Beyond the snapshot: Compact cameras for fiddling photographers
Lori Grunin,
Senior Editor
March 10, 2008
Not everyone who wants a camera with lots of creative controls is looking to buy a digital SLR or even a pricey EVF model. Maybe you already own one and would like the convenience of having a compact camera in addition. Maybe you're just getting into photography and want a model that will let you learn and experiment without being overwhelmed. Or maybe you're just strapped for cash. Fortunately, there are affordable compact cameras that offer the manual exposure controls, a range of adjustable settings, and accessory compatibility you need to move beyond just pointing and clicking. These cameras don't have interchangeable lens systems or huge zoom ranges, but on the other hand, they'll give you the whole package for the price of a cheap SLR lens.
| Product name | ||||||
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| Price | $179.95 to $339.05 | $114.99 to $196.39 | $449.95 | $461.79 | $185.95 to $199.95 | $277.00 to $406.69 |
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| Review date | September 12, 2007 | March 03, 2008 | October 26, 2006 | September 17, 2007 | October 09, 2007 | January 02, 2008 |
| The Bottom Line | Unless you plan to shoot primarily in low light, the Canon PowerShot A720 IS makes a solid, affordable camera that produces great-looking pictures. | The Canon PowerShot A590 IS's manual exposure controls and surprisingly sharp pictures make it a great choice for almost anyone looking for a sub-$200 shooter. | The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 is a good choice for an enthusiast looking for a powerful camera that can fit into a jacket pocket. | Performance issues aside, the Canon PowerShot A650 IS combines large, good-looking photos and a generous feature set into a fine midrange shooter. | The Fujifilm FinePix F50fd should please most snapshooters and its above-average exposure controls should appeal to advanced photographers, too. | Despite its image-quality strengths, sluggish performance tarnishes the appeal of the otherwise well-equipped, compact Nikon Coolpix P5100. |
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| Features | ||||||
| Lens aperture |
F/2.8-4.8 |
F/2.6-5.5 |
F/2.8-4.9 |
F/2.8-4.8 |
F/2.8-5.1 |
F/2.7-5.3 |
| Equivalent 35mm focal length |
35 - 210 mm |
35 - 140 mm |
28 - 112 mm |
35 - 210 mm |
35 - 105 mm |
Info unavailable |
| Optical zoom |
6 x |
4 x |
4 x |
6 x |
3 x |
3.5 x |
| Light sensitivity |
ISO 200 ISO 800 ISO auto ISO 400 ISO 80 ISO 1600 ISO 100 |
ISO 200 ISO 800 ISO auto ISO 400 ISO 80 ISO 1600 ISO 100 |
ISO 200 ISO 800 ISO auto ISO 400 ISO 3200 ISO 1600 ISO 100 |
ISO 200 ISO 800 ISO 400 ISO 80 ISO 3200 ISO 1600 ISO 100 |
ISO 6400 ISO 200 ISO 800 ISO auto ISO 400 ISO 3200 ISO 1600 ISO 100 |
ISO 200 ISO 800 ISO 400 ISO 3200 ISO 2000 ISO 1600 ISO 100 ISO 64 ISO auto (64-800) |
| Display (projector) technology |
TFT active matrix |
TFT active matrix |
TFT active matrix |
Low Temperature Poly-Silicon (LTPS) |
TFT active matrix |
TFT active matrix |
| Memory storage capacity |
16 MB |
32 MB |
13 MB |
32 MB |
25 MB |
52 MB |
| Video input type |
Digital camera |
Digital camera |
Digital camera |
Digital camera |
Digital camera |
Digital camera |
| Flash memory form factor | Info unavailable |
MultiMediaCardplus |
Integrated |
SD Memory Card |
Integrated |
Integrated |
| Digital zoom |
4 x |
4 x |
4 x |
4 x |
8.2 x |
4 x |
| Battery technology | Info unavailable |
Alkaline |
Lithium ion |
Info unavailable |
Lithium ion |
Lithium ion |
| Weight |
7.1 oz |
6.2 oz |
6.6 oz |
10.6 oz |
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