Compact digital cameras took up seven out of 40 categories evaluated by the 29-member magazines of the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) this year. Winners include Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Samsung, Fujifilm and Panasonic.
Compared to the four categories for DSLR cameras, there were seven categories for compact digital cameras.
Founded in 1991, the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) comprises 29 independent photo & imaging magazines from nine European countries plus Australia, Canada, China, USA and South Africa.
This is the 21st installment of the annual awards.
The winners for the seven compact digital camera categories are tabulated below.
| Category / Winner | TIPA citation |
|---|---|
| Best General Compact Camera
Nikon |
The Nikon COOLPIX P300 is a stylish compact camera with a remarkably powerful f/1.8 lens, starting at 24mm (35mm equivalent) with 4.2x optical zoom. High Refraction Index glass further ensures sharp images with high contrast. Combined with its powerful 12.2 Megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, this camera gives excellent image quality even in dim lighting conditions. The P300 can film in Full HD (1080p), but also in slow motion with a recording speed of up to 120fps. |
| Best Expert Compact Camera
Olympus |
The Olympus XZ-1 has one of the fastest zoom lenses in its class, the iZuiko f1.8-2.5 6.0-24mm (28-112mm equivalent angle of view in 35mm cameras.) Rather than succumb to the continuing Megapixel race, the light-reception area of each pixel of the 1/1.63-inch, 10 Megapixel CCD has been doubled. The XZ-1’s AF illuminator, Dual Image Stabilisation, Low-Light mode that automatically adjusts the ISO sensitivity up to ISO 3200 and the compact size all add up to an exciting “candid” camera that also offers advanced manual controls. |
| Best Premium Camera
Fujifilm |
Fujifilm’s FinePix X100 offers unrivalled image quality for a compact camera, thanks to its APS-C format CMOS sensor and Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 lens. The Hybrid Viewfinder uniquely combines the ‘bright frame’ window-type optical viewfinder found in high-end film cameras, and the electronic viewfinder system of fixed single lens or digital compact system cameras, offering the user ‘the best of both worlds’. Added to the package is a newly-developed EXR Processor, which combines all the latest Fujifilm image processing technology. |
| Best Compact System Camera Entry Level
Samsung |
The Samsung NX100’s new body design drastically revises the ‘DSLR look-alike’ concept found in other compact interchangeable lens cameras, and is a bold step from the company’s previous NX10/11 designs. This brings it into direct competition with other Compact System Cameras. Impressive features include a vivid 3-inch AMOLED screen, an APS-C size sensor and a line of high-tech iFunction lenses. This promising new series of optics blazes new viewing and camera control paths by allowing the user to program numerous functions right from the lens. |
| Best Compact System Camera Expert
Panasonic |
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a true ‘hybrid’ photo and video camera, where video is no longer just an additional function. The DMC-GH2 features full HD 1920×1080, 60i (NTSC) / 50i (PAL) smooth, high quality video recording with 60p (NTSC) / 50p (PAL) output in addition to the high quality photo, a world’s first for cameras in this category. The DMC-GH2 can be operated through an intuitive touch control screen. For example, just tapping a subject on the screen will make the camera focus with a speed that rivals the best DSLR’s on the market. |
| Best Superzoom Camera
Canon |
The Canon PowerShot SX230 HS features a 12.1-Megapixel HS System with high-sensitivity CMOS sensor, and a 14x optical zoom (28-392mm equivalent) with optical image stabilisation. A 3-inch LCD screen, with 100% frame coverage, makes for easy viewing and menu control. TIPA members were impressed with features such as Full HD 1080p video with Dynamic Image Stabilizer, a new GPS function (including supplied Map Utility software) and a high-sensitivity CMOS sensor coupled with Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor that reduces noise levels even at the higher ranges (up to ISO 3200). |
| Best Rugged Compact Camera
Panasonic |
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3/FT3 is waterproof to a depth of 12m and dust-proof equivalent to the IPX8 and IP6X standard. It has an integrated GPS function, ideal for photographers who want to shoot in the great outdoors and record their exact position during that shoot. The camera has a built-in compass, altimeter and barometer to show and record altitude, barometric pressure and orientation data. The barometer also works as indicator for depth underwater. Thanks to its location awareness, the internal clock of the camera is automatically adjusted to the local time. |
The 29 member magazines of the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) awarded the award for the “Best Expert Compact Camera” category to the Olympus XZ-1.
The XZ-1 is a 10-megapixel high-end compact with 4x optical zoom from 28mm to 112mm (35mm equivalent). It records HD movies, has a 610k dots OLED display and features 6 Art Filters that can be applied to movies recorded. The camera comes in black or white and retails at S$748 (incl GST).
For complete beginners, there is the usual everything-automatic mode (iAuto) that takes care of all shooting settings for you. There are also 18 scene modes with pre-canned settings catered for specific photographic situations from the usual portrait and landscape modes to more unusual modes like e-Portrait, Underwater (Macro or Wide), Multi-Exposure, Cuisine, Pet etc.
Together with its relatively large 1/1.63” sensor, it provides image quality and depth of field that I found comparable to some entry-level DSLRs that I’ve used in the past. The image processing engine – TruePic V – is the same one used in the Pen series of cameras.
Shooting HD video is a cinch with a dedicated record button. No need to fumble through complicated on-screen menus. Recording movies using Diorama mode is pretty cool, like a video on fast-forward.
The control ring around the lens is a pleasure to use. It is tactile and responsive and provides immediate adjustments to the main setting for each shooting mode (eg. aperture setting in Aperture Priority mode).
Areas to improve? I wished there is a more direct way to access ISO and White Balance settings, rather than using the menu. I also found the wheel controller (around the arrow navigation keys on the rear panel) too slow when making large adjustments, say of the shutter speed. But this is highly subjective and I suspect it’s because I’m spoilt by the more tactile lens ring.
