Compact Digital Camera Group Test 2008

December 14 2008, 4:54pm

Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com) recently posted their Holidays ‘08 Compact Camera Group Test. Groups were for Budget (sub US$150), Ultra Compact, and Premium Compact cameras

Tested Budget Cameras: [dpreview article]

Canon A470 (7.1MP, 2.5″ display, SDHC/SD memory, US$104)
Canon A590 IS (8MP, 2.5″ display, SDHC/SD memory, $130)
Fujifilm Z20fd (10MP, 2.5″ display, SDHC/SD/xD memory, $130)
Kodak C1013 (10.3MP, 2.4″ display, SDHC/SD memory, $130)
Nikon L18 (8MP, 3″ display, SDHC/SD memory, $112)
Olympus FE-360 (8MP, 2.5″ display, xD memory, $114)
Panasonic LZ8 (8.1MP, 2.5″ display, SDHC/SD memory, $120)
Sony W120 (7.2MP, 2.5″ display, Memory Stick memory, $148)
Samsung L210 (10.2MP, 2.5″ display, SDHC/SD memory, $135)

The cheapest in the Budget group was the Canon A470, while the Sony W120 was the most expensive. The Sony W120 was awarded the “Best pocket point and shoot camera”, while the Panasonic Lumix LZ8 was the overall winner of the budget group.

Tested Ultra Compact Cameras: [dpreview article]

Canon Powershot SD790 IS (IXUS 90) (10MP, 3″ display, SDHC/SD memory, 21mm, $230)
Casio Exilim EX-S10 (10.1MP, 2.7″ display, SDHC/SD memory, 15mm, $200)
Fujifilm FinePix Z200fd (10MP, 2.7″ display, SDHC/SD/xD memory, 20mm, $250)
Nikon Coolpix S210 (8MP, 2.5″ display, SDHC/SD memory, 18mm, $149)
Nikon Coolpix S60 (10MP, 3.5″ display, SDHC/SD memory, 22mm, $320)
Olympus Stylus 1040 (10.1MP, 2.7″ display, xD memory, 20mm, $200)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX37 (10.1MP, 2.5″ display, SDHC/SD memory, 22mm, $270)
Pentax Optio S12 (12MP, 2.5″ display, SDHC/SD memory, 21mm, $170)
Sony Cybershot DSC-T700 (10.1MP, 3.5″ display, Memory Stick memory, 16mm, $380)

The cheapest in the Ultra Compact group was the Nikon Coolpix S210, while the most expensive was the Sony Cybershot DSC-T700. Dpreview.com highly recommends the Canon SD 790 IS and Panasonic DMC-FX37. Runners-up were the Sony DSC-T700 and Nikon Coolpix S210.

Tested Premium Compact Cameras: [dpreview article]

Canon Powershot SD880 IS (IXUS 870) (10MP, 3″ display, SDHC/SD memory, $250)
Fujifilm FinePix F100fd (12MP, 2.7″ display, SDHC/SD/xD memory, $290)
Nikon Coolpix S710 (14.5MP, 3″ display, SDHC/SD memory, $350)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 (14.7MP, 2.7″ display, SDHC/SD memory, $350)
Samsung TL34 HD (NV100HD) (14.7MP, 3″ display, SDHC/SD memory, $320)
Sony Cybershot DSC-W300 (13.6MP, 2.7″ display, Memory Stick memory, $310)

The cheapest in the Premium Compact group was the Canon Powershot SD880 IS, while the most expensive were the Nikon Coolpix S710 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150. Dpreview.com highly recommends the Canon SD880 IS (Ixus 870 IS), but the overall winner of the Premium Compact group was the Fujifilm F100fd.

To summarize, these are the highly recommended compact cameras (arranged by price):

$120 - Panasonic LZ8 (8.1MP, 2.5″ display, SDHC/SD memory)
$148 - Sony W120 (7.2MP, 2.5″ display, Memory Stick memory)
$230 - Canon Powershot SD790 IS (IXUS 90) (10MP, 3″ display, SDHC/SD memory, 21mm)
$250 - Canon Powershot SD880 IS (IXUS 870) (10MP, 3″ display, SDHC/SD memory)
$270 - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX37 (10.1MP, 2.5″ display, SDHC/SD memory, 22mm)
$290 - Fujifilm FinePix F100fd (12MP, 2.7″ display, SDHC/SD/xD memory)

Any of the abovementioned 6 cameras will be a good buy. These would probably the ones we should look for when shopping for a new compact camera. Technorati: panasonic lz8, sony cybershot w120, canon powershot ixus 90 sd790, canon powershot ixus 870 sd880, panasonic lumix fx37, fujifilm f100fd Tags: camera