Which Digital Camera is the Absolute Best Mid-Range Compact Camera?

Find a camera that is perfect for your needs!

The meaning of Mid-Range is a camera that is middle of the road in price (say between $250 and $350) with the best features and popularity among reviewers and buyers.

Fujifilm finepix F200EXR or Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Fujifilm Finepix F200EXR

Although the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR is a newer model (this means a lower number of user reviews), the initial response from buyers is very positive. Its predecessor, the F100EXR has done very well with buyers' reviews averaging over 4 out of 5 at Amazon and DPReview.

Specs:

• 12 Megapixel Image Size
• 5.00x zoom (28-140mm eq.)
• 3.0" LCD
• Video Capture
• Capture up to 5 frames/sec in a single burst

DPReview users rated the F200exr at 4.48 out of 5 (13 users)
Amazon users rated the F200exr at 4.3 out of 5 (65 users)

*Note: Memory Card is not included in the box. Make sure you order one. Recommended:Sandisk 4GB SD HC Memory Card

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Panasonic given us another winner in the Lumix DMC-ZS7. It fits all the qualifications of a great Mid-Range Digital Compact Camera.

A great feature set:

• 12.1 effective Megapixels
• 12x Zoom (25-300mm equiv)
• 720p HD video (AVCHD Lite), 30 fps
• 3.0-inch LCD with 460,000 dots resolution
• Optical Image Stabilizer
• ISO sensitivity up to 1600
• Face Detection and Tracking
• 27 scene modes and Intelligent Auto Mode with scene selector
• Battery life: 300 shots (CIPA standard)

User ratings are excellent for the ZS7. At Amazon.com 385 (mostly) satisfied customers submitted and average rating of 4.3 out of 5, and at DPReview.com 14 users have posted an average rating of 4.02 out of 5.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5

The TZ5 has been a kind of Flagship camera for Panasonic in the Mid-Range level for the past 2 years. It is tried and true, with a fantastic track record, and loved by many buyers. It has recently been overshadowed by the ZS3 as listed above, but that does not make it any less of a viable option for those who are looking for a great camera at a great price. The price has come down with the release of its newer siblings, the Lumix DMC-ZS1 and Lumix DMC-ZS3.

In their review, Imaging-Resource.com commented about the Panasonic DMC-TZ5:

"Panasonic didn't re-invent an already good camera, maintaining a versatile lens with amazingly little distortion, and its ease of use. Instead, they have improved what didn't work, and added Hi-Def movie recording, and a few new features to the Panasonic TZ5."

Specs:

• 9.1 Megapixels
• 10x optical zoom lens (28-280mm)
• 3.0-inch color LCD monitor (460K pixels)
• Capture 1.8 shots/sec - up to 6 shots in a single burst
• 50MB internal memory

The Lumix DMS-TZ5 is a VERY popular camera. Amazon User Rating is 4.47 out of 5 (from 465 reviewers) DPReview User Rating is 4.42 out of 5 (from 50 unique reviewers)

*Note: Memory Card is not included in the box. Make sure you order one. Recommended: Transcend 16 GB Class 10 SDHC Flash Memory Card

The Bottom Line

The rise of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 is hard to ignore. In fact, I personally bought this camera and I have been very happy with it. This little camera carries a huge photographic punch. While small enough to fit into your pocket or purse, it has all the features of an award winning camera at a mid-range price. If you are a Sony fan, the W-220 will not disappoint you either.