Compact digital cameras that get the big picture
Lori Grunin,
Senior Editor
July 7, 2008
It's difficult--but not impossible--to find a snapshot camera with the chops to capture scenic vacation vistas or real-estate interiors. Putting a lens with a wide-angle view in a compact camera is a technological challenge for a variety of reasons, and digital camera manufacturers are slowly chipping away at the problem. All of these cameras provide the 35mm equivalent of 28mm lenses at their widest, and 28mm should suffice--wider lenses can introduce disconcerting distortion.
| Product name | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.95 to $319.99 | $399.99 | $179.95 to $235.95 | $438.17 | $267.85 to $349.99 | $238.90 to $295.00 |
| CNET editors' rating | ||||||
| Average user rating | ||||||
| Review date | July 12, 2007 | October 03, 2006 | September 24, 2007 | October 26, 2006 | June 23, 2008 | August 29, 2007 |
| The Bottom Line | If you absolutely must have a 12-megapixel compact camera, the DMC-FX100 isn't a bad choice, but you can find better performing cameras with lower pixel counts for the same money. | A slim, stylish body, a wide-angle lens, very good photo quality, and snappy performance make the Canon PowerShot SD800 IS a great point-and-shoot. | The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 is a cute compact camera that sports a nice wide-angle lens, but its so-so image quality keeps it from reaching its full potential. | The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 is a good choice for an enthusiast looking for a powerful camera that can fit into a jacket pocket. | Though it's not perfect, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5's compact midrange megazoom feature set puts it in a class with just its sibling, the TZ4, and should deliver a satisfying shooting experience. | While the Canon PowerShot SD870 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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| Features | ||||||
| Lens aperture |
F/2.8-5.6 |
F/2.8-5.8 |
F/2.8-5.6 |
F/2.8-4.9 |
F/3.3-4.9 |
F/2.8-5.8 |
| Equivalent 35mm focal length |
28 - 100 mm |
28 - 105 mm |
28 - 100 mm |
28 - 112 mm |
28 - 280 mm |
28 - 105 mm |
| Optical zoom |
3.6 x |
3.8 x |
3.6 x |
4 x |
10 x |
3.8 x |
| Light sensitivity |
ISO 6400 ISO 200 ISO 800 ISO auto ISO 400 ISO 80 ISO 1250 ISO 1600 ISO 100 |
ISO 200 ISO 800 ISO auto ISO 400 ISO 80 ISO 1600 ISO 100 |
ISO 6400 ISO 200 ISO 800 ISO auto ISO 400 ISO 1250 ISO 1600 ISO 100 |
ISO 200 ISO 800 ISO auto ISO 400 ISO 3200 ISO 1600 ISO 100 |
ISO 200 ISO 800 ISO auto (1600-6400) ISO auto ISO 400 ISO 1600 ISO 100 |
ISO 200 ISO 800 ISO auto ISO 400 ISO 80 ISO 1600 ISO 100 |
| Display (projector) technology |
TFT active matrix |
TFT active matrix |
TFT active matrix |
TFT active matrix |
TFT active matrix |
Low Temperature Poly-Silicon (LTPS) |
| Memory storage capacity |
27 MB |
16 MB |
27 MB |
13 MB |
27 MB |
32 MB |
| Video input type |
Digital camera |
Digital camera |
Digital camera |
Digital camera |
Digital camera |
Digital camera |
| Flash memory form factor |
Integrated |
SD Memory Card |
Integrated |
Integrated |
Integrated |
SD Memory Card |
| Digital zoom |
4 x |
4 x |
4 x |
4 x |
4 x |
4 x |
| Battery technology |
Lithium ion |
Lithium ion |
Lithium ion |
Lithium ion |
Lithium ion |
Info unavailable |
| Weight |
5.2 oz |
5.3 oz |
5 oz |
6.6 oz |
7.5 oz |
5.5 oz |
| Effective sensor resolution |
12,190,000 pixels |
7,100,000 pixels |
8.1 megapixels |
10,100,000 pixels |
9,100,000 pixels |
|
