Premium Compact Cameras: Best Buys

Why oh why did you not include the Canon Powershot S90??

Hi,

Why oh WHY did you not include the Canon Powershot S90 in this review? It's basically a Canon G11 in a tiny form factor. The only thing 'missing' is hot-shoe and a little bit off the zoom.

The S90 would have blown away all of the cameras you've reviewed with:

1) Its size - it is ACTUALLY a compact i.e. I can put it in the pocket of my jeans and people don't cry when I ask them to take a photograph of me.

2) fast fast f2.0 lens and amazing high ISO performance = top notch low light shooter PERFECT for snapping no flash shots in bars and clubs

3) Full manual

4) RAW

5) Amazing build quality

There isn't anything else on the market that is a 'true' compact (i.e. does it fit in my pocket) with a fast lens, ace ISO performance, RAW, and full manual.

Some of those cameras really aren't 'compact'. A compact camera should fit in your pocket. Simple.

Totally disappointed.

Joe.

Alternatively.....

Just bought a Fujifilm Finepix S1730 for a paltry £135 from Argos. At that price it was well worth a punt and I must say I was very impressed.

12MP, 15x optical zoom, has full manual mode and offers 1080p video at 30fps. Picture quality seems excellent. Biggest criticism is the unintuitive menu system.

Its a "bridge" camera, so is hardly "compact", but such a feature-filled piece of kit for £135 makes it well worth a look.

Strange selection

What a strange selection of camera's, mixing in an SLR-priced brick that wouldn't be a 'compact' by anyone's definition with a pretty unique concept like the LX3, the odball Ricoh CX3 and 3 random run-of-the-mill true compacts. As someone already pointed out, the G11 should for sure have been replaced by its equivalent compact version, the S90. Next to that you could have added a nice range of other 'hot' compacts, like the Panasonic Lumix TZ-10, Sony DSC-HX5V and Canon SX210 IS (just for comparison to the S90). Now that would have made for an interesting test...

For the record, I just ordered a DSC-HX5V. First I was agonizing over the lack of proper aperture controls and RAW, or the possibility that it might do noise reduction too aggressively. Then I realized I was just being stupid, as I'm buying this exactly to be a complement - not a replacement - to my DSLR. Why want manual aperture controls on a camera with a tiny sensor that will never deliver nice DOF effects? Why the obsession with RAW when this completely goes against the point&shoot philosophy and furthermore is often implemented in a substandard manner (see recent NX10 review)? If you think about it, it makes much more sense to go looking for something that doesn't try to ape a DSLR, but has its own innovative solutions and differentiators. Like the Sony's twilight & anti-motion blur modes, which in the real world will give better low light performance than any 'fast' lens on a still miniscule sensor, or the superb panoramic sweep implementation, or the best-in-class active stabilization (so good it can make a vid shot from a bike-mounted HX5V look completely stable), or the GPS (gadgety but fun), or the 1080i video mode with stereo audio, in-camera HDR, etc.

If I want manual controls, RAW, DOF options, interchangeable lenses and superb (non-trickery) low light performance, I'll take my DSLR. But if I just want to snap some quick shots & vids, I'd rather use something fit for purpose. Will let you know how that works out...

Canon S90 should have been included

Agree with one of the previous posters - you can't have G11 and LX3 and ignore S90. Makes no sense. If anything, the LX3 and the S90 are in the same niche, really.

And the S90 has the same sensor as the G11. There are some bits I dont like about it, like the paltry zoom and the lack of HD video but it does have some very good bits:

1) Auto WB works very well in most cases, i havent had to adjust it yet, even in some ropey indoor shots.

2) Anti-shake works and f2.0 lens wonders for low light shots as previous poster said- many shots I needed a flash for, I can take unaided.

3) The video, although 640x480 is still very versatile. I used it to film a torchlight descent on a ski run, and it handled low light in a way both my Sony and Panasonic camcorders would not have been able to.

4) Shoots RAW as previous poster said but also has PASM, exposure bracketing, and all sorts of things I have no idea of yet.

5) The LCD screen is a high-res one, so I dont miss a viewfinder so much - and its whatsit - WYSIWYG or whatever the camera term is - as you change stuff it shows up right away.

6) The best bit is the interface - it has 2 clicky-ratchety rings, one on the lens and the other on the back, and also programmable button, that are programmable for anything you want - ISO, exposure, etc, and they change function depending on auto/P/A/S/M setting like you would want. No more fiddling with menu's and little joysticks or cursors. Just click and shoot.

The very high ISO shots are noisy, but I think thats true for most cameras. I got this camera for scenarios compacts are normally used for - impromptu shots, party shots in low light, shots where you can only carry a compact, like up ski-slopes - in low-light stuff its very good.

cheers

Slay

s90 Mod

The mod for the s90 is an adhesive grip. It is great and highly recommended. Makes holding the camera much easier/more secure.

http://www.kleptography.com/rf/

The S90 should have been included in this review - it is after all a review of compact cameras. The G11 whilst very good, is more in line with the newer 4/3 sensor cameras in size.

Having used both the LX3 and the S90, both impressed with quality of photos, but the S90 won on size, weight, and most importantly usability. The design is genius for times where you just want manual control...