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Nikon Coolpix P5000<br />
$400 • nikonusa.com<br />
The 10-megapixel P5000 is both impressively fast and unforgivably<br />
slow. It fires nearly instantly when the shutter is depressed, but only<br />
if it’s rested since the last image—a three-second pause between<br />
shots makes this a bad choice for active, moving subjects. And wildly<br />
inconsistent colors in different lighting conditions turn even welltimed<br />
shots into iffy propositions.<br />
WIRED Large buttons are easy to navigate. Captures intricate details with<br />
even lighting. Small optical sight helps frame shots. External flash mount.<br />
TIRED LCD hard to see in bright light. Details jumble together in bright<br />
or dark conditions. Stabilizer works only in dedicated antishake mode.<br />
Nikon Coolpix S50c<br />
$350 • nikonusa.com<br />
The S50c camouflages its weaknesses with showy flourishes. Its 3-inch<br />
LCD fills almost the entire back surface, built-in 802.11g Wi-Fi emails<br />
pictures, and a unique animation mode generates stop-motion movies,<br />
outlining the previous image while you prepare the next shot in the series.<br />
But the S50c’s picture quality is poor; we wish Nikon had concentrated<br />
more on photography and less on fancy extras.<br />
WIRED In-camera slide-show feature automatically mixes images<br />
and music. Time-lapse mode is neat. Flash throws a wide light.<br />
TIRED Image texture is muddy, and details lack definition. Inconsistent,<br />
confusing menu system. Stop-motion movies are limited to 640 x 480.<br />
Olympus Stylus 770 SW<br />
$380 • olympusamerica.com<br />
The sporty little 770 SW loves swimming, snowboarding—you name it.<br />
The waterproof, armored camera bounces back from 5-foot falls and withstands<br />
extreme pressure. We dropped the camera on concrete and even<br />
stood on the LCD. The body was scuffed, but it shot just fine. Its imperviousness<br />
inspired new ideas for unusual photos, like trolling it while fishing<br />
(it’s rated for 33 feet) or playing catch with it while recording video.<br />
WIRED Svelte buttons and case respond as well as less rugged cameras.<br />
Bright, clear LCD easily lines up shots. Red-eye reduction works great.<br />
TIRED Colors look too muted and cool. Shots lack sharp definition.<br />
Worse-than-average shutter delay of 1/3 second.<br />
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX100S<br />
$400 • panasonic.com<br />
Attention DSLR addicts looking for a high-end point-and-shoot: This is<br />
your camera. Panasonic’s collaboration with Leica results in a handsomely<br />
designed lens that produces sharp, clear images. Stunning daylight<br />
photos boast vibrant colors and crisp background details. Comprehensive<br />
manual settings and 20 photo modes for tackling tough shots. With its<br />
palm-friendly chassis, it’s always just a pocket away.<br />
WIRED Shoots with no noticeable delay. Macro mode captures<br />
close-up details flawlessly. Live histogram. 12.2 megapixels!<br />
TIRED LCD washes out in direct sun. Shadows look pixelated under<br />
close scrutiny. HD video at 15 fps? What a tease.<br />
WIRED TEST<br />
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