The Canon PowerShot Elph 130 IS has an 8x optical zoom lens, a 16-megapixel CCD sensor and built-in Wi-Fi. It takes images of very good overall quality but has slow shooting speeds. High-definition video recording is also limited to only 720p resolution.

The Canon PowerShot A2600 is one of the less expensive cameras in the company's point-and-shoot lineup. The 16-megapixel shooter has a 5x zoom lens, the same design that is found in the A1400. There are a few differences—the A2600 uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, is a bit slimmer, and doesn't have an optical viewfinder—but from an image quality perspective they are essentially the same.

The DV150F is the latest iteration in Samsung's Dual View camera design. In addition to the rear LCD, which is a ubiquitous feature on point-and-shoots, a front LCD lets you point the lens at yourself to snap a quick self portrait. The 25mm wide-angle field of view makes it possible for a friend to join you, and integrated Wi-Fi lets you beam the photo directly to Facebook or your smartphone.

The enthusiast-focused Canon PowerShot G15 delivers excellent image quality, but lacks some features found in other top-end cameras. The G15 is the successor to the PowerShot G12 , a high-end compact camera that is now two years old. The G15 offers numerous upgrades—a 12-megapixel CMOS sensor, a faster lens, and a sharper rear display among them.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 is the first superzoom camera to feature a fixed-aperture f/2.8 lens, which means that the same amount of light is captured, regardless of whether you are zoomed out at 25mm or all the way in at 600mm. It's a speedy performer, images are sharp, and videographers will appreciate the excellent 1080p30 video quality and the option to add an external microphone.

The Olympus SP-620UZ is an affordable, compact (but not pocket size) superzoom camera with a 21x zoom lens. It's affordably priced, but not as refined as its pricier competition. It offers strong performance to go with that 21x zoom lens but the LCD is low-res and video recording is limited to 720p.

The Nikon Coolpix S9300 is point-and-shoot camera with a powerful 18x optical zoom lens, a 16-megapixel resolution, built-in GPS and full HD 1080p video recording. It's very easy to use but we found that the image quality could have been better and image stabilization wasn't the best either.

The Canon PowerShot A2400 IS is a fairly simple camera that's well suited for the casual photographer as it offers above average image quality. For those willing to explore their artistic side, the camera has many effects and filters. The design of the camera itself could be better and battery life is short, but in all it's a decent point-and-shoot.

The Sony Alpha 57 is one of four APS-C D-SLR cameras in Sony's current lineup. It's one step up from the entry-level Alpha 37, and like its siblings sports a fixed mirror design and an electronic viewfinder, a departure from classic SLR cameras that use a moving mirror and optical viewfinder for through-the-lens viewing.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is the point-and-shoot camera that many an enthusiast has dreamed of. It's got an image sensor that's the same size as the mirrorless Nikon J1 and a 3.6x zoom lens that opens up to f/1.8 on the wide end, all packed into a camera that can slide into your back pocket.