When we think of “professional” photography, many would think of digital SLR cameras (DSLR). However, there are some outstanding digital compact cameras (or “point and shoot”), which are generally selling at cheaper prices, that do the job as well. Of course, they aren’t always the best in terms of picture quality, but they get the job well done with satisfactory quality.
There are several reviews that have tested the quality of photography shots on compact digital cameras, and these cameras have lived up to its price and usage! Digital compact cameras are a great pick if you’re still unsure about investing in a DSLR, as DSLRs are quite pricey.
Here are 10 of the best digital compact cameras in Malaysia.
Table of Contents
Why It’s Our Top Pick
The Sony ZV-1 has been a popular choice for many vloggers! Though there are some flaws, the ZV-1's design, features, and price point makes it a great choice for your content creating needs.
Overview
The Sony ZV-1 utilises a fixed lens, with a 24mm equivalent wide-angle view. It offers you the chance to shoot from interesting angles thanks to its fully vari-angle screen, which is especially useful for filming videos vertically.
In terms of video-making, the model also has a larger microphone grille on the top plate to accommodate several types of mics. Said grille is also designed for the ease of attaching a clip-on wind shield.
The Sony ZV-1 has a “product showcase” AF mode, which automatically focuses on the subject of the frame while you’re filming. With the auto modes and regular shooting modes on this camera, it will be especially helpful for beginner and amateur photographers to get the effects they want without worrying about the technicalities.
Performance
Though the audio quality of Sony cameras are pretty decent, you might benefit from getting an external mic. This is especially useful for when the speaker is filmed a few feet away from the camera. The good thing is that the ZV-1 has a mic socket for you to effortlessly attach it!
If you’re looking for another alternative for your vlogging needs, Canon’s PowerShot G7 X Mark III is a model that has continuously made it to several online lists of great digital compact cameras!
Overview
Canon’s PowerShot G7 X is a pocket-sized camera, designed to be easily portable and ready for you to take around on your travels! The lens ring and touchscreen that can be tilted up 180° and down 90° make it easy to adjust to the settings you need. On this camera is also a handy exposure compensation dial to control lighting situations for your photos.
The PowerShot G7 X has a 20MP 1"-type Stacked CMOS sensor. It has a built-in 3-stop ND filter, which helps to block out the light without changing the composition of your photos. Capable of 8 fps burst shooting with autofocus and 30 fps Raw burst mode, the camera is decent enough for shooting a constantly moving subject.
For vloggers and live streamers, the PowerShot G7 X has a live YouTube streaming support built-in, as well as is equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. You are also able to film videos vertically on this camera! Finally, the camera is 4K/30p and 1080/60p video recording compatible.
Performance:
Overall, the Canon’s PowerShot G7 X Mark III has a bright zoom lens and responsive touch screen for seamless shooting. You can even connect it to your smartphone to easily transfer your images!
More: Never Miss A Moment With These 10 Travel Cameras
Worried about the bulkiness of carrying a camera around with you? Panasonic’s Lumix DC-TZ95 / ZS80 is portable, light, and simple to use!
Overview
Notably, the Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ95 / ZS80 has an efficient AF system, strong build, and a viewfinder! It is a superzoom compact camera, which is comparable to its predecessor model (ZS70 / TZ90). Like its predecessor, it has a 20.3MP sensor, 4K video compatibility, and a lens that provides a focal length equivalent to 24-720mm in 35mm terms.
What’s different is that the ZS80 / TZ95 has a larger viewfinder, which translates to easier viewing and supports the higher resolution. It also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for easy transferring of images which you can manage with the 3-inch flip-up LCD touchscreen. The screen’s pretty useful for front-facing selfies and group wefies.
Aside from being portable, the camera has a decent zoom lens and a raw shooting option, something that’s usually reserved for DSLRs. RAW shooting means better flexibility in processing and editing images.
Performance:
As Panasonic’s Lumix ZS80 / TZ95 has a small sensor, the image quality might fluctuate. However, the quality is decent for a camera with a small sensor and expansive lens. Moreover, the 4K video quality of this camera has been praised quite often.
Fujifilm’s X100 line has been a favourite on the market, with its 1950s film camera designs. Luckily, the updated Fujifilm X100V model has premium features to accommodate the average camera user’s needs.
Overview
Fujifilm’s X100V has a tilting touchscreen which you can pull up by 90 degrees and down by around 30 degrees. This is especially useful for street photography, as this flexibility allows you to capture from the hip or above your head to get the different angles you need!
In terms of performance, it has a 26.1MP APS-C X Trans CMOS 4 sensor, an effective autofocus system, and the capability to shoot videos in 4K/30p.
The X100V has a fixed focal length (23mm f/2 lens), which can be useful for those who do not want to fuss with manual customisation. It also has a built-in 4-stop ND filter, which helps to block out the light without changing the composition of your photos.
Performance
Some reviews have pointed out that users will need to get a gimbal for better image stabilisation. The X100V also has short recording limits, hence this should not be used as the main video camera but more for photography. If you need a zoom lens, the X100V may not be for you, but overall this is a stylish, compact, and great quality camera.
More: Top 13 Must-Have DSLR Cameras for the Aspiring Photographer
Are you looking for a digital compact camera that has great functionality, yet does not break your bank? The Nikon Coolpix B600 may be the option for you.
Overview
The Nikon Coolpix B600 is compact in size, and you can easily slip it into your packed bag. In essence, the model stands out for its zoom features, with its 60x optical zoom and 120x Dynamic Fine Zoom. There is also a macro mode, which allows you to magnify and capture images up close. In terms of shooting quality, the camera has a lens resolution of 16 MP with an ISO rating of 6400.
The Coolpix B600 also has various in-camera features such as the fisheye effect for you to explore. Speaking of effects; if you’re worried about not getting lighting right, the “Scene Auto Selector” option helps you to automatically determine which scene would be best based on your environment.
This camera also has a Target Finding AF to automatically pick up on the main subjects within your frame. Additionally, there is a lens-shift Vibration Reduction feature that minimises blurring as you’re filming.
Sharing your images has also never been easier with its Wi-Fi connectivity and SnapBridge 2.5.
Performance
Reviews have commended the Nikon Coolpix B600 for its easy-to-use set-up and decent zoom power for a digital compact camera. Though there are slimmer models, the Coolpix B600 is still lightweight and easy to travel around with.
If your photography work often involves low-light or night photography, try the Nikon Z6 II, which has a better-improved performance in low-light in comparison to its predecessor model.
Overview
From its predecessor, the Nikon Z6 II has maintained its 24.5MP BSI CMOS sensor and steady high-ISO noise performance. This enables a native ISO range that runs from ISO100 to 51,200 and can be expanded to ISO50-204,800. It also has a 3.69 million-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) and 5-stop in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system to help produce clearer images.
The main new feature of the Z6 II is the addition of its second EXPEED 6 image processor. This translates to better performance, as well as quicker burst shooting speed to 14fps. Also, human or animal eye/face detection is now available in the Wide-Area AF modes aside from just the Auto-Area mode.
Dark settings are possible as the Z6 II can focus in light levels as low as -4.5EV (improving on -3.5EV of the Z6), without losing focus, to which, it can achieve focus even at -6EV. 4K footage can be recorded not only at 30p, but also 4K 60p!
Performance
The Nikon Z6 II is a formidable daily companion, as it has a strong build and a sensor that can adapt to a range of lighting conditions. This digital compact camera is also a great option for travel.
More: Make Video Blogging Much Easier With These 8 Vlogging Cameras
Sony is a reputable brand known for its cameras and video cameras. Therefore, it’s not a surprise that the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII, with its built-in viewfinder, is highly recommended.
Overview
The Sony RX100 VII is a pocket-sized digital compact camera with a simple autofocus system that utilises a 20MP 1"-type stacked-CMOS sensor with phase detection and built-in DRAM. This model maintains the 24-200mm equivalent F2.8-4.5 lens as its predecessor model. It is also able to continuously shoot at 20 fps with full autofocus and auto-exposure.
Focusing on the LCD touchscreen; it can be flipped up 180° or down by 90° to offer you flexibility in viewing content. Moreover, with the lens and video stabilisation mode, this will ensure that you would be able to get steady footage!
The camera is also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatible for easy transferring of footage.
Performance
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII stands out for its easy access due to its built-in viewfinder. However, some reviewers have commented that the viewfinder is a bit difficult to utilise.
Looking for a digital compact camera that you can travel with, has great connectivity, and is simple to use? Here’s Panasonic’s Lumix LX100 II for your consideration.
Overview
The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is a 17 MP zoom compact camera with a 24-75mm equivalent F1.7-2.8 lens. It has a customisable function menu, which makes it easy to access camera features such as AF point positioning. You can also switch seamlessly between different aspect ratios (4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1) using the selector switch on the lens.
Along with the higher-resolution sensor, it also has an improved colour rendering which contributes to a better-quality JPEG output. Not only that, but its larger-sized sensor and bright lens make it easy to capture as much as you can in your photos. Love films? The LX100 II can also film 4K videos up to 30p.
Performance
Though the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is not pocket-sized, it is still easy to travel around with.
If you’re a fan of the durable Canon G7X, the PowerShot G7 X Mark II is an upgrade to the model.
Overview
One main highlight and upgrade of Canon’s G7 x Mark II is its DIGIC 7 image processor. This improves the camera’s performance as well as a faster burst rate.
The G7 x Mark II has a 20.2MP 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor, with an ISO range of 125-12800. The lens has a fast maximum aperture range of F1.8-2.8 and an equivalent focal range of 24-100mm. It has a 9-blade curved aperture diagram as well as an ND filter, to block out sunlight while maintaining the quality of your images.
The G7 X II has a control dial around the lens, an exposure comp dial on the top, and the usual rear dial on the rear. Its touchscreen LCD can be flipped up by 180 degrees and down 45 degrees.
Aside from automatic settings, you have the option of recording images in raw format and manual exposure control is possible as well. This is suitable for those who prefer to experiment and not use the automatic modes.
Performance
All in all, the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II is a pocketable camera with great focal range and great image quality. This camera also performs well in low-light photography.
If you’re looking for an easy to use, simple digital compact camera, Panasonic’s Lumix FZ1000 II is an option you can consider!
Overview
The Panasonic FZ1000 II is a 20 MP super-zoom camera, with a 16x optical zoom lens that’s 25-400mm equivalent under its belt, working alongside a bright F2.8-4 maximum aperture for sharp, well-lit images. Additionally, there’s the Zoom Compose Assist which is an additional feature that helps in shooting with longer focal lengths.
The FZ1000 II is useful for travelling due to its compact size as well as connectivity to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. You can also record videos in 4K, UHD 4K/30p or Full HD 1080/60p as well as shoot continuously at 12 frames per second without autofocus, 7 fps with continuous AF, or 30 fps in “4K Photo” mode.
Interestingly, the FZ1000 II has a high-resolution OLED electronic viewfinder and tilting touchscreen LCD. Finally, it has five-axis image stabilisation and 49-point autofocus with a face/eye detection feature.
Performance
With a large one-inch sensor, Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II produces good quality images, while having a flexible zoom length that helps you get your close-ups. This camera also has appealing features, such as an electronic viewfinder, touch-sensitive screen, and Panasonic’s useful 4K Photo options.
FAQ:
- Compact camera vs DSLR: which to choose?
If you’re deciding between getting a DSLR or a compact camera, these are some of the pros and cons you can consider to make the decision-making process easier!
DSLR:
- Often associated with professional photography, the biggest benefit of a DSLR is the ability to switch between different lenses. You have more choices to swap between, based on the angle or aperture you need to fit your setting.
- On top of lenses, you have access to more settings as well as the ability to manually control your shots. DSLR cameras usually have larger sensors in comparison to digital compact cameras, which contributes to higher quality images. With larger-sized sensors, it is especially helpful for low-light photography.
- Another advantage is its ability to shoot raw. This ensures that the original image quality does not deteriorate before editing even begins.
- However, DSLRs are often pricier and bulkier in comparison to digital compact cameras.
Digital compact cameras:
- The opposite for the DSLR is true for digital compact cameras, being portable which makes it easy to take along with on your travels. They are also usually more affordable.
- Due to its auto modes and fixed scene modes, they are easier to use for beginner photographers or enthusiasts.
- Even though one of the biggest benefits of the DSLR is the ability to shoot raw images, some compact cameras now do have the ability to do that as well.
- The downsides of digital compact cameras are their smaller-sized sensors, hence the quality of the images may not be as good as the ones taken on a DSLR. On most compact cameras, you cannot change out the lenses so you will be restricted to the pre-installed lens.
- Additionally, a digital compact camera uses an electronic viewfinder (EVF) instead of a digital SLR viewfinder, hence it may be less accurate in comparison when it comes to capturing the light in your photos.