Best compact point-and-shoot digital cameras

Top pick: Sony RX100 VII. It's the most complete pocket camera you can buy — a 1-inch sensor, a 24-200mm zoom that covers wide street shots and distant subjects, and the fastest autofocus in this class, so it's the one to take when you don't know what you'll shoot.

Who the others suit:

• Ricoh GR IV — for street and documentary shooters who want a fixed 28mm lens, a big sensor and a camera that truly disappears in a pocket. The Monochrome version is for black-and-white purists.
• Fujifilm X100VI — for people who want the shooting experience as much as the photo: hybrid viewfinder, film simulations, classic dials.
• Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III — the vlogging and travel all-rounder, with a flip screen and a useful zoom.
• Canon PowerShot V1 — newer, video-first compact with a larger sensor; good if clips matter as much as stills.
• Panasonic LUMIX ZS300 — a long-zoom travel camera for daylight sightseeing.
• Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS — the simple, cheap pocket option for casual snapshots.
• Kodak PIXPRO FZ45 — budget point-and-shoot for occasional use; image quality is a step down.

Skip the no-name "retro digicam" and generic vlogging cameras if photo quality is the goal — they're toy-grade sensors.