Standard Cameras (35mm)

Advantages: Has the sharpest optics in the world
Disadvantages: unavailable in the high street, small lens range

...many have heard of the Contax name even), has some of the best optics in the world in its stable, as verified by independent lens testing. The 16mm Hologon http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/CoGHologon168-124.shtml The 21mm Biogon http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/CoGBiogon2128-122.shtml 35mm Planar http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/CoGPlanar3520-125.shtml 45mm Planer http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/detail/CoGPlanar4520-126.shtml ...
...non compromises. Everything about the Contax G1 and its lenses are about excellence. No company accountant pulling the purse strings here. The camera is a rangefinder camera (like most compact cameras) where the light from the lens goes directly onto the film on exposure with separate provision for the viewfinder, this format allows the lens designers to optimise the lens optics. In SLR cameras the lens designs are a compromise as the designers ... Read review

Advantages: fun, quirky and original photos
Disadvantages: basic actionsampler has no flash

...developed in Russia called the Lomo Kompact Automat. This camera was unique in that it had a very sharp lens and high light sensitivity, which produces an array of fabulously different photographs. The lomography society was born and from that came a number of "toy" cameras. The word "toy" does not refer to an inferior product, but implies the fun that can be had with these cameras. They are unlike any camera you will have used, and will produce ...
...achieve with a standard. Now on to the actionsampler. I bought this little beauty off ebay for approx £15 brand new, so it's not much to spend if you want to try it out. The action sampler has 4 lenses, which takes 4 pictures each a second apart and puts them back together t create something quite incredible. The finished photograph is a series of the 4 different pictures it takes. Here are just a couple of examples of photos you can get with the ... Read review

Advantages: Can't think of any
Disadvantages: photo quality, price of development, Minolta customer service

...advise anyone to buy a Minolta camera. I accept that occasionally cameras may be faulty, but the level of customer service I received, the delays, the lack of concern and then the refusal to simply replace the camera free of charge (no cost at all to Minolta) were absolutely unacceptable. ... Read review

Advantages: Easy to use, unique images and very cool design
Disadvantages: If you don't know what you're doing, it may take you a while!

I was given the Lomo Fisheye 2 camera as a present by my boyfriend at the time, as an enthusiastic photographer I thought this is a brilliant product for me to try out and see if I can broaden my abilities. I was not disappointed. Even if you are not into photography, and just wanted a camera that is a bit 'different' then this one definately delivers. It provides a 'fun' factor to photography and as there is so many different ways to shoot, you ...
...and after the 'perfect' photo). Lomo have even added a 'hotshoe' flash to give an extra punch of colour - so you can add a bit of craziness to your images! The design of the camera is very sleek and contemporary and with the added multiple exposure setting, you can create layered photos which can look either spectacular, or an arty farty mess - either way you can't go wrong! This camera is definately one of the funnest around, and is not bad value ... Read review

Advantages: Optical and build quality, size and features.
Disadvantages: AE and AF lock cannot be set independently.

The last, best and smallest picture taker of the TVS series. The optics are much improved from the previous models incorporating 2 aspheric and an extra low dispersion glass element. The optics are so good that performance is near optimal wide open and stopping down mainly improves corner light falloff. AF is very accurate especially in the spot mode. Like it's sibling, the T3, there is no electronic rangefinder for manual focus assist, just manual ...
...unlike the T3, you can't independently lock AE and AF settings but intead they are linked together on the TVS III. The T3 gives you the additional option to lock focus with a special spot AF hold button and then lock exposure with the shutter button. This allows for recomposition of the shot without losing desired focus or exposure settings. Fortunately with the TVS III you can guesstimate and set focus manually and then use the AE lock. I suppose ... Read review