Do you have $400-500 to drop on a high performance compact, but just can't figure out which models are the best bang for your buck? We took four of our top performance compacts and brought them all together in order to let you decide.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 teleported us back to a time when compact film SLRs roamed the earth, only this time with a fixed lens and entirely digital guts. Its 10-megapizel 1/1/63-inch CCD succeeded in cranking out beautiful images in bright and low light, and the Lumix DMC-LX3 never skimped on features while we were in the field. Not only does the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 offer an excellent shutter speed range of one minute to 1/2000-second, the ISO max is 3200 and the camera has a few artsy filters such as Pinhole and Film Grain.
We loved shooting with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 thanks to the rear-mounted joystick and minute bonuses like the aspect ratio switch located along the top of the lens. The 2.5x optical zoom was not very impressive, but we loved the Lumix DMC-LX3's 3-inch LCD and intuitive menu system. When the pop-up flash was deployed, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 looked like it was shipped straight from the late 50's, and the camera solidified itself as one of our top performers within the high performance compact class.
"Anything you can do, I can better", sings the Canon PowerShot G10, which is strikingly similar to the aforementioned Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 based on appearance alone. But upon further investigation, it becomes apparent that the Canon PowerShot G10 has a layer cake-style ISO dial mounted underneath the Mode dial. The Canon PowerShot G10 also adds an optical viewfinder and boosts the megapixel count to an obtuse 14.7. Keep in mind that the Canon PowerShot G10's 1/1.7-inch sensor is slightly larger than the Lumix DMC-LX3's, so we did attain a better overall image performance from the Panny.
The Canon PowerShot G10's lowest shutter speed is also 15 seconds and the highest ISO is 1600, so we went with the Lumix DMC-LX3 in the features department. However, the Canon PowerShot G10 flaunts a superior interface with an Exposure Compensation dial, menu Set dial and 3-inch LCD. It's a tossup, so we suggest taking the Canon PowerShot G10 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 for test drives before settling on either one.
The Fujifilm Finepix F200 EXR was probably the ultimate surprise performance of the year, for this compact truly blew our initial expectations out of the water and far away. To lay it straight on the table, the Fujifilm Finepix F200 EXR is not pleasing to look at, courtesy of its muddy brownish paint job and hourglass sponge-like chassis. However, a quality imaging powerplant lies within this unassuming and plain design. The Fujifilm Finepix F200 EXR cranked out an image performance that was on par with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 and Canon PowerShot G10 in bright and low light, and we're pretty sure its 12-megapixel 1/1.6-inch Super CCD EXR sensor had something to do with it.
We shot in various Dynamic Range boosting modes and achieved some excellent results. The Fujifilm Finepix might not be stocked with a plethora of standard features, for the camera has a max shutter speed of eight seconds. But what the camera lacks in tradition, it makes up for with innovation, thanks to the wealth of effective EXR shooting modes. Don't expect good looks or a stellar interface from the Fujifilm Finepix F200 EXR, but if you're looking for a compact with the best image quality in this price range, look no further.
The Nikon Coolpix P90 is the official black sheep of this lot because the camera brings a few different features to the forefront. First off, it's got a massive 24x optical zoom and a bulkier, fuller body with right hand grip and popup flash. We are now officially in the land of Super Zooms, and the Nikon Coolpix P90 fell in line with many of its peers in terms of design and interface. That means a standard four-way directional pad, a few controls buttons here and there, and an electronic viewfinder. However, the 3-inch fold-out LCD was one of our favorite features on the Nikon Coolpix P90 because it allowed us to shoot at peculiar angles.
Image quality was surprisingly good, considering the fact that the Nikon Coolpix P90 features a standard 12-megapixel 1/2.33-inch CCD. However, we'd opt for one of the three aforementioned compacts looming above when it comes down to the nitty gritty of discerning top-notch image quality within this price range. The Nikon Coolpix P90 is more of a beginner's bridge to an entry-level DSLR, and that was apparent from its extensive library of Scene modes. If you're looking for the ultimate Super Zoom compact, the Nikon Coolpix P90 could be the ticket.
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