Dave's Picks

Mid-size

Camera Name		Res	Lens	Avg. Price
Most Popular Mid-size Cameras
	Nikon Coolpix P7700	12.2	7.10x	$443.27 Check Prices
	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1	24.3	1.00x	$2,799.00 Check Prices
	Canon PowerShot G1 X	14.3	4.00x	$738.86 Check Prices
	Canon PowerShot G12	10.0	5.00x	$507.26 Check Prices

	Res	Lens	Avg. Price
Canon PowerShot G12	10.0	5.00x	$507.26
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 ... (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)
Canon PowerShot G1 X	14.3	4.00x	$738.86
Large-sensor image quality in a compact, zoom body Every once in a while, a camera comes along which offers a genuinely different approach to its rivals. Some--like the first... (more) Large-sensor image quality in a compact, zoom body Every once in a while, a camera comes along which offers a genuinely different approach to its rivals. Some--like the first mirrorless models--go on to fundamentally change the market. Others aren't quite so successful. Either way, we welcome designs that think outside the box. The PowerShot G1 X is Canon's first large-sensor compact. Its announcement last Spring prompted much speculation: was this Canon's final answer to that blossoming mirrorless market, or a first tentative step towards its own mirrorless debut? The fixed-lens design and narrower-aspect ratio have allowed Canon to create a large-sensor PowerShot with a worthwhile size advantage over mirrorless models, and a night-and-day image quality advantage over small-sensor cameras. Like many first-gen products, the G1 X does show a few rough edges though. Will the advantages of its unusual design outweigh the drawbacks? For the verdict, read our Canon G1 X review! (minimize)

	Res	Lens	Avg. Price
Nikon Coolpix P7700	12.2	7.10x	$443.27
Revamped flagship enthusiast digicam scores big on design and image quality... (more) Revamped flagship enthusiast digicam scores big on design and image quality It's taken three tries but Nikon has finally produced a flagship Coolpix camera that stacks up favorably to its top competitors, boasting an upgraded 12-megapixel sensor and a fast 7.1x zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.0. Nikon removed the optical viewfinder from the Coolpix P7700, but we actually see this as a plus, especially since the 3-inch vari-angle LCD screen is easy to view and allows you to compose in tight spots. Sans viewfinder, the Nikon P7700's design is more compact, comfy and classic than its predecessor. Ultimately, it comes down to image quality and the P7700 delivers sharp still images and Full HD videos -- with just a few quirks -- and produces large, high-quality prints at lower ISOs. Click here for our review of the Nikon P7700, or click this link to shop! (minimize)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1	24.3	1.00x	$2,799.00
Full-frame image quality and a great lens in an astonishingly small package... (more) Full-frame image quality and a great lens in an astonishingly small package Full-frame sensors have always meant the highest image quality in handheld cameras, but they've also always meant big, bulky, heavy cameras. The Sony RX1 breaks this mold, though, and not just by a little bit. It's hard to convey just how small the Cyber-shot RX1 is without actually handing you one to hold yourself. It's not much bigger than some high-end digicams, and the same size or smaller than some models in Sony's excellent NEX line of Compact System Cameras when you include one of the kit lenses with the latter. The 24 megapixel full-frame sensor is the same as used in Sony's flagship A99 SLT camera, and it's paired with a 35mm f/2 Carl Zeiss lens with T* optical coatings and superb corner to corner sharpness. The combined package is perfect for "street photography" aficionados, or anyone wanting ultimate optical and sensor quality in a super-portable, beautiful little camera. With an introductory price of $2,800, it clearly won't be the camera for everyone, but even at that price, we think it'll be one of Sony's most popular models. If you're looking for ultimate quality in a "pocket" camera, the Sony RX1 defines the state of the art. (minimize)