Is the Smallest Digital Camera the Right One for You?
You've decided that portability is a critical feature in your next digital camera so you're out looking for the smallest digital camera you can find. That's understandable in a lot of situations.For casual users there are a fair number of ultra compact digital cameras that can easily tuck away into a pocket; but make no mistake, many of them aren't really short on features. We'll show you some good ones right here.
For those who want to have more control, digital SLR cameras have shrunk a bit. In fact, Panasonic's micro four thirds design has been a jump forward in reducing the size of these cameras. See a couple of compact DSLRs near the bottom of the page.
Introduction photo credit: loganberrybunny.
A Word About Your Options
On the other hand however, if you want the smallest digital camera and only have basic photography needs, then you could also consider a good camera phone. Camera phones can produce reasonable 4x6 prints and images for sharing online. Some of them are smaller than even an ultra-compact digital camera. They can't however, compete with most of the cameras on this page.
Pentax Optio P70
Pentax Optio P70 12MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD (Red)
Amazon Price: $192.41 (as of 01/02/2010)
The Pentax Optio P70 is among the smallest digital camera models on the market, measuring only 2.1 x 0.8 x 3.8 inches. It's one of the more affordable options and yet packs some pretty nice features. It has a 12-megapixel sensor to allow you to produce high quality prints as large as 11 x 14-inches and to crop photos while maintaining good quality. It features a 4x wide angle optical zoom to allow you to fit everyone in the group in the pictures and to capture better landscape images.
It also boasts a 2.7-inch LCD screen, Pixel Track Shake Reduction for blur-free images without noise, and advanced face recognition which automatically recognizes and quickly captures up to 32 faces in 0.03 seconds, so every face is bright and focused, even in backlit areas. This camera also features smile capture and blink detection to be sure you get your shots at just the right moment.
The Optio P70 is perfect for beginners too. It's Auto Picture mode automatically selects from 8 shooting modes so that you don't have to make any decision or adjustments. It even captures HD video in wide-screen 720p at 15 FPS.
It's available in red, silver, and white and comes with software CD-ROM, USB cable, AV cable, rechargeable Li-Ion battery,battery charge cradle, AC plug cord, and strap.
Pentax Optio P70 Review
Casio Exilim EX-FS10
Casio Exilim EX-FS10 9.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5 inch LCD (Blue)
Amazon Price: $167.95 (as of 01/03/2010)
This Casiio Exilim EX-FS10 is available in gray, red, and blue. It's a fast little camera which offers a high-speed 30 shot-per-second burst rate at 6 megapixels. In fact, it can save as many as 25 frames prior to activating the shutter button. It can allow you to view these images in slow motion while shooting, to help you choose the perfect shot. Or, it can select the best image for you. Of course still images aren't all that this camera does, as it can capture high-speed movies at a maximum of 1000 fps and then play them back in slow motion. Using the HD movie function, you can also record 1280x720 resolution video and capture 6.0 megapixel still images at the same time.
As one of the smallest digital camera models, the Exilim EX-FS10 measures just 3.8 inches wide, 2.3 inches high and .64 inches thin. It also boasts a 3x optical inner-zoom lens, a 2.5-inch LCD, and 9.1-megapixel resolution. Other features include high-speed anti-shake and night scene function to eliminate blur as well as lag correction to assure you don't miss an important shot.
Panasonic DMC-ZS3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Black)
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 01/03/2010)
Although a bit larger than the other camera models on this page, the Panasonic Lumix DMCZS3 is still a very portable ultra compact camera measuring 2.4" x 1.3" x 4.1". It's available in black, blue and silver.
It offers 10.1-megapixel resolution, a 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens, 12x optical zoom, 3x digital zoom, 3" LCD display, and a Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens. The ZS3 also features an Intelligent Auto (iA) mode with Face Recognition. This allows it to recognize faces from previous shots and when it appears again, the camera will prioritize focus and exposure on it.
This tiny camera offers users 26 scene modes for still images and 17 for motion images (Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self portrait, Scenery, Low light, Food, Party, Candle light, Sunset, High sensitivity, Beach, Snow, Aerial, Pin hole, Film grain and Underwater) Users can set their two most frequently used scene modes to "My Scene Mode" giving them quick acces to these settings. Using the Panorama Assist mode and PanoramaMaker software, users can create dramatic panoramic images.
The ZS3 also has a High-Speed Burst that can capture approx. 10 shots per second. However, if you really want to capture motion there's always the the ZS3's HD video recording in "AVCHD Lite." With intelligent auto in Movie Mode, it can automatically select the best scene mode, and eliminate handshake, focus and brightness problems. It also uses optical image stabilization when using zoom to assure smooth video. Face detection and intelligent exposure help assure quality shots and the Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Macro, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the situation.
It comes with PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition editing software and can connect to your Pnasonic Viera HDTV with an optional HDMI mini cable or by inserting the SD memory card directly into the set.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Review
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 / ZS3 review
Full review at http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_TZ7_ZS3/ . A seven minute HD tour around Panasonic's 12x pocket super-zoom with 720p HD video, the Lumix TZ7 / ZS3, by Gordon Laing, Editor of http://www.cameralabs.com. For my full review, sample images, results and current pricing, please click the link at the start of this text or visit cameralabs . com. If you have any questions regarding this review, feel free to post on the Cameralabs forum!
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Canon SD1100IS
Canon PowerShot SD1100IS 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Blue)
Amazon Price: (as of 01/03/2010)
The Canon Powershot SD1100 Digital Elph is available in gold, silver, blue, pink, and brown. It's features a 8.0-megapixel CCD sensor, 3x optical zoom, and optical image stabilizer for clear well focused pictures. This camera also features enhanced Face Detection technologly which captures skin tones perfectly, recognizes faces in a scene, and concentrates exposure and focus upon them while calculating the right white balance. With Canon's Motion Detection Technology blur is also reduced by sensing movement, and then automatically setting the optimal exposure and ISO settings. It's easy to get pictures right too with the SD1100 because of it's 18 shooting modes and 9 special scene modes that let you adapt to almost any situation with the press of a button.
You'll quickly see that although the SD1100 is one of the smallest digital camera models currently on the market, it's list of features is not. It also boasts red eye correction, a 2.5" color LCD with night-display, high ISO settings for great low light shots, and simple photo/movie printing directly to Pixma, Selphy and PictBridge printers. All of this in a camera that measures 3.4" x 0.9" x 2.2".
Canon SD1100IS Review
Canon SD880
Canon PowerShot SD880IS 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)
Amazon Price: (as of 01/03/2010)
The Canon SD880 is a bit larger than it cousin the SD1100, but is still among the smallest digital camera offerings out there, measuring 3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9". It's available in gold and silver. Some of it's features include a 10.0 megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom with optical image stabilizer, and a 28mm wide-angle lens.
The optical zoom will bring you in close even when you can't step in further while the image stabilization will give your shots a steady, blur free look, and the wide angle lens assures you can fit everyone in a group within the frame of your shot. It also boasts a 3" color LCD with a scratch resistent, anti-glare coating and night display, auto focus, face detection, intelligent contrast correction, and a face detection self timer that can wait for your face to appear in the frame before taking the shot. This camera also features Motion Detection to reduce motion blur, red eye correction (both manual and automatic) as well as high ISO settings for better low light photography.
The SD880 also offers users 19 shooting modes and 16 special scene modes to assure you get the right exposure, aperture, and flash for any shooting situation with the push of a button. It comes with a wrist strap, SD memory card, battery pack, battery charger, AV cable, USB interface cable, and CD.
Canon Powershot 880IS Review
Nikon Coolpix S210
Nikon Coolpix S210 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Cool Blue)
Amazon Price: (as of 01/03/2010)
The Nikon S210 is a sleek device. It measures only 3.5" x 0.8" x 2.2" but is still a pretty capable little camera. It comes in a variety of colors: plum, blue, black, and bronze. It's an 8 megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom allowing you to take crisp, clear shots and enlarge or crop them without losing good image quality.
The S210 helps assure a steady, blur free image by compensating for small hand movements with it's VR electronic image stabilization. It also offers a light sensitivity range up to ISO 2000 and faster shutter speeds to obtain better low light and fast action shots. Other features include red-eye fix, face-priority auto focus, and Nikon's D-Lighting which allows you to rescue underexposed shots while in playback mode.
Nikon Coolpix S210 Review
Nikon COOLPIX S210 Digital Camera
Go to http://tiger.tv/more_info/?733 for more information. COOLPIX in-camera technologies give you the edge when it comes to taking beautiful pictures more easily and with greater enjoyment. Included are innovative functions that increase shooting opportunities in a broader range of situations, help to optimize images, and add a new dimension of fun to sharing those results. Packing sophisticated style, advanced functions and high performance into its ultra-slim design, the COOLPIX S210 fits comfortably in the hand and simplifies operation.
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Sony Cybershot DSC-W170
Sony Cybershot DSCW170/R 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot (Red)
Amazon Price: $369.00 (as of 01/03/2010)
The Sony Cybershot DSC-W170 comes in silver, black, gold, and red. It's not only one of the smallest digital camera models on the market (3.6" x 2.3" x 0.9") but also one of the most affordable. It offers a 10.1 megapixel sensor, Carl Zeiss 5x optical zoom lens, and a 2.7" LCD display. Other features include face detection and smile shutter technology to assure your subjects look as good and life like as possible.
To make things simple and to assure you capture the best photos, the W170 offers a number of special shooting and scene modes. Burst mode allows you to fire off three shots automatically at 1-second intervals (VGA standard mode) or 2-second intervals (full resolution mode) while Easy Shooting mode gives you easy-to-read, on-screen instructions and limits the number of camera settings you need to adjust. Intelligent Scene Recognition mode will automatically detect six different types of scenes and select the appropriate camera setting. High Sensitivity (ISO 3200) mode will allow you to shoot in low light without flash and minus excessive "noise". Other photo modes include: Auto, Program Auto, and Scene Selections such as Twilight, Landscape, Soft Snap, Snow, and Beach.
The W170 boasts a number of other technologies to assure better photos. It has 9 point auto focus to give you clear images and greater creative control, in-camera retouching capabilities to allow you to add creative effects to photos after you shoot, and in-camera red-eye reduction.
The W170 has 15MB of internal memory and accepts Memory Stick Duo media for storing your images. It's also HDTV compatible so that you can enjoy your images on a big screen.
Other features include a function guide for beginners which displays descriptions of the various functions and settings on the LCD screen if desired, HD Slide Show with music capability, MPEG Movie VX Fine mode which allows you to capture VGA (640 x 480) audio/video clips at a high frame rate (up to 30 frames per second), and a multi-resizing function so that your images fit any screen.
Sony Cybershot DSC-W170 Brief Overview
Panasonic Lumix GH1
Panasonic DMC-GH1 12.1MP Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Camera with 1080p HD Video
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 01/03/2010)
The Panasonic Lumix GH1 is a decendent of the G1. Like it's predecessor, it's probably the smallest digital camera in the SLR category available in the current market. It has some important differences however. It adds HD video capability; allowing you to record 1080p video at 25fps or 720p video at 60fps in AVCHD format. In addition, the continuous auto focus and zoom functions can be used while filming, allowing a great deal of creativity. It comes with a built-in stereo mic but also provides for the attachment of a boom mic. For even greater creative control, there are a wide variety of lenses that can be added for use during filming as well.
The GH1 features a 12.1-megapixel high-speed Live MOS sensor. It's Venus Engine HD image processor has two CPUs for improved processing capability. The lens on this new camera is also perfect for filming. The LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S., is a versatile 10x zoom interchangeable lens, and provides silent and continuous auto focusing function and seamless aperture adjustment while filming.
Of course if the addition of video isn't important, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 
Panasonic Lumix GH1 Review
Imaging Resource PMA 2009 - Panasonic - Lumix GH1
Dave Etchells talks to Chris Rice from Panasonic about the newly announced GH1 micro four thirds digital SLR. It captures video at 1080p/24fps and 720p/60fps while haveing the option to have full manual controls as you shoot.
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Olympus E-620
Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP Live MOS Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization and 2.7 inch Swivel LCD w/ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 ED Zuiko Lenses
Amazon Price: $699.00 (as of 01/03/2010)
The Olympus E-620 can tout the title of smallest digital camera in the SLR category with an in-body image stabilizer. It's a 12.3 megapixel DSLR that weighs in at only 18.9 ounces. It's able to adjust when your body moves to remove blur caused by camera shake and give you a swivel, 2.7-inch LCD making it easy to cover subjects from a range of angles.
If you're seeking greater creativity, this model may be perfect. You can enhance or customize images with built-in art filters, while cutting out editing time on the computer. Filters include Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light, Light Tone, Grainy Film, and Pin Hole. The effects of filter changes are easily viewed right on the LCD so that you get the shot right when capturing it. The multiple exposure function is another feature that lets you do more than merely record images. In addition, you're able to choose one of four aspect ratios: 4:3, 16:9, 3:2, or 6:6 before shooting to suit your purposes.
The E-620's in-body image stabilizer compensates for your body movement; with any lens attached. It has three IS modes. One is for general shooting and adjusts the sensor on both the horizontal and vertical planes to compensate for movement by the photographer. The second is for getting sharp detail of a subject with a blurred background when shooting fast motion on a horizontal plane and the third is for fast motion when the camera is held in a vertical position.
The new sensor in this camera has improved color accuracy and less image noise at higher ISO settings. Also enhanced is it's LCD screen, which is 100 percent accurate and can swivel 270 degrees allowing you to compose images at any angle. Photographers can use Live View when selecting white balance and exposure, and see their effect live on the display.
Other features include Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology for challenging lighting situations, and Perfect Shot Preview to allow you to see the effects of setting adjustments live on the LCD before taking a shot. Users also get 28 preset scene-select modes, automatic modes, and full manual controls.
For those who are more serious users, this camera has wireless flash capability and a dust reduction system with ultrasonic technology to remove dust and other particles from the sensor. It comes with camera body, 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko lens, 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 ED Zuiko lens, USB cable, Video Cable, Li-Ion battery pack, Li-Ion battery charger, shoulder strap, OLYMPUS Master 2 Software CD-ROM, manuals, and registration card.
Olympus E-620 Review
Let Us Know You Stopped By!
If you didn't find the digital camera you want, be sure to visit our online electronics store.
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Reply
- Irenemaria Irenemaria May 12, 2009 @ 3:13 am
- Want Want Want. I am going to buy a camera soon. Thank you for suggestions.
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Reply
- oneskms oneskms May 12, 2009 @ 12:22 am
- The wife has broke my fuji finepix f40fd and befor that I had a fuji with a cradle - both of which I liked. Will be back here to check these out
by mulberry
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