Stylish
Casio Exilim EX-S770
Specs
7.2 mp; 3x optical zoom; 2.8" LCD screen; 4.48 oz. exilim.casio.com; $300
pros
Beautifully designed point-and-shoot that also has manual settings; the easiest of the group to use with one hand; special eBay mode for taking auction-site photos
cons
Short battery life (about 200 still images); no optical viewfinder, so you have to use the LCD screen to frame the photo (which can be hard in bright sunshine); tiny buttons
Summary
So small and handy, you'll reach for this camera again and again; works well indoors and out; easy to use right out of the box
Ultracompact
Sony Cybershot DSC-N2
Specs
10.1 mp; 3x optical, 2x digital zoom; 3" LCD screen; 5.5 oz. sony.com; $350
pros
Big three-inch screen makes it easy to look at photos with a group of people; excellent Carl Zeiss lens ensures sharp pictures in bright light—for example, on a day at the beach
cons
Screen takes up most of the back, so Sony put most of the buttons on it (beware of messy fingerprints); no optical viewfinder; a little slow indoors and in low light
Summary
This point-and-shoot is compact and convenient. With 25 megabytes of internal memory, you don't need a memory card to get started
Rugged
Olympus Stylus 770 SW
Specs
7.1 mp; 3x optical, 5x digital zoom; 2.5" LCD screen; 5.5 oz. olympus.com; $380
pros
Incredibly rugged: water-, freeze-, crush-, and shockproof; has a built-in nanometer for recording diving depths; lens remains flush with the body when turned on, making it very streamlined
cons
Smaller screen than other ultracompacts; no optical viewfinder— a problem on bright, sunny days
Summary
When they say water- and shockproof, they mean it! This is the total road warrior's camera—perfect for that trip to Mount Kilimanjaro or for tackling the rapids on the Nantahala River
Wide-Angle
Kodak Easyshare V705
Specs
7.1 mp; 5x optical, 4x digital zoom; 2.5" LCD screen; 4.4 oz. kodak.com; $350
pros
Having two lenses means this camera can go from zoomed-in detail shots to unbelievably wide ones; sharp colors; nifty panorama capability enables you to merge three shots; great for groups, parties, and landscapes; inexpensive
cons
No optical viewfinder; some distortion on the edges of images when lens is used at its widest
Summary
Easyshare lives up to its name, with by far the best "getting started" instructions of all the cameras tested; great for vistas and panoramas, such as sunset in the Grand Canyon
All-Around
Panasonic Lumix LX2
Specs
10.2 mp; 4x optical zoom with 33 mm focal length; 2.8" LCD screen; 6.56 oz. panasonic.com; $500
pros
This 10-megapixel camera has more power than most point-and-shoots. Lots of manual functions allow photo buffs to override automatic settings
cons
No optical viewfinder; delayed action, especially in low light; costs a little more than many point-and-shoots
Summary
A logical step up from an ultracompact, this camera is packed with professional-level features but still fits into a pocket
Entry-Level DSLR
Nikon D40
Specs
6.1 mp; 3x optical zoom; 2.5" LCD screen; 16 oz. nikon.com; $600
pros
An affordable introduction to digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras; switching from auto to manual is very easy; logical interface; vivid colors; bright screen for viewing photos
cons
Though compact for a DSLR, this camera will not fit into any pocket; only 6.1 megapixels means poorer image quality than others in its category
Summary
Ideal for someone who wants to graduate from point-and-shoot to DSLR; shares lenses with the Nikon D200 if you want to upgrade eventually
Pro-Level DSLR
Canon EOS 1D Mark II N
Specs
8.2 mp; 10–600 mm lens length; 2.5" LCD screen; 43.2 oz. canon.com; $4,000
pros
Every click and button on this behemoth is thoughtfully placed for those who make their living taking pictures and can't afford to miss a shot. Convenient vertical grip with an extra shutter button
cons
Weighing almost three pounds and priced at $4,000, this model is not for the weekend photographer; lenses ($200–$4,000) and camera body ($4,000) come separately
Summary
A pleasure to test, this camera is worth the splurge for those who want some serious power and speed—easily the fastest one we tested
Updated Classic
Leica M8
Specs
10.3 mp; 35 mm lens length; 2.5" LCD screen; 19.2 oz. leica.com; $4,800
pros
This understated, quiet camera will appeal to those who learned 35 mm photography and are slow to get on the digital bandwagon
cons
The price. Turns out you pay a lot for the vintage feel and fewer features; must know basics of photography to use; no auto focus; non-zooming lens; rangefinder takes some getting used to
Summary
It's back to the future with this retro-inspired digital camera. The M8 lives up to Leica's excellent reputation among photographers—and its cult following. Try it out at a camera shop before buying
