Best Camera and Camcorders

POINT-AND-SHOOT CAMERA
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100

$648.99 at Amazon The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 wowed us with its relatively huge one-inch image sensor and fast lens. It can produce images that are on par with those from an SLR, but is small enough to slide into your pocket or purse. It's expensive, but if you're in the market for a serious compact, it's worth the money.—Jim Fisher

BUDGET POINT-AND-SHOOT CAMERA
Canon PowerShot A2400 IS

$123.99 There are times when you can afford to drop a few hundred dollars on a camera, and times when your budget is limited. The Canon PowerShot A2400 IS is available at an attractive price and, as long as you keep its ISO setting at 400 or below, you have a budget shooter that is capable of capturing very sharp photos.—JF

HIGH-END COMPACT INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERA
Olympus OM-D E-M5

$1,299.00 at Amazon Marketplace It's probably not possible to create the perfect camera, but Olympus came pretty close with its OM-D E-M5. It's the best Micro Four Thirds camera that we've tested, outshining bodies with larger APS-C sensors in terms of image quality and performance. Throw in an excellent EVF, fast autofocus, in-body image stabilization, and weather sealing and you have a camera that won't disappoint.—JF

COMPACT INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERA
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

$498.99
Sony's entry-level mirrorless camera packs an SLR-sized APS-C image sensor into a camera that is decidedly small. The LCD swings forward for self-portraits, there's a built-in pop-up flash, and the F3 can support Sony's OLED electronic viewfinder accessory (available separately). It's not a huge upgrade over its predecessor, the NEX-C3, but seeing as that camera won this award last year, it's not a surprise to see the F3 sliding into its place.—JF

SUPERZOOM CAMERA
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200

$585.95
The FZ200 looks like a scaled down D-SLR, but it does something that no large-sensor camera is physically capable of—it squeezes a 25-600mm f/2.8 lens into a body that weighs less than a pound and a half. Its 24x zoom lens is sharp, and there's an excellent EVF for eye-level shooting—which makes it easier to hold the camera steady when zoomed all the way in.—JF

COMPACT SUPERZOOM CAMERA
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V

$298.00 If you want a camera with a long lens, but can slide into your pocket, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V is the way to go. Its 20x zoom lens isn't as ambitious as the Nikon P510's 42x optic lens, but it makes for a much smaller camera. Images are sharp, the HX30V performs well at high ISOs, and it packs Wi-Fi and GPS as well. A $420 asking price when reviewed was a little disappointing, but it's now selling for less.—JF

FULL-FRAME D-SLR CAMERA
Nikon D4

$5,996.95
Nikon's top-end camera may only pack 16 megapixels or resolution, but it is built like a tank, shoots at 10 frames per second, and produces excellent images at staggeringly-high ISOs. Its video capabilities are also impressive—it can output uncompressed 1080p video over HDMI, and supports a crop mode that extends the reach of your lenses by 2.7x without sacrificing video quality.—JF

D-SLR CAMERA
Sony Alpha 77 (SLT-A77VQ)

$1,808.00 Sony's choice to abandon optical viewfinders in its SLR cameras is off-putting to traditional photographers, but you can't argue with the results—the Alpha 77's full-time phase-detect autofocus system means that the camera focuses with the same speed during video and still capture, and the fixed mirror facilitates shooting at better than 10fps. The OLED EVF is nothing short of excellent—almost good enough to make you forget about optical viewfinders.—JF

RUGGED POINT-AND-SHOOT CAMERA
Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS

$349.99
Rugged cameras have a reputation of lagging behind less durable point-and-shoots in terms of image quality. The Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS bucks that trend, arriving with a fast f/2 lens, a sensor that does well at higher ISOs, and a built-in GPS. Images still aren't as sharp as better point-and-shoots, but you can't drop or submerge them in 40 feet of water without worry.—JF

LENS
Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM

$149.00 Canon's first foray into the pancake lens market is darned impressive, especially when you consider its low price. The compact lens is extremely sharp and can be used with full-frame and APS-C cameras. Its STM motor delivers smooth, quiet autofocus when recording video with the EOS Rebel T4i. It isn't the fastest prime lens, but don't let that stop you from adding it to your kit, especially for $200.—JF

CAMCORDER
Panasonic HC-V700M

$499.95
The Panasonic HC-V700M is one of the few consumer camcorders that can record full 1080p60 video, and it adds solid image stabilization and a versatile 21x optical zoom. It lacks Wi-Fi and some of the other the bells and whistles found in competing models, but it delivers excellent video quality even in low light.—Eugene Kim

BUDGET CAMCORDER
Canon Vixia HF R300

$249.99 The Canon Vixia HF R300 strikes a great balance between performance, features, and price. It's a no frills camcorder that will produce sharp and clear video in a variety of settings, and its long 32x zoom with solid image stabilization only sweetens the deal.—EK

WEBCAM
Logitech C920

$98.00 The Logitech c920 delivers full 1080p high-definition video and stereo audio recording, making it a surprisingly powerful webcam that easily exceeds the capabilities of anything you'll find in a laptop. It works with Skype HD as well as a variety of other video chat services. Logitech's effective audio and video processing algorithms minimize noise and balance lighting changes on the fly.