Top 10 cameras of February

Despite the current economic downturn, we noticed from our list that consumers are still willing to spend on premium shooters such as the Leica D-Lux 4 which took last position in our latest Top 10 chart. The Panasonic equivalent, the Lumix DMC-LX3, retained top ranking as with previous months. Also, touchscreen shooters were popular, too, though it seemed consumers preferred Sony's touch-operated cameras over the other brands. That said, we are expecting new additions to the list soon once the cameras announced at the recent Photo Marketing Association (PMA) tradeshow are available in stores.

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

	1.	Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3       CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: High-resolution multi aspect ratio image capture; F2.0 optics; highly customizable modes which can be saved; large sensor delivers impressive image quality. The bad: Unable to capture full-resolution images in 16:9 format; use of lens cap may be an issue to some; bundled RAW image-processing software not up to the job. The bottom line: The LX3 is a good camera with an excellent feature set that positions it way beyond any conventional point-and-shoot on the retail shelves today. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	2.	Canon Digital IXUS 870 IS       CNET Asia rating: 8.1 out of 10 The good: 28mm wide-angle lens; fast DIGIC 4 imaging chip; large 3-inch LCD. The bad: Lacks optical viewfinder; power button difficult to press. The bottom line: Though the 870 IS isn't perfect with its noise issues and minor design faults, it still remains an excellent compact camera. A sharp lens, fast image-processing times and fantastic picture quality make the IXUS an ideal combination of style and substance. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	Canon PowerShot G10       CNET Asia rating: 7.6 out of 10 The good: Easily accessible settings on top deck; 28mm wide-angle lens; natural-looking colors in photographs; speedy performance. The bad: Heavy and a tad bulky; no major improvements to feature set from G9. The bottom line: The G10 is going to be tough competition for the Lumix and other pro-level point-and-shoots, but it boils down to the image quality which is subjective. The features have not changed much, though it should satisfy those looking for a compact shooter to complement their dSLR setup. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	4.	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX38   CNET Asia rating: 7.8 out of 10 The good: Sleek design; HD video recording; 25mm wide-angle-lens. The bad: Power switch easy to turn on accidentally; finicky autofocus; some noise issues. The bottom line: A very capable compact camera it may be, but it doesn't hide the fact that there are practically no changes from the previous model, the FX36. That said, with HD-video recording and a generous 25mm wide angle lens, the FX38 will win many people over with its generous feature set and sleek design. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	5.	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700       CNET Asia rating: 8.0 out of 10 The good: Attractive design; large, useful feature set; nice 3.5-inch LCD; fast performance. The bad: Touchscreen not for everyone; soft images. The bottom line: Part smart-looking snapshot camera, part 4GB portable digital photo album, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700 will satisfy those who like showing off their pictures as much as they like taking them. Review | See full specs | Rate this