Increasing interest in compacts, something is strange

[IronFilm]

On 1/28/2025 at 6:56 PM, MrSMW said:

Different strokes for different folks as they say…

Despite being a full-time pro photographer (not so much at this time of year though) or perhaps despite being, I prefer my phone.

I like the idea of a compact but the simple reality is that old adage of the best camera you have is the one you carry with you. And 2 devices at all times is 1 too many for me.

If I was going on a serious trip, I’d take some serious kit. Not the entire kit, but enough to do the job without taking over from the purpose of the trip. Unless it was specifically a photography thing.

So send me out today with 1k burning a hole in my pocket for an every day compact and I’d come back with a phone.

Am in a similar boat. But I'm trying hard to try and use a dedicated camera more often as "the casual shooting camera" rather than my phone. (it's helped that my phone has a truly awful camera, it's merely a NZ$199 phone) 

Is why I've been building out a fairly comprehensive (but small/cheap) lens kit for my Fujfilm X-A3 (not so great video, but awesome photos for its very small price and very small body. Wish though I had a X-M5! But that's unjustifiable for me I'm afraid. Maybe in a couple more years if/when the Fujifilm X-S10 crashes down in secondhand prices then I might grab a X-S10 as a supplementary camera, for when I wish for better performance but can tolerate a modestly bigger body).

As I think for price/size/quality my X-A3 with a lens or two is quite hard to beat. Yet even with such a nifty/compact setup, then every time I take it out with me, it's easy for me to understand why such a thing isn't more popular. It's quite noticable extra bulk. 

It's similar reasons why people consume 10000x more content via their smartphone rather than via an eBook reader, even though an eReader is technically "better" for reading with. SImply because no matter how small , lightweight, and compact your eReader is then your smartphone is still going to be more convenient to use. And convenience wins. 

If you're merely chronically online you might think there has a been a huge uptick in P&S users (due to how hyped up they are, and talked about, but out there in the real world, it's rare to see them being used. 

For instance when I'm out on the weekend having some drinks then 95% of the time the only people I'll see out in a pub/bar/karaoke/club with any sort of dedicated camera will likely be just myself and perhaps the club photographer (if they have one). 

[IronFilm]

On 1/29/2025 at 10:23 AM, hoodlum said:

She also specifically mentioned the flash.  I think the flash is the number #1 feature that is currently too limiting with smartphones and that is a big part of what is driving the compact camera trend.  While some may be going for the retro look, that is not the main factor.  I suspect camera companies still don't understand this and are not filling this large niche.  I am not seeing many new compact cameras with a built-in flash.

There used to be some niche cellphones back in the day with powerful xenon flashes, these were my favorites! (such as the Sony Ericsson K800i/K810i/K850i or Nokia N82, just to mention a few of the phones I had)

Maybe there will be a return to having more powerful flashes packed into smartphones? 

On 1/29/2025 at 7:40 PM, MrSMW said:

She has no interest in cameras or photography but their is some kind of hype thing going on it seems and as has been mentioned, as with IG filters, it will probably be a fad that will soon pass.

Yup, social contagion, heavily influenced by the latest fashionable trend going around on social media. Would be a brave company indeed who is willing to risk a multi million dollar bet on their ability to ride that wave. Especially when the gap between deciding to ride that wave vs the actual camera release will be many months/years apart!

 

  

On 2/2/2025 at 1:12 AM, MrSMW said:

While I am at it, here is the Lumix LX100ii vs the Lumix S9 with the new 18-40mm lens.

The FF camera is not that much bigger but IMO needs the Smallrig grip but the lens size is perfect, albeit a bit slow for indoor use...

Might be a small quantitative difference between those two cameras. 

But a feel the qualitative difference in size you experiencing in using them is huge.

LX100 just barely fits into big/baggy/loose pocket category. While the S9 with that lens ends up firmly on "wear on camera strap" (or put in a bag / backpack, or maybe you have massive pockets). 

 

[Chrille]

On 1/28/2025 at 1:55 AM, Andrew Reid said:

I think what is happening, is that:

A) Social media has reminded a very large audience that compact cameras are FUN

B) What you can get up to with one, the shoots - the simplicity - it all looks cool on social media which further draws people in

C) There's a lot of affordable compacts

D) The top premium compacts with exception of X100 series have not had updates for AGES so the previous models are still in demand

🙂

One additional point would be that parents don't want their children to use the smartphone on holidays all the time, don't want to be seen using the smartphone on holidays, etc.

[Clark Nikolai]

On 2/2/2025 at 3:12 AM, ac6000cw said:

I agree the RX100/ZV-1 are pretty small (literally 'fit in the palm of your hand' cameras), b

What I'd like to see is something the size (or smaller) of the Minolta DiMAGE X. I had one in 2003 or so and it was great! It would fit in your pocket, had internal zoom too. It was 84 x 72 x 20mm.

https://www.dpreview.com/articles/8470280799/throwback-thursday-minolta-dimage-x

 

So, if a company made something that small in that form factor but updated the specs; more zoom range, higher megapixel sensor, maybe stabilization, microSD card slot, etc. I'd be into it.