Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200
Although it offers less zoom reach than
many of these cameras, the FZ200 does provide a solid 24x range of 25mm to
600mm*. That optical zoom can be doubled to 1200mm with digital zoom (dubbed
"Intelligent Zoom") enabled.
More importantly unlike any of the
competition here, all of which have a variable maximum aperture - the FZ200
features a fast constant maximum aperture of f/2.8, excellent for low-light photography
or when you want to soften background distractions for pro-quality portraits.
It's also worth noting that the lens is a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit, with Leica
being well-known for excellent optical quality. Panasonic's Optical Image
Stabilizer keeps stills and video steady when shooting handheld.
Panasonic
Lumix DMC-FZ200
Images can be captured at up to 12 frames
per second at full 12-megapixel resolution, making the FZ200 the fastest camera
here. You also can record full I ID 1080p video with stereo sound. Plus,
there's a hot-shoe for using an optional accessory external microphone, an
external flash or a remote shutter release.
In addition to the 3-inch, free-angle LCD
that tilts and swivels, there's also an electronic viewfinder that provides
100% coverage for eye-level shooting. Creative shooting modes include in-camera
IIDR, Panorama mode and 14 filter options like soft focus, high key, sepia,
cross-process and more.
Estimated Street Price: $499.
Pentax X-5
Easily mistakable for a DSLR with its traditional
good looks, the 16-megapixel X-5 incorporates a 26x zoom lens, with a range of
22.3mm to 580mm*, and up to approximately 870mm with digital zoom enabled (at a
reduced resolution of 7 megapixels).
In addition to the telephoto reach, the X-5
can do close-up work, as well, focusing on subjects as near as 0.4 inches in
Super Macro Mode. It's even smart enough to automatically switch to macro focus
when you're very close to your subject.
Along with 16-megapixel stills, you can
record full I ID 1080p video. Triple Shake Reduction employs sensor-shift
stabilization, plus ISO boost and video shake reduction to let you shoot stills
and video handheld. Although it doesn't flip or swivel, the 3-inch LCD is
tiltable, and is complemented by the eye-level electronic viewfinder.
Pentax
X-5
A nice feature for group portraits is the
X-5's Fast Face Detection, which can detect up to 32 distinct faces in a scene
and optimize focus and exposure accordingly. Another convenience is the fact
that the X-5 is powered by four standard AA batteries, making it easy to get
backup power in a pinch or when traveling.
Multiple exposure modes are available,
including IIDR, Digital Panorama and popular modes like Sunset and Night Scene
Portrait.
Estimated Street Price: $259.
Samsung WB100
The WB100's 26x zoom starts at a wide
22.3mm and tops out at just shy of 580mm*. With digital zoom, that extends 5x
further to 2900mm. Zoomed out all the way to 22.3mm, it has the widest focal
length of any of these cameras, just squeaking past the Olympus SP-820UZ IS's
22.4mm. It deploys dual image stabilization both optical and digital.
With 16-megapixel resolution, it's one of
the higher-resolution cameras in this group for still photos, but for I ID
video recording, it's limited to 720p with mono sound, while every other camera
here offers full I ID 1080p. That may not be an issue for you if you don't
record a lot of video or don't need the extra resolution for big-screen
playback.
SAMSUNG
WB100
Numerous Scene and Auto modes are
available, including settings for close-up, night portraits and backlit images.
There's also a 180 degree Panorama mode that gives you a live preview of your
final image as you sweep across the scene. You can apply a variety of effects
to your images in-camera with Smart Filters like oil Painting, Half-tone Dot
and a Cartoon Filter to simulate an animation still.
Though there's no hot-shoe for accessories,
there's a built-in flash. Powering the WB 100 is convenient, with four rechargeable
AAs. Maybe the best feature of the camera for the budget-minded is that it's
the most affordable model here by a fair margin.
Estimated Street Price: $199.
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX200V
One of our favorite models in this group,
the IIX200V leads the pack with 18-megapixel resolution. The 30x optical zoom
provides a slightly variable focal range depending on the aspect ratio you
select: For 16:9, the range is 29-870mm; at 4:3, it's 27-810mm*. Those focal
lengths can be doubled using Clear Image (digital) Zoom.
The HX200V is among the faster cameras
here, with the ability to shoot those large image files at up to 10 frames per
second. You also can record full HD 1080p video with stereo sound, and capture
still and video simultaneously. Both stills and videos are stabilized with
Optical SteadyShot and Active 3-way stabilization, the latter of which guards
against camera rotation during video recording.
Sony
Cyber-Shot DSC-HX200V
Sony was the first to introduce the ability
to capture a panoramic image simply by panning across a scene, and the HX200V
includes Intelligent Sweep Panorama IIR, which is smart enough to detect faces
and even moving objects, counteracting the most common obstacles to automatic
panorama stitching. The camera also has GPS built in for convenient geo-tagging.
The HX200V includes several features to
help you take better portraits, including Smile Shutter, which automatically
captures a shot when your subject smiles; an Anti-blink function that rapidly
captures two images, keeping only the one with eyes wide open; and a Soft Skin
mode that automatically reduces blemishes and wrinkles.
Estimated Street Price: $389.
