10 best every day carry tiny cameras for ALL budgets!
Here is a definitive ranking of the last 10 tiny cameras that I've reviewed for your viewing pleasure. If you’re looking for some inspiration for your next camera, you’ve come to the right place.
So without further ado, let's get in at number 10. Number 10…
10. DXO ONE
The DXO ONE. It's such a silly little camera. It's very, very tiny, but it is a little bit gimmicky. We have a tiny little dot matrix screen on the back for us to compose, but aside from that you're on your own.
You can't even choose your focus point unless you connect it to your phone. However, this tiny camera does have a really cool feature called DXO Super Raw, which, aside from it being named a really silly thing, gives the files insanely good low light performance.
It's great! But it's weird, and it's a little bit too unconventional for my every day tiny camera needs. I'm glad I own it, but it's not the one that I would recommend first. In fact, it's the one I would recommend 10th.
I would say buy the DXO ONE if you like weird cameras, are a camera collector, or want something that isn't too serious.
Bonus points because it does do incredible time lapses as well. Aside from that. It's a little bit weird. Onward!
9. Olympus PL-6
The Olympus PL-6. I think this is an absolutely gorgeous camera and it has a lot going for it, like an articulating screen (not flippy) and a really nice grip. It's very, very pretty. It feels very, very nice when you shoot and it's nice to use.
However, it's a little bit dated compared to some of the other cameras I’ve used in the same price bracket, which is Super Affordable.
It’s a camera that I wouldn't reach for first and foremost. There's a full review on YouTube of every camera in this list, by the way, and in that review I point out more than a few eccentricities that make it a little bit hard for me to get on board with.
For instance, the touchscreen only works for certain scenarios and not others, like you can't navigate the menu with it, and the time lapse feature only allows you to take up to 99 photos, which gives you about a two and a half second time lapse, which is practically useless. I love it for simple walkabout photography, but beyond that I think there are better options available.
All photos edited with my custom presets. Just sayin’ ;)
8. Lumix G100
The Lumix G100 is, in my opinion, the jack of all trades and master of none. It does work very well for everyday carry and street photography in particular, in my opinion, because you have a very good grip and It’s very, very light.
It's very blummin’ plastic-fantastic if i’m being honest. I've already cracked the bottom of mine just by taking it on and off a tripod. I would say the build quality is probably the worst of all the cameras I've reviewed in the history of cameras, never mind just the ones on this list.
Build quality aside, it does have an EVF, and you can get them at a pretty good price nowadays. So what do I mean about Jack of all trades, master of none?
Well, it's got a mic input, so it's great for video features, right? Well, it doesn't have IBIS, and it only has a 10 minute 4K recording limit.
It's great for photography. It has the newer 20 megapixel sensor… but it has an electronic shutter after only 500th of a second, so we have pros and cons. But it does work for me as a good all rounder.
Ricoh GRIIIX is a street photographer's dream. We have a fixed 40mm equivalent focal length, it’s compact, beautifully made, and very simple to use.
It is, however, the most expensive camera on this list. It’s also the largest sensor on this list with an APS-C sensor.
I found the Ricoh very user-friendly. I could just get up and running with it straight away. It was very intuitive. I like the build quality, but I think it's criminal that there is no weather-sealing at this price-point. You could probably buy the last few cameras that I've talked about and have some change left over for the price of this Ricoh.
For my own needs, I do prefer the ability to change lenses, rather than having just the one fixed focal length. Even though this particular lens is fantastic, I still think it’s super fun to change lenses and change my entire experience week on week or even day by day.
I would buy the Ricoh if you are a street photography enthusiast who adores the 40mm focal length. I’d buy this camera if you have a little bit of money to burn.
6. Lumix LX100 mkii
In at number 6 we have the Lumix LX100 mkii which is in many ways very similar to the Ricoh GRIIX. It isn’t weather-sealed (criminal for the price, which is also eye-watering) and it is a fixed lens. However this lens covers a much wider focal length, and is absolutely delightful.
You could take this camera in most scenarios, providing it isn't raining, and it would likely perform brilliantly.
I would say buy the LX100 mkii if you can't be bothered buying loads of different lenses and just want something that works out of the box.
5. Pentax Q-S1
Now, I'm laughing thinking that people are going to kill me because I've ranked this camera higher than the Ricoh. I'm sorry, Ricoh evangelists. I do like the Ricoh camera, but there is just something so charming about the Pentax Q. And it's my list so I make the rules!
The Pentax Q (or in this case the S1 variant) is a collector's item. It is its own mount. So the Micro Four Thirds lenses won't fit. You need to buy specific Pentax Q lenses. And there is a really comprehensive range. And they're all numbered 1 to 8. And you can buy prime lenses, zoom lenses, the lot. And it works with this camera. They are absolutely gorgeous. And tiny!
Now this is the smallest camera sensor on the list by a mile. It's an absolutely dinky CMOS sensor, so it's not going to be great in low light, but I just think for the portability, the colour variations, and just the sheer joy of the system, it does spark joy.
So I would buy this only if you are willing to invest in a whole new camera ecosystem. Even though it’s a relatively affordable one, it lacks a lot of versatility in terms of the cameras you can use. For example, you can buy a Lumix G100 and an Olympus PL-6 and they would share the same lenses. With the Q? You can only use the lenses on the Q.
This tiny micro four thirds camera is a no-frills, affordable, delight! We have an articulated screen, even, and there are a few different colour variations.
It's super user friendly and great to just throw in your bag and go. It doesn't have ibis. It doesn't have an EVf. The touchscreen and the menus are very intuitive and you do have time lapse features and certain other things like bracketing and timer functions.
You can get a Lumix Gx800 pretty much dirt cheap. I think it's a great option for an everyday carry camera. Some people will be put off because it doesn't have the EVF and it doesn't have the IBIS, in which case there are many other options available.
Buy the GX800 if you want something that does the job, is cheap, and is no frills, and is fun.
All photos edited with my custom presets. Just sayin’ ;)
3. Olympus Pen F
I love the Olympus Pen F! It was my first ever micro four thirds camera and it's stunning. However, it is super duper pricey and it’s not even weather-sealed. And it’s probably the biggest camera on this list as well. So while it is quite tiny, it is a little bit more chunky than the rest.
So just keep that in mind. It's a very style-centric camera. You have very metal build quality, lovely dials and very throwback design to some analog cameras. You do have an EVF, you do have IBIS, you do have a flippy screen. You don't have weather-sealing, but it is a delightful camera. My reason for not putting it closer to the top really is you can buy other cameras — very similarly specced or higher specced — for cheaper.
Buy the Pen F if you want a more expensive camera, if you really value style and if you want something that's a little bit special. And you never shoot in the rain!
2. Lumix GM1
In at number two, we have the teeny tiny Lumix GM1, which is the smallest Micro Four Thirds camera ever made!
It is so light. So, so small. You could take this anywhere with you, particularly if you paired it with a small enough lens. Tiny, tiny, tiny, beautiful.
Spec wise it's very similar to the GX800. The GX800 is a little bit bigger and does have the articulating screen. It is again in the category of no frills but I love that it is literally the smallest one that money can buy, which is always a benefit.
And I do love all the gorgeous colours it comes with as well. I often just throw it in my bag and off I go. And I have found as well that even though this is smaller, it is quite well designed and feels comfortable in the hand.
I love it. I love it I love it!
You should buy the GM1 if you want a piece of micro four thirds history. If you are swayed by interesting colours, and you do want genuinely the smallest camera in this system that money can buy.
So onto Number One… Drumroll…
1. Olympus Em-5
The winner of the Tiny Camera Series Season 1 is the Olympus E-M5. Are you shocked? I'm shocked.
Right, let me explain. I've just talked all about the Pen F. And the EM-5 is around 200 blummin’ quid. So you could buy 3 — or 4! — of these for the price of a Pen F. And it has a lot of the same features…
We do have an EVF.
We do have an articulating screen.
We do have physical buttons, a magnesium alloy body.
We do have IBIS (in quite a dated form but still)
But hold on to your hats. The Olympus EM-5 has weather-sealing. Weather sealing!
Not one of these cameras has weather-sealing. Not the ones that are five times the price, not the ones that are the same price. The EM-5 has weather-sealing. Yay!
So if you want a well built, everyday carry camera that is small, very affordable, has all the things that you would like, and is super stylish on top of it all. The Olympus EM-5 is the best bang for buck. 200 quid! I'm astounded. The only downside is, it's a little bit older.
This is the 2012 model, so you don't have the newer 20 megapixel micro four thirds sensor, like you do have in the Lumix G100 for example, or the Olympus Pen F. Otherwise? Beaut of a camera.
Every camera I've mentioned in this video has its own dedicated video so if you would like to learn more check out my Tiny Camera Series playlist on YouTube.
Most of the cameras on this list were bought through MPB. Check out MPB here for buying, selling, or trading your used camera equipment:-
If you’d like to support my blog, please consider checking out my photo presets, as well as signing up to my mailing list for photography tips, advice, and photo contests!
