Best Digital Cameras of 2010
Introduction
Here are the best digital cameras of 2010. Chose one as a gift or for yourself. The winning cameras were selected among the top models in their class. Compared to last year, two new categories were added: Advanced-Compact and SLD. Both of these categories have considerably grown recently, even though not all major brands offer such models.
For each digital camera type, the best overall model available was selected, emphasizing on image quality above all else. Alternate choices are presented when a model in the same category shows a significantly different feature set without drastically compromising on image quality. DSLR cameras are divided into sub-categories relative to their target market.
The digital cameras shown below are outstanding models in their respective categories. They are chosen for outstanding image quality, feature set, performance and value relative to cameras in the same category. If none of these models suit your needs, see our buying guide's model pages. If you are not sure which category would suite you better, consult the Choosing Basics section of the buying guide.
Ultra-Compact
Making digital cameras this small requires compromises. Choosing among them means deciding which compromises we can accept. In return, we get a camera which can unobtrusively be taken anywhere and more photo opportunities. The most drastic compromises are found in ultra-compact digital cameras.
Note No new ultra-compact was able to improve in terms of image quality over last year's winner, which takes the spot as best ultra-compact camera for 2010.
Top Pick
Fujifilm Finepix F200 EXR
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.
What you will like |
---|
Fantastic image quality suitable for large prints |
Excellent low-light capabilities at high-ISO |
Extremely good dynamic range |
Very good lens sharpness |
Speedy focus, zooming and shutter-lag |
Very good LCD visibility |
Limited manual controls in an ultra-compact |
What you may not like |
Interface is twisted and complex feature interactions |
No physical aperture, so no control over depth-of-field |
Poor average battery life using proprietary battery |
Advanced Compact
Advanced compacts are digital cameras with an extensive feature set in a relatively compact body. They cannot fit in a pocket but neither do other cameras with the same feature set. For a long time this category has been very limited due to price-pression from entry-level DSLRs.
Top Pick
Nikon Coolpix P7000
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.
What you will like |
---|
Very low image noise |
Excellent metering |
Good colors and white-balance |
Excellent ergonomics and build quality |
Excellent video-recording features |
Short shutter-lag |
What you may not like |
Frequent autofocus misses |
Not exposure-priority |
Poor LCD coverage |
Slow shot-to-shot speed |
Alternate Choice
Canon Powershot S95
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.
Travel-Zoom
Small ultra-zoom digital cameras are plentiful. With sizes varying between ultra-compact and compact, these models pack at least 8X optical zoom. Just a few years ago, this was only possible with much larger models. Inevitably the size of the lens determines the compromise between focal-length and optical quality, although sensors are roughly the same now across most fixed-lens cameras from a given company.
Top Pick
Fujifilm Finepix F300 EXR
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.
What you will like |
---|
Fantastic image quality suitable for large prints |
Excellent low-light capabilities at high-ISO |
Extremely good dynamic range |
Class-leading autofocus speed |
Speedy all around |
Very good LCD visibility |
What you may not like |
Interface is twisted and complex feature interactions |
No physical aperture, so no control over depth-of-field |
Poor average battery life using proprietary battery |
Single Lens Direct-View
SLD cameras are interchangeable lens cameras designed to give DSLR-like image quality and the convenience of changing lenses using a smaller form-factor. Image-quality is kept high by using the same sensors as entry-level DSLRs and size is reduced by removing the space required to provide an optical reflex viewfinder. The result is either a mirrorless digital camera or one with a translucent mirror. These cameras depend on Live-View for framing, hence the name SLD.
Top Pick
Sony Alpha SLT-A55
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.
What you will like |
---|
DSLR Image quality in small body |
Built-in image stabilization |
Excellent EVF with heads-up display |
Excellent Live-View implementation |
Continuous AF during video recording |
Continuous AF during continuous drive |
10 FPS in a compact body |
Dual-axis digital-level |
What you may not like |
Limited external controls |
Entry-level feature set |
Low battery-life |
Sensitive translucent mirror |
Possible internal flare |
Entry-Level DSLR
DSLR cameras show top image quality, speed of operation and versatility. As such, all DSLR cameras are great photographic tools. While you cannot go wrong with any DSLR, some are better than others. Moving from a fixed-lens type of camera, results from a DSLR cannot fail to impress. The most important differences between DSLR cameras are features and lens choices. Note that all DSLR cameras have full manual controls, custom white balance, various metering modes, high-ISO, continuous drive and a flash hot-shoe.
Top Pick
Pentax K-x
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.
What you will like |
---|
Excellent ISO performance with a wide range |
Class leading shutter speed and continuous drive |
Well-rounded feature set including stabilization |
Excellent ergonomics and simplicity |
Use of convenient AA batteries for extra portability |
Excellent value for its image quality and feature set |
What you may not like |
Small selection of lenses compared to Canon and Nikon |
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.
Advanced DSLR
The Advanced DSLR category finally breaks previous years' tie with the arrival of the Pentax K-5. The K-5 is not only the richest DSLR in terms of features but also produces images of outstanding quality, beating all non-full-frame DSLRs in terms of image noise, retention of details and dynamic-range. Its speedy drive is still not the fastest but has improved enough over the K-7 to be highly competitive.
Top Pick
Pentax K-5
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.
What you will like |
---|
Extremely low image-noise |
Class-leading dynamic-range |
Built-in stabilization works with all lenses |
Automatic horizon correction, corrects up to 2° of tilt |
100% Coverage Viewfinder |
Class leading weather-resistance |
Innovative exposure modes, program line |
Digital white balance preview |
Excellent usability features |
What you may not like |
Status screen does not turn off automatically |
LCD flush with left side |
Small selection of lenses compared to Canon and Nikon |
Professional DSLR
DSLR cameras top image quality, speed of operation and versatility. As such, all DSLR cameras are great photographic tools. While you cannot go wrong with any DSLR, some are better than others. Moving from a fixed-lens type of camera, results from a DSLR cannot fail to impress. The most important differences between DSLR cameras are features and lens choices. Note that all DSLR cameras have full manual controls, custom white balance, various metering modes, high-ISO, continuous drive and a flash hot-shoe.
Top Pick
Nikon D3S
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.
What you will like |
---|
Extremely low image noise, clean images up to ISO 6400 and even usable ISO 51200 |
Class-leading continuous drive up to 11 FPS in cropped mode |
Fast 51-point auto focus with 3D subject-tracking |
Large 100% coverage viewfinder |
Ultra-sharp 3" LCD with 920K pixels |
Built-in digital level |
Great ergonomics and superb build quality |
What you may not like |
Poor automatic white-balance in artificial light |
No built-in flash |
Quite heavy and bulky |
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