As compact digital cameras reach the 5-megapixel mark, the simple point-and-shoot is gaining a new level of versatility. These models are relatively inexpensive and eminently pocketable - perfect for amateurs looking to snap candids. They also possess enough resolution and controls to yield professional 8 x 10s (even after cropping), making them tools experienced photographers can love. All the top choices produce great stills in perfect light, so assessing the best comes down to the details - ease of use, special features, and the ability to cope with suboptimal conditions. - Marty Katz
HOW WE TESTED
Each digicam was used to shoot:
• dimly lit moving targets (dancers, subway trains)
• portraits in dark places and backlit by the sun
• faraway subjects in icky mercury-vapor lighting
• rapid-fire (barely aimed) shots
WHAT TO FOCUS ON
• Speed Swift startup, focusing, and shutter response can separate a colt from a dolt.
• Viewing Image review on big, bright LCDs lets you assess your composition on the fly. No more waiting to get home before spotting a dud.
• Bonus features In-camera HTML authoring and auto image rotation (when shooting vertically) are among these cams’ whizzy new capabilities.
• Intuitive interface Changing modes and feature settings must be easy. You shouldn’t miss a shot because you’re searching through settings.
• Common media SD and Compact Flash work in a wide range of products, and prices are plummeting. Why opt for anything else?
Casio QV-R51
Casio bests the big guys with a fast shooter that’s easy to use and nice to hold. The 2-inch screen is luxurious, giving a clear view of newly snapped images and offering ample room to navigate the well-designed interface. Unique features include in-camera HTML authoring for building Web galleries, the ability to search for pics by date, and onboard image cropping and resizing. An infinity lock keeps far-off subjects in view, and a seven-point autofocus quickly nabs nearby subjects for quick-draw shooting. For power, the Casio cam relies on AAs, so there are no proprietary battery packs or chargers to wrestle with. Ten megabytes of internal memory supplement the SD card storage. Oh, and it takes great pictures.
Wired: Fast operation. Big screen. Tons of features. Clear user interface. Inexpensive.
Tired: Screen protrudes from the back, interfering with the viewfinder. Doesn’t work well in low light, due in part to its limited-range flash.
$299, www.casio.com
Nikon Coolpix 5200
Wired: Blends flash and ambient light to deftly handle subjects in poorly lit situations. L-shape fits hand well. Weighs a mere 5.5 ounces. SD storage.
Tired: Counterintuitive controls cause workflow hiccups. With the compact size comes a compact screen (1.5 inches).
$499, www.nikonusa.com
Sony Cybershot DSC-W1
Wired: Spectacular 2.5-inch screen makesreviewing photos a joy. Feature-rich. Takes AAs.
Tired: Gets stumped by low light. Focuses slowly despite its bright orange focus-assist lamp, which tends to alarm subjects. Suffers from Sony’s senseless allegiance to Memory Sticks.
$399, www.sonystyle.com
Canon PowerShot S500
Wired: Uses ubiquitous Compact Flash for storage. Sports nine-point autofocus. Flat form fits in your pocket. Auto image rotation.
Tired: Slow launch, zoom, and focus. OK/Set button is awkwardly located. Small screen complicates control of the interface.
$499, www.usa.canon.com
If the Crunch gyms of the world are nervous over phonecams, now they’ve really got something to sweat about. This crop of mobiles records video, and though quality is limited, you’ll be ready should you spot Madonna on the Stairmaster. - Cathy Lu
Nokia 7610
Besides looking cool, this phone can record up to 10 minutes of uninterrupted action - almost enough time to capture both the Hokey Pokey and the Chicken Dance at your friend’s wedding. Just make sure that your friends get married outdoors in daylight: The 7610 doesn’t have a flash and thus doesn’t handle low light well. But it’s the only unit here with a 1-megapixel still camera (the rest have 640 x 480 VGA resolution), and it can transfer images to PC via USB or Bluetooth.
Wired: Giant (2.1-inch) screen. Video quality is the best we’ve seen. No limit on clip length (except the memory card’s storage capacity).
Tired: Long shutter lag for stills. No built-in flash (an external flash can be added for $50).
About $500, www.nokia.com
Samsung VM-A680
Wired: Respectable video and still image quality. Ten zoom settings. Shows video thumbnails, which are easier to sort through than file names like "0001."
Tired: Requires Sprint Picture Packs service ($20 a month) to transfer files to a PC. Clips limited to 15 seconds, which barely captures a sneeze.
$310, www.samsung.com
Siemens SX1
Wired: Decent video quality. Large (2.2-inch) screen. Built-in FM radio. Bluetooth and IR for wirelessly sending files to a PC.
Tired: Video is washed out. No flash. Horrible split number pad makes dialing difficult.
$600, www.siemens-mobile.com
Sprint Vm 4050 by Toshiba
Wired: By far the most beautiful and clearest screen on any of the phones tested. Still pictures are bright and crisp.
Tired: Pixelated, jerky video limited to 15 seconds. Low-light images are really bad - even with flash. Requires Sprint Picture Packs for PC transfer.
$330, www.sprintpcs.com
You know you want it: engulfing surround sound without a forest of speakers and snaking wires. That’s the promise of KEF’s Instant Theatre, which tries to do with just two speakers (plus a subwoofer) what traditional systems do with five, six, or even seven. Side panels on the speakers send sound waves bouncing around the room to create the illusion that audio is coming from behind. Does it work? Not as well as we’d hoped. Sitting 5 feet away and directly in front of the speakers, we kinda got the effect, but moving squelched it. The KEF system is big step up from TV speakers, but don’t confuse it with real surround sound. - Chris Anderson
FROM THE SIDE
KEF combines a traditional front-firing cone with side-mounted flat-panel speaker. Die-cast aluminum cabinets prevent internal vibration and distortion.
OFF THE WALL
Audio from each flat panel is meant to ricochet off the walls and reach your ears from the side, expanding the spatial separation of sound.
AT THE CENTER
Sound from the two front-facing speakers is supposed to create a virtual center channel. In reality, the effect is little more than good stereo; dialog suffers.
Wired: No installation headaches. Stylish, solid speakers. Comes with sleek DVD player.
Tired: Far from true 5.1 or better sound. Requires precise seating for full effect. Expensive.
$1,499, www.kefinstanttheatre.com
Rechargeable batteries are fiscally and ecologically wise. The latest nickel metal hydride systems offer tons of juice and fast charging for four AAs. But beware - hot temperatures while fueling will cut cell life short. - M.K.
Duracell CEF90NC
Wired: Charges in 30 minutes. Ingenious built-in fan keeps battery surface temperatures low. Also works with AAA NiMHs.
Tired: Big, ugly, and cheesy, with a clunky line transformer.
$45, www.duracell.com
Panasonic BQ-390A Quick Charger
Wired: Travel-size charger. Stays relatively cool. Handles AA and AAA NiMH and older NiCad batteries.
Tired: Takes 75 minutes to charge. Oddly, it comes with only two AAs.
$35, www.panasonic.com
Energizer CH30MN
Wired: Charged from dead in under 30 minutes. Accepts AAA NiMH batteries, too.
Tired: Batteries get too hot (122 degrees Fahrenheit). Blocky charger and wall transformer deter travel use.
$30, www.energizer.com
Maha MH-C401FS
Wired: Works with NiMH or NiCad AA or AAA batteries. Car adapter included.
Tired: Runs very hot (144 degrees) and smells like burning plastic. Took over 100 minutes to fully charge.
$64, www.mahaenergy.com
Earn your wings with these remote-control, battery-powered fliers. The throttle and turn sticks make piloting easy, so you can dodge sprinkler spray, Wiffle balls, and leaping dogs in the park. - Brian Lam
Hobbyzone Firebird Commander
Wired: A powerful single-prop paired with autocorrecting turn controls makes maneuvering a breeze. Forty-inch wingspan carves through high wind. Toolless assembly. Optional combat pack lets planes dogfight via sonic blast.
Tired: Car adapter for charging sold separately.
$110, www.horizonhobby.com
Flyzone Swift Flyer
Wired: Powerful dual props make this a daredevil of a plane. Floats effortlessly on updrafts. Durable wings survived a 125-foot dive bomb.
Tired: Twitchy controls. Requires screwdriver for construction. Vulnerable to wind. Two-hour charge provided only 15 minutes of flight.
$50, www.towerhobbies.com
Cox B-4 Backdraft
Wired: Flies straight and true. Easy, toolless assembly. Takes only 15 minutes to juice up with the included car charger.
Tired: Low wind resistance and acrobatic ability. Low power makes climbing difficult. Foam wings (taped for stability) snapped in extra-hard crash.
$130, www.estesrockets.com
Casio QV-R51
Nikon Coolpix 5200
Sony Cybershot DSC-W1
Canon PowerShot S500
Nokia 7610
Samsung VM-A680
Siemens SX1
Sprint Vm 4050 by Toshiba
KEFés Instant Theatre
Duracell CEF90NC
Panasonic BQ-390A Quick Charger
Energizer CH30MN
Maha MH-C401FS
Hobbyzone Firebird Commander
Flyzone Swift Flyer
Cox B-4 Backdraft
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