Cutting-edge cameras

Four advanced digital cameras we've recently tested let you go far beyond basic point-and-shoot capabilities. Some have such options as manual controls and the ability to use an external flash yet won't set you back as much as full-featured digital SLRs. All scored Very Good for image quality and most save images as RAW format files, which allows more editing flexibility than a standard JPEG. Here's what you can expect from these models, which scored highly in our tests:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35
$340

Although this superzoom is large, it's lighter than most full-sized models and includes a sturdy grip that allows you to steady it. This camera can capture RAW files or a combination of RAW and JPEG files, a feature common on SLRs but rare on point-and-shoots. And if you decide to shoot a movie, it has HD resolution as well as a stereo microphone, which can add dimension to your video's audio. It also has a dedicated video button that can start recording video instantly, even if your camera is capturing still images.

Bottom line

This Panasonic has very quick performance with very little next-shot or first-shot delay. Its long 18x zoom lens lets you get close to the action and includes wide-angle capability, a great feature if you shoot many group portraits or landscapes.

Canon PowerShot S90
$430

When Canon resurrected this 10-megapixel S-series camera, we noticed that it stood out not only for its small size but also for its ability to shoot RAW files with a faster, brighter lens than its predecessor. There is a special control ring around the camera lens to which you can assign one of several functions, including focus, exposure, ISO, and white balance. The zoom lens is 3.8x.

Bottom line

For photo enthusiasts, the option to use manual controls and the camera's ability to take great pictures in low light are worth the price.

Canon PowerShot G11
$500

This 10-megapixel compact succeeds the 14.7-megapixel PowerShot G10. This is one of the few times a camera maker has lowered the megapixel count in a successor model, and the results are good. The G11 has a 5x zoom and wide-angle capability. Other features include the ability to shoot RAW files and a hot shoe (for an external flash).

Bottom line

Although big, this advanced point-and-shoot Canon is smaller than most SLRs and has many features found on that kind of camera. Its swiveling LCD also has a higher dot count than most LCDs (461,000 dots) to make it sharper and clearer.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
$350

This camera specializes in the big picture. It also has a very wide zoom lens—an equivalent of 24mm, wider than the lens on many point-and-shoots. And it has a feature called Panorama Sweep that can take shots up to 256 degrees wide. In that mode, the camera fires off multiple shots as you pan across a landscape and then automatically stitches the images together to create the panorama. But there are no manual controls, and battery life is shorter than on many point-and-shoots. It comes with a 5x zoom lens.

Bottom line

This model did well in our Ratings with overall speedy performance, and its panorama features set it apart.