Digital cameras: New tests, Ratings reveal best models

Our upcoming digital cameras coverage highlights a shift in the camera marketplace that’s affected how we test cameras.

[June 4, 2008 UPDATE: The "Best digital camera" report from the July 2008 issue of Consumer Reports magazine has been posted on our website. You can access certain portions of the report—which covers point-and-shoot digital cameras, digital SLRs, SLR lenses, and snapshot printers—for free. But, only paying ConsumerReports.org subscribers can access other portions, including Consumer Reports' digital cameras Ratings and Recommendations, digital SLRs Ratings and Recommendations, and snapshot printers Ratings and Recommendations. —Ed.]

Most digital cameras today have megapixels galore, a large LCD, fairly long battery life, and take fine pictures in good light. So new models are trying to distinguish themselves by adding new features, stylish designs and improved performance in difficult situations—shooting in low-light, compensating for back-light, and capturing fast-action sports scenes, for examples.

We've upgraded our digital camera tests to better evaluate these more ambitious models. How the new point-and-shoot cameras and digital SLRs fared in our more rigorous testing process can be seen in our latest digital camera Ratings (available to subscribers only) now online. These new camera Ratings, along with our new video guide to buying a digital camera (Click on the player at right), will help you find the best camera for your needs.

Here are some previews and highlights from the "Best digital cameras" report, appearing online soon:

• Our new tests reveal a wider range of performance results, with some cameras rising to the tougher challenges—and a number falling short.


• The performance distinction between point-and-shoots and SLRs is blurring. Hint: Some point-and-shoots excelled in dim conditions—traditionally an SLR strength—while a few SLRs faltered.


• Our new image-quality tests combine the judgments of our experts with software analysis for sharpness, color accuracy in a variety of conditions, and other attributes. The result: No point-and-shoot camera received an Excellent image quality score. Only two SLRs scored Excellent image quality—with some of the older models receiving lower image-quality scores than previously reported.


• A new "dynamic range" test evaluates a camera's ability to successfully capture a shot under widely varying light conditions. Cameras with high dynamic range scores are capable of rendering detail well in the very dim and the very bright areas of an image. The worst performers all but obliterated those finer points.

If you're taking advantage of Memorial Day weekend store sales and shopping for a new digital camera, you'll find more free digital camera buying advice on ConsumerReports.org.

Comments

[Eleanor Seepes]

I searched local stores and the Internet as I decided to buy one of the three CR top rates subcompact digital cameras.

In each case, the prices were at least $150-200 more than the price you noted. How could this happen?

[Myron Schroeder]

Subject: Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera Reviews

I wish to comment on the type of lens that CR uses in testing of the basic SLR's. CR is currently testing all SLR's with a high quality 50 mm lens of the same brand as the camera. This procedure provides information on the best image quality that can be achieved with the given camera body, and while this information is very useful it does not in my opinion reflect the image quality that most buyers of the Basic SLR will be achieving. I believe that most basic SLR's are sold with a kit lens. Therefore I believe that as a service to CR readers the testing of these cameras should also include image quality results with the most frequently used kit lens for the specific camera. This may also involve testing and publishing results for at least 3 focal lengths for each kit lens.

To support my hypothesis on buying habits I used Amazon.com's ranking of the 100 most popular SLR's, on May 28, 2008. The result is that for Basic SLR's most of the models you ranked are sold with a kit lens. The two exceptions are the Nikon D80 and Sigma SD14. The Panasonic models in your recent test results were not among the top 100.

A summary of the ranking for Basic SLR's that were reviewed by CR is:

Popularity Ranking
With Kit Lens Body Only
Nikon D80 22 14
Olympus Evolt E-510 9 80
Olympus Evolt E-410 31 89
Canon Digital Rebel Xti 8 16
Nikon D40x 45 87
Nikon D40 6 >100
Sigma SD14 >100 51
Pentax K100D 61 >100

[Adam Belok]

My Canon SD800 IS Digital stopped working within the extended warrantee, so I mailed it into the Comapany. Cannon honored it by sending me a new SD1100 IS. Is this as good as the 800 was supposed to be or better? I have not used it yet since it came today, but there seems not to be the exterior shaped grip like on the earlier model. Am I imaginging this?

[Paul Eng]

To all:

The "Best digital cameras" report has been posted on ConsumerReports.org. You can click on my name above and be taken directly there.

You can also find it here:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/news-electronics-computers/2008/7/digital-cameras/overview/digital-cameras-ov.htm

If you can't see the URL, you can find it by going here:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm
then
Click "Cameras & photography" on the left:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/cameras-photography/index.htm
then
Click on "digital cameras" on the left:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/cameras-photography/cameras-camcorders/digital-cameras/reports/index.htm
then
Click on "Best digital cameras" in the middle:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/news-electronics-computers/2008/7/digital-cameras/overview/digital-cameras-ov.htm

Also, if you have a paid subscription to ConsumerReports.org, you can access the Ratings, which were updated last week--when we originally posted this entry on the blog.

The Ratings are here:

Digital Cameras:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/cameras-photography/cameras-camcorders/digital-cameras/reports/digital-ratings/ratings/ratings/index.htm
Digital SLRs:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/cameras-photography/cameras-camcorders/digital-cameras/reports/slr-ratings/ratings-slr/latest-ratings/index.htm

-Paul Eng
Web Sr. Editor, Electronics

[Sadie]

I am so disappointed that I suscribed to this website and just wasted my money. All I wanted was the classic Consumer Reports chart on the latest digital cameras, and I can't even get that. I could have read all these ARTICLES anywhere else for free. bye bye. S

[Jill]

When will the "Best digital cameras" report be available?