Count on film: compact cameras are here to stay. They take fine photos, too.(Gift Guide)(snapshots)(Cover Story)(Buyers Guide)

As they said in "Casablanca," Bergman and Bogart will always have Paris. And photographers will always have film, no matter how popular digital cameras become, because film is inexpensive, makes crisp enlargements, and can be processed in an hour or less.

For those who want film snapshots, the tool of choice is the compact camera. It's easy to load and carry, capable of producing well-focused, well-exposed prints with point-and-shoot simplicity. The Ratings give test results from our last full report, in January 2001, with updated prices.

35MM OR APS?

For around $50 you can purchase a rudimentary compact camera, but for $100 and up you can get one with a zoom lens and other useful features. Your main choice: a model that accepts 35-mm film vs. one that uses APS, or Advanced Photo System, film.

APS strong points. Drop-in loading is standard, so you never have to touch the film; it stays in its cartridge even after processing, and the camera automatically unwinds and rewinds it. You can also switch--within a roll--from "classic" snapshot proportions (C, on the camera) to a somewhat wider image (H) or a panorama (P) when scenes demand it. APS cameras tend to be smaller and lighter than 35mm models.

35mm strong points. There's a wider range of films available; the cameras are easy to load; and, because they're somewhat larger than APS, they offer a more secure grip for your hand. As a group, 35mm cameras tend to have a more powerful zoom lens.

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