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Some of my friends have been asking for my recommendation on camera gear, so this week I'll be diverging a bit from the usual Reel Foto blog photographers' series and give you a quick rundown of what I think are the best compact cameras out in the market today, along with a few links to more reviews and recommendations. I won't go into detail about each product, or describe their pros and cons. I'm simply listing down three compact cameras that should suit 99% of your everyday photography needs based on my very biased view.



Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS


The Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS is the latest offering by the industry giant in the budget range. For $160, you get 12.1 MP of picture resolution plus 1080p HD video in a compact package that comes with 5x optical zoom. That's probably more resolution and zoom you'll need for casual occasions.

The only downside in my experience is the so-so build quality; I've seen a few older ELPH and IXUS cameras with their paintwork faded away, but the real concern is the plastic housing, especially around the lens mechanism (the glass opening at the center) as I've had a friend's IXUS camera shut down after its lens covering wouldn't open. That was with an older model however, and for less than $200, it was well worth the thousands of pictures she took with it.

If you have absolutely no idea about where to start with compact cameras and you're only willing to spend less than $200, then this is the best choice in the market right now. Here are few more sites that might be helpful.

• CNET Review
• Digital Photography School Discussion Page
• Amazon Product Page

Canon Powershot S100


The Canon PowerShot S100 looks conspicuously like it's little brother the ELPH 300 above. With the ability to take 12.1 MP images and 1080p HD video in a 5x optical zoom package, it even sounds like the same camera. However, the similarities end there. This solidly-built camera has a fast f/2.0 lens at its widest zoom (meaning it captures slightly better pictures with less light available), captures in RAW format (which is a better format for storing and manipulating images) and has full manual controls for precise picture taking.

For $370, you would think that you'd get more than 5x optical zoom, but the S100 already delivers quite a punch for its slim form. In fact, it's small size is what swayed me when choosing between this and its equally impressive and much more established cousin the Canon G12 (pictured in the header photo above); I mean, if I needed the added functionality of the G12, I would just bring my DSLR.

This camera is really meant for professional photographers who want a compact camera  for everyday use, or for serious hobbyists who don't want to spend $1,000 on bodies and lenses.

• CNET Review
• Digital Photography School Discussion Page (on its predecessor S95)
• Amazon Product Page

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5


The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 can capture 10.1 MP images and 720p HD video with its 3.8x optical zoom. If you're wondering why this Panasonic camera has slightly less features than its comparable Canon offerings, its because this camera was introduced in 2010 and hasn't been updated since. Still, it has the same tantalizing fast f/2.0 lens along with a hotshoe, something the Canon S100 doesn't have.

The most impressive feature for this camera is its DC Vario-Summicron lens provided by the German optics leader Leica. In fact, this is almost the exact same camera as the more prestigious and expensive Leica D-LUX5 as both are made by the same Japanese manufacturer, only the Panasonic is $400 cheaper.

Aside from the difference in resolution and lens zoom, there's really nothing substantial that you can compare with this camera and the Canon S100. Both cameras can capture great images, and in the hands of people who know what they're doing, it would be hard to tell the difference unless you were really nitpicking. The bottom line is: both cameras are fine choices.

• CNET Review
• Photography Blog Review
• Amazon Product Page

Conclusion

If you're just starting out in photography and don't know which compact is best, go with the Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS. Otherwise, if you already know what you're doing more or less, go with the Canon PowerShot S100 or Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5.

Posting on April 1st is sometimes risky if you want to be taken seriously as everyone thinks that every other post is a joke, but this ad by Omax Photographics is no gag; it might look like some sort of parody for one of their lenses, but it is in fact a real advertisement.

Omax Photographics is a brand of camera equipment manufacturer based in New Delhi, India. In 2009, they releases a series of images intended to promote their wide angle lenses. They are either brilliant or on the verge of parody.

For those who don't get the joke, the ads play on the functionality of wide-angle versus telephoto lenses. Telephoto lenses allows photographers to capture subjects from afar, while wide-angle lenses allow them to take in more of the scene in front of them. This is why wide-angle lenses are typically used for landscapes or photojournalism situations in extremely cramped or tight spaces.

Ultra wide-angle lens (or UWA lenses) allow photographers to capture subjects that are at the extreme edges of the scene before them, albeit with some barrel distortion. These Omax lenses therefore claim to to give you a view of the scenery to your extreme left and right.


There was some controversy when this ad came out because the copy looked remarkably similar to an ad for Leica wide angle lenses. Take a look at Leica's version below and you decide which is the copycat.


In any case, both Omax and Leica (and their respective ad agencies Publicis Gurgaon (India) and Demner Merlicek & Bergmann (Austria) ) did a great job showing the world just what an ultra wide-angle lens can do.