Best Compact Cameras for Wedding Event Photography

Best Overall – Fixed Focal: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R II

• Sensor Size: Full frame
• Sensor Resolution: 42.4 MP
• Lens: 35mm f/2
• Equivalent Focal Range: N/A
• Image Stabilization: No
• Video Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Weight: 1.1 lbs.

This camera might qualify for unicorn status. That’s because it’s a full frame compact with a fixed focal, fixed aperture Zeiss-made prime lens.

Couple this with exceptional sensor resolution, and you have a machine on par or better than many DSLRs. While it does not come with image stabilization, its light weight won’t fatigue you under handheld shooting conditions.

The lens range is at the border between wide angle and normal, making it a good choice for group portraits, wide action work, and macro close to capture special moments. The wide aperture value makes it a fast lens. With an ISO range of 50-25600 (electronically expandable to 102400), low light results should be pleasing, though some users haven’t had that experience.

Battery life in this camera is short, about 220 shots (or less), so carry extra rechargeables. The articulating screen helps you utilize its extensive range of autoexposure bracketing, though it is not a touchscreen for setting changes on the fly or shake-free shutter release.

It brings you flexibility with full manual through full auto capabilities, making it the best overall in prime focal range for the quality images it helps you grab.

Best Overall – Zoom Focal: Canon PowerShot G1 X III

• Sensor Size: APS-C
• Sensor Resolution: 24.2 MP
• Lens: 24-72mm f/2.8-5.6
• Equivalent Focal Range: 38-115mm
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Video Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Weight: .9 lbs.

Crops sensors (APS-C) require a 1.6x crop adjustment to identify the equivalent focal range of the lens, and in this case, you end up in the sweet spot for many types of wedding and event imaging.

The wide end of the lens with its fast aperture is at the wide/normal focal boundary. The tele end, while slow with its much narrower aperture, falls at the low end of the telephoto range, allowing you to zoom in to the action from a distance without disturbing what’s happening.

Image stabilization makes this a great handheld camera for candids, portraits, and intimate moments. The articulating screen is also a LiveView touchscreen for quick setting changes, focusing points and shutter release. The 100-25600 ISO range supports it as a good choice for low light at indoor happenings too.

Battery life on this camera is rated at 200 shots (or less), so pack extra rechargeables. Users comment on the proximity of dials and buttons to one another, making it a challenge for people with larger fingertips to adjust. While it doesn’t fit in everyone’s pocket, this Canon is a great alternative to carrying a DSLR body and multiple lenses to capture the big days in your life.

Best for Video: Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II

• Sensor Size: Four-thirds
• Sensor Resolution: 17.0 MP
• Lens: 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8
• Equivalent Focal Range: 48-150mm
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Video Resolution: 4K
• Weight: .9 lbs.

If your videos will be played on a large screen like a TV, you want 4K resolution to capture the fine details. That resolution level in compact cameras is unusual to find in larger format sensors, so this camera is an excellent option with so many other things also going for it. The equivalent focal range (a 2x crop adjustment) gives you variety in your shooting possibilities at both close and distance events work.

The Leica-made lens is fast at both the wide and tele ends, a huge plus for a wedding camera and other events where you can’t control the light. Image stabilization does a solid job compensating for hand shake. Battery life at 340 shots is considered long for this class of camera, though carrying extra rechargeables is always a good idea because shooting videos eats up power faster than stills.

Reviewers note a problem with dust getting inside the camera between the lens and the sensor, necessitating a service repair that can get pricey. The touchscreen is fixed and buttons and dials are small, making some users uncomfortable changing settings.

If you want a flexible focal range camera to carry unobtrusively at events or in public, this camera allows you to photograph or video whatever catches your fancy daily.

Best for Candids: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII

• Sensor Size: 1”
• Sensor Resolution: 20.0 MP
• Lens: 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5
• Equivalent Focal Range: 65-540mm
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Video Resolution: 4K
• Weight: .7 lbs.

As sensors become smaller like this 1”, you’ll lost part of the potential image width and height to the crop. The 2.7x crop adjustment necessary for this camera does produce a big benefit for candids work, though, because it gives you so much more focal range. From a normal or standard fast aperture to the slower super-tele end, you’ll find this becoming your go-to technology for a variety of events settings.

This camera comes with 4K video res, though the smaller sensor again means you’ll miss part of the framed action. Things like panorama stitch-together software and multiple autofocus and manual focus settings give you more options to create memorable images from a wedding. You won’t have to insert yourself in the action to make it seem like you’re standing in front of the people involved.

Users like the touchscreen capability bringing setting changes and autofocus focusing points to your fingertips, but wish buttons and dials were larger and easier to reach.

Battery life is rated at 260 shots, and the recharging cable requires a USB connection. This is the first truly pocket-sized camera on our list, encouraging you to be more spontaneous in your events shooting and beyond as you can carry it everywhere.

Best for Portraits: Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200

• Sensor Size: 1”
• Sensor Resolution: 20.1 MP
• Lens: 24-360mm f/3.3-6.4
• Equivalent Focal Range: 65-972mm
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Video Resolution: 4K
• Weight: .8 lbs.

Portraits don’t have to be close-ups, but if you want versatility to shoot from a near range to a distance, this camera can accommodate you. Offsetting the small sensor size, this model includes a past-super-tele zoom range to make the most from whatever your situation requires.

Great video resolution adds more flexibility to your work flow, as long as you’re comfortable with the 2.7x crop adjustment on the optics narrowing your framing possibilities.

USB or base rechargeables will supplement your longer battery life, 370 shots. The Leica-made lens features incredible 15.1x optical zoom, the highest on our list. The camera has a range of full autofocus through full manual settings.

The aperture on this lens is slow at both the wide and tele ends, making this camera more of a challenge in low light settings. Reviewers formerly listed persistent software errors in the system, though recently this issue seems to have been fixed. Users note the picture and video quality are excellent and the camera is easy to use out of the box.

Best Budget: Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II

• Sensor Size: 1”
• Sensor Resolution: 20.0 MP
• Lens: 28-84mm f/2-4.9
• Equivalent Focal Range: 76-227mm
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Video Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Weight: .5 lbs.

Light on the wallet and in the pocket, this Canon may be the definition of point and shoot with enough features to satisfy the enthusiast event photog. The equivalent focal range gives you plenty of framing opportunities for weddings and events. It is a fast lens at the wide end, though slow at the tele.

This camera is effective in low light settings despite the narrow ISO range of 125-12800. The touchscreen is also the viewfinder, something of a framing challenge in bright light conditions where that screen is hard to see. A range of autofocusing and manual focusing affords you a variety of shooting options.

Users say the low battery life, rated at 235 shots, is much less in real life, so buy those extra rechargeables. The touchscreen does not articulate, and buttons and dials are small even for normal fingertips.

Generally, though, customers find image quality to be excellent and are happy with this model as a pocketable, affordable camera option if event photos are a casual hobby for you.