Best cameras & lenses 2019
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III
● £699 ● www.canon.co.uk
CANON'S G7 X series of advanced compact cameras has long been popular with enthusiast photographers, and this latest version increases its attraction still further. Like its predecessors, it's based around a 20MP, 1in sensor and a 24-100mm-equivalent f/1.8-2.8 lens that offers a really useful combination of range and light-gathering ability. Yet this fits inside a pocketable body with a good complement of external controls, along with a tilting touchscreen for composing your images.
In technical terms, the Mark III's big update is the adoption of a stacked CMOS sensor and Canon's latest Digic 8 processor. This brings much faster autofocus and continuous shooting, with a new Hi-speed Raw option that shoots at 30 frames per second.
In addition, 4K video recording is available, supported by the addition of a microphone socket for better quality sound.
Canon has proven to be very adept at making small cameras that handle well, and the G7 X III follows suit with a nice tactile control ring around the lens, top-plate exposure-compensation dial and well-spaced buttons on the back. Most importantly, it also delivers very pleasing images. If you'd prefer to have a built-in viewfinder, along with a longer zoom in a slightly larger body, then also take a look at the G5 X Mark II, which costs £849. Overall, though, the G7 X Mark III is a lovely pocket camera that we really enjoyed using.
What we like
● Small, light and easily pocketable
● Excellent image quality
● Plenty of useful features
Sony RX100 VII
● £1,199 ● www.sony.co.uk
SONY'S RX100 series has been at the leading edge of compact-camera technology ever since the original model debuted in 2012. With the latest, seventh, edition the company has made the best pocket travel camera we've ever seen – at least for those who can stomach its stratospheric price.
As with last year's RX100 VI, which is still on sale at a slightly more agreeable £979, this latest version pairs a 24-200mm-equivalent f/2.8-4 lens with a 20-million-pixel 1in-type sensor, in a body that will slip into a jacket pocket. It sports a pop-up electronic viewfinder and a tilting rear screen, which together provide excellent flexibility for composing your shots. Other handy features include 4K video recording and built-in Wi-Fi for transferring images to your phone.
The RX100 VII's main update is that it gains Sony's much-hyped Real-time Eye AF and Real-time Tracking technologies. Together with continuous shooting at up to 20 frames per second, this means it can keep up with fast, unpredictable situations that would defeat its rivals. It you want a small camera to photograph family or sports, for example, there's nothing else quite like it. Equally, its excellent lens means it's a fine choice for travel photography when you don't want to carry heavy kit.
Our main criticism is that all the advanced features have rather outgrown the user interface, which was never that great to start with. So it's best to consider the RX100 VII as a point and shoot – albeit an incredibly sophisticated one.
What we like
● Consistently sharp lens through the entire zoom range
● Remarkable autofocus system
● Handy pop-up viewfinder and tilting screen
Canon EOS 250D
● £599 with 18-55mm IS lens ● www.canon.co.uk
THIS generously featured, easy-to-use entry-level DSLR has plenty going for it. Its compact, lightweight body makes it one of the smallest DSLRs on the market, and indeed barely bigger than many mirrorless models. Despite this, it manages to accommodate both a comfortable handgrip and a useful range of external controls, complemented by
