Decision, decisions...

The compact camera market is in a position of change, with more attention being focused on higher-end and more capable models (such as the 1-inch sensor TZ100).
High-end compact cameras
Panasonic Lumix ZS100 (TZ100, TZ110).
- Panasonic Lumix TZ100 (£528.00)- big sensor, big zoom, small camera (Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-LX100-vs-Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-ZS100).
It uses a 1-in sensor, which has five times the surface area of conventional compact cameras’ sensors.
This gives a significant boost to image quality, particularly in low light.
Other cameras with 1in sensors and big zooms include the Panasonic FZ1000 and Sony RX10 II, but these weigh over 800g and aren’t remotely pocket-sized.
Panasonic has rewritten the rulebook by fitting a 10x zoom and 1in sensor into a camera that’s just 48mm thick.
It manages to deliver on three key fronts — a decent zoom range, high image quality and a pocket-sized design
For me, this isn’t a camera for enthusiasts.
keen photographers will appreciate the extra zoom range of the Panasonic FZ1000 or the luscious image quality of the Fujifilm X70.

- Fujfilm X70 review (£499.00 - amazon)- a winning combination of new and old - a gem of a camera.
At its heart is an APS-C sensor - the same size that’s used in consumer SLRs.
Switching to fully automatic mode using the dedicated lever, the camera is able to detect moving subjects and raise the shutter and ISO speeds automatically to avoid motion blur.
Image quality is outstanding!
If you want a luxurious, pocket-sized camera with exquisite image quality, my head says the LX100 is the better choice but by heart says go for the X70.
BUT:
- the lack of a viewfinder and the inability to record raw files
Fujifilm is a winner when it comes to high-end compact cameras.
For those that can succumb to the size difference, and want to perhaps pop the WCL-X70 in their bag when travelling or shooting on the streets, I think its a fab little addition and far more importantly, I think it gives a pretty unique point of view.

Four dedicated optional accessories are available - the BLC-X70 half leather case, the LH-X70 lens hood, the VF-X21 optical viewfinder and the WCL-X70 wide conversion lens which gives a 21mm focal length.
- Fuji X70 Digital Camera - Black (16499148) - Wex Photographic
- Fuji X70 Wide Angle Lens - Black (P10NA06970A) - Wex Photographic


- Panasonic LX100

- Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 Review - Amateur Photographer 5 star!

- 10 best compact cameras 2016 | TechRadar
2. Panasonic LX100
3. Fuji X70
4. Panasonic TZ100

5. Canon PowerShot G5 X
6. Panasonic FZ1000

Panasonic LX100 review - a compact tour de force | Expert Reviews
Comes top for image quality, performance, video quality, controls – the LX100 is a tour de force.
Factor that in, and the LX100's effective sensor size is smaller than that of the Canon G1 X Mark II.
However, sensor size is only one factor in a camera's ability to capture light.
The LX100's f/1.7-2.8 aperture is brighter than the Canon's f/2-3.9 lens, and is enough to put it out in front...class-leading image quality in low light.
LX100 sets a new standard for compact cameras!

A great price for a great camera: Lumix DMC-LX100 (Silver) - Park Cameras Online

10 best advanced compact cameras
(16 March 2016)
1. Panasonic Lumix TZ100
4. Fujifilm X70
9. Panasonic LX100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100: Sensor size Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm)

Lumix DMC-LX100 (Silver) - Park Cameras Online
Special Offers: £499.00 Claim £50 cashback on this camera PLUS get a FREE Panasonic LX100 Lens Cap!
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- http://www.pocket-lint.com/
- http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/
The Lumix TZ70 / ZS50 is Panasonic's flagship pocket super-zoom.- £289.00 - 30x Optical Zoom Leica
Canon G7 X Mark II review - pocket-sized brilliance! - £529.00 - Sensor size: 1in -

Best Camera 2016.

Best camera 2016 - Buying guide | 2 | Expert Reviews
Camera will have five basic choices:
- compact ultra-zoom,
- ultra-zoom,
- premium compact,
- compact system camera (CSC) and
- Digital SLR.

MEGAPIXELS - Ignore this specification!
APERTURE - More light, please
SENSOR SIZE - Lighting up

ZOOM - A big stretch
Compact ultra-zoom cameras have zoom ranges from 12x to 24x.
A compact ultra-zoom camera's lens retracts entirely into its body, making them easy to fit in a pocket.
Larger ultra-zoom models look more like digital SLRs, with a big, fixed, protruding lens, but these can have zoom ranges up to a massive 42x.
That extra zoom range is very useful for sports and wildlife photography.

Premium compacts are more concerned with wide apertures than big zooms, and so usually have modest zoom magnifications.
DSLRs and CSCs both have large sensors, and so this limits their zoom range.
Most such cameras will be supplied with a 'kit' lens, typically with just a 3x zoom.
Bigger zoom lenses can be bought, but cost around £500 for a 10x zoom.

Zoom ranges on compact cameras are often listed, as we have, in shorthand using multiplication factors;
while digital SLR cameras and CSCs list the zoom range in mm, referred to as the focal range.
The latter is usually normalised to the focal depth of a traditional 35mm stills camera, as these measurements make sense to photographers.
For example, 28mm is wide angle, which is good for landscapes; 35-50mm are good for all-round use; 70-90mm are best for portrait work; and beyond that you're into telephoto zoom territory for distant subjects.

For most cameras, you can find out the 35mm equivalent zoom range.
A long zoom for distant subjects is great, but we think this should be balanced by a wide angle at the short end of the lens.
For example, a 10x zoom with a 28-280mm range is more versatile than a 10x zoom with a 35-350mm zoom.
A typical 'kit' lens for a DSLR or CSC has an equivalent 28-90mm range.

CONTROLS - Controlling nature
Many CSCs, all DSLRs and the larger ultra-zoom cameras tend to have more physical controls.
Some people are put off by this, but there's no need to be.
These cameras still have fully automatic modes, so you don't need to understand every single control in order to use them.
Most larger ultra-zoom cameras also include an electronic viewfinder (EVF), and they are often a clip-on option for CSCs too.

SIZE - Pocket cam
...occasional users, actually prefer smaller, more convenient designs.
A compact ultra-zoom is the obvious choice if you want something you can slip into most pockets, as its zoom lens retracts.
The same goes for most of the premium compacts, though some have permanently fixed, if small, protruding lenses.

CSCs - Compact marvels
The lenses are smaller than SLRs' lenses, but CSC zoom lenses are still too big to make these cameras pocket sized.

DIMENSIONS - Size matters
...if an enormous zoom isn't necessary, then go for an SLR or CSC with a 3x zoom kit lens.
CSCs look more stylish (if that sort of things bothers you) and are generally a lot less imposing, some subjects will be less intimidated by such a camera than a big, black digital SLR.

After all that is said, SLRs still come top for image quality.
...the available ranges of compatible lenses are vast, for both Nikon and Canon models, plus there are third-party lens manufacturers.
If you plan on expanding your camera's capabilities with different lenses over time, then a digital SLR will be far, far cheaper in the long term.