Last Updated on 05/29/2020 by Chris Gampat
Small in size, but big on performance; these slightly older fixed lens cameras will not disappoint.
Sometimes all we want to do is go out and shoot with as little gear as possible. At times, just thought of having to load up your camera bag and then having to lug it around can put a damper on your photography plans, and this, my friends, is where small fixed lens cameras come into their own. Being able to head out the door with a small camera with just one lens can be liberating. Not only will you save your back and shoulders, but you’ll find that you’re forced to be more creative due to only having one lens to play with. If you’re in the market for a camera that you can grab, slip on your pocket or a small bag and head out the door with (and you also want to save a few bucks), the slightly older small fixed lens cameras we have rounded up after the break may be of interest you
For me, and I’m sure for a lot of other photographers out there, small, fixed lens cameras bring a lot of fun back into photography. If you’re a working photographer who shoots with larger cameras all day long, compact cameras like the ones listed below offer a welcome break. The great thing is that these fixed lens cameras do not make you give you give up anything in terms of image quality when you use them. The lenses that are attached to the bodies are excellent optically, and the sensors are incredible too. You can grab these cameras before heading out of the door, and you can be confident knowing that you will be able to capture stunning shots. The models we have rounded up below are a little older but don’t think that old equals bad. The fixed lens cameras below are fantastic in every way.
Table of Contents
Fujifilm X70
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- The best ergonomics of any compact fixed lens camera we’ve held
- Great image quality
- Excellent build quality
- Touchscreen
- Fits into a skinny jean pocket
- Incredible battery life
- Leaf shutter for use with flash
- Autofocus is fast enough in most situations
- Dedicated Auto switch for the noobs out there
- The camera that you truly want to take everywhere with you
Cons
- An ISO dial could have been a welcome addition
- Buttons on the touchscreen itself is a bit odd
- WiFi image transfer sends very low-resolution images
- Lens gets dirty very easily
- It should come with a leather wrist strap as part of the standard kit. This camera was designed to be in your hand, not around your shoulder or neck
Buy now: $699.95
Sony RX100 V
Here are the pros and cons from the full review:
Pros
- fantastic image quality (some of the best we’ve seen from a point and shoot camera with a 1-inch sensor)
- fast autofocus
- slim, compact size
- nice EVF
Cons
- Just because the autofocus is fast doesn’t mean it’s always accurate
- We’d actually love a hot shoe
- Ring around the lens could use a clicking mechanism
Buy now: Used from $556
Leica Q
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Incredible build quality, though no weather sealing
- Very high detailed EVF, the best currently in the industry
- Beautiful image quality
- Very versatile RAW files up to 6400 ISO
- Fast autofocusing capabilities
- Depth of field focusing scale on the lens
- Macro capabilities on the lens
Cons
- The price tag
- Menu system is deep
- No DNG only shooting option at the time of publishing this review
Buy now: $4,249
Sony RX1r II
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Excellent image quality
- Fast focusing
- Great lens
- Small
- Lightweight
- For most of us, it’s all the camera you’d possibly need
- EVF addition is welcome.
- Fair battery life for a Sony camera
Cons
- Sometimes very hard to hold and shoot when doing street photography
- When used with a radio flash trigger, the EVF can get in the way
Buy now: $3,298
Fujifilm X100F
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Great image quality, though we wonder how much better it could have been made
- One of the best autofocus cameras when it comes to candid street photography
- Compact
- Nice feel that you’d expect from a camera like this
- Acros video is very welcome
- AF selection point joystick was long overdue
- So light, small and great that you’ll want to take it with you everywhere
- Much improved battery life
Cons
- At this point, it could use sensor-based image stabilization
- Could use a lens update, sometimes we feel like the lens isn’t doing the sensor full justice. Though we only speak of this in terms of optical sharpness. Otherwise, the character it delivers is fantastic
- No weather sealing; absolutely not sure why
- Though not necessary, it would be nice to have a headphone and microphone jack for video shooting.
- Doesn’t adhere to Sunny 16 rules of metering, which is REALLY WEIRD
Buy now: $999
Ricoh GR II
Here are the pros and cons from our full review:
Pros
- Fantastic image quality
- JPEGs so good that we’d have no problems just posting the JPEGs and not even bothering to edit the RAWs (yes, it’s true. That’s a very strong statement.)
- Compact body
- We actually like the rough texture of some of the body
- Pretty simple to use
- Really nice effects simulations
- Very low profile look
- LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact this lens tends to embrace flares rather than kill them
Cons
- Autofocus suffers in low light and with moving subjects
- Those that want the clinical look of a photo probably won’t be able to embrace the grain at higher ISOs, the fun of the creative effects, or the lens flare that’s possible here
Buy now: Used from $569.58