The 10 Best Compact Cameras

The newest compact digital cameras give you only limited controls in most cases, but low prices and excellent image quality make these low-frills options worth considering.

By PC World Staff

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1) Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS

You'll get fast start-up, focus, and shooting speed on this sleek Canon compact camera. In our lab tests, the PowerShot SD1100 scored higher on overall image quality than nearly all of its competitors. However, in this new PowerShot SD1100 model, Canon shaved 3mm off the wide-angle end of the 3X optical zoom, so you can't take wide-angle shots. Check Latest Prices

2) Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2

This Panasonic Lumix compact camera takes very accurate exposures and lets you snap photos in wide-screen format. The Lumix DMC-LX2 earned excellent scores in nearly all of our image-quality tests. Most shots--even magnified enlargements--looked sharp, and the camera earned our top score for exposure quality. Check Latest Prices

3) Kodak EasyShare C653

You get a lot for relatively few dollars in the EasyShare C653: 6.1-megapixel imaging, a 2.4-inch LCD screen, and good-looking photos. On the downside, the EasyShare C653 runs on AA batteries, which lasted just 160 shots in our tests, far fewer than the average of 260 frames. But its simplicity is a perfect fit for someone who just wants to take the occasional family snapshot. Check Latest Prices

4) Nikon Coolpix L10

Overall, the Nikon Coolpix L10 is an attractive package if you're looking for a simple camera that has a low price and that will fit in your pocket. This 5-megapixel compact model runs on two AA cells, and it performed well in our battery tests, lasting 343 shots. The Coolpix comes with a 3X optical zoom that's suitable for basic point-and-shoot photography. Check Latest Prices

5) Nikon Coolpix S500

The tiny Coolpix S500 delivers top-notch image quality. In a compact camera so small, you still find features such as face detection and image stabilization, to make shooting faultless photos easy. In PC World's image-quality tests, the Coolpix S500 earned impressive scores. However, the Coolpix has no room for an optical viewfinder, so you must compose all of your shots on the LCD screen. Check Latest Prices

6) Fujifilm FinePix A610

The FinePix A610 has few manual controls, so it's best for people who rarely make camera adjustments. Overall, the FinePix A610's scores in our image quality tests were about average, but impressive for a budget-priced camera. In PC World lab tests, our jury gave the camera scores slightly above average for the color and exposure accuracy of its images. The A610 runs on AA batteries, and in our tests, it lasted just 195 shots before running out of juice, compared with the average of 260 frames. In contrast, the similarly priced Nikon Coolpix L10, which also runs on AA batteries, lasted 343 shots. Check Latest Prices

7) Fujifilm FinePix F05fd

The Fujifilm FinePix F50fd may look dull, but its looks are only shell-deep. Though it weighs more than most of the units in this roundup, it also has a larger-than-average LCD panel, at 2.7 inches, and a higher resolution (12 megapixels) than most. And--a rarity in a point-and-shoot--the F50fd offers aperture- and shutter-priority modes. In image-quality tests, the FinePix F50fd received high marks for sharpness. Fujifilm gave the FinePix F50fd all the latest gee-whiz digital camera features too, including image stabilization. Check Latest Prices

8) Canon PowerShot A460

The sophisticated and durable-looking Canon PowerShot A460 has a 4X optical zoom, whereas most cameras at this price level have only a 3X zoom. The A460 starts up quickly, in 2 seconds, and offers both an eye-level viewfinder and a bright 2-inch LCD screen. A simple mode dial lets you select full auto, manual (still automatic, but with some user settings), scene modes, and movie mode. The PowerShot A460 earned an overall image quality score of Good from the PC World Test Center, with roughly average ratings for color and exposure accuracy. Check Latest Prices

9) HP Photosmart R37

Apple's iPhone has made big color touch screens fashionable. But with its ease of use and good image quality, the HP Photosmart R937 may be the coolest touch-screen toy you could carry. It features a huge 3.6-inch LCD that is touch-sensitive, making the Photosmart R37 a breeze to operate. In PC World Test Center evaluations, images looked bright and colorful; the scores for sharpness and distortion, however, were roughly average. One note: Late last year, HP said it planned to find a licensee to manufacture and distribute its digital cameras. Check Latest Prices

10) Canon PowerShot A470

The 7.1-megapixel PowerShot A470, an inexpensive compact camera, performed as well as several far more expensive compact models. In PC World tests, the PowerShot received a Very Good image quality score. The PowerShot A470 lacks a viewfinder, so you have to rely on the 2.5-inch LCD screen. But you also get 14 shooting modes--plenty to keep a casual photographer entertained. Check Latest Prices