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When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission. Updated July 23 2025 Fixed lens cameras may be a bit niche, but there's a reason they're so popular amongst photographers.

They often come with some of the best lenses on the market, in a variety of 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 picks range from pocketable models to larger cameras that you'll have to you'll have to consciously decide to take with you. They also cover a wide range of prices; while there sadly aren't any budget options, some come with much higher price tags than others, reaching well into the thousands of dollars.

Our picks:

Best fixed lens camera for patient people: Fujifilm X100 VI

The full-frame 35mm option: Sony DSC-RX1R III

Best pocketable fixed lens camera: Ricoh GR III

The just-for-fun fixed lens: Fujifilm X half

The Rolls-Royce of fixed lens camera: 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

Image: Richard Butler

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What we like:Excellent build qualitySubject-detection autofocusNow with in-body image stabilization

What we don't:Lens not especially fast to focus Hard to find in stock

Updated with in-body image stabilization rated at up to 6EV of correction and a 40MP BSI CMOS APS-C X-Trans sensor, the X100VI is a significant upgrade over its predecessor despite looking virtually identical. It features the same 35mm equivalent F2 lens and a hybrid viewfinder that lets you use it as a traditional rangefinder – with some digital augmentation if you want it – or as a modern, fully electronic viewfinder.

The addition of subject-recognition autofocus has given the X100VI the ability to recognize animals, birds, automobiles, motorcycles and bikes, airplanes, and trains. However, human (face/eye) detection is a separate mode. The lens is not the fastest to autofocus, prioritizing sharpness over speed, though that's not necessarily unique in this category.

The elephant in the room is that the X100VI has essentially been sold out since its initial release. However, if you're patient enough to sign up for waitlist notifications from a variety of sites, you may be able to get one in time.

It's probably worth the wait. While the X100VI has more dials and functions than previous versions, it still offers one of the most engaging photographic experiences out there. It's easy to see why it became so frustratingly unobtainable: It's an even better follow-up to a camera that was already popular with photographers of all kinds, and that had already sold out after going viral.

Click here to read our review of the Fujifilm X100VI

Click here to see the Fujifilm X100VI studio scene

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The full-frame 35mm option: Sony DSC-RX1R III

60. 2MP Full-frame BSI CMOS sensor | 35mm F2 lens | Compact body with direct controls

Photo: Richard Butler

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What we like:Excellent image qualityGenuinely smallVery responsive

What we don't:Very expensiveFixed screen limits flexibilityLow-res viewfinder

The Sony DSC-RX1R III is the company's fourth full-frame, fixed-lens 35mm camera, now using a 60. 2MP BSI CMOS sensor.

We're still reviewing the RX1R III, but in many regards it's a full-frame alternative to the X100, providing the same focal length with a bump in image quality that comes from its larger sensor, all in a shockingly compact package. However, we'll have to spend some more time with it to determine whether that justifies its price, which is especially eye-watering in the US.

Best pocketable fixed lens camera: Ricoh GR III

24MP APS-C sensor | 28mm equiv. F2. 8 lens | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth

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What we like:Excellent image qualityGood controls and ergonomicsTruly pocketable

What we don't:Short battery lifeNo built-in flashSluggish AF in low light

The Ricoh GR III is a compact camera with a 24MP APS-C sensors and a

a very sharp 28mm equivalent F2. 8 lens in an incredibly small yet well-built body.

The GR III is the lightest and most compact camera on this list by a long shot, thanks to its retracting lens and lack of a viewfinder. If size is a major concern for you, it's definitely the fixed lens option to look at.

The GR III's image quality is excellent, especially in Raw (we found the JPEG color to be a little drab). The lens is impressively sharp, and in-body image stabilization means you can confidently shoot down to around 1/10 sec. The built-in stabilizer can attempt to shake off dust particles that find their way to the sensor.

"Offers direct control and excellent image quality in a pocketable camera"

The GR III handles well, despite its size, thanks to well-placed controls, flexible customization options and a responsive touchscreen. The grip is just the right size for easy one-handed operation.

The Ricoh GR III offers direct control and excellent image quality in a pocketable camera. Its short battery life and fixed focal length lens mean this camera certainly isn't for everyone, but it's a compelling offering for travel, street and casual photographers alike.

Warning: Ricoh has announced that there's a GR IV coming later this year; if you don't like the experience of buying something only for an updated version to come out shortly after, you may want to hold off for now.

Click here to read our review of the Ricoh GR III

Click here to see the Ricoh GR III studio scene

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A different perspective

Ricoh also sells the GR IIIx, which is the same great camera as the standard GR III but with a 40mm equiv. lens instead. If you prefer the 'normal' field of view to a wider one, be sure to pick the IIIx up instead.

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The just-for-fun fixed lens: Fujifilm X half

18MP Type 1 sensor | 32mm equiv F2. 8 lens | Film Camera simulation mode

Photo: Richard Butler

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What we like:Genuinely compactAttractive color modesA lot of fun

What we don't:Focus rather unreliableTouchscreens are laggyExpensive

The X half is a JPEG-only pocket camera that shoots vertical images and makes a game of approximating the film experience.

This camera is very different from the others on this list because its entire reason for being is fun. From its separate film simulation window, built-in dyptic feature and film camera mode, the X half is designed to encourage you to play with your photography. If you find yourself scrutinizing its image quality, thinking about it as a miniature X100, or are at all annoyed that it doesn't shoot Raw, you should take that as a sign that it won't be a great fit for you.

It's all a question of whether you want a camera that might be called "adorable"

It has direct controls for exposure comp, aperture and a 'film' advance lever. Most other settings are controlled via two touchscreens, one of which pretends to be a film window.

AF is the camera's biggest shortcoming: being rather slow and laggy. The camera can detect faces but can't always then successfully focus on them. It's worth being patient with, though.

The X half is not a serious camera, but it's tremendous fun. The price and unreliable people focus put us off, but we found it constantly endearing to use. It's all a question of whether you want a camera that might be called "adorable," rather than technically excellent.

Click here to read our review of the Fujifilm X half

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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

Photo: Richard Butler

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What we like:Excellent image qualityFast, dependable autofocusGood video support tools

What we don't:Subject recognition system could be betterAuto white balance can be aggressively neutral/coolSignificant price premium for the Leica name

The Leica Q3 43 is a variant of the company's full-frame prime lens compact, with a 43mm F2 lens mounted in front of a 60MP BSI CMOS sensor.

While we've chosen the Q3 43 for its excellent control layout that puts photography first, the camera is also available with a 28mm F1. 7 lens. There are minor cosmetic differences between the two Q3 models, such as the color of the leatherette wrap, but they're otherwise the same camera. There's also a price difference, with the 43 coming at a $600 premium.

Image quality is superb, with a lens that's very sharp and with high cross-frame consistency even at wide apertures. The light luminance noise reduction helps preserve detail at high ISOs.

The Leica Q3 43 is a beautiful piece of engineering and design, and a welcome addition to the range.

The controls are minimal, but help focus your attention on the fundamental settings of photography. It has the build quality that you'd expect of a luxury product.

Autofocus is swift and precise, though the subject recognition system doesn't let you specify an AF point to pre-select a subject and can jump from one subject to another if there are multiple options in a scene.

The Q3 43 is an impressive photographic tool, and manages to feel like a first-rate camera, not just a desirable object.

Click here to read our review of the Leica Q3 43

Click here to see the Leica Q3 43 studio scene

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Why should you trust us?

Our Buying Guides are based on extensive use and testing of the cameras included. We only recommend cameras once we know how they compare to their peers in a variety of shooting situations. All selections are made solely by our editorial and video teams and are the models we'd buy or recommend to friends and family. We gain no financial advantage from recommending one camera over another, either as individuals or as a business.

2025-7-23 18:13