I received the Sony Cybershot DSC-H50 the day before I left for a week-long road trip through the Southwest. I only had time for a cursory review of the manual before I was off and shooting. I had a few challenges with the camera, but considering my ...

RAW format, Excellent handling and ergonomics, Strong image quality at low ISOs, Sharp Nikon lens with useful zoom range, Pocketable size and weight, Color controls, Optical viewfinder

Relatively high price, Auto focus average to slow, Menu interface slow, Slow card write speed/small buffer, No live histogram, Lens relatively slow f/5.9 at 112mm, Manual focus is imprecise, Hot shoe only works with Nikon Speedlites, Ethernet only for ...

Olympus introduced its first waterproof and shockproof Stylus SW camera in 2006 (Olympus Stylus 720 SW Pro Review). The latest model, the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW, has numerous upgrades, including a 10-megapixel sensor; a wider, longer zoom lens; a ...

Waterproof and nearly indestructible, Pocket-sized, Live histogram, 28mm, real wide-angle lens - yay!, Panoramic mode (requires Olympus xD card)

Too easy to get finger in front of lens, Image quality isn't what I'd expect of a 10-megapixel camera, No mechanical image stabilization, No optical viewfinder, xD memory cards only work with Olympus and Fujifilm compact digital cameras, Mode dial ...

Originally announced in September 2006, the Sigma DP1 was delayed several times before finally being released in mid-2008. The camera's initial reception has been mixed - its image quality praised, its usability panned. The DP1 is simultaneously a ...

Foveon X3 DSLR-size image sensor, The "best" available image quality in a compact camera, Distinctive image quality characteristics, Small enough to fit in a coat pocket, JPEG and RAW file formats, Crisp 28mm (35mm equivalent) fixed focal-length lens, ...

Only 4.6 megapixels of effective resolution, ISO 800 and higher has objectionable noise levels, Slow auto focus (contrast detection), Slow camera operation, Unrefined menu interface, Lack of dedicated controls for ISO and white balance, No live ...

Sigma has to be respected for being the first to answer the marketplace's cry for a pocket-sized DSLR. The challenge of marrying an APS-C sensor with a compact camera clearly has not been easy. While the resulting camera largely meets image-quality ...

The Sony Cybershot DSC-W150 is an attractive little camera with a $249 suggested retail price tag. It captures high-quality photographs in a variety of lighting conditions. I took it with me on a business trip to Miami and also used it to photograph ...

Small and lightweight - perfect for carrying in a pocket or purse., Super SteadyShot image stabilization., Excellent image quality in a variety of conditions., 8.1 megapixels for prints to 16×20 inches., 5x optical zoom (30-150mm equivalent)., Large, ...

Menu settings and mode dial less than intuitive., No manual shutter or aperture control., ISO can only be changed in Program Auto mode., Only a handful of exposure modes., Tiny optical viewfinder does not show full scene.

I have mixed feelings about the Sony Cybershot DSC-W150. While it was far from love at first use, I find I'm a little sad to have to send my review copy back. I really like how easily the W150 fits into my purse and the excellent image quality it ...

I took the Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd on a few different outings where I would normally take my full size digital SLR. The compact size of the FinePix S8000fd immediately appealed to me. It easily fit into my golf bag, the side leg pocket of my cargo ...

Compact size, Large LCD, Comfortable, intuitive control layout, Multiple shooting modes, Dual IS image stabilization, High-speed shooting, Uses easy to find AA batteries, Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd Digital Camera, 4 AA-size Alkaline Batteries, Shoulder ...

Cumbersome shutter and aperture controls, Small memory card door, Noticeable shutter-lag, Small viewfinder, Lens cap falls off easily, Battery life is on the short side

The Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd really is a jack-of-all-trades. With iffy battery life, and underpowered flash, and a questionable lens cape, it's not perfect. But it can do almost anything you want it to. While not my cup of tea for a compact sports ...

Nikon's latest flagship compact digital camera, the Coolpix P5100, reminds me of Marlon Brando's classic line from the movie, On the Waterfront: "I could've been a contender!" The P5100 teases photographers with almost everything you could ask for in ...

Ergonomic design and controls, Pocketable size and weight, Bright, high resolution LCD screen, Strong image quality, Usable high ISO capability, Realistic color rendition, Optical viewfinder, Flash hot shoe, Spot metering

Auto focus needs bright light, No RAW format, Card write speed is average, Slow shot-to-shot speed, No continuous shooting in scene modes, Battery life is average-to-short

An evaluation of the Nikon P5100 quickly boils down to one's expectations and photographic needs. In certain conditions, the Nikon P5100 offers an attractive set of features and delivers strong performance that largely doesn't disappoint. But when the ...

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I haven't used a camera this small since the Kodak Disc Camera I owned back in the early 1980s. I think the Casio EX-Z77 is actually a bit smaller. However, the comparison ends there. We've ...

Very small and lightweight - perfect for carrying in a pocket or small purse, 7.2-megapixel resolution for excellent prints to 8×10, Extensive menu settings and "Best Shot" exposure modes, "Easy Mode" for pure point-and-shoot photography, Built-in ...

LCD quick-review makes photos you've just taken look blurry, Image quality suffers in poor lighting conditions, Battery charger has a long, awkward cord

The Casio Exilim EX-Z77 has some of the best features and performance available for a digital camera its size and price. It is so small you can easily take it anywhere. Its 7.2 megapixels of resolution will make excellent prints up to at least 8×10 ...

The Olympus SP-560 UZ arrived in my mailbox on a chilly Montana winter day. After a cursory skim of the manual, I took the camera out of its box and was pleased to find it was about the same size as my regular camera - a popular, but less-expensive ...

Powerful 18x optical zoom lens, Dual image stabilization, Very good image quality, Full range of exposure options - from manual to auto and everything in between, Lightweight and compact - bigger than a point-and-shoot, smaller than a digital SLR, Pop ...

Power button is difficult to engage quickly, Noticeable shutter lag, especially with flash, Multitude of mode and menu options may overwhelm beginners

I thoroughly enjoyed playing with the Olympus SP-560 UZ - enough that it's going to be hard to go back to my own compact digital camera. I've been spoiled by the fantastically long zoom lens, which makes it super-easy to grab great shots with hardly ...

The Pentax Optio W30 offers a well-balanced set of compact camera features, the most appealing being the weatherproof body. No more calling it quits the moment a few drops of rain hit your head. No more worrying about splashing water on the camera ...

Weatherproof, sealed body and lens, Waterproof for underwater use to 9 ft., Bright LCD screen, Internal zoom lens does not protrude from body, Excellent battery life, Realistic color rendition

Auto focus speed is slow, LCD display resolution is low, Noise above ISO 400

Overall the Pentax Optio W30 is a good value for people seeking a competent and convenient camera that can be used in all conditions - including in and around water and humid environments. The combination of internal lens, weather sealing and ...