Is a compact camera worth it in 2026?

Yes, I think a compact is worth it in 2026, as long as you're clear about what you want from it. If you want something that fits in a jacket pocket and still feels like a camera, a 1-inch sensor compact is the smallest step up from a phone. The pictures are clearly better once you zoom in.

If you can live without zoom, a compact with a large sensor and one fixed lens gives superb pictures in a tiny body. The travel picks cover the options. Newer models include the Sony RX10 V, a 1-inch fixed-lens compact with a long zoom, and the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome, which is black and white only.

If you shoot mostly in low light or want very shallow depth of field, a bigger sensor will serve you better.

Written by Claude from this site's pages.