Buying Guide: Best compact camera 2011: 25 reviewed and rated

Finding the best compact camera for your needs is never going to be easy because the compact camera market is a very crowded place.

There are literally hundreds - if not thousands - of digital compact cameras out there, waiting for you to ogle them, to scratch your heads over them, and eventually hand over your hard-earned cash for them.

Once the transaction is complete and you're unboxing your newest purchase, a nagging doubt enters your mind: did I make the right choice?

The right choice, of course, depends on what you want from your digital camera. Maybe you're looking for a high-end compact camera to use on your DSLR's day off, or perhaps you want something more basic to help someone else get started in photography.

Whichever compact digital camera you might be looking for, we've pulled together a selection of what we believe are the 25 best compact digital cameras on the market now.

Best DSLRs for video: under £500
Best DSLR: top cameras by price and brand

Best compact cameras 2011: High-end

Fujifilm Finepix X100
Price: £999 Specs: 12.3MP, 23mm fixed-focus lens, hybrid viewfinder

Fuji turned plenty of heads with this retro-tastic beauty, which makes use of a revolutionary hybrid viewfinder that combines an optical and an electronic viewfinder in one screen.

Looking to captivate hardened DSLR users, it offers plenty of control with an aperture ring, shutter-speed dial and raw mode.

Read our Fuji X100 review

Canon PowerShot G12
Price: £539 Specs: 10MP, 5x optical zoom lens, 720p HD video

When it comes to the high-spec compact camera market, Canon has set the standard with the G-series, and raised the bar again with the PowerShot G12.

The Canon G12 offers full manual control and raw shooting mode as well as smart auto, which lets the camera take charge.

Add to this image stabilization, HDR capability and multi-aspect shooting, and you can see why this compact camera gives interchangeable lens cameras a run for their money.

Read our Canon G12 review

Nikon Coolpix P7000
Price: £489.99 Specs: 10.1MP, 7.1x zoom lens, 720p HD video

The P7000 offers the full manual control that you'd expect from a pro-level camera, but comes with the automatic functions of a compact camera.

The Nikon P7000 has 18 different scene modes to help you capture everything from fireworks to museum visits, automatically corrects red-eye, and it even has a smile timer.

This could be the best compact camera for you if you don't want a DSLR in your bag.

Read our Nikon P7000 review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Price: £458.99 Specs: 10MP, 3.8x optical zoom Leica lens with 24mm wideangle

With its f/2.0 Leica lens and high ISO capabilities, the Panasonic LX-5 is a great low-light companion.

Its video mode allows you to record in HD, adjust the aperture or shutter speed when you're in creative mode, or have the camera take control in iA mode.

You can even hook up this compact camera to an HD-enabled TV directly via the HDMI port, making this the best compact camera for any budding filmmakers out there.

Read our Panasonic LX5 review

Olympus XZ-1
Price: £399.99 Specs: 10MP, 4x optical zoom lens, maximum aperture f/1.8

This might be the most stylish of the pro-level compact cameras, but the Olympus XZ-1 has substance to back it up.

There's full manual control with a range of nifty features, such as a histogram, but it also has a full range of automatic settings and fun 'art modes'.

Add to this its bright Zuiko lens and HD video mode, and the Olympus XZ-1 is worth a long look.

Read our Olympus XZ-1 review

Best compact cameras 2011: Ultra-compact, high-end

Canon PowerShot S95
Price: £399 Specs: 10MP, 3.8x optical zoom lens, weighs 193g

Since its launch in summer 2010, scarcely a bad word has been uttered about the Canon S95. You've got full manual control via the lens ring, or you can let the camera decide with smart auto.

The lens boasts a maximum aperture of f/2.0, you can make HD videos or shoot in raw. All of this - along with outstanding image quality, even in low-light - and the Canon S95 still fits in your pocket.

Read our Canon S95 review

Nikon Coolpix P300
Price: £299 Specs: 12MP, 4.2x optical zoom, 1080p HD video

The Nikon P300 might give the Canon PowerShot S95 a run for its money with an f/1.8 lens and slightly higher resolution, but do bear in mind that it doesn't have raw capability and its sensor is slightly smaller.

If you can live with that, though, Nikon might be on to a winner of the pocket-sized camera wars with a compact camera that records excellent still images and video for less than £300.

Read our Nikon P300 review

Samsung EX1
Price: £399.99 Specs: 10MP, 3x optical zoom, Schneider-Kreuznach lens, rotating screen

Samsung's EX1 led the way for pocket-sized, low-light prowess: f/1.8 lens, a large sensor and a maximum ISO 3200.

It comes with full manual mode, records 720p HD videos, records raw files for extra editing flexibility and comes with HDR capability, and it even has a range of filters to let you get creative.

What's that? You'd rather that the camera did the hard work? It's got a fully automated setting, too!

Read our hands on Samsung EX1 review

Best compact cameras 2011: Travel compacts

Nikon Coolpix S9100
Price: £299.99 Specs: 12MP, 18x optical zoom, 1080p HD video with stereo sound

The potential for blur with an 18x optical zoom is high, but the Coolpix S9100 does have sensor shift and electronic vibration reduction in place.

There's an ISO 3200 setting for low light situations and an easy-to-use panorama mode that lets you pan vertically or horizontally, as well as a heap of automatic settings to make life easier and a bundle of special effects to let you get creative.

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS
Price: £270, 12MP, 14x optical zoom, full manual option

The Canon SX230 is a great little compact camera for still images, but it seems to have been taken to heart extra warmly by the video crowd.

The PowerShot SX230 HS lets you record 1080p HD videos with stereo sound, in high-speed bursts or super slow motion.

As for stills, the Canon SX230 enables you to take full control of your pictures or implement the smart auto mode with 32 different scene options. There's even a GPS function so you can track exactly where you took your pictures.

Read our Canon SX230 HS review

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
Price: £339 Specs: 16MP, 16x optical zoom, 3D and sweep panorama technology

If you fancy venturing into 3D territory, the Sony HX9V lets you go there with both stills and video. Video is 1050p full HD, too.

There's also a GPS function to record your location, and if you're new to taking pictures there are in-camera instructions.

This compact camera does miss out on Aperture and Shutter Priority modes, but it does allow you to shoot fully manual. I reckon this could be the best compact camera to have if you're about to go off on safari!

Read our Sony HX9V hands-on review

Casio Exilim ZR-100
Price: £299.99 Specs: 12.1MP, 12.5x optical zoom, panorama function

If its 12.5x zoom isn't enough, the Casio ZR-100 can virtually double this with its multi-frame SR zoom, which combines multiple shots to create one super-close, but sharp, image. Or you can get great landscapes with a 24mm wideangle shot.

This Casio camera also boasts an HDR function, high-speed continuous shooting at 40 frames per second, and you can fiddle all you like with your photos in manual - or stick to automatic modes.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20
Price: £369.99 Specs: 14.1MP, 16x optical zoom, touch screen

With GPS, HD video and 3D technology, the Panasonic TZ20 really does seem feature-packed.

This Panasonic camera offers full manual capability as well as auto features that can be accessed via the rear touch screen.

'Intelligent zoom' means that the 16x optical zoom can be boosted to 21x with surprisingly good results, compared to what we're used to from digital zoom.

Read our Panasonic TZ20 review

Fujifilm FinePix F550 EXR
Price: £329.99 Specs: 16MP, 15x optical zoom lens, raw or raw + JPEG option

The Fuji F550 EXR gives you close-up and wideangle options, can geo-tag your images with its GPS function, has a ludicrously high maximum ISO of 12,800, makes HD video and even offers a panorama mode.

Combine all of that with its SuperCCD EXR technology (better sensitivity, dynamic range and resolution) and you should be well on your way to taking brilliant images.

Read our Fuji F550 EXR review

Best Compact Cameras 2011: Super-zooms

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Price: £429 Specs: 14.1MP, 35x optical zoom, zoom framing assist

The Canon SX30 has an impressive 24-800mm focal range, which it backs up with zoom framing assist to help keep distant objects in the shot.

Smart Auto mode offers 28 different scenes, but full manual lets you take control. The Canon SX30 also lets you record 720p HD videos, get creative with a miniature effect, and snap away in low-light with confidence.

Read our Canon SX30 IS review

Nikon Coolpix L120
Price: £249.99 Specs: 14MP, 21x optical zoom, 720p HD video with stereo sound

The Nikon L120 features a staggering 35mm equivalent focal range of 25-525mm, giving you wideangle and great zoom capability. You can get as close as 1cm in macro mode, too, making the Coolpix L120 the ultimate long-distance and super-up-close weapon.

The vibration reduction feature is great at reducing camera blur as well. You can push the ISO to 6400, and of course there's video: 720p HD.

If you know someone who wants to try a bit of everything with their camera, this could be the best compact camera for them.

Read our Nikon L120 review

Olympus SZ-30MR
Price: £299.99 Specs: 16MP, 24x optical zoom, multi-recording allows simultaneous still and video capture

Does the Olympus SZ-30MR do it all? Olympus thinks so, and we're inclined to agree.

This compact camera offers an amazing 26-600mm (35mm equivalent) super zoom lens that should take care of most shooting situations.

To that, you can add dual image stabilization, SLR-rivaling 9 frames per second continuous shooting, a fun (if slightly pointless) 3D stills mode, and - of course - 1080p HD video.

And you can even capture stills at the time as shooting a video. Nifty!

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V
Price: £429 Specs: 16.2MP, 30x optical zoom, sweep panorama mode

This is one of the newest super-zooms out there, and Sony has packed in the features so it can compete in a busy market, from GPS to 3D stills, along with 1050p full HD video.

The Sony HX100V can shoot 10 frames per second, its sweep panorama makes capturing vistas easy and there's even in-camera editing.

Read our Sony HX100V hands-on review

Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR
Price: £399.99 Specs: 16MP, 30x optical zoom, manual mode

Whether you want full control or prefer the camera to make the decisions, the Fuji HS20 gives you the options.

Its EXR technology helps to get the best out of every picture, and you can choose JPEG or raw formats.

There's also a sweep panorama mode that's great fun to use. Simply find a panoramic view and wave your camera through the air to create a great-looking panorama.

Read our Fuji HS20 EXR review

Best compact cameras 2011: All-rounders

Fujifilm FinePix Z90
Price: 149.99 Specs: 14MP, 5x optical zoom, touch screen

Coming in six different colours and with its quirky sliding cover, the Fuji Z90 is a stylish-looking camera.

Its touch screen makes for easy image and video capture, and there's an easy upload facility to put pictures directly on to FaceBook or YouTube.

Digital image stabilisation helps to prevent blur, and there are some in-camera editing functions, too. This is the best compact camera for the fashion-conscious, Facebook-conscious teen.

Read our Fuji Z90 review

Pentax Optio S1
Price: £129.99 Specs: 14MP, 5x optical zoom, in-body recharging system

With a maximum ISO of 6400, autofocus tracking, some cool effects that you can apply to images, in-camera editing, and 720p HD video, this compact camera offers a whole heap of nifty features for your money.

The pictures aren't bad, either. With a great price-point and a solid level of tech built-in, the Pentax S1 is the best compact camera for someone just getting to grips with how to use a camera.

Canon IXUS 220 HS
Price: £199 Specs: 12.1MP, 5x optical zoom lens, HS system for low-light shooting

A stylish stainless steel body conceals a camera capable of decent low-light shots, a Smart Auto mode with 32 different scenes, the ability to shoot without flash, HD video with super slow motion and high-speed burst options, along with a host of creative options, from fish-eye to toy camera effect.

If you only want to own one camera and don't want to spend the Earth, the Canon IXUS 220 HS is the best compact camera for you and should be at the top of your list.

Read our Canon IXUS 220 HS review

Samsung PL120
Price: £149.99 Specs: 14.2MP, 5x optical zoom, dual image display

The Samsung PL120's front screen allows you to preview self-portraits to make sure you get them just right and it shows animations to keep little ones' attention when you switch on the children mode.

Add to that its range of effects, video mode, and in-camera editing function, and what you're looking at is a great heap of fun packaged into a quality camera that is the best compact camera for anyone with a young family.

Best compact cameras 2011: Waterproof cameras

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3
Price: £369.99 Specs: 12.1MP, waterproof to 12m, freeze-proof to -10° Celsius, shockproof to 2m, dust-proof

Panasonic's go-anywhere camera has a 4.6x optical zoom Leica lens, 3D photo capability and an optical image stabiliser.

There's a built in GPS function, as well as an altimeter, a compass and a barometer. Whether your hazard of choice is sky- or scuba diving, you could do a lot worse than this little gem!

Read our Panasonic FT3 review

Olympus TG-810
Price: £269.99 Specs: 14MP, waterproof to 10m, shockproof 2m, crushproof to 100kg

Not only can the Olympus TG-810 be dropped in the sea, trodden on and withstand temperatures of -10° Celsius, but its GPS can record where you took your pictures, some of which you might have shot in 3D, and then you can upload them to your PC wirelessly using Eye-Fi connectivity.

And don't forget its 5x optical zoom and HD video mode, either. I'm not sure how much wi-fi you get in the jungle, but if that's where you're head this should be the best compact camera for your journey!

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX10
Price: £319 Specs: 16.2MP, waterproof to 5m, shockproof to 1.5m, withstands -10° Celsius