It is a truism in photography that the best camera is the one you have with you. In that spirit, whenever I’m asked for advice on what new camera someone should buy, I try to figure out not just their budget and needs, but how much camera they’re really likely to be willing to carry around. For many, it isn’t obvious what they gain by “trading-up” to a larger, heavier, and more-expensive model. While it is always dangerous to generalize, there are certain rules of thumb about the pros and cons of various types of current-model digital cameras. We’ll help you sort through your options…

Zero footprint: Your smartphone

Nearly everyone now carries some type of smartphone. If it is a current model, the camera in it probably offers plenty of resolution, and produces reasonable quality JPEG images, suitable for sharing on the web and for small prints. The tiny sensors in smartphones really struggle in low light, though, and they aren’t very useful for photographing action. Some units feature image stabilization, which is nice as they are hard to hold steady, but almost none of them offer any type of zoom capability. Presumably you already have a pretty good sense of the images you can capture with your phone, and if you’re reading this you’re thinking about getting something better, so let’s look at your options.

Tiny: About the same as a set of car keys

Point and shoot camera sales continue to plummet, as they are replaced in large part by smartphones, but there are still new-and-improved models being introduced on a regular basis. For the price of a couple hundred dollars and a few extra ounces, you’ll get a larger sensor (for better low-light images), a real zoom, and easier to use controls. My favorite cameras in this category are the Canon Elph models. Right now, B&H has the current model Elph 340 HS on sale for $149 – a 16MP, 12x zoom model that does 1080p video, and features image stabilization. At 5 ounces it weighs about as much as your phone, but packs a lot more imaging power.

Pocket-sized: My go-to, carry everywhere favorite

As anyone who travels with me knows, my trusty Canon PowerShot S100 never leaves my side. It fits easily in the side pocket of my safari pants, and has an integrated lens cap so I never have to worry about it. (Although I’m forever dinging the lens cover on the sides of trucks, it is easy to bend back into shape). The key to this camera’s utility is its relatively low resolution (meaning it has larger pixels than many competitors, and therefore produces superior images in touch conditions), and relatively small (5x) zoom range – allowing it to have a faster, higher-quality lens than most of its competitors.

The S100 model has been replaced, so it is hard to find, but the updated version, the 12MP, 5x zoom Canon PowerShot S120, has added WiFi and improved the image quality slightly. Either unit is just under 8 ounces, so about 50% larger and heavier than the Elph line. In exchange, you get a larger sensor, more manual controls, Raw (and Raw+JPEG) format recording, higher ISO capability, and (IMO) easier-to-use controls.

Cargo Pocket-sized: Trading up at the cost of baggy trousers

I’ve several of the higher-end point and shoots, including the Sony RX100 and the Lumix LX100, and have enjoyed shooting with them. They offer a significant upgrade in sensor size, and image quality, over the smaller point-and-shoots, but at a large increase in both camera size and cost. I’m most excited about the one I’m currently reviewing, the Canon G7 X. It is really not that much larger and heavier than the Canon PowerShot S120, but offers a major step up to a 1-inch sensor, faster Autofocus, an improved and faster lens, and additional modes and manual controls. It is not inexpensive, at $700 at B&H, but it is the first of these “super compacts” that still fits (although barely) in the side pocket of my trousers, or in my jacket pocket. I’ll have more to say when I publish my full review – after I spend more time shooting with it – but right now I’m thinking this might become my new “everyday” camera.

Beltpack-sized: Mirrorless are mini-DSLRs

With the advent of hybrid (phase + contrast) Autofocus, and nearly-lifelike Electronic Viewfinders, mirrorless cameras are more or less poised to crush at least the low-end of the DSLR market. Their mirror-free design makes them smaller, quieter, and less prone to mechanical failures. The category has been held back mostly because Nikon and Canon refuse to take it seriously and have completely failed to produce compelling mirrorless cameras. But if you’re not anchored to either one of them, Sony in particular has really pushed the mirrorless performance envelope. The latest, no-compromise, model is the Sony A7 II, a full-frame mirrorless with an EVF that was so good that I could hardly tell it wasn’t a through-the-lens view. (Read my field test)

Even though the Sony A7 II is mirrorless, because it is full-frame it is far from the smallest of the mirrorless models, at 1.22 pounds. If you’re willing to live with an APS-C sensor, then the Sony a6000 is a great, and lower-cost, alternative. At $700 including lens, the Sony a6000 represents one of the best overall price-performance values in current camera models. If you’re willing to carry a camera that won’t fit in a pocket, but will fit in a small waist pack or shoulder bag, this is one well worth considering. Including the kit lens, it weighs in at just about 1 pound.

Shoulder bag-sized: “Standard”-size DSLRs on the rise

For the first few years they were on the market, the only DSLRs that produced high-quality images were the huge, 2+ pound models that were the size of a traditional film SLR + vertical grip. I’ve owned plenty of these monsters, and still use them when I need to, but increasingly the slightly smaller, more budget-friendly, models have replaced them in the bags of many pro and advanced amateur photographers. In particular the new Nikon D750 represents an amazing combination of performance and price, with a pro-worthy set of specs. (Read our full field-test & comparison with the Nikon D810). At just over 1.5 pounds and $2300 for the body only, this is a major step-up in size, weight, and cost from a mirrorless like the Sony a6000, but it is an amazingly versatile and rugged camera.

For Canon shooters, the Canon 7D II does a good job of going head to head with Nikon in the APS-C (Nikon DX) crop sensor space, while the Canon 6D holds its own for those wanting a full-frame version without the bulk of the 1D models. For lighterweight options, the Nikon D5300 and Canon Rebel series cameras bridge the gap between their larger siblings and the smaller mirrorless models.

Backpack-sized: Full-on Pro DSLRs are a dying breed

Last, but definitely not least, are the flagship models for Nikon and Canon. These beasts are actually getting larger, heavier, and more expensive over time. The newest models are nearly 3 pounds for the body only, with prices in the $6,000 and up range. Nikon’s flagship, the Nikon D4S, is remarkable not for high-resolution (it is “only” 16MP) but for its nearly unbelievable low-light (high-ISO) performance. (Read our full field-test review). Canon’s flagship model, the Canon 1D X, packs just about every feature a shooter could want into its bulky frame. This level of camera gives you blazing fast Autofocus, and massive frame rates of 10fps and up – while still focusing. Their no-compromise performance and build quality mean they can take a beating while still handling just about any photo assignment.