Preliminary remark:
Nearly all compact have small 1/2.33'' CCD Sensor that except S90/G11/LX3 which have a 1.6"-1.7" CCD that provide for better image quality and less noise.
The main characteristic that I have taken into account is Image Quality and handling.
- Canon S90 (10MP, 28-105mm, 3"/461k screen, 400-500 Euro/$)
Very compact (pocketable), very good handling (dedicated function rings), highly customizable maybe a bit complicated, possible to shoot raw.
See good review at Enticing the light see also part 2 and part 3.
- Other Canon Ixus (in US Powershot Elph)
All good, very compact, stylish and user friendly.
My favourite is the Canon Digital Ixus 200 IS (in US Powershot SD980 IS Digital ELPH) (12MP/24-120mm/3" TOUCH screen/300E/$) see product tour
The specs similar to S90 but less controls and smaller sensor (= more noise), touchscreen is a plus
- Panasonic Lumix LX3 (10 MP, 24-60 mm, 3"/461k screen, 400-500 Euro/$)
(NB Leica D-lux4 is 95% the same camera)
Not as compact, highly customizable, raw and/or jpeg shooting, not for beginners, complex menus, but very good IA auto mode, very good lens but max tele only 60mm.
Read LX3-S90 comparison (here)
Model to be updated or replaced in 2010?
See video reviews LX3
- Some other Lumix (same chassis = 24mm deep, weight +/- 200gr)
TZ7 (in US Lumix DMC- ZS3) = user-friendly - 10 MP great screen 3"/460k pixels - lens 25-300 / HD video (300 Euro/$)
TZ-6 (in US Lumix DMC- ZS1) = same as above screen 2.7"/230k pixels - (250 Euro/$) - older processor
ZX-1 (in US Lumix DMC- ZR1) = same as above 12 MP lens 25-200, 2.7"/230k pixels - best cost/quality ratio (250 Euro/$) latest processor/ great lens resolution (4 asph)
- Samsung WB1000 (in US TL320) 12MP, 24mm, 3"/OLED screen (super!!) a little less image quality but good (250 Euro/$)
- Sony WX1 (12MP, 24-120mm, 2.7"/230k screen, 300 Euro/$)
Stylish, user friendly, good low light performance, good lens resolution, image quality good but not the best.
- Fuji FinePix F70 EXR (10MP, 27-270mm Lens, 3"/241K screen, 300 E/$)
High dynamic range and good low light performance. I tried it briefly, performances are good but not significantly different from other compact in casual shooting. Possibly would require more tweaks and post processing to deliver full potential.
Nearly all compact have small 1/2.33'' CCD Sensor that except S90/G11/LX3 which have a 1.6"-1.7" CCD that provide for better image quality and less noise.
The main characteristic that I have taken into account is Image Quality and handling.
- Canon S90 (10MP, 28-105mm, 3"/461k screen, 400-500 Euro/$)
Very compact (pocketable), very good handling (dedicated function rings), highly customizable maybe a bit complicated, possible to shoot raw.
See good review at Enticing the light see also part 2 and part 3.
- Other Canon Ixus (in US Powershot Elph)
All good, very compact, stylish and user friendly.
My favourite is the Canon Digital Ixus 200 IS (in US Powershot SD980 IS Digital ELPH) (12MP/24-120mm/3" TOUCH screen/300E/$) see product tour
The specs similar to S90 but less controls and smaller sensor (= more noise), touchscreen is a plus
- Panasonic Lumix LX3 (10 MP, 24-60 mm, 3"/461k screen, 400-500 Euro/$)
(NB Leica D-lux4 is 95% the same camera)
Not as compact, highly customizable, raw and/or jpeg shooting, not for beginners, complex menus, but very good IA auto mode, very good lens but max tele only 60mm.
Read LX3-S90 comparison (here)
Model to be updated or replaced in 2010?
See video reviews LX3
- Some other Lumix (same chassis = 24mm deep, weight +/- 200gr)
TZ7 (in US Lumix DMC- ZS3) = user-friendly - 10 MP great screen 3"/460k pixels - lens 25-300 / HD video (300 Euro/$)
TZ-6 (in US Lumix DMC- ZS1) = same as above screen 2.7"/230k pixels - (250 Euro/$) - older processor
ZX-1 (in US Lumix DMC- ZR1) = same as above 12 MP lens 25-200, 2.7"/230k pixels - best cost/quality ratio (250 Euro/$) latest processor/ great lens resolution (4 asph)
- Samsung WB1000 (in US TL320) 12MP, 24mm, 3"/OLED screen (super!!) a little less image quality but good (250 Euro/$)
- Sony WX1 (12MP, 24-120mm, 2.7"/230k screen, 300 Euro/$)
Stylish, user friendly, good low light performance, good lens resolution, image quality good but not the best.
- Fuji FinePix F70 EXR (10MP, 27-270mm Lens, 3"/241K screen, 300 E/$)
High dynamic range and good low light performance. I tried it briefly, performances are good but not significantly different from other compact in casual shooting. Possibly would require more tweaks and post processing to deliver full potential.
