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Digital Cameras: Ratings of Sources
Total of 27 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. Imaging-Resource.com
As of Dec. 2008
Digital Camera Reviews
by Dave Etchells
Our Assessment

Cameras reviewed by this comprehensive website are put through exhaustive testing, and the results are very well documented. Sample photos are posted, so readers can see the results for themselves. Cameras are not directly compared, nor are objective ratings given, but site publisher Dave Etchells maintains a list of highly recommended cameras, organized by category. Etchells makes camera recommendations for enthusiasts, beginners, professionals, students and others, as well as cameras for those on a budget, those looking for an ideal travel camera and much more.

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2. DCResource.com
As of Dec. 2008
Jeff's Favorite Digital Cameras
by Jeff Keller
Our Assessment

Jeff Keller's DCResource.com is a great source for in-depth and easy-to-read camera reviews and news. While cameras are not directly compared, each review includes a list of other cameras in the same class to consider. Also helpful is a regularly updated list of top camera choices, called Jeff's Favorite Cameras. This website has an advantage in that it's well designed, and reviews are not overwhelming to read. Keller even has a good sense of humor, along with a nice conversational tone.

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3. DPReview.com Forums
As of Dec. 2008
Digital Camera Product Reviews/Previews
by Editors of DPReview.com
Our Assessment

Site founder Phil Askey, reviews editor Simon Joinson and a stable of technical writers keep readers updated with in-depth reviews of new digital cameras as they are released. The reviews are comprehensive and illustrated with plenty of photos, plus they're written to appeal to both the beginner and the seasoned pro. Top performers earn a rare Highly Recommended rating. Several cameras that score nearly as well can be found one notch below in the site's listing of Recommended cameras.

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4. StevesDigicams.com
As of July 2008
Camera Reviews
by Editors of Steve's Digicams
Our Assessment

Steve's Digicams is one of the better review resources on the Internet. New cameras are reviewed continuously, and those reviews are very complete, with virtually every feature or function that matters receiving attention. Test photos are included in the reviews, and there's a 360-degree view of each camera. While cameras are not compared to each other or given numerical ratings, Steve does offer a list of Best Cameras in a number of categories. However, the lists for each subgrouping are long, and there's no way to tell which might merit first consideration overall.

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5. TrustedReviews.com
As of Dec. 2008
Digital Camera Reviews
by Editors of TrustedReviews.com
Our Assessment

This British website is a great source for digital camera reviews, news and more. Though the individual camera reports are not as detailed as some, the write-ups are easy to read and are accompanied by test shots. Comparisons to other cameras are only rarely made, but the reviewers are clear about which cameras they like -- and which ones they don't. However, navigation can be a nuisance and there's no ranking page or listing of top cameras.

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6. Megapixel.net
As of Dec. 2008
Camera Reviews
by Editors of Megapixel.net
Our Assessment

Megapixel.net examines digital cameras in lengthy, single-product reviews. Ratings are given for both functionality and photographic qualities relative to other cameras with the same resolution, and the site's search page lets you filter results by those ratings. However, there's no way to see at a glance which cameras rate most highly. Even so, the reviews themselves are very detailed and lengthy. The lack of rankings makes this site a better destination for those who've already narrowed their choice somewhat. The site has also reviewed fewer digital cameras than others of late.

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7. DigitalCameraInfo.com
As of Dec. 2008
Point and Shoot Ratings
by Editors of DigitalCameraInfo.com
Our Assessment

DigitalCameraInfo.com is an offshoot of the highly regarded CamcorderInfo.com. The site's editors give digital cameras the same in-depth analysis as they do camcorders. Full reviews are very detailed and include a numerical rating that can be compared to other cameras. In addition, most of the reviews include direct comparisons to competing cameras. The reviews are unapologetically critical -- few cameras escape unscathed -- but reviews are not as easily digestible as those on some other websites.

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8. Laptop Magazine
As of Dec. 2008
Camera Reviews
by Editors of Laptop magazine
Our Assessment Laptop magazine regularly reviews digital cameras in single-product reports and multi-camera roundups. Cameras are assigned a rating from one to five stars, so it is easy to see which ones the editors rank more highly. The very best receive an Editors' Choice award. Review quality is a little variable, but recent reports show nice detail.
9. ConsumerReports.org
Not Dated
Digital Cameras
by Editors of Consumer Reports
Our Assessment

Consumer Reports does a thorough job of reporting on digital cameras, evaluating various models with criteria that are both appropriate and well explained. However, the report itself is boiled down to the basics, without the details or test photos that accompany reviews on enthusiast sites such as The Imaging Resource, DCResource.com and others. Results are summarized in a ratings table supplemented with a few basic notes.

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10. CNet.com
As of Dec. 2008
Digital Camera Reviews
by Lori Grunin
Our Assessment CNet.com's editors routinely review and rate digital cameras. Each is evaluated on design, image quality, performance and features. Those factors are weighted based on the camera's class in order to come up with a final rating. Commentary is provided, but it's usually shorter than at the enthusiast sites listed above.
11. CNet (Asia)
As of Dec. 2008
Digital Camera Reviews
by Leonard Goh
Our Assessment CNet.com Asia is very similar to its U.S. counterpart, and in fact borrows some content from that site. However, Leonard Goh also contributes lots of his own reports, and those are often far more detailed than those found at CNet.com in the U.S. Sample photos are another plus. On the downside, site navigation is a little cumbersome and not all of the cameras covered are available in the U.S.
12. PCMag.com
As of Dec. 2008
Digital Cameras
by Editors of PC Magazine
Our Assessment PC Magazine covers digital cameras both in single-camera reviews and occasional roundups, awarding best-in-class cameras with an Editors' Choice rating. As with CNet.com, these reviews are easy to digest, which is nice if you want a quick overview rather than an exhaustive analysis.
13. Choice magazine
Oct. 2008
Digital Cameras
by Editors of Choice magazine
Our Assessment

This Australian magazine is roughly comparable to Consumer Reports. Ratings are given for image quality in the automatic and manual modes, ease of use, versatility, movie mode, flash and more. The test methodology and ratings criteria are clearly spelled out on a "How We Test Digital Cameras" page. One negative is that discussion about the individual cameras is very brief, and, aside from the top-rated cameras, it's hard to find.

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14. PC World
Dec. 8, 2008
Top 10 Point-and-Shoot Cameras
by Tim Moynihan and Editors of PC World
Our Assessment

According to PC World, point-and-shoot digital cameras are a great choice for the casual photographer. Editors evaluate digital cameras on price, features, design and performance (including image quality and battery life). They then use those evaluations to create a numerical rating that can be compared to other cameras in the same class. The 10 highest-scoring cameras make it to this list, which also features lots of ultra-compact digital cameras. PC World also maintains a separate list of top 10 "advanced" point-and-shoot cameras.

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15. DigitalTrends.com
As of Dec. 2008
Top Rated Reviews: Digital Cameras
by Editors of Digital Trends
Our Assessment

At DigitalTrends.com, cameras are reviewed from the point of view of a mainstream user. Reviews provide decent detail and cover topics such as image quality, performance and ease of use. The top-ranked cameras make it to a Top Reviews for Digital Cameras chart, and those that score 8.5 or higher out of ten are named an Editor's Choice. The downside here is that fewer cameras are rated here than at other websites, and the listings include lots of discontinued models.

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Camera Reviews
by Editors of Popular Photography and American Photo
Our Assessment

Long a respected source of information about film cameras, Popular Photography and its sister magazine, American Photo, have now fully embraced digital technology. The magazines cover digital cameras in single-product reports and multi-camera roundups. While the multi-camera reports do name winners and losers, and lab-test results are provided, there are no objective ratings to help readers easily see which cameras rate best. The magazine does name a camera of the year, however.

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17. DigitalCameraReview.com
As of Dec. 2008
Digital Camera Reviews
by Editors of DigitalCameraReview.com
Our Assessment The reviews on this site are complete and comprehensive, with lots of sample images. However, while opinions are offered, cameras are not rated and only occasionally compared to one another, which ultimately makes this site less useful than more highly rated sites. A nice touch is that links to reviews at other sites are provided.
18. Amazon.com
As of Dec. 2008
Digital Cameras
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Our Assessment

Like many other large Internet retailer websites, Amazon.com allows users to share their experiences. The top-selling cameras often get enough reviews to make visiting this site useful if you want to read real-world opinions about a camera you are considering buying. While the quality and helpfulness of the individual reviews can vary, many top cameras have enough feedback that trends are easy to spot.

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19. Shutterbug.com
As of Dec. 2008
Compact Digicams
by Editors of Shutterbug
Our Assessment Shutterbug is a better information source for high-end photographic gear than point-and-shoot digital cameras. However, what reports are here rival those produced by some of our top-rated reviewers. What holds Shutterbug back in these rankings is that few non-DSLR cameras are reviewed, and that cameras are not rated or compared.
20. MacLife.com
As of Dec. 2008
Photo Reviews
by Editors of MacLife.com
Our Assessment MacLife's reviews aren't terribly long, but still do a decent job in providing accurate bottom-line assessments for a good number of digital cameras. Pluses and minuses are provided, as is a rating from one to five. Other products, such as printers and photo software, are also listed here.
21. The Wall Street Journal
Apr. 23, 2008
Digital Cameras That Do Thinking for You
by Katherine Boehret
Our Assessment This article pits three digital cameras that use technology to take some of the picture-taking decisions, such as camera settings or even the exact moment to snap an image, out of the photographer's hands. All are said to "take good photos, overall, and are fun to use because they take pressure off the photographer." Two are singled out as being most useful.
22. About.com
Not Dated
Digital Camera Product Reviews
by Michael Carr
Our Assessment

There are some helpful articles and buyer's guides to be found at About.com. Unfortunately, former guide to digital cameras Michael Carr's reviews don't measure up well to those we rate more highly. The quality of the reports is variable. In some cases it's clear that Carr has at least spent a little time with the camera, while other reviews are no more than a listing of features with little added insight. In addition, many of the reviewed cameras are discontinued. In addition to Carr's reports, the site includes some reader-contributed reviews. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

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23. PCMag.com
July 29, 2008
The Best (and Worst) Tech Support in America: Digital Cameras
by Editors of PC Magazine
Our Assessment

This article discusses the results of PC Magazine's annual survey, in which readers are asked to rate camera manufacturers and their products in areas such as ease of use, reliability, technical support, frequency of repair and more. Nikon, Canon and Panasonic are clear leaders in terms of brands, and all get Editors' Choice awards. Canon is especially singled out for brand recognition and good recommendations in every camera category it makes.

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24. PCPhotoReview.com
As of Dec. 2008
Digital Cameras: Pro Reviews
by Contributors to PCPhotoReview.com
Our Assessment

Originally a consumer-voting site, PCPhotoReview.com has benefited greatly by including a host of reviews written by working professional photographers. The reviews offer a fair amount of detail, but fall short of what's found at better sites. Cameras are not compared or rated. Readers can still rate cameras as well, but most cameras have few if any feedback, and those that do are often already discontinued.

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25. DigitalCameraHQ.com
As of Dec. 2008
Camera Reviews
by Editors of DigitalCamera-HQ.com
Our Assessment

DigitalCamera-HQ.com now includes professional reviews, making this a destination that's worth at least a look-see. The reports aren't the most detailed we've found, but are reasonably objective and offer test photos so users can judge quality for themselves. Lists of top-rated cameras are maintained, but most of those have not been reviewed by the site's editors. User reviews from the site's contributors and links to reviews from a variety of shopping sites are also available.

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26. Epinions.com
As of Dec. 2008
Digital Camera Reviews
by Contributors to Epinions.com
Our Assessment Epinions.com lets owners review their own products. However, this site does not get nearly as much traffic as Amazon.com, so by the time models have a decent number of reviews, they are usually outdated. On the positive side, reviews tend to be longer and more complete, and other users have the opportunity to critique the reviews.
27. ConsumerGuide.com
As of Dec. 2008
Digital Cameras
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
Our Assessment

Consumer Guide has little to offer the digital camera buyer that can't be found elsewhere. Only a handful of cameras currently have expert reviews, and those reviews don't approach the depth of the reviews at more highly rated sites. In addition, many discontinued cameras remain listed on the site. Some testing appears to have been done in recent reviews, but most of the content seems to be little more than re-written information from manufacturers' literature.

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