A multitude of factors go into consideration when shopping for a new camera these days, and while some cameras are able to carry all the specs to look like a beast on paper, all it takes is a horrid user interface to make it stink altogether. User interfaces essentially provide us with the means of accessing the camera's many functions and settings, it's a way in which we interact with the camera to capture the kind of photo we want. It's certainly most vital that it pleases us.

Traditionally, camera interfaces conformed to a standard that served us with three key elements, a multi-directional controller, a mode dial and an assortment of key function buttons. Nowadays, not all cameras are made equal and over the years we have been witnessing a small but blossoming variety of new and innovative user interfaces that have been anything but ordinary. While the conventional camera interfaces still remain good as gold, below we take a look at three daringly different user interfaces which go to accomplish the same objectives but in a refreshingly new manner.

Sony Touchscreen
Ever since Apple made it hip for touchscreens to be embedded on to mobile phones, tech companies wasted no time adding touch-sensitive panels to their gadgets. Compact cameras have become no exception, and while a handful of cameras have already begun sporting touchscreens to their system, none have perhaps executed this feature better than Sony. At current, the Sony Cybershot T2, T70, T200 and T300 are cameras that have been given the touchscreen treatment by Sony. With menu options all laid out clearly within view, intuitive on-screen icons are spread out across the LCD to replace physical buttons. The only true physical buttons that exist are the zoom rocker, shutter, power and playback buttons. With each icon and setting labelled and explained briefly upon your touch, it cleanly steers clear of any confusion. A stylus pen is provided to prevent smears and finer pinpointing, but beyond that, it also proves its worth for when doodling over a picture in post-image processing.	Sony Cybershot DSC-T70
Samsung Smart Touch
A product of Samsung's genius, the Smart Touch system is an exclusive feature of Samsung's NV series. As seen on the Samsung NV20, it features 2 long rows of buttons around the LCD, it's an easily understood interface that simplifies and speeds up menu navigation. Lined with 7 buttons on the bottom and 6 on the right of the screen, the interface is based on a ‘cross hairs' approach that enables you to reach a desired setting in as few as two button presses. Each of the buttons lined vertically or horizontally represents a single option or function, and with any press of a button, you are able to immediately call up a row of settings. You are then able to select the setting you want by pressing the corresponding button on the opposite axis be it on the vertical or horizontal side. Since buttons are also touch-sensitive, sliding the finger gently across these buttons will show each setting being highlighted, or, enable scrolling along a scroll bar when prompted.	Samsung NV20
Touchscreen and Controller (Panasonic Hybrid Control System)
A mix of the new and the old could possibly bring you the best of both worlds. Panasonic makes the most with this formula in their latest compact offering from the Lumix FX line. Combining conventional joystick control, function buttons and a touchscreen interface, the latest Panasonic Lumix FX520/FX500 (model number varies depending on sales area) is one of the first Lumix cameras donning the new Hybrid Control System. Without relying solely on the touchscreen, it sheds most of the basic controls on physical buttons and lets you explore more extensive settings on the touchscreen. With the exception of playback which can be controlled via the touchscreen or the joystick, adjusting manual settings, changing camera modes and pin-pointing the AF/AE spot all rely upon touchscreen operation.	Panasonic Lumix FX520

In the cutthroat competition that is the compact camera market, it's always refreshing and sometimes even entertaining to see how camera companies stir up new ways of bettering and beautifying their cameras. Now experimenting with new and innovative user interfaces, it seems they have hit another success with redesigning camera operation and we're most intrigued.

Whichever way interfaces are designed, the key to any good user interface will always remain the same. It must be simple, user friendly, finger and thumb-friendly, quick to operate and easily memorisable. The three new camera interfaces shown above have succeeded to varying degrees in encompassing some of these characteristics and in the end, this all helps add to the overall joy of using a camera. Because when you've got such a fantastic interface to play with on your hands, it really does make the whole shooting experience a whole lot better and an honest true pleasure.