Best touchscreen camera: Samsung DualView TL225/TL220

1. Link : http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10401736-1.html
Pointed, shot: Best tested 2009
compact cams
by Joshua Goldman
Canon's PowerShot S90 is one of 2009's best cameras.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
If camera phones have got people thinking twice about the need for a decent
snapshot camera, no one's told the camera manufacturers. Canon, Nikon, Sony,
Panasonic, Fujifilm, Kodak, Pentax, Casio, Samsung, and Olympus all continue to
produce point-and-shoot cameras in a wide array of shapes, sizes, and abilities. The
variety is amazing, bordering on downright silly.
This is why the question "What's the best point-and-shoot?" is difficult to answer;
while one camera might excel in low-light conditions or photo quality, it'll more than
likely come up short in design, usability, performance, price, or in some other area.
Sure, I can stack up some cameras with some similar features and prices, but with
so many variables it's very difficult to be specific. But, I'll give it a shot.
Below is a list of the best cameras--or at least those worth considering--that fall
under a particular type, size, or feature. These are ones that left a strong enough
impression on me to make me recommend them again and again to readers, friends,
and family. None of them is perfect, but they have pluses that outweigh the minuses.
While I'm at it, there are a few things you should keep in mind when shopping for any
point-and-shoot camera. For capturing kids, pets, or any other fast-moving subjects,

2. you really need a digital SLR. A couple here are pretty quick--the Panasonic ZR1 and
Sony WX1 come to mind--but if you're regularly shooting things in motion you'll want
to step up to at least an entry-level dSLR. I suggest the same for those wanting the
best in low-light shooting without a flash (though again, there are a couple here
worth buying).
Optical viewfinders are all but gone from new models. Canon still has a few, but the
rest of them are nothing but LCD. Lastly, most of these models use proprietary
something or other: a memory card, cable, or, most typically, a battery. It's irritating,
occasionally frustrating, and adds to the overall cost of a product--definitely worth
keeping in mind when you're shopping.
While I did my best to review as many cameras as possible this year, not every
model from all manufacturers were tested. For better or worse, we dive into traffic
numbers to figure out what you're most interested in seeing reviewed. Personal
requests are considered as well, so if there's a camera we didn't get to that you're
interested in, please feel free to let me know. Also, we're presently testing the Sony
Cyber-shot TX1, the Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR (aka the F72EXR at Best Buy), the
Nikon Coolpix S1000pj and S640, the Casio Exilim EX-H10, EX-Z33, and EX-Z450,
and the Kodak EasyShare Z950 and M381. Look for those over the next few weeks.
Best $100: Canon PowerShot A480
The good: Simple; cheap; relatively small;
AA battery powered.
The bad: Chunky, plastic design; leisurely
performance.
The bottom line: The Canon PowerShot
A480 may be a basic low-priced compact
camera, but at least it takes good photos.
Read the full review here.
Also consider: Casio Exilim EX-S5
Best sub-$200 compact: Nikon Coolpix
S570
The good: Good lens specifications;
Smart Portrait System works well; nice
design, feature set.
The bad: Middle-of-the-road performance;
ISO 1,600, 3,200 not worth using.

3. The bottom line: The Nikon Coolpix S570 is a respectable ultracompact camera,
despite average point-and-shoot performance and some high-ISO overpromising.
Read the full review here.
Also consider: Kodak EasyShare M1093 IS
Best $200 compact: Sony Cyber-shot
DSC-W290
The good: Terrific design, interface, and
controls; wide-angle, 5x zoom lens;
excellent price-to-feature ratio.
The bad: No optical zoom while recording
video; soft photos.
The bottom line: The Sony Cyber-shot
DSC-W290 is an excellent, well-balanced
compact camera.
Read the full review here.
Also consider: Canon PowerShot SD780 IS
Best ultracompact: Canon PowerShot
SD940 IS
The good: Very small; simple operation;
very good photo, HD movie quality; HDMI
out.
The bad: No optical zoom in Movie mode;
mixed performance.
The bottom line: One of the best
ultracompacts available, the Canon
PowerShot SD940 IS nonetheless falls
short of greatness in performance and
photo quality.
Read the full review here.
Also consider: Canon PowerShot SD780 IS
Best low-light performance: Fujifilm
FinePix F200EXR
The good: Excellent photo quality; lots of
useful features; very good dynamic range
and high ISO performance in EXR modes;
takes SDHC and xD cards.

4. The bad: Basic Movie mode for its price; limited aperture settings; menu systems
take some getting used to.
The bottom line: Don't let its new sensor technology scare you off: the Fujifilm
FinePix F200EXR is an excellent compact camera with shooting features for just
about every type of user.
Read the full review here.
Also consider: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1, Canon PowerShot S90
Best compact megazoom: Panasonic
Lumix DMC-ZR1
The good: Simple to use; nice design;
excellent performance, photo quality.
The bad: No AV output cable included; no
shutter speed, aperture controls.
The bottom line: With a wide-angle,
megazoom lens, a quick AF system, and
generally high-quality snapshot photos,
the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 is a
standout compact megazoom.
Read the full review here.
Also consider: Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Best hobbyist/semipro compact:
Canon PowerShot S90
The good: Excellent control system for
manual, semimanual shooting; fantastic
wide-angle f2 lens; very good low-light
photo quality.
The bad: Performance is merely average;
no HD movie mode or optical zoom while
recording; a couple design miscues.
The bottom line: As long as you're not
expecting dSLR speed in a tiny body, the
Canon PowerShot S90 is an excellent compact camera for advanced amateurs.
Read the full review here.
Also consider: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

5. Best touchscreen camera: Samsung
DualView TL225/TL220
The good: Large automatic shooting
feature set; responsive touch-screen
navigation; unique dual-screen design.
The bad: Adapter needed for HDMI
output; microSD card requirement might
irk some; touch-screen interface not for
everyone; battery charges in camera;
whole screen not used for framing shots at
full resolution.
The bottom line: The technology-packed Samsung DualView TL225 is the ultimate
ultracompact for those who like to be in front of the camera more than they like being
behind it.
Read the full review here.
Also consider: Nikon Coolpix S70
Best rugged camera: Panasonic Lumix
DMC-TS1
The good: Well designed; very good
performance, photo, and video quality.
The bad: Expensive; soft photos.
The bottom line: A full-featured
waterproof/shockproof pocket point-and-
shoot, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 is a
near-perfect rugged camera for everyday
use.
Read the full review here.
Also consider: Canon PowerShot D10
Best shooting performance: Sony
Cyber-shot DSC-WX1
The good: Well-designed; several fun,
useful features; good low-light and overall
performance.
The bad: Mixed photo quality.

6. The bottom line: The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 is a great, fast-performing
snapshot camera that falters on photo quality.
Read the full review here.
Also consider: Casio Exilim EX-FC100
Best overall photo quality: Canon
PowerShot S90
The good: Excellent control system for
manual, semimanual shooting; fantastic
wide-angle f2 lens; very good low-light
photo quality.
The bad: Performance is merely average;
no HD movie mode or optical zoom while
recording; a couple design miscues.
The bottom line: As long as you're not
expecting dSLR speed in a tiny body, the
Canon PowerShot S90 is an excellent compact camera for advanced amateurs.
Read the full review here.