EXPOSED Phones v compact cameras

Reader Annie Mullan is mulling over whether to buy a compact camera for her travels.

QUESTION 1

Annie says: “I’m heading to the UK and Europe in a few months time, and I’ve been wondering about buying a new iPhone with good cameras for taking travel photos or whether a new compact camera with a decent zoom and wide angle would be a better option. (My current phone is an iPhone 11.)

“I love photography and I know my current phone doesn’t give me the quality I used to enjoy many years ago with an SLR or my old compact Lumix.”

ANSWER 1

I think if you have a good look at the iPhone 17 Pro, with its three lenses, you might find everything you need in one device.

It has a 48MP main camera (24mm equivalent), a 48MP ultrawide (13mm), and a 48MP telephoto. That has a 4x optical zoom (100mm equivalent) and a primarily software-driven 8x “optical-quality” zoom (200mm equivalent) that crops the telephoto sensor. The 8x mode provides enhanced 200mm reach.

If you prefer Android systems, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (released in March 2026) is the new 6.9-inch flagship for the brand. It has a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and advanced Galaxy AI.

Photographically, it has a 200MP main camera and 50MP 5x periscope, optical telephoto. The Samsung team says that 200MP main sensor has improved low-light capabilities.

When you talk about a “compact camera” — I feel this phone might answer all you expect from that.

But, on compact cameras, my choice is the Sony ZV-1F Compact Camera, which has a recommended retail price of $699. It is truly compact, weighing 229g, but has a one-inch 20.1 MP sensor and a flip-out touchscreen.

It has 1x, 1.5x, 2.0x and 4.0x full-file zoom options.

The 425 contrast-detection autofocus points are arranged to cover a wide area of the image.

Back to the 20.1 million pixel Exmor RS 1.0-type stacked CMOS image sensor, expect clear video, which in auto mode can shoot video with the background blurred.

Also consider:

+ Canon PowerShot SX740 HS ($699). canon.com.au

+ Panasonic LUMIX FZ80D Compact Camera ($899). store.apac.panasonic.com/au

+ I’m particularly interested in (but have yet to use) the Optinexo Compact Camera. It is only available from overseas websites. There has been a 4K version which is now replaced by the 5K. But here’s a trick — order the 4K now, and there’s a free upgrade to the 5K. It is currently $213 ($US149, and usually $US295, with free shipping). Mine’s ordered, paid for, and on the way — and I’ll test and report when it arrives.

It has 5K video capability, 18x digital zoom, and a fully articulated 180-degree display.

And it looks like a classic camera.

QUESTION 2

Annie: “I’ve heard that mobile phones are easy pickings for thieves when they are constantly in a traveller’s hand — taking photos, finding directions, etc — and I wonder if a safer, less desirable item for a thief would be a camera?

“The older I get the more I feel an easy target for thieves, so that anxiety can spoil the enjoyment of exploring new places, which saddens me as I’ve loved travelling the world since I started as a 17-year-old hitchhiking around New Zealand.”

ANSWER 2

Our phones are so crucial for every aspect of travel. It’s very important to think about their security.

I like the Carrie Case with a lanyard. The case and eyelets is $60. A lanyard, with its secure metal clips, is $50. There are also paracords for $42. carrie-case.com

A well-secured lanyard of some sort is good.

But I actually use the Peak Design cuff camera wrist strap. Although primarily designed to secure a camera to your wrist, I have “toggles” that attach to the top of the camera on my phone security eyelet. This firmly attaches the phone to me, and is comfortable to use when in hand. When not in use, the cuff strap can be wrapped around my wrist, and it secures to itself with a built-in magnet. Neat.

It is $61.16 from Digi Direct (digidirect.com.au), $69 from Camera Electronic (cameraelectronic.com.au), and available at lots of other places online.

If you are using this or a lanyard that doesn’t come with a way of attaching it to the phone, first you have to buy an eyelet or loop that the lanyard or cuff can attach to. This is usually a rectangular stick-on piece which you attach to the back of the phone or its cover.

One example of this is the Peak Design mobile strap adapter ($19.95) at digidirect.com.au/peak-design-mobile-mobile-strap-adapter.

This is a good one, but there are cheaper versions online.