 TOP 5
Compact & Ultra Compact Cameras
These are, in our opinion, the best five Canon compact and ultra compact cameras.
You will find at the end of the list the 11 parameters we used to qualify each camera.
 Number 5. SX100
The SX100 is a pleasant discovery: a capable camera with a good range of features sporting a 10x optical zoom for under $300.
We really enjoy using this 10x optical zoom, the full manual modes and shooting with this camera are really fun.
It's a capable camera with great bang-for-the-buck ratio. Any Photo Aficionado will enjoy it.
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Final score:
8.364 |
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A very capable 10x zoom in a handsome, fully automatic and manual camera with a good bang-for-the-buck ratio. |
Pertinent info: |
> 10x optical zoom
> 2.5" LCD monitor
> 8 mega pixels
> Image Stabilization
> Both automatic and fully manual modes
> Face detection focus priority
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Ideal for |
> Social photography
> Family Camera
> Photo Aficionados that want a fully manual camera, big optical zoom and a reasonable price |
Street Price : |
$265 |
Advantages: |
> Solid set of features
> Bang-for-the buck is pretty good
> Auto ISO shift works very well
> Focus check is handy
> Good ergonomics
> Attractive design (at least with the black version)
> Good quality build
> Round multi-function dial/button is the best on Canon's ultra-compact and compact cameras. It's even better than G9's controller
> Quite versatile
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Disadvantages: |
> Plastic made
> Manual mode is not as easy to use as with the S5 or the G9
> Manual flash
> Limited auto focus options oriented to social snapshots
> Tele and wide converters option unavailable
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>> Read our full review of the SX100
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 Number 4. SD950
This is, very probably, the best SD Digital Elph ever. The titanium body is very handsome, the 12.1 mega pixels provide an excellent resolution, and the image quality is the best on it's class with better than average noise handling.
A strong contender was the Canon SD 870 IS and we liked its superb 3" LCD monitor and real 28mm wide angle lens. But the SD 950 IS has the best image quality in its class and that's what really matters.
Although the set of features is unsurprising, the image quality, performance and noise handling are a very welcomed surprise in this ultra compact and ultra pocketable camera. It's not cheap, but it is a lot of camera.
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Final score:
8.455 |
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A fashionable camera with very good image quality and excellent resolution. |
Pertinent info: |
> 4x optical zoom
> 2.5" LCD monitor
> 12.1 mega pixels
> Image Stabilization
> Fully automatic
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Ideal for |
> Point & Shoot
> Carrying it with you all the time
> A fashion statement |
Street Price : |
$350 |
Advantages: |
> Best image quality in its class
> Beautiful and durable titanium body
> Excellent resolution
> Comfortable
> Extremely portable
> Very good image quality
> Better noise handler than the average sub compact
> Optical viewfinder
> Good LCD screen
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Disadvantages: |
> No manual modes
> Unsurprising set of features
> 1024 movies disable both optical and digital zoom
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>> Read our full review of the SD950 IS
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 Number 3. A650 IS
The A650 IS stands out as an extremely capable camera with full manual control and a very good set of features. There are cheaper A cameras such as the very capable A720 IS, but none has the construction quality, design or resolution of this top of the line camera that deserves a place in the high end class.
This camera is a great option for those considering the G9.
8.727
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An excellent camera for the Photo Aficionado looking for a complete set of features, a vari-angle LCD and a lower price compared to the G9. |
Pertinent info: |
> 6x optical zoom
> 2.5" LCD monitor
> 12.1 mega pixels
> Image Stabilization
> Both automatic and fully manual modes
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Ideal for |
>Photo Aficionados that demand full control, great resolution, a vari-angle screen and a good set of features at a reasonable price
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Street price |
$330 |
Advantages: |
> Very good set of features
> IS works great and has a panning option
> Very well built
> Good looking
> Excellent LCD monitor
> Portable and comfortable
> Useful focal range
> Accepts adapter plus wide and tele converters
> Very good image quality considering the size of the sensor
> One custom position to save your settings
> Excellent resolution
> User interface and menus are very consistent with the rest of the Canon line
> Good white balance handling
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Disadvantages: |
> No RAW files
> Image noise at high ISO sensitivities
> No super macro mode
> Ordinary movies
> No optical zoom while shooting movies
> Lens could be wider and faster
> Viewfinder is poor and obstructed by the lens
> So-so continuous shooting mode
> Plastic tripod mount
> Some features buried in the menus
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>> Read our full review of the A650 IS |
 Number 2. S5 IS
This is the true camera for the enthusiast: tons of features, easy to hold, easy to use, yet with the full power under your fingers.
Image quality is very good, yet it suffers a lot under high ISO sensitivities. We hope that Canon overcomes the High ISO Curse of the small digicam sensor in the years to come. The S5 would be a smashing camera with better low light performance. By now, good image quality is compromised to shots under good light, which limits the camera's true potential.
With an impressive 12x zoom, the S5 is a very good second camera for a dSLR photographer that wants a powerful compact sidekick.
The S5IS is a superb camera that had a final score of 8.909 versus the number one that was 9.182. If you need a long telephoto lens don't hesitate, the S5 is a truly good camera that is genuinely fun to use and that stands out of the crowd due to a lengthy list of powerful features.
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Final score:
8.909 |
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The whole enchilada for under $350. That's bang-for-the-buck! |
Pertinent info: |
> 12x optical zoom
> 2.5" LCD monitor
> 8 mega pixels
> Image Stabilization
> Both automatic and fully manual modes
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Ideal for |
> Compact camera for dSLR owners
> Travel photography
> Long distance photography
> Close-up photography
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Street Price : |
$340 |
Advantages: |
> Great set of features
> Advanced, yet affordable
> IS works great
> Overall quality is pretty good
> Creative zone modes are easy to use
> Good battery life
> Very good video mode |
Disadvantages: |
> Noisy at high ISO levels
> No RAW format
> Manual flash
> Construction and design could be better
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>> Read our full review of the S5 IS |
 Number 1. G9
This is the Photo Aficionado camera par excellence. It is stylish and incredibly well built with tons of features. It is also very portable (OK, it won't fit in your shirt pocket, but you won't need the yucky neck strap -courtesy of Canon- either).
Although the G9 won by a nose against the S5 IS, it is true that the G9 has much better image quality and the possibility to improve the focal length via conversion lenses, so the owner of a G9 won't miss anything form the S5 (except for the 0" super macro).
Everything is extremely good with this camera: construction is just amazing. The retro design is impressive. Although it is not a cheap camera, the value for money is very good. The image quality is sharp and full of detail and the RAW files provide extra room to post production enhancement. The noise handling is also better with RAW files. The 6x zoom is a very competent lens. The 3" LCD is really very good and the 12.1 mega pixels resolution provides a lot of room for extreme crops. It is comfortable to use and the overall user interface and buttons layout are more intuitive.
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Final score:
9.182 |
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The Photo Aficionado camera par excellence. |
Pertinent info: |
> 6x optical zoom
> 3" LCD monitor
> 12.1 mega pixels
> Image Stabilization
> Both automatic and fully manual modes
> RAW files
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Ideal for |
>Photo Aficionados that demand full control and features in the smallest possible size
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Street Price : |
$445 |
Advantages: |
> Impressive set of features
> IS works great and has a panning option
> Although noisy, RAW files let you extract more information
> Extremely exceedingly, exceptionally, extraordinarily, tremendously, immensely, hugely, intensely, acutely, abundantly, singularly, uncommonly, decidedly, particularly, supremely, highly, remarkably, really, truly, mightily well built
> Superb retro-rangefinder-inspired style
> Hot shoe is extremely useful
> Excellent LCD monitor
> Portable and comfortable
> Useful focal range
> Accepts adapter plus wide and tele converters
> Usability is excellent
> Very good image quality considering the size of the sensor
> It is not less noisy, but the approach to handling noise is better than most compact digicams.
> Two custom positions to save your settings
> Good movie mode
> Excellent resolution
> User interface and menus are very consistent with the rest of the Canon line
> The EOS style round dial and dedicated ISO dial are excellent
> Highly customizable
> Good white balance handling
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Disadvantages: |
> No super macro mode
> No true HD movies
> No optical zoom while shooting movies
> Lens could be wider and faster
> Viewfinder is poor and obstructed by the lens
> Overall performance should be faster considering the high end photographers that will use it. It's not sluggish, but you can't use it for sports or very fast moving subjects
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>> Read our full review of the G9 |
 Not on the list, but really good cameras
- A720 IS. A lot of camera with an impressive bang for the buck. >> Read our full review
- SD870 IS. Superb 3" LCD, extremely good 28mm wide end, 8.0 mega pixels, excellent construction and noise handling is better than average. >> Read our full review
Not bad
-A570 IS. An entry level camera with manual controls and very good features for very little money. >> Read our full review
- SD850 IS. A snappy performer with image stabilizer that fits in any pocket. >> Read our full review
They could be better
We've listed the best cameras. What about the cameras that didn't have a stellar score?
 - A460. OK, it's a $100 camera, but its performance is sluggish, the 1.8" display is a joke and it is actually difficult to use.
- TX1. This $400 camera is a gamble: you may love it, but you may hate the really awkward ergonomics; although the 1024 stereo movies are excellent. Don't buy one without first trying it. And remember that for just $45 more you could buy the excellent G9. >> Read our full review
- SD750. It's a nice camera with a good 3" LCD but it has not an Image Stabilizer. If that's ok with you go ahead, it is a very fine camera. But for $40 more you can buy the SD850 that has image stabilization, a 4x optical zoom and 8.0 mega pixels>> Read our full review
- SD1000. It's a really stylish camera that we really like but, -again- we feel the image stabilizer is an important feature (at least for us). If it isn't for you then this is a basic yet very nice camera that is Canon's most pocketable model. >> Read our full review
The 11 parameters to find the best compact & ultra compact cameras
This top five list is subjective, but we tried to have 11 parameters to qualify the cameras.
- Construction. In the long run, it is important to have a durable camera. 5 will break apart, 10 built like a tank.
- Design. We love cameras and the design is very important for us. 5 ugly beyond imagination, 10 extremely beautiful
- Features. Does it have Image Stabilizer? Is the resolution above the average digital camera? Does it sport manual controls? 5 it has a lens and a sensor and little more, 10 the whole enchilada: image stabilization, great resolution, full manual controls, tons of options and settings
- Value for money. Sometimes there is no such thing as "what you pay is what you get", there are great bargains and cheap cameras that are expensive on the long run. 5 it should be illegal to sell a camera at such price, 10 non plus ultra bang-for-the-buck
- Image quality. A camera may be beautiful and with many features, but if it produces bad images is like a phone that does everything well except phone calls (did anyone mention the word "iPhone"?) 5 crappy cellular phone camera quality, 10 the best image in its class.
- Noise. We all know that compact and subcompact cameras are not good performance under low light conditions. That said, it's important to know if noise is unbearable or if it is better than average. 5 unusable, 10 invisible noise
- Optics. From focal length to distortion and chromatic aberrations the lens is a key ingredients for great images. 5 limited zoom and many optical defects, 10 excellent zoom, low chromatic aberrations and lowest distortion
- Ergonomy. A camera may be beautiful, but if it is awkward to use, like the TX1, then the joy of photography suffers. A camera should be easy to hold, easy to operate and comfortable. 5 extremely awkward to us, 10 extremely comfortable
- Screen. In many cases there isn't an optical viewfinder and the LCD monitor it the most important tool when shooting a photograph. We love vari-angle screens and, as with a Plasma, the bigger the better. 5 1.8" fixed screen, 10 3" vari-angle screen
- Resolution. Mega pixels aren't everything, but they still are an important feature. Every "digicam guru" will tell you that mega pixels don't matter: give them a 0.3 mega pixels 640x480 camera and check the reaction. 5 four mega pixels, 10 12.1 mega pixels
- Fun to use. Sometimes it is easy to forget that shooting photographs is a pleasure and that the camera may improve the photographic experience. It is also a subjective parameter to qualify if we like the camera. 5 using such a camera is a torture, 10 incredibly fun to use. |
