Digital cameras ratings are great tools for deciding which camera best fits your needs and budget. Ratings consider the specifications, features, camera design and test results. These facts are then analyzed and summarized to help the reader make an objective decision. Before reading the ratings though, we must decide which type of camera fits our needs. The four main types of digital still cameras are:
Ultra-Compact Digital Cameras
Compact Digital Cameras
Prosumer Digital Cameras
Digital SLR Cameras
Top Rated Digital CamerasThis summary of top rated cameras is grouped by type, but in no particular ranking order. Ultra-Compact Digital Cameras are pocket-sized and weigh only a few ounces, making them the perfect go-anywhere camera. Rated from three to more than seven megapixels, they produce quality photos that can be enlarged to 8" X 10" or larger. Most include optical zoom and other features.
Canon PowerShot S410, SD200, SD300, SD400 and SD500 Digital ELPH cameras
Casio EXILIM EX-S100, EX-Z50 and EX-Z750
Fujifilm FinePix F410
Konica Minolta DiMAGE X50 and G600
Nikon Coolpix 3700 and S1
Olympus Stylus 400 Digital, 500 Digital and Verve
Pentax Optio S5i
The foremost logical prerequisite of a rigid classification is that a mental item belong to no more than one category. Such either/or logic presupposes a digital mode of thinking, which, unlike its analog counterpart, does not tolerate any “gray” shadings among mental fields. “digital thinking” has a staccato character somewhat evocative of the on/off nature of the conventional light switch or the convulsive progression of time on digital clocks, in marked contradistinction to the smooth, legato style of the dimmer or the traditional analog clock.
—Eviatar Zerubavel, U. S. sociologist, educator. The Fine Line: Making Distinctions in Everyday Life, ch. 3, University of Chicago Press (1991)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F88, DSC-L1, DSC-P200, DSC-T1, DSC-T7 and DSC-W1
Compact digital cameras are slightly larger but will still fit in a loose pocket or purse. Some are very inexpensive and make the perfect entry level camera. Three to seven megapixels and optical zooms are standard, with advanced features on some models.
Canon PowerShot A400, A510, A520, S60 and S70
Fujifilm FinePix A330, A345 and E550
Kodak EasyShare C360, CX7430, DX6340, and DX7440
Nikon Coolpix 3200, 4600, 4800, 5600 and 7900
Olympus Camedia D-540, D-580 and D-595
Pentax Optio 30
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S60, DSC-W5 and DSC-W7
Prosumer digital cameras are for the true photo enthusiast. They are a cut above the compact digital cameras, but less expensive than digital SLR cameras that professional photographers require. SLR-style TTL, six megapixels or more, image stabilization, super zooms and other advanced features are typical.
Canon PowerShot G6, Pro1, S2 IS and S70
Casio EXILIM PRO EX-P600 and EX-P700
Fujifilm FinePix S5100
Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2, A200 and Z5
Nikon Coolpix 8400, 8700 and 8800
Olympus Camedia C-5060 Wide Zoom, C-7000 Zoom, C-7070 Wide Zoom, C-765 UltraZoom, C-770 UltraZoom and C-8080 Wide Zoom
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 and DMC-FZ20
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828, DSC-H1 and DSC-V3
Digital SLR Cameras offer just about anything the serious photographer could want or need. High quality optics in interchangeable lenses, top rated sensors up to 16 plus megapixels, and advanced professional focus and exposure controls make these cameras a photographer's dream come true.
Canon EOS 20D, EOS 300D Digital Rebel, EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT, EOS-1D Mark II Pro and EOS-1Ds Mark II Pro
Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro
Konica Minolta MAXXUM 7D
Nikon D50, D70, D70s, D2x Professional and D2h High Speed Professional
Olympus E-1 and E-300 EVOLT
Pentax *ist D and *ist DS
Of the hundreds of digital cameras on the market, these rated at the top of their categories. Each camera has unique features, but all are best digital camera values.