As the title suggests this type of digital camera is small enough to fit into a pocket. Even a small pocket like you find on a pair of jeans will do. I consider any digital camera under 25mm wide to be ultra compact or pocket sized. As digital cameras continue to shrink you will find many under 20mm and some a fair bit slimmer than that.
In terms of build quality this type of camera is well made and will have a lightweight metal body. This is definitely an improvement on the plastic bodies often found in other types of camera.
Although the cameras tend to have a similar, rectangular shape there is a fair amount of choice in terms of design. You should be able to look at the different cameras available and find one that you like the look of.
Whilst the cameras are small, manufacturers are still able to find enough room to add a large LCD screen to the camera. The majority of recent introductions have 2.5" screens. There are also some models available offering 3" screens. There is a downside to this and that in the majority of cases there has not been room to fit in a viewfinder. This can be a drawback, especially in very bright weather.
Picture quality has improved a lot and now matches up to that found with most other types of digital camera.
Some of lenses you will find extrude from the body when the camera is switched on while other remain within the camera.
Pocket sized digital cameras tend to be easy to use. The majority have a straightforward set of features without any manual exposure controls. So in many ways these are high quality point and shoot cameras.
In terms of price they can range from £100 to £200. Occasionally you will find one or two cameras cheaper than this. The majority of models are priced around the £130 mark.
It pays to look around carefully before you buy as quality can vary from camera to camera. Some are not very good indoors. It should also be pointed out that owing to the small size of these cameras the lens and the flash unit tend to be close together. This means it is very difficult to avoid red eye in portrait shots when flash is used.
One final point is that the range of the flash unit tends to be limited with this type of camera. Therefore you need to be aware of this limitation when you are using the camera in lowlight situations.
Currently most cameras offer between 8 and 12 megapixels.
Pros:
Size
Build quality
Design
Large LCD screen
Easy to use
Cons:
No viewfinder
No manual controls
Slight decrease in picture quality
Red eye
Limited flash range
Panasonic DMC FX60
| ||
| Store | Price | Visit Store |
![]() |
GBP 174 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 194.78 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 198.58 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 198.99 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 209.42 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 219 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 219.99 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 229.99 | ![]() |
Canon IXUS 120 IS
| ||
| Store | Price | Visit Store |
![]() |
GBP 189.99 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 199 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 227.85 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 233.61 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 238.99 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 246.75 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 248.42 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 249.99 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 269.99 | ![]() |
Sony DSC TX1
| ||
| Store | Price | Visit Store |
![]() |
GBP 209.99 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 221.99 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 246.99 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 255 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 275 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 289 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 299 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 299.99 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 299.99 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 319.6 | ![]() |
![]() |
GBP 325.00 | ![]() |
Digital Camera Types | |
| Simple and Easy | Straightforward, simple cameras. These are also the cheapest you will find. |
| Standard Plus | A step up on the most basic models with a few extra features available. |
| Pocket Sized | The most common type. Most are simple and straightforward. |
| Stylish | On similar lines to the pocket camera, but a little larger. |
| Extra Zoom | Extra zoom over and above more basic cameras, but retaining a fairly compact size. |
| Super Zoom | Extreme zoom lens. Normally with plenty of manual features. |
| Advanced | Contain features normally associated with a Digital SLR, but in a smaller body. |
| Waterproof | As well as being waterproof many cameras are also drop proof and freezeproof. |
| Digital SLRs | Entry level Digital SLRs for enthusiasts. |
| Professional Digital SLRs | Top of the range for the most demanding professional photographers. |
Pocket Sized Digital Cameras
