Best compact camera 2012: 27 reviewed

Finding the best compact camera for your needs is never going to be easy, because the compact camera market is a very crowded place.

There are hundreds of digital compact cameras out there, waiting for you to ogle them, to scratch your heads over them, and eventually hand over your hard-earned cash for them.

Once the transaction is complete and you're unboxing your newest purchase, a nagging doubt enters your mind: did I make the right choice?

The right choice, of course, depends on what you want from your digital camera. Maybe you're looking for a high-end compact camera or perhaps you want something more basic to help someone else get started in photography.

Whichever compact digital camera you might be looking for, we've pulled together a selection of what we believe are the best compact digital cameras on the market now.

Best compact cameras 2012: High-end

Fujifilm Finepix X100

Price: £850

Specs: 12.3MP APS-C fromat CMOS sensor, 23mm fixed-focus f/2 lens, hybrid viewfinder

Fuji created a stir when it announced this retro-styled compact with an 12.3 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor. The fixed 23mm f/2 lens provides a bright aperture for low light shooting and an angle of view roughly equivalent to a 35mm lens on a 35mm camera.

Its design is aimed to appeal to experienced photographers and enthusiasts, who like direct exposure control with an aperture ring, shutter-speed dial . It also sports a raw image mode and has a unique hybrid viewfinder that combines an electronic and optical finder in the same view.

Read our Fuji X100 review

Canon PowerShot G12

Price: £400

Specs: 10MP CMOS sensor, 5x stabilised optical zoom lens, 720p HD video, swivel screen

Canon's G-series cameras have been the benchmark by which other high-end compacts are judged ever since the G1 released at the turn of the century. The G12 continues this tradition with it's strong magnesium body, highly sensitive 10MP CMOS sensor, 720p video, 5x Image Stabilised zoom lens and DIGIC 4 image processor.

Experienced photographers will enjoy the direct exposure controls, HDR capability and raw image recording, whereas more casual photographers are catered for by a wide range of automatic scene programs and face detection.

Add to this multi-aspect shooting, and you can see why this compact camera gives interchangeable lens cameras a run for their money.

Read our Canon G12 review

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Price: £435

Specs: 10MP CCD sensor, 7.1x zoom lens, 720p HD video, Tilting LCD screen

As an incremental upgrade on the already excellent Coolpix P7000, the P7100 adds a tiltable 921,000 dot LCD screen and a revised control layout to the sturdy magnesium alloy body.

Direct acces to manual controls and raw image capture capability is provided along with plenty of features for less experienced photographers. Face detection and a wide variety of automatic scene program modes are stock features, to enable all levels of photographer to feel at home with this camera.

The large 1/1.7î CCD sensor promises excellent low light performance and dynamic range.

Read our Nikon P7100 review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Price: £360

Specs 10MP CCD sensor, 3.8x optical zoom with 24mm wide angle and f/2 maximum aperture

Although the Panasonic LX5 has been around quite a while now, it still holds its own well against the competition and a replacement isn't expected until September 2012.

Its bright f/2 24mm equivalent Leica lens and high ISO capabilities make the LX5 a great companion for low light shooting. Manual control is available for experienced photographers and Panasonic's Intelligent Auto mode is provided for point and shoot simplicity.

Full HD video recording and HDMI connectivity make this the ideal choice for budding film makers too.

With its current price being quite low, it represents excellent value when compared to similarly specified cameras in this list.

Read our Panasonic LX5 review

Olympus XZ-1

Price: £315

Specs 10MP CCD sensor, 4x optical zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8, 720p HD video

As well as being one of the most stylish high-end compact cameras on the market, the Olympus XZ-1 sports a larger than normal CCD sensor and a 4x zoom Zuiko lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8, which both enable this camera to take excellent pictures in low light conditions.

Full manual control is possible, but also a comprehensive range of automatic exposure programs and fun art effects that can be applied to images. Add in the 720p HD video mode and the Olympus XZ-1 is well worthy of consideration.

Read our Olympus XZ-1 review

Best compact cameras: Ultra-compact, high-end

Canon PowerShot S100

Price: £440

12.1MP CMOS sensor, 5x image stabilised zoom lens with 24mm wide angle and f/2 maximum aperture, 1080p HD video

Canon's latest advanced compact raises the bar set by the S95 by including a 12.1MP high sensitivity CMOS sensor, manual control, and full HD video.

The combination of a large 1/1.7in sensor with Canon's latest DIGIC 5 image processing chip and the bright f/2 lens delivers excellent quality at high sensitivities. The compact body also provides full manual control, with adjustments applied directly via the bezel around the lens and the ability to record raw images.

A strip of rubber on the front of the S100 gives it extra grip over the S95.

Read our Canon S100 review

Nikon Coolpix P300

Price: £200

Specs 12MP CMOS sensor, 4.2x optical zoom with a f/1.8 maximum aperture, 1080p HD video

At first glance the Nikon Coolpix P300 is virtually indistinguishable in terms of specification from the Canon S100, even though this camera can be picked up for under half the price.

The Nikon camera's brighter f/1.8 lens may not extend as far into the telephoto range as the Canon, and it lacks the raw image recording of the Canon, but if you can live without these features, it could still be a very good choice.

Read our Nikon P300 review

Samsung EX1

Price: £259

Specs: 10MP, 3x optical zoom, Schneider-Kreuznach lens, rotating screen

Samsung's EX1 led the way for pocket-sized, low-light prowess: f/1.8 lens, a large sensor and a maximum ISO 3200.

It comes with full manual mode, records 720p HD videos, records raw files for extra editing flexibility and comes with HDR capability, and it even has a range of filters to let you get creative.

What's that? You'd rather that the camera did the hard work? It's got a fully automated setting, too!

Read our hands on Samsung EX1 review

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Price: £530

Specs 12MP CMOS sensor, 4x f/2-2.8 optical zoom, Manual zoom ring, 1080p HD video

Another retro-styled camera from Fujifilm, although this one is quite different to the X100 mentioned earlier in the list. A 4x zoom lens with a bright maximum aperture of f/2-2.8 is fitted to a metal camera body containing a 1 /2.3î EXR CMOS sensor.

Manual controls are easily accessible and pictures can be recorded in a raw image format. Even the zoom ring is operated manually, which is unusual for a compact camera and a large bright optical viewfinder is provided for those who prefer this to using the screen for composing images.

Add in 1080p HD video recording and you have a highly specified camera that justifies the high price tag.

Our Fuji X10 review is on the way, follow the link to see our lab data