New Ratings: Digital cameras

Consumer Reports News: August 17, 2009 12:32 PM

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Cameras

We've just added 21 new camera models to our digital camera Ratings (available to subscribers), including 18 point-and-shoots and three SLR models. Here are some of the trends illustrated by the new point-and-shoots:

Fat and skinny: The newly tested cameras include some of the slimmest and thickest point-and-shoots on the market. The Casio Exilim Card EX-S12 subcompact, $200, is about .6 inches thick, slender enough for most pockets. At the other end of the spectrum is Canon's PowerShot SX1 IS superzoom, $560, at almost 3-1/2 inches thick. (That heft does get you lots of features.) They also differ greatly in weight: the Casio weighs 5 oz. and the Canon is 24 oz.

Features galore: Camera companies are counting on more than megapixels to sell new models. Half the new subcompacts and compacts include more zoom than the usual 3x optical zoom. One-third of all the point-and-shoots have wide-angle capability. Also, more than half include either optical or mechanical image stabilization, which can compensate for camera shake and minimize blurring. These two types of IS are better than simulated image stabilization.

Tough stuff: We've rated two new waterproof and shockproof point-and-shoots, which can be used underwater or in rugged environments.

And here are some of the trends you'll find in the new SLRs:

Of the three models we've added to our SLR Ratings, two—the Canon Rebel T1i, $850, and the Nikon D5000, $730—can record video and store it on a memory card. This is exciting and very useful, especially for parents tired of lugging around two devices, one to shoot still photos and the other to capture video.

Also, two SLRs, the Olympus E-620, $800, and D5000, have a swiveling LCD, which can be very useful when shooting in hard to reach places, such as over-the-head shots.

You can check out how well the latest models fared on our Ratings pages. —Terry Sullivan