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Your talent—and Instagram following—has outgrown your phonecam. Start the new year by getting serious about your photography with one of these small shooters.
A smidge bulkier than the other models here, the GX9 offers added capability, like a 20.3-megapixel sensor and a full array of manual controls. Rich black-and-white film simulation modes and focusing features suited for astrophotography make it an alluring portal to artistic experimentation. It also plays nice with nearly any micro four-thirds lens. $1,000 (with a 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 lens)
The most recent camera in Sony’s revered RX100 line is its best yet, with a massive 1-inch, 20-megapixel sensor that slurps up color and detail no smartphone camera can match. In an elegant touch, sliding the electronic viewfinder up and into position also powers on the camera, putting you in shooting mode with an easy flick of your thumb. $1,200
The GR III squeezes a 24-megapixel sensor and in-camera stabilization into an impossibly compact magnesium case. That pocketability means you’ll always have it, ready to capture that decisive moment. And even given the small size, you'll still get print-worthy images. There’s no built-in flash, so you’ll learn to use available light, and the fixed f/2.8 lens will teach you to zoom with your feet instead of a rocker switch. Price TBD
This article appears in the January issue. Subscribe now.
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