top 10 tiny cameras that shoot great video too!
There are loads of everyday carry cameras that will do a good job for photos. Easy.
But finding a small everyday carry camera that’s also good for epic video clips is… well. Tricky. Not impossible, but tricky. I’ve tried loads, and I do actually have some options for you.
Before we get stuck in, a couple of quick parameters…
These cameras have to shoot photography like a traditional camera.
Also tiny means TINY. Loads of full frame cameras can do the job but I want everyday carry.
Right. Ten options. Let’s go!
Lumix GX80 / GX85
I took this beaut of a camera to Madeira recently and it reminded me why it is such a solid choice.
The big win for video is the IBIS. We’ve got proper stabilisation in a camera that is still very pocketable. It also shoots 4K.
A couple of things to know. The screen does not flip out, it only articulates. There’s no mic input either, so it’s not really for the vloggers amongst us. But for little everyday clips alongside your photography? It’s great. The quality really stands up even though the camera is 10(!) years old now.
For photography, it is, of course, a wonderful classic everyday carry option. If you want something that ticks both boxes, this is a strong start.
Check out the used market here at MPB!
Sony RX100 V
This one is properly pocketable. The GX80 might fit in a pocket, but you may look a bit strange depending on the lens! The Sony? No problem.
You get incredible autofocus for the size, and the video is very, very nice. I am pretty sure there is a log profile built in too.
The main thing to bear in mind is it is best for shorter clips. Because it’s so small, if you leave 4K running for too long, it can overheat after a few minutes. So yes, there are recording limits.
You can also look up the range at the RX100 VI and the newer VII, but they get pricey fast. The smaller the camera with more features, the more it costs, unfortunately. There are not many cameras that tick all these boxes.
Also, I love the little flip up EVF. It’s charming, and it’s a great workaround to keep the camera small while still giving you a viewfinder.
Z CAM E1
This camera is just about inside the criteria for being a traditional camera because it is… strange.
It’s basically a sensor in a box. The world’s smallest 4K cinema camera with interchangeable lenses.
You can rig it up with a cage and a monitor and all of that, but at that point I just think, buy something bigger. So I’ve been using it completely standalone and just having fun with it.
What I love for video is it shoots in 4:3 aspect ratio, so you can make little social postcards. It has a sensor similar to cameras like the GH4 era Micro Four Thirds bodies, so it will shoot 4K, but it is only 8 bit.
There is a mic input, but it’s hard to mount a mic because, again, it is just a box by design. There’s no stabilisation either. So use stabilised lenses, or do what I do and pop it on a cute little tripod and grab snippets of your day.
If you’re looking used, I would urge you to set email alerts for this one. They are quite rare, and it took me ages to find one at the price I wanted!
But, if you’re a camera collector (or hoarder) like me, this one is for the history books.
Check out the used market here at MPB!
Lumix G100
This camera caused a bit of controversy on release, mostly because the marketing was a mess. Panasonic wanted it to be a vlogging camera, but it has no IBIS and only has contrast based autofocus. Not a great combo if you are filming yourself.
But… if you remove all that and see it as a very tiny camera that’s very good for photo and very good for video if you are behind the camera, it becomes a very cool option indeed.
If you go for this camera, pair it with a stabilised lens. That makes a big difference. The little pancake kit lens option with stabilisation helps you get much nicer handheld video.
It is a bit plastic fantastic, but I love it for hikes. It’s stupidly light. It also ticks a lot of major boxes: It has an EVF, a good grip, flip out screen, and a mic input. It even has a mechanical shutter.
There’s a 4K recording limit, at around 10 minutes, but if we’re talking everyday video clips and not chatting to camera for ages, it’s totally fine.
Bonus: You usually see loads of them used, and at a very good price.
Check out the used market here at MPB!
Canon Powershot V1
When this was announced, I was like ooh, right up my street. I haven’t tried Canon compacts much, so I wanted to get hands on with this Powershot V1.
This is video-first, very small, and I love that it has a little windshield cover over the mic, so the built in mic is actually usable. It even has thermal management so it can record for ages without overheating.
It feels very modern and up to date, which makes sense because the Canon Powershot V1 came out in February 2025.
The back screen is huge, the touchscreen is responsive, and it has a dedicated photo and video switch. That means you can set it up in two completely different ways for photo and video, which is so handy.
And it has built in ND filters. That’s a big deal for me. It’s one of those cameras where you can just take it and go. No external mic, no filters, no extra bits needed.
It is a bit spenny compared to some on this list, but if you have the budget, it is a seriously good option.
I have a dedicated video on YouTube here!
Caira Camera
This is an odd and interesting camera! IIt connects via MagSafe to your iPhone and links wirelessly to your phone.
It uses a Micro Four Thirds sensor, so you can put a whole range of interesting tiny lenses on it. It’s good for photo and video, and everything you capture goes straight onto your phone so you can put it out into the world quickly.
It even has AI features built in, which makes me feel a bit uneasy, to be honest? I’m not sure how much AI belongs in photography? But overall it is very interesting.
If you like the camera look versus your phone, you will get more character from lenses and that deeper depth of field look people often love.
I have a dedicated video on YouTube here!
OM System OM 5 and OM 5 Mkii
I might get some flak for this. In my reviews, I have ranted a lot about the poor video quality in this line of cameras. It’s only 8 bit and it’s not the prettiest, most modern footage.
Considering the OM System OM 5 Mark II, is a 2025 camera, it really does lag behind competitors. Honestly the video in the GX80, which is much older, can look better.
So why is it here on this list?
Well… Because it has phase detect autofocus, it is very small, and it has incredible IBIS. If you want clips of pets or family, autofocus matters.
It’s also the only camera on this list that is weather sealed, which is huge if you actually want to hike with your camera and keep it out in the elements. No little plastic bag routine needed :)
It has a flip out screen and a mic input too. I just wish the video was a bit prettier. If it had 10 bit video like the OM-3 for example, it would be so close to perfect. But alas. The photography is excellent. The camera is rugged. The video is “acceptable”.
Sony ZV 1 Mkii
This is a very small, very pocketable camera, and on paper it seems really good? But in practice it was just quite frustrating to use. It has some great points though, like a built-in windshield, excellent auto focus, and really high quality video.
It is also cheaper than the Canon, but man… does it feel cheaper! It’s a very plastic camera, and I can’t help but compare it to the Canon because I tried them both at the same time. The quality difference was night and day.
The main beef I have with this video-first camera is the Sony does not have optical stabilisation in the lens. You only get digital stabilisation — with a hefty crop — and sometimes that can cause weird wobbles in the corners of the footage.
It just seems mad to me that a modern camera can be advertised as a vlogging camera and not offer stabilisation. At least with the Lumix G1000 (which got a 100x more criticism) you could add a stabilised lens onto it.
Now, to be fair, Sony have added gyro data into the files, so you can stabilise it later on the computer. But for everyday carry video, I am not imagining most people doing that laborious extra step. A lot of the time you want to stick the clips straight on your phone, or just keep it on a hard drive for memories. You are not going to sit there stabilising it in post. What were Sony thinking?!
Still, it is a very nice and very pocketable camera, and these are few and far between!
Insta360 Ace Pro 2
I know... Action camera. But with the Xplorer Grip, you can use it more like a traditional camera, and I’ve used it like that with great success for both photo and video.
I’ve taken it to Spain, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and under the waterfalls in Iceland. It’s been so versatile and fun to use!
On the photo side, you get up to 50 megapixels. The lens was co-engineered by Leica, and it’s genuinely high quality for an action camera.
The video is superb. It even does 4K at 120 frames for slow motion. You can shoot open gate 4:3. Loads of options. Low light video is good too. It’s got so much good stuff packed into such a small form factor.
Even the stabilisation looks like a gimbal. Built in mic is great. Another “grab and go” device for everyday use.
Only thing to remember: The lens is wide… wide-wide! You can crop in a bit for a more traditional look, but it is still a wide angle based camera at heart. I personally love the look but it does have its limitations.
Check the Ace Pro 2 out on the official website here
I have a dedicated video on YouTube here!
Lumix LX15 / LX10
This one is possibly my personal favourite for what you get for the price, style, and just how nice it is to use.
It’s a premium compact camera with a Leica branded lens that is super fast at f1.4-2.8. The photo and video quality is superb.
No mic input, but for short clips and day-to-day life, the built in mic is more than enough.
The Lumix LX10/LX15 shoots 4K video and the lens is stabilised, so you can get handheld footage easily. The screen flips up, so you can talk to camera if you want, or stay behind the camera and film your day. This camera is properly pocketable, and probably the smallest camera on this list along with the RX100 V.
The touchscreen is great, and the menus feel surprisingly modern. It even has WiFi.
It came out in 2016, so do not spend the earth on it, but used prices can be really reasonable. For the image quality and usability, it is gorgeous.
Check out the used market here at MPB!
So what should you pick?
Here’s a handy little summary:-
If you want proper stabilisation in a tiny camera, look at the GX80 or OM-5.
If you want truly pocketable, look at the RX100 V or the LX10.
If you want modern video first and very usable audio, the Canon V1 is the fancy one, and the Ace Pro 2 is great too.
If you want an all in one travel solution with gimbal like stabilisation, the Ace Pro 2 is ridiculously capable.
weather sealed? OM-5 and Ace Pro 2!
If you want the weird, fun, collector option, the Z CAM E1 is the little box of joy.
See example video clips and more real-world footage in this video!