The best compact smartphone. The best compact smartphones

Who said that Apple dictates morals and never listens to the “wants” of customers? Here is an eloquent example of how those who like to lament on the topic “iPhone 6 is a heresy!” and “Jobs would not allow the iPhone to be made into a “shovel”!” achieved their goal, and Apple made their dream come true - a new iPhone in a classic case. As a result, the fans, who were supposed to choke with happiness... decided not to buy the model that they had been demanding from Apple for so long.

True, this in no way detracts from the fact that the iPhone SE is the coolest of the small and the smallest of the quality smartphones of our time. You’re simply amazed at how quickly the 4-inch “baby” opens websites and navigates through applications. And the camera - where else have you seen such cool rear camera so compact smartphones?

Another thing is that when watching a video you have to either strain your eyes or bring the smartphone close to your face, and in games the controls are annoying because the “huge” thumbs block a significant part of the screen. You have to type with the steady breathing and vigilance of a ninja samurai. But this is just a lyrical digression - lovers of compact mobile phones will be delighted with the size and performance ratio of the iPhone SE and will not notice these shortcomings. Moreover, this classic-looking iPhone even works with the newfangled Apple Pay!

But what Apple fans will really notice is the lack of 3D Touch (that is, the screen does not respond to pressure) and the weak selfie camera. And the model has no prestige - the new iPhone looks like a very old iPhone.

An ideal super-compact model to the delight of the “old believers” of fans of Apple technology, which will nevertheless scare off geeks due to its outdated hardware, and a considerable number of conservatives due to its too high price.

Sony Xperia X Compact

Another smartphone from the “you still have no choice” category. It must be admitted that all that remains of Sony’s legendary mini flagship is “mini” - flagship characteristics are a thing of the past, as is the Z5 Compact model. The new compact has neither water resistance, nor a cool processor, nor expensive body materials, but in terms of the quality of the display, camera and performance, it is still preferable to any other smartphone in the “4.6-inch and smaller” class.

Sony Xperia X Compact

The official prices for the Japanese compact are, to put it mildly, presumptuous, because no one is in a hurry to pay 33 thousand rubles for a small mobile phone with characteristics on the verge of the budget and middle classes. But gray retail will help us, which means that the best modern compact Android phone can be purchased for 22-25 thousand. And this is already quite an adequate price for a modern model with a moderate display diagonal.

Huawei Nova

A five-inch model in the selection of compact smartphones. Ashamed? Ashamed! But it’s better to have a lean smartphone with a 5.0” diagonal in all directions than the thick and stupid budget rubbish that the “4-4.9 inches + Android” thread is now teeming with.

Don’t be alarmed by the Chinese origin of the model and its price in Russia - Nova turned out to be extremely successful, and besides the dreary quality of the speakerphone, this smartphone has only one drawback. It consists in the fact that Nova is a very boring smartphone, like an intelligent girl without bad habits from an exemplary family with sinless relatives.

Neither good nor bad: the display is of average quality, the camera is good, the performance is average, the battery life is average, the body materials and design are also average. The only thing we can mention is a very cool selfie camera and a carload of “special effects” for it in order to apply makeup in self-portraits “on the fly.”

Well, if you don’t be a snob and don’t find fault with the fact that the smartphone turned out to be good on all fronts, you should take it. Take it to all buyers who want to get a high-quality and relatively small smartphone without maximalism in price or characteristics.

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)

A funny example of a compact smartphone that got a 4.7-inch diagonal not in order to be better than competing models, but in order to become worse than the Galaxy A5 and maintain “corporate subordination.” For this reason, the “three ruble” reached the title of one of the best compact smartphones only in the third generation: the first generation of A3 was generally “firewood” with an indecently budget filling, the second turned into a beautiful and fast, but still a “stump”, especially in terms of operational memory (one and a half gigabytes! Samsung, you produce RAM yourself, you can’t be so greedy!).

“And the fourth is neither alive nor dead. Oh, don’t let me go maaaat!”, as Nadezhda Kadysheva sings. They will release the Galaxy A4 - we'll see, but the third generation A3, or, as it is called, “a-three of the 2017 model year” still turned out to be a very cool smartphone, albeit with an inadequate price at the start of sales.

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)

A beautiful and, what is also important, waterproof case, a nimble eight-core processor (even better than your MT6753) with two gigabytes of RAM, NFC for working with Samsung Pay, and a high-quality AMOLED display. The smartphone cannot boast of cool cameras (they are weaker in the A3 2017 than in the typical mid-range ASUS ZenFone 3 and Huawei Nova), but still the new “three-ruble phone” is good even on its own, and among compact models it is also one of the most sophisticated . That rare case when Samsung with the number “three” in the index is not ashamed. All we have to do is wait until the price drops below 20 thousand, and there will be no contraindications to buying a compact Samsung.

With the advent of more and more smartphones, the battle between them and cameras has intensified. The former are already equipped with cameras with fairly high resolution photo and video recording. It turns out that now, in order to photograph, say, a child at a matinee or at school, you don’t have to have a camera with you at all - you just need to select the appropriate function on your phone.

In the last century, cameras and cameras were bulky and very expensive. Now, in the fight against smartphones, camera manufacturers are using various tricks and developing cameras that are ever smaller in size and with better image quality.

And yet, smartphone cameras are inferior in image quality to modern cameras, this became clear based on the results of the past year.

In order not to get confused in all the variety of camera models on the market, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the rating of the best.

10th place Nikon Coolpix S9600

A camera for everyday use. With it you won’t have to delve into the many intricacies of manual control for a long time. Easy to use, good photo quality, good macro photography, poor lighting is not a problem for photography. There is time-lapse photography.

The disadvantages include an inconvenient flash and problems with wi-fi.

The cost of a household photo unit is 15,000 rubles.

9th place Leica Q (Typ 116)

The most expensive representative of modern “soap boxes” in the ranking of the best 2018. The digital model is suitable for connoisseurs of quality. Almost all characteristics are at an ideal level - size, weight, excellent color rendering, comfort.

The disadvantages include autofocus (still weaker than on DSLRs) and battery (small capacity, lasts for a short time).

The cost of this far from budget model is 415,000 rubles.

8th place Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

Despite its simple appearance, the camera is comparable in quality to its DSLR comrades. This model contains everything you need for professional photography - manual control, high-aperture optics, a lot of built-in functions and 4K video among them. And one of the most pronounced advantages is that it is much lighter than a DSLR camera.

There is only one downside - an extremely uncomfortable grip.

The cost of the model is 50,000 rubles.

7th place Ricoh WG-4

A striking representative of high quality cameras thanks to its design. Models in this line immediately stand out from others. In addition to their appearance, these cameras stand out for their excellent build quality, high-level macro photography, powerful flash and high-aperture optics. All of the above qualities are rare in this price segment.

Overall, a good compact digital camera for the amateur tourist. The model's body can withstand many tests.

The price of this reliable unit is budget - only 16,000 rubles.

6th place Sigma DP1x

The model is equipped with manual control only. Suitable for subsequent photo processing on a computer. Excellent for landscape photography and portraiture. The quality of the photos is comparable to that of a DSLR. The model has a good dynamic range and a high level of detail.

The cost of the model is around 20,000 rubles.

5th place Canon PowerShot S200

Ideal for selfie lovers. The intelligent shutter responds to movement in the frame (a smile or a wave of the hand), as well as the appearance of a new face. No more timers!

The presence of an enlarged matrix guarantees pictures of higher quality than usual.

The disadvantages are a small zoom (only 5x), a battery that is insufficient for long-term use of the capacity.

The price of a selfie model is 18,000 rubles.

4th place Olympus SH-1

Compact, lightweight, with an excellent zoom and wide viewing angle, this camera will be an excellent companion on ordinary and holiday days. Recording video in Full HD format with different modes will not let you miss important moments.

The disadvantages include the possible appearance of audio noise when recording video. The features of five-axis stabilization are to blame for this.

The price of this device is 15,000.

3rd place Nikon Coolpix S10

This is one of the best models in its price segment. A large number of options, a rotating lens, a good zoom, a large-capacity battery - these are the qualities that put it in the top three.

The downside is the lack of manual focusing. An excellent option for everyday amateur photography.

The price of the bronze medalist is 21 thousand rubles.

2nd place Nikon Coolpix S2

Silver in our review goes to the constant participant in the ratings of the best cameras since 2005. The model is still very popular, despite the annual release of many new products.

Such a companion will be with you anywhere and everywhere, and will withstand any test - frost, heat, sand and water. The downside is poor white balance.

The cost of the old man, even now, does not fall below 24,000 rubles.

1st place Fujifilm X100T

The leader in the ranking of compact digital cameras in 2018 is rightfully the brainchild of Fujifilm, the X100T model. Externally - stylish and compact, build quality is excellent. A silent shutter, accurate color reproduction, a superb analog finder, excellent image quality and convenient manual controls are the ingredients of an excellent camera.

There is one drawback, and it is dubious - the lack of a rotating screen.

The cost of the gold medalist is about 75,000 rubles.

Popular budget models

Not every family is ready to pay 20,000 - 100,000 rubles for a camera. Therefore, many try to find a cheaper alternative. Of course, it’s extremely difficult to find something worthwhile within 5,000, so let’s raise the upper price limit a little higher and see several affordable models.

1. The most budget-friendly of the more or less decent cameras is the Canon Digital IXUS 160. The matrix is ​​small - 20.5 megapixels. Quite a good zoom (8x), the shooting process is fully automated, and good stabilization. For beginners or everyday use - just right.
2. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W830 - costs about 8,500 rubles. The same matrix in combination with a lens equipped with a long focal length gives good results. On the downside, there are autofocus errors, but this is still an unprofessional device.
3. Of the cameras in the region of 11,000 rubles, the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS wins. Powerful flash, manual shutter speed and aperture settings. The resolution, of course, is more modest than previous models, but the camera copes well with grain.

Conclusion

To summarize, we can say that when choosing a camera, the rule “the more expensive the better” does not apply. For everyday photography, you can purchase a budget model, and for important events you can simply hire a photographer - after all, they don’t happen that often.

Well, if you want to take up photography, there’s no need to skimp.

All that remains is to wish for more occasions and high-quality photographs!

Compact cameras are needed not only by people who like to take pictures of everything around them. For such purposes, you can simply purchase a digital camera you like and save a lot of money. The potential audience for compact cameras are photo artists and people who are seriously passionate about the art of photography. It is important for them that the device meets quality parameters and is not large. We have collected the best compact cameras in one list to make it easier for you to choose the right model.

What do you need to know before purchasing?

• The device easily fits into a handbag.
• Ideal for tourism and outdoor recreation.
• Even compact models have a wide range of lens focal lengths.
• A model with interchangeable lenses is not as heavy as DSLRs.

Top 10 best compact cameras

Compact models are produced not only by little-known Chinese companies, but also by real “sharks” in the electronics market: Canon, Nikon, Olympus and many others. The best of the models were included in the Top 10 according to the 2018 version. Cameras have their pros and cons, which we detail below:

1.SONY ALPHA A7 KIT

The cost of the camera may seem astronomical, but for this money a photography enthusiast will receive a compact and lightweight device, which will be equipped with a large matrix. According to its characteristics, it is classified as a semi-professional type, however, many bulky and inconvenient “mirrors” have such properties. Therefore, such a model can be considered the best option, albeit at a significant price.

Advantages:

• Compactness.
• Low specific gravity.
• Excellent quality of captured videos and photos.
• A large number of auxiliary settings.

Flaws:

• High price.
• The battery is not enough for long-term photography, so you have to take spare batteries with you.

2. OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1 KIT

The company is known all over the world for its optical products: telescopes, weatherproof cameras, digital cameras. This model has excellent parameters, although it lags behind in matrix size and frame rate per second when recording video. It has fast autofocus and a durable magnesium alloy body, which will protect the camera from moisture and dust.

Advantages:

• Ergonomics. Comfortable to hold in your hands.
• The developers have thought out the most convenient camera control.
• Attractive design.
• Copes with any practical tasks assigned to it in terms of shooting photos and videos.
• Good build quality.

Flaws:

• According to some reviews, the matrix is ​​noisy.
• Inconvenient compartment for installing a memory card.
• It is not possible to shoot video in 4K mode.

3.FUJIFILM X-E2 KIT

There is a large APS-C matrix installed here for a mirrorless camera. High-quality photofocus and fast lens. The developers have worked on a noise reduction system, which allows you to get excellent quality photos.

Advantages:

• Compact and convenient.
• Brand quality optics.
• Very light.
• When taking photographs, a natural white balance is obtained.
• Nice design.

Flaws:

• Focuses very slowly.
• Not the highest quality plastic on the case.
• Fixed display.
• Poor shooting performance at ISO above 800.

4. PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-GM1 KIT

There is a built-in 16 megapixel matrix, but the camera fits completely in the palm of your hand and produces photographs of amazing quality. The body is made of metal, but this does not make the device heavy and bulky. When taking pictures with it, your hands don’t get tired at all. We can say that this is an inexpensive option for a beginning amateur photographer who wants to try his hand at more powerful equipment.

Advantages:

• Light weight.
• Compact size.
• Affordable price.
• Acceptable iso parameters.
• It takes good not only photos, but also videos.
• You can focus by tapping on the display.
• High-quality auto balance settings.
• Can be controlled via Wi-Fi.

Flaws:

• It is inconvenient to use the ring joystick for control.
• The display does not rotate.
• The video recording button is difficult to press because it is “recessed” into the body.
• May be difficult to hold due to its tiny size.
• The battery runs out quickly.

5. NIKON 1 AW1 KIT

A special feature of this model is its impact resistance. It has been proven that it will not suffer after falling from a height of two meters, which would be fatal for a number of other models. It is not cheap, but it has a number of distinctive features and strengths, for example, it can shoot in severe frost (down to -10 degrees), underwater at a depth of up to 15 meters. It is for this reason that this camera is chosen by lovers of extreme recreation and tourism.

Advantages:

• Very strong and reliable, can work in extreme conditions when other devices cannot withstand.
• The battery holds a charge well.
• Attractive design.
• Not the highest price considering the camera's characteristics.
• Excellent matrix parameters for your money.

Flaws:

• If you're not used to it, it may be difficult to hold it in your hands.
• In KITA, photographs come out of average quality, despite all the efforts of the photographer.
• The battery will run out after the third hundred shots.

6. CANON EOS M KIT

This device can easily take colorful pictures and videos in Full HD format. There is also a photo burst function at four frames per second. The advantage of such a camera, in addition to the favorable price, is the ability to purchase a lot of removable, additional equipment, such as flashes and optics.

Advantages:

• Compact.
• Inexpensive.
• Has removable lenses.
• Good quality photo and video shooting with a standard lens.
• In automatic mode you can get very decent pictures.
• Excellent quality at high ISO settings.

Flaws:

• Small selection of additional lenses.
• Uncomfortable to hold.
• There is no video finder.
• Autofocus is very slow.
• The battery is not enough for long-term photography.

7. NIKON 1 S1 KIT

Outwardly, it is very similar to a digital camera, but here you can change lenses. The quality of the images is very good, not inferior to other models in this rating. Can take up to 15 frames per second, depending on the parameters specified in the settings. All settings are intuitive.

Advantages:

• Compact.
• Convenient and easy to use.
• It weighs very little.
• Can take many frames per second.
• Makes great video.
• Focuses quickly.
• Attractive and unusual design.

Flaws:

• It gets hot during operation.
• When taking photos, noise may appear in the frames.
• Not very comfortable to hold in hand.
• The plastic case makes a characteristic creaking sound.
• The screen is slightly green.

8. FUJIFILM FINEPIX HS50EXR

This camera has flexible autofocus, which covers all its main shortcomings, for example, regarding the size of the matrix. There is a function using ultraviolet light, which qualitatively distinguishes the device from its competitors. The battery can be classified as having medium endurance; in one charging stage it can take up to five hundred pictures, after which it turns off. Additional lenses and equipment can be purchased.

Advantages:

• Very fast focusing.
• Unusual design.
• Excellent quality of captured photos and videos.
• Flexible autofocus available.
• Sufficiently capacious battery.
• Application in a variety of fields: portrait, landscape, still life, reportage photography.

Flaws:

• There may be noise when taking a photo.
• The camera is heavy and difficult to hold in your hands for a long time.
• Large dimensions.

9. SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-HX300

This model is known for having record zoom parameters among cameras of this type. Using optical zoom, you can enlarge the existing image by 50 times. In addition, there is a 1/2.3 matrix and a good lens. It is especially interesting to use it in macro mode, zooming in on flowers, plants, insects and other objects in the lens's field of action. At first, you don’t have to use manual settings; in automatic mode you get excellent pictures.

Advantages:

• Excellent 50x zoom.
• Focuses quickly.
• Takes photos and videos well.
• Can be used without manual settings.
• Clear controls.

Flaws:

• Dust and moisture may enter the housing.
• Quite heavy, weighing just over 600 grams.
• RAW is not provided.

10. CANON POWERSHOT SX50HS

The presented model has an ergonomic shape, making it comfortable and not heavy for your hands to hold the camera in your hand even during long periods of shooting. The design of famous SLR camera models was taken as a basis. The photos are of high quality, and you only need to spend a couple of seconds to take a photo. The body is made of plastic, but your hands do not slip on it. The zoom mode can be turned on quickly and without extraneous noise or rustling, which is very important when you photograph birds or animals.

Advantages:

• Ergonomics.
• Relatively light weight.
• Quiet and high-quality zoom.
• Affordable price.
• Fast focusing.
• No “brakes” when taking photographs.

Flaws:

• Using shooting modes, you may notice dull colors and faded light.
• If you're not used to it, it will be inconvenient to use such a large camera.
• There are no detailed instructions for each command and shooting mode. Beginners will have to figure this out on their own.

There is a large selection of compact cameras on the market today. Choose them based not only on the prestige of the company and functions, but also on your abilities. Having purchased a semi-professional camera, beginners often do not know how to use it and do not use the full range of its parameters.

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