Advanced Digital Cameras

Canon PowerShot G12: The best advanced fixed-lens camera

Advanced digital cameras offer lots of manual controls to supplement automatic settings so users can play around with different exposures and focus modes. Some have manual controls that rival ultra-zoom and digital SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras. Some of the latest models allow you to swap the lenses, DSLR-style; we discuss these new cameras below. But if you're looking for the most advanced camera with no lens swapping, experts resoundingly recommend the Canon PowerShot G12 (*Est. $380).

"This camera is sure to please just about anyone who picks it up to snap some photos, whether you're a seasoned photog looking for a compact walk-about camera, or a newbie looking for a powerful unit that will help you learn more about photography," says Steves-Digicams.com of the Canon PowerShot G12.

The previous Canon PowerShot G11 won this category, too, but critics had two complaints: no HD video, and tricky-to-use controls. The G12 solves both of those problems, adding 720p HD video and new easy-to-use front and back dials that make the manual controls "addictive," says Mike Perlman at InfoSyncWorld.com. "There's nothing quite like superseding a labyrinthine menu system at the expense of a simple dial flick."

The G12 keeps all of the good stuff from the G11, experts say: The 10-megapixel sensor and versatile 5x zoom lens (28 mm to 140 mm) produce sharp, high-quality images in a wide range of situations. You can do a lot with the G12's one lens, Steves-Digicams.com says: "While you won't be zooming in tightly on players on the football field, you will have good magnification for close-up portraits and Macro type photos, along with a nice wide field of view for indoor photos, group shots and beautiful landscapes."

Two other welcome holdovers are the articulated LCD screen and optical viewfinder. The 2.8-inch display on the PowerShot G12 can tuck right into the camera for protection, sit flat on the back like a fixed display or swivel outward at any angle. Reviewers find that the low-glare display is clear in nearly all angles and conditions.

The Canon G12's main competitor is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 (*Est. $370), but it's not quite as advanced as the Canon. It lacks an optical viewfinder, and testers find that it takes more work to get a great shot with the Panasonic. However, if you plan to shoot a lot of HD video with your camera, you should note that the Panasonic allows you to use its 3.8x optical zoom while filming; the Canon does not. Read more about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 in our Best Cameras in Low Light section.

The 9.7-ounce Olympus XZ-1 (*Est. $350) runs a bit slimmer and lighter than the Canon G12, partly because it omits a few advanced features -- there's no built-in viewfinder and few direct control buttons, for example. The XZ-1 does have a lens ring and a hot shoe, plus a faster, brighter 4x zoom lens than the G12, and a 3-inch OLED screen that shows up better in bright sunlight and at odd angles than the usual LCD screen. However, the Olympus's 10-megapixel image sensor turns out grainier images at high ISOs: "Its photo quality falls short of excellent," says CNET's Lori Grunin, and that relegates it to runner-up status behind the G12.

The retro-styled Fujifilm FinePix X100 (Discontinued) reveals a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality in reviews. Critics adore its old-school magnesium-alloy body and metal dials (it looks like a classic rangefinder camera, except for the 2.8-inch LCD screen on the back) and glorious 12.3-megapixel image quality that even the picky experts at DPReview.com find "almost impossible to criticize," even in dim light. It also shoots 720p HD video.

But is the stylish X100 worth its steep price? Reviewers aren't sure. The 35 mm-equivalent lens is fixed (you can't zoom it or swap it), and the throwback styling creates some headaches, says PhotoRadar.com: "The exposure compensation dial which all too easily turns out of position; the loose menu pad dial and small menu button; the indicator lamp which is easily obstructed by the thumb. None of these issues are significant enough in themselves, but collectively they make for an often-frustrating user experience."

DPReview.com agrees. Although firmware updates have ironed out some of the X100's bugs, it still takes forever to write RAW files to the memory card, and you can't do certain things -- like manually focus or change the ISO -- while it's busy writing. "The X100 is without doubt one of the most idiosyncratic cameras we've ever come across. It veers wildly between being delightful to use and deeply frustrating." Editors declare it "too flawed to earn our outright recommendation, but if you're prepared to tolerate its foibles as the price to pay for its superb image quality, it's a camera you can easily grow to love."

Mirrorless cameras: Interchangeable-lens cameras that fit in the palm of your hand

The newest innovation in compact cameras is the ability to swap lenses. These cameras can fit into a jacket pocket, but feature interchangeable lenses. Olympus, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony currently make these types of cameras, which are known as interchangeable-lens compacts. Olympus and Panasonic use a standard called Micro Four Thirds, while Samsung and Sony have proprietary systems.

Interchangeable lens compacts use mirrorless lenses that are smaller than DSLR lenses. Their image sensors are much bigger than that of pocket cameras, which makes for better photos, especially in low light. For more information, see Olympus's Micro Four Thirds Standard website and the Useful Links section of this report.

"Everyone wants to take better photos. Not everybody wants to look like Flavor Flav while they're taking them," says Andy Ihnatko of the Chicago Sun-Times. After a friend let him use his Micro Four Thirds camera, Ihnatko says he realized how often he really could use a better camera than his little point-and-shoot -- like at parties, or while traveling -- but didn't want his huge DSLR swinging from his neck.

The best mirrorless camera overall in reviews is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 (*Est. $900 with kit lens). It's very pricey -- more than twice the cost of a good entry-level DSLR -- but experts say it's worth it, if you want the very best compact camera money can buy. "All things considered -- the impressive depth of its feature set, effective touch-screen ergonomics and its excellent still and video image quality -- we think it represents very good value for money," says DPReview.com.

Experts say the GH2 is a true hybrid camera/camcorder: Expect fantastic 16-megapixel still photos and equally fantastic full HD video. "Overall, the GH2 offers the best image quality of any Micro Four Thirds camera to date," PhotographyBlog.com says. It's still not as good as the best DSLRs, "but the gap has at least narrowed."

Unlike other cameras, the GH2 can continuously auto-focus -- and do it effectively -- while recording video. It offers "generous" manual video controls, has a "surprisingly good" on-board stereo microphone and a hookup for an external mic, DPReview.com points out. Overall, it "offers arguably the best video specification available outside of a dedicated video camera."

The GH2 looks like a DSLR, with a hefty handgrip, electronic viewfinder and swiveling 3-inch touch-screen LCD. For $1,400, it comes with a 10x optical zoom (28-280 mm equivalent) kit lens, which bumps it up to about 2 pounds. It's versatile, but not incredibly compact: "You probably won't be able to fit it in your pocket, I don't care what kind of coat you're wearing," says Dan Havlik at Imaging-Resource.com. You can also opt for a 28-84 mm equivalent kit lens (*Est. $900 with kit lens), a body-only version (*Est. $900) or an optional 3D lens (*Est. $225), but you'll need a compatible 3D TV and 3D glasses to view your images in 3D. Experts detect a few nitpicks -- DCResource.com finds that the GH2 occasionally underexposes and clips highlights, for example -- but nothing bad enough to keep it from being critics' top pick.

"Beginners looking for a camera that can take stills or movies with point-and-shoot ease will find that the GH2 can do that without hesitation," says Jeff Keller at DCResource.com. "If you're an enthusiast who wants control over everything, the GH2 certainly won't disappoint, either. Whoever you are, I think that you'll really enjoy the Lumix DMC-GH2."

If you don't want to spend so much, Panasonic offers less expensive versions that omit some features. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 (Discontinued) packs the same processor and a different 16-megapixel image sensor -- plus an electronic viewfinder and tilt-and-swivel touch screen -- into a body that's a couple of ounces lighter than the GH2 and one-third thinner (less than 2 inches thick). Both cameras can shoot full 1080p HD video with continuous autofocus, but the G3 omits the external mic jack and can't shoot in film-like 24p, There are other differences, too: For example, in dim light, the G3 can shoot up to ISO 6,400, while the GH2 goes to ISO 12,800. Both accept the same optional 3D lens. The G3 comes with a 3x optical zoom 28-84 mm equivalent kit lens, or you can buy the body only (*Est. $600).

The G3's feature-packed specs and reasonable price earn awards from DCResource.com, CNET, PhotographyBlog.com and other top expert sources. "Simply put, the G3 produces some of the finest images we have ever seen from Micro Four Thirds sensor technology," DPReview.com says. Rigorous tests at Imaging-Resource.com show the same thing: The G3's photos look like you shot them with a DSLR. Considering the price, DPReview.com says that achievement "is nothing short of remarkable."

But although they're certainly smaller than a DSLR, reviewers say neither of those Panasonic cameras are really pocketable. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 (*Est. $460) is, though. It skips the DSLR body style (there's no big handgrip or built-in eyepiece viewfinder) in favor of a skinny box shape (just over an inch thick) with few control buttons and dials.

Instead, the GF2 relies heavily upon its 3-inch touch screen, which gets mixed reactions: DigitalCameraReview.com calls it "functional and intuitive" and counts it as a benefit, but PC World's Tim Moynihan finds it slows him down and calls it as a drawback. "It may leave you longing for old-fashioned analog controls more often than not," he says. Testers at CNET (Asia) are similarly divided: "The touchscreen implementation didn't tickle our fancy ... Some people we showed the camera to, however, took to it almost immediately and [were] able to navigate the menus with ease. So, it's really a matter of personal preference."

The GF2 comes with a 3x optical zoom kit lens (28-84 mm equivalent), or you can opt for a 28-mm equivalent pancake lens that slims the GF2 down so that it slips easily into a jacket pocket. It includes a feature-rich, full-1080i HD video mode that produces "decent-looking" clips in good light, but less impressive in dim light, and without the fast autofocus and full manual controls you'll get with the pricier Panasonics, Moynihan says. Image quality from the 12.1-megapixel image sensor is "very good," says Jim Keenan at DigitalCameraReview.com, although the relatively small sensor can't keep up with DSLRs in dim light, sacrificing detail and polluting the image with noise, especially above ISO 800.

Olympus also makes Micro Four Thirds cameras, but its flagship, the Olympus PEN E-P3 (*Est. $900) doesn't wow critics like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2.

Rather than a bulky DSLR-like build, Olympus opts for a slim, retro build with no viewfinder and a modest 3x optical zoom (28-84 mm equivalent) kit lens. DPReview.com calls the E-P3's metal body "hugely attractive," and PhotographyBlog.com says it feels so solid that it justifies the high price tag -- "You literally feel that you're getting what you're paying for in this instance."

Testers also love the speedy performance -- especially the blazing-fast autofocus -- which quells their main complaint with the previous Olympus PEN E-P2 (*Est. $510), but some scratch their heads over the outdated 12.3-megapixel image sensor Olympus decided to use in the new E-P3, as other brands have been improving their sensors and upping the resolution. At high ISOs in dim light, the E-P3's images now look "distinctly weak" compared with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 and GH2, DPReview.com says. The E-P3's full HD video gets mixed reviews. Some experts say it's fine, but CNET's Lori Grunin notices "egregious rolling shutter (wobbling)" in her videos.

The Olympus PEN E-PL2 (Discontinued) cuts costs by cutting features: It omits the E-P3's touch-screen control, cuts HD video down to 720p and lacks boost ISO capability for low light. Overall performance and image quality from the 12.3-megapixel sensor are pretty similar to the E-P2, DPReview.com says.

"While the E-P2 is nominally higher up the PEN-hierarchy some photographers might nevertheless prefer the E-PL2 instead," editors say. "It's smaller, has a built-in flash and comes with the faster focusing new kit lens" -- a 3x optical zoom, 28-84 mm equivalent lens.

At about one and a half inches thick, the E-PL2 is slightly chunkier than the flagship Olympus PEN E-P3, but still "an easy-to-use alternative to a more complicated and bigger DSLR," PhotographyBlog.com says. In fact, the E-PL2 -- one of the least expensive Micro Four Thirds cameras you can buy -- is experts' top compact interchangeable-lens pick behind the pricey Panasonic DMC-GH2.

Sony and Samsung also make mirrorless cameras, and the Sony Alpha NEX-5 (*Est. $600) is a runner-up in reviews. Along the same lines as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2, the NEX-5 is lightweight and pocketable, shoots 1080i HD video, and it smoothly adjusts its focus and exposure automatically as it does. All of our experts say the Sony's photo quality is good, and some declare it outstanding -- "on par with a DSLR," says Derrick Story at PC World.