Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T90$280
Sony’s T-series has always been known for incredibly slim dimensions, and this particular model is no exception. At just 15mm deep, it’s one of the most slender cameras in our roundup, ensuring the device gets neatly swallowed up in whatever pocket your decide to deposit it in. Like the Nikon S70, it also forgoes buttons in favor of a 3.0-inch touchscreen, making it possible to thumb through all the camera’s sophisticated features through an intuitive touch menu system. Specs include a 12.1-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, and Super SteadyShot image stabilization.
Kodak Easyshare M0193$160
One of the least expensive shooters of the bunch comes to the table at less than half the price of many competitors, but still packs many of the same core features. Besides a 10-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, and optical image stabilization, Kodak’s M1093 IS offers a giant 3-inch LCD and the ability to shoot 720p HD video, functions typically only found on cameras further up the price scale. And it’s all wrapped up in a 21mm-thick case dressed in any of three sharp metallic colors.
Casio Exilim EX-FC100$300
Casio’s FC100 redefines fast. The amazing little camera (which, at 22mm thick, is barely any heftier than Casio’s “card cameras”) can shoot still photos in bursts at up to 30 frames per second, and low-res movies at up to an unheard of 1,000 frames per second. (Not quite fast enough to capture a bullet’s impact, but more than enough to catch your friend’s fumbling drink spill in agonizing detail, over and over.) It also offers a 9.1-megapixel sensor, 2.7-inch LCD, and of course, HD movie capture capabilities.
Panasonic DMC-FP8$300
Don’t miss a single spontaneous shot with Panasonic’s DMC-FP8, which goes from powered off to snap-ready in under a second, and autofocuses even faster. The camera does it all thanks to a folding optical design, with a lens that doesn’t protrude at all from the slim 20mm-thick body. A zoom factor of 4.6x and a 12.1-megapixel sensor may seem standard compared to other cameras in this roundup, but Panasonic also claims its Power OIS (optical image stabilization) system doubles the blur reduction of previous implementations. It also captures 720p HD video, and the button array on the rear has been LED-backlit for easier nighttime operation.
Pentax W80$300
When the nightlife gets a little crazy and your friends leave their fragile digicams at home, Pentax’s W80 is up to the task. The waterproof, coldproof, shockproof 12.1-megapixel shooter will keep on snapping under 16 feet of water, in temperatures down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and after drops from over three feet. More importantly, its slim body and colorful case won’t crimp your style when you’re not showing it off by jumping into a hot tub with it or burying the gizmo in the snow. Who said tough can’t be sexy? It also includes more civilized perks like a 5x optical zoom, 720p HD movie capture, and digital shake reduction.
