Ultra-wide-angle compact cameras

Point-and-shoots with wide-angle lenses (26mm to 30mm) are great for snapping shots of sceneries or large group pictures. But having ultra-wide-angle optics is even better if you want to capture more of the scene. Such glasses come in handy when you have space constraints, such as when taking group pictures in a small room. However, do note that most of these lenses have significant barrel distortion near the edges of the frame, so try not to place your subjects too near the sides if you don't want them to look warped.

Each of these five snappers have unique characteristics such as long-zoom range, manual exposure control and touchscreen operation. But one common feature that binds them is their ultra-wide-angle lens which is rated at 25mm or lesser.

Click here for a feature comparison table.

	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.	Samsung NV24HD   CNET Asia rating: 7.8 out of 10 The good: 24mm ultra-wide-angle lens; HD-video recording; stylish design. The bad: 3.6x zoom only; no battery charger supplied; proprietary port for charging and data transfer. The bottom line: The NV24HD is a stunning camera, but the performance is only typical of the usual point-and-shoot. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7   First take Panasonic was on a roll at the recent Photo Marketing Association (PMA) tradeshow held in Las Vegas, with its announcement of 11 cameras. While enthusiasts were more interested in the new Micro Four Thirds shooter, general consumers were eager to find out what Panasonic has lined up for compact cameras. One of the more sought-after shooter was the Lumix DMC-TZ7 megazoom shooter, the successor to the popular TZ15. Panasonic claimed that this shooter is the world's smallest point-and-shoot with 12x optical zoom, so we find out how many features can the company pack in the snapper's petite chassis. First take | See full specs | Rate this
	4.	Casio Exilim EX-H10   Dimensions/weight 102.5 x 62 x 24.3mm/164g Resolution 12 megapixels Zoom range 10x optical (24mm to 240mm) LCD size 3-inch Max video resolution 1280 x 720 @ 24 fps Additional features Lithium-ion battery lasts for 1,000 shots on a single charge See full specs | Rate this
	5.	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580   Dimensions/weight 94.9 x 57.1 x 21.9mm/167g Resolution 12 megapixels Zoom range 5x optical (25mm to 125mm) LCD size 3 inch Max video resolution 1280 x 720 @ 30 fps Additional features Touchscreen operation See full specs | Rate this