Quantcast
Subscribe to magazine

Top 10 Digital Cameras

This month's focus is on advanced digital cameras, which run the gamut in price but which all offer extensive imaging controls.

Tracey Capen

Compare ProductsCheck boxes to
Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated: December 19, 2003

1. Olympus C-5060 Wide Zoom

5.1 megapixels, 4X optical zoom, 640 by 480 video with audio, 5 scene modes; aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual modes, 32MB XD-Picture Card and CompactFlash slot, Price when ranked: $700,

Bottom Line: Successor to the C-5050, this bulky model has a 4X zoom in place of the older model's 3X. Has intuitive controls and earned top image-quality scores.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices 		Check Latest Prices
Canon EOS Digital Rebel PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated:

2. Canon EOS Digital Rebel

6.3 megapixels, 3.2X optical zoom, No video or audio, 6 scene modes; aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual modes, CompactFlash slot (media not included), Price when ranked: $1000,

Bottom Line: A bargain for an SLR digital camera with interchangeable lenses; priced as a kit with midrange zoom lens, but is also sold body only.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices 		Check Latest Prices
Olympus C-750 Ultra Zoom PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: August 26, 2003

3. Olympus C-750 Ultra Zoom

4 megapixels, 10X optical zoom, 320 by 240 video with audio, 6 scene modes; aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual modes, 16MB XD-Picture Card, Price when ranked: $550,

Bottom Line: Priciest 10X zoom camera on the chart has more-powerful controls than the Kodak and more megapixels than the Fujifilm. It got higher imaging scores than both, too.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices 		Check Latest Prices
Canon PowerShot G5 PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated: August 26, 2003

4. Canon PowerShot G5

5 megapixels, 4X optical zoom, 320 by 240 video with audio, 3 scene modes; aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual modes, 32MB CompactFlash, Price when ranked: $700,

Bottom Line: Big and boxy, but for an advanced camera, it's easy to use; earned high marks for image exposure accuracy and sharpness. Lens casts a shadow in wide-angle flash shots.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices 		Check Latest Prices
Nikon Coolpix 5400 PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: August 26, 2003

5. Nikon Coolpix 5400

5.1 megapixels, 4X optical zoom, 640 by 480 video with audio, 15 scene modes; aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual modes, 16MB CompactFlash, Price when ranked: $700,

Bottom Line: Has a wealth of features, but they're dauntingly presented. The unit is relatively compact and boasts 4X optical zoom, but the LCD is small for this class of camera.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices 		Check Latest Prices
Olympus C-5000 Zoom PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: December 19, 2003

6. Olympus C-5000 Zoom

5 megapixels, 3X optical zoom, 320 by 240 video without audio, 6 scene modes; aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual modes, 32MB XD-Picture Card, Price when ranked: $450,

Bottom Line: Low-priced and relatively small for an advanced, 5-megapixel camera with a hot shoe; it produced slightly better-than-average image quality in our tests.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices 		Check Latest Prices
Nikon Coolpix 5700 PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: December 02, 2002

7. Nikon Coolpix 5700

5 megapixels, 8X optical zoom, 320 by 240 video with audio, No scene modes; aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual modes, 16MB CompactFlash, Price when ranked: $900,

Bottom Line: The complex and powerful Coolpix 5700 takes fine images. Its long, 8X zoom is useful for photographing sports events and wildlife.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices 		Check Latest Prices
Kodak EasyShare DX6490 PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: December 19, 2003

8. Kodak EasyShare DX6490

4 megapixels, 10X optical zoom, 320 by 240 video with audio, 6 scene modes; aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual modes, 16MB internal memory and SD card slot, Price when ranked: $499,

Bottom Line: A 10X zoom and a big LCD highlight Kodak's top-of-the-line consumer camera. It's easy to use but has few of the high-end controls found in most advanced models.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices 		Check Latest Prices
Canon EOS 10D PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: April 29, 2003

9. Canon EOS 10D

6.3 megapixels, Interchangeable lenses, No video or audio, 8 scene modes; aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual modes, CompactFlash slot (media not included), Price when ranked: $1500,

Bottom Line: Bristling with features, this SLR camera takes beautiful pictures and can use most Canon EF mount lenses. Listed price is for the body only; lenses start at around $150.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices 		Check Latest Prices
Fujifilm FinePix S5000 PCW Rating: 3.0PCW Rating: 3.0PCW Rating: 3.0

Last Rated: December 19, 2003

10. Fujifilm FinePix S5000

3.1 megapixels, 10X optical zoom, 320 by 240 video with audio, 4 scene modes; aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual modes, 16MB XD-Picture Card, Price when ranked: $400,

Bottom Line: Like the Olympus C-750 and Kodak DX6490, the S5000 has a 10X zoom; it's not as easy to use as the Kodak, but it accepts optional telephoto and wide-angle add-on lenses.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices 		Check Latest Prices
  • Recommend this story?
  • 0 Yes
    0 No

Today's Special Offers

Name City
Address 1 State Zip
Address 2 E-mail (optional)