Canon Digital Camera Ratings

Somehow, time has sent almost 11 months of 2004 hurtling past. The year speeds to a close, leaving holidays swirling around us in its wake. With celebrations drawing friends and families together, many will catch the final days, as they race by, in photo finishes. The timing is perfect—PC Magazine's Reader Satisfaction Survey for Digital Cameras is out the door, and it collates what thousands of you told us about your experiences with cameras from the dozen leading makers.

Now we lend that report even more power. We've consolidated reviews of the best cameras produced in the last year by the three manufacturers whose models you gave the top overall ratings: Nikon, at 8.6; Canon, second by a hair at 8.5; and Panasonic, at 8.4.

One important note: If your critical determiner is ratings on specifics—ease of use, reliability, tech support, repair frequency, and recommendation likelihood—for all cameras (not just those made in the last year) or for classes of cameras, you'll have to refer to the survey result charts for All Cameras or Camera Classes. This is because the overall rating scores are not derived from the specific ratings, but are based on answers to the question, "Overall, how would you rate this digital camera?"

Novices might want to take a look at the Nikon Coolpix 4200, which hit the scene this year. It's a solid 4-megapixel shooter packed into a sleek brushed-aluminum case. The 3X-optical-zoom lens uses extra-low dispersion glass and you'll get satisfyingly sharp images. We awarded the Coolpix 4200 3.5 stars out of a possible 5.

The Nikon D70 swept up 5 stars and an Editors' Choice when we reviewed it on its own, and for good reason—this 6.1-megapixel digital SLR has nearly all the features a professional would want, fires off shots as fast as any film SLR, produces very good images, and won't make you pawn your mother's wedding ring.

Canon bestowed two especially worthy image-grabbers on us this year. The Canon EOS 20D was another 5-star Editors' Choice winner when we reviewed it individually, and it competes with the Nikon D70, although you'll pay more. If you have the money, though, this is the camera to get. You'll walk away with an ergonomically sculpted magnesium-alloy chassis holding an 8.2-megapixel powerhouse with convenient controls and an impressive array of features, including one that lets you set white-balance color temperature.

In testing the Canon Powershot S60 on its own, we found plenty to like, rewarding it with 4 stars and an Editors' Choice. This is a 5-megapixel shooter, on the large end of compact, that captures crisp images through a zoom lens with great wide-angle capabilities. You'll also find a cornucopia of features, giving you more control than a typical point-and-shoot offers.

If you'd rather snap quick shots than fiddle with controls, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX5 could be your ticket. This sleek, 3-star, point-and-shoot compact makes some compromises, but also has a Leica lens, image-stabilization, and a helpful, intelligent menu system.

As you can see, you have a good selection across a wide range of camera types from vendors you've told us you trust, so don't let the lack of a camera put a damper on your holidays. Our Digital Camera Reader Satisfaction Survey, along with these reviews, will help you easily find what you need to record your visual memories, and that's a reason to celebrate.

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in PC Magazine.