In 2010 we saw many new digital cameras released with most of the talk around the mirror-less Micro Four Thirds category. Just when you thought 'what else can they fit into a camera' we saw the addition of Full HD video, compacts pushing DSLR capabilities... and more recently the announcement of the backward step with the Fujifilm Instamax. It seems that retro is still in and the possibilities, are still endless...

With that said we have put together our Annual 2010 Reviewer's Choice Awards for cameras that we've reviewed. If you're still not sure which way to go with purchasing a new camera, this should help you make the decision much easier.

And the winners are...

BEST DSLR
Canon 7D (RRP $2,499)

Read the full review here

[Excerpts from the review] There’s no doubt that the two headline features which will, initially, draw many to the Canon 7D, are its resolution and continuous shooting speed. With an 18 megapixel CMOS sensor, Canon has really distanced itself from the competition in the cropped frame market.

On its own, the resolution and general image detail delivered by the 7D’s is a great drawcard but, ultimately, it’s the blend of its sensor and continuous shooting speed that make it close to the most unique DSLR on the market

Overall, the Canon 7D should be considered, pound for pound and value for money, one of the best DSLR’s on the market. Combining such a high-resolution with a frame-rate action photographers would die for, all without compromising its low-light performance, to any noticeable degree, is a major achievement.

The 7D will definitely make many out there question what their true focus is. But the, ultimate, proof of the 7D’s quality should be in the fact that it is tempting this Nikon shooter to make the treasonous move across to Canons fold.

BEST Entry Level DSLR
Sony A55 (RRP $1,149)
Read the full review here

[Excerpts from the review] Despite its remarkable resemblance to a DSLR in terms of appearance, handling and function it turns out that Sony’s 16.2-megapixel a55 is in fact a DSLT: a Digital Single Lens Translucent. In layman’s terms this means the internal mirror is fixed in position and needn’t move to allow light to pass through to the sensor, as it would in a DSLR.

Being able to view your images via the electronic viewfinder (EVF) is a huge advantage when shooting outdoors in bright sunlight as there is no need to contend with difficult-to-view images on the LCD. Simply look through the EVF and there is your image in all of its unaffected-by-glare-and-bright-light glory.

Speaking of convenience and intuitiveness, the a55’s 3-inch 912k dot LCD not only offers an attractive preview but tilts out from and underneath the unit a full 180 degrees vertically and then swivels around some 270 degrees on top of that.

Sweep panorama mode is also available in either standard or 3D modes (the latter viewable only on a compatible 3D TV) and in practice works extraordinarily effectively.

You literally pan the camera either in a continuous horizontal or vertical action while keeping the shutter depressed and as you’re doing so the a55 captures multiple frames and stitches them together into a single image without any manual editing or assistance. It really is quite amazing and likely to be feature much loved and often used.

For its price and given its ability the a55 is, in short, a winner. It’s bringing some features and functions previously only available to those with a bigger wallet to consumers who want more from their cameras. Invest in Sony’s a55 and the reality is you’re unlikely to be disappointed. Quite the opposite in fact.


BEST Micro Four Thirds
Olympus E-PL1 (RRP $799)
Read the full review here

[Excerpts from the review] The Olympus E-PL1 put simply is a photographer’s dream. Whether you’re a DSLR user looking for a capable and affordable compact unit to add to your kit or an amateur photographer looking for a user-friendly unit to intuitively help you capture the best happy snaps possible, chances are you’ll struggle to find a better camera in this price range for the job.

In fact the E-PL1 is the first of the Olympus Micro Four Thirds units to drop below $1,000 – an obvious positive for consumers - and in truth, there isn’t all that much on the negative side to say about it.

It has a decent 12.3 megapixels and is simply yet smartly designed both in terms of its interface and the internal menu system. The 2.7-inch LCD has some 230k dots of resolution and while it could afford to be slightly larger in future models, it more than suffices both in terms of its proportion in relation to the E-PL1 body and in the quality of preview it offers.

The E-PL1 is an excellent compact camera that nestles neatly into the chasm between point-and-shoot compacts and semi-professional DSLRs. It offers some of the better features of both including intelligent auto mode, live guide, HD movie mode, an interchangeable lens system, great noise control, RAW capture, an array of automated scene and art modes and full manual control along with aperture and shutter priority etc.

It delivers on all of the promises made by Olympus and is undeniably worth the sub $1,000 investment. The E-PL1 is very impressive overall and thoroughly recommended.


BEST Advanced Compact
Samsung WB2000 (RRP $449)
Read the full review here

[Excerpts from the review] Samsung has pushed the envelope quite a bit with their cameras of recent. Whether it’s the dual-screen compacts that made composing self-portraits a breeze for partygoers, or the technical feat that was the, first ever, interchangeable lens camera with a mirror-less cropped sensor, one thing Samsung can’t be labelled as, is lacking innovation. And it seems that with their most recent releases, the EX1 and, now, the WB2000, Samsung have listened to what photographers truly want from their compact cameras.

Fitted with a 10.2-megapixel BSI (Backside-illuminated) CMOS sensor, many may question the resolution being delivered by the WB2000, but being backlit by BSI does claim to produce a higher sensitivity level than the traditional front-illuminated sensors, resulting in what should be cleaner images in dim light. Another inclusion that compensates for the perceived ‘lower resolution’ is that of RAW capture, making the WB2000 quite unique at this end of the market.

Samsung has definitely tried to push the design and technical boundaries with their dual-screen compacts, and the market inventing NX10, but have shown with their most recently releases that they seem to be after a good balance of revolution and tradition.

The WB2000 provides a RAW capture capability that doesn’t appear too often in this market segment and offers a nice array of manual controls for the more learned photographer. Its impressive movie recording provides icing to a full featured, competitively priced compact camera that is another notch to what is becoming a deep and diverse digital camera range by Samsung.


BEST Compact
Canon Poweshot SX-210 (RRP $599)

Read the full review here

[Excerpts from the review] Canon again hit this section of the market promising to lead the way with its combination of high resolution and large focal range. Fitted with a 14.1-megapixel CCD sensor along with a 14x zoom lens, with a 35mm equivalent of 28-392mm, the SX210 delivers good image quality at lower ISOs and a great focal length in a relatively compact body. The inclusion of optical image stabilisation allows consistent result throughout the zoom range as well.

In saying this, Canon has delivered quality, pretty much, on par with most of the cameras in its class.

Build wise, Canon has delivered a good, solid feel in the SX210. The 3.0”, 16:9 aspect ratio widescreen LCD display dominates the back of the camera, and is great when used in HD movie mode. It also has good low light visibility making the overall experience, during composing and playback, an enjoyable one, though its size could have been used more effectively.

Where the SX210 excel is its overall performance, and this is possibly the cameras strongest aspect. The auto focus system is very accurate, while metering and white balance is reliable and consistent. Because of these factors, shooting in its Easy mode is quite a treat with the SX210 delivering good results for the point and click photographers out there.

As mentioned earlier, the LCD is fantastic when paired with the HD movie mode, which records at 720p with stereo quality sound. Canon has included a dedicated movie-record button that allows for transitioning to movie recording from any mode.

For its market, the PowerShot SX210 IS does a good job of meeting what most people want from their super-zoom compacts. It produces consistent images in its automatic setting and the results straight out of camera should look pleasing in a 6x4 print.

But as a camera to document your travels, and celebrations, along with the ability to get really close to the action without being noticed, the SX210 does a fine job.