Learn aboutTouch screens

Short Description

Small Touchscreen

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 is one of the smallest touchscreen cameras available, providing a fun experience and ultimate convenience.

Touchscreen cameras use the rear display as a giant touchable interface instead of dials and buttons, providing the majority of the cameras controls via a visual interface. By removing all the controls and having the display screen use up all the space you tend to get very large displays and because all the controlling is done via the screen the resolution of the screens also tends to be high. Touchscreen's allow you to preview your pictures using gestures (made popular by the iPhone and its brethren) as well as manipulate them (crops, etc.). The major advantage of a touch screen is the touch controls can be re-purposed depending what mode you're in allowing in context options. Touchscreens also permit interactivity with the scene you're shooting offering features like touch to focus. Of course there are many sacrifices with having a touchscreen, the chief one is the loss of manual tactile controls - dedicated dials, wheels and buttons can be useful once you're familiarized with them allowing you to change things on the go without looking - with a touchscreen you have to keep looking at the LCD for visual feedback on what the controls will do. Also the buttons and controls on the screen will tend to be a lot larger to allow for fat fingers and the lack of tactile feedback. Touchscreen's are largely the domain of compact pocket cameras and typically aren't integrated into semi-pro or pro gear.

Touchscreen Landscape

Advantages

• Entire screen space can be used for direct one touch interaction
• Allows touch functions to be changed - providing interesting in-context interactions
• All interaction accomplished via one interface vs knobs, dials and buttons
• Ability to use gestures
• Ability to touch the area you want to focus on
• More sleek due to the lack of buttons
• Ability to provide a visual interface
• High coolness factor

Disadvantages

• Not tactile like buttons
• Buttons can provide direct access to certain functions faster
• Can't be operated blindly
• May not appeal to technology challenged photographers
• Running the LCD for control uses up batteries faster
• Experience more dependant on a strong UI design
• Large bright screen on all the time eats batteries

Best Touchscreen Digital Cameras

The following represent the best touchscreen digicams available.

	Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 from $195	Great zoom 16x Full HD 1080p @ 30fps Wide angle lens 24 mm Learn more about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10
	Sony Cyber-shot WX70	High ISO 12,800 ISO Wide aperture f/2.6 Really small Ultra compact 92x52x13 mm Learn more about the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX70
	Sony Cyber-shot WX70	High ISO 12,800 ISO Wide aperture f/2.6 Really small Ultra compact 92x52x13 mm Learn more about the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX70
	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX300V	OLED Screen Bright and vivid High ISO 12,800 ISO High resolution screen 1,229k dots Learn more about the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX300V

See more of the top digicams with a touchscreen

Best Touchscreen DSLRs

The following represent the best touchscreen DSLRs available.

See more of the top DSLRs with a touchscreen

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