Which Compact Digital Camera is the Best Overall? Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Fits the Bill

In this writer's humble opinion, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 fits the bill.

There are many, many digital cameras on the market, and technology is advancing at such a rapid rate that it is very difficult to keep up. Each camera manufacturer makes claims of excellence or features about every new camera release to lure you, the buyer, into a purchase. And how does a camera become king of the hill and make it to the top of the camera heap anyway?

It starts with a reputation. Certain manufacturers have been able to maintain a good reputation for producing excellent cameras. We buyers tend to trust a manufacturer if we have had a good experience with them.

Then there are the camera review geeks. These are camera "experts" who look at each new release and put them through a series of standard tests to compare them to other cameras of similar design. These online web sites such as DPReview.com, StevesDigicams.com, and Imaging-Resources.com have become will known and trusted for their honest opinions and ratings. Manufacturers send their newest releases to those who have gained good standing in the online camera community.

Finally, there are the buyers - those who actually buy the cameras and use them, not necessarily analyzing how each pixel is rendered on a print, but deciding if the camera meets the individual's expectations. These evaluations are extremely useful in making a camera buying decision.

Before buying your next camera, be sure to check online stores where the camera has been sold. Some very useful sites to check include Amazon.com, B&H Photo, and Adorama.com. Enter the name of the camera you are interested in, then click on the user comments.

All of this leads up to how the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 gets the rating as "Best Compact Digital Camera Over All".  It is recommended highly at both Imaging-Resources.com and DPReview.com, AND the user rating (from folks who actually paid money for the camera) is about 4.4 out of 5 on both DPReview and Amazon.

The specs for the DMC-ZS3 camera are as follows:

10.1 Megapixel Resolution
12x Digital Zoom
3" LCD screen
27 Scene Modes with Intelligent Auto
Face Recognition and motion tracker
720p HD Video Capture

If you are looking for a great all-around camera, you can't go wrong with this one.

Best Rated Digital Compact Camera (Top Range) - Panasonic Lumix LX3

People love compact everything especially in gadgets. From mobile phones, music players, to cameras, the smaller it is the more appealing it would be to most of the people around the world. The reason perhaps is that we simply want smaller things since it is easier and lighter to carry and humans as we are, we always want everything done in easier fashion.

Well no matter what the real reason could be if you want a top of the line camera which is easier to carry, then you should consider buying the Panasonic Lumix LX3 model. This model is considered to be one of the very best rated digital compact cameras you can find these days and is recommended for avid picture taking enthusiasts and semi-professional photographers.

Best Rated Digital Camera Features

The Lumix LX3 is the top model in Panasonic's compact camera line which features a 10.1 Megapixel sensor, Engine IV image processing, a 3 inch monitor and a lot more that would practically produce photographs that look like they were taken by a professional even when the user is a novice.

Best Rated Digital Camera Design

The LX3 is not a compact camera that would be very small but considering its specifications, one can really say it is small since some of its features belong to larger type cameras. The camera weighs around 264 grams which would include the battery and the memory card and measures around 109x62x45mm with the lens retracted.

Most people appreciates its body style since it makes it easier to hold especially with its very nice finger grip found in front of it. Aside from that the Panasonic Lumix also has a small textured thumb grip at its rear part making it very comfortable to hold as well as prevents slipping out from someone's hand. Like most compact cameras, it will easily fit inside a jacket pocket. It also has a good quality neck strap as well as an optional retro-looking leather case that would make it a very fashionable accessory.

Best Rated Digital Camera - A Small Learning Curve

Just try to hold one of these LX3s and you will find it hard not to be impressed by its clever design. Aside from that, it also has solid built quality and when you use it, you will definitely feel very competent in the picture taking business. A lot of people find it very enjoyable to use and while it is a bit more complex than some of the cheaper digital cameras around, using its features or adjusting its settings is not too complicated at all once you have started playing with it. You may find the little joystick a bit difficult to use but once you get the hang of it, you will realize that it was purposely placed there to aid you in faster navigation of its menu.

Its main menu is very comprehensive where you would find the main picture control as the film mode. It offers a number of preset settings and all of which you can customized to your choice of contrast, sharpness, saturation, and even noise control. Like most top of the line cameras, you can save such settings to your liking especially if you want to just point and shoot without having to change them all the time.

The Panasonic Lumix LX3 is simply very impressive. Tthat is why most people see it as the best rated digital compact camera today. If you are interested in a compact digital camera, but do not want to compromise on quality, then this is an excellent choice for you.