People can’t get enough of the best compact cameras, what with the Fujifilm X100VI disappearing from shelves as soon as retailers can fill them, with compact-inspired interchangeable-lens cameras like the Fujifilm X-M5 and Sigma BF also struggling to meet demand. And then, of course, there’s the slew of ultra-cheap compacts by way of brands such as Kodak, Minolta, and Yashica, such as the Kodak Pixpro FZ55, Minolta MND25, and Yashica City 100.
So, 2025 really is the year of the compact camera. But trends come and go, and cameras ain’t always cheap, so I thought I’d come up with five reasons why you need a compact camera, and five reasons why you don’t. Because, in the right hands, they’re a little bundle of creative joy. But for others, they’re destined to end up in that box in the basement, along with various fidget spinners, 3D glasses, and last year’s iPhone...
