Digital compacts making a comeback?

lindsay

lindsay

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Article that popped up on my browser homescreen this morning: Digital cameras comeback article

It would be nice if this were the case, giving a fillip to camera manufacturers. Probably a passing fad though
 
They had been a bit if a trend for about a year or so ago thanks to influencers on TikTok.

My daughters have both been indoctrinated and I had to buy them compacts at the start of the year. For the first time since they were very young have bought them compacts for Christmas.

They are using them in interesting ways. The trend is based around everything being shot using flash and then sending the files to their phones.
 
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I'm currently carrying an iPhone 16 everywhere but I still carry a pocketable compact camera, for the many occassions when the phone doesn't meet my needs...

Cameras Sony HX90 and Panasonic TZ70 DSC01601.JPG
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
I'm currently carrying an iPhone 16 everywhere but I still carry a pocketable compact camera, for the many occassions when the phone doesn't meet my needs...
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I don't think that will qualify you as Gen Z though Andrew! (they are apparently the kids behind this enthusiasm)
 
I gather some mobile phone users are finding photography, and the limitations of a phone camera, the compact tends to be better quality (from what I've seen) and proper zoom functions which a lot of phones dont have.
How long this will last is anybodies guess.
I have a pretty decent phone camera, but I still mostly carry a compact as well, unless I have my "proper" gear.
 
A number of my twenty two year old son's friends are into older digital compacts , the flatter almost disk camera form Sonys with about 4Mp are a favourite though getting a fully working one is a bit of a gamble.
The same people that are into the lowfi / Holga and odd re spooled film stock which pushed interest in 35mm so who know where it will go or not depending on which way the wind blows.


Edit: They also rate half frame, Canon Demi etc. so this is the generation that Pentax were looking to with the 17
 
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I would say it's been going on for the last year or two at least. We get lots of old digital compacts donated - at least 2-3 a week. Almost all of them fetch money on eBay if they are working especially anything that's 1st generation (which can go for silly money). Canikons tend to do better than PanaSony's probably because they tend to actually be working.

They're cheap too (relatively, compared to modern cameras). Anything under a tenner goes to a shop, anything more goes on eBay and we hardly ever put anything out in the shop any more.
 
Well, I've bought a couple lately. I don't know if that qualifies as a comeback? :D Bit of a lottery though. Picked up a Canon IXY, but that has a dodgy auto focus. Best one is probably the 14mp Olympus x940, which is only colour, unfortunately.
 
ashishtamhane said:
A passing fad at best.
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It feels that way on reading the article when it's not so much digital cameras coming back because people want better image quality than the mobile phones but people choosing older digital camera models for various quirks, I guess similar to the reasons people like the instant cameras.

I was toying with a newer RX100 to try the longer lens than my mk4 has and did notice prices seem to have climbed on the second hand market plus on DPReview at the weekend it was the most popular camera listed. However while there's also the success of the Fuji X100VI much of the rest of the compact camera market seems quiet, looking at the Ricoh GRIII the current model is a slight revision of a camera that's now six years old, Fuji have no replacement for their XF10 or X70 cameras etc. It would be great to see that change though.
 
One thing that might drive this "trend" (if such it be) is that there are things that some older cameras can do that cell phones cannot.

As an example, my "ancient" Nikon S10 is very good for trecording interesting images, without distracting the subject, thanks to its compact size and the rotating hinge between the lens head and the body...

Nikon S10 Camera HX90 DSC00244.JPG

Held at waist level, in a similar way to the twin lens reflex film cameras, it makes candid photography much simpler...

Austrian police officer in the Zillertal S10 NIK_1082.jpg

Of course, image quality is compromised, relative to modern equipment, by a 6MP sensor. However, image quality comes below usability in my personal list of desirable features, which is why I still find it a useful photographic tool.
 
lindsay said:
Maybe I should be carrying my Pentax Q's around with me now? Seems like a plan
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I took my Q's on holiday back in 2023 as my only cameras. Some how I doubt I started the current trend with them though :)

They still come out occasionally when the family is off for a walk.
 
www.canonrumors.com

Canon Officially Announces the EOS R50 V and PowerShot V1

MELVILLE, N.Y., - March 26, 2025 — Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, answers the needs of video creators with the new PowerShot
www.canonrumors.com

Canon has just announced the Canon V1. Interesting, but I find the 16-50mm/F2.8-4.5 a little underwhelming. I know it’s a compact but it would be nice to have a constant aperture across the range.

I know im not really the target for these types of camera (and I winder who is) but I would love a X100 rangefinder or compact from Canon with a apsc sensor with a versatile lens either 28 or 35 f2 equivalent, that would be ace.
 
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