Top 10 Compact cameras
01 Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX9V
Stuff says
Brilliant in almost any situation and loaded with skills, the HX9V is the best compact camera money can buy
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02
Canon PowerShot G12
A supremely capable digital compact that edges its rivals in most of the areas that count
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03
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3
One tough son of a gun, but backs that up with first class features and strong performance
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04
Canon PowerShot S95
The S95 is a pocketable point-and-shoot that delivers pro results
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05
Nikon Coolpix S9100
Experienced snappers might crave more flexibility, but as a classy compact super-zoom it’s hard to beat
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06
Nikon Coolpix P7100
One of the finest high-end compacts on the market
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07
Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W3
Superb 3D images and now easily hooked up to your shiny new 3DTV
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08
Olympus XZ-1
Not a DSLR-beater, but a damn fine compact camera
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09
Nikon Coolpix P300
Small and more than decent in most respects, but a couple of odd choices stop it from being a classic
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10
Olympus TG-810
A tough cookie loaded with handy bells and whistles
Instant Expert
As you can see from our list, there’s only one rugged camera for us: the compact Panasonic FT2. That may be about to change, because Panasonic has just released the Lumix FT3 (£350, panasonic.co.uk). Like its predecessor, it’s hewn from aluminium, toughened glass and airtight rubber seals, which make it dustproof, waterproof to 12m, freezeproof to -10°C and capable of being dropped from 2m on to a hard surface. Aside from its burly frame it’s a well-specced 12.1MP camera, with a 28mm wide-angle Leica lens that’s good for the sort of shots you’ll take in the great outdoors. It also shoots full HD, has an altimeter, a barometer, a GPS and even a 3D Photo mode. Wow.
Panasonic’s new tough compact is crammed with features
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
1. Resolution The number of megapixels is rapidly becoming irrelevant. So long as you’re in double figures you’ll be OK, so move on and focus on the things that really matter, such as…
2. Picture quality The only hands-on time you’re likely to get is in an artificially lit shop. This will tell you nothing about picture quality,
so read reviews and check out shots taken with your potential snapper on sites such as Flickr.
3. Features Think about how you’re likely to use your camera and prioritise features such as size, style, ruggedness and whether you want in-depth control or an idiot-proof interface.
4. Stepping up? There’s now a middle ground between compacts and pro-style DSLRs. Olympus, Panasonic, Ricoh, Samsung and Sony make ‘compact system’ cameras, or ‘micro-SLRs’, which combine interchangeable lenses with small bodies. Some sneak into our DSLR top ten.
