When it comes to camera manufacturers, it seems that experience counts. Canon and Nikon dominated the field in 35mm SLR cameras for decades and, not that the digital dust is settling, they continue to make the top-rated digital cameras.whether you’re talking about top professional gear or compact digital’s for the weekend photographer.
Nikon’s D7000 is also pretty close to the top drawer of digital cameras. It’s an excellent DSLR for experienced photographers who will find that it delivers perfect shots and extremely ergonomic operation. The viewfinder here is particularly excellent. The Canon 5D Mark II probably has a slight edge on it, but it is also considerably more expensive.
For the professional or serious amateur, it’s hard to go past both of these cameras.But what about the other end of the market? What are the top rated digital cameras for lesser mortals? Once again, Canon and Nikon have pretty much got it sewn up.
Canon’s PowerShot S95 is a real gem among compact cameras. It’s well designed and relatively compact and takes great photographs. Despite its compact profile, this is a serious camera which is capable of great results, particularly when the shooter takes advantage of the full set of manual controls. That’s the reason it won the hearts of a lot of professional photographers when it was released. It’s a great second camera for the professional and a real step-up in quality for amateurs who have used less advanced compacts.
Nikon’s Coolpix S8100 is the company’s best entry in the compact field. It’s around a hundred bucks cheaper than the PowerShot but packs enough features to make it good value for money. Nikon learnt the lesson of the earlier S8000, which was a little on the mediocre side, to produce this new model which takes great shots and is easy and comfortable to use. It’s only drawback is a lack of manual control, but most people buying at this price range are not going to be concerned about that.
Olympus is another manufacturer with a long tradition and just slips into this list with its E-PL2. This is a little pricier than either the Nikon Coolpix or the Canon PowerShot, but it’s high performance and advanced features justify the price in most areas. Flexibility is the name of the game here, with its customisable interface and interchangeable lens system.
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