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Recommendations
The Ratings list models by overall per-
formance. The standout Quick Picks all
produced images
that
were excellent or
very
good-a
difference that's subtle even
on most larger prints. All models come
2 Canon
from
reliable brands. For some models, we
have noted a newer successor
that
we
haven't yet tested.
QUICK
PICKS
Best values for most people:
2 Canon (7 MP) $270
5 Olympus
3 Canon (8 MP) $200, CR Best Buy
7 Fujifilm (6 MP) $220, CR Best Buy
All these compacts have manual controls.
The Canon (2) has excellent next-shot
cameras
delay, very good
shutter
lag, 6x optical
o e 0
~ .
• Availability Most models at stores through February
2008.
zoom, an optical viewfinder, an image sta-
Excellent
Very
Good
Fair
poor
. .-
good
bilizer, and manual focus. (Also available:
the 8-megapixel PowerShot A720 IS,$250,
Within types, in performance order. Blue key numbers indicate Quick Picks.
with maximum ISOof 1600 and face detec-
Specifications
tion.) Its brandmate (3) offers excellent
picture quality, very good next-shot delay,
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4x optical zoom, an optical viewfinder, and
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shutter
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(Also available: the 12-megapixel Power-
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Shot
A650
IS,
$400,
with 6x optical zoom,
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image stabilization, and face detection.)
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COMPACT
CAMERAS
For
those
who
want
the
basics
atalow
price
or
advanced
features.
The Fujifilm has very good next-shot delay,
good shutter lag, and an image stabilizer.
1
Canon
PowerShot
A640
$300
10
12
4x
2.4
13.8
ee
0 0
2
Canon
PowerShot
A710
IS
270
7 9 6x
2.5
11.5
eeeo
For flexible editing and composition:
[;l
~
3
Canon
PowerShot
A630
200
8
12
4x
2.4
13.8
oe
~
e
10
Canon (10 MP)
$500
This has 6x zoom range, excellent next-
4
Canon
PowerShot
S3
IS
290
6
18
12x
2
17.1
eo
0 0
shot delay, good
shutter
lag, an image
5
Olympus
SP-510
UZ
240
7
15
lOx
2.4
14.8
eo
~ o
stabilizer, manual controls, manual focus,
6
Fujifilm
FinePix
E900
230
9 9 4x 2
12.1
0
e
oo
optical viewfinder, and face
detection.
(Also available: the 12-megapixel Power-
[;l
~
7
Fujifilm
FinePix
F31fd
220
6
7
3x
2.4
21.3
eo
o e
•
Shot G9,
$500,
with
RAW-file capability
8
Nikon
Coolpix
SIO
250
6
9
lOx
2.5
17.7
e
e
oo
·
and 3-inch LCD.)
9
Panasonic
Lumix
DMC-TZ3
350
7 9
lOx
3
13.8
e e
~ e
•
For a camera
that
fits in a pocket:
10
Canon
PowerShot
G7
500
10
13
6x
2.4
13.1
e
00
0
·
20
Sony (10 MP) $310
11
Sony
Cyber-shot
DSC
-G1
600
6 8 3x
3.4
9.2
oeeo
·
21
Sony (7 MP)
$250
12
Canon
PowerShot
TXl
500
7
9
lOx
1.8
6.6
e
O~
O
·
22
Panasonic (7 MP)
$350
13
Nikon
Coolpix
P5000
400
..
10
8
3.5x
2.4
26.2
e
o
~e
•
24
Canon (7 MP) $310
14
HP
Photos
mart
R927
260
8 7
3x
3
15.6
e
oeo
26
Samsung (7 MP) $250, CR Best Buy
The Sonys
both
have excellent
picture
15
Olympus
SP-550UZ
500
7
16
18x
2.4
14.8
o
e~
e
·
quality, excellent
next-shot
delay, and
16
HP
Photos
mart
R837
230
7 6
3x
3
13.5
·
very good
shutter
lag. The Sony
(20)
has
.'
oo
e o
17
Samsung
NV7
OPS
260
7
10
7x
2.4
19
OO~~
manual controls. The Panasonic has ex-
·
cellent next-shot delay, very good
shutter
18
Olympus
FE-200
250
6 7
5x
2.7
8.2
o
e~~
·
lag, wide-angle capability, and an optical
19
Olympus
Stylus
1000
220
10
6
3x
2.5
17.1
~
O~O
·
image
stabilizer. The Canon has excel-
lent
next-shot
delay,
very
good
shutter
lag, wide-angle capability, optical view-
Guide to the
Ratings
finder, and an optical image stabilizer.
Overall score is based mainly on picture quality, the presence of useful features, battery life, and weight.
(Also available: the 8-megapixel 5087015
Displayed scores are rounded; models are listed in order of precise overall score.
Megapixels is the resolu-
ELPH,
$400,
with
a 3-inch LCD but no
tion in millions of pixels.
Weight includes battery and included memory. Optical zoom refers to the ratio of
viewfinder.) The Samsung has
very
good
focal lengths.
LCD size is measured diagonally. Flash range is the manufacturer's claimed maximum dis-
tance in auto mode with lens at wide angle.
Picture quality is based on expert judgments on a reference
next-shot
delay, good
shutter
lag, 7x
monitor
of images made with each camera's best resolution and compression settings.
Battery
life indi-
optical
zoom, an image stabilizer, and
cates how many highest-quality photos were taken with the batteries supplied (if they were proprietary
MPEG4 video.
ones) or rechargeable nickel-metal hydride AAs; alternate shots used flash, and the zoom lens was racked in
40
CONSUMER
REPORTS
0
NOVEMBER
2007
•
Expert·
Independent·
Nonprortt