Compact cameras for the advanced shutterbug

Compact shooters are handy--switch them on and snap away. But after some time, you may want to explore beyond the routine, though aren't quite ready to handle a dSLR like the big boys. Our solution is the five shooters below. They offer extensive amounts of control over your shots, yet keep their physique light and dainty (compared with dSLRs). Most of them have full manual override, while some offer HD-quality video recording. Whatever your requirements are for a good point-and-shoot, these snappers ought to satisfy.

Click here for a feature comparison table.

	1.	Samsung NV24HD   CNET Asia rating: 7.8 out of 10 The good: 24mm ultra-wide-angle lens; HD-video recording; stylish design. The bad: 3.6x zoom only; no battery charger supplied; proprietary port for charging and data transfer. The bottom line: The NV24HD is a stunning camera, but the performance is only typical of the usual point-and-shoot. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	2.	Fujifilm FinePix F100fd   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: Ultra-high ISO sensitivity of 12,800; wide dynamic range; intuitive face detection; short shutter lag; 5x optical zoom with 28mm wide-angle lens; good image quality. The bad: Relatively heavy; awkward positioning of flash, easily covered by fingers; lacks full manual control. The bottom line: Despite an awkwardly positioned flash unit, the F100fd didn't disappoint with its enhanced feature set and excellent image quality. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX520   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: Stylish design; intuitive 3-inch touchscreen; manual exposure control; 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens; improved image quality. The bad: Slow startup time; Face Detection didn't recognize faces with spectacles; oddly shaped stylus. The bottom line: Besides the startup time and stylus, it is hard to find fault with the FX520. Image quality has also improved and we really like the features that are incorporated with the touchscreen. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	4.	Canon PowerShot G9       CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: A cornucopia of features; zippy; built like a tank. The bad: Relatively significant distortion at the widest angle of view; when zoomed out completely, lens intrudes into viewfinder; no optical zoom during movie capture. The bottom line: The Canon PowerShot G9 is a solid enthusiast camera for those who want something compact to complement a dSLR. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	5.	Nikon Coolpix P80   Dimensions 110 x 79 x 78 mm Weight 365 g Sensor Resolution (effective) 10.1 megapixels Optical zoom 18x Digital zoom 4x Light sensitivity (auto) 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400 ISO LCD size (new) 2.7 inch Storage type(s) Secure Digital, Internal memory Still image format (new) JPEG Max. image resolution (new) 3648 x 2736 See full specs | Rate this