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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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| Canon PowerShot SX20 IS - full review / video tour in HD |
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| The PowerShot SX20 IS is Canon's latest super-zoom. It retains the 20x optical zoom, flash hotshoe, stereo sound, AA battery power and fully articulated 2.5in monitor of the best-selling PowerShot SX10 IS, but boosts the resolution to 12.1 Megapixels, adds 720p HD movie recording and tops it off with an HDMI port. As before, the DIGIC 4 processor offers AF tracking, efficient video compression, and a neat self-timer mode which exploits face detection to wait for a new person to appear before starting the countdown. It’s an impressive spec, but there’s still no RAW, and the continuous shooting is even slower than before (perhaps to greater differentiate the SX1 IS, below). It’s still Highly Recommended, but compare closely with Panasonic’s FZ38 / FZ35.
Pros: 20x zoom, flip-out screen, flash hotshoe, HD video.
Cons: No RAW recording; slow burst mode.
Overall: One of the best super-zooms, but compare with FZ38 / 35.
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| Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 / FZ35 - full review / video tour in HD |
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| Panasonic's Lumix DMC-FZ38 / FZ35 is the 12.1 Megapixel super-zoom successor to the popular FZ28. It keeps the compact light-weight body, 18x optical zoom range, 2.7in screen and RAW recording of its predecessor, but boosts the resolution, offers the choice of encoding formats for its 720p movies along with stereo sound and manual exposures, improves both the AF and stabilisation, adds face recognition (where it can remember specific individuals), and throws in an HDMI port too. Once again these may represent a minor upgrade over its predecessor, but given the earlier FZ28 was one of the best super-zooms around, it places the new model in a very strong position. A superb choice, but compare closely with Canon’s SX20 IS which boasts a 20x zoom, flip-out screen and flash hotshoe.
Pros: 18x zoom, RAW recording, HD movie mode.
Cons: Fixed screen, no flash hotshoe.
Overall: One of the best super-zooms, but compare with SX20 IS. |
| Canon PowerShot G11 - full review |
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| Canon's PowerShot G11 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 G10, it shares the same 5x stabilised zoom, flash hotshoe, manual control, RAW recording and battleship build quality. New to the G11 are a fully-articulated screen, HDMI port and a 10 Megapixel sensor designed to deliver lower noise than its predecessor. It works too, but if you want really decent quality in low light you’ll still need a DSLR-sized sensor like that in the Olympus E-P1 or Panasonic GF1. The PowerShot G11 is also lacking HD video, but still fulfils the brief of delivering decent controls and good quality in a compact form factor.
Pros: 5x zoom, hotshoe, RAW, articulated screen, good low-light.
Cons: No HD movies or zooming when filming, slow burst mode.
Overall: A good premium compact, but compare with E-P1 and GF1. |
| Canon PowerShot S90 - full review |
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Canon’s PowerShot S90 is an ideal choice for enthusiasts who want a pocket camera without compromising on control and features. It squeezes the PowerShot G11’s quality into a considerably smaller body with a brighter lens on the front. Think of it as an IXUS / ELPH for the more demanding customer, sporting wide-angle coverage, manual control, RAW file support, a large detailed screen and a fast, bright lens; there’s also a neat ring control around the lens. Like the G11 though, there’s no HD video and the continuous shooting is poor, but if you’re after a truly pocket-sized camera with this degree of control and features, there’s not many alternatives. Do compare closely with the G11 and LX3 though.
Pros: Pocket body; bright, wide lens; 3in / 460k screen; RAW files.
Cons: No HD movies or zooming when filming, slow burst mode.
Overall: A great pocket camera for enthusiasts. |
| Canon PowerShot SX1 IS - full review / video tour in HD |
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| Canon’s PowerShot SX1 IS is the best hybrid camera for stills and video at this price point. It takes the already capable PowerShot SX10 IS with its powerful 20x zoom and articulated screen, but swaps the sensor for a CMOS version which can deliver both HD video in the 1080p format and fast continuous shooting at 4fps. The SX1 IS also adds an HDMI port and support for RAW recording. The viewfinder and screen are now both 16:9 shaped, which means you won’t use their full area when composing in the native 4:3 aspect ratio for stills, but they’re perfect when filming widescreen video. Ultimately if you want to film HD video and take still photos with one camera, it’s the best solution at this price point. If you want faster shooting still, check out the Sony HX1.
Pros: 20x zoom, HD movies, RAW, flip-out screen, flash hotshoe.
Cons: Small viewfinder and screen image in 4:3 aspect ratio.
Overall: The best hybrid super-zoom camera to date.
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| Olympus E-P1 - full review / video compilation in HD |
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| The Olympus E-P1 is the camera many enthusiasts have been waiting for. It packs a DSLR-sized sensor into a relatively compact body, with the added bonuses of interchangeable lenses, built-in stabilisation and 720p HD video. The advantage of using a DSLR-sized sensor is much lower noise, higher dynamic range and a potentially shallower depth-of-field than a typical compact can offer – and the E-P1 also has a kit zoom lens which collapses down to a shorter length when not in use for easier transportation. There may not be a built-in flash or viewfinder, and the screen is fairly average, but packing a DSLR sensor with stabilisation into a compact body makes for an extremely compelling camera – recommended, but compare closely with the Panasonic GF1 below.
Pros: Big sensor in a small body, built-in stabilisation, HD movies.
Cons: No built-in flash, no viewfinder, average screen.
Overall: Ideal compact for enthusiasts, but compare with GF1.
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| Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 - full review / video compilation in HD |
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| Panasonic’s Lumix GF1 follows the same path as the Olympus E-P1 above, by squeezing a DSLR-sized sensor into a compact body, again with the bonus of interchangeable lenses and 720p HD video. Both cameras achieve this by employing the Micro Four Thirds standard, which means they can also share the same lenses. The GF1 may not have built-in stabilisation – and therefore relies on stabilised lenses to combat camera-shake – but it does have quicker autofocus, a more detailed screen and longer video recording times than the E-P1, not to mention a built-in flash. It’s a compelling compact, especially when fitted with Panasonic’s tiny 20mm f1.7 lens – the perfect combination for a high quality portable camera, but again compare closely with the E-P1 above.
Pros: Big sensor in a small body, great screen, HD movies.
Cons: No stabilisation in body or 20mm kit lens, pricey EVF.
Overall: Ideal compact for enthusiasts, but compare with E-P1.
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| Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 - full review / video tour |
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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 G11, but there’s pros and cons to each model, so if you’re shopping for a premium compact, compare both closely. Also check out Canon's S90.
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 G11 and S90. |
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