November 19, 2010, 12:12 PM — A big year for camera and printer fans: The small but powerful Sony Alpha NEX-5 and the feature-packed Panasonic DMC-LX5--as well as camcorders from Sony and Panasonic and printers from Epson and Canon--entered the PCWorld 100.
Sony Alpha NEX-5
Digital camera; $650 Sony's first compact interchangeable-lens camera is the finest we've tested, thanks to excellent image and video quality, fun in-camera modes that make capturing panoramic and low-light images a breeze, and (with a firmware update) the ability to shoot 3D images. (#6 in the PCWorld 100)
Sony Alpha NEX-5 review | sonystyle.com
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Digital camera; $500 The DMC-LX5 shines once you take it out of Auto mode and into Manual, offering instantaneous autofocus, great video quality, a macro mode that lets you practically touch the lens to your subject, a bright f/2.0 aperture lens, and good low-light shooting. (#18)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 review | panasonic.net
Canon Pixma MG8120
Color multifunction printer; $300 This good-looking MFP has a 3.5-inch, tiltable, color LCD and touch controls integrated into the top lid. It also produces smooth text output at a good clip, and its replacement ink costs are reasonable. (#23)
Canon Pixma MG8120 review | canon.com
Canon EOS 7D
Digital camera; $1700 This 18-megapixel DSLR camera provides the features and shooting power of a pro model, but at a price that puts it within reach of enthusiasts. Of note is its combination of a high-resolution LCD screen, convenient Live View functions, and 1080p video, as well as its impressive 8-frames-per-second continuous-capture speed. (#27)
