The body of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ3 has a simple design that belies its advanced features. There is an exposure mode for everyone: a “simple� mode for point-and-shooters and a manual mode for more advanced users. The large 12x optical zoom lens with image stabilization is likely to attract both point-and-shooters who want to invest in their camera and the journeyman audience looking for a large lens without paying the price for a digital SLR. The 3.1-megapixel FZ3 is shaped like an SLR, but is not as bulky. That said, it is not as compact as most digital cameras; it cannot fit into a pocket. The FZ3 retails for $399, which is a good deal for the extensive manual functions. This model has more expensive siblings in the Lumix line, each with more megapixels and better cosmetic features (such as larger LCD screens) but the essential manual and automatic functions remain the same.

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The Fujifilm FinePix S5100 is a worthy compliment to the S5000, adding more effective megapixels to its conventional 1/2.7-inch CCD. The 4.23 total and 4 effective megapixels can create great pictures up to 11 x 17 inches, which is larger than what the average shooter will print. The SLR-shaped FinePix S5100 has a 37-370mm 10x optical zoom lens. The best aspect about this camera is its versatility; with plenty of automatic and manual functions, beginning users can advance on the S5100. The S5100 has a professional façade. Formed in a lightweight medium-sized black body, the camera aims to bridge the gap between the novice point-and-shoot camera and oversized SLRs. This setup provides a great medium for photographers to continually challenge their skills and get creative without having to upgrade to a different camera every six months. The major complaint that I had was that some of the controls were difficult to find or tedious to operate; however, once I was familiar with the setup, the FinePix S5100 wasn’t terribly bothersome. But the noise levels in the images produced by the camera were far too high. Regardless of the camera’s resolution and color rendering capabilities, excess noise destroys images shot at ISO100 or beyond.

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The 7.2-megapixel Casio Exilim EX-Z750 packs a lot of power in a 0.9-inch thick compact camera body. While it isn’t as attractive as some of the other Exilim models, it has a traditional brushed aluminum body that weighs only 4.5 ounces. The battery lasts an estimated 325 shots before needing a recharge, which is quite good for a digital camera, although many portable imagers now are surpassing that. With the high megapixel count, there are plenty of resolutions available for photographers who want to print large pictures and those who want to email files. The Z750 has helpful features such as an optical viewfinder and manual focus capabilities as well as some more dynamic and exciting features, such as Past Movie and ID Photo modes. The Casio Exilim EX-Z750 has plenty of manual control options, but users may have trouble accessing them.

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Like all digital cameras, the Canon IXUS IIs / Powershot SD110 has its pros and cons. It is very compact and easily fits in a pocket. It’s durable with its attractive stainless steel frame, so it can survive a few drops and bumps. The layout is simple to use, and the menus follow suit. The camera even sports a Print/Share button to ease the stress of transferring photos directly to a printer. This Digital ELPH has 3.3 megapixels on its 1/2.7-inch CCD. The SD110 retails for $299, but can be found online for $200. The lens is from Canon, which is known for its optics. However, this camera only has 2x optical zoom — a definite letdown. In practice, the camera’s resolution is strong, but extreme levels of noise often distort the image. The LCD screen does have fairly high resolution, but it is on the small side at 1.5 inches and is often tough to see. The other major downside of the Canon SD110 is the lack of aperture or shutter speed manual controls. However, this camera is perfect for the beginning user who desires a straightforward, portable, and simplistic digital camera.

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The Canon IXUS 50 / Powershot SD400 is an ultra compact digital camera. Its slim body means that it is very easy to slip the IXUS 50 into a pocket almost without noticing it is there.

It is a fairly straightforward digital camera and with its fully automatic mode you can be up and running with it very quickly. With a standard set of features it should prove perfectly adequate for covering holiday snaps, social gatherings and pictures for the family album.

It is likely to appeal most to anyone who would like a camera that is very easy to carry around, looks good and also produces high quality photos.

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