Top advanced compacts for enthusiasts

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Advanced compact cameras have always been popular with professional users and serious hobbyists alike. Not only do they provide a significant step-up in image quality, they also feature manual controls that allow users to exercise more creative control over their images. Such cameras typically come packed with a larger image sensor that allows for enhanced image quality in low-light conditions, RAW image capture and fast f1.8 to f2.0 apertures. Some of these snappers even come with hotshoes that allow shutterbugs to attach external flash units or electronic viewfinders. If you're looking to go light without sacrificing on image quality, you might want to check out our round-up of the latest advanced compacts below.
1.  Canon PowerShot G12
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.8 out of 10
The good: Good picture quality, intuitive control system; solid build quality; effective optical image stabilizer.
The bad: HDR function requires tripod; upgrades from G11 not significant.
The bottom line: The G12 is a capable advanced compact that will appeal to users who want a better point-and-shoot, but current G11 owners probably won't see the need to upgrade.

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2.  Nikon Coolpix P7000
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.6 out of 10
The good: Solid build quality; longer zoom range than competing models; good picture quality; easy access to controls; plenty of features to satisfy advanced photographers.
The bad: Slow RAW recording speed; use of proprietary RAW format.
The bottom line: The P7000 is a good compact camera from Nikon that should appeal to advanced photographers who want a lot of creative controls and a longer zoom lens.

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3.  Olympus XZ-1
 
CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10
The good: F1.8 to F2.5 zoom lens is great for shooting in low-light environment; good picture quality, especially for RAW photos; decent performance.
The bad: Menu interface can be confusing for new users; cannot adjust size of focusing box.
The bottom line: We would have given the XZ-1 an Editors' Choice award if not for the unappealing menu interface and the fixed size of the focusing box. But if these are not dealbreakers for you, this Olympus possibly is one of the best advanced compact you can get on the market now.

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4.  Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
 
CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10
The good: Better pictures compared with LX3; improved autofocus performance; redesign of button layout facilitates operation; accessory port for EVF and other peripherals.
The bad: AF box gets resized each time camera is switched off; hassle to remove lens cap before shooting.
The bottom line: The LX5 may seem to have just incremental upgrades over its LX3 predecessor, but the improvements are in actual fact pretty significant.

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5.  Samsung EX1
 
CNET Asia rating: 8.2 out of 10
The good: Super-fast F1.8 lens; solid build and design; hi-res swivel display; good picture quality.
The bad: Inaccurate color reproduction on AMOLED display; sluggish performance.
The bottom line: The EX1 is a very good compact that professional users will appreciate, but has flaws which interested shutterbugs should be aware of.

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Shawn Low
About the author

Fueled by his passion for all things photography, Shawn decided that a writer's position reviewing cameras is the perfect job.

He now does reviews, how-to guides, and scours far and wide to cover anything camera-related under the sun. When he's not behind the desk, the former freelance photographer enjoys wandering about documenting his life with his beloved medium format film cameras.

The RMIT business graduate ventures to work every day with camera in one hand, and laptop in another, taking over the Internet one review at a time.

Shawn Low, Writer

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