Fujifilm built its reputation on film, and nobody debates their attention to quality. That hasn't changed a bit with their compact digital cameras. The Fujifilm F550EXR is an exceptional camera that can proudly carry the Fujifilm name. Capturing beautiful images in 16 megapixels through a 15X optical zoom 24 mm lens with an aperture of 4.4 this camera excels at outdoor work especially landscapes due to its massive half inch sensor. Especially nice for landscape work the Fujifilm F550EXR has cutting edge built in GPS technology for geo-tagging your photographs. It also features social networking tags that allow you to decide when you take a picture if you want to share it with your friends on Facebook. If you decide to tag a photo or video it will automatically be uploaded to your account when you sync with your PC. Capturing images in Raw/Raw+JPEG/JPEG gives you unlimited post processing capabilities to turn your images into truly memorable pictures. Recording HD video for playback in 1080/720/480 and stereo sound you only have to push one button, making snap decision photography or recording possible. This camera offers all of the features of a full size DSLR and at a fraction of the size and cost. If it has one drawback it is larger than most cameras in its class, but that extra size allows for all of these great features.

Samsung has always been known for its LCD televisions with their exceptional screen clarity, and their newest camera the Samsung Dual-view TL225 utilizes the same technology in its large 3.5" rear LCD touch screen and its unique 1.5" front screen that eliminates those half headed self portrait shots, as fun as they may have been. With a relatively small resolution of 12.2 megapixels it does make up some distance on its competitors by having a large 27 mm Schneider wide angle lens, making it ideal for landscape and outdoor photography, especially when coupled with its aperture range of f3.5-f5.9. This range opens up many options for creativity on the fly, and makes for stunning HD imagery when recording video and stereo sound. The interface is a little sensitive and takes some getting used to as it uses touch screen technology instead of the standard tactile buttons. This is a very fun camera and easily fits in a purse of back pocket for great images anywhere.

Another fine camera developed by Fujifilm, the Fujifilm Finepix F80EXR touts some of the same features as the F550EXR, but in a smaller package and resolution. Coming in at 12.0 megapixels it has enough resolution for crisp shots to be blown up to some nice sizes suitable for your walls. The lens operates in both a wide mode with an aperture of f3.3-f9.0 and in telephoto mode with an aperture of f5.6-f16, and is the equivalent of a 27-270 mm lens on a DSLR. That's impressive given its size, and the pictures show the quality that went into making this camera. HD video is available in output of 1080/720/480 via a HDMI port, but only records in mono-stereo. This is only a small drawback, making the Fujifilm Finepix F80EXR a very capable entry level camera that you won't be disappointed with.

Another strong performer from our number 1 camera producer Canon, the Canon Powershot A1100IS is just as impressive as the Powershot S95. It was designed to be smaller, sleeker and more stylish, and a metal handgrip area gives it the look of its much larger DSLR brethren. Just because it's smaller doesn't make it less capable. Having an impressive 12.4 megapixel resolution and a relatively fast aperture of f2.7-f5.6, it is limited however by no optical zoom. It does have a 4X digital zoom, that retains image quality, but considering this camera is aimed at stylish usability it doesn't need to really zoom in from afar. Available in several colors your camera can now match your personality, in a fresh tightly designed package.

In recent years Sony has been making some very large strides in the DSLR market and a lot of the features in their premium cameras are starting to trickle down, the Sony Cybershot DSC-H70 is a fortunate recipient of that technology. Starting with impressive high end 16.1 megapixel imaging, Sony added Sony G lens with an aperture of f3.5-f8.0 giving this small camera the focal length equivalent of a 27-270 mm 35mm lens, and a fraction of the size and cost. Not content to stop there this camera was also given anti-blink technology, which when used in self timer mode will take two pictures and only saves the one with minimal eye movement. One additional feature that sets the Sony Cybershot DSC-H70 apart from others in this class is its Sweep Panorama mode, which goes beyond wide angle photography. When in Sweep Panorama you depress the shutter release button, and gently and slowly sweep the camera from one side to the next, the camera takes a series of high speed photographs and using built in software seamless overlays the images to create one massive panorama image. This is a fun camera, with enough features to keep you pushing yourself to find the cameras capabilities, making you more creative in the process.

Making its name as more of a developing and paper company hasn't stopped Kodak from producing some very capable cameras along the way. Understanding what makes a great image helped Kodak create the Kodak Easy share Z950 which is great camera to round out our Top 10 Best Compact Digital cameras. Teaming up with Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon optical to deliver an exceptional 35 mm equivalent lens with an aperture of f3.5-f4.8 gives this small but capable camera an equivalent focal length of 35-350 mm, making this an all purpose camera at a fraction of the cost of a DSLR. This camera wants you to use the optics to explore new creative ideas and offers several manual modes such as aperture priority, shutter priority as well as a macro setting and portrait among others. This is a smart, fun little camera that deserves a spot in our top 10, and hopefully will be just the first of many great things in Kodak's future.

Once you have made the decision to purchase a compact digital you want the most for your hard earned money. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 does just that, giving you a feature packed and very capable camera for around $250.00. With stylish good looks in a variety of colors and functionality this camera is a great value and will give you years of amazing photographs without breaking the bank.

The Olympus XZ-1 has amazing speed when it comes to its lens, making it the fastest in its field. A fast lens refers to the aperture setting, the smaller the number the more light it lets in, and the faster it becomes, allowing you to stop action instantly, while giving excellent separation of the background with perfect blur. This camera sports a fixed aperture of f/1.8, making it ideal for low light or sports situations where you need as much speed as possible.

Our number one camera is also one of the best designed in the compact digital market. The Canon S95 fits very nicely in your hand regardless of the orientation and has just enough weight to give very stability to your shots without being bulky which causes lens shake and image blur. The menu buttons and program wheel are easy to find and operate and the lens is protected by sturdy packaging. When you hold this camera you will instantly feel the quality that goes into making a Canon camera.

You've seen the professional photographers with their professional lenses, stretching a couple feet off of their camera, allowing them to really get in close to their subject from a great distance. These lenses can cost thousands of dollars. Now, you can have the same functionality with the Nikon Coolpix S9100. Offering the equivalent of a 25-450 mm telephoto lens in a camera about the size of a walkie-talkie is nothing short of amazing. Add an aperture range of f/3.5-5.9 and you have a camera that gives you the capabilities of those huge lenses, yet fits in your pocket or purse, and costs thousands less then just a professional lens alone.

The Fujifilm F550EXR is packed with new features that make this camera stand out from its competitors. With easy Facebook and Youtube tagging when you take the picture for easy sharing later, this camera is perfect for today's youth who are ready to capture their earliest memories to share. Perhaps its nicest feature is a built in GPS unit that allows for geo-tagging of photographs, eliminating the guess work out of where exactly you took that amazing sunset when your viewing it years from now.

Everybody has tried the self portrait at an arms length, and everybody has failed. Generally you end up with either half a head, or at times, you're not even in the picture. Eliminating the guessing from self portraits makes the Samsung Dual-view an easy choice. With a 1.5" LCD screen on the front of the camera you can now see exactly what you're taking a picture of at arms length, making more memorable pictures and fewer amusing ones.

With the popularity of touch screens and smart phones it was just a matter of time before cameras followed suit. The Canon IXUS 210 brings a very user friendly touch screen to a surprisingly well built and stylish compact digital camera. With intuitive controls that make sense it doesn't take long to become familiar with this camera and begin taking amazing photographs.

When you're out on location, there is nothing worse then having your camera fail; especially if it is a high end DSLR. Most professionals carry a backup for just such an instance, and a strong choice to fit the bill is the Canon Powershot G12. Feature packed with some of the same features as its professional line of DSLR cameras Canon spared no detail in the G12. With a full feature menu and numerous manual modes, as well as superior optics this camera can do amazing things as a backup, as well as stand on its own as a primary camera.

Quite a few people say the Powershot G series cameras are the closest you can get to a full blown DSLR with a compact camera. And certainly, the image quality this camera gives is fantastic. We highly recommend THIS camera as THE DSLR to buy if you have the cash kicking around and you don't mind a bigger compact point and shoot camera.

Landscape photography requires a particular kind of camera: one that focuses on maximum image quality and full manual control over the camera settings. The Ricoh GRD III features some of the best optics we've seen in a compact camera and with the ability to shoot in RAW and tinker with a ton of manual settings, this camera does it all. While it does not have a zoom lens, the image quality you get with this baby rivals some of its entry level DSLR brethren. Keep in mind the GRD III is a higher-end point and shoot, so you are going to pay the same price as a lower end DSLR.

Honerable Mentions

Another option is to look at the Canon Powershot G12, which offers many of the same features and takes pictures with similar image quality.

Many cameras offer the availability of a waterproof housing, but the Sealife DC1200 is completely waterproof from the factory and safe to 200', giving you the freedom to really explore your favorite reef. The interface utilizes large "piano key" like buttons for ease of use with diving gloves. This camera isn't just waterproof, but also feature packed, including HD video for recording up to 2 hours of high quality footage, allowing you to share your underwater passion in new and exciting ways with your friends and family.

Honerable Mentions

Another runner up you might look at is the Canon PowerShot D10, which is Canon's underwater point-n-shoot camera. It's much smaller than the Sealife DC1200. However, as it's a point and shoot camera, it doesn't offer as many features (and quality) as the Sealife camera. We feel the Sealife is a better deal in terms of the feature set you get, but the Canon is certainly another option to consider, and one which you should choose if you want a point and shoot underwater camera.

If you're looking for a camera as tough as you are when it comes to extreme outdoor conditions then look no further then the Olympus Stylus Tough-6020. This camera defines tough; it's waterproof, shockproof, and freeze proof, allowing you to go anywhere with it and not be worried about whether or not your camera will be ready, now you can just concentrate on the shots. As feature packed as it is rugged, you can't go wrong with this camera.