait mode when filming video. The camera employs a 1-inch, 20-megapixel stacked CMOS sensor, DIGIC 8 processor and supports 4K/30p video recording, full HD recording at 60p and 120p, HDR video and a 20 fps burst mode. The top ISO of 12,800 is the highest yet for the PowerShot series. Your connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB-C, which can also be used for in-camera recharging.

Price: $749
usa.canon.com

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