Compacts…
I have two compact cameras, a Fujifilm X20 and a Panasonic Lumix TZ60, both of which are now over 10 years old.
The X20 was one of Fuji’s first in their X series of cameras, which have now matured into a very comprehensive, high-quality range, including mirrorless models, used by professionals and enthusiastic amateurs alike.
The TZ60 has a slightly higher spec than the X20 (18MP v. 12.3MP) and boasts a Leica lens. (Leica actually made a badged version of this camera, with the same specs, but with a modified BIOS. )
Both are capable of producing very good images, but the main limitation (for me, at least) is their ease of use, or relative lack of it. Their small size is both an advantage and disadvantage in this respect. Being so small, and with fixed lenses, they are very easy to carry in your pocket. But, for me, they are awkward because they don’t feel comfortable in my hands. They each have a viewfinder, which not all compacts have; I’ve always preferred using a viewfinder to using the rear screen on a camera. The X20 has an optical viewfinder, while the TZ60’s is electronic. Again, holding such a small camera up to my eye feels unnatural.
These cameras are OK as snapshot cameras for when I’m out and about, not wanting to carry a lot of bulky equipment, but I wouldn’t want to rely on either of them as my only camera. The X20 is a good street photography option, being small and unobtrusive and with a small zoom range (4x) is versatile enough, but the TZ60 I too fiddly, for me.
With these limitations, I rarely use the compacts. They may suit some people, but they’re not really for me.
