Have you ever thought about how long ago 2016 was? The years all seem to merge into one, I know, but let me paint you a picture. It’s the year ‘Lemonade’ by Beyoncé went viral. The year the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. The year Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar. The year I started my second year at university.
All of this (and more) happened nine years ago. Oh, and 2016 was the year the Canon Powershot Elph 360 HS came out. Recently, though, as compact cameras have grown in popularity on TikTok and other social media, it has gone through a sort of renaissance — and it’s all thanks to celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Dua Lipa popularizing it as their go-to camera. In fact, the camera has become so popular that Canon is releasing a new ‘A’ version, expected to launch in October, in an attempt to compete with the best cheap cameras around right now.
But has anything changed? From what I’ve gathered, not really. The camera still has the same 20.2MP CMOS sensor, Digic IV processor, 12x optical zoom, 1080P video, and a mini USB port (yes, even in 2025). But hey, if Kendall Jenner and Dua Lipa use this camera, it must be good, right? And you have to buy it, right? Not necessarily.
I’ve tested many compact cameras in my day and I’m here to present you with an alternative. A much cheaper alternative that doesn’t cost a whopping $379. I’m talking about the Kodak PIXPRO C1: a cheap and cheerful compact camera that doesn’t break the bank.
Big numbers aren’t always everything
Side-by-side and on paper, the Canon Elph 360 HS A sounds better than the Kodak PIXPRO C1. The PIXPRO C1 has a smaller 13MP sensor and a 4x digital zoom as opposed to the Elph 360 HS A’s 20.2MP sensor and 12x optical zoom. But having scrolled through Kendall Jenner’s Instagram feed (even though I didn’t want to as I’m not a massive fan), I want you to know one thing: the kind of ‘retro’ aesthetic you’re after can still be achieved with the PIXPRO C1.
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Compact cameras’ charm lies in the fact that the photos they capture are imperfect and they make you (or your subject) look like you’re trapped in an early 2000s photo. Thing is, to achieve that, you do not need to spend $379. The PIXPRO C1, in comparison to the Elph 360 HS A, costs much less as it retails for $99 / £79, and I’ve even seen it drop to $79 in the past.
You can see what the photos look like when taken on the PIXPRO C1 in the gallery above. Not bad, eh? And kind of what you’d expect from most point-and-shoot cameras today.
Just as easy to use
One thing most compact cameras have in common is that they have straightforward control schemes and they’re extremely easy to use. They rarely present steep learning curves. Considering that the Canon Powershot Elph 360 HS A isn’t going to be go through cosmetic changes, it’s safe to assume it will retain the non-A version’s simple control scheme.
If that’s one of the reasons why you’re looking to buy the Elph 360 HS A, fret not because the Kodak PIXPRO C1 is just as easy to use (if not more). All the buttons and menus are signposted well, the shutter button gives good tactile feedback when pressed, and menus are easy to cycle through. Regardless of how old you are, you should be able to use the PIXPRO C1 without any hiccups.
One camera that can do it all
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Whether you’re looking to snap photos or record video, the Kodak PIXPRO C1 can do it all. It can shoot 1080P video at 30fps which is great if you want to take a point-and-shoot camera to, say, a festival. Speaking of, thanks to how small the camera is — measuring just 4.05 x 2.36 x 0.79 inches — the PIXPRO C1 is super easy to travel with. You can take it to concerts and music festivals too and capture photos of your favorite artists.
Considering the Canon Powershot Elph 360 HS A will cost $379, you’d think its frame rate clocked in at 60fps but it doesn’t. Yes, even though you’re paying a lot more, you’re still getting 1080P/30fps video only — just like the PIXPRO C1. Personally, I’d settle for the PIXPRO C1 and save a few doubloons.
The future is looking bright
I’m a fan of all things old school — whether that’s film cameras or compacts. I have, on more than one occasion, written about the resurgence and future of film photography, and looks like I’m going to be doing the same with compact cameras. I love their simplicity and the fact that you don’t necessarily need to think a lot when you’re photographing something.
Canon choosing to give the Elph 360 HS a minor refresh by launching the ‘A’ edition means compact cameras are far from dead and I couldn’t be happier. While there are several other cheaper compacts I’d recommend buying instead, I’m delighted that Canon is making it clear that point-and-shoots are here to stay — and perhaps we’ll see more launches from other brands in the future.
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