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Here are some of the best cameras and value for on-the-go photography.

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Page last updated July 14, 2010.

Image above: Tom Dempsey (on right) photographer & webmaster of Photoseek.com, with Carol Dempsey, exploring the beautiful Annapurna Sanctuary, Nepal (photograph by Leslie Sinsheimer).

Image on far right: A ray of light pierces Upper Antelope Canyon, Arizona.

Tom nominates the following Top Cameras of 2009 for on-the-go photography. All links on this page support my photography.

DSLR cameras are best for shooting action with no shutter lag, capturing less noise in low light, shooting indoors, making superior poster-sized prints, and giving the most lens options.
The smaller cameras are more fun and compact for travel, and can make surprisingly large prints if shot within each camera's limitations. For example, take the time to prefocus on a contrasty edge of the subject with a half-press of the shutter button, and the subsequent click will be instant. Put your small camera into a waterproof case, and you have an inexpensive, high quality underwater camera.
The Best Travel Cameras page compares these and alternative cameras in much more detail.

Best subcompact cameras:
Left: With exceptionally fast f/2.0-4.9 aperture and classic 28-105mm equivalent lens, full manual control options, and RAW file support, the Canon PowerShot S90 (buy at B&H) is the best subcompact camera as of 2009. At only 7 ounces, the Canon S90 has the same 1/1.7 inch type sensor as the larger Canon PowerShot G11 (buy at B&H). The smaller lens of the S90 has slightly softer resolution than the G11. The Canon S90 performs better in low light than most any other subcompact camera to date. The breathtaking advance of cameras such as the Canon S90 puts the quality of home-scanned 35mm film in your shirt pocket.

Below: For sharpest images in a 7-ounce subcompact camera plus a longer telephoto, consider the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR Digital Camera (buy at Amazon.com). (The Fujifilm F200EXR doesn't shoot RAW, but equals JPEG image quality of the larger Canon PowerShot G9 and G10). The high quality 5x zoom 28-140mm f3.3-5.1 lens and superb 1/1.6 inch type Super CCD EXR sensor are the best of 2009 in a subcompact camera.

Best superzoom subcompact camera:
Below: If you mostly shoot outdoors in bright light and rarely make prints bigger than 6 inches, consider the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3/TZ7 (buy at B&H), or newer ZS7/TZ10 (with one stop better image stabilization claimed in terms of slower handheld shutter speed). The image quality and low light performance from this tiny 1/2.3" type sensor won't match the other cameras on this page, but the fun factor is very high in a shirt-pocket-sized box of only 7 ounces. Features: 12x optical zoom, 25-300mm equivalent, optically stabilized lens. 720p HD video (AVCHD Lite), 60 fps. Nice 3.0-inch LCD with 460,000 dots resolution.

Best 18x superzoom point-and-shoot camera:
If you don't mind a camera bulkier than the ZS3, for the same price, you can improve image quality and zoom with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35: 27-486mm lens with Image Stabilization. HD Video with mono sound. 15 ounces. 4.63 x 2.98 x 3.50 inches. Note: the fuzzy resolution and noisy low light images from this tiny 1/2.3" type sensor will limit print size and sharpness. Shoot RAW file format and edit on a computer to squeeze better quality out of the camera.

Best compact camera:

Above: The Canon PowerShot G11 (buy at B&H) captures the best quality images from a 13-ounce camera, great as a backup or main camera to carry everywhere. Handy 28mm wide angle to 140mm moderate telephoto 5x zoom lens. The 1/1.7" Type CCD captures much more detail with less noise than the tinier sensor found on "superzoom" cameras. Shoots RAW & JPEG files. DIGIC IV. Nice articulated LCD flips out to assist arms-length shooting overhead or macro on the ground. Lower noise at ISO 800+ is significantly two stops better than the PowerShot G9 and G10. (The older Canon PowerShot G9 with 6x zoom 35-200mm equivalent lens has slightly higher resolution than G11 at ISO 400 or less.)

For most point-and-shoot cameras, locking focus (such as by half pressing the shutter button) takes a half a second at wide angle or up to a full second at telephoto. Then the subsequent full press is instant. You sometimes must wait a few seconds between shots especially when using flash. If you want quicker focus, faster shot turnaround, much lower noise at high ISO, much improved low light performance and interchangeable lenses, then consider one of the advanced cameras below.

Best all-around lightweight travel camera to replace a DSLR:
Above & right: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Digital Camera (Black) with 14-140mm Lens (28-280mm equivalent in terms of 35mm film cameras), with Mega O.I.S. Image Stabilization.

Only 32 ounces with 14-140mm lens and battery.
3" Free-Angle (articulated) LCD Display. Unusually responsive Live Viewfinder/EVF.
HD Video Recording with autofocus and Dolby Stereo sound.
Micro Four-Thirds System. The GH1's contrast-detect autofocus has been improved to match the speed of the phase-detect predictive autofocus found on DSLR cameras in the same price range.
Photographers who need wide dynamic range or ISO 1600+ may prefer a DSLR such as the Nikon D5000 (or Canon 500D/T1i).

Best travel DSLR:
1. The Nikon D5000 DSLR (buy at B&H) mounted with a Nikkor 18-200mm VR II lens (buy at B&H) makes the best lightweight DSLR travel camera of 2009 (45 ounces body+lens+battery+strap). When compared to the Panasonic GH1, the Nikon D5000 has 2-3 stops less noise at ISO 1600+, 2 stops better RAW dynamic range, and about 1 stop better image stabilization in terms of slower shutter speed. But D5000 movies only use fixed/manual focus and record mono sound. To optimize lens sharpness, shoot the Nikon 18-200mm lens with an aperture of around f/8 (and f/11 at 135mm, the weak spot).

2. The Canon EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR (new in 2010) captures the highest quality images compared to all above cameras. Mount it with the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Autofocus Lens for the best lightweight DSLR travel camera of 2010. Although its LCD doesn't flip out, the T2i captures better quality stills and movies compared to the Nikon D5000. Both outfits cost about the same with 18-200mm lens.

Purchase the following high quality photo equipment at Amazon or B&H:

Click PURCHASE to see the item's latest price & detailed description at B&H. Click item's image to enlarge the picture or start a promotional video.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1

B&H Photo - Video - Pro Audio

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Buy Photo Gear

For reliable service and good prices, Tom recommends buying photo equipment from B&H of New York (external link, exits Photoseek).

South Africa photo workshop October 2010 with Photoseek.com and the Adventure100.com