Do you want a small camera that requires minimal effort, but takes great pictures? A pocket point-and-shoot is probably your best bet. Need to get close to the action without carrying a huge camera with a big lens? A compact superzoom model is likely for you. Or do you want a lightning-fast shooter that lets you swap out lenses and play with settings? Then you want a D-SLR or a compact interchangeable-lens camera. Plan on shooting on the beach or the slopes? You need a ruggedized waterproof model.
We picked winners from recent cameras we've tested in the aforementioned categories to make up our top 10. When there are multiple winners in a category, we pick models at various price points. For D-SLRs, we've chosen an entry-level, a midrange, and a high-end, full-frame camera. And this time around, we have four point-and-shoot models at various budget levels.
Remember, though, the digital camera market is a robust one; manufacturers release new products throughout the year, and we're continually testing and reviewing cameras—and updating this list. Before you buy, be sure to hit our Digital Cameras Product Guide for the latest reviews. But for now, the folowing are top 10 of our favorite digital cameras.
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A. Point-and-Shoot Cameras
Fujifilm X100S
- Pros Hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder. Superb high ISO image quality. 35mm wide-angle field of view. Fast f/2 lens. Excellent control layout. Fast focus. Continuous shooting at 5fps. X-Trans image sensor. Wide-angle adapter available.
- Cons Bigger than some other large-sensor compacts. Lens suffers from edge softness. Macro shots at wide apertures have a soft-focus look. Video could be better. No image stabilization. Rear LCD could be sharper.
- Bottom Line Don't be fooled by the Fujifilm X100S's retro exterior; it's a modern, full-featured digital camera that impressed us enough to earn our Editors' Choice award.
- Price : $1,299.95
Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS
- Pros Waterproof to 50 feet. Excellent high ISO performance. Fast f/2 lens. Snappy performance. Accepts filters and conversion lenses. GPS and digital compass. Macro LED light.
- Cons Lens could be sharper. In-camera battery charging. Lens movement is audible on video soundtrack.
- Bottom Line The Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS rugged camera is a very minor upgrade to the excellent TG-1. It comes in at a lower price and walks away with our Editors' Choice award. Price : $379.99
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
- Pros Large image sensor. Superb image quality, even at high ISOs. Fast lens. Customizable controls. Large, extra-sharp LCD. Virtually no shutter lag. Raw shooting support.
- Cons As expensive as some D-SLRs. No EVF option, GPS, or Wi-Fi. Limited zoom range. In-camera battery charging only.
- Bottom Line The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 packs a relatively huge 1-inch image sensor into a point-and-shoot body, delivering close-to-SLR-quality images from a camera you can fit in your back pocket. It's expensive, but worth it.
- Price : $649.99
Canon PowerShot Elph 330 HS
- Pros Sharp lens. Integrated Wi-Fi. 10x zoom range. Excellent high ISO performance. Short shutter lag. Includes external battery charger.
- Cons Small-aperture lens. Lacks full manual controls. 1080p video limited to 24fps.
- Bottom Line One of the best cameras you can buy for less than $250, the svelte, 10x-zoom Canon PowerShot Elph 330 HS takes beautiful pictures and lets you send them instantaneously with integrated Wi-Fi.
- Price : $229.99
B. Digital SLRs
Canon EOS 6D
- Pros Compact. Inexpensive for its class. Full-frame sensor. 4.5fps shooting. Superb image quality at high ISOs. Interchangeable focus screens. Integrated GPS and Wi-Fi. 1080p30 video capture. Battery grip available. Supported USB tethered and Wi-Fi remote control.
- Cons Not the fastest camera on the block. Viewfinder only offers 97 percent coverage. Not compatible with EF-S lenses. GPS saps battery life. No flash. Slow focus during video recording. No PC Sync socket.
- Bottom Line The Canon EOS 6D is a top-notch full-frame camera in a compact body. With a relatively affordable price, enthusiast-friendly features, and spectacular image quality, it's an easy Editors' Choice.
- Price : $2,099
Nikon D7100
- Pros Fast, 51-point autofocus system. Dual SD card slots. Large pentaprism viewfinder. Excellent control layout. Preserves details at high ISO settings. Shoots at 6fps. 1.3x crop mode available. Very fast startup. Vertical grip add-on available. Sharp rear LCD. Sensor design omits optical low-pass filter. 1/250-second flash sync speed.
- Cons Limited burst shooting in Raw mode. On the heavy side. Some image noise at ISO 3200 and above. Lacks built-in GPS. No PC Sync socket.
- Bottom Line If you're in the market for a serious D-SLR, but don't want to go full-frame, the Nikon D7100 is the way to go; it's our Editors' Choice camera in its category.
- Price : $1,199.95
Nikon D5200
- Pros Excellent image quality. Fast autofocus. 4fps continuous shooting. Sharp vari-angle LCD. 39-point autofocus system. Fast to start and shoot. 1080i60 video capture. Wi-Fi and GPS add-ons available.
- Cons Small pentamirror viewfinder. Will not autofocus with screw-drive lenses. Noisy focus during video recording. Only one control wheel.
- Bottom Line The under-$1,000 Nikon D5200 is a capable D-SLR that delivers impressive image quality and continuous shooting at 4 frames per second, earning it our Editors' Choice. Price : $799.95
C. Compact Interchangeable-Lens Cameras
Olympus OM-D E-M5
- Pros Compact body. Fully weather sealed. Crisp LCD EVF. Articulating rear display. Sharp kit lens. Impressive high ISO performance. Fast autofocus. Shoots at 9 frames per second. In-body stabilization. Large native lens library. Optional grip available.
- Cons External flash. Lacks a standard mic input.
- Bottom Line The Olympus OM-D E-M5 is the best Micro Four Thirds camera we've tested. It's got a top-notch stabilization system, is fully weather sealed, can shoot in all types of light, and ships with a sharp and versatile kit lens. Add it all up, and you have our new Editors' Choice for high-end compact interchangeable lens cameras.
- Price : $1,299.99
Samsung NX300
- Pros Sharp kit lens. Excellent high ISO performance. Retro chrome and leatherette styling. Tilting, touch-screen display. 7fps burst shooting. Short shutter lag. Wi-Fi. 3D lens support. 1080p60 video. Includes Adobe Lightroom software.
- Cons No EVF option. External battery charger not included. Lacks built-in flash and mic input.
- Bottom Line The Samsung NX300 is a speedy mirrorless compact that captures excellent images and offers well-executed integrated Wi-Fi for easy online photo sharing.
- Price : $799.99
D. Superzoom Camera
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200
- Pros Fast f/2.8 zoom lens. Speedy performance. Sharp images. Excellent EVF. Hot shoe and mic input. Raw support.
- Cons Expensive. Rear LCD could be sharper. Not the longest zoom in class. No GPS.
- Bottom Line The 24x Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 doesn't have the most ambitious zoom ratio, but a sharp f/2.8 aperture lens and speedy performance make up for it.
- Price : $599.99
Ref: http://www.pcmag.com/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2369450,00.asp?obref=obnetwork
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