We remember the time very well: reviewers and the public were starting to forget about the compact camera so much so because our phones had done such a great job of replacing them. But there was always something special about the higher end and more serious compact cameras. We’d even call them something more like a “fixed lens camera” instead. These days, modern cameras are doing some very boring things and often don’t feel very organic. It totally justifies the reason why people went and bought a bunch of retro compact cameras. Luckily for you, we’ve done full reviews of many of the best in our 15 years of publishing. So we’re rounding up the best Canon Compact Cameras you can get your hands on from the retro digital era.
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Canon G1x Mk III: Still Today, One of the Best Canon Compact Cameras
Even today, the Canon G1x Mk III tends to be the camera that I take with me everywhere on a daily basis. It has been my vacation camera, my backup camera, my fun camera, etc. And there’s great reasons for that. First off, it’s got weather resistance — and that means that by default, it’s much more durable than most other Canon compact cameras out there. It also boasts an APS-C sensor — which is the same size as what you find in many of their mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. Plus, it has a flash, a giant touchscreen LCD, and you can load custom image profiles onto it. So I can easily make the images from this camera look like film and even match the ones that I have loaded onto my Canon EOS R5. Or, I could choose to just embrace the look from the era. It’s truly one of the best compact cameras you can get your hands on.
Canon G1x Mk II: Absolutely Stunning Image Quality
The Canon G1x Mk II the the Canon compact camera that I probably look back at with the most fondness. Some of my absolute favorite images shot on Canon cameras were made with this little wonder during our review period. This cameras was pretty unique in that the sensor was slightly bigger than a Four Thirds sensor — which is at the heart of many OM System, Olympus, and Panasonic Lumix cameras. Yet it shoved the sensor into a very compact camera body with a fixed lens attached. This camera felt great in the hand but also delivered a truly beautiful, vivid image color. In truth, this was one of the first cameras that made me feel like I could be alright just shooting JPEGs.
Canon S95: The Darling of the Retro Digital Era
We originally reviewed the Canon S95 back in 2010. Then we re-reviewed the camera when we decided to purchase it again. We called it one of the best vintage digicams Canon ever made. And that’s for very good reasons. This was the first truly compact camera that featured a bright lens, slightly larger sensor, and a compact camera body. On top of that, Canon put subtle retro touches in the form of the ring around the lens and more. If you’re really looking for that super old style of digital cameras, then this is the one to get — providing you get it in good condition. This camera will fit into your jean pockets and is simple enough for anyone to be able to use without any problems.