Dave's Picks

A good quality, fast-focusing pocket long zoom... (more)

A good quality, fast-focusing pocket long zoom Nikon's Coolpix S9100 impressed us out in the field. Though it differs from the rest of the high-end long zoom pack with its lack of a GPS, the Nikon S9100 more than makes up for it with its impressive 18x zoom, a razor-sharp 921K LCD screen, and a rack of continuous modes that goes great with its impressively fast autofocus. Full HD video with stereo sound rounds out an impressive package. Click here for more on the Nikon Coolpix S9100. (minimize)

Excellence returns to the Panasonic megazoom line... (more)

Excellence returns to the Panasonic megazoom line Can image quality rise with a reduction in resolution? Apparently so, as the 12-megapixel Panasonic FZ150 dramatically proves. We roundly criticized the FZ150's 14-megapixel predecessor as quite a step back when compared to Panasonic's other ultrazoom digital cameras, but they're back with a significantly improved design that puts them back in the winner's circle. The FZ150's excellent optics, 3-inch LCD, and solid build are now matched with a fine sensor and image processor that's worth writing about. Click here for more on the Panasonic FZ150! (minimize)

Great as a gift or for everyday shooting, the Canon 100 HS is a pleasure to use!... (more)

Great as a gift or for everyday shooting, the Canon 100 HS is a pleasure to use! True to form, Canon doesn't skimp on its low-end ELPH digital cameras, and with the Canon 100 HS, they outdid themselves! The slim pocket camera offers a wide array of special features, including Handheld Night Scene, Full HD video, and HDMI output to name just a few. Its 28mm-equivalent wide angle lens is a treat, making the PowerShot 100 HS a great digital camera for travel and everyday carry. HS stands for High-Sensitivity, and the Canon 100 HS does well as the ISO rises, easily outputting an 11x14-inch print from ISO 100 to 800, which is quite impressive for any pocket digital camera. The Canon 100 HS is one of our top picks for a simple pocket camera, great for casual shooting, making it a superb gift! (minimize)

Excellence returns to the Panasonic megazoom line... (more)

Excellence returns to the Panasonic megazoom line Can image quality rise with a reduction in resolution? Apparently so, as the 12-megapixel Panasonic FZ150 dramatically proves. We roundly criticized the FZ150's 14-megapixel predecessor as quite a step back when compared to Panasonic's other ultrazoom digital cameras, but they're back with a significantly improved design that puts them back in the winner's circle. The FZ150's excellent optics, 3-inch LCD, and solid build are now matched with a fine sensor and image processor that's worth writing about. Click here for more on the Panasonic FZ150! (minimize)

Every focal length you're likely to need -- in one digital camera... (more)

Every focal length you're likely to need -- in one digital camera Now one of the longest of the long zooms on the market, the Canon SX30 is a blast to use. The size and shape of a small digital SLR, the Canon SX30, is a 35x, 14.1-megapixel digital camera with a swivel screen and image stabilization built in. Ranging from 24-840mm, the Canon SX30's zoom changes how you think about photography. You can selectively crop anything you can see, and the Canon SX30's image stabilization system does a pretty good job of getting you the shot, even if framing can be a bit difficult. The interface is Canon-simple, which means that if you've used a Canon in the past few years, you'll feel right at home with the PowerShot SX30. Click here for more on the Canon PowerShot SX30 IS. (minimize)

The Nikon P500 is a ton of photo fun with a grip... (more)

The Nikon P500 is a ton of photo fun with a grip Nikon has pushed the boundaries of what can be expected of a long zoom digital camera, releasing the impressive Coolpix P500, a camera for which the terms "ultra" and "super" seem understatements. Nevertheless, the P500 starts with an ultra-wide 22.5mm equivalent focal length, and delivers competent performance all the way out to a super 810mm! As if that weren't enough, the Nikon P500 is fast, small, light, has a great grip, a tilting VGA LCD, and can shoot at up to eight frames per second! Click here for our Nikon P500 review! (minimize)

Nikon's smallest digital SLR to support Full HD video serves up good image quality... (more)

Nikon's smallest digital SLR to support Full HD video serves up good image quality Small and easy to bring along, the Nikon D3100 is a superb upgrade for anyone interested in digital SLR quality photographs. Its 14.2-megapixel sensor gives the Nikon D3100 a little more resolution than most other Nikon digital SLR cameras, and image quality is excellent, even as light levels drop and ISO is forced to rise. Though still low in price, the Nikon D3100 also captures 1080p Full HD video, while a good many digital cameras are still limited to 720p HD. Furthermore, the Nikon D3100 is one of the first digital SLRs able to focus while recording a video, which can come in handy. For novice users, the Nikon D3100 also includes a Guide mode to help users capture better images and learn a bit about photography on the way. It's a great digital camera for the money, with excellent image quality. Click here for more on the Nikon D3100 digital SLR! (minimize)

Canon's new entry-level Rebel adds the latest must-have features, yet still manages an even lower pricetag... (more)

Canon's new entry-level Rebel adds the latest must-have features, yet still manages an even lower pricetag A little under three years ago, we reviewed Canon's Rebel XS SLR, and while we found some quirks that might lead enthusiasts to look elsewhere, we felt it to be a pretty well-rounded design, when the entry-level pricetag was factored into the equation. Although the Rebel XS is still available at a discount until the remaining stock is sold through, the Canon T3 is essentially a replacement for that camera, and as such marks the new entry-level point to the company's SLR lineup. On paper, it's an interesting design, with a mixture of significant upgrades in some areas, and features that have been pared back in others. Based around a newer 12-megapixel image sensor and DIGIC 4 image processor, the Canon EOS Rebel T3 offers up a very worthwhile expansion in its upper sensitivity limit, which now tops out at a useful ISO 6,400 equivalent. It also adds two more focus points, and switches to Canon's clever dual-layer iFCL metering chip, which takes account of color information when determining exposure variables. Canon has also slightly increased the T3's LCD display size, added high definition video capture capability, and updated the kit lens to provide an even more effective stabilization system. With a pricetag some $100 below that of its predecessor at launch, though, something had to give. While the Canon T3 has a new optical viewfinder, it actually has just slightly lower magnification and a significantly tighter dioptric correction range than that of its predecessor. Burst shooting speed is also towards the lower end of the range, compared to its main competitors--and that's in JPEG mode. Switch to RAW or RAW+JPEG shooting, and the burst speed and depth is low indeed. In addition, Canon has removed the mechanical portion of its EOS Integrated Cleaning System, leaving the T3 reliant solely on antistatic coatings and software mapping to combat the adverse effects of dust on image quality. To find out whether one hand gave more than the other took away--and whether the Rebel T3's aggressive pricing makes it easy to overlook the occasional shortcoming--you'll want to read our Canon T3 review. (minimize)

Great as a gift or for everyday shooting, the Canon 100 HS is a pleasure to use!... (more)

Great as a gift or for everyday shooting, the Canon 100 HS is a pleasure to use! True to form, Canon doesn't skimp on its low-end ELPH digital cameras, and with the Canon 100 HS, they outdid themselves! The slim pocket camera offers a wide array of special features, including Handheld Night Scene, Full HD video, and HDMI output to name just a few. Its 28mm-equivalent wide angle lens is a treat, making the PowerShot 100 HS a great digital camera for travel and everyday carry. HS stands for High-Sensitivity, and the Canon 100 HS does well as the ISO rises, easily outputting an 11x14-inch print from ISO 100 to 800, which is quite impressive for any pocket digital camera. The Canon 100 HS is one of our top picks for a simple pocket camera, great for casual shooting, making it a superb gift! (minimize)

Great as a gift or for everyday shooting, the Canon 100 HS is a pleasure to use!... (more)

Great as a gift or for everyday shooting, the Canon 100 HS is a pleasure to use! True to form, Canon doesn't skimp on its low-end ELPH digital cameras, and with the Canon 100 HS, they outdid themselves! The slim pocket camera offers a wide array of special features, including Handheld Night Scene, Full HD video, and HDMI output to name just a few. Its 28mm-equivalent wide angle lens is a treat, making the PowerShot 100 HS a great digital camera for travel and everyday carry. HS stands for High-Sensitivity, and the Canon 100 HS does well as the ISO rises, easily outputting an 11x14-inch print from ISO 100 to 800, which is quite impressive for any pocket digital camera. The Canon 100 HS is one of our top picks for a simple pocket camera, great for casual shooting, making it a superb gift! (minimize)

An excellent pocket companion with a good quality, very long zoom... (more)

An excellent pocket companion with a good quality, very long zoom Panasonic introduces the ZS8 into a market now crowded with competitors egged on by the success of this very line of long zoom cameras. The ZS8 is a 14-megapixel digital camera with a 16x zoom lens ranging from 24-384mm. The little brother to the ZS10, the Panasonic ZS8 has no GPS or 1080p video, but it excels at providing the basics, including optical image stabilization, face detection, and a full selection of exposure modes, all features that have made Panasonic's long zooms so popular. Click here for our review of the Panasonic ZS8! (minimize)

A good quality lens and simple functionality make for a great travel companion... (more)

A good quality lens and simple functionality make for a great travel companion Among the simpler pocket long zoom digital cameras, the Sony H70 is a bargain. Though it has no GPS, it does have a good quality G-series lens, a 3-inch LCD, and a 16-megapixel Super HAD CCD sensor. Light and easy to pocket, the Sony H70 can shoot HD video and Sweep Panorama images, among other special modes. The Sony H70 is a very low-cost long zoom option that doesn't sacrifice much. Click here for more on the Sony H70! (minimize)

Whether you're shooting stills or videos, the Canon T2i is an excellent choice... (more)

Whether you're shooting stills or videos, the Canon T2i is an excellent choice Canon ignored the rest of the digital camera industry when they limited resolution over the last few years, putting an 18-megapixel sensor in their consumer flagship Rebel T2i, and as a result the camera stands head and shoulders above any other offering under $1,000. Where you'd expect more noise from this 18-megapixel digital camera, the Canon T2i actually delivers less than its predecessor, while increasing the quality of detail at all ISO settings. Also upgraded on the Canon T2i is 1080p video at 24, 25, and 30fps, and video editing tools are built right into the camera. Still shooting mode also gets a frame-rate increase to 3.7 frames per second, up just a tad from 3.4 fps. Both still and video quality from the Canon T2i are very impressive. Click here to check out our comprehensive Full Review of the Canon Rebel T2i. (minimize)

Great as a gift or for everyday shooting, the Canon 100 HS is a pleasure to use!... (more)

Great as a gift or for everyday shooting, the Canon 100 HS is a pleasure to use! True to form, Canon doesn't skimp on its low-end ELPH digital cameras, and with the Canon 100 HS, they outdid themselves! The slim pocket camera offers a wide array of special features, including Handheld Night Scene, Full HD video, and HDMI output to name just a few. Its 28mm-equivalent wide angle lens is a treat, making the PowerShot 100 HS a great digital camera for travel and everyday carry. HS stands for High-Sensitivity, and the Canon 100 HS does well as the ISO rises, easily outputting an 11x14-inch print from ISO 100 to 800, which is quite impressive for any pocket digital camera. The Canon 100 HS is one of our top picks for a simple pocket camera, great for casual shooting, making it a superb gift! (minimize)

A sleek, sophisticated compact system camera that offers a lot for a low price... (more)

A sleek, sophisticated compact system camera that offers a lot for a low price Sony revamped their consumer compact system camera for 2011, producing a quite competent, attractive digital camera, the NEX-C3. Its body is well constructed, small, and light, but still has a good grip. With 16.2 megapixels and a 3-inch 921K display, the Sony NEX-C3 is designed to capture an image comparable to an SLR in significantly less space, and it does so admirably. Shipping with either an 18-55mm zoom or 16mm prime kit lens, the NEX-C3 also works with three other available e-mount lenses and a host of adapters, making the camera quite versatile. Most of Sony's recent imaging innovations are included as well, like Handheld Twilight, Sweep Panorama, and 3D Sweep Panorama. Click here for more on the Sony NEX-C3! (minimize)

A refined pocket digital camera with an f/2 lens... (more)

A refined pocket digital camera with an f/2 lens The quest to build the better high-quality pocket digital camera continues with the Canon PowerShot S95, with its 10-megapixel sensor and fast, f/2.0 lens. Among its premium-quality competitors, the Canon S95 is the smallest digital camera with such a fast lens. Its understated, stealthy appearance will be popular with street photographers and the Canon S95's easy customization will gain the admiration of all photographers, period. The Canon S95's hold on users becomes complete with the gorgeous, 420K-pixel, 3-inch LCD screen. Anyone serious about having a quality camera with them at all times will love the optical and final image quality of the Canon S95. It's worth a closer look. Click here for more on the Canon PowerShot S95! (minimize)

A good quality, fast-focusing pocket long zoom... (more)

A good quality, fast-focusing pocket long zoom Nikon's Coolpix S9100 impressed us out in the field. Though it differs from the rest of the high-end long zoom pack with its lack of a GPS, the Nikon S9100 more than makes up for it with its impressive 18x zoom, a razor-sharp 921K LCD screen, and a rack of continuous modes that goes great with its impressively fast autofocus. Full HD video with stereo sound rounds out an impressive package. Click here for more on the Nikon Coolpix S9100. (minimize)

Great as a gift or for everyday shooting, the Canon 100 HS is a pleasure to use!... (more)

Great as a gift or for everyday shooting, the Canon 100 HS is a pleasure to use! True to form, Canon doesn't skimp on its low-end ELPH digital cameras, and with the Canon 100 HS, they outdid themselves! The slim pocket camera offers a wide array of special features, including Handheld Night Scene, Full HD video, and HDMI output to name just a few. Its 28mm-equivalent wide angle lens is a treat, making the PowerShot 100 HS a great digital camera for travel and everyday carry. HS stands for High-Sensitivity, and the Canon 100 HS does well as the ISO rises, easily outputting an 11x14-inch print from ISO 100 to 800, which is quite impressive for any pocket digital camera. The Canon 100 HS is one of our top picks for a simple pocket camera, great for casual shooting, making it a superb gift! (minimize)

Nikon's D3x is the ultimate picture-taking machine, with the highest image quality we've ever measured.... (more)

Nikon's D3x is the ultimate picture-taking machine, with the highest image quality we've ever measured. The Nikon D3x produces the highest image quality of any camera we've tested to date. Its combination of resolution, color fidelity, and noise performance puts it at the very top of its class. Not only does the Nikon D3x sport an amazing 24.5 megapixels of resolution, it manages to wring more detail out of those pixels (particularly in its NEF-format RAW files) than anything else out there. The D3x also offers surprising speed, capable of 5 frames/second at full resolution, and up to 7.5 frames/second in its 10.5 megapixel DX crop mode. And then there's build quality: The D3x is built like the proverbial tank; capable of handling most anything a busy pro might care to dish out to it. The high-end SLR market often seems like a perpetual game of leapfrog, but for now, the Nikon D3x sits at the top of the heap, as the ultimate digital SLR. Calling it a five-star Dave's Pick is the highest praise we have to offer, but in the case of the D3x, that seems hardly enough... (minimize)

Astonishing image quality even at high ISOs, and the bonus of video capture, all for a relatively reasonable price... (more)

Astonishing image quality even at high ISOs, and the bonus of video capture, all for a relatively reasonable price Canon has been adding something special to each of their new digital SLRs, something that sets the camera apart from the pack. This time, the something special is the HD movie mode in the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. Capable of capturing 1080p movies, the new camera opens up a whole world of video opportunities for those with a selection of Canon full-frame lenses -- from capturing extreme wide angles to isolating subjects with long telephoto, the 5D Mark II is truly a video artist's tool. Of course, the 5D Mark II also has the goods for the more traditional still photographer, offering a 21.1-megapixel sensor, a tuned version of the sensor in the Canon 1Ds Mark III. Now the 5D Mark II's sensor has significantly better high ISO performance, able to produce nearly noise-free images up to ISO 6,400. If you can handle a little noise, you can even reach out to 25,600. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II's new high resolution LCD delivers a fine 640x480 image for better focus checking and a great image in Live View mode. The whole package comes in below the price of competing full-frame digital SLRs, at $2,699. Click here to read our full review of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. (minimize)

Excellent Pro SLR is a superb choice for video and extreme low-light shooting... (more)

Excellent Pro SLR is a superb choice for video and extreme low-light shooting It doesn't include a higher-resolution sensor -- it's still 12.1 megapixels -- and its controls are nearly identical to the D3, but the Nikon D3S does include two major improvements that make this professional digital SLR worth considering: better high ISO performance and HD video capability. The D3 broke new ground in low-light photography, but the Nikon D3S takes it even further with a sensor that can practically see in the dark. Maxing out at ISO 102,400 is great for the headlines, but the true beauty of the Nikon D3S digital camera is the ability to crank up the ISO to 6,400 and still print sharp, detailed images at 16x24 inches. Add 720p video capture to that high-ISO capability, and the possibilities multiply. The Nikon D3S proves to be a capable digital video camera, taking advantage of Nikon's excellent lenses to produce quality you're used to seeing in the movie theater. Click here for more on the Nikon D3S digital SLR camera. (minimize)

A superb digital SLR, excellent for anyone serious about photography... (more)

A superb digital SLR, excellent for anyone serious about photography The Nikon D7000 is a refinement of the already superb D90, a redesign that maintains a small, nimble body while improving nearly every major internal aspect. Its 16.2-megapixel sensor and Expeed 2 processor conspire to output quality images at all ISO settings, from 100 to 25,600, cranking those images out at up to six frames per second. The Nikon D7000's 3-inch LCD sports 921,000 dots, a great place to compose images in Live View mode, as well as check focus. The Nikon D7000's high-res LCD is also excellent for shooting and playing the 1,080p videos that this digital camera captures, and menus are razor sharp. Dual memory card slots, 39 autofocus points, a new color-sensitive meter, a near-100% viewfinder, and in-camera editing round out just a few of the extra features found in the Nikon D7000. Nikon's top enthusiast digital SLR camera is as easy to recommend as a cold glass of lemonade on a hot Summer day, and at least as satisfying. Click here to check out our Nikon D7000 Review! (minimize)

A refined pocket digital camera with an f/2 lens... (more)

A refined pocket digital camera with an f/2 lens The quest to build the better high-quality pocket digital camera continues with the Canon PowerShot S95, with its 10-megapixel sensor and fast, f/2.0 lens. Among its premium-quality competitors, the Canon S95 is the smallest digital camera with such a fast lens. Its understated, stealthy appearance will be popular with street photographers and the Canon S95's easy customization will gain the admiration of all photographers, period. The Canon S95's hold on users becomes complete with the gorgeous, 420K-pixel, 3-inch LCD screen. Anyone serious about having a quality camera with them at all times will love the optical and final image quality of the Canon S95. It's worth a closer look. Click here for more on the Canon PowerShot S95! (minimize)

The SLD camera the US has been waiting for?... (more)

The SLD camera the US has been waiting for? SLD (Single-Lens Direct view, aka "Mirrorless") cameras have been big in Japan and Europe for a while now, but have gotten off to a slow start with US consumers. We suspect this may be about to change. With the announcement of the Sony NEX-5 and Sony NEX-3 cameras, the game has changed significantly. These new models are not only the most compact interchangeable-lens cameras on the market but also bring features like Sweep Panorama and Hand-Held Twilight shooting modes up from Sony's digicam line, combining them with the dramatically higher image quality that large SLD-size pixels provide. In fact, the image quality from these new cameras is by far the best we've seen to date from the Sony Alpha line at the APS-C sensor size. But wait, there's more: Sony also addresses the autofocus bugaboo many consumers encounter when they first try to record a movie with their SLR or SLD camera. Unlike most of their competition, the Sony NEX-5 and Sony NEX-3 both offer truly effective live autofocus during movie recording. The Sony NEX-5 can record 1,080i at 60 fps in the AVCHD format (plus options for MPEG-4 recording), while the Sony NEX-3 offers 1,280 x 720p recording in MP4 only. Oh - and they'll be selling as cheaply as $549 and $649 with a 16mm kit lens, or $50 more with a slick-feeling 18-55mm! Read our full Sony NEX-5 review for all the juicy details! (minimize)

Sony's translucent-mirror speed demon redefines the consumer SLR!... (more)

Sony's translucent-mirror speed demon redefines the consumer SLR! Hot on the heels of their wildly popular mirrorless NEX models, the new Sony SLT-A55 has again upped the ante for other manufacturers; this time with an SLR that redefines what consumers can expect from that type of camera. Using a non-moving translucent mirror and full-time Live View lets the Sony A55 rattle off shots at a stunning 10 frames/second, while maintaining full phase-detect autofocus. The same technology provides category-leading live autofocus during video recording as well. As the NEX models have led us to expect, image quality from the Sony A55's all-new 16-megapixel sensor is excellent, too, although light loss caused by the mirror likely means slightly more noise at high ISO and in low-light images than in cameras like the Sony A580, where the mirror is raised during exposure. A very compact yet ergonomically designed body, built-in GPS, and arguably the best electronic viewfinder we've seen to date round out the Sony A55. Unique features like Sweep Panorama and various multi-shot modes for handheld low-light shooting likewise expand the range of capabilities relative to other SLR models on the market. If you're looking for a compact SLR that's faster than most pro models, with live-focus video recording and unique multishot low-light modes to boot, the Sony A55 deserves your very serious consideration. (If you're on a limited budget, consider the Sony A33; you'll give up just 2 megapixels of resolution, the GPS feature, and 3 frames/second of shooting speed, but save upwards of $200 in street price.) (minimize)

A superb digital SLR, excellent for anyone serious about photography... (more)

A superb digital SLR, excellent for anyone serious about photography The Nikon D7000 is a refinement of the already superb D90, a redesign that maintains a small, nimble body while improving nearly every major internal aspect. Its 16.2-megapixel sensor and Expeed 2 processor conspire to output quality images at all ISO settings, from 100 to 25,600, cranking those images out at up to six frames per second. The Nikon D7000's 3-inch LCD sports 921,000 dots, a great place to compose images in Live View mode, as well as check focus. The Nikon D7000's high-res LCD is also excellent for shooting and playing the 1,080p videos that this digital camera captures, and menus are razor sharp. Dual memory card slots, 39 autofocus points, a new color-sensitive meter, a near-100% viewfinder, and in-camera editing round out just a few of the extra features found in the Nikon D7000. Nikon's top enthusiast digital SLR camera is as easy to recommend as a cold glass of lemonade on a hot Summer day, and at least as satisfying. Click here to check out our Nikon D7000 Review! (minimize)

One digital SLR that pretty much does it all... (more)

One digital SLR that pretty much does it all The Canon EOS 7D stands alone. It's a digital SLR camera that can capture 18-megapixel images at 8 frames per second and 14-bit depth, with a quite usable ISO range from 100 to 12,800. The Canon 7D offers Live View, full manual exposure control while recording movies, Full HD movie recording, a new 19-point, all-cross-type autofocus system, a near-100% optical viewfinder, and built-in support for controlling up to three groups of Speedlite strobes. You can choose from one or two of those items with other cameras from Canon and other manufacturers, but if you want it all in one body, the Canon 7D is your only choice at any price. Printed quality is nothing short of astonishing, with images from ISO 100 to 800 looking great when printed at 20x30 inches. That you can get it all for $1,699 is pretty amazing. Click here to read our review of the Canon 7D. (minimize)

Great as a gift or for everyday shooting, the Canon 100 HS is a pleasure to use!... (more)

Great as a gift or for everyday shooting, the Canon 100 HS is a pleasure to use! True to form, Canon doesn't skimp on its low-end ELPH digital cameras, and with the Canon 100 HS, they outdid themselves! The slim pocket camera offers a wide array of special features, including Handheld Night Scene, Full HD video, and HDMI output to name just a few. Its 28mm-equivalent wide angle lens is a treat, making the PowerShot 100 HS a great digital camera for travel and everyday carry. HS stands for High-Sensitivity, and the Canon 100 HS does well as the ISO rises, easily outputting an 11x14-inch print from ISO 100 to 800, which is quite impressive for any pocket digital camera. The Canon 100 HS is one of our top picks for a simple pocket camera, great for casual shooting, making it a superb gift! (minimize)

The Nikon P500 is a ton of photo fun with a grip... (more)

The Nikon P500 is a ton of photo fun with a grip Nikon has pushed the boundaries of what can be expected of a long zoom digital camera, releasing the impressive Coolpix P500, a camera for which the terms "ultra" and "super" seem understatements. Nevertheless, the P500 starts with an ultra-wide 22.5mm equivalent focal length, and delivers competent performance all the way out to a super 810mm! As if that weren't enough, the Nikon P500 is fast, small, light, has a great grip, a tilting VGA LCD, and can shoot at up to eight frames per second! Click here for our Nikon P500 review! (minimize)

A sleek, sophisticated compact system camera that offers a lot for a low price... (more)

A sleek, sophisticated compact system camera that offers a lot for a low price Sony revamped their consumer compact system camera for 2011, producing a quite competent, attractive digital camera, the NEX-C3. Its body is well constructed, small, and light, but still has a good grip. With 16.2 megapixels and a 3-inch 921K display, the Sony NEX-C3 is designed to capture an image comparable to an SLR in significantly less space, and it does so admirably. Shipping with either an 18-55mm zoom or 16mm prime kit lens, the NEX-C3 also works with three other available e-mount lenses and a host of adapters, making the camera quite versatile. Most of Sony's recent imaging innovations are included as well, like Handheld Twilight, Sweep Panorama, and 3D Sweep Panorama. Click here for more on the Sony NEX-C3! (minimize)

A refined pocket digital camera with an f/2 lens... (more)

A refined pocket digital camera with an f/2 lens The quest to build the better high-quality pocket digital camera continues with the Canon PowerShot S95, with its 10-megapixel sensor and fast, f/2.0 lens. Among its premium-quality competitors, the Canon S95 is the smallest digital camera with such a fast lens. Its understated, stealthy appearance will be popular with street photographers and the Canon S95's easy customization will gain the admiration of all photographers, period. The Canon S95's hold on users becomes complete with the gorgeous, 420K-pixel, 3-inch LCD screen. Anyone serious about having a quality camera with them at all times will love the optical and final image quality of the Canon S95. It's worth a closer look. Click here for more on the Canon PowerShot S95! (minimize)

PowerShot flagship stronger than ever after all these years... (more)

PowerShot flagship stronger than ever after all these years As the longest running line in digital camera history, the G-series has produced its finest camera yet: the Canon PowerShot G12. Though more of a refinement of the G11, the Canon G12 sports a 10-megapixel sensor, a 5x optical zoom ranging from 28-140mm equivalents, and a 2.8-inch swiveling LCD. That LCD is no slouch, either, with 461,000 dots and excellent color. A new electronic level function helps ensure straighter horizons, and a new set of aspect ratio gives you greater control over image shape. 720p HD movie mode is also new to the Canon G12, now with stereo sound as well. And a special HDR Scene mode makes shooting high-dynamic range images pretty easy so long as you shoot them with a tripod. High ISO performance is very good, actually besting the Canon S95, and overall performance is about what we'd expect, making the Canon G12 an excellent all-purpose camera, even if it's not quite shirt or pants pocketable. Click here for more on the Canon G12, one of the best digital cameras you can buy! (minimize)

A good quality, fast-focusing pocket long zoom... (more)

A good quality, fast-focusing pocket long zoom Nikon's Coolpix S9100 impressed us out in the field. Though it differs from the rest of the high-end long zoom pack with its lack of a GPS, the Nikon S9100 more than makes up for it with its impressive 18x zoom, a razor-sharp 921K LCD screen, and a rack of continuous modes that goes great with its impressively fast autofocus. Full HD video with stereo sound rounds out an impressive package. Click here for more on the Nikon Coolpix S9100. (minimize)

The flagship Rebel offers just about all you could wish for in a consumer SLR... (more)

The flagship Rebel offers just about all you could wish for in a consumer SLR Truly easy to recommend, the versatile Canon T3i sets the standard at the top of the consumer SLR market. Especially if you're looking for a reasonably affordable SLR that lets you shoot from multiple angles, the Rebel T3i should be at or near the top of your list. With an 18-megapixel sensor, a high-res articulating LCD, an improved grip, and Full HD video recording, the Canon T3i has what it takes to get great shots in most conditions. Its bundled 18-55mm kit lens is improved over its predecessor, and the alternate 18-135mm kit lens is also good quality, covering a near-ideal range for most situations. Image quality is good enough for 20x30-inch prints from ISO 100 to 3,200, and ISO 12,800 shots make a good 8x10. It's quite a camera, to be sure. Click here for more on the Canon T3i! (minimize)

Nikon's latest consumer SLR combines great image quality and a versatile side-mounted tilt/swivel display... (more)

Nikon's latest consumer SLR combines great image quality and a versatile side-mounted tilt/swivel display Back in 2009, we reviewed Nikon's D5000 consumer SLR, the company's first SLR to include an articulated LCD display. While we loved its image quality and much of its feature set, the bottom-mounted tilt/swivel mechanism seemed like something of a missed opportunity. The followup Nikon D5100 switches to a more versatile side-mounted mechanism that's useful not only for framing shots over your head or low to the ground, but also for self-portraits with the camera on a tripod or convenient level surface--something of an important use case for a consumer camera. Nikon has also brought the D5100's imaging pipeline up to date, and that's good news, because it's based around the same 16.2 megapixel image sensor and image processing algorithms used in the popular D7000 prosumer SLR, bringing much the same image quality to a significantly more affordable camera. The D5100 also brings in-camera high dynamic range imaging to a Nikon SLR for the first time, and expands upon Nikon's selection of in-camera filter effects, applicable either pre- or post-capture. Of these, perhaps the most interesting is a Night Vision mode that allows sensitivity to a maximum of ISO 102,400 equivalent, so long as you're willing to forgo shooting in color. Otherwise, the D5100 provides ISO sensitivities to 25,600 equivalent. Other notable features include a maximum shutter speed of 1/4,000 second, with a rated shutter life of 100,000 cycles, Nikon's 3D Color Matrix Metering and 11-point Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensors, and Full HD (1,080p) movie capture capability. For more on this interesting consumer camera, read our Nikon D5100 review. (minimize)

Sony's translucent-mirror speed demon redefines the consumer SLR!... (more)

Sony's translucent-mirror speed demon redefines the consumer SLR! Hot on the heels of their wildly popular mirrorless NEX models, the new Sony SLT-A55 has again upped the ante for other manufacturers; this time with an SLR that redefines what consumers can expect from that type of camera. Using a non-moving translucent mirror and full-time Live View lets the Sony A55 rattle off shots at a stunning 10 frames/second, while maintaining full phase-detect autofocus. The same technology provides category-leading live autofocus during video recording as well. As the NEX models have led us to expect, image quality from the Sony A55's all-new 16-megapixel sensor is excellent, too, although light loss caused by the mirror likely means slightly more noise at high ISO and in low-light images than in cameras like the Sony A580, where the mirror is raised during exposure. A very compact yet ergonomically designed body, built-in GPS, and arguably the best electronic viewfinder we've seen to date round out the Sony A55. Unique features like Sweep Panorama and various multi-shot modes for handheld low-light shooting likewise expand the range of capabilities relative to other SLR models on the market. If you're looking for a compact SLR that's faster than most pro models, with live-focus video recording and unique multishot low-light modes to boot, the Sony A55 deserves your very serious consideration. (If you're on a limited budget, consider the Sony A33; you'll give up just 2 megapixels of resolution, the GPS feature, and 3 frames/second of shooting speed, but save upwards of $200 in street price.) (minimize)

PowerShot flagship stronger than ever after all these years... (more)

PowerShot flagship stronger than ever after all these years As the longest running line in digital camera history, the G-series has produced its finest camera yet: the Canon PowerShot G12. Though more of a refinement of the G11, the Canon G12 sports a 10-megapixel sensor, a 5x optical zoom ranging from 28-140mm equivalents, and a 2.8-inch swiveling LCD. That LCD is no slouch, either, with 461,000 dots and excellent color. A new electronic level function helps ensure straighter horizons, and a new set of aspect ratio gives you greater control over image shape. 720p HD movie mode is also new to the Canon G12, now with stereo sound as well. And a special HDR Scene mode makes shooting high-dynamic range images pretty easy so long as you shoot them with a tripod. High ISO performance is very good, actually besting the Canon S95, and overall performance is about what we'd expect, making the Canon G12 an excellent all-purpose camera, even if it's not quite shirt or pants pocketable. Click here for more on the Canon G12, one of the best digital cameras you can buy! (minimize)

A great, mid-sized, long zoom digital camera for a low price... (more)

A great, mid-sized, long zoom digital camera for a low price Finding a no-nonsense, but capable digital camera is not as easy as it should be, but the Canon PowerShot SX130 is one such camera, available at a comparatively low price. Its 12-megapixel sensor is a little larger, allowing for slightly greater light gathering ability, and its 28-336mm equivalent, image-stabilized lens provides the Canon SX130 user ample framing options for most common photographic situations. Exposure options range from full Manual to fully-automatic Easy mode, with a stack of Scene modes in-between. A nice big 3-inch LCD is accompanied by adult-sized controls, and the Canon SX130 offers some heft, helpful when handholding those long shots. The Canon SX130's flash is a little slow to recharge, and it isn't the fastest digital camera shot-to-shot, but we found its feature set and image quality compelling nonetheless. In short, the Canon SX130 IS offers a lot for a little money. Click here for the our review of the Canon PowerShot SX130 IS. (minimize)

Just about everything you need for very little money... (more)

Just about everything you need for very little money When you're looking for a safe choice in a digital camera for only a little money, it's always a good idea to check out the low-end of the Canon ELPH line. Though the Canon SD1300 is the first of the ELPH digital cameras to dip below the $200 mark, it still has what you need to get good quality shots from a pocket camera. The Canon SD1300 has a small, smooth, metal body, a 12-megapixel sensor, a 4x zoom that starts at 28mm, optical image stabilization, and a sharp 2.7-inch LCD. Even with a reduced feature set, I don't think the Canon SD1300 is missing anything the average camera buyer would notice. Canon's done an extraordinary job pruning the SD1300 down to the essentials, while leaving the good image quality intact. Click here for our Express Review of the Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS. (minimize)

The Casio EX-G1 is a sporty, well-built, and quite rugged digital camera... (more)

The Casio EX-G1 is a sporty, well-built, and quite rugged digital camera The Casio EX-G1 challenges typical waterproof digital cameras, offering futuristic lines and a slim profile that practically beg you to charge off on an adventure. Its 12-megapixel sensor, 3x zoom, and 2.5-inch LCD meet all the basic requirements, and the Casio EX-G1's rugged build makes it waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof, able to handle just about all you can throw at it. Image quality is similar to most of the waterproof digital cameras we reviewed last year, with a few compromises here and there, but overall the Casio EX-G1 turns out good quality prints. Click here for more on the Casio EX-G1 digital camera. (minimize)

Touchscreen LCD in an ultra-compact, ultra-wide, very capable camera... (more)

Touchscreen LCD in an ultra-compact, ultra-wide, very capable camera As the first Canon Digital ELPH to offer a touchscreen LCD, the PowerShot SD980 IS also offers a 5x zoom range extending from 24-120mm equivalent, a 12.1-megapixel CCD image sensor, super intelligent automatic features and a very small, pocketable body. The Canon SD980's Smart Auto mode does a good job of assessing common-yet-tricky exposure situations and choosing the best preset mode, and the capable Face, Blink and Motion Detection technologies ensure great portraits. And the Canon SD980's widescreen 3.0-inch PureColor LCD monitor is bright and accurate. Click here to read our Express Review of the Canon PowerShot SD980! (minimize)

A satisfying pocket camera with a long zoom, GPS, and helpful low-light modes... (more)

A satisfying pocket camera with a long zoom, GPS, and helpful low-light modes With a 10-megapixel back-illuminated sensor, a 10x zoom, a built-in GPS, and a very clever way of capturing stable images in low light, the Sony HX5V is another pocket long-zoom digital camera worthy of consideration. The Sony HX5V is one of the few digital cameras on the market to include Sony's Handheld Twilight mode, which takes six rapid images and combines them to form one low-light shot that's usually better than what other cameras can get at high ISO in the same light. The Sony HX5V's 10x zoom ranges from 25-250mm, offering a good wide-angle to solid telephoto range. Its unique grip provides a good hold while not protruding from the body, allowing the HX5V to slip easily into most pockets. The Sony HX5V also serves as a competent HD video camera, recording at up to 1080i at 60 fields per second, in addition to recording stereo audio. Click here for our review of the Sony HX5V digital camera. (minimize)

Once again, one of the finest long zoom digital cameras on the market... (more)

Once again, one of the finest long zoom digital cameras on the market Few long zoom digital cameras are as well-received as the Panasonic FZ line, and that trend continues with the Panasonic FZ35. As we expected, the Panasonic FZ35 is one fine digital camera, with a great lens, good image quality, and more than a few smart features. With a zoom range from 27 to 486mm, the Panasonic Lumix FZ35 will meet just about every need you have on your next outing, and do it in a small package weighing less than a pound. New to the line is HD video capture, allowing up to 1,280 x 720p movie capture, complete with stereo sound. A stack of scene modes, face detection, and several Intelligent exposure modes round out the Panasonic FZ35's features, but it's the relative speed and printed image quality of this digital camera that impressed us so. Click here for our review of the Panasonic Lumix FZ35. (minimize)

The Canon PowerShot G11 is the G10 done better... (more)

The Canon PowerShot G11 is the G10 done better Giving ear to your most ardent supporters is always a good idea when planning new products, and that's just what Canon did with the Canon PowerShot G11. That change in focus brought back the articulating LCD that was sorely missed by many G-series fans. Canon also took a bold step and reduced the resolution from 14-megapixels to 10, all in an effort to make the Canon G11 a better low-light camera rather than an unnecessarily high-resolution design that struggled to strike a balance between noise and its suppression. Our printed results show that Canon succeeded in reducing chroma (color) noise in the Canon G11's images well enough to produce images of about the same size, but with less noise and less blurring from noise suppression overall. Lens quality is still quite excellent, with minimal chromatic aberration and excellent sharpness in the corners, also likely a result of the switch to a 10-megapixel sensor. The Canon G11 is a joy to use, with its manual EV compensation and ISO dials, articulating LCD, and extremely capable design. Click here to read our Canon PowerShot G11 Review for more on this fine camera. (minimize)

One of the finest premium enthusiast cameras on the market... (more)

One of the finest premium enthusiast cameras on the market Almost in a category by itself, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 digital camera really impressed us. With a 10-megapixel imager, a high quality Leica lens, and a high-resolution 3-inch wide-screen LCD, the Panasonic LX3 was built to deliver high image quality in a small package. Gone are the noise problems of the LX2, and detail is lush. A full range of capture modes graces the LX3 -- auto and manual -- plus a hot shoe, manual AF and aspect ratio controls, and the little digital camera even shoots RAW. The Panasonic LX3's color was natural, and impressive printed results tell the rest of the story. The Panasonic LX3's price is competitive, too, more than an inexpensive digicam, but less than a digital SLR. Click here to see why the Panasonic LX3 has put my piggy bank on the endangered species list. (minimize)

The price of full-frame digital SLR excellence just went down a notch... (more)

The price of full-frame digital SLR excellence just went down a notch With a design and features that will attract a wide array of photographers, the Nikon D700 is the first full-frame digital SLR camera to break the $3,000 barrier at its introduction. Based on the popular Nikon D300, the Nikon D700's controls are poised for quick activation, with commonly used functions out in plain sight, rather than buried in a menu. The Nikon D700's full-frame sensor is essentially identical to the Nikon D3's, so image quality is superb, and high-ISO performance is unprecedented, ranging from 100 to 25,600. A large, high-resolution LCD screen serves up images that are sharper than normal, and menus likewise appear razor-sharp. Special features adorn the Nikon D700, including a 51-point autofocus system, Active D-Lighting image processing, Lateral chromatic aberration correction, Vignette control, and AF Fine-tune capability; all making the camera extremely adaptable. Nikon's latest offering is a great digital SLR camera to build a system around. Click here for our review of the full-frame Nikon D700 (minimize)

Nikon's flagship prosumer SLR model is the first SLR capable of video recording, but that's just one of its many exceptional features!... (more)

Nikon's flagship prosumer SLR model is the first SLR capable of video recording, but that's just one of its many exceptional features! Nikon rocked the DSLR world when they introduced their D90 SLR early this Fall, the first SLR that can record movies. Its video capabilities won't replace dedicated camcorders, but will provide welcome relief for photographers tired of carrying along a pocket digicam just for taking "video snapshots". Its movie recording is only one of the many exceptional features the Nikon D90 has to offer. It also incorporates the chromatic aberration correction capability first introduced in the D3 and D300 high-end models. This feature works regardless of the brand lens you're using, so the D90 promises to improve the quality of most any lens you use it with. Speaking of lenses, the Nikon D90 ships with one of the nicest kit lenses we've seen yet, a 18-105mm VR (vibration reduction, Nikon's name for Image Stabilization) model that delivers very good sharpness, and (thanks to the aforementioned CA-reduction capability of the camera) very little chromatic aberration. The Nikon D90 brings much, much more to the table, though, far more than we can go into here. If you're in the market for a high-end prosumer digital SLR camera, the Nikon D90 deserves to be near the top of your list for consideration. Read our Nikon D90 review for all the details! (minimize)

Astonishing image quality even at high ISOs, and the bonus of video capture, all for a relatively reasonable price... (more)

Astonishing image quality even at high ISOs, and the bonus of video capture, all for a relatively reasonable price Canon has been adding something special to each of their new digital SLRs, something that sets the camera apart from the pack. This time, the something special is the HD movie mode in the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. Capable of capturing 1080p movies, the new camera opens up a whole world of video opportunities for those with a selection of Canon full-frame lenses -- from capturing extreme wide angles to isolating subjects with long telephoto, the 5D Mark II is truly a video artist's tool. Of course, the 5D Mark II also has the goods for the more traditional still photographer, offering a 21.1-megapixel sensor, a tuned version of the sensor in the Canon 1Ds Mark III. Now the 5D Mark II's sensor has significantly better high ISO performance, able to produce nearly noise-free images up to ISO 6,400. If you can handle a little noise, you can even reach out to 25,600. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II's new high resolution LCD delivers a fine 640x480 image for better focus checking and a great image in Live View mode. The whole package comes in below the price of competing full-frame digital SLRs, at $2,699. Click here to read our full review of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. (minimize)

A superb digital SLR, excellent for anyone serious about photography... (more)

A superb digital SLR, excellent for anyone serious about photography The Nikon D7000 is a refinement of the already superb D90, a redesign that maintains a small, nimble body while improving nearly every major internal aspect. Its 16.2-megapixel sensor and Expeed 2 processor conspire to output quality images at all ISO settings, from 100 to 25,600, cranking those images out at up to six frames per second. The Nikon D7000's 3-inch LCD sports 921,000 dots, a great place to compose images in Live View mode, as well as check focus. The Nikon D7000's high-res LCD is also excellent for shooting and playing the 1,080p videos that this digital camera captures, and menus are razor sharp. Dual memory card slots, 39 autofocus points, a new color-sensitive meter, a near-100% viewfinder, and in-camera editing round out just a few of the extra features found in the Nikon D7000. Nikon's top enthusiast digital SLR camera is as easy to recommend as a cold glass of lemonade on a hot Summer day, and at least as satisfying. Click here to check out our Nikon D7000 Review! (minimize)

The SLD camera the US has been waiting for?... (more)

The SLD camera the US has been waiting for? SLD (Single-Lens Direct view, aka "Mirrorless") cameras have been big in Japan and Europe for a while now, but have gotten off to a slow start with US consumers. We suspect this may be about to change. With the announcement of the Sony NEX-5 and Sony NEX-3 cameras, the game has changed significantly. These new models are not only the most compact interchangeable-lens cameras on the market but also bring features like Sweep Panorama and Hand-Held Twilight shooting modes up from Sony's digicam line, combining them with the dramatically higher image quality that large SLD-size pixels provide. In fact, the image quality from these new cameras is by far the best we've seen to date from the Sony Alpha line at the APS-C sensor size. But wait, there's more: Sony also addresses the autofocus bugaboo many consumers encounter when they first try to record a movie with their SLR or SLD camera. Unlike most of their competition, the Sony NEX-5 and Sony NEX-3 both offer truly effective live autofocus during movie recording. The Sony NEX-5 can record 1,080i at 60 fps in the AVCHD format (plus options for MPEG-4 recording), while the Sony NEX-3 offers 1,280 x 720p recording in MP4 only. Oh - and they'll be selling as cheaply as $549 and $649 with a 16mm kit lens, or $50 more with a slick-feeling 18-55mm! Read our full Sony NEX-5 review for all the juicy details! (minimize)

PowerShot flagship stronger than ever after all these years... (more)

PowerShot flagship stronger than ever after all these years As the longest running line in digital camera history, the G-series has produced its finest camera yet: the Canon PowerShot G12. Though more of a refinement of the G11, the Canon G12 sports a 10-megapixel sensor, a 5x optical zoom ranging from 28-140mm equivalents, and a 2.8-inch swiveling LCD. That LCD is no slouch, either, with 461,000 dots and excellent color. A new electronic level function helps ensure straighter horizons, and a new set of aspect ratio gives you greater control over image shape. 720p HD movie mode is also new to the Canon G12, now with stereo sound as well. And a special HDR Scene mode makes shooting high-dynamic range images pretty easy so long as you shoot them with a tripod. High ISO performance is very good, actually besting the Canon S95, and overall performance is about what we'd expect, making the Canon G12 an excellent all-purpose camera, even if it's not quite shirt or pants pocketable. Click here for more on the Canon G12, one of the best digital cameras you can buy! (minimize)

Excellent all-around pocket zoom digital camera... (more)

Excellent all-around pocket zoom digital camera Its rugged, no-nonsense appearance fairly invites you to grab the Nikon Coolpix S8100 and start snapping pictures. And when you do, the Nikon S8100's impressive 10x, 30-300mm optical vibration reduction lens is fast and ready to frame your image however you like. Its autofocus and shutter responds like an SLR, surprisingly, getting the shot quickly, making the Nikon S8100 great for kids and other action. Its 12-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor enables Backlight HDR capture mode and Full HD video as well. Overall, the Nikon S8100 is an excellent contender in the pocket long zoom category. Click here for our Express Review of the Nikon S8100! (minimize)

An excellent pocket companion with a good quality, very long zoom... (more)

An excellent pocket companion with a good quality, very long zoom Panasonic introduces the ZS8 into a market now crowded with competitors egged on by the success of this very line of long zoom cameras. The ZS8 is a 14-megapixel digital camera with a 16x zoom lens ranging from 24-384mm. The little brother to the ZS10, the Panasonic ZS8 has no GPS or 1080p video, but it excels at providing the basics, including optical image stabilization, face detection, and a full selection of exposure modes, all features that have made Panasonic's long zooms so popular. Click here for our review of the Panasonic ZS8! (minimize)

A well-built waterproof digital camera with a unique look... (more)

A well-built waterproof digital camera with a unique look Finally, a waterproof digital camera that looks the part: the Canon PowerShot D10. Capable of diving to 33 feet, falling from four feet, and withstanding temperatures of 14 degrees Fahrenheit, the Canon D10 is ready to weather some tough conditions; tougher than most digital cameras. Its 12-megapixel sensor delivers crisp images to its 2.5-inch LCD, and its 3x zoom is protected within a sturdy bell housing, protected from impact and weather. As with almost all digital cameras, the Canon D10 makes a better wet camera than a dry camera, with more significant corner softening than we see from most digital cameras in the pocket category, but that's a side-effect of shooting through an additional pane of glass on the front of the sturdy housing, something you won't notice in your underwater pictures. The flip side is that you won't be worrying about a lens cap with the Canon D10; instead your only concern will be having more fun with your waterproof digital camera! Click here to read more about the Canon PowerShot D10 waterproof digital camera. (minimize)