The Lumix DMC-G10 is Panasonic’s first entry-level micro four-thirds (MFT) camera, offering users an affordable and compact alternative to a digital SLR. We tested this MFT camera using its packed 14-42mm kit lens to see if it offers superb performance despite its lower price tag. The G10 is the cheapest model in the MFT format – a joint development between Panasonic and Olympus. By cutting back on certain features, Panasonic has kept the price low on the G10. The LCD screen cannot be flipped and rotated, the electronic viewfinder has a low resolution, and the video mode is 720p rather than full HD 1080p. An electronic viewfinder can take some adjusting to if you’re used to the optical viewfinders you’ll find on most other DSLRs. But the G10 has a 3-inch LCD, which can be used instead of the viewfinder to compose your shots thanks to its Live View function.

The 12Mp picture resolution is good and the picture quality is outstanding.

Even in challenging low light conditions, the camera takes superbly detailed photos that are low in graininess and retain colour.

PROS Super picture quality, great automatic mode, compact

CONS Reduced-quality electronic viewfinder

We tested the EOS 1100D with the 18-55 IS II kit lens that it’s often sold with. This camera has 12.2Mp resolution, which is a step up from the previous EOS 1000D’s 10Mp, and takes good shots in low light. It has a guide mode for beginners and the controls are clearly marked. There’s an optical viewfinder, so you’re not limited to only using the monitor to line up shots. It has nine autofocus points in the automatic mode, which makes it easier to keep subjects in focus, even if they’re moving. The image stabilisation works well and the colour balance is extremely good, even on low ISO settings.

The 1100D takes just 0.72 seconds to be ready to shoot from the moment you switch it on.

Shot to shot speeds are quick too at 0.65 second between one shot and the next.

PROS Good shots in low light, quick from shot to shot, guide mode

CONS No Full HD video, no internal memory

We tested this model together with its packaged 18-55mm Vibration Reduction (VR) kit lens. The model has a light, plastic body and fewer buttons making it easy to use for first-timers and capable of taking full HD 1080p videos. It has a 14.1Mp CMOS image sensor and works wonderfully in low-light conditions. The colour reproduction is terrific. The 18-55mm VR kit lens features a built-in image stabiliser. We found that this did a decent job of countering trembling hand motions and preventing blurry shots.

The speed of operation is remarkable, with only a delay of 0.79 second between shots.

By selecting the ‘Guide’ setting on the control dial on top of the camera, you can follow on-screen explanations of the camera’s functions.

PROS Guide mode, full HD video, 14.1Mp resolution

CONS Plastic finish may not appeal to everyone, average image stabilizer

This Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 micro-four-thirds camera is an update to the earlier Panasonic GF1. Panasonic has resisted the urge to escalate the megapixel count on the new GF2, which shares the 12.1Mp resolution of its predecessor.

However, the image sensor itself has been redesigned, and Panasonic claims the GF2 will achieve superior low-light shots to the GF1. It’s fairly swift to transition from shot to shot, but in burst mode it’s not much quicker.

Pictures taken zoomed out in low light look good on the GF2 and the image stabilisation works well to keep images from blurring if you’re not using a tripod.

The camera is slimmer and lighter than the previous GF1, with fewer buttons and dials. There’s no viewfinder, but the monitor is reasonably easy to see. Panasonic has added a 3-inch sharp and responsive touchscreen for spot-focusing and instant shooting. There’s a quick-menu you can bring up on the touchscreen to make your most commonly-used settings available straight away, and this can be customised by dragging and dropping icons from a wide selection.

The GF2 outguns its predecessor’s 720p HD video credentials by featuring 1080i HD video.

PROS Picture quality, superb 1080p video, full manual controls, external mic, great electronic viewfinder

CONS Expensive, no optical viewfinder

The NEX system has a DSLR-sized image sensor, but in a remarkably compact body. The superslim NEX-3 has a plastic finish and a smaller hand grip, fewer buttons and dials. This makes it more portable. But there’s no built-in viewfinder. With no internal mirror, a DSLR-style optical viewfinder is impossible. This leaves you entirely reliant on the Live View LCD screen for composing your shots. The screen is sharp, colourful and bright. However, it can become reflective in direct sunlight.

There’s no pop-up built-in flash, though there is a mini flash-gun you can attach to the camera. The camera has a 14Mp resolution and delivers impressive picture quality. It can also take 3D photos.

Even in low light, the NEX-3 takes terrific video, although the sound quality is unimpressive.

PROS Slim design, DSLR-sized sensor, superb photo and video quality

CONS Few direct controls, no built-in flash or viewfinder

Though it didn’t score high enough to be a Right Choice, with its 12.3Mp sensor, this camera is worth considering. It generally takes good pictures on the auto setting. However, shots in bright sunlight aren’t the best and when taking indoor portraits it’s better to use the flash. For outdoor shots, you may want to use the manual settings for better pictures. The camera performs reasonably in low light.

There’s no viewfinder, so you’re limited to using only the monitor to line up shots. In bright light, the screen fares well without too much reflection. There are eight white balance settings to choose from and 26 programs. It has a panorama recording function and the image stabilisation works relatively well.

The E-PL2 shoots reasonable quality HD video at 720p resolution.

PROS Zoom not audible in video mode, generally good image quality

CONS No viewfinder

The EOS 60D features an 18Mp sensor and Full HD 1080p video recording. It can capture full HD video at 24 frames per second (fps). The 60D can also capture video at 30 and 25fps at 1080p resolution. The video quality is generally top-notch. Motion can be less satisfying, however, as fast-moving objects can sometimes display judder. Though, even when you’re recording in low light the camera achieves excellent video clarity. It is powered by the company’s DIGIC 4 processor, allowing it to capture 5.3 JPEG images per second at full resolution. Its autofocus system has 9 cross-type autofocus points. The 3-inch, rotatable LCD can be angled to allow users to compose shots on the screen using the Live View feature from a number of awkward angles. The viewfinder is bright and sharp, and offers a clear view of your shot.

The 60D features a variety of in-built filters to give you a particular creative effect and a selection of ‘ambience’ modes. There are also a number of customisable features that will allow users quick access to some of their more frequently used settings. The camera achieves beautiful clarity with its shots – subjects are crisply focused and satisfyingly detailed, and the colour accuracy is terrific. The low light picture quality is generally excellent.

PROS 18Mp resolution, full-HD video, rotatable screen

CONS Rotatable screen may not appeal to some

The new 16.2 Mp Nikon D7000 is aimed at photography enthusiasts looking for fast performance and a high degree of manual control.

This Nikon features priority modes for aperture and shutter speed, a full manual mode and control over the white balance and ISO settings. There are also 19 scene modes to try out, with options for situations like portraits, night portraits, close-ups and sports. The camera offers resistance to rain, humidity, snow and dust. But the trade off for all this functionality is that this is a large and heavy camera (weighing in at 1.3kg) – one that certainly won’t fit in a pocket.

This system camera can be used with exchangeable lenses. The image stabiliser is outstanding, and it boasts full-HD video recording.

PROS 16.2Mp, 24mm wide angle, twin memory card slots, great manual control, good image stabiliser

CONS Large and heavy, mono sound recording from built-in mic

Sony has developed an entirely new camera system, the single lens translucent, or SLT, system – and the Sony alpha a55 is one such. Although reasonably priced and with a slightly plasticky feel, this groundbreaking hybrid system offers a superior performance. The a55 is able to offer continuous shooting of six frames per second (fps) while you hold the shutter button down. The only downside to this mode is that the camera cannot refocus in between shots, and the LCD screen will not display Live View while you shoot.  The a55 comes with image stabilisation built into the body of the camera itself. It can capture HD video footage at 1080i resolution, with excellent detail and sharpness. It has built-in GPS-positioning and can also take pictures in the 3D Sweep Panorama mode.

PROS 16.2Mp 10fps shooting, 1080i HD video, smaller than most DSLRs, GPS

CONS Not as small as other mirrorless system cameras, plastic finish, limited video recording time

The Canon EOS 7D has plenty of interesting features to justify its price – this is a speedy, high-performing camera for semi-professional needs. With an 18Mp resolution and fast shooting of eight frames per second, the 7D has plenty to offer. The camera has Dual DIGIC 4 processors, designed to keep the camera’s performance as fast as possible despite the high resolution. In its burst mode, it can take an impressive eight shots per second, making this an ideal camera for capturing fast-moving subjects. In brighter sunlight the 7D excels, delivering razor-sharp pictures with their faithful colour accuracy. There are no scene modes, but there is a good face-detection function. The camera is able to capture full HD video. Movies can be recorded at a resolution of 1080p at a rate of up to 30 frames per second (fps).  However, one issue with the video-recording is with the sound quality.

One of the most interesting features is the 100% coverage viewfinder, which is exceptionally clear, bright and accurate. Alternatively, the 7D offers a Live View LCD screen for composing shots on. A drawback is that the 7D is noticeably slower to autofocus when you are using the Live View screen.  It’s a little pricey, but you’ll be buying a fast, solidly-built camera that delivers exceptional shots.

PROS Fast, high resolution, easy to use

CONS Pricey, audible disturbances in video mode

The Nikon D300S has a host of advanced features for those into semi-professional photography. It offers a 12.3 Mp sensor, 51-point autofocus system, dual memory card slot, and the capacity to shoot HD video. The D300S has an external mic socket that can be used to attach an external mic and enhance the audio quality of recordings. Videos taken at full resolution can only last as long as five minutes.

In terms of still photography, the D300S is fabulous, particularly if you’re capturing shots in challenging low light. Pictures captured in bright daylight are as crisp and sharp and the colour accuracy is superb.

It has also included a quiet release mode, which is designed to aid discrete photography, and could be useful for nature shots.

PROS HD video, dual memory card slot, good-picture quality, good image stabiliser in lens

CONS Pricey, limited recording time in HD

The Pentax K-5 has a sturdy magnesium alloy body, a host of advanced features and a range of manual controls. This includes priority modes for shutter speed and aperture, as well as full manual exposure settings and manually selectable focus settings. It even features mechanical image stabilization. A 16.3Mp sensor achieves plenty of detail and offers excellent low-light shots with a huge ISO range. There are 11 AF (auto focus) points to help get a crisp picture.The camera’s 16.3Mp CMOS sensor also renders HD video at 1080p resolution. An HDMI-out connection allows you to link the camera directly to an HD TV.

The K-5 is extremely quick in operation and can grab an impressive seven frames per second. Continuous shooting is good too.

PROS Fast-shooting, excellent image stabilisation, , HD video, 100% viewfinder

CONS Heavy and bulky, pricey