Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Canon’s PowerShot SX1 IS is the best hybrid camera for stills and video at this price point. It takes the already capable PowerShot SX10 IS with its powerful 20x zoom and articulated screen, but swaps the sensor for a CMOS version which can deliver both HD video in the 1080p format and fast continuous shooting at 4fps. The SX1 IS also adds an HDMI port and support for RAW recording. The viewfinder and screen are now both 16:9 shaped, which means you won’t use their full area when composing in the native 4:3 aspect ratio for stills, but they’re perfect when filming widescreen video. Ultimately if you want to film HD video and take still photos with one camera, it’s the best solution at this price point. If you want faster shooting still, check out the Sony HX1.

Pros: 20x zoom, HD movies, RAW, flip-out screen, flash hotshoe.
Cons: Small viewfinder and screen image in 4:3 aspect ratio.
Overall: The best hybrid super-zoom camera to date.