This year’s “carry-around” digital compact cameras perform nearly as well as big pro DSLRs, but at a fraction of the cost and size.
It’s generally accepted that the Nikon D3 and Canon 5D cameras are both technological miracles, providing capabilities that we didn’t even know we needed 10 years ago. But their weight and size are not their strongest points. After a long day of shooting, they start feeling a little heavy, don’t they? In the studio or on location, this is not a major issue for pro shooters. For users spending the weekend at the beach with family, however, the best of the DSLRs are too big and heavy to lug around all day. Most pros have, in addition to their working toolbox of cameras and lenses, a personal favorite “carry-around” camera – one that is easy to pack, fun to use and able to serve as a backup to the commercial workhorses.
These “pro-companion” and “power zoom” cameras provide much of the capabilities of pro DSLRs, but are compact and lightweight and will fit in a small shoulder bag or fanny pack. They also come at a fraction of the cost, with most of them retailing for less than $500. At that kind of affordability, it’s hard to resist owning one or several.
Common characteristics
The main difference between these cameras and the multitude of point-and-shoots available is image quality, size, weight and convenience. Pros and serious amateurs have in common the desire to produce quality images that endure. So even if a carry-around camera makes many compromises, it still must be able to produce images of quality that can be used privately or commercially. Not many small, lightweight cameras are this capable.
With a smaller size, of course, there are certain limits. For example, most digital sensors in these ultracompact cameras are smaller than your fingernail. Although manufacturers are employing many innovative techniques, digital noise is still an issue when compared to full-frame DSLRs. Compared to 35mm film cameras of the past, however, these smaller sensors produce excellent image quality at low ASA settings, good quality at 400 ASA, and acceptable quality at 800 ASA.
The major manufacturers of digital cameras know these limitations very well, and because of the “interesting” economic times in which we live, these companies are responding with a surprising number of models that give us the best of both worlds. Most of these cameras have several features in common: image stabilization, a minimum of 9-megapixel resolution, a minimum wide-angle focal length equivalent of 28mm, a powerful zoom range, a fixed lens, manual controls and a live-view LCD screen. Some of the power zoom models have electronic SLR viewfinders. Some of the pro-companion models have RAW file capabilities. But all of the cameras mentioned here are smaller, lighter and easier to use than a typical, full-blown DSLR.
The pro companions
Three smaller cameras that have enjoyed ready acceptance by pros and serious amateurs alike are the Canon G10, Leica Digilux 4 and Panasonic LX3. These cameras lack SLR viewing and the great range of the power zooms, but provide the best in compactness and are actually pocketable. Add the Nikon P6000 and Fujifilm F200EXR to the mix and you have five very capable cameras, most of which also offer RAW file capability.
The Leica Digilux 4 and Panasonic LX3 cameras are wide-angle superstars, incorporating 24-60mm f/2.0 Summicron lenses, 10.1-megapixel sensors, wide LCD screens, good noise reduction and optional optical viewfinders. They differ slightly in appearance, but mechanically are the same; Leica loads its own firmware and offers a longer warranty. The Leica tops out the price structure at $699 ($995 in titanium).
The Fujifilm F200EXR carries on the tradition of the F30, offering a 28-140mm zoom equivalent, a slightly larger chip and superior noise reduction. The Nikon P6000 has RAW capability plus built-in GPS. The Nikon also has the ability to accept a 21mm auxiliary lens. The Canon G10, too, has auxiliary lens capability, but frankly most pros and serious amateurs would find their performance acceptable.
Each of these cameras is a very comfortable companion, and each offers particular features useful for specific types of photography. Are you an available-light shooter and hate using a flash? The Fuji may be your best bet due to its unique chip design. Are you a street photographer? The Panasonic and Leica cameras are the modern digital equivalent of a Leica M3 with 35mm Summicron. Do you want all-around versatility and maximum resolution in a small camera? The Canon G10 is the latest camera in the “G” family, a series of cameras loved by enthusiasts since its inception in the 1970s.
All of these cameras also offer limited video clip capability. With these cameras, you can shoot clips of any length (determined by memory card capacity), but you cannot follow-focus or adjust with zoom, and the audio is poor. However, this feature is not intended to be a substitute for a video camera; its purpose is to allow you to make quick video clips that are ideally suited to new-media outlets, such as YouTube and Facebook. Most offer standard-definition video at 30 frames per second (fps); the Leica and Panasonic offer HD at 24 fps.
The power zooms
The latest models of the power-zoom category have all of the characteristics listed above for the pro-companion models. The main difference is that they all utilize SLR-type electronic viewfinders, LCD live-view screens and zoom lenses that start at 28mm equivalent and stretch as far as 640mm.
One caution when considering a power zoom as your carry-around camera: the rules of physics still apply. Image stabilization is what makes these long telephoto zooms possible, but a handheld 624mm f/5 is still a handful, even with stabilization. A tripod is strongly recommended.
Among the newest and best of the power zooms are the Nikon P90, Panasonic FZ28, Casio EX-FH20, Sony HX-1, Canon SX1 IS and Fujifilm S2000HD. A few of these cameras offer some unique and spectacular features.
The Casio EX-FH20, for example, not only utilizes a 20x optical zoom, but allows for high-speed, 7.1-megapixel burst shooting at speeds of up to 40 fps; it can also shoot high-speed video at up to 1,000 fps. This opens up many unique possibilities to capture action and allow ultra-slow-motion studies. (Think about your golf swing.)
The Sony HX-1 is also a standout with a 20x zoom, ranging from 28mm to 560mm, plus image stabilization. The camera also has a variable-angle screen, a 10-megapixel sensor, a 10-frame burst rate at full resolution, a CMOS chip, 1080i HD video and RAW file capability. This would be a good choice if you want to experiment with video clips or even mini-movies.
The Nikon P90 offers a whopping 24x zoom, ranging from 28mm to 624mm, and adds a three-inch variable-angle LCD screen – a very useful feature for close-up work and photography near ground level.
Fujifilm’s S2000HD follows several other successful Fuji power-zoom models on the market since 2004. The S2000HD offers a 15x zoom, HD video, 10-megapixel resolution and many of the features available on typical point-and-shoot cameras, including face- and smile-detection modes and scene programs. This Fuji camera is a good choice for all-around versatility, without any dramatic special features. The main evolutionary feature is its RAW file capability.
Panasonic’s FZ28 succeeds the very popular FZ18, adding a 10.1-megapixel sensor and RAW file capability. The zoom lens on this camera is 18x; for those of you with an insatiable appetite for telephoto reach, a 1.7x teleconverter can be added.
Pentax is the newest competitor in this power-zoom market with the W70, which includes a 24x zoom lens, HD video recording at 15 fps and 11-frame rapid burst. The W70, however, does not support RAW.
A power zoom first marketed in Europe and then brought stateside by popular demand is the Canon SX1 IS, but so far it is still hard to come by. This is Canon’s first point-and-shoot camera to come equipped with a CMOS chip. Besides being cheaper to manufacture, the chip allows for greater processing efficiency and improved noise reduction.
To date, only Sony and Canon are employing CMOS chips in these power-zoom models, which is also why the HX-1 and SX1 IS are the only ones capable of shooting HD video at 1080i.
Rugged newcomers
In addition to pro companions and power zooms, there are two additional markets with cameras of interest to the serious amateur or working pro: the “ruggedized” point-and-shoots and the new hybrid pro-companion/power-zoom models.
Offered by Canon, Panasonic, Pentax and Olympus, the new ruggedized compacts offer 10- or 12-megapixel resolution, 3-4x zooms, HD video recording and, most importantly, heavy-duty construction, providing waterproofing and shock protection. These are not considered underwater cameras with pressure-proof housings; rather, they are swimming-pool, surf, snow, kayaking and windsurfing cameras. However, since many photographers are active outdoors people, this select group of cameras may very well fill the need for a take-anywhere second camera. The Olympus 550WP, Pentax W60, Panasonic Lumix TS1 and Canon D10 are the newest offerings from these companies. Most of these cameras are priced below $400.
Also new on the scene and sure to expand in the future are cameras that blend the best features of the pro-companions (high resolution, quality, RAW files, compactness) with the best features of the power zooms (telephoto capability, 1080i HD video). Early models include the Canon SX200 IS, Olympus Stylus 9000, Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3, Samsung HZ10W and Sony DSC H20. What the manufacturers have done is combine the compactness of the G10 or LX3 – fully retractable lenses and no SLR-type finders – with maximum zoom ranges. What you get is a compact camera with the size and shape of a G10, but with a 10x to 12x zoom. This form factor is bound to grow in the future.
Many cameras, many choices. All of these cameras discussed are capable of producing high-quality images to please both the working pro and the serious amateur. Each offers common features with their siblings, as well as added capabilities that suit certain types of photography. The trick is to select one that has the added capabilities to make you want to carry it with you all the time. The next time you go on a family outing, you may just leave the DSLR and its array of lenses at home.
