The best one-inch sensor cameras
The one-inch sensor provides a very attractive balance between image quality and camera portability. Its pixels are large enough to provide very good dynamic range and low light sensitivity, yet the sensor is markedly smaller than the APS-C or full-frame sensors found in many interchangeable lens cameras. As a result, a one-inch camera can be equipped with smaller lenses and is overall substantially more compact. One-inch sensors are particularly popular for fixed-lens travel zoom and superzoom cameras, even though there is also an interchangeable lens solution available with the Nikon 1 system.
There is quite a substantial choice of one-inch sensor cameras on the market. It is not easy to decide which one is best. Indeed, what does it really mean to look for the best one-inch? The camera that offers the best imaging experience? The one that is most portable? The camera that does not break the bank? The answers to these questions come down to personal preference, but hopefully the listings below will prove to be useful for your camera decision process.
The highest rated one-inch sensor cameras
The Camera Elo represents a comprehensive rating that takes the body, sensor and feature characteristics of digital cameras into account. It is based on the outcomes of thousands of pair-wise comparisons undertaken via the CAM-parator app.
The Leica V-LUX 5 is currently the top-ranked one-inch camera with a Camera Elo of 2506, followed in second place by the Panasonic FZ1000 II with a rating of 2483. The table below lists the 10 highest ranked one-inch cameras in descending order of their Elo. It also reports the cameras' DXO Mark sensor quality score, which can be taken as indicators of pure image quality. For both the Camera Elo and the DXO score, higher values represent better performance.
| Camera Model |
Lens Type |
Camera Elo |
DXO Score |
Camera Type |
Resolution (MP) |
Video Format |
Camera Launch | Launch Price ) | Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Leica V-LUX 5 | 25-400 mm f/2.8-4.0 | 2506 | 65 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | Jul 2019 | US$ 1 249 | amazon.com | |
| 2. | Panasonic FZ1000 II | 25-400 mm f/2.8-4.0 | 2483 | 65 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | Feb 2019 | US$ 899 | amazon.com | |
| 3. | Canon G7 X Mark III | 24-100 mm f/1.8-2.8 | 2476 | 65 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | Jul 2019 | US$ 749 | amazon.com | |
| 4. | Sony RX100 VII | 24-200 mm f/2.8-4.5 | 2474 | 63 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | Jul 2019 | US$ 1 199 | amazon.com | |
| 5. | Canon G5 X Mark II | 24-120 mm f/1.8-2.8 | 2464 | 65 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | Jul 2019 | US$ 899 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Sony ZV-1F | 20 mm f/2.0 | 2454 | 67 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | Oct 2022 | US$ 499 | amazon.com | |
| 7. | Sony ZV-1 II | 18-50 mm f/1.8-4.0 | 2427 | 67 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | May 2023 | US$ 899 | amazon.com | |
| 8. | Sony ZV-1 | 24-70 mm f/1.8-2.8 | 2410 | 66 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | May 2020 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Sony RX10 IV | 24-600 mm f/2.4-4.0 | 2410 | 63 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | Sep 2017 | US$ 1 699 | amazon.com | |
| 10. | Sony RX100 VI | 24-200 mm f/2.8-4.5 | 2401 | 64 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | Jun 2018 | US$ 1 199 | ebay.com | |
| Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. | |||||||||||
You can access more detail on the listed cameras by clicking on the camera's name. Alternatively, you can compare two one inch cameras using the search boxes below. Just enter two model names into the input fields and you will promptly be taken to a respective comparison.
The most portable one-inch sensor cameras
A well-known proverb states that the best camera is the one that you have with you. As such, a smaller and lighter camera will likely get more use than a bulkier and heavier model. The table below lists the 10 lightest one-inch cameras that have been released since 2015 in ascending order of their weight.
| Camera Model |
Lens Type |
Camera Weight |
Camera Size |
Camera Elo |
Camera Type |
Resolution (MP) |
Camera Launch | Launch Price | Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sony RX0 | 24 mm f/4.0 | 110 g | 59 x 41 x 30 g | 1982 | Compact | 15.4 | Aug 2017 | US$ 699 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Sony RX0 II | 24 mm f/4.0 | 132 g | 59 x 41 x 35 g | 2202 | Compact | 15.4 | Mar 2019 | US$ 699 | amazon.com | |
| 3. | Canon G9 X Mark II | 28-84 mm f/2.0-4.9 | 206 g | 98 x 58 x 31 g | 2181 | Compact | 20.0 | Jan 2017 | US$ 529 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Canon G9 X | 28-84 mm f/2.0-4.9 | 209 g | 98 x 58 x 31 g | 1979 | Compact | 20.0 | Oct 2015 | US$ 529 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Nikon 1 J5 | Nikon CX | 231 g | 98 x 60 x 32 g | 2059 | Mirrorless | 20.7 | Apr 2015 | US$ 399 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Sony ZV-1F | 20 mm f/2.0 | 256 g | 106 x 60 x 46 g | 2454 | Compact | 20.0 | Oct 2022 | US$ 499 | amazon.com | |
| 7. | Sony ZV-1 II | 18-50 mm f/1.8-4.0 | 292 g | 106 x 60 x 47 g | 2427 | Compact | 20.0 | May 2023 | US$ 899 | amazon.com | |
| 8. | Sony ZV-1 | 24-70 mm f/1.8-2.8 | 294 g | 105 x 60 x 44 g | 2410 | Compact | 20.0 | May 2020 | US$ 799 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Sony RX100 IV | 24-70 mm f/1.8-2.8 | 298 g | 102 x 58 x 41 g | 2077 | Compact | 20.0 | Jun 2015 | US$ 999 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Sony RX100 V | 24-70 mm f/1.8-2.8 | 299 g | 102 x 58 x 41 g | 2202 | Compact | 20.0 | Oct 2016 | US$ 999 | ebay.com |
The most affordable one-inch sensor cameras
Budgetary considerations are almost always important when deciding on a camera purchase, so that the following listing should be of interest. It displays the 10 least expensive one-inch cameras that have been released since 2015 in ascending order of their launch prices. The latter provide a good idea on the market position of the cameras, but it is often worthwhile to check the current pricing, as all except the most recent models might be available at discounts or as great deals on the pre-owned market.
| Camera Model |
Lens Mount |
Launch Price |
Camera Elo |
DXO Score |
Camera Type |
Resolution (MP) |
Video Format | Camera Launch | Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nikon 1 J5 | Nikon CX | US$ 399 | 2059 | 65 | Mirrorless | 20.7 | 4K/15p | Apr 2015 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Sony ZV-1F | 20 mm f/2.0 | US$ 499 | 2454 | 67 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | Oct 2022 | amazon.com | |
| 3. | Canon G9 X Mark II | 28-84 mm f/2.0-4.9 | US$ 529 | 2181 | 65 | Compact | 20.0 | 1080/60p | Jan 2017 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Canon G9 X | 28-84 mm f/2.0-4.9 | US$ 529 | 1979 | 63 | Compact | 20.0 | 1080/60p | Oct 2015 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Panasonic LX15 | 24-72 mm f/1.4-2.8 | US$ 699 | 2217 | 62 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | Sep 2016 | amazon.com | |
| 6. | Sony RX0 II | 24 mm f/4.0 | US$ 699 | 2202 | 65 | Compact | 15.4 | 4K/30p | Mar 2019 | amazon.com | |
| 7. | Canon G7 X Mark II | 24-100 mm f/1.8-2.8 | US$ 699 | 2129 | 62 | Compact | 20.0 | 1080/60p | Feb 2016 | ebay.com | |
| 8. | Panasonic TZ100 | 25-250 mm f/2.8-5.9 | US$ 699 | 2077 | 70 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | Jan 2016 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Sony RX0 | 24 mm f/4.0 | US$ 699 | 1982 | 68 | Compact | 15.4 | 1080/60p | Aug 2017 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Canon G7 X Mark III | 24-100 mm f/1.8-2.8 | US$ 749 | 2476 | 65 | Compact | 20.0 | 4K/30p | Jul 2019 | amazon.com | |
| Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. | |||||||||||
Further Reading
Additional information on the calculation of the Camera Elo can be found on a respective Elo methodology page. Moreover, there are other rankings of cameras by category that might be of interest:
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