Best Digital Compact Camera

Looking for the best compact digital camera?

When browsing for a digital camera it is easier to find reviews about high-priced DLSRs. Every once in a while it is nice to shop around less expensive and quality compacts.
Along with all new features, most compacts offer artistic look and relaxed simplicity for your convenience.

Bellow find reasonably priced compacts, delivering quality images.

**Budget Compacts For Under $170 ** !

Nikon Coolpix	Canon A495	Sony Cyber-Shot	Panasonic Lumix	Fuji Z70

For Around $149.95	Estimated Retail $109.99	Estimated Retail $139.99	Estimated Retail $174.49	Estimated Retail $149.95
Prices are listed only as an estimate. Actual prices are subject to change at any time. For some compacts reviews are based upon manufacturer specifications.

Today an average compact camera offers 10 megapixels. That's why each manufacturer offers slightly different feature as a selling point: Manual controls Zoom & Wide angle Lens Shooting Modes & Stabilization HD video Judging based upon the image quality, features and build quality lets look at 2010's "budget compacts".

Nikon Coolpix -S 3000

» Slim and stylish metal body that is available in a variety of colors.

» EXPEED Image Processing for high-quality pictures with great color and sharpness.

» 4x zoom NIKKOR Lens

» Smart Portrait System includes: Skin Softening, Face-Priority AF, Blink Warning (alerts when the subject may have blinked and allows you to retake the photo) and In-Camera Red-Eye Fix.

» Scene Auto Selector: selects the best scene mode for popular situations.

Available in black, champagne silver, magenta, green, blue, orange and red.

» 4-way VR and ISO based Image Stabilization System:

-Electronic VR Image Stabilization minimizes
the effect of camera shake.

-Motion detection

-Best shot selector (automatically takes
up to 10 shots while the shutter is pressed
and saves the sharpest image)

» Macro Shooting as close as 3.1

More Features:

- Records movies with sound 640x480
at 30 fps movies.

-16 Scene Modes for optimized shooting in various settings

-5 Color Options for special filter effects.
Choose from: standard color, vivid color, black-and-white, sepia and cyanotype.

-Quick Retouch optimizes contrast and color.

» The SPECS

» Megapixel

» Lens

» Aperture

» ISO

» Stabilization

» LCD

» Modes

» Memory Cards

» Connection

» Approx. Weight

» 12 Megapixel

» 4 x Zoom -27 Wide 108 Telephoto Coverage

» F 3.2 - 5.9

» 80 - 3200- Auto (auto ISO 80-1600)

» Digital

» 2.7 inch LCD screen with an anti-reflective coating

» Auto - P - 17 Scene Modes

» SD / SDHC

» Hi-speed USB

» 4.1 oz. (116g)

» SUMMARY:

Nikon Coolpix S3000 offers an elegant looking compact with must-have features. It comes with an above average megapixel count and zoom lens offering 27 Wide to 108 Telephoto Coverage. Coolpix offers digital image stabilization system. The Scene Auto Selector is a great mode for beginners which allow shooting without altering any settings. The Best Shot Selector ONLY selects and saves the sharpest images. This way the memory card will not be filled with blurry images that will be deleted anyway.

» Likes:
Great Design and Handling

» Dislikes:
Due to ISO based stabilization when shooting in higer ISO like in a cloudy day outputs muggy looking images.

Canon Power Shot - A495

» Stylish yet simple body

» DIGIC III Image Processor keeps everything looking sharp.

» The 10.0 Megapixel resolutions and 3.3x Optical Zoom make it easy to capture the action in great color and brilliant detail.

» Bright, 2.5-inch LCD monitor that makes shooting and playback a pleasure.

Available in silver, red and blue.

» AA battery-powered -easily power up on the go.

» Super Vivid captures.

» Smart AUTO feature comes with 18 specially defined settings.

»Provides relaxing and satisfying way to shoot because the camera covers all the technical details.

» Shooting Modes & Advanced Presets for the best possible photos under certain conditions.

» Light Metering Method: Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Fixed to the center,Spot Metering.

» Built-in Flash Modes: Auto, Slow Synchro, Red-eye Reduction, Auto Red-eye Correction, Shutter Sync: 1st curtain, Flash On, Flash Off; FE lock, Smart Flash Exposure

Creative Freedom- Screen Modes:

Besides the Auto and the Program mode other modes are: Snow,Fireworks,Long Shutter,Indoor,kids & pets,Special Scene Modes and Movie.

Poster Effect combines several similar shades into one color.

Low Light
Capture high-quality image in a range of dimly-lit situations.

Super Vivid intensifies existing tones in the scene with bright colors.

Beach Get clear shots of people at a beach without dark spots.

Movie Shoot in VGA (640 x 480 at 30 fps/30 fps LP) and QVGA (320 x 240 at 30 fps) for up to 1 hour or 4GB per clip.

» The SPECS

» Megapixel

» Lens

» Aperture

» ISO

» Stabilization

» LCD

» Modes

» Memory Cards

» Connection

» Approx. Weight

» 10.0 Megapixel

» Approx. 4x Zoom (37 - 122mm)

»F 3 - 5.8

» 80- 1600

» Digital

» 2.5-inch type

» Auto - P - 17 Scene Modes

» SD / SDHC

» USB - AV

» Approx. 6.17 oz./175g (camera, including batteries and memory card)

» SUMMARY:

Canon Power Shot offers all must have features in an AA-battery powered compact body.

The 10.0 Megapixel resolution delivers excellent image quality and super vivid colors. It also comes with a 3.3x Optical Zoom and a 2.5in LCD. The DIGIC III Image Processor keeps images sharp. Canon also offers Smart Auto Mode which changes the "scene mode" depending on the conditions or the subject. It also offers fast focus even when taking Macro shots.

» Likes:
Super Image Quality.

» Dislikes:
LCD's resolution is poor.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25

» iA - Intelligent Auto Mode With AF Tracking
- Subject(AF Tracking)& Shake Detection
- Motion & Face Detection
- Scene & Light Detection

» 29mm Wide-angle 5x Optical Zoom LEICA DC Lens

» 5x Optical Zoom and Up to 9.8x Extra Optical Zoom

» 12.1-megapixel High-resolution CCD

» Higher Image Quality with Advanced Signal Processing

Available in silver, black ,blue and gold.

» Digital Red-eye Correction

» Auto Backlight Compensation

» Quick Startup Time – Approx. 1.2 sec.

» Low Energy Consumption – 330 Shots on a Single Charge

» HD Networking -View Photos on a HDTV

» High-speed Burst Mode / Photo Frame Mode

More Features:

Recording Functions
-WVGA Motion Images (30 fps)
-Automatic Brightness Control
--High-angle Mode
-Scene Mode

Playback Functions
-Slideshow with Music
-Dual Image Playback (FS25)

Handy Functions
-Quick Menu
-Selectable Display Size
-Demo Mode

» The SPECS

» Megapixel

» Lens

» Aperture

» ISO

» Stabilization

» LCD

» Modes

» Memory Cards

» Connection

» Approx. Weight

» 12.7 Megapixel

» 5x Zoom (29 mm - 147mm)

» F 3.3 - 5.9

» 80 - 1600

» Optical

» 3.0 -inch type

» Auto - P - 23 Scene Modes

» SD / SDHC

» USB - AV

»126 g (0.28 lb)
148 g (0.33 lb)with Battery and SD Memory Card

» SUMMARY:

Panasonic FS25 offers impressive features. First of all, it comes with Leica Optical Zoom lens.
The 5 x zoom lens is fast enough to capture moving objects. Using the Leica lens you can also perform macro shooting.

Lumix has a large 3.0 inch LCD screen which makes framing photos easier. It delivers excellent sharpness, tonal range and color quality due to Optical Stabilization system.

» Likes:
Image Quality is above the average.

» Dislikes:
Wide angle lens-isn't the widest.

Fuji Z70 FinePix

» Stylish Full Metal Body

» 6 Scene SR AUTO & Face Detection
-Scenes and faces can be captured and optimized.

» Easy-to-use Shooting Modes

» Fujinon 5x Zoom Lens

» A powerful 12 megapixels resolution

» Digital Image Stabilization

Available in Pink, Black, Blue, Bronze, Purple and Silver

» Tracking Auto Focus

» High Sensitivity ISO1600

» Red-eye Removal in Detected Faces

» Natural Light and with Flash

-Choose this mode,if you can't decide whether to use the flash or not...

More Features:

» Offers Social Networking Feature

» HDTV-Compatible Photos & Video

» Photo Shooting

Capture high resolution images in 16:9 format.

»Movie Shooting

Capture high resolution images in 16:9 format.

(HDTV Connection Kit is optional)

» The SPECS

» Megapixel

» Lens

» Aperture

» ISO

» Stabilization

» LCD

» Modes

» Memory Cards

» Connection

» Approx. Weight

» 12.2 Megapixel

» 5x Zoom (36 mm - 180mm)

» F 4 - 6.7

» 100 - 1600

» Digital

» 2.7-inch type

» Auto - P - 16 Scene Modes

» SD / SDHC

» USB - AV

» Approx 124.5g / 4.4oz. (excluding accessories, battery and memory card)

» SUMMARY:

Fuji Z70 comes in a fashionable and stylish body. The Social Networking Feature allows uploading media to Youtube, Yahoo, Facebook and other networking sites.

Fuji comes with high precision optic lens. The 5 x zoom offers - 36 mm at its widest point.
Z 70 will capture all the finest details with powerful 12 megapixels resolution and dual image stabilization system. The SR Auto Mode provides a relax way to shoot since it automatically alters the camera's scene settings for the environment you are in.

The sliding front, is an additional nice feature - acts as protection for the zoom lens- automatically closes when the camera is off.

» Likes:
Great looking camera that delivers great looking images.

» Dislikes:
Focusing at the high end of the zoom is little tricky.

Sony Cyber-Shot W310

» 12.1 Megapixel CCD Image Sensor

» 4x Optical Zoom with 28 mm equivalent wide angle.

» Optical Image Stabilization.

» Intelligent Auto (iAuto) mode
-Recognizing scenes, lighting conditions and faces and automatically adjusts the settings.

Available in silver, black and pink.

» 2.7-inch (230K pixels) Clear Photo LCD

» iAuto and Steady Shot

» 8 convenient scene modes:
- High Sensitivity /Twilight /Twilight Portrait
- Portrait / Landscape / Beach / Snow / Gourmet

» Intelligent Scene Recognition (iSCN)
Mode automatically detects seven different
types of scenes.

» In Easy Shooting Mode
basic instructions are displayed on the LCD

» with Intelligent Scene Recognition
the camera selects the optimum setting
for each scene.

More Features:

-Face Detection technology.

- Smile Shutter technology
captures a smile the moment it happens.

-In-Camera Retouching Tools.

-Lithium-ion battery.

-Sony Picture Motion Browser
Software transfers, organizes,
and view your video and images
on a PC.

» The SPECS

» Megapixel

» Lens

» Aperture

» ISO

» Stabilization

» LCD

» Modes

» Memory Cards

» Connection

» Approx. Weight

» 12.2 Megapixel

» 4 x Optical Zoom

» F 3.0 - 5.8

» 100 - 3200

» Optical

» 2.7-inch type

» Auto - P - 9 Scene Modes

» SD / SDHC /Ms Duo

» USB - AV

» Approx. 4.8 oz. (137g)

» SUMMARY:

Sony offers slim and easy to use design. LCD is impressively bright and detailed. Sony W300 does offer fast focus and very sharp images. W300 comes with optical image stabilization and optical zoom. There is also "Easy Shooting Mode" where only important information is displayed on the LCD. W300 does look and feel more expensive than its price.