Top 10 digital cameras

From...

By the PC World staff

(IDG) -- Cameras with resolutions of 4 megapixels or higher now dominate our chart of digital cameras priced at $500 or more.

Casio's new QV-4000 tops the list, with great images, a competitive price, and tons of features. The first 5-megapixel camera we tested, the Minolta Dimage 7, landed near the bottom of the chart, owing mostly to its high cost and so-so picture quality -- proof that a high pixel count doesn't necessarily result in stunning photos.

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Want to travel light? Kyocera's new Finecam S3 is one of the smallest cameras we've reviewed, and it offers a surprising number of features for its size.

Top 10 digital cameras

1. Casio QV-4000: The QV-4000 is a flexible, inexpensive camera for families or businesses, and it's easy for people with very different photographic interests and skill levels to use.
2. Canon PowerShot G2: Canon's PowerShot G2 offers great photo quality, long battery life, and top-end features for enthusiasts, though it's a bit complicated for novices.
3. Epson PhotoPC 3100Z: Epson's $699 PhotoPC 3100Z is an excellent general-purpose digital camera that's very easy to use.
4. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S85: Despite an oversensitive shutter, the DSC-S85 is a reasonably priced, elegantly designed 4.1-megapixel camera.
5. Nikon Coolpix 995: The Coolpix 995 is a strong performer that may overwhelm novices.
6. Toshiba PDR-M81: This relatively inexpensive 4.2-megapixel camera creates great-looking photos but lacks advanced features.
7. Olympus Camedia C-4040 Zoom: Full-featured and relatively easy to use, the Camedia C-4040 is a nice fit for a business user looking seeking a simple yet flexible digital camera, or for serious snapshot-takers who don't like to fiddle frequently with camera controls.
8. Fujifilm FinePix 6900 Zoom: The FinePix 6900 impressed us with fine picture quality, but its battery life is short and the unit could be a lot easier to use.
9. Minolta Dimage 7: The Dimage 7 is a powerful and versatile digital camera that should interest serious digital hobbyists who can live with the electronic viewfinder and the high price, but we've found far-less-expensive cameras that take better pictures.
10. Kyocera Finecam S3: Small, light, and adaptable, the Finecam S3 is an attractive choice for people who want a sharp-shooting camera to match their highly mobile lifestyle.