Best Digital Cameras of 2010

The Fuji Finepix F200 EXR combines a wide-angle 5X optical zoom lens, image stabilization, ultra-high ISO and a 12 megapixels SuperCCD EXR sensor which features a revolutionary design.

The image quality of this digital camera is so fantastic that it even outperforms pretty much every fixed lens camera. This one is clearly the low-light and dynamic-range champion in this category and by a wide margin at that.

The Nikon Coolpix P7000 packs an extensive feature set along with a 7X wide-angle optical zoom lens. Its image quality is excellent, even beating the previous champion in terms of image noise. Exposure, metering, color and white-balance are also very reliable too. A complete set of manual controls make this an ideal camera for creative photography when a large camera would be impractical.

The extensive buttons and dials that cover the P7000 make it efficient to control in all exposure-modes. Dual control-dials means that manual-exposure can be set without using buttons or a menu. The P7000 even includes a digital-level and support for stereo sound during HD video recording via its internal microphone or using an external audio input.

The Canon S95 is a compact digital camera aimed at advanced users. It has full manual controls, an efficient interface with dual control wheels and built-in stabilization.

While a look at the Canon S95's ISO performance is nothing to write about, its savior is a bright F2 wide-angle lens, that gives it a one stop head-start. Still, the Nikon P7000 remains superior in terms of image quality but the S95 is noticeably smaller and even more efficient to use.

This is the ultra-zoom version of the excellent F200 EXR. It packs a slightly smaller 12 megapixels sensor and an amazingly versatile 15X ultra-wide optical zoom lens instead. High ISO and dynamic-range performance are superb, matching its predecessor while offering more advanced functionality including 720p HD video recording. The lens quality is truly impressive with some corner-softness but virtually no distortion, vignetting or chromatic aberrations.

The bonus ace of the Fuji Finepix F300 EXR is its hybrid autofocus system which lets it use contrast-detection or phase-detection, giving it the ability to focus extremely quickly. Under most well-lit circumstances this system works so well that only DSLRs can focus faster.

The Sony Alpha SLT-A55 is an introduction to the future of ILCs. It features a 16 megapixels sensor behind a translucent mirror which gives it unique class-leading capabilities. Having a translucent mirror lets it focus and meter constantly, even during exposure and particularly during video-recording. The SLT-A55 can shoot continuously at 10 FPS and record video with full-time phase-detection autofocus, promising to keep up with more action than any other SLD and even most DSLRs. Movies can be recorded in full 1080p HD video resolution.

Ergonomics of the diminutive A55 are rather good considering its size. The most comfortable aspect is its superb EVF with Eye-Start sensor. This EVF is exceptionally large, bright and very sharp with a resolution equivalent to 1.4 megapixels. It shows a true exposure-priority live-view display with 100% coverage and phase-detection autofocus. The A55 is also the first ILC to have a built-in GPS.

This entry-level DSLR pushes the limits among its class with 4.7 FPS continuous shooting and a top 1/6000 shutter-speed. It does miss the older K200D's weather-sealing but keeps use of AA batteries and adds 720p HD video recording. It also has the largest viewfinder among its peers.

A new CMOS sensor design gives the Pentax K-x an ISO range up to 12800, although the last two stops are quite noisy, it does match its peers in the ISO 100-3200 range.

The good news is that Pentax recently announced the Pentax K-r
Pentax K-r which should perform very similarly in terms of image quality while being able to shoot continuously at 6 FPS. It also adds the ability to use both standard AA and Lithium-Ion batteries. Unfortunately we have not seen it yet to confirm this.

The new 16 megapixels sensor in the Pentax K-5 brings unprecedented level of image quality to cropped-sensor DSLRs, challenging even larger full-frame cameras on many fronts. Plus, the K-5 keeps all the fantastic and unique features of the K-7 including built-in stabilization, automatic horizon correction, 100% coverage viewfinder and the best weatherproof protection among ILCs.

This DSLR now features an extended ISO range that reaches 51200 plus a dual-axis digital-level, 7 FPS continuous drive and full 1080p HD video recording in standard 16:9 aspect ratio.

The Nikon D3S is without a doubt the low-light champion. By keeping its 12 megapixels resolution, the D3S can remain usable with a reduction in print-size at ISO 51200. Ultra-clean images up to ISO 6400 make this professional DSLR a must have for event photographers where reaching fast shutter-speeds is a top priority. Its fast 9 FPS continuous drive at full-resolution and fast 3D-tracking autofocus system reinforces this digital camera's position for high-speed action.

As expected from a high-end model like this one, this DSLR includes a 100% coverage viewfinder and weather-seals to protect it against the elements. It can also record 720p HD video and has a digital-level and dual compact-flash memory slots which can work to provide a longer uninterrupted shoot or on-the-fly backups.