You’ll see from our section on 2009′s top digital cameras piece that latterly, social networking and the fact that most people are photographers on some level now, has seen a shift in the way the big players focus on camera design. As is often the case, gadgets tend to diminish in size and with cameras this change has been marked.

Even pedigree chums Panasonic are with the programme – and so ensues a smaller design on their Lumix G1, which has indeed become more advanced.

With Micro Four Thirds technology, the mirror and prism system is no longer necessary and the traditional viewfinder has also been dispensed with in favour of an electronic one, allowing for a far more compact design.

You can choose from black, red or blue for the main body of the camera. It is coated in an unusual futuristic rubbery fascia which gives good grip and allows for one-handed photography shenanigans.

The rotating three inch LCD screen adds to the flexibility of the G1.You can adopt some very strange positions and use extreme angles to find the best shot while able to keep one eye on the screen at all times.

It is also extremely clear with 460,000-dot resolution and a 100% viewing angle, which will come as a relief to those who have battled with poor quality EVF’s in the past.

Although not strictly a digital SLR due to the lack of a mirror, the features of the G1 are similarly impressive. The Intelligent Auto mode means that you don’t have to be photographic whiz to adapt to the light conditions, because the camera will do the work for you. The interchangeable lenses are truly tiny compared to conventional ones, especially the 14-45mm kit standard.

Other nice features include: motion and shake detection, face detection, subject detection and scene detection. Detection all round then.

The Lumix G1 is primarily aimed at leisure-orientated but more senior togs, people who want the features of a DSLR without the hassle of lugging around a beast of a camera.

If this sums you up, this may be the camera for you.

Some buy one for the price, some for a particular feature or its exemplary performance in a particular field of photography, but there are great cameras that offer quality as well as value and 2009 was a stellar year for the market.

Top manufacturers had to adapt to the financial climate, so a few spare pennies could – and to this day still can – go quite a long way. Investing in a sturdy camera with an intuitive interface, good features and decent lifespan couldn’t come at a better time.

We’ve compiled a wide-ranging list taking some of the decision making out of the process and have appealed to a range of criteria including budget, performance, looks and the overall package.

So here is the digitalcameras.co.uk list of best cameras in 2009 to suit your wallet or purse, needs, photographic expertise and social and physical pursuits.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7

The Lumix range of digital cameras is extremely popular with this model trumping both precursors and the competition alike thanks to its ability to record HD video at a 720p resolution. This inviting feature stands shoulder to shoulder with a high resolution 10MP still image capture and even fits in the pocket.

Best Price link – Amazon.co.uk £179.99

Sony CyberShot DSC-H7

This may seem like a serious photographers camera but the model is perfectly accessible for less experienced snappers. With 15x optical zoom thanks to the Karl Zeiss lens and a very moderate online price point it really looks and performs above its class.

Best Price link – Amazon.co.uk from £159

Canon Digital IXUS 100 IS

Another pocket beast that can record in HD, this device features a mega-impressive 12.1 MP image resolution. This is one sexy little model, in a light, slick, slim black case; market masters Canon have packed this one with 3x optical zoom and all the bells and whistles you’d expect.

Best Price link – Currys.co.uk £129

Fujifilm FinePix Z20fd

This is the fashionista’s camera coming in a range of different and outlandish colours but it’s not style over substance. With a 10 MP resolution, the fact this beaut is available for under £100 is a cheeky bonus.

Best Price – Pixmania.co.uk £79.98

Casio Exilim EX-Z29

This model is simple, no nonsense and another budget friendly morsel. This super-portable digital camera boasts a very-impressive 10.1 MP image taker.

Best Price link – Amazon.co.uk £69.99

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT1

Highly regarded by critics and users alike, this is a slick but toned down Lumix model for people who live active lives. It still has a 12 MP sensor and wide angle capturing capability – it’s also available in quirky neon colours.

Best Price link – Amazon.co.uk £275

Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP

The only waterproof entry into our top 10, this camera is also low cost considering its outdoorsy ambitions and 10 MP resolution.

Best Price – Tesco.com £99.97

Samsung WB500

Samsung isn’t a prolific name in the digicam world but the brand has seriously added to their snapping cred with the WB500. This camera packs in a massive 10x optical zoom and 10 MP resolution to shake up the market and strike fear into the pedigree dogs.

Best Price link - GlobalElectricals.co.uk £119

Olympus SP-590 UZ

This camera couldn’t be left out of the list. With a massive, ambitious and high performance 26x zooming capability, this is a camera for serious photographers and ideal for taking pictures of sports events, nature or specialised industry shots. It’s so versatile you’ll wonder where that thing for getting studs out of horses’ hooves is.

Best Price link – Camerabox.co.uk £214.99

Olympus mju Tough 6000

You may have noticed we’ve leaned towards more tough little cameras for travel and leisure owing to the change in social trends and photography. Everyone uses Facebook, everyone likes to snap away and keep them for their records and not everyone needs a powerful zoomtastic beast to do so. This Olympus offering is light, fast and competitive … maybe even outstanding.

Best Price link – buyacamera.co.uk £129.99

The most important question you have to ask when choosing between a digital SLR camera and a compact is what do you intend to use it for? Investing in a superior piece of technology is a costly decision and requires careful thought. Without doubt digital SLRs are a far more expensive choice, despite the increasingly competitive prices of available models on the market.

In simple terms, if you want to record fun memories and carry a camera everywhere with you, you should consider a compact. A dSLR will produce superior pictures, but is heavier and bulkier, and the lens attachments will need to be carried. Ultimately, you will have a better photograph but as a wise friend once pointed out to me, an average photo that you take will always top a brilliant photograph that you didn’t.

Having said all of this, the pros of a dSLR are considerable. The zoom is manual and therefore speedier than the motorised versions on a compact. This means greater speed to capture your image. The image quality is superior as the image sensor can be sizeable enough to have high pixel count without interference. Most importantly, the ability to change lenses means that you can get a wide range of focus, depth of field and angles. The step up in price is worth it for the serious photographer.

Compact Digital Cameras

PANASONIC Lumix DMC-TZ8

Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ10

The wonder of the LUMIX Super Zoom Digital Camera is that the compact casing houses a massive lens. The 25mm wide anle lens equates to 2x the area of field than a standard 35 mm lens. This enables you to capture sprawling landscapes whilst the versatile technology allows for clarity of focus on the close up shot.

Basic features

• 25mm Wide-angle
• 12x Optical Zoom
• f/3.3-4.9 LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens
• Intelligent Resolution Technology and 16x Intelligent Zoom
• iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode with POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer)
• HD Movie (Motion JPEG)
• 12.1 Mp

Pros
This camera has a lot of technology packed into it’s lightweight frame. The image stabilisation allows for non-blurring pictures even in low light conditions. The Leica glass of the lens is suitable for all photographic assignments. The HD movie mode also functions in low light and utilises the 12x zoom. The Intelligent Resolution function produces a high resolution finish to all pictures.

Cons
The only minor gripe with this camera is that changing settings is a lengthy and difficult to navigate proceedure.

Rating
9.5/10

Cheapest Price: Dixons

CANON PowerShot S90

Canon Powershot S90

One of the best compact digital cameras of all time with an unparalleled image quality. Marketed by canon as the camera with creative control and pocketable performance, this compact captures quality images at both high speeds and low-light conditions. The pictures are detailed in ISO settings that far exceed other compacts. There is also a manual setting that can be adjusted via a dial on the back panel and a lens ring on the front. This enables the user to change shooting speeds more rapidly than competitive products on the market.

The price might make a prospective buyer balk, however the magnesium alloy body and high quality build actually seem like a bargain.

Features

• High-sensitivity 10 MP CCD
• f/2.0, 28mm wide, 3.8x zoom lens, with IS
• Compact design & lens Control Ring
• 3.0” LCD
• Dual Anti-Noise System with DIGIC 4
• Full Manual control & RAW
• Smart Auto mode & Servo AF/AE
• Face Detection
• i-Contrast
• VGA movies (30fps) & HDMI

Pros
The high-sensitivity CCD results in superb image quality throughout a wide range of lighting conditions. The f/2.0 aperture is extremely versatile with fast shutter speeds enabling fast -moving subjects to be captured even at low lighting levels. coupled with a Wide angle 28mm lens, anti blur technology and a wide-viewing angle BCD display facilitate the production of stunning pictures and make the S90 a joy to use.

Cons
Sadly there is no HD video mode.

Rating
8.7/10

Cheapest Price: Currys

Nikon Coolpix S8000

Nikon Coolpix L20

The S8000 is reputed by Nikon to be the world’s slimmest 10x optical zoom compact. The 30mm body houses a true telephoto lens that ranges from the 30mm wide angle to 300mm. It does not have the greatest image quality comparative to it’s peers but it is ultimately one of the most portable cameras around.

Features

• 10x optical zoom, f/3.5-5.6
• 114.2 Mp CCD
• 3.0” LCD
• Face Detection, Blink Detection, Smile Detection, Multi-Zone AF
• weight with battery 183g
• ISO 100-3200
• Continuous shooting: 1fps at 14Mp, 3fps at 3Mp
• Vibration Reduction in lens

Pros
Obviously the slim size with the sizeable zoom make this an attractive consumer choice. The 3 frame per second top speed is competitive to many of the low end dSLRs. The image quality is good and the video mode operates at a24 fps rate. Package al of these features with the economic £210 price tag and you would be hard pressed to find a better buy.

Cons
The glass of the lens is not the highest quality and results in a minimal amount of chromatic aberration. However this should not be evident for the general photographic purposes of a point and shoot.

Rating
7.8

Cheapest Price: Warehouseexpress.com