Top 10 digicams of August

With COMEX 2006 just over and Photokina happening end this month, September seems to be the time to stake out for the latest and hottest digicams. While camera manufacturers have been rather quiet the past week since the first wave of announcements nearly two weeks ago, we're expecting things to pick up again prior to the opening of the annual photo imaging tradeshow. Before all that happens, let's take a look at which are the most popular shooters for the month of August

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

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	1.	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
	2.	Canon Digital IXUS 800 IS   CNET Asia rating: 7.8 out of 10 The good: Great performance and pictures; effective image stabilization; attractive, comfortable design. The bad: No aperture-priority or shutter-priority modes; awkward optical viewfinder and power button. The bottom line: The Canon IXUS 800 IS has practically everything you could want in a compact camera, though you might think the price tag a bit steep. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	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
	4.	Casio Exilim EX-Z1000   CNET Asia rating: 7.4 out of 10 The good: Sturdy body with an elegant design; simple and intuitive interface; continuous shooting with flash; negligible shutter lag. The bad: Unusable pictures at high ISO settings; effective 2.5-inch screen estate; slow continuous shooting. The bottom line: The trendy design and user-friendly features manage to steal some thunder from this high-resolution shooter. However, the Exilim EX-Z1000 is still a basic digicam targeted at users who want a high-resolution camera. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	5.	Canon Digital IXUS 60   CNET Asia rating: 7.8 out of 10 The good: Excellent image quality; top-notch build quality; quick performance. The bad: Basic feature set. The bottom line: Despite its no-frills feature set, the Canon Digital IXUS 60 delivers quality photos and strong performance in a small package. Review | See full specs | Rate this