Digital Cameras: Reviews

Experts agree the Canon PowerShot S90 has the best blend of image quality, features and price with lots of manual controls to give you room to grow. This 10.4-megapixel camera has a 3.8x zoom lens with optical image… stabilization, which steadies natural hand movement. There's a vibrant 3-inch LCD, and image quality is top notch even in low light, but video capture is limited to VGA format and shooting speeds could be better. The DIGIC 4 image processor has auto mode for beginners -- including intelligent contrast correction plus face and motion detection technology. Reviewers like the control ring around the lens, which you can use to tweak settings. The S90 also has a useful RAW + JPEG mode that simultaneously captures an image in both formats for optimal editing options later.

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For the most flexibility, reviewers recommend the Canon PowerShot G11, which delivers a huge range of manual controls for optimal creativity while still offering automatic settings for less experienced shooters. The G11… camera has a 10.4-megapixel resolution; image quality is first rate, with gorgeous prints at lower ISO settings and low noise overall. You can also capture images in RAW mode for maximum editing flexibility. Its spectacular 2.8-inch, 461,000-pixel LCD display is fully articulated. At 12.5 ounces, the Canon G11 digital camera is a heavy camera with a steep price tag, and reviewers are surprised to find no HD video option. If you're shopping for a more basic camera, the Canon PowerShot G11 is probably overkill. An affordable yet competent alternative is the Canon PowerShot S90.

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Low-light conditions -- including indoors -- are a challenge for most compact digital cameras, but the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1, critics say, is an exception. The combination of Sony's new Exmor R sensor and an ultra-wide… angle Carl Zeiss lens lets the WX1 capture great shots others might miss. Reviewers say the WX1 is very fast, and has a number of excellent automatic shooting modes that make burst shots and panoramas a snap. Critics say it shoots great-looking HD video and like that you can zoom while shooting. But there's a trade-off: Critics would like to see more manual controls for such impressive hardware, and they wish Sony would drop its proprietary Memory Stick media cards and connection cables.

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Fast-action photography is typically the domain of digital SLRs, but the compact, 9.1-megapixel Casio Exilim EX-FC100 offers high speed in a smaller package. The camera shoots still images at 30 frames per second (fps)… and HD video at 1,000 fps for the ultimate in slow-motion playback. While critics consider the FC100's shooting speeds astounding, it achieves this feat by recording at lower resolutions, which compromises image quality. We also read some complaints about too-small buttons and a smallish LCD screen. Nevertheless, the Casio Exilim EX-FC100's ability to capture split-second action makes it the top camera for sport and nature photography, but photo quality on other cameras is better overall.

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Waterproof cameras offer the convenience of a point-and-shoot with a design that withstands the elements. The PowerShot D10 is Canon's entry into the waterproof camera market, and reviewers say it leads the class. The… D10 shoots underwater at depths of 33 feet and survives temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit. It's also dustproof and can endure drops up to 4 feet. With 12.1 megapixels and a special anti-glare LCD, the D10 is equipped with large, readable control buttons for easy underwater shooting. The egg-shaped protective casing, however, creates extra girth, and the 4x zoom lens has a relatively short 35 mm to 105 mm range. The D10 isn't the most pocket-friendly or versatile camera, but it delivers the goods in the durability department.

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