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High-end compact cameras explained
Compact cameras don't have to be small on quality or sophistication. Here, we examines some advanced models that can deliver spectacular image quality even in the most demanding of conditions.
These top compact cameras also offer the creative shooting modes and advanced adjustments that we expect from our DSLRs, but that would fit in a pocket.
So whether you need to travel light or you just want a camera that you can take anywhere, anytime, so that you can stop missing those golden photo opportunities, you've come to the right place.
Downsized delights
At the heart of any camera is its image sensor, and this is where downsizing begins for compact models. A full-frame DSLR has a sensor that is the same size as a frame of 35mm film, measuring 36 x 24mm.
Most DSLRs have APS-C (Advanced Photo System - Classic) sized sensors that are smaller at around 23.6 x15.6mm, but the sensors fitted to most compact cameras are much smaller.
Popular choices for high-end compacts include 2/3-inch or 1/1.7-inch sensors. The dimensions of these work out to around 8.8 x 6.6mm and an even smaller 7.6 x 5.7mm.
In this group, the Canon PowerShot G12, Nikon Coolpix P7100 and Ricoh GR IV all use 1/1.7-inch sensors, whereas only the Fujifilm X10 has a larger 2/3-inch sensor. The Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 have an intermediate 1/1.63-inch size, which roughly equates to 8 x 6mm.
With smaller sensors, the focal length multiplier (often called the crop factor) is significantly greater than with APS-C format DSLRs.
So whereas most DSLRs have a crop factor or focal length maginifcation of 1.5x (1.6x for Canon), the compact cameras on test have crop factors varying between 3.93x and 4.55x.
The upshot is that to get an effective zoom range of, say, 28-112mm, the actual focal length range is tiny in real terms, at about 6-24mm. Because the focal length is so short, and the image circle needed to cover the sensor is small, the lens as well as the camera body can have small physical dimensions.
Big in parts
A major advantage of compact camera lenses having very small focal lengths is that the depth of field can be massive. That's because depth of field is dependent on the actual focal length of the lens rather than after the crop factor has been applied.
At the wide-angle end of the zoom range, there's no problem keeping very close objects and distant horizons simultaneously sharp.
The downside is that blurring the background for creative effect is much more of a challenge. You'll need to use the maximum telephoto zoom setting and select the largest possible aperture.
All our cameras here have a full range of Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual exposure modes, so making these adjustments is quick and easy, just like on an DSLR.
Even so, you'll still struggle to get a shallow depth of field with the Ricoh GR IV, because it's the only camera on test that lacks a zoom lens, instead having a fairly wide-angle, fixed focal length lens equivalent to 28mm.
Can you handle it?
Handling is often a problem with compact cameras. Firstly, the small size of the camera makes it difficult to get a natural, steady grip, especially when you're holding it at arm's length to compose shots on the LCD screen.
To help out, all the cameras in the group have either optical or sensor-shift stabilisation built in, which helps to minimise camera shake.
The Canon, Fujifilm and Nikon cameras go one better by adding an optical viewfinder (OVF). This helps stability, because you can lock the camera into your face, like you would with an DSLR, even if the zoom mechanism and off-axis placement of the viewfinder mean you only get an approximation of the composition.
If a viewfinder is a must-have, Olympus offers an electronic one as an optional extra, whereas Ricoh has an optional optical viewfinder and Panasonic has both optical and optional electronic viewfinders.
The other factor that adversely affects handling is that there's little room to put dedicated dials and buttons for all your favourite shooting parameters.
Even so, the Canon, Fujifilm and Nikon models manage to squeeze in plenty of direct access controls. Indeed, Nikon's P7100 has more direct control buttons and dials than most of its mid-range DSLRs.
Canon PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G12 - £380/$420
A quick glance is all that's needed to confirm the Canon G12's advanced aspirations. The front, top, back and sides are crammed with sophisticated features, controls and connections. The camera may look a bit daunting to beginners, but serious photographers will delight in the instant availability of functions such as ISO and Exposure Compensation, which have their own clearly calibrated dials.
The features list is long and impressive, adding options like an HDR shooting mode and high-def movie capture, both of which were absent on the preceding Canon G11. Even so, maximum movie resolution is only 720p rather than full 1080p, but it's backed up by an excellent hybrid IS (Image Stabiliser) system that counters positional shift in the camera, as well as the usual angular vibration.
The G12 also features Canon's HS system, which combines a high-sensitivity sensor with DIGIC 4 image processing in a bid to deliver 'exceptional low-light shooting capabilities'. That's the theory, at least. The standard ISO range stretches from ISO 80-3200, but an expanded ISO 12800 setting is available as an added extra, with a much reduced 2.5MP image size.
Overall handling is excellent, with the chunky body enabling a natural grip, despite the cluttered control buttons. The Canon G12 is also the only camera in this group to feature a fully articulated LCD screen, which is great for shooting from tricky angles and also for taking self-portraits.
The G12's AF system is very accurate and pretty quick, even when shooting in low lighting conditions. The metering system is practically foolproof and delivers perfect exposures almost every time. Overall image quality is very good when shooting in JPEG mode, and excellent if you choose to shoot raw files.
Despite Canon's claims, the PowerShot G12 isn't exactly a star performer at high sensitivity settings, and noise is very visible in images taken above ISO 800.
Outdoor
Images tend to be more punchy than from most Canon DSLRs, with plenty of vibrancy and contrast, yet highlights are retained well.
Resolution
Sharpness and detail resolution is very good in the ISO 80-400 sensitivity range, but it does drop off noticeably from ISO 800 upwards.
Noise
ISO 200 at 100%
ISO 3200 at 100%
Despite Canon's claims, image noise at high ISO settings is merely average, and very noticeable in the ISO 1600-3200 range.
Colour error
Accurate Auto White Balance helps to ensure good colour performance is maintained in wide-ranging lighting conditions.
Image test verdict
Very good in the ISO 80-400 sensitivity range, image quality is still perfectly acceptable at ISO 800, with plenty of vibrancy to boot.
Read our Canon PowerShot G12 review
Fuji FinePix X10
Fuji FinePix X10 - £395/$600
The Fujifilm X10 looks like a classic and classy customer, but there's plenty of craftiness lurking beneath its magnesium top plate. The 2/3-inch 12MP CMOS image sensor is the largest in the group, both in physical dimensions and resolution, and it's from Fujifilm's well-established EXR stable.
When the going gets tough, the sensor shares pixels to deliver low-noise images at very high sensitivities, as with the Canon G12, but it can also do an HDR trick. For this it uses half the pixels to capture highlight information and the other half for lowlights, then creates a high dynamic range image from a single exposure. It's also the only camera in the group that offers full 1080p video capture.
Like the Canon and Nikon cameras, there's a separate calibrated dial for Exposure Compensation but, without an articulated or tilting screen, some of the control buttons are shifted to the left of the LCD screen around the back. This makes for a far less cluttered surface while still giving direct access to a host of important shooting parameters.
The only thing missing is an ISO button, but you can assign this to the programmable Fn button on the top plate.
Despite being noticeably more slimline than the Canon and Nikon cameras in this group, handling is still excellent. The optical stabilisation isn't quite as fabulous as Canon's hybrid system, but runs very close.
The manual zoom ring on the lens is much more precise, and much easier to control, than any of the other cameras' motorised zooms, and can also be used to quickly switch the camera on and off.
Autofocus is also fast and very precise, even in gloomy conditions, and metering is unerringly accurate. Image quality is wonderfully lifelike, and the film simulations like Provia (standard), Velvia (vivid) and Astia (soft) work a treat. Beneath its understated styling, the Fujifilm X10 is a powerful camera that packs a considerable punch.
Outdoor
Images are wonderfully crisp and lifelike, thanks to accurate metering even in tricky conditions, and impressive dynamic range.
Resolution
The X10 reveals amazing levels of detail along with great contrast, even under flat lighting, only dropping off at very high ISO settings.
Noise
ISO 200 at 100%
ISO 3200 at 100%
Image noise is well contained even at ISO 3200, although a little fine detail is lost. The X10 is one of the best low-light performers in the group.
Colour error
Colour rendition is vibrant but accurate, making for beautiful pictures of everything from landscapes to portraits.
Image test verdict
A real star performer, the Fujifilm X10 delivers image quality that can rival or even beat many of the DSLRs currently on the market.
Read our Fuji FinePix X10 review
Nikon Coolpix P7100
Nikon Coolpix P7100 - £325/$500
Although bigger than most compact cameras, there's not a centimetre to spare, as the Nikon P7100 is awash with buttons and dials. The top plate alone has a combined push-button and rotary control for image quality, ISO, white balance, picture controls and auto bracketing, along with a hotshoe, shooting Mode dial, Exposure Compensation dial, main on/off button, shutter button, zoom control and programmable Fn 2 button.
Just beneath the top plate controls are four more buttons and dials around the back, plus a command dial on the front. The rear of the camera is similarly stuffed with a tilting LCD screen, more buttons and a four-way pad that doubles as a rotary controller. Suffice it to say that for CKTs (Compulsive Knob Twiddlers), the P7100 is a dream come true.
For serious shooters, the plethora of controls offers quick access to any and every shooting parameter you could wish for. Impressive specs include a powerful and class-leading 7.1x zoom range (equivalent to 28-200mm), backed up with an effective optical stabiliser that works well even at the longest telephoto setting. The 3-inch LCD is very high-res at 921k pixels, and teams up with a built-in optical viewfinder.
Part camera, part digital darkroom, the P7100 has a particularly long list of special effects, as well as the more usual scene modes, which you can access directly from the shooting Mode dial. It adds a fun element to an advanced camera, although performance is a mixed bag.
Handling is very good once you've memorised where all the buttons and controls are positioned, but the maximum burst rate is painfully slow at just 1.2fps, compared with 7fps for the Fujifilm and Olympus cameras.
Ultimately, it's the outright image quality that's the biggest disappointment here. Nikon cameras are renowned for their punchy pictures, but colour rendition from the P7100 can be downright lurid, even when using the standard Picture Control setting.
Outdoor
Acid greens in this shot are an example of how the Nikon pumps up saturation, even in its standard Picture Control setting.
Resolution
The P7100 has the lowest scores in the group for resolution. There's not a lot of attention to fine detail either, which is rather disappointing.
Noise
ISO 200 at 100%
ISO 3200 at 100%
Image noise isn't a problem in the ISO 100-400 range, but ramps up significantly after that. At ISO 3200, it's very disappointing.
Colour error
As with resolution, the P7100 has the worst lab test score in the group for colour accuracy. It's all too obvious in many of the camera's pictures.
Image test verdict
Compared with the excellence of Nikon's entry-level DSLR cameras, the P7100 is a big disappointment in terms of image quality.
Read our Nikon Coolpix P7100 review
Olympus XZ-1
Olympus XZ-1 - £295/$500
Weighing in at around 100g less than the chunky Canon and Nikon cameras on test, the Olympus XZ-1 is a more slimline affair, despite boasting a larger 1/1.63-inch (8 x 6mm) image sensor. It's the only camera in this group that doesn't have a sculpted hand grip and handling feels considerably less assured as a result.
Direct access controls are few and far between on the XZ-1, so there's much more reliance on scouring through the menus whenever you want to change anything. At least there's a quick menu available for major settings like ISO, white balance and picture style, as well as drive, autofocus and metering modes. This displays on the LCD screen when you press the OK button at the centre of the four-way pad.
One neat touch is that the lens features a context-sensitive control ring around its circumference. For example, in Aperture Priority mode, the ring adjusts the aperture setting.
Another uncommon, but useful, feature is a Bulb mode for long exposures - this is shared only by the Ricoh in the group. There are no less than 18 scene modes and six different art effects to play around with, but unfortunately the Olympus XZ-1 lacks a built-in viewfinder.
An optional electronic viewfinder is available, but it's a rather pricey proposition at around £180, and can't be used at the same time as a flashgun because it clips into the hotshoe.
The maximum burst rate is an impressive 7fps, but in high-speed drive modes only fairly low-res, 1280 x 960-pixel images are available. The Fujifilm X10 in this group also drops image size when using its fastest 7fps continuous shooting mode, but to a much more usable 2816 x 2112 pixels (6MP).
Colour rendition, sharpness and tonal range are all good in well-lit scenes. For indoor shots without flash, the XZ-1's images lack detail, even at low ISO settings, while noise is a major problem at high sensitivity settings. The autofocus speed also drops considerably in dull conditions.
Outdoor
As is often the case with Olympus cameras, the XZ-1's colour balance brings a certain warmth to outdoor images.
Resolution
It starts off well at ISO 100, but resolution drops steadily through the sensitivity range and is extremely poor at ISO 3200.
Noise
ISO 200 at 100%
ISO 3200 at 100%
There's precious little fine detail in low-light conditions, even at medium sensitivity settings. At ISO 1600 and above, shots look noisy and blurry.
Colour error
Colour rendition is good overall, but there's often a slightly warm colour cast to images, due to the way white balance is handled.
Image test verdict
The sun-loving Olympus XZ-1 gives pleasing results in good lighting conditions, but unfortunately it fails to impress when light levels fall.
Read our Olympus XZ-1 review
Panasonic DMC-LX5
Panasonic DMC-LX5 - £310/$420
About the same size and slightly lighter than the Olympus XZ-1, the Panasonic LX5 nevertheless feels a lot less fiddly to use. The shooting Mode dial is bigger with larger markings, and there's a decent-sized command dial on the back, which is a vast improvement on Olympus's very thin rotary dial around the four-way pad.
The Panasonic camera shares the same generously sized 1/1.63-inch (8 x 6mm) sensor as the Olympus model, which is a step up from the Canon, Nikon and Ricoh cameras in the group. Some of the features here include Panasonic's 'Intelligent Resolution' system, in which outlines, detailed texture and gradations in a scene are automatically analysed by the image-processing engine, which enhances them accordingly.
Sliding switches mounted on the lens barrel give quick access to focus modes and to image aspect ratios, with options for 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The control for Exposure Compensation is a lot harder to find, as it's not labelled anywhere on the camera or in the menus.
However, once you resort to looking it up in the manual and discover that you need to press in the rotary command dial on the back of the camera, you won't forget again in a hurry.
The 3.8x zoom range is the smallest in the group (bar the Ricoh GR IV with its fixed focal length lens) but it's impressively sharp and distortions are well contained. Better still, it's the only camera on test that zooms out to an extra-wide 24mm equivalent focal length, which enables you to squeeze more into the picture. The maximum telephoto length of 90mm, however, is comparatively disappointing.
The Intelligent Auto shooting mode is particularly good at judging scenes and coming up with the right camera settings for you, while the autofocus system is reasonably quick and metering is accurate.
And if you really can't live without a viewfinder, Panasonic offers optional optical or electronic finders to slot into the hotshoe.
Outdoor
Landscape photography benefits from excellent dynamic range, especially at ISO 80-400. There's plenty of sharpness and vitality too.
Resolution
In lab testing, the LX5 is an average performer in terms of resolution, but images generally look impressively sharp, with plenty of contrast.
Noise
ISO 200 at 100%
ISO 3200 at 100%
It's best to stick to the ISO 80-400 sensitivity range, as image noise becomes noticeable at ISO 800 and is poor by the time you hit ISO 3200.
Colour error
With one of the best scores in the group for colour accuracy, images from the LX5 look very true to life, straight off the camera.
Image test verdict
The LX5 is on a par with the Canon G12 in all areas of image quality, producing punchy, vibrant results, but high ISO performance could be better.
Read our Panasonic DMC-LX5 review
Ricoh GR IV
Ricoh GR IV - £435/$600
Considering it's the most expensive camera in this group, the Ricoh's build feels a little bit plasticky, but is nevertheless based on a tough magnesium alloy body. It's also extremely light, being barely more than half the weight of the Canon or Nikon cameras on test.
The Ricoh GR IV is the outright smallest camera in the group too, although this is mainly because it has a fixed lens, rather than a zoom. Many photographers will find the absence of a zoom lens quite limiting, as you're stuck with an effective 28mm focal length.
A wide-angle conversion lens is available as an optional extra, bringing the focal length down to 21mm, but telephoto shooting is off the menu. Having said that, there is a digital zoom facility that offers up to 4x magnification, but this is a poor alternative to optical zoom.
Other limitations include the inability to shoot simultaneously in raw and JPEG modes. This is something that's available in every other camera here. There's also no built-in viewfinder to be found on this camera, although an optical finder that clips into the hotshoe is available as an optional extra.
On the plus side, the Ricoh GR IV boasts a new hybrid autofocus system that combines the regular contrast detection of other compact cameras with a separate autofocus sensor. Ricoh claims that autofocus performance is twice as fast as with the older GR III.
New to the GR line is a sensor-shift stabilisation system that works reasonably well, but just isn't quite as effective as the optical equivalents used in all the other cameras in this group - with the exception of the Olympus model.
Rather disappointingly, the hybrid autofocus isn't noticeably faster than with any of the other cameras on test, although a 'quick snap' mode enables you to apply a preset focus distance. Making use of this feature means that you are able to take autofocus out of the equation. Overall image quality is good, but certainly not great.
Outdoor
The GR IV tends to under-expose high-contrast scenes to avoid blown highlights. As a result, pictures can end up looking a bit gloomy.
Resolution
Despite having a prime rather than zoom lens, resolution is only average, falling midway between the excellent Fujifilm and under-achieving Nikon.
Noise
ISO 200 at 100%
ISO 3200 at 100%
There's very little image noise at sensitivity settings between ISO 80-200, but it's noticeable at ISO 400 and very poor at ISO 3200.
Colour error
Lifelike colour rendition is reflected by one of the most impressive lab test scores for colour accuracy in the whole group.
Image test verdict
Frequent under-exposure can give images something of a dull and muted look, and image noise becomes a real problem at high ISO settings.
Read our Ricoh GR IV review
Verdict: Best high-end compact camera
The Fuji X10 is an unassuming little camera to look at, even if its classic styling has a timeless quality. Under the skin, however, it's packed with high-tech treasures.
The large (2/3-inch) sensor has the highest resolution in the group at 12 megapixels, and it's put to good use with great image sharpness and features that include enhanced high-sensitivity performance and automatic HDR processing from a single exposure.
Colour error result: The Ricoh GR IV was the most natural, but the Fuji X10 and Nikon P7100 both show slightly over-saturated JPEG colour.
Noise result: The Fuji X10 shows consistent results, topping the group up to sensitivity of ISO 800. Above this value the Nikon just takes the lead.
Dynamic range result: From a sensitivity of ISO 200 the Fujifilm X10 shows at least a 1EV higher dynamic range result than the rest of the group.
It's not just about the image quality, though - the X10 wins out with supremely good handling for such a small camera. The manual zoom lens is so much quicker and more precise than the motorised systems fitted to all the other cameras.
Next up, it's a close call between the Canon G12 and Panasonic LX5. There's practically nothing to choose between them in terms of image quality, so it boils down to whether you prefer the abundance of control buttons and dials that cover the G12's chunky body, or the more streamlined approach of the LX5, which also lacks a built-in optical viewfinder.
At the bottom of the pile are the Nikon P7100 and Ricoh GR IV. There's no lack of direct-access controls on the Nikon, which has a similar design to the Canon, but its continuous drive rate is painfully slow and image quality is a disappointment. The Ricoh's lack of a zoom lens limits its appeal and overall versatility.
