The Best Compact Cameras for Your Summer Holiday

If you’ve recently signed up to either our Digital Photography diploma or our Photo Journalism course then you will no doubt be looking to get the most out of your camera.

Whether you’re undertaking one of these courses in order to develop a career as a special occasion’s photographer or you wish to learn how to market your images to news outlets on a freelance basis, they teach you some of the core skills needed to kick-start your passion for photography. These include understanding the workings of your camera, learning how to control lighting and posing, and how to find your direction.

With many people setting off on their summer holidays over the next few months, one of the best ways to prepare for our courses is to take advantage of your vacation time to test out your current photography skills. This will allow you to look back on your work with a critical eye and test out any ideas you’ve had.

Below we’ve listed a selection of the best compact cameras for your summer holiday activities – these will allow you to take a variety of shots to add to your portfolio and capture some exciting memories to cherish.

Panasonic Lumix LX7

If you need something that fits in your pocket and is available quickly, without compromising image quality, then look no further.

The LX7 is a perfect supplement if you are used to using a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) but don’t want to be carrying it around all day. With 330 shots per battery charge, advanced features that create impressive soft-focus background effects, and an autofocus that produces images sharper than a knife, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more complete compact model.

Image resolution: 10.1 megapixels

Lens range: F1.4 – F2.3

LCD screen: 920k dot resolution

Continual shooting: 11 frames per second

Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.8”

Price: £270+

Olympus Stylus TG-4

If you’re more of an active photographer and love getting the perfect action shots in some of the most challenging circumstances, the TG-4 is the perfect camera for you.

Waterproof, shockproof, freeze-proof, even crushproof, this camera has you covered for any activity you want to capture from diving to rock climbing. With a solid metal casing and slip-proof rubber grips, the 16 megapixel camera can be on and ready to shoot in under two seconds and can capture pictures at 10 frames per second. If you want to leave the camera around to capture wildlife in its natural environment, it also comes complete with Wi-Fi connectivity allowing you to control the camera from your smartphone.

Image resolution: 16 megapixels

Lens range: F2.0 – F8.0

LCD screen: 460k dot resolution

Continual shooting: 5 frames per second

Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.2”

Price: £299+

Fuji X30

If you want a retro aesthetic to your choice of compact that also blends power, performance, and reliability, then Fuji’s latest offering might be your ideal camera.

Whereas some digital compact cameras can feel almost toy like, little touches to the X30 such as the lens and zoom ring, give the photographer the satisfying feel that they’re holding a ‘real’ camera. With the viewfinder added to the mix, it completes the package.

Though it doesn’t have the highest image resolution and struggles with the sharpness of images at a distance, the X30 suits most needs for a photographer and is a comfortable option if you’re used to solely handling a DSLR.

Image resolution: 12 megapixels

Lens range: F2.0 – F2.8

LCD screen: 920k dot resolution

Continual shooting: 12 frames per second

Dimensions: 4.6 x 2.8 x 2.3”

Price: £320+

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

Featuring the world’s first 65x fixed-lens zoom, if you’re looking for a point and shoot camera ideal for capturing nature and wildlife at its most intimate moments, you can do a lot worse than this.

One of the problems with the superzoom industry is that often the zoom size is at the expense of the things you want your camera to actually do (such as autofocus and take a good picture). With the SX60 this isn’t the case, and with large, textured grips for optimum handling, a great viewfinder feature, and a wide angle lens, Canon’s superzoom is a solid choice for the long distance photographer.

Image resolution: 16 megapixels

Lens range: F3.4 – F6.5

LCD screen: 460k dot resolution

Continual shooting: 2.2 frames per second

Dimensions: 4.8 x 3.4 x 4.1”

Price: £339+

These are just a few compacts that achieve everything the semi-pro photographer wants from a holiday camera. We’d love to see some of your snaps on our Twitter or Facebook page.