Five cameras smarter than your phone

Five cameras that take better photos than your smartphone

Your phone is fine for Instagram and pictures of your pets: the quality of cameras in smartphones has increased exponentially over the last few years (and some are now seriously good). But they still fall short of professional models when it comes to functionality, power and the ability to separate you from the herd. Do yourself, and your photos, a favour this summer and upgrade to a proper piece of kit, designed for adults. You won’t look back.

1. Olympus OM-D E M10 Mark III

Small, light and packed with powerful features, this is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to make their first step to a “proper” interchangeable lens camera. Fast autofocus and tilting touchscreen to accommodate users from fully automatic to manual. £700; olympus.co.uk

2. Leica CL 18mm F2.8

Leica can lay claim to having invented the 35mm compact camera a century ago. Its latest CL pairs new features like programmable controls and an 18mm pancake lens with discreet, palm-of-your-hand craftsmanship to remind you why it’s still the street photographer’s favourite. £3,150; leica-camera.com

3. Panasonic Lumix DC-G9

For a compact camera system, the body of the G9 is actually pretty hefty, though the lenses you attach to it are smaller than DSLR equivalents. The upside is that this dustproof, weatherproof and splashproof model will take the knocks. £1,500; panasonic.com

4. Fuji X-E3 18–55mm f2 8-4 OIS

The latest addition to Fuji’s line in mid-range, rangefinder-style cameras now adds a touchscreen and Bluetooth capability. It has shrunk the size of the body slightly, too, without scrimping on the classic styling. £1,130; fujifilm.eu

5. Canon EOS 6D Mark II

The big plus here is the viewfinder that covers 100 per cent of the frame, letting you see all the shooting information without taking your eye off the action. Great for portraits and landscapes, with excellent depth and clarity to the latter. £2,000; canon.co.uk