Camera Labs Buyer's Guide:
the best compact digital cameras

If you’re shopping for a compact digital camera, you’ve come to the right place! At Camera Labs we provide in-depth reviews but understand you’re busy people who sometimes just want recommendations of the most outstanding products.

So here we cut to the chase and list the best models around right now. We’ve fully tested each one and there’s links to our reviews for more details – and to see an actual demonstration of their highlights, be sure to check out our video tours.

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Panasonic’s Lumix TZ5 is the successor to the enormously popular TZ3, and like its predecessor, it may not be the slimmest compact on the market, but uniquely packs in a 10x optical zoom lens complete with image stabilisation and a 28mm equivalent wide angle. With the new TZ5, Panasonic has added two extra Megapixels, its latest Intelligent Auto mode which does an uncanny job at working out what you’re trying to take, upgraded the screen with more detail, and featured HD video recording in the 720p format. They’re nice extras, but it’s the core features which still impresses: a highly flexible zoom range in a pocketable form factor. The best travel compact just got better, but if you don’t need the new features, the earlier TZ3 has the same lens at a cheaper price.

Pros: 10x stabilised zoom with 28mm; HD video; great auto mode.
Cons: Noise above 200 ISO; HD mode no match for a camcorder.
Overall: The best travel compact just got better.

Panasonic’s Lumix FX35 is the successor to the excellent Lumix FX33, which was an earlier fixture in our Best buys section. The new FX35 remains a very slim compact, but now sports 10 Megapixels and a longer 4x zoom range. Rather than zoom closer than its predecessor though, the FX35 zooms wider, offering unusually wide angle coverage of 25mm, while still zooming-into 100mm for close-ups. Like the TZ5, it also now offers Panasonic’s latest Auto modes and HD video recording in the 720p format. Like most compacts, the quality is best kept under 200 ISO, but overall the FX35 represents great value especially considering its wide angle lens and smaller than average body.

Pros: 4x zoom with 25mm wide angle; slim; HD video
Cons: Noise above 200 ISO; HD mode no match for a camcorder.
Overall: A great value slim compact with a wide lens and HD video.

Canon’s Digital Ixus 860IS – or PowerShot SD870 Digital Elph as it’s known in North America – is an 8 Megapixel compact with an optically stabilised 3.8x zoom. The lens offers a 28-105mm equivalent coverage, equipping the camera with decent wide angle facilities and the results look great on the large 3in screen. There’s no manual control over aperture and shutter, no live histogram and we found the touch wheel tricky to use, but there’s no denying Canon’s latest is a quality compact. If you can stretch to its higher price, it comes Highly Recommend.

Pros: 28mm wide angle, 3in screen, quick startup
Cons:Little manual control, slow burst shooting
Overall:Pricier than most but that’s the cost of quality

The Panasonic Lumix TZ3 is a 7.2 Megapixel compact with a difference: it may be pocketable, but features a massive 10x optical zoom complete with stabilisation. This allows the TZ3 to capture photos which are simply out the reach of most other compacts. Noise levels can be quite high, but the effective optical stabilisation lets you shoot below 200 ISO and enjoy great results. The build quality is also very good and the icing on the cake a massive 3in screen and widescreen movie recording. It all adds up to a winning combination and one of the most flexible compacts around. And now the new TZ5 has come out, there's some bargains to be had.

Pros: 10x stabilised zoom, 28mm wide angle and 3in screen
Cons: Relatively high noise; very little manual control
Overall: No other compact zooms as close as the TZ3

Fujifilm’s FinePix F50fd is the successor to the popular F30 / F31fd, sporting an increased resolution of 12 Megapixels. The sensor also shifts to provide stabilisation and offers sensitivity up to 1600 ISO at 12 Mpixels, and up to 6400 ISO at reduced resolution. Unlike its predecessors though, the F50fd doesn’t beat its rivals at high sensitivities – it’s no worse, but also no better. The 35-105mm equivalent range also misses out on proper wide angle. But you do get 12 Megapixels, full manual control over aperture and shutter, and a decent approach to indoor flash photography at an affordable price.

Pros: High resolution, manual control, good indoor flash
Cons: Pedestrian lens range; screen and IS bettered by rivals
Overall: No longer a high ISO leader, but a good all-rounder