Ideal for trips

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 II is one for the road

Even with four distinct categories on offer, it’s surprisingly easy to pick an outright winner. The E-M10 II combines a compact but tough and solid body with its small but clever 14-42mm EZ lens – and there are plenty more lenses in the system. Handling is a joy, image quality is great, and the kit is terrific value.

While the Micro Four Thirds format is conducive to compactness, some will prefer a larger sensor. Our top choice is the Fujifilm X-Pro2, which makes use of its APS-C format to enable a tighter depth of field. It’s a pricey camera, however, and the Nikon D5600 is a less expensive APS-C format buy, albeit with a bulkier build.

The X-Pro2 also wins out against the Panasonic GX80 in a straight comparison of rangefinder style cameras, with better performance and handling, though the GX80 is cheaper, smaller and lighter. For superzoom compacts, the Fujifilm TZ100 easily beats the Canon SX730 HS, even if its outright zoom range is more modest. In the fixed-lens compact stakes, the Fujifilm X100F is our pick as a modernday classic, though the Ricoh GR II is well-suited to street photography and only about half the price.