Dominic Deusdedith
Gallery
for quality, performance, features and price
Our Expert Opinion Sony's NEX brand is no more, and
with it went the much-loved NEX-6, however it's no casuse for concern as
the Sony A6000 is its direct predecessor in all but name and it lives
up to the billing. This is a serious CSC, from its aluminium shell to
its wide range of controls, including nice and chunky mode and command
dials, so you can quickly set up camera as needed.
The sensor now has a big 24 megapixels, and is the same size as the sensors found on most comsumer DSLRs, so there's no lack of detail. Sony's cameras continue to impress us for their low noise, with ISO 1600 being practically noise free and even ISO 6400 being useable.
It's fast too, bursting at up 11fps and and the phase detect autofocus system covers practically the whole frame and is blisteringly quick and accurate. There's also been a significant improvement in video quality over previous models, with plenty of fine detail. Panasonic's cameras are better still, but this is still amongst the best video cameras you can buy at this price.
In fact the A6000 is so good, and so reasonably priced, that it really could be the beginning of the end for consumer-grade DSLR cameras.
Price when reviewed: £650. For the latest prices, see our full Sony Alpha A6000 review
Our Expert Opinion
Full-frame photography took a price crash last year, with both Canon
and Nikon selling such cameras for around £1,500 for the first time. We preferred the Nikon D600
over its Canon rival, but then it started to suffer problems with dirt
on the sensor. Now the problem wasn't critical but it did through a
spanner in the works of a great camera.
So now we have the D610, essentially the same camera but with the problem well and truly fixed. There have been a number of other minor tweaks, notably faster continuous shooting of 6fps, up from 5.5fps, and a new quiet continuous ode at 3fps.
Most things stay the same then, but that's not a problem. Image quality is sublime, with colours that both sizzle and subtly recreate skin tones with ease. There's barely any noise, even at high ISO speeds. There's all the controls you need and this should be high on your list if your serious about buying a DSLR.
Price when reviewed: £1,449. For the latest prices, see our full Nikon D610 review
Our Expert Opinion The A3000 is a rather odd beast, but it's groundbreaking in its own way. It's by far the cheapest camera we've ever seen to use a large APS-C sized sensor, the same kind of sensor used in the vast majority of consumer DSLRs and thanks to that it shoots pictures that look just as good.
It may look like a DSLR but actually this is a mirrorless compact system camera (CSC), more similar to Sony's own NEX series of cameras, see below for examples, that have confusingly now been renamed as Alpha models to fit in with Sony's other offerings. Name aside, this camera uses the same e-mount interchangeable lenses as those cameras and has an electronic viewfinder, instead of the optical one you'd find on a 'proper' DSLR. Controls are fairly minimal, but there's a mode dial for quick changes.
Image quality is stunning for the price. For little more than the cost of a decent compact camera you're getting DSLR quality photos. It takes superb photos in low-light conditions, and automatic exposures are well-judged. There's stunning detail and little noise, plus it's easy to create those shallow depth of field effects that DSLR's excel at.
It's not a serious alternative for the optical viewfinder and manual controls of a DSLR, but then it's not meant to be, for less than half the price of even the cheapest DSLRs, the Sony Alpha A3000 provides essentially the same image quality and is a brilliant step up from a compact camera.
Price when reviewed: £249. For the latest prices, see our full Sony Alpha A3000 review
Our Expert Opinion Nikon and Canon offer some good SLRs and a huge range of lenses and accessories – both official and third-party. However, step away from them and you can get a camera packed with features for a lot less than you'd pay either of the big two.
The Pentax K-50 is that camera, and as the successor to the Pentax K-30, our favourite DSLR of 2012, it's no one-off either. The K-50 provides a weather-sealed body and kit lens, a massive optical viewfinder and dual command dials for just £600. You'd have to pay around £1,000 for those features elsewhere.
Image quality is the equal of those cameras, colours are arguably more flattering from the Canon 700D but the many extras on the K-50 make it the better buy for photography. The only place it falls down is with limited video features and a less expansive range of available lenses. Still, for the money this is the SLR to buy for photographers.
Price when reviewed: £599. For the latest prices, see our full Pentax K-50 review
Our Expert Opinion Compact system cameras (CSC), as
their name suggests, are pretty compact. Panasonic's have performed
impressively in our reviews of late, see the GF6 below, but now the
company has taken everything they offer and packed it into the smallest
CSC yet – one that is genuinely little bigger than a compact camera yet
offers SLR-like image quality and interchangeable lenses.
The GM1 is just 58mm from lens to screen and weighs just 279g. despite this it takes the same lenses as other Micro Four Thirds cameras and has the same sensor as recent Panasonic efforts. It shoots great pictures, and quickly too; there's not a wealth of manual controls but the important ones are quick to find. It's the camera to buy if you want something small but still capable, or you just want to show off.
Price when reviewed: £629. For the latest prices, see our full Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
Our Expert Opinion The GF-series are Panasonic's
cheapest model in its G-series CSC range. The latest example, however,
doesn't feel cut-back with a handy mode dial on top and a tilting LCD
touchscreen for shooting over your head or picking a focus point at a
tap. A pop-up flash is included, though there's no accessory shoe.
It's the fastest budget CSC we've seen, running at 4.2fps in continuous mode. It also scores well in video with impressive 50fps Full HD footage and plenty of manual controls for a camera of this type. The 16-megapixel stills looked good up to ISO 1600, which is respectable, but it was the reliability of its automatic setting that really impressed, coping well with high-contrast scenes, along with sharp autofocus. It's a great all-round camera and a perfect choice if you're looking for a first CSC.
Price when reviewed: £400. For the latest prices, see our full Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 review
Our Expert Opinion The Canon EOS 70D is the new
top-end model in Canon's APS-C range, so if you're looking for a great
DSLR but aren't ready to move to professional-class full frame cameras
then this is a good choice. It's extremely consistent with features,
image and video quality all impressing. It has a new sensor-based
autofocus which makes it far easier to use in live view (and for video)
plus an articulated screen for shooting at unusual angles.
The new sensor has 20 megapixels, automatic exposures were brilliantly judged and the details were precise. Noise levels were low up to ISO 5000 but it's not the best performer in this area admittedly. The consistency of the images it produces is the real highlight here, plus its flexibility as both a stills and video capture device. It's our narrow favourite though pure photographers should seriously consider the Nikon D7100 as well.
Price when reviewed: £999. For the latest prices, see our full Canon EOS 70D review
Our Expert Opinion The GH series has long stood out
among CSCs. Rather than use a mirrorless design to simply reduce the
size of the device, Panasonic has concentrated on the technology's
leaning toward video capture. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 then builds
upon its predecessors' reputation for excellent video quality and
features with support for 4K footage, which looks stunning.
Even if you're not yet in a position to enjoy such video, shooting in 4K has its advantages. When you downsample 4K footage to Full HD the new camera is capable of twice the colour resolution of previous efforts. Shooting this way also lets you crop into the frame in editing without a big noticeable loss in quality. There's loads of video quality options, mic inputs and outputs, and uncompressed video can be streamed from the HDMI port.
As a camera it's also impressive, though you'll find better examples at this price admittedly. Still it keeps up with most CSCs and image quality is solid and consistent rather than outstanding. For video though it has no peers given its price and portability, so if your a video enthusiast looking for a new camera, look no further.
Price when reviewed: £1,299. For the latest prices, see our full Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 review
Our Expert Opinion The Nikon D7100 sits at the top
of Nikon's APS-C range of DSLRs - making it the top buy for everyone but
die-hard enthusiasts and professional photographers. The resolution is
up to a whoppinh 25-megapixels and Nikon has rmeoved the low-pass filter
to make images even sharper. It'll shoot at 6fps for around 18 frames
before slowing, not bad considering its huge resolution. The focus
system has been beefed up form its predecessor too, with more cross-type
pointss for tracking the action and getting a sharp shot when dealing
with fast-moving subjects. The results were impressively sharp with low
noise at high ISO speeds.
The placement of the dual command dials and wide range of buttons make it easy to set up the camera as you want in a jiffy. There's dual SD card slots, so you can shoot JPEG to one and RAW to the other for convenience, plus the whole thing is weather-sealed too. It's a fantastic camera for the money.
Price when reviewed: £1,047. For the latest prices, see our full Nikon D7100 review
Our Expert Opinion Samsung's NX system CSC cameras have been involved in a tough fight with rivals from Sony, Panasonic and Olyumpus. This latest model, though, is a real winner, scoring highly in every area. it's well built for starters and the retro chic is nicely balanced with a clean modern appearance. There's a big, artiuclated touchscreen on the back and the control system is excellent. It picks up sueful features from Samsung's smartphone like its group prtrait mode that lets you pick the best version of each face from multiple exposures.
it can shoot at up to 8.6fps, an impressive result, and videos and pictures are very sharp from the 20-megapixel sensor. Look for the version with the stabilised 18-55mm lens, rather than the cheaper 20-50mm lens kit. It's a great camera and a worthy alternative to other systems on the market.
Price when reviewed: £600. For the latest prices, see our full Samsung NX300 review
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60
A strong all-rounder that's packed with useful features, but it's not cheap
Our Expert Opinion Smartphones may have largely
deposed compact cameras for day-to-day snapping, but none can rival a
compact ultra-zoom's reach, such as this 30x zoom lens on the excellent
little Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60. This isn't just a point-and-shoot
camera though, as it has good access to manual tweaks thanks to a lesn
ring control on teh front and the usual wheel on the back. It's also
farily special in having a small viewfinder, quality isn't up to much ,
but it makes framing shots in bright sunlight a breeze.
It has all the latest features you'd expect, with Wi-Fi built in so you can control the camera from a smartphone, and pair it easily with NFC. Video capture is good with Full HD in various quality options and the results looked smooth and natural, with good low light footage. Image quality is pretty impressive at the long end of the zoom, and the optical image stablisation helped keep things largely blur-free. It can even capture images in RAW format, letting you get more out of them later on your PC.
The TZ60 does what a good travel camera should, it packs lots of features into a small body and delivers consistent, dependable results.
Price when reviewed: £339. For the latest prices, see our full Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60 review
Our Expert Opinion With the Sony RX10 the company continues to break new ground, this time pairing the relatively large 1in sensor found in the Sony RX100 II with a large zoom lens to create an amazing all-rounder.
At first glance the RX10 looks similar to many ultra-zoom or bridge cameras, but with a sensor four times the size it has far better image quality. The downside is that a bigger sensor means a smaller zoom multiplier, at only 8.3x. This means the RX10 sits between CSCs, which typically have 3x kits lenses and bridge cameras, with their tiny sensors.
The design makes it an amazing all-rounder then, image quality is nearer to that of a CSC or DSLR, but it has a zoom that reaches further than most such cameras. It's very capable whether shooting close up in low-light or framing shots from range. Another boon is the constant F2.8 end-to-end zoom, so zooming in doesn't through off your exposure settings. It's brilliant for video too, with great image quality plus mic and headphone jacks for audio.
There's a great range of manual controls too, making the RX10 perfect for those who like to tinker. It's an amazing camera, arguably the only one you'll ever need, and well worth the high price.
Price when reviewed: £949. For the latest prices, see our full Sony RX10 review
Our Expert Opinion The most expensive, desirable and technically-stunning compact camera we've ever seen. The Fujifilm X100S smashed all our expectations. It has an APS-C sensor behind a 35mm (equivalent) F2.0 lens, which takes fantastic images in practically any conditions, with razor sharp details and an absence of noise at even high ISO settings.
The controls are sublime, with everything driven from aperture and shutter speed dials. Just set them as you want or put one or both on automatic for easy shooting. There's a viewfinder for more traditional framing of shots, this blends both optical and electronic viewfinders in one, giving you the best of both worlds. It's also got beautiful retro styling, so it looks as good as the pictures it takes.
Price when reviewed: £975. For the latest prices, see our full Fujifilm X100S review
Our Expert Opinion There's a been a rush of compact
cameras of late with 10x zooms and Wi-Fi – and to be honest all of them
are pretty good. This Canon Ixus 255 HS just sneaks out on top for us
though thanks to superior low-light image quality.
Its 12-megapixel sensor has impressed us before and continues to do so here. It provides crisp, well-exposed shots on bright days and surprisingly noiseless ones in more challenging light conditions. In our studio test shots it had strong contrast, clean block colours and smooth gradients.
It's a little larger than its main competitor, the Sony WX200 below, and that camera has superior video capabilities and better Wi-Fi features – such as a remote viewfinder. However, if image quality is your main concern, and it's ours, then the Canon just pips the Sony.
Price when reviewed: £193. For the latest prices, see our full Canon Ixus 255 HS review
Our Expert Opinion Yet another Panasonic camera, but this one is a full-sized ultra-zoom model with a 25-600mm zoom range. There are ultra-zoom cameras that better that, but the FZ200 is the only one that maintains a fast F2.8 aperture across the whole focal range. This means you can shoot in low-light conditions without too much worry, and you won't find your careful selected exposure settings thrown out of whack if you decide to tighten up your framing.
With 4x the light entering the lens - compared to a typical F5.6 ultra zoom - you can shoot in far wider conditions. The lens also provides nice depth of field effects so you can pick out your subject easily.
In addition to the lens, there's good controls, great-looking video, fast shot-to-shot times and a super-sharp 1,312,000 dot viewfinder. It's the ultra-zoom to buy if you want a great camera but aren't interested in a full-on DSLR.
Price when reviewed: £440. For the latest prices, see our full Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 review
Discover 20 of the best cameras to buy in 2014 including award-winning SLR cameras, compact cameras, bridge cameras and CSC models
Discover the best digital cameras to buy in 2014. Read our top picks from DSLR, CSC, ultra-zoom and compact cameras. Not sure which camera is right for you? We've got something for everyone here, from shiny, easy-to-use compacts that will slip in your pocket, up to the best budget DSLRs. Our always up-to-date list will help you make the right choice. Click through to our full reviews for sample shots and more details.DSLR AND CSC CAMERAS
If you want the ultimate image quality and flexibility then a digital SLR or Compact System Camera is for you. There's a lot of variation within this category, from hulking semi-pro DSLRs to fairly compact budget CSCs, but all of them have interchangeable lenses so you choose the best tool for the job. Generally speaking, sensor size is far bigger than on a compact camera, with this being the best, simple indicator of image quality, although big sensors do restrict zoom multipliers. Most of these cameras have plenty of manual controls, for those who want to fine tune their exposures, though this isn't always the case with the more budget CSC offerings.SONY Alpha A6000
Hits a home run for quality, performance, features and price
The sensor now has a big 24 megapixels, and is the same size as the sensors found on most comsumer DSLRs, so there's no lack of detail. Sony's cameras continue to impress us for their low noise, with ISO 1600 being practically noise free and even ISO 6400 being useable.
It's fast too, bursting at up 11fps and and the phase detect autofocus system covers practically the whole frame and is blisteringly quick and accurate. There's also been a significant improvement in video quality over previous models, with plenty of fine detail. Panasonic's cameras are better still, but this is still amongst the best video cameras you can buy at this price.
In fact the A6000 is so good, and so reasonably priced, that it really could be the beginning of the end for consumer-grade DSLR cameras.
Price when reviewed: £650. For the latest prices, see our full Sony Alpha A6000 review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 24 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 23.5x15.6mm (APS-C) |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.52x |
| Viewfinder | electronic |
| LCD screen | 3in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | 27-82.5mm (kit lens) |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | N/A |
| Lens mount | E mount |
| Weight | 460g |
| Size (HxWxD) | 70x120x70mm |
NIKON D610
Barely different but still brilliant, this replaces the D600 as our Best Buy full-frame SLR
So now we have the D610, essentially the same camera but with the problem well and truly fixed. There have been a number of other minor tweaks, notably faster continuous shooting of 6fps, up from 5.5fps, and a new quiet continuous ode at 3fps.
Most things stay the same then, but that's not a problem. Image quality is sublime, with colours that both sizzle and subtly recreate skin tones with ease. There's barely any noise, even at high ISO speeds. There's all the controls you need and this should be high on your list if your serious about buying a DSLR.
Price when reviewed: £1,449. For the latest prices, see our full Nikon D610 review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 24.2 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 36x24mm (Full Frame) |
| Focal length multiplier | none |
| Viewfinder | optical |
| LCD screen | 3.2in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | N/A |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | N/A |
| Lens mount | F mount |
| Weight | 850g (body only) |
| Size (HxWxD) | 141x113x83mm |
SONY Alpha A3000
SLR image quality at a breakthrough price
Our Expert Opinion The A3000 is a rather odd beast, but it's groundbreaking in its own way. It's by far the cheapest camera we've ever seen to use a large APS-C sized sensor, the same kind of sensor used in the vast majority of consumer DSLRs and thanks to that it shoots pictures that look just as good.
It may look like a DSLR but actually this is a mirrorless compact system camera (CSC), more similar to Sony's own NEX series of cameras, see below for examples, that have confusingly now been renamed as Alpha models to fit in with Sony's other offerings. Name aside, this camera uses the same e-mount interchangeable lenses as those cameras and has an electronic viewfinder, instead of the optical one you'd find on a 'proper' DSLR. Controls are fairly minimal, but there's a mode dial for quick changes.
Image quality is stunning for the price. For little more than the cost of a decent compact camera you're getting DSLR quality photos. It takes superb photos in low-light conditions, and automatic exposures are well-judged. There's stunning detail and little noise, plus it's easy to create those shallow depth of field effects that DSLR's excel at.
It's not a serious alternative for the optical viewfinder and manual controls of a DSLR, but then it's not meant to be, for less than half the price of even the cheapest DSLRs, the Sony Alpha A3000 provides essentially the same image quality and is a brilliant step up from a compact camera.
Price when reviewed: £249. For the latest prices, see our full Sony Alpha A3000 review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 20.1 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 23.5x15.6mm (APS-C) |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.52x |
| Viewfinder | electronic |
| LCD screen | 3in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | 27-82.5mm (kit lens) |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | N/A |
| Lens mount | E mount |
| Weight | 605g |
| Size (HxWxD) | 91x129x134mm |
Pentax K-50
Outstanding controls and a big viewfinder make this SLR a joy to use
Our Expert Opinion Nikon and Canon offer some good SLRs and a huge range of lenses and accessories – both official and third-party. However, step away from them and you can get a camera packed with features for a lot less than you'd pay either of the big two.
The Pentax K-50 is that camera, and as the successor to the Pentax K-30, our favourite DSLR of 2012, it's no one-off either. The K-50 provides a weather-sealed body and kit lens, a massive optical viewfinder and dual command dials for just £600. You'd have to pay around £1,000 for those features elsewhere.
Image quality is the equal of those cameras, colours are arguably more flattering from the Canon 700D but the many extras on the K-50 make it the better buy for photography. The only place it falls down is with limited video features and a less expansive range of available lenses. Still, for the money this is the SLR to buy for photographers.
Price when reviewed: £599. For the latest prices, see our full Pentax K-50 review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 16.1 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 23.7×15.7mm (APS-C) |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.54x |
| Viewfinder | optical |
| LCD screen | 3in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | 27-82.5mm (kit lens) |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | N/A |
| Lens mount | K-mount |
| Weight | 879g |
| Size (HxWxD) | 108x129x145mm |
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
The smallest CSC to date, and one of the best too
The GM1 is just 58mm from lens to screen and weighs just 279g. despite this it takes the same lenses as other Micro Four Thirds cameras and has the same sensor as recent Panasonic efforts. It shoots great pictures, and quickly too; there's not a wealth of manual controls but the important ones are quick to find. It's the camera to buy if you want something small but still capable, or you just want to show off.
Price when reviewed: £629. For the latest prices, see our full Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 17.3x13mm (Micro Four Thirds) |
| Focal length multiplier | 2x |
| Viewfinder | none |
| LCD screen | 3in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | 24-64mm (kit lens) |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | N/A |
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Weight | 279g |
| Size (HxWxD) | 58x99x58mm |
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6
A pleasure to use, and takes great photos and videos – the best of the budget CSCs
It's the fastest budget CSC we've seen, running at 4.2fps in continuous mode. It also scores well in video with impressive 50fps Full HD footage and plenty of manual controls for a camera of this type. The 16-megapixel stills looked good up to ISO 1600, which is respectable, but it was the reliability of its automatic setting that really impressed, coping well with high-contrast scenes, along with sharp autofocus. It's a great all-round camera and a perfect choice if you're looking for a first CSC.
Price when reviewed: £400. For the latest prices, see our full Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF6 review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 17.3x13mm (Micro Four Thirds) |
| Focal length multiplier | 2x |
| Viewfinder | none |
| LCD screen | 3in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | 28-84mm (kit lens) |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | N/A |
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Weight | 439g |
| Size (HxWxD) | 65x112x97mm |
Canon EOS 70D
A few minor niggles but still a consummate all-rounder – our new favourite enthusiasts' SLR
The new sensor has 20 megapixels, automatic exposures were brilliantly judged and the details were precise. Noise levels were low up to ISO 5000 but it's not the best performer in this area admittedly. The consistency of the images it produces is the real highlight here, plus its flexibility as both a stills and video capture device. It's our narrow favourite though pure photographers should seriously consider the Nikon D7100 as well.
Price when reviewed: £999. For the latest prices, see our full Canon EOS 70D review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 20 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 22.5x15mm (APS-C) |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.62x |
| Viewfinder | optical |
| LCD screen | 3in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | 27-82.5mm (kit lens) |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | N/A |
| Lens mount | EF-mount |
| Weight | 755g (body only) |
| Size (HxWxD) | 104x139x79mm |
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4
Highly accomplished for photos and in a league of its own for video with 4K support
Even if you're not yet in a position to enjoy such video, shooting in 4K has its advantages. When you downsample 4K footage to Full HD the new camera is capable of twice the colour resolution of previous efforts. Shooting this way also lets you crop into the frame in editing without a big noticeable loss in quality. There's loads of video quality options, mic inputs and outputs, and uncompressed video can be streamed from the HDMI port.
As a camera it's also impressive, though you'll find better examples at this price admittedly. Still it keeps up with most CSCs and image quality is solid and consistent rather than outstanding. For video though it has no peers given its price and portability, so if your a video enthusiast looking for a new camera, look no further.
Price when reviewed: £1,299. For the latest prices, see our full Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 15.9 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 17.3x13mm (Micro Four Thirds) |
| Focal length multiplier | 2x |
| Viewfinder | electronic |
| LCD screen | 3in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | N/A |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | N/A |
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Weight | 560g (body only) |
| Size (HxWxD) | 95x144x84mm |
Nikon D7100
A well-rounded enthusiasts' SLR with exceptional image quality and ergonomics
The placement of the dual command dials and wide range of buttons make it easy to set up the camera as you want in a jiffy. There's dual SD card slots, so you can shoot JPEG to one and RAW to the other for convenience, plus the whole thing is weather-sealed too. It's a fantastic camera for the money.
Price when reviewed: £1,047. For the latest prices, see our full Nikon D7100 review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 24 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 23.5x15.6mm (APS-C) |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.52x |
| Viewfinder | optical |
| LCD screen | 3.2in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | 27-157mm |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | N/A |
| Lens mount | F-mount |
| Weight | 1.2kg |
| Size (HxWxD) | 108x137x160mm |
Samsung NX300
A luxurious compact system camera with big improvements across the board
Our Expert Opinion Samsung's NX system CSC cameras have been involved in a tough fight with rivals from Sony, Panasonic and Olyumpus. This latest model, though, is a real winner, scoring highly in every area. it's well built for starters and the retro chic is nicely balanced with a clean modern appearance. There's a big, artiuclated touchscreen on the back and the control system is excellent. It picks up sueful features from Samsung's smartphone like its group prtrait mode that lets you pick the best version of each face from multiple exposures.
it can shoot at up to 8.6fps, an impressive result, and videos and pictures are very sharp from the 20-megapixel sensor. Look for the version with the stabilised 18-55mm lens, rather than the cheaper 20-50mm lens kit. It's a great camera and a worthy alternative to other systems on the market.
Price when reviewed: £600. For the latest prices, see our full Samsung NX300 review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 20 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 23.5x15.6mm (APS-C) |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.5x |
| Viewfinder | none |
| LCD screen | 3.3in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | 27-82.5mm (kit lens) |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | N/A |
| Lens mount | NX-mount |
| Weight | 548g |
| Size (HxWxD) | 67x123x115mm |
BRIDGE, ULTRA-ZOOM AND COMPACT CAMERAS
Once you could clearly define between a small compact camera and a hulking 'bridge' or ultra-zoom camera. These days though you can get huge zooms on very small devices, while many of the larger models have sacrificed telephoto shots for superior image quality. Still, there's something for everyone here, from the tiniest compacts, to feature-packed bridge cameras and even retro-styled fixed lens rangefinders.Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60
A strong all-rounder that's packed with useful features, but it's not cheap
It has all the latest features you'd expect, with Wi-Fi built in so you can control the camera from a smartphone, and pair it easily with NFC. Video capture is good with Full HD in various quality options and the results looked smooth and natural, with good low light footage. Image quality is pretty impressive at the long end of the zoom, and the optical image stablisation helped keep things largely blur-free. It can even capture images in RAW format, letting you get more out of them later on your PC.
The TZ60 does what a good travel camera should, it packs lots of features into a small body and delivers consistent, dependable results.
Price when reviewed: £339. For the latest prices, see our full Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60 review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 18 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 6.2x4.6mm (1/2.3in) |
| Viewfinder | electronic |
| LCD screen | 3in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | 24-720mm |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | N/A |
| Weight | 240g |
| Size (HxWxD) | 66x111x37mm |
SONY Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
Outstanding photos and videos and a pleasure to use: the RX10 is a class act
Our Expert Opinion With the Sony RX10 the company continues to break new ground, this time pairing the relatively large 1in sensor found in the Sony RX100 II with a large zoom lens to create an amazing all-rounder.
At first glance the RX10 looks similar to many ultra-zoom or bridge cameras, but with a sensor four times the size it has far better image quality. The downside is that a bigger sensor means a smaller zoom multiplier, at only 8.3x. This means the RX10 sits between CSCs, which typically have 3x kits lenses and bridge cameras, with their tiny sensors.
The design makes it an amazing all-rounder then, image quality is nearer to that of a CSC or DSLR, but it has a zoom that reaches further than most such cameras. It's very capable whether shooting close up in low-light or framing shots from range. Another boon is the constant F2.8 end-to-end zoom, so zooming in doesn't through off your exposure settings. It's brilliant for video too, with great image quality plus mic and headphone jacks for audio.
There's a great range of manual controls too, making the RX10 perfect for those who like to tinker. It's an amazing camera, arguably the only one you'll ever need, and well worth the high price.
Price when reviewed: £949. For the latest prices, see our full Sony RX10 review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 20 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 1in (13.2 x 8.8mm) |
| Viewfinder | electronic |
| LCD screen | 3in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | 24-200mm |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | f/7.6 |
| Weight | 834g |
| Size (HxWxD) | 90x130x130mm |
Fujifilm X100S
A stunning design and jaw-dropping image quality – worth the high price
Our Expert Opinion The most expensive, desirable and technically-stunning compact camera we've ever seen. The Fujifilm X100S smashed all our expectations. It has an APS-C sensor behind a 35mm (equivalent) F2.0 lens, which takes fantastic images in practically any conditions, with razor sharp details and an absence of noise at even high ISO settings.
The controls are sublime, with everything driven from aperture and shutter speed dials. Just set them as you want or put one or both on automatic for easy shooting. There's a viewfinder for more traditional framing of shots, this blends both optical and electronic viewfinders in one, giving you the best of both worlds. It's also got beautiful retro styling, so it looks as good as the pictures it takes.
Price when reviewed: £975. For the latest prices, see our full Fujifilm X100S review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 23.6x15.8mm (APS-C) |
| Viewfinder | hybrid |
| LCD screen | 2.8in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | 35mm |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | N/A |
| Weight | 445g |
| Size (HxWxD) | 75x128x59mm |
Canon Ixus 255 HS
Immaculate image quality is the highlight of this point-and-shoot camera
Its 12-megapixel sensor has impressed us before and continues to do so here. It provides crisp, well-exposed shots on bright days and surprisingly noiseless ones in more challenging light conditions. In our studio test shots it had strong contrast, clean block colours and smooth gradients.
It's a little larger than its main competitor, the Sony WX200 below, and that camera has superior video capabilities and better Wi-Fi features – such as a remote viewfinder. However, if image quality is your main concern, and it's ours, then the Canon just pips the Sony.
Price when reviewed: £193. For the latest prices, see our full Canon Ixus 255 HS review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 12 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 6.2x4.6mm (1/2.3in) |
| Viewfinder | none |
| LCD screen | 3in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | 24-240mm |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | N/A |
| Weight | 144g |
| Size (HxWxD) | 57x97x23mm |
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200
Groundbreaking lens provides excellent quality
Our Expert Opinion Yet another Panasonic camera, but this one is a full-sized ultra-zoom model with a 25-600mm zoom range. There are ultra-zoom cameras that better that, but the FZ200 is the only one that maintains a fast F2.8 aperture across the whole focal range. This means you can shoot in low-light conditions without too much worry, and you won't find your careful selected exposure settings thrown out of whack if you decide to tighten up your framing.
With 4x the light entering the lens - compared to a typical F5.6 ultra zoom - you can shoot in far wider conditions. The lens also provides nice depth of field effects so you can pick out your subject easily.
In addition to the lens, there's good controls, great-looking video, fast shot-to-shot times and a super-sharp 1,312,000 dot viewfinder. It's the ultra-zoom to buy if you want a great camera but aren't interested in a full-on DSLR.
Price when reviewed: £440. For the latest prices, see our full Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 review
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 12.1 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 6.2x4.6mm (1/2.3in) |
| Viewfinder | electronic |
| LCD screen | 3in |
| Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths) | 25-600mm |
| 35mm-equivalent aperture | f/15.5 |
| Weight | 588g |
| Size (HxWxD) | 87x125x110mm |
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