Top compacts
Audley Jarvis looks at some of the best compact cameras on the market today and explains what to look for in each category
Small and perfectly formed. an in-depth look at eight of the best compacts currently available
Controls
Most of today’s compacts offer full manual control in addition to semi-automatic and fully automatic shooting modes.
Build quality
All the compacts in this round-up are well built, but if you’re looking to go off limits, opting for a waterproof compact is your best bet.
Size
Not every type of compact camera will fit in your trouser pocket, but most premium compacts are designed to fit a jacket pocket.
Viewfinder
Opting for a compact with a viewfinder gives you another option when high-contrast conditions make it hard to view the screen.
Lens
A key characteristic of any compact is its lens. While some are of the fixed-focal-length variety, others allow you to zoom in incredibly closely at up to 600mm.