... Compact Resurgence

There has recently been a big resurgence of interest in compact digital cameras just at the point when most of the big makers have got out of the business of making them having made the judgment that the market for them was dead! Those who have kept the faith continue to clean up as a result and the used market is booming for these little beasties as a result as well. As for me I still have and continue to use with much enthusiasm my lovely little Sony RX100 VII, last of their now discontinued compact camera series!

So what I am talking about here is indeed my little Sony RX100 VII compact digital camera with its Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-200mm f2.8-4.5 lens (crop factor equivalent) and incorporating Sony's own 1" stacked, back illuminated imaging sensor. Which is just a tekkie way of saying it makes very high quality images despite its very compact size.

Turns out a camera with a high tech 1" sensor combined with a very high quality Zeiss lens, a powerful processor and advanced processing algorithms can really do the business. It also has a professional level autofocus system with real time subject tracking. Additionally it has excellent image quality when used in pretty low light just to confound expectations of such a small sensor. It also does great 4K videos and making for a super Vlogging camera.

I continue to use this love little camera for its combination of convenience, capabilities and flexibility. That is it is to say it is easy to carry, is feature rich, produces fabulous images and meets the majority of the needs of my walkabout style of photography when I wish to travel ultralight.

Would it ever take the place of my Fujifilm X-T50 outfit? No it could not for many obvious reasons including very low level light work, ultra wide angle work, work requiring longer lenses, work requiring faster handling and so on. However, this remains a great little drop in you pocket, take anywhere, highly flexible, quality little machine.

So I can understand the resurgence in the interest in and indeed the use of digital compact cameras. They are much more capable and powerful than smart phone cameras but are still easy to carryaround and, for the fashionistas out there, make you look hip and groovy and on trend apparently.