Updated December 18, 2024
Fixed lens cameras may be a little different, but there’s a reason they’re so popular among photographers. They often come with some of the best lenses available on the market, in various focal lengths, matched to sensors ranging from APS-C to full-frame to give you the perfect field of view for your style of shooting.
Our choices range from pocketable models to larger cameras that you’ll have to consciously decide to take with you. They also cover a wide range of prices; Although sadly there is no budget option, some come with a much higher price tag than others, costing up to thousands of dollars.
our choice:
- Best fixed lens camera for patient people: Fujifilm X100 VI
- Best Pocketable Fixed Lens Camera: Ricoh GR III
- The Rolls-Royce of fixed-lens cameras: Leica Q3 43
Best fixed lens camera for patient people: Fujifilm X100VI
40MP BSI CMOS APS-C X-Trans sensor | 35mm Equiv F2 Lens | hybrid viewfinder
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| Image: Richard Butler |
What we like:
- excellent build quality
- subject-detection autofocus
- Now with in-body image stabilization
What we don’t do:
- The lens is not particularly fast at focusing
- hard to find in stock
Updated with in-body image stabilization and a 40MP BSI CMOS APS-C X-Trans sensor rated at up to 6EV correction, X100VI Despite looking virtually identical it is a significant upgrade over its predecessor. It has the same 35mm equivalent F2 lens and a hybrid viewfinder that lets you use it as a traditional rangefinder – with some digital enhancements if you prefer – or as a modern, fully electronic viewfinder.
The addition of subject-detection autofocus gives the X100VI the ability to recognize animals, birds, automobiles, motorcycles and bikes, airplanes, and trains. However, human (face/eye) detection is a different approach. The lens isn’t the fastest at autofocusing, prioritizing sharpness over speed, though that’s not unique in this category.
The problem is that the X100VI has essentially sold out since its initial release. However, if you are patient enough to sign up for waitlist notifications from various sites, you may be able to get one in time.
Maybe it’s worth the wait. While the X100VI has more dials and functions than previous versions, it still offers one of the most engaging photographic experiences. It’s easy to see why it became so frustratingly inaccessible: it’s an even better follow-up to a camera that was already popular among photographers of all types, and which had already sold out after going viral.
Click here to read our review of the Fujifilm X100VI
Click here to view the Fujifilm X100VI studio view
Best Pocketable Fixed Lens Camera: Ricoh GR III
24MP APS-C sensor | 28 mm equiv. F2.8 lens | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
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What we like:
- excellent image quality
- Good controls and ergonomics
- truly pocketable
What we don’t do:
- low battery life
- no built-in flash
- AF sluggish in low light
The GR III is the lightest and most compact camera on this list due to its retractable lens and lack of a viewfinder. If size is a major concern for you, this is a fixed lens option definitely worth a look.
Click here to read our review of the Ricoh GR III
Click here to view Ricoh GR III studio view
a different perspective
Ricoh also sells GR IIIxWhich is the same great camera as the standard GR III but with a 40mm equiv. Instead of lenses. If you prefer a ‘normal’ field of view rather than a wider one, be sure to choose the IIIx instead.
The Rolls-Royce of fixed-lens cameras: Leica Q3 43
43mm F2 Stabilized Lens | 60MP BSI CMOS full-frame sensor | 5.76M dot OLED EVF
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| Photo: Richard Butler |
What we like:
- excellent image quality
- Fast, reliable autofocus
- good video support tools
What we don’t do:
- Subject detection system could be better
- Auto white balance can be aggressively neutral/cool
- significant price premium for the leica name
While we chose the Q3 43 for its excellent control layout that puts photography first, the camera is also available with A 28mm F1.7 lensThere are minor cosmetic differences between the two Q3 models, such as the color of the leatherette wrap, but they are otherwise the same camera. There’s also a difference in price, with the 43 coming at a $600 premium.
Click here to read our review of the Leica Q3 43
CLICK HERE TO VIEW LEICA Q3 43 STUDIO VIEW
Second full-frame option
despite the fact that RX1R II Nearly a decade old at this point, you can still buy Sony’s last compact full-frame fixed-lens camera. It’s no surprise that as a nine-year-old camera, it’s showing its age. Its autofocus and menu systems are significantly more primitive than before, but focus speed is not a strength of any camera in its class. Its 35mm F2 lens is excellent, and its sensor still delivers excellent image quality. However, battery life is atrocious, and so are we Its performance was considered sluggish Even by 2016 standards.
After all this time we can’t recommend it wholeheartedly, but if you’ve already made the irrational decision to buy an expensive camera with a single, fixed focal length that doesn’t even actually fit in your pocket, then You may be the type of person who gets some pleasure from making slow, weird, awkward choices.
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Why should you trust us?
Our buying guides are based on extensive use and testing of the cameras involved. We recommend cameras only after we know how they compare to their peers in various shooting situations. All selections are made solely by our editorial and video teams and are models we would buy or recommend to friends and family. As an individual or as a business we do not receive any financial benefit from recommending one camera over another.
