Cameras - Remarkable Compacts - Part 1

Compact cameras are non interchangeable lens cameras with box shape proportions. The size may vary from shirt pocket size up to small "brick". The box shape is important for carrying. During operation, the lens may protrude outside. In some cases, during operation, the lens may even multiply the camera depth - It still complies. In addition, compact cameras are distinguished here from superzoom "compacts". The later are larger and do not have the "brick" shape - The lens is always protruding from the body.
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The following cameras, appearing in a random order. They are representing innovation, capabilities, special sensor or lens and most important trend setter. The image quality, while well proven, is one of the factors here, not the only one.
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1. Samsung WB 550

The 10X zoom lens, starting from a relatively 24mm wide up to 240mm, getting this camera inside. Compact cameras with high factor, collapsible, zoom lens are becoming popular now. Samsung was the first with such wide angle.
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2. Sigma DP2

The Sigma DP2 is part of the high end, single focal length lens's compacts. The "high end" is coming from the higher image quality possible with premium, simpler optical design optics. In this group, the Sigma DP2 is special - It is using a relatively larger sensor (Almost DSLR size). More important, it is the only compact camera to use the FOVEON sensor - The only sensor providing a true RGB value from each pixel. Getting, heoretically, higher color resolution.
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3. Sony DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1

Both cameras are latest in Sony's "T" (Flat camera) and "W" (Wide angle lens camera) series. They are using the new Exmor-R CMOS sensor. As trend setter, they are one of the first compact cameras to use CMOS sensor. This sensor type provides high frame rate and lower battery consumption. The Exmor-R sensor is using a new design where the light is entering from the "other" sensor side - Not through the sensor's conductor layers. More light is getting to the sensor cells, contributing to lower noise at night shots. Sony is using the high frame rate capability to further extend the low noise figure, by combining a few shots taken at high speed, of the same scene. The cameras perform automatic panorama pictures, by stitching, automatically, pictures taken while sweeping the camera along the scene. Both cameras exhibit the potential of combing high frame rate with powerful image processing.
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4. Panasonic TZ7 (ZS3)

The Panasonic TZ7 is another example of a powerful zoom lens (12X) inside a compact body. Due to a special lens design (Part of the lens is horizontally embedded inside the body), the lens is not protruding, as with other 10X, or higher zoom, lenses. The Panasonic lens is also wider then usual, starting at 25mm (up to 300mm). It was one of the first compacts with H.264, compact video format, enabled.

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5. Samsung ST550

The Samsung ST 550 is the first compact camera that assist its user with self portraits, without using a swivel display. It is simply using a second LCD display facing forward.
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6. Ricoh GR Digital III

The Ricoh GR Digital III is the latest model from a premium compact cameras line starting in the film days. It is a single focal length design with wide open aperture at F1.9 (The highest in compact cameras today). In addition a larger sensor is used here.
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7. Olympus STYLUS TOUGH-8000

The latest in Olympus's tough cameras line. Olympus started this compact camera market segment and still leading. This camera can be submerged, freezed, dropped and still work under these conditions.
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8. Olympus STYLUS-9000

High zoom factor (10X) compact camera - Olympus member in this highly popular market segment.
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9. Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj

This Nikon Coolpix is the first, and the only so far, camera with integrated mini projector. The shots can immediately be shared by projecting them on a wall.
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10. Panasonic LX3

The Panasonic LX3 is top of Panasonic's compact cameras and stands against the Canon G11 and the Nikon Coolpix 6000. It is using a larger sensor for lower noise images. The lens aperture is open wide at F2.0 while still providing a moderate zoom: 24-60mm.
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11. Lieca X1

A new camera and the first compact camera to use an DSLR grade, APS-C size sensor. All in a very small body. To keep the camera small, with such huge sensor, a fixed focal length lens of 35mm is used. Images taken with the F2.8 lens should have the same quality of DSLR - First for compact camera.

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12. Panasonic FT1 (TS1)

Panasonic entered the tough camera segment with this camera - The first tough camera with the compact H.264 video capability.
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13. Ricoh CX2

Following the CX1 - The first compact camera to use CMOS sensor. This high zoom factor camera (10x) benefits from the sensor's high frame rate capability (5 fps). It can generate wide dynamic range images by combining two successive shots (taken fast enough) of the same scene with different exposure settings.
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14. Nikon Coolpix 6000

Nikon version of the premium camera segment. It enables full manual control, as other premium cameras and automatic geotagging using internal GPS receiver.

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15. Canon PowerShot SX200 IS

Canon version of the high zoom factor lens (12X) segment.

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16. Canon G11

Canon best compact camera. Providing lower resolution (10Mp) then its predecessor the G10 (14.7 Mp), but with better image quality due to the larger pixels (See Panasonic LX3 who was the first to stop the megapixel race at 10Mp). It is using a tough construction (Not so small) with zoom lens starting at F2.0.

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17. Canon Powershot S90

This canon can be considered as a slimmed down version of the G11. It is much smaller (actually one of the smallest compacts) but using the same sensor of the G11. The lens here is also starting at F2.0, special at this size.

For more remarkable compact cameras, please refer to part 2.