Here are my top picks for compact cameras you can slip in a pocket. Don't travel without your camera just because it's heavy and bulky--try one of these compact digital travel cameras, selected for the best image quality for their size. Today you can get some good wide angle lenses on those compact cameras--all the better to fit those travel landscapes and architectural pictures into the frame.
1. Canon PowerShot S100 Digital Camera
With its fast (f2) 5x Optical Zoom starting at 24mm (24-120mm) and GPS Technology that will map your shots, a new image processor that offers better white balance and better low-light shooting, and the ability to shoot hi-def video, this is my camera of choice. For photographers who want the ultimate control of their pictures, the camera offers a RAW output.
2. Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera
The diminutive and highly rated Elph comes in three colors, red, silver, and black. The 5x zoom starts at 24mm equivalent, a very wide wide-angle lens, good for those tough shots when you can't back up. Camera is less than an inch deep and weighing just under five ounces. And just in case you're into fast-moving action when you're on vacation, the camera has a mode that will slow things down, called "Super Slow Motion Movie." Canon has improved the low-light performance of the camera. At under $200, this camera is a steal.3. Olympus VR-320
Looking for a bargain camera that fit in your pocket and has a very long zoom? the Olympus VR-320 offers a travel-friendly 24mm wide angle lens that allows you to zoom all the way out to 300mm, a 12.5x zoom in a camera available for under $150 if you do some comparison shopping! And it weighs under 6 ounces. Does video, but most reviewers warn that video and low light quality isn't up to par with more expensive cameras.4. Nikon Coolpix S9100 Digital Camera
Need lots of lens, including a very decent wide angle option? This Nikon has an 18x optical zoom; Focal length: 4.5-81.0 mm (Approx. 25-450 mm); Aperture: f/3.5-5.9. If you get tired of shooting quaint villages and crumbling castles, you can take this one our and try your hand at sports like the Tour de France or Giro d'Italia. The camera isn't expensive; you can get it for less than $300, so the lens isn't the fastest, but should be adequate for most amateur needs. Takes full HD video, too.5. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V Digital Camera
If you're looking for a camera that does both good stills and decent full HD video, the Sony might be for you. The lens offers a 16x range with impressive 24mm wide-angle coverage on the wide-angle end. The 16.2MP high-resolution back-illuminated CMOS sensor should do well in low light, like those times you need a food shot in a dimly lit (romantic) restaurant. Good price on a feature-rich digital camera.6. Fujifilm FinePix T200 Digital Camera
This may be the value leader for this pack of travel cameras: a 10x zoom, equivalent to 28-280mm on a 35mm camera gives you a nice range from lanscape and city photography to portraits and sports. Reviewers gush over the image quality from a camera that costs just a bit over $100 dollars. Noise levels are held in check until just over ASA 800.