Camera Labs Buyer's Guide:
the best premium compacts and superzooms

If you’re shopping for an up-market compact or a super-zoom 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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The PowerShot SX10 IS is Canon's latest super-zoom. It retains the manual control, flash hotshoe, stereo sound recording, AA battery power and fully articulated monitor of the best-selling PowerShot S5 IS, but significantly upgrades the optical zoom from 12x to a whopping 20x; with a 28-560mm equivalent range, this crucially both extends and widens the coverage. The resolution has also been boosted to 10 Megapixels, while the latest DIGIC 4 processor adds AF tracking, more efficient video compression, and a neat self-timer mode which waits for a new person to appear before starting the countdown. It’s an impressive spec, but there’s no HD or RAW, and relatively slow continuous shooting. It’s still Highly Recommended, but compare closely with Panasonic’s FZ28.

Pros: 20x zoom, flip-out screen, flash hotshoe, stereo mics.
Cons: No RAW or HD movies, relatively slow burst mode.
Overall: One of the best super-zooms, but compare with FZ28.

Panasonic's Lumix DMC-FZ28 is a 10.1 Megapixel super-zoom with DSLR-styling and an 18x optically-stabilised zoom range. Strongly based on the enormously successful Lumix FZ18, the new FZ28 keeps the body, full manual control and RAW recording of its predecessor, but boosts the resolution, fits a larger screen, adds HD movies in the 720p format, AF tracking and a quicker burst mode, along with a number of tweaks to the controls, viewfinder, menus and auto systems. These may all represent a minor upgrade over its predecessor, but given the earlier FZ18 was arguably the best super-zoom around, it places the new FZ28 in a very strong position. A superb choice, but compare closely with Canon’s SX10 IS which boasts a 20x zoom, flip-out screen and flash hotshoe.

Pros: 18x zoom, RAW recording, HD movie mode.
Cons: Fixed screen, no hotshoe, smaller EVF than FZ18.
Overall: One of the best super-zooms, but compare with SX10 IS.

Canon's PowerShot G10 is the latest model in the company's flagship G-series, targeting enthusiasts and those who want a pocketable backup to a DSLR. The successor to the popular G9, it retains full manual control, a flash hotshoe, RAW recording and the battleship build quality. The new features include wider-angle coverage with a 28-140mm zoom range, a new 14.7 Megapixel sensor, a highly detailed 3in screen and a new dial for exposure compensation. Behind the scenes is Canon's latest DIGIC 4 processor, which adds AF tracking, more efficient video compression, and a neat self-timer mode which waits for a new person to appear before starting the countdown. If you can stick to the lowest sensitivities, it delivers great quality while enthusiasts will love the design and controls.

Pros: 5x zoom, flash hotshoe, RAW, 3in 460k screen.
Cons: No HD movies, relatively slow burst mode.
Overall: A great premium compact, but compare with LX3.

The Lumix DMC-LX3 is Panasonic's flagship compact for enthusiasts. Coming two years after its predecessor, the new LX3 features 10.1 Megapixel resolution, full manual control, HD movie recording in the 720p format, a flash hotshoe, RAW recording, a highly detailed 3in screen, and a 2.5x optical zoom with optical stabilisation, a bright focal ratio of f2.0 and unusually wide angle coverage equivalent to 24mm. It ticks all the right boxes for enthusiasts on the lookout for a high-end compact, with the ultra-wide coverage, bright focal ratio and a sensible approach to image resolution being highlights. The LX3 is also smaller and lighter than its arch rival the Canon G10, but there’s pros and cons to each model, so if you’re shopping for a premium compact, compare both closely.

Pros: 24mm coverage, bright f2.0 lens, RAW, flash hotshoe.
Cons: Maximum coverage just 60mm, annoying lens cap.
Overall: An ideal premium compact, but compare with G10.