If you're looking for a present for someone special -- or even for yourself -- splash out on one of our favourite compact digital cameras.
"Which compact digital camera(s) would you recommend at the moment? I am interested in a nice balance between quality, size and features?"
If we charged a dollar every time we answered this question, we'd have enough money for a slap-up Christmas party (send electronic donations to cnet@cnet.com.au). Of course, the answer changes all the time as new cameras appear in the display cases and old favourites tumble into the bargain bin, but these are our favourite compacts for 2006. If you're looking for a present for someone special -- or even for yourself -- splash out on one of these.
Canon's Digital IXUS 850 IS replaces the incredibly popular IXUS 800 IS, both on the shelves and in our hearts. It's the fattest and heaviest camera on our list, but the all-metal body and classy styling give it a quality feel. It offers a 3.8x optical zoom lens that starts at an unusually wide 28mm, enabling you to squeeze more of the scene into your shot, and extends to 105mm (35mm equivalent). It also has optical image stabilisation for sharper images in low light.
You can say what you like about the megacorporation that is Sony Electronics (and sometimes we do), but you can't say it makes ugly products. The Cyber-shot DSC-T10 is the latest in its T-series of ultraslim, ultrastylish cameras. Sexy doesn't mean stupid, though: Sony has steadily improved these cameras over the years, squeezing better performance out of the 20mm body in each iteration. Like the IXUS 850 IS, it offers optical image stabilisation, but the 38-to-114mm, 3x optical zoom lens doesn't go as wide.
The Olympus (Mju) range has a venerable history, dating back 15 years in the film camera world. The brand crossed over to digital in 2003, bringing two classic Ã,µ features: a wedge-shaped body and weatherproofing. You shouldn't dunk it in the ocean (save that for the 720sw or 725sw), but the rubber seals around the openings protect the Mju 750's delicate innards from splashes and rain. It offers the best zoom range of the cameras listed here, with a 36-to-180mm, 5x optical zoom lens. You also get digital image stabilisation and a top ISO setting of 1,600.
Canon Digital IXUS 60
Despite its no-frills feature set, the Canon Digital IXUS 60 delivers quality photos and strong performance in a small package.
Olympus Mju 750
It's a bit slow and lacks manual exposure controls, but the Olympus Mju 750 is still a very nice point-and-shoot camera.
Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS
A slim, stylish body, a wide-angle lens, very good photo quality and snappy performance make the Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS a great point-and-shoot.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T10
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-T10 delivers an attractive pocket camera with decent image quality, and it's available in a range of colours.
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
Be the first to comment on this article!