Top 10 cameras of May

High-end point-and-shoots such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 and Canon PowerShot G10 have been doing well in our charts and continue to do so, suggesting a strong demand for such cameras. In terms of rugged shoters, Olympus' Mju Tough-8000 seems to be doing better than other hardy snappers such as the Canon PowerShot D10 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT1 in terms of sales figures gathered from the vendors. Overall, mainstream compact cameras from major brands, including Panasonic, Sony, Canon and Fujifilm, continue to be popular among consumers.

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 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
	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.	Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR       CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: Good quality images even at high ISO; reliable automatic EXR mode switches between different settings accurately; wide dynamic range. The bad: Boring design; limited manual exposure function; no HD video-recording feature. The bottom line: Despite minor flaws, we were captivated by the incredible image quality from the F200EXR, considering it is just a point-and-shoot. By far one of the best midrange compacts we've tested. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	5.	Canon Digital Ixus 100 IS   CNET Asia rating: 7.2 out of 10 The good: Sleek styling; HD video function; decent image quality and performance. The bad: Lacks wide-angle optics; small form factor may not go down well with users having larger hands. The bottom line: This petite powerhouse is Canon's smallest ever Ixus camera and its stylish looks should resonate with those who want a capable and tiny point-and-shoot. Review | See full specs | Rate this