Compact and Slim
If you have a skinch of room in your top
pocket or tight-fitting jeans, you have enough space to carry a capable
compact camera that's ready to grab any unexpected photo opportunity
that pops up.
How small are we talking about? Depth is the key spec here, and there
are many cameras that measure less than an inch from front to back. The
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900
is one of the sveltest we've put to the test, at just 0.66 inch thin,
and weighing a mere 5.1 oz. Yet this skinny model still manages to
shoot 12-megapixel images and high-def 720p video, with stereo sound no
less.
The lesson is not to underestimate the capabilities of an ultra compact
camera – though you should expect a premium price as the cost of
miniaturization. We're talking $300 plus in this category, unlike your
modest $150 point-and-shoot. However, you often get more than just good
looks in the bargain. The Sony, for example, offers a high-res
920,000-dot touch-screen control (versus the typical 230,000-dot camera
display) and comes complete with a docking cradle for connecting to an
HDTV set.
The Fujifilm F200EXR
offers an advanced image sensor that allows it to reproduce detail in
shadowy areas more effectively than other compact cameras.
And the Canon Powershot SD780 IS,
with its extremely small size and curvy slip-in-your-pocket edges,
still includes an tiny optical viewfinder, a rarity among compact
cameras at any size and price today, and useful on sunny days when the
LCD turns into a solar reflector.
Other than price range and modest dimensions, ultra compact cameras
don't have a lot in common. Lab tests in key categories such as
resolution, color accuracy and image noise don't show a clear pattern
based on camera size.
These featherweights tend to be light on manual controls, but there are exceptions. The 5.9-ounce Panasonic FX580, for example, includes program, aperture-priority, shutter-priority and full manual exposure controls.
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Panasonic Announces DMC-LX5 and Four More New LUMIX Cameras
July 21, 2010 – Panasonic added five new cameras to its LUMIX lineup today, including the DMC-LX5—the eagerly awaited successor to the popular LX3.
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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 Digital Camera Review
The Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 is a small camera that takes high quality images with good color and plenty of detail, but which can also handle rough treatment.
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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX7 Digital Camera Review
The Cyber-shot DSC-TX7 is a small, sleek point & shoot that takes 10.2 megapixel images and which can perform a number of clever tricks, like great low-light performance and an excellent panorama mode.
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Casio Exilim EX-G1 Digital Camera Review
The Exilim EX-G1 is a slim camera that can shoot in tough conditions. However, we were not impressed with the image quality.
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Samsung TL225 Digital Camera Review
The Samsung TL225 is a compact point & shoot camera with a trick up its sleeve: a 1.5-inch LCD screen on the front for taking self portraits.
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 Digital Camera Review
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 is a $400 point-and-shoot that brings extensive manual controls, a touch-screen interface and wide-angle lens to the table. While we were highly impressed by the level of control while shooting, the image quality was overall sub-par.
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Canon PowerShot SD780 IS Digital Camera Review
The Canon PowerShot SD780 IS is a tiny, pocket-sized camera that has a 3x zoom, shoots 12-megapixel images and 720p HD video. This svelte little unit performed well in most of our tests, and can be had for $280.
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Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR Digital Camera Review
The Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR is a camera with a new generation of image sensor that offers special modes for reducing image noise or improving dynamic range.We found the camera produced attractive images, but struggled in burst-mode speed and video quality.
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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900 Digital Camera Review
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900, priced at $379.99 captures 12-megapixel images and HD video. However, photos tended to be noisy, and the small lens produced major distortion and chromatic aberration problems.
Canon introduced the PowerShot SD4000 IS today, combining a back-illuminated CMOS sensor with a fast f/2.0 lens for enhanced available-light shooting. Priced at $349.99, the camera is scheduled for May availability.
