The sun is in the sky, the burgers are on the barbecue, the cider is on ice and the kids are playing in the back garden. All you need now to commemorate the glorious British summer is a few snaps of you and your loved ones enjoying it. But what camera to use?
This run down of the eight best compact cameras for home photography is here to help you decide.
8. Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II
A pricey option it may be, but the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II is one of the best point-and-shoot cameras you’ll find. Users of the very popular previous iteration should expect the same high quality photo and video quality, but with a wider lens, better autofocus and WiFi.
7. Fujifilm FinePix X100S
There are few cooler looking cameras than the Fujifilm FinePix X100S. The sleek retro style masks a camera of cutting edge capabilities, with a 16.3MP APS-C sensor and a 35mm equivalent f/2 lens. Like the above, however, this pocket-sized beauty is on the more expensive end of the scale.
6. Nikon Coolpix s6700
If you’re looking for a bargain on a compact camera, then look no further than the Nikon Coolpix s6700. The 10x optical zoom is quite extraordinary for a camera with these dimensions and this price tag. However, slow response times might test your patience.
5. Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60
Speaking of compact cameras with outstanding zooms, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60 comes equipped with a 30x optical zoom capability. It’s also WiFi capable, able to take full HD videos and has an impressive sensor, given the size of the model. All of that makes it great for playing around with at home.
4. Sony Cyber-Shot HX60V
There really isn’t anything to not like about the Sony Cyber-Shot HX60V. With a whopping 30x optical zoom, a playful though durable frame, a 20.4MP CMOS sensor, 1080p video, GPS, NFC and WiFi, it has just about everything you could ask from a compact camera.
3. Sony Cyber-Shot RX100 III
If you want your family pictures to come out clear this summer – and we mean crystal clear – then it is hard to go wrong with the Sony Cyber-Shot RX100 III. The third in this innovative range, it offers the same searing picture quality as the previous two models, plus the helpful addition of an ultra-slick electronic viewfinder.
2. Panasonic Lumix FZ1000
As a bridge camera, this is one of the more sizeable models on our list, though what it lacks in compactness it more than makes up for in excellence. Between the 20.1MP 1in MOS sensor, the 16x optical zoom and the 80 – 25000 ISO range, it’s a truly high level piece of equipment.
1. Panasonic Lumix LX1000
And the winner is… a compact camera that offers just about everything you could want for a home portrait snapper plus something quite extraordinary; 4K video quality. Glorious versatility, a cool look and a very user friendly design all come together to make this the standout compact camera this summer.
We’d love to see your photos, and don’t forget to enter them into this year’s Oxfordshire Photography Competition.
If you are thinking about a photography course to fine tune your portrait skills please give us a call.