Pocket Camera: There hasn't been much discussion lately about true pocket cameras. (Ones you can actually slip into a front pocket or cargo pants side pocket.) I know cell phones have...

bobforman Loc: Anacortes, Washington State

There hasn't been much discussion lately about true pocket cameras. (Ones you can actually slip into a front pocket or cargo pants side pocket.) I know cell phones have encroached in this domain, but I curious if hoggers have a preference as to currently offered models and which one is the best.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I've been shooting my pocket-sized Canon Powershot G9Xii more than any other of my film & digital cameras. At 20MP capturing in RAW, with IBIS, it does a wonderful job, better than my phone. Both Canon and Sony offer these cameras, sized roughly the same as a deck of cards.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

bobforman wrote:

There hasn't been much discussion lately about true pocket cameras. (Ones you can actually slip into a front pocket or cargo pants side pocket.) I know cell phones have encroached in this domain, but I curious if hoggers have a preference as to currently offered models and which one is the best.

On my "wish list" is the TG-6 or TG-7. Waterproof, 7' drop proof, 11X macro, ring flash attachment, etc. And will easily fit in one's pocket. Not as sophisticated as larger cameras but offers more than a smartphone as far as I am concerned.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

bobforman wrote:

There hasn't been much discussion lately about true pocket cameras. (Ones you can actually slip into a front pocket or cargo pants side pocket.) I know cell phones have encroached in this domain, but I curious if hoggers have a preference as to currently offered models and which one is the best.

The phones have seriously diminished the market for compact cameras but there are a few still available from Canon, Sony and Panasonic. Like Paul I have one of the Canon compacts, a G7xII and it's my main camera for the simple reason that where I go it goes. I have FF and APS sensor cameras but my G7 gets more use than those others combined and it takes an excellent photo.

When I purchased the G7 it whittled down to a choice between the Canon versus Sony. The Sony had a larger zoom range while the Canon lens was more than a stop faster. The faster Canon lens tipped the scale for me.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I love my Sony RX100v . I have recently looked into the Sony HX99 for more reach but you give up a bit of image quality. But they are still better than a cell phone. The Sony RX100v and RX100vii are a bit pricy. The HX99 is reasonable. Both are slightly larger than a deck of cards.

Garson Loc: Tampa, FL

My go-to pocket camera is a Lumix ZS200. In fact, I took it on a European River cruise last summer and left my mirrorless cameral with several lenses at home. As I have gotten older, I don't like to lug a bunch of equipment. I may only take the pocket cameral this summer as well on another cruise.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Olympus Pen E-P7 with Lumix 12-32mm (24-64 equiv). Small enough to go in a fleece pocket. M4/3 sensor, IBIS.

Sample images here:-

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/tpr?p=13450964&t=752928

(Download)

RetCapt Loc: NorCal mountains

wdross wrote:

On my "wish list" is the TG-6 or TG-7. Waterproof, 7' drop proof, 11X macro, ring flash attachment, etc. And will easily fit in one's pocket. Not as sophisticated as larger cameras but offers more than a smartphone as far as I am concerned.

I'll second your vote on the TG series. I consider these water/shock/compression proof cameras to be a photographic necessity because I am so often in environments adverse to conventional cameras.

This one was taken with a distant predecessor to the TG series, an Olympus 1030SW, which was my first ever digital camera. I still have it, and it works just fine. I have two other more recent such cameras, but I chose this image to show what this 10mp camera can do. While this was a very calm day (as shown by the surf), I was still standing in sand, and of course this was in salt air. Peace of mind while taking photographs is of great value to me. I want to be able to enjoy the experience of being there and getting the photograph, not just the end product, which is the print I make.

While able to be carried in a pocket, that is not how I carry mine, but that is an individual decision.

User ID

Garson wrote:

My go-to pocket camera is a Lumix ZS200. In fact, I took it on a European River cruise last summer and left my mirrorless cameral with several lenses at home. As I have gotten older, I don't like to lug a bunch of equipment. I may only take the pocket cameral this summer as well on another cruise.

I used the ZS100 for a while. No interest in extending the long end (ZS200) cuz I found the ZS100 was really best kept to the lower 2/3 of the zoom range. For instance, zoomed way out the choice (?!?) of apertures is f/6.8 or f/8.0. Pretty nice camera if not taken to its extremes concerning FL and ISO. And pay no attention to the Leica label on the lens. BTW, it really does fit into most pockets ... and its certainly not overpriced. Its a good package. You cant expect miracles in such a bargain.

OldCADuser Loc: Irvine, CA

bobforman wrote:

There hasn't been much discussion lately about true pocket cameras. (Ones you can actually slip into a front pocket or cargo pants side pocket.) I know cell phones have encroached in this domain, but I curious if hoggers have a preference as to currently offered models and which one is the best.

I can't speak to "currently offered models" since today, if I needed to have a camera in my "pocket", it would be my cell phone (Apple iPhone 11 Pro).

That being said, back when I first started to use a digital camera I did want something that I could literally carry in my pocket (this was back when I was still using a Motorola 'flip-phone') and so I bought a Canon IXUS V, 2.1MP, back in 2001. Note that I was still using it as late as 2013, but it's since been relegated to the bottom of my drawer of old obsolete cameras. Note that this camera accompanied me around the globe, with it's first overseas trip being to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Now it's also been to Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, Shanghai, China, Singapore, Seoul, South Korea, Nagoya and Tokyo, Japan, Pune, India, Paris, France, Toronto, Canada, Zhu Hai, China, Macau, Bangkok, Thailand, Mumbai, India as well as from one end to the other of the United States. In all, there are 2,373 images in my archive taken with this camera over the 12 year period that I was traveling with it.

This is what the Canon IXUS V looked like and the frontal dimensions were just about the size of a credit card. At the time, it was the perfect 'pocketable camera', at least I felt that way.

And here's a street scene, complete with a camel, taken with the Canon IXUS V, in Pune, India - November 2003 - Canon IXUS V

hj Loc: Florida

CHG_CANON wrote:

I've been shooting my pocket-sized Canon Powershot G9Xii more than any other of my film & digital cameras. At 20MP capturing in RAW, with IBIS, it does a wonderful job, better than my phone. Both Canon and Sony offer these cameras, sized roughly the same as a deck of cards.

Love my Canon G9Xii also. Very compact and has 1" sensor.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

bobforman wrote:

There hasn't been much discussion lately about true pocket cameras. (Ones you can actually slip into a front pocket or cargo pants side pocket.) I know cell phones have encroached in this domain, but I curious if hoggers have a preference as to currently offered models and which one is the best.

"(Ones you can actually slip into a front pocket or cargo pants side pocket.)"

My wife and I prefer small cameras and have a few. Each does things well that our phones can't.

For small pockets, I have an older Sony HX90V, a newer Sony RX 100VII, a rugged Olympus TG-5 and a gimbal stabilized DJI Pocket 2.

For larger "cargo" pockets I have a Panasonic LX100 with a larger sensor than the others.

My wife has a brand new Canon SX740.

Bob Forman, is there anything I can tell you about any of them?

therwol Loc: USA

CHG_CANON wrote:

I've been shooting my pocket-sized Canon Powershot G9Xii more than any other of my film & digital cameras. At 20MP capturing in RAW, with IBIS, it does a wonderful job, better than my phone. Both Canon and Sony offer these cameras, sized roughly the same as a deck of cards.

I have the G7X II. It has a slightly longer zoom and may be slightly larger, but the specs are otherwise the same. Great camera. I use it a LOT.

therwol Loc: USA

Ysarex wrote:

When I purchased the G7 it whittled down to a choice between the Canon versus Sony. The Sony had a larger zoom range while the Canon lens was more than a stop faster. The faster Canon lens tipped the scale for me.

The G7 has an awesome, sharp, fast zoom. It never lets me down.

Basil_O Loc: Minneapolis, MN

My trust Sony RX100iii goes everywhere with me. Even when I have a backpack full of other gear, it rides in my front pocket just in case I see something interesting. It is my main travel documentation camera. My ancient Samsung phone simply doesn't cut it as a camera. It makes calls, sends texts, and holds a large amout of music files. That's its lot in life.