In my opinion, one of the simplest ways to introduce someone new to photography is to provide them with a tool that they feel most at ease with so they can start learning the basics. Compacts fill that need; they are frequently pocketable and as near to the size of smartphones as you can get from a specialized camera.

Because they are also mirrorless, compacts have all the benefits of mirrorless cameras, with the exception of the inability to swap out lenses. Nevertheless, the principles of photography remain unchanged. Younger viewers might also find the closer-to-smartphone size particularly intriguing.

Canon Powershot G5 X Mark II

Among the available fixed-lens options, this one is undoubtedly on the higher end. Its 20-megapixel 1"-type stacked CMOS sensor, which is noticeably larger than most smartphones', ensures consistently good-looking photos. This device has a surprisingly powerful processor, which combines with quick, snappy, and fun performance. The Canon Powershot G5 X Mark II has to be a contender for anyone looking for a camera that is truly functional and small enough to fit in their pocket.

Deep zooming is one feature that sets fixed-lens cameras apart from smartphones, which are their real rivals. The Powershot G5 Mark II is the longest lens on the market (24-100mm equivalent), albeit it does not go as long as some others. At its widest point, it still opens to f/1.8.

You would not expect such a strong design, yet it is quite great. Particularly impressive is the handgrip, which goes beyond what is often possible for small cameras of this kind. With the modal options available on top dials, you can easily advance from fully automatic to semi-automatic to totally manual modes as your proficiency and confidence increase. The LCD is clear and bright enough for outside use, and the EVF is larger than you might anticipate for a pocket camera.

The G5 X Mark II is a highly recommended fixed-lens pocket camera if you are genuinely in the market for one. It is constantly strong everywhere; others in its range and type may surpass it in certain areas, but then fall terribly short in others. Unfortunately, the stability, dependability, and pleasant ceiling/high floor experience will come at a little higher cost. As a matter of fact, the price of this camera is comparable to that of some of the more expensive interchangeable lens cameras on our list. However, if you've chosen to start out with a point-and-shoot camera, you might be able to justify that expense over time.

Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II

Large sensors and excellent, multipurpose optics on fixed-lens cameras make them an excellent entry point into photography without a lot of hassle. The Panasonic DMC-LX100 II is a good option if this is your objective. With its many capabilities, compact design, and ease of use, the LX100 II is a feature-rich and reasonably priced option.

It seems reasonable to use cellphones as a point of reference here, since for most people, they are the fixed-lens camera of choice. With a 17-megapixel Four Thirds sensor, an 11 element/8 group Leica DC Vario-Summilux lens with an incredibly brilliant f/1.7-2.8 aperture range, a 3.0" 1.24m-dot TFT touchscreen, a 2.76m-dot EVF, UHD 4K recording, and integrated Wi-Fi, the LX100 II is a very capable camera. Its sensor also allows you to choose the aspect ratio; options are 3:2, 16:9, 1:1, and 4:3. The sensor is made in such a way that you can maximize the image circle of the lens regardless of the aspect ratio you select. It goes beyond just cropping the ratios from the standard full-size image.

The LX100 II does a fantastic job by way of design too, offering external controls that will get you accustomed to making choices in a tactile way. Chief among them is the smooth and handy aperture ring around the lens barrel as well as the dedicated shutter speed and exposure compensation dials. The touchscreen is responsive, and the menu offers plentiful options. All in all, the LX100 II provides an affordable, very versatile option for beginners of all ages — all packed into a tiny body, with a large 4/3 size sensor, and a fast, high-quality Leica-branded lens.

Ricoh GR III or Ricoh GR IIIx

People who are new to photography are often also used to taking pictures using their cellphones. This indicates that they have already mastered the ability to operate within the confines of one focal length, occasionally more, but usually just one. This discipline, which may be used to their photographic education, is frequently recommended by experts to instruct beginners or to inspire creativity: take a series of shots using a single focal length.

That is precisely what two excellent choices that are nearly the same in terms of form factor and haptics provide. The Ricoh GR III and GR IIIx are identical except for their focal lengths; the Ricoh GR IIIx has a 40mm (FF-equivalent) focal length, which is longer and more "normal" than the 28mm (FF-equivalent) lens found on smartphones.

The Ricoh GR range is exclusive. It's the only product of its kind available on the market. Compact cameras are available in two sizes: those that are truly "pocketable" (fit in a jeans pocket, for example) and those that are so big you'll need to carry a bag or purse of some sort, ideally suited for a coat or jacket pocket. Regarding the former, only 1.0-inch or smaller cameras (such the Canon G5X series) are available that meet the requirements. A big APS-C sensor combined with true pocketability is only found in the Ricoh GR series.

Moreover, the GR III/IIIx has the well-known "snap focus" option, which allows you to take a picture by pressing the shutter button down rapidly, past the autofocus half-stop. This causes the camera to default to a predetermined distance. Six options are available to you in the menu to set this distance: 1 m, 1.5 m, 2 m, 2.5 m, 5 m, and infinite. A wonderful digital depth-of-field scale that displays the amount of focusable area at the selected aperture and snap focus distance is included with this function. The GR III is ideal for most street and general photography when it is set to 2m and f/8, which will focus on anything from roughly 1m to infinity. The GR IIIx will not show quite as much in focus, since its longer focal length necessarily means shallower depth of field for a given f-stop.

Above all, the 18.3mm f/2.8 lens on the GR (equivalent to a 28mm FF) is among the best lenses ever produced, regardless of size. The 26.1mm f/2.8 (40mm FF-equivalent) lens in the GR IIIx is even better, with less distortion and sharper corners wide-open, which shocked me when I received my camera.

The GR series is, in my opinion, the quintessential illustration of ideal camera ergonomics. With your right hand clutching the camera, you can manipulate, change, or operate almost everything, and all the controls seem to be positioned precisely where they should be. Naturally, the 24MP APS-C sensor produces excellent image quality.