Compact Cameras with SLR Quality

Where cameras stand today

Buying a camera today is too much work. There are so many brands with so many models, who can decide without lying awake at night wondering if it was the right choice.

Digital SLR cameras are like the big brother. They cost more but start up faster, shoot more fps, produce RAW image files, utilize larger sensors, and offer more (manual) control. SLR market mainly consists of Nikon and Canon.

As good as they are, their size holds them back. Not everyone wishes to have a massive camera tag along all day. They are awkward and hard to travel with.

 If you are on the market for a new compact camera that’s SLR quality without the bulk, unfortunately there aren’t many on the market.

A good compact camera would have:

- Fast, high-quality lens that reaches 28mm

- Large sensor

- RAW image support

- A quick shutter response

Some possible choices

1. Canon’s PowerShot G7

Rating: 7.5/10

Good: takes excellent close up shots

Bad: No RAW image support

2. Nikon Coolpix P5000

Rating: 6.9/10

Good: Small design, external flash with hot shoe

Enough megapixels already

A good sensor focuses on sensitivity rather than simply creating more megapixels. Some believe a good camera uses larger image sensors with more sensitive pixels. However, when you squeeze as many pixels as possible onto a sensor, it creates unwanted speckles called image “noise”.

Fewer megapixels also would reduce some burdens of processing and saving images, potentially improving responsiveness. Consumers need to understand that a camera may lack megapixel quantity but that make up in megapixel quality. It’s tough to keep that in mind when companies market on megapixel count.