Blend a digital SLR’s versatility with a point-and-shoot’s pocketability, and you get the missing link you’ve always wanted: the hybrid camera.

by Gary Miller

We consumers always demand one product that can do the job of many. But that requires tradeoffs.

Olympus invented the hybrid camera category last year when it debuted the E-P1. It was a hit, in concept: small, with a sizable sensor and a bevy of interchangeable lenses for creative control. It was also flawed: It had no flash and a horribly slow autofocus. Yet between an impotent but tiny point-and-shoot and a large but powerful digital SLR, it represented a sweet spot.

A year later we have a bumper crop of hybrids that have evolved. They’re not perfect — what technology ever is? — but they’re ideal for point-and-shoot folks looking to do more than point, press, and pray. We test four of the newest, plus give you alternatives if a hybrid isn’t your cup of tea (page 2) and suggest some accessories for whatever camera you choose (page 3).
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HYBRID ANALYSIS
We looked at image quality, ease of use, and feature set to find our favorite.
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Sony Alpha NEX-5
If the magnesium body were any smaller, you’d be attaching the lens to your eyeball. Yet Sony managed to cram an impressive list of innovative features into the NEX-5, all easily accessible via an intuitive, simple interface. (Our favorite: a panoramic feature that creates one superwide image just by scanning the camera from left to right.) The NEX-5’s large sensor delivers top-notch resolution and contrast, and the vertically tilting LCD in back helped us frame high- and low-angle shots. Our only issue is with the waifish body — it’s a bit too small for our hands. [$700; sonystyle.com]
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Panasonic DMC-GF1
You can buy it with one of two included lenses: a 14–45mm zoom that doesn’t perform well in low light, or our preferred choice, a razor-sharp 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens. You’ll have to use your legs to zoom, but it makes for a smaller package and works wonders in the dark. And while the Panasonic’s JPEG compression is just fine, the camera’s RAW mode — which delivers larger, more detailed files that can be harder to edit without proper software — is best in class. Same goes for the GF1’s impressively fast and accurate autofocus. [$770; panasonic.com]
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Olympus E-PL1
Where the Panasonic rewards a photographer who has some shooting experience, the old timey–looking Olympus helps out point-and-shoot upgraders with a smart in-camera guide designed to help you get the best shot in any situation. But those looking for more manual control will be stymied by option overload: Hit the menu button and you’ll find 62 settings arranged in 10 different sections. That’s too bad, because photo geeks will love being able to snap on nearly any Olympus lens made in the last 30 years (with an ———————————————————————————optional adapter). [$600; olympus.com]
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Samsung NX10
The body is big-boned for a hybrid and sturdy, but the plastic housings of the lenses seem low-rent compared to the metal heft of the lenses on every other hybrid. Thankfully the glass inside isn’t cheap. The Samsung’s image quality, especially with the optional 30mm f/2 pancake lens strapped to the front, is superb — so long as you can hold still. We ended up with too many shaky pictures despite having optical image stabilization on. Shooting with manual control let us eliminate the earthquake look, but that won’t be a workable solution for anyone who doesn’t know their ISOs from their f-stops. [$700; samsung.com]

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