Top 10 cameras of May

The PC Show '06 came. The PC Show '06 went. For those who didn't manage to steal some deals at the annual IT extravaganza, find what you missed here. There are no major changes to our charttoppers for May with Panasonic's Lumix DMC-TZ1 retaining its lead as the most popular camera of the month. Canon's PowerShot S3 IS has ousted Casio's 10.1-megapixel Exilim EX-Z1000 to make its way into our Top 10 chart, while the ultracompact Exilim EX-S600 has fallen two places down to the number six spot. In the number 10 position is Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-T9, a four-level drop from its previous standing.

Note: Results are based on readership and polls conducted with selected retailers (Alan Photo Trading and Cathay Photo Store) in Singapore.

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	1.	Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1   CNET Asia rating: 7 out of 10 The good: Firm handgrip on camera facilitates one-hand shooting; familiar and user-friendly menu interface; 10x optical zoom for still and motion image shooting; travel-related functions. The bad: Removable lens cap a hassle; lack of manual (aperture- and shutter-priority) controls; can shoot a total of only three frames in Fine image quality; slow zoom startup; noisy images beyond ISO 800. The bottom line: For users who don't care for manual options on a 10x optical zoom camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 is a good choice. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	2.	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX01   CNET Asia rating: 7.8 out of 10 The good: Wide-angle (28mm) lens; wide-aspect video recording at 30fps; dual image stabilization; High Angle LCD; uses same battery and charger as FX9 and FX8. The bad: No manual features or optical viewfinder; slight barrel distortions at 28mm wide angle; chromatic aberrations in the form of blooming and purple fringing; unable to select desired ISO level in High Sensitivity mode. The bottom line: The Lumix FX01 proves to be a compact shooter that performs, just like its previous incarnations, though it misses the mark in terms of image quality. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	Olympus Mju 720SW   CNET Asia rating: 6.6 out of 10 The good: Solid build quality; waterproof up to 3m and shockproof up to 1.5m; basic onboard image-editing functions. The bad: No manual controls; no true continuous-shooting mode; noise at higher ISO levels. The bottom line: The Olympus Mju 720SW is for those who want to carry a snapshot digicam without having to constantly take care of the unit like a baby. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	4.	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T30   CNET Asia rating: 7 out of 10 The good: Large 3-inch LCD screen; optical image stabilization; 58MB of built-in memory. The bad: Bulkier design; flimsy battery and memory stick compartment cover; camera's back tends to retain fingerprints; slow flash recharge cycle; no unlimited continuous shooting mode; noisy images at ISO 800 and ISO 1,000. The bottom line: The slightly bulkier Cyber-shot T30 (compared with the Cyber-shot T9) is targeted at those looking for a compact-sized shooter with a large LCD screen. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	5.	Canon PowerShot S3 IS   CNET Asia rating: 7.6 out of 10 The good: Comfortable design; 12x optically stabilized zoom; reasonably fast camera; unlimited continuous shooting mode at 1.5fps; 0cm Super Macro mode; uses AA-sized batteries. The bad: Lens cap a hassle to deal with; small 2-inch LCD monitor; doesn't support RAW formas; ISO 800 pictures unusable. The bottom line: Like its predecessor, the Canon PowerShot S3 IS is a formidable prosumer with a 12x optical zoom lens and impressive performance. Review | See full specs | Rate this