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Top 10 Point-and-Shoot Cameras

Our Best Buys this month--from Sony and Fujifilm--are both new.

Tracey Capen

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CyberShot DSC-W7 Digital Camera (7.2MP, 3072x2304, 3x Opt, 32MB Built-In Memory) PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: June 10, 2005

1. Sony CyberShot DSC-W7 Digital Camera (7.2MP, 3072x2304, 3x Opt, 32MB Built-In Memory)

7.2 megapixels, 3X optical zoom, 7 scene modes, 32MB internal memory and Memory Stick slot, 640 by 480 video with audio, Price when ranked: $449

Bottom Line: A smallish camera that's loaded with features--including optional conversion lenses--the W7 is ideal for travel or as a backup for a digital SLR.

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FINEPIX F10 DIG CAM 3X OPT ZOOM-6.3 MEGAPIXEL SUPER CCD PCW Rating: 77.8PCW Rating: 77.8PCW Rating: 77.8

Last Rated: June 10, 2005

2. Fujifilm FINEPIX F10 DIG CAM 3X OPT ZOOM-6.3 MEGAPIXEL SUPER CCD

6.3 megapixels, 3X optical zoom, 5 scene modes, 16MB internal memory and xD-Picture Card slot, 640 by 480 video with audio, Price when ranked: $360

Bottom Line: Earned top scores in our image quality tests; easy to pack in a pocket or bag and has a high 1600 ISO setting for shooting in low light, but images had significant noise.

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Coolpix 5600 Digital Camera (5.1MP, 2592x1944, 3x Opt, 14MB Internal Memory) PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: May 03, 2005

3. Nikon Coolpix 5600 Digital Camera (5.1MP, 2592x1944, 3x Opt, 14MB Internal Memory)

5.1 megapixels, 3X optical zoom, 16 scene modes, 14.5MB internal memory and Secure Digital slot, 640 by 480 video with audio, Price when ranked: $250

Bottom Line: This compact, versatile model deftly handled our imaging tests, producing better exposures than even its higher-megapixel sibling, the 7900.

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S70 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: June 09, 2005

4. Canon S70

7.1 megapixels, 3.6X optical zoom, 6 scene modes, 32MB CompactFlash, 640 by 480 video with audio, Price when ranked: $500

Bottom Line: Earned top score for image sharpness; has extra-wide-angle lens and a broad selection of easy-to-use manual controls.

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Coolpix 7900 Digital Camera (7.1MP, 3072x2304, 3x Opt, 13.5MB Installed Memory) PCW Rating: 77.0PCW Rating: 77.0PCW Rating: 77.0

Last Rated: May 03, 2005

5. Nikon Coolpix 7900 Digital Camera (7.1MP, 3072x2304, 3x Opt, 13.5MB Installed Memory)

7.1 megapixels, 3X optical zoom, 16 scene modes, 18MB internal memory and SD Card slot, 640 by 480 video with audio, Price when ranked: $400

Bottom Line: Small but easy to hold, the 7900 combines an intuitive menu system, plenty of scene modes, and a few advanced features such as white-balance bracketing.

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Photosmart R717 PCW Rating: 84.0PCW Rating: 84.0PCW Rating: 84.0

Last Rated: March 25, 2005

6. HP Photosmart R717

6.2 megapixels, 3X optical zoom, 12 scene modes, 32MB internal memory plus SD Card slot, 320 by 240 video with audio, Price when ranked: $300

Bottom Line: Builds on the popular Photosmart R707's best points--image advice, extensive help menus, and in-camera red-eye reduction--and adds new shooting modes.

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PowerShot SD500 Digital Camera (7.1MP, 3072x2304, 3x Opt, 32MB SD Card) PCW Rating: 71.9PCW Rating: 71.9PCW Rating: 71.9

Last Rated: June 09, 2005

7. Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital Camera (7.1MP, 3072x2304, 3x Opt, 32MB SD Card)

7.1 megapixels, 3X optical zoom, 9 scene modes, 32MB SD Card , 640 by 480 video with audio, Price when ranked: $500

Bottom Line: This next-generation Digital Elph has a new, smoothly rounded metal body and 2-inch LCD. It's easily pocketable and has virtually no shutter lag.

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Cyber-shot DSC-T33 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: March 25, 2005

8. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T33

5.1 megapixels, 3X optical zoom, 9 scene modes, 32MB Memory Stick, 640 by 480 video with audio, Price when ranked: $400

Bottom Line: Slender, silvery beauty sports easy-to-understand controls and an impressive 2.5-inch LCD. Colors could be more accurate, though.

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Cybershot DSC-S90 Digital Camera (4.1MP, 2304x1728, 3x Opt, 32MB Internal Memory) PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: June 10, 2005

9. Sony Cybershot DSC-S90 Digital Camera (4.1MP, 2304x1728, 3x Opt, 32MB Internal Memory)

4.1 megapixels, 3X optical zoom, 7 scene modes, 32MB internal memory and Memory Stick slot, 640 by 480 video with audio, Price when ranked: $300

Bottom Line: Produced mediocre exposure and low sharpness image scores, but comes with an outstanding 2.5-inch LCD and can take AA batteries.

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Camedia C-5500 Digital Camera (5.1MP, 2592x1944, 5x Opt, 16MB xD-Picture Card) PCW Rating: 83.0PCW Rating: 83.0PCW Rating: 83.0

Last Rated: May 03, 2005

10. Olympus Camedia C-5500 Digital Camera (5.1MP, 2592x1944, 5x Opt, 16MB xD-Picture Card)

5.1 megapixels, 5X optical zoom, 11 scene modes, 16MB internal memory and xD-PictureCard, 320 by 240 video with audio, Price when ranked: $280

Bottom Line: Accurate colors and exposures and an impressive zoom range are this model's strengths. For sports, the autofocus locked on moving subjects most of the time.

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To gauge picture quality, we take a series of shots, with and without flash, at 640 by 480 resolution and at the camera's highest resolution. We photograph a complex still life and a mannequin to see how well each camera captures details and subtle coloring such as skin tones. A panel of judges reviews the on-screen and printed photos and assigns image-quality scores; we then average those scores. Data based on tests designed and conducted by the PC World Test Center. All rights reserved.

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