Here are the 7 cameras from 2016, with a short, straight-to-the-point reason why each one is still great in 2026:
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Panasonic Lumix TZ80 (ZS60) – A travel-zoom compact with absurd reach and an EVF; still a better buy than its newer replacement thanks to the same lens/sensor combo and lower price.
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DxO ONE – A wonderfully weird pocket camera with a 1-inch sensor and DxO’s unique “Super RAW” stacking, delivering surprisingly clean low-light images in a tiny, incognito form.
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Panasonic Lumix G80 (G85) – A rugged Micro Four Thirds workhorse with IBIS, weather sealing, solid video, and reliability that still holds up for travel and outdoor shooting.
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Z CAM E1 – The world’s smallest interchangeable-lens 4K cinema camera; quirky, fun, and creatively liberating, especially for experimental video and compact setups.
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Panasonic Lumix LX10 / LX15 – A premium compact with a fast Leica f/1.4–2.8 lens and 1-inch sensor; beautiful, pocketable, and still highly capable for both photo and 4K video.
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Panasonic Lumix GX80 / GX85 – A near-perfect Micro Four Thirds all-rounder: small, stylish, affordable, with IBIS and excellent image quality that embodies the system’s strengths.
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Olympus PEN-F – A design icon and one of the best photo-centric Micro Four Thirds cameras ever made, with superb build quality, color profiles, and timeless appeal.
If you want charm, character, and real value in 2026, this era absolutely delivered.