7 Best Fixed Lens Cameras in (2024) [Super Convenient]

If you are looking for a good fixed lens camera instead of the ones that allow you to switch lenses, you probably prefer your camera to be convenient & hassle-free.

Fixed lens cameras easily fit in cramped spaces and don’t require setting up when you take them out.

You can just turn it on and start clicking.

In comparison, being able to swap the lenses does add versatility to your camera.

However, that also means you need to carry the lenses separately which requires more space.

Also, setting up the right lens and getting it ready to shoot, may make you miss the moment. That is something fixed lens cameras won’t have issues with.

Not every fixed lens camera does the exact same thing and you may benefit from a very specific type.

Trying to find out what type fits you best and which model to consider within that range of devices, can be super confusing.

To make that process easier for you, I’ve handpicked the best fixed-lens digital cameras, from a variety of price points.

Best Fixed Lens Cameras in (2024)

To keep the selection process fair & simple, I’ve evaluated a bunch of cameras based on multiple factors.

These include the capabilities of the sensor, quality of images & videos, retention of details, noise levels in low-light, overall dynamic range, compatibility, extra features, price, etc.

After taking all these factors into consideration I’ve disqualified all the devices that don’t stand out and kept 7 of the most capable options that made it to the final list.

I’ve discussed them in detail, below:

1. Best Overall: Sony RX100 VII

The Sony RX100 VII is a camera that is best suited for people who are looking for a versatile and premium compact device.

You can also click amazing photos for your Instagram handle, as it provides exceptional image quality and excellent dynamic range for a point and shoot.

Sony RX100 VII Sample Images

The battery life stands at 260 shots which would last around 2 hours for photos and one hour for photos.

This is really disappointing because many cameras provide excellent battery life in the 400s while this is only half of it.

Honestly, Sony has always impressed me with its design and this camera is no different.

This comes in pure black color which looks gorgeous and feels very premium. It sports a 3-inch tiltable touch screen LCD.

The buttons are on the right-hand side of the screen which gives you the option of using touch or type.

However, it misses out on a joystick which I would have loved but it is a great design in any case.

There is the Zeiss Vario Sonnar lens that is powerful enough to cover a range of 24mm to 200mm. It is 8 times zooming.

The Bionz X processor for processing images shows its caliber by allowing you to take upto 20 FPS of continuous shots.

The body also as a large 1-inch type that sensor ensures you best image quality irrespective of the lighting.

It has the focusing power of 357 focal points that are spaced out in the frame and covers 68% of the screen.

The camera gives out true to life colors and images.

There is an active mode of stabilization which is specially designed for videos that are taken during walking.

I tested this and found it to be ultra-useful.

It also shoots amazing slow-motion and time-lapse videos.

2. Best Prime Camera: Fujifilm X100V

Are you looking for a mirrorless camera that comes with full frame lens?

The Fujifilm X100V is one of the best-rated options to consider.

If you are looking for a prime lens camera that is solely designed for taking exceptional portraits and breathtaking videos, the Fujifilm X100V is one of the best options to look at.

It can take pictures and videos at 4K resolution. The outstanding camera can run around for 420 shots in a battery cycle. This can last for 3 hours on pictures and 1 on video.

Fujifilm X100V Sample Images

The design is remarkable and salient.

The magnesium alloy and the aluminum body gives it a premium look and feel and a delight to hold and use.

It sports a 3 inch LCD touchscreen that can be tilted and moved to suit your style.

There are fewer buttons as the UI centers around the touchscreen.

The buttons are customizable and the Q button is on the grip which is a very bad idea.

It kept pressing but I could change the function and avert any problems.

There is also a joystick for quick changing of focus. Overall, the design is nice and forward going.

The point and shoot camera features a 35mm full-frame focal length.

The aperture ranges from 2 to 16, which is something that I have not seen on any other fixed lens cameras.

It has the X Processor Pro 4 to look after the image processing.

Fujifilm’s color science is also excellent for street photography.

The burst rate of the camera stands at 11 FPS which is great.

There is a 26 inch BSI CMOS sensor that is powerful enough to manage in any situation and I was particularly taken aback by its image performance.

The design of this prime camera is weatherproof and you are assured of getting the best images in any weather.

You can be stress-free if it drizzles or the weather shocks you with some drastic change.

It can also capture beautiful videos and present you with some breathtaking visuals with its sensor and processor.

It is specifically designed for portrait lovers and professional filmmakers.

The 4K camera weighs around a pound and it is heavy compared to its competitors. It comes with a one year warranty.

The camera is a dream for the portrait lovers and it is the perfect fixed lens compact camera with a prime lens.

In case you want a versatile option, look elsewhere.

3. Best for Vlogging: Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II

The Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II aims to give you an exceptional experience that makes you feel elated.

The camera delivers great image quality and has been proven to give out good video footage for YouTube, Instagram Reels, and more.

Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II Sample Images

It comes with a battery life of 250 shots which is not that great, to be honest.

The camera only lasts for about 2 hours in a continuous shooting while an hour of video recording can be got from it.

Canon has time and again impressed us with its design and the PowerShot is proof of its excellence.

It has a premium look and feel. It sports a 3-inch touchscreen LCD that can articulate full 180 degrees for selfies.

The buttons are neatly spaced on the right of the screen.

There is an electronic viewfinder that pops up when you want it. Overall, the design is elegant and we are really impressed with it.

The G5 X Mark II boasts of the latest Digic DV 8 Sensor coupled with a 20.1MP CMOS sensor.

This is a great combination that has time and again proven it’s caliber in low light and tough situations.

Thus, it gives great images in the worst conditions.

There is a one-inch sensor which is the reason behind its stellar performance.

The Canon camera is as excellent in the video front as it is in the image front.

It can capture 4K resolution at 30 fps which is the standard rate but what impressed us the most is the ability to capture full HD videos at 120 FPS.

This means that you can view the video in slow motion almost 4 times slower than the normal rate. It is an excellent feat to achieve.

It does have eye-tracking and the subject tracker autofocus but it is slower than the competitors.

Weighing at just 0.75 lbs, it is a nice lightweight budget camera for filmmaking, vlogging, etc.

It comes with a one year warranty.

The Mark II has nothing very extraordinary in the photo front but it does stand out with its 120 FPS full HD video capability.

You can go for this if you want a video-centric camera.

4. Best Leica Fixed Lens Camera: Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000

The Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000 is an exceptional camera that offers a breathtaking Leica lens which is the best in the class and gives out supremely good image quality.

You get an option to zoom in 16 times which would be good enough to get you some good clicks of wildlife too.

It has a battery life of 360 shots which is okayish but can be tweaked for a better duration.

Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000 Sample Images

Since it is a bridge camera, it bears an extreme resemblance to a DSLR.

It has a 3-inch flip-up display with a touchscreen which also can be used even for taking selfies.

The spacing of the buttons and the placement is also top-notch and we have no complaints with the plain, simple yet gorgeous design of this camera.

The highlight of this Lumix model is the Leica lens.

It gives an impressive focal length equivalent to 25-400mm and the aperture is from 2.8 to 4.

There is a Venus Engine processor coupled with a BSI-CMOS sensor of 21.3 MP.

The ISO ranges from 80 to 25600.

There is 5 axis optical stabilization which worked butter smooth and gave me jerk-free results even on rocky terrain.

This fixed lens digital camera is capable of taking a full 4K video.

Additionally, you can even take a snapshot of the video or capture a frame in full 4K resolution.

You get 8MP resolution in those frames.

There is a DFD focus technology that guarantees focus in 0.2 seconds.

It even tracks and locks the subject. I found this extremely helpful and praiseworthy during my field tests.

The Panasonic camera weighs 1.83 lbs which is quite heavy.

You would need a tripod if you are planning to use this all day or for long events.

The battery life is okayish but you can buy an additional one. It comes with a one year warranty.

Overall, it is a great option and I would strongly recommend this to anyone and everyone.

5. Budget Point & Shoot: Canon PowerShot SX740

The Canon PowerShot SX740 is a worthy contender for the best fixed lens digital camera.

It features the trust of Canon with the optical zoom that can go upto 40 times closer to the subject.

It has a battery life of 265 shots which is not very impressive though.

This means that you can use the camera for only an hour and a half on a single charge.

The video recording will be around an hour.

Canon PowerShot SX740 Sample Images

The design of this Canon PowerShot is sleek and modern.

The compactness of the camera is something that we loved.

It features a 3-inch tiltable touchscreen.

Besides that lies the buttons that are widely spaced and have a nice feel when you touch them.

The flash pops up from the top left.

There is no optical or electronic viewfinder and you have to rely on the screen every time for the live view of the shots.

That is something disappointing.

There is a DIGIC 8 DV sensor coupled with a 20.3 MP BSI CMOS sensor.

It perfectly works in any condition.

Using it, you can take continuous shots upto 10 FPS.

The ISO range is from 100 to 3200.

I prefer a higher range but this is acceptable at the price it comes for.

The dual sensing IS is something that we loved.

It enables highly sensitive image stabilization that detects even the smallest of the movement and nullifies any effect that it may have on the image.

This cheap point and shoot camera has a zoom framing assist that is very useful to shoot a moving object.

It will focus and track your subject until it is in the frame.

This is something that I really appreciate.

The PowerShot  SX740 weighs 0.61 lbs which is moderate enough.

It is a nice and easy digital camera that has great zooming capability.

If you’re a teenager interested in photography, this camera would be our go-to recommendation.

The 40x zoom can fill you with delight and the image quality is excellent.

The battery life could have been better though. It comes with a one year warranty.

6. Best for Zooming: Panasonic Lumix FZ80

If you want a camera that is big on zoom, the Panasonic Lumix FZ80 is something that you should definitely consider.

This fixed lens compact camera has the ability to zoom in upto a range of 1220mm.

It has a decent battery life of 330 shots which would last about 2 hours of images and an hour of videos.

Panasonic Lumix FZ80 Sample Images

The design of the Lumix FZ80 is just like a DSLR.

You would not be able to make out just from the body if it is a DSLR or compact camera.

There is a 3 inch fixed LCD screen.

The majority of the buttons are on the right-hand side of the screen.

This is confusing because the weight is not exactly suited for one-handed use but the setup does suggest that.

I would have preferred a balanced setup.

Overall, the design could be much better.

It sports a Venus engine with a BSI CMOS sensor of 18 MP.

The image quality is not the best one but it is not bad either.

The photos retain a lot of details which makes the FZ80 a really good camera for real estate photography.

However, the lens capability is praiseworthy with a massive focal length of 20-1200mm.

This covers wide-angle shots and also the zooming in features.

The aperture range is 2.8 to 5.9. This is okay and fair enough.

Most of the Panasonic cameras has the post focus feature and Lumix FZ80 is no different.

It offers the feature to change the focus after the image is taken.

This is like editing in professional software and I found it really impressive.

It has 49 focus points which is decent enough and has some basic focusing features.

The camera weighs 1.36 lbs and it is heavy compared to its competitors.

It comes with a one year warranty.

Overall, a nice option that comes at an affordable price.

7. Cheapest Option: Sony DSCHX80

The Sony DSCHX80 is a lightweight option that has some great zooming capabilities.

It is one of the most attractive looking cameras designed for amateur photographers.

With a battery life of 390 shots,  you can use it for 2 hours at a stretch.

Sony DSCHX80 Sample Images

The look and the design of this cheap point and shoot camera is premium and compact. There is a 3-inch screen that can tilt around.

It has all the buttons on the right-hand side.

The right side does feel cluttered and the absence of controls on the left makes it more suited for one-handed operation than a steady two-handed use.

The Bionz X processor in the device is quick enough to capture a burst rate of 10 FPS.

The 18.2 BSI CMOS sensor makes it worthy to be used in any lighting condition.

The ISO range is from 80 to a boosted 12800.

The boosted ISO makes the image noisy but the camera has bearable images until 3200.

The lens is a Zeiss lens that has a huge range equivalent to 24-720mm.

The zooming is upto 30x optical and can go upto 60x digitally.

It has a 5 axis stabilization that gives you the best reduction of any type of jerky effects on the image.

It has the play store from which you can download and use the modes and filters available there.

Instead of preloading them into the camera, Sony gives you the option to choose them and download them if needed.

This fixed-lens point and shoot camera from Sony only weighs half a pound and it definitely is a lightweight option that you can use all day.

It comes with a one year warranty.

It is a great option for anyone who wants to have a camera with an exceptional lens and image quality, and some good looks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

Fixed Lens cameras have a lot of cool aspects of their own and they can be extremely useful in a wide variety of situations.

Considering you’ve made it this far, you probably have a personal favorite by now.

But, in case you’re still confused, let me make this a bit more simple for you:

• If you want no-compromise photos & videos, get the Sony RX100 VII.
• For street & travel photography, get the Fujifilm X100V or the Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000 in case you need optical zoom.
• In case you want to make videos & vlogs go for the Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II.

Check which one of the categories above matches up with your specific needs and get the camera recommended for that particular category/use case.

That would be all for this article but, in case you also want to explore other types of cameras, we have tons of articles available on the website, so maybe check those out.