Top 10 cameras of September
By Leonard Goh
16/10/2008
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/digitalcameras/0,39001469,62047202,00.htm
Last month's chart showed an interesting trend. The top three point-and-shoots were all wide-angle shooters, while two of them offered a certain amount of exposure control. In fact, half of the list's contenders had either manual functions, aperture/shutter priority features or a minimum of 28mm optics. So are shutterbugs getting more savvy or just buying into the latest gimmickry? That aside, stylish digicams continue to appeal. One of Sony's latest T-series shooters got onto our charts not long after being launched, and we think the other offerings seen at Photokina might soon sneak their way in, too.
Note: Results are based on readership and polls conducted with selected retailers (Alan Photo Trading, Cathay Photo Store and MS Color Service) in Singapore.
First five | Next five cameras | Last month's ranking
Click here for a feature comparison table.
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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.
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2. |
Fujifilm FinePix F100fd
CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10
The good: Ultra-high ISO sensitivity of 12,800; wide dynamic range; intuitive face detection; short shutter lag; 5x optical zoom with 28mm wide-angle lens; good image quality.
The bad: Relatively heavy; awkward positioning of flash, easily covered by fingers; lacks full manual control.
The bottom line: Despite an awkwardly positioned flash unit, the F100fd didn't disappoint with its enhanced feature set and excellent image quality.
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3. |
Canon Digital IXUS 860 IS
CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10
The good: Impressive performance and image quality; optical image stabilization; face detection.
The bad: No manual exposure controls; no optical viewfinder.
The bottom line: While the Canon Digital IXUS 860 IS doesn't have an optical viewfinder or manual exposure controls, it captures beautiful images with its wide, 3.8x optical zoom lens and ranks among the top compact cameras we've seen.
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4. |
Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS
CNET Asia rating: 7.6 out of 10
The good: Great image quality; minimal shutter lag; speedy performance; optical image stabilization; face detection; optical viewfinder
The bad: No manual exposure controls; slow flash recycle time
The bottom line: Canon's IXUS 80 IS adds optical image stabilization to last year's hit IXUS 70, while delivering just as impressive image quality.
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5. |
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.
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First five | Next five cameras| Last month's ranking
Click here for a feature comparison table.
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6. |
Nikon Coolpix P80
| Dimensions | 110 x 79 x 78 mm | | Weight | 365 g | | Resolution | 10.1 megapixels | | Optical zoom | 18x | | ISO sensitivity | 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400 ISO | | LCD size | 2.7 inch | | Storage type(s) | Secure Digital, Internal memory |
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7. |
Fujifilm FinePix F60fd
CNET Asia rating: 7 out of 10
The good: Solid build; large display; scene recognition with Face Detection 3.0; dual memory card slot.
The bad: Lacks scroll wheel; focusing can be a tad slow; aperture-/ shutter-priority mode not as intuitive as it should be; poor high ISO image quality.
The bottom line: The F60fd is a capable shooter but its less-than-desired image quality did not go down well with us.
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8. |
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170
CNET Asia rating: 7.1 out of 10
The good: Good user interface; lots of options; impressive burst mode stamina.
The bad: Frustrating zoom rocker switch; cluttered controls; proprietary Memory Stick format.
The bottom line: Plain Jane styling and cluttered controls belie a wonderfully intuitive graphical user interface and some clever features. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W170 is a surprisingly adaptable camera that can be tweaked to take decent pictures in various environments.
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9. |
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.
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10. |
Nikon Coolpix S60
| Dimensions | 97.5 x 60 x 22 mm | | Weight | 145 g | | Resolution | 10 megapixels | | Optical zoom | 5x | | ISO sensitivity | 64, 100, 200, 400, 800 ISO | | LCD size | 3.5 inch | | Storage type(s) | Secure Digital, Secure Digital HC |
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