Once upon a time, the digicam was a device everyone had in their bag – the beloved memory maker. Now, it serves a very different purpose. In a world where more and more people require photographic skills to have a career, camera choice is more important than ever. Enter the digicam – bridging the gap between amateur photography and professional practice. In March 2026, Digital Camera World reported that in January, compact cameras outsold DSLRs nearly five to one. Although this is good news, it poses issues for budding creatives starting out in the industry. For those that have not had training in photography, it can be tricky to know what to look for when starting out. Lucky for you, I have created a comprehensive guide to digicams in 2026, so that you can get the most out of your money and focus on what is important, no matter the purpose – making memories.
Best Big Spend – Fujifilm X100VI (£1599)
If you follow many travel influencers, you will have likely seen the Fujifilm X100VI. This compact camera was one of the first high quality digital cameras to offer a film-style aesthetic. However, it also comes with quite a large price tag. It retails for around £1599 and unless you are a serious photographer prioritising quality and detail over all else, there is little reason why you should invest. They may be versatile with the capability for gorgeous images, but the average compact camera user simply does not need the specs that it offers (especially at that price)! If you are a photography geek and are keen to have an incredibly technically good camera, maybe consider it. Otherwise, there are plenty of others to choose from.
Best Travel – Sony RX100 Mark 3 and 4 (around £300 and £600)
I may sound biased as I own the Sony RX100 Mark 3 myself, but this is a great little camera that ticks most of my boxes. I bought mine before going on a three week trip to California, wanting something that was fit for travel but high quality enough to meet my needs.
As a professional photographer, high resolution is a non-negotiable, and compact options often lack this. That is why I love the Mark 3. A great middle ground for someone who wants good quality images, with a smaller body and smaller cost, but with the added benefit of a very decent zoom. For some, it may still not offer enough quality due to its smaller sensor when compared to a DSLR, but for me, it is a perfect compact travel camera and I recommend it fully. It is also helpful to note that it shoots 1080p video for anyone that needs/wants it. The Mark 4 is also a great option that includes 4K video, but just depends on stock as both Mark 3 and 4 are rarely sold new anymore.
Best Budget/Casual Use – KODAK PIXPRO FZ45 Digital Camera (around £100 but can find for less)
I feel like most of the people I see online have gone back to using the exact cameras they had when they were children. Of course, this leans further into the low quality imagery trend that makes your photo look as though it was taken in 2004. However, if you do not have your old digicam from back in the day but still want the aesthetic, this one might be for you.
The KODAK PIXPRO FZ45 Digital Camera retails at under £100 on most sites – but do not let the price tag fool you, as it still comes with a decent amount of quality thanks to its 16.35-megapixel sensor. Although not the highest quality in the world, it will do the job for many, whether through holiday snaps for your scrapbook, photos at the pub with friends, or even documenting some video with its 1080p capability. In short, for what is currently trending on social media, this camera is perfect.
Best for Video/Vloggers – Sony ZV-1 (around £450 – £650 depending on retailer)
Since TikTok and Instagram are two of our generation’s most used platforms, I want to finish off by recommending a video camera. Just as YouTubers once rose to fame through their vlogs (video blogs) in the 2000s, a lot of what we consume in the media still revolves around video. Like high end photography, video can be a tricky medium to get into as quality is often everything. Obviously, we can do a lot with our phones now, but for those that want to take it to the next level (and not fill up their iCloud storage) you might want to invest in a small but mighty video based digicam.
Sony is currently leading the video industry for the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime and more, but something they also do very well is creating budget friendly cameras for those wanting to give it a go without spending up to £5000. Therefore, I would recommend the Sony ZV-1. It may be small but at £599, it packs a punch. This too, was one of my contenders for California as it is both compact, high quality, and comes with everything you might need, including a reasonable 2.7x optical zoom, a tripod and even a microphone. So, if you are interested in getting into video, this one is definitely worth checking out!
