• • 12.0 megapixels
• • 24mm wide-angle lens with 10x optical zoom
• • 3-inch LCD (230K dots)
• • Dual image stabilization
• • 720p HD video with HDMI
connectivity
• • Manual mode (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and exposure controls)
• • March 2009 at an MSRP of $329.99

The 10-megapixel HZ10W from Samsung looks wonderful on paper. A compact camera with a 10x megazoom wide-angle 24mm Schneider lens and a whole mess of features.

You get 720p HD video capture at 30fps using H.264 for good-quality compression and the zoom works while shooting. The video mode also lets you pause and resume capture so you don't end up with a bunch of small files.

There's optical image stabilization, too, so your photos aren't a blurry mess when that lens is extended. And for those that like a lot of control, you'll be able to adjust the HZ10W's settings manually for things like shutter speed, aperture, exposure, and focus. I also wouldn't doubt the inclusion of multiple settings for color, sharpness, and contrast.

• • 12.2 megapixels
• • 24mm wide-angle lens with 5x optical zoom
• • 3-inch hVGA AMOLED (460K dots) with a contrast ratio of 10,000:1
• • Dual image stabilization
• • 720p HD video with HDMI connectivity via optional dock
• • Dual analog gauges for memory and battery (like last year's TL9)
• • Aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual modes
• • Advanced Picture Mode for adjusting the color temperature from 2,800-10,000K or manual control of color space shift
• • May 2009 at an MSRP of $379.99