How to Choose the Best High Quality Digital Camera
sourcinggate asked:
Although very easy to use, digital cameras are packed with technological innovation. Youre not supposed to understand how they work theyre there to make taking pictures easier and to give better, sharper results. They can detect faces and sort out the focus all on their own, compensate for any shaking and adjust colors according to light conditions.
But its never an easy task to choose a digital camera. There are countless models with a range of megapixels and a range of features. Get help isolating which digital camera is right for you (or your gift recipient) with the following.
The quality of a digital camera is mainly defined by four quantities: resolution, lens aperture, lens zoom range, lens quality, and software. CCD sensitivity also varies somewhat.
1. Resolution
Nearly all digital cameras use CCD’s as the sensing element. This is what takes the place of film. The resolution is the number of pixels in the captured image. Computer images are divided into little dots called pixels. The more pixels, the more detailed the image can be.
2. Lens aperture
The aperture of a lens is its maximum opening. The bigger the aperture, the more light is gathered, and the less light you need to take a good photo. This is the most overlooked lens specification, but it very important, especially if you like to take photos indoors without flash or from a reasonable distance.
3. Lens zoom range
A zoom lens has a variable focal length. The focal length determines the magnification of the lens. A short focal length is a wide-angle lens, great for taking in large vistas. A long focal length is a telephoto lens, allowing you to get a tight photo of a distant object or person. A zoom lens lets you combine both of these and everything in between into a single adjustable lens.
4. Lens quality
Lenses with the same focal length and aperture can differ substantially in quality. A poor lens is not as sharp, and it may exhibit chromatic aberration, which means that all colors are not brought to the same focus. This usually shows up as colored fringes at high contrast edges.
5. In-camera Software
Here I am not talking about photo software that comes with your computer, but rather the software built into the camera. Taking a digital photo means a fair amount of computation. When you snap a digital photo, the camera first grabs a “pre-photo” to determine the brightness and color balance of the scene. It then shoots the real picture, based on the earlier information
6. Media type
Most digital cameras use Compact Flash or Secure Digital. The difference is not worth worrying about unless you already have a good supply of one type. Many Sony cameras use their own proprietary “memory sticks”. I prefer to avoid proprietary solutions, as it restricts your future choices considerably. The trend is toward Secure Digital.
By the way, all the digital cameras from http://www.sourcinggate.com/digital-cameras-c-324_8.html has gone though rigorous QC testing and comes with one-year warranty. You will be surprised by tons of quality cameras at wholesale price!
Underwater Digital Cameras: A Brief guide for Buying
Underwater digital cameras are a special designed digital camera make for still and video photography to capture the wonderful marine life flora and fauna. The underwater world offers so many opportunities object to capture once in your lifetime photos of undersea life, vivid colors of coral reefs.This time, underwater digital cameras give you clean and crisp pictures that truly reflect the images of marine and plant life of depths underwater.
With underwater digital cameras you are possible to capture images in a life-like picture that can be shared with friends or you sell it professionally. Adorned with multi-flash function, color correction filter and macro lens, the underwater digital camera offers superb image quality.
If you nosy which model of underwater digital camera to choose, what features to consider, then here is a briefly guide and tips on the features of the most demanding underwater digital camera models. Right now you can find so many popular underwater digital cameras such as Intova IC-700 7.0MP, Sea Live DC800, Nikon D3 plus housing Sea&Sea MDX-D3, Panasonic SDR, Sony A200 Digital SLR Camera combine with Ikelite housing, o Xacti VPC, Pentax Optio W30, Canon G10 and Olympus SW series
Intova IC-700 7.0MP digital camera with underwater housing, available in an affordable price. This underwater digital camera features 7 megapixels, macro mode and built-in flash that can reach up to five feet underwater.
The SeaLife DC800 underwater camera offers sleek, modern design with high-tech functionality.Come with 8-megapixel camera now you could have the best possible photographs, both in and out of the water. This new type promise give the easiest step to set up a graphic on-screen, expand the camera with wide angle lens and Digital Pro Flashes accessories. This camera also have long lasting lithium battery for all day of diving, automatic focus from 2″ to infinity, large format continuous video recording with sound, depth tested to 200ft, fully rubber armored for shock protection and 1-year warranty covers the underwater housing and camera.
If you looking for popular underwater digital came among professional diving photographers, the answer is Nikon D3 underwater digital cameras. This camera is top line in technology and prize in front of its competitors. Released with a perfect auto exposure, huge viewfinder and accurate auto and fast, Nikon D3 completed with ergonomically Sea&Sea MDX-D3 housing. This 10-megapixel camera has features specifically designed to allow for the best possible photographs, both in and out of the water.
Panasonic SDR-SW20 is compact model for you if you want an easy-to-use and lightweight device. Include 10x optical zoom and MPEG-2 format up to 10 Mbps, this is one of the best digital cameras available for video recording. But, with only 0.3MP 640×480 still imaging capability, the still imaging options are basically non-existent in this model.
Combine with Ikelite Housing Sony DSC-W5 5.1 Megapixel Cyber-shot digital Camera is an entry level digital camera that could captures enough detail for photo quality prints. It has solid construction and offers all of the essentials in an affordable package like an auto-focus system, a large view finder, wireless flash control and gives details at the lowest sensitivities. Its also built-in multimode auto electronic-flash Real Imaging Processor provides natural color, accurate picture quality and faster response 2.0 High-Speed USB Memory Stick media, Memory Stick(R) PRO media compatible PictBridge capability for plug-and-print convenience . Sony DSC-W5 5.1 Megapixel Cyber-shot(R) with Ikelite housing will give you a compact, clear underwater with corrosion-free performance and deep under.
Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 is the one of the best designed underwater digital camera for up to 5feet depth of water. It has 4GB card, and MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 at 640×480 powers, the Xacti E1 could work with an approximate record time of over 5 hours. This camera also offers a solid 5x optical zoom with a 6MP CCD at up to ISO1600 power for still images, Flip out view screen is a special key feature of this underwater digital camera which will saves you from the risk of bumping in with underwater objects while swimming around.
Pentax Optio W30 is another underwater digital camera you should consider. Released with 7MP - ISO1600 and 3x optical zoom image recording feature, Optio W30 supported with both SD and SDHC, videos in this model is of 640×480 in MOV QuickTime MJPEG format.
The Canon G10-WP combine with DB28 housing is a Canon’s most advanced compact cameras with ability to work under water till 130 feet deep.With well-rounded underwater digital camera package Canon G-10 will gives you richly detailed and high resolution images, It is also has an excellent LCD, wide-angle lens and many dedicated controls, it gives you good performance like serious photographers.
Olympus SW series may be the best well rounded underwater camera at the moment. This camera completed with 10 Megapixels, ISO1600, and a 3.6x optical zoom feature and you could dive with this camera as depth as 6.6 feet.
By: Nadjib Salim
About the Author:
Founder and owner of http://buycamera-s.com
The Compact Digital Olympus Camera VS | V | Versus/ The Digital SLR Olympus Camera
August 22, 2009 by fts
Filed under Uncategorized
The Olympus brand of cameras is also very well recognize in the photography industry. The Olympus camera is even the official camera of the US open, which means it is certainly a very reliable brand in the industry. What is the difference between a digital compact Olympus camera and a digital SLR Olympus camera?
The differences are:
1) Picture Quality
The compact digital Olympus camera has enormous number of megapixels but this does mean that they are better picture quality than the digital SLR Olympus camera. Most times compact digital cameras suffer from interference and when you look closely at a picture youll see tiny little speckles, this is recognized as digital noise. The effect of digital noise is quite worse in low lighting situations.
The digital SLR Olympus camera produces high quality photos because it lacks digital noise and it is able to shoot in RAW mode, which means that it allows for more flexibility when you want to edit photos later on .
2) Speed
No professional photographer will ever shoot a moving object with a compact digital Olympus camera no matter how professional he or she is. A digital SLR Olympus Camera can be used to effectively capture pictures of a moving subject and the great part is that it will be able to keep re-focussing as the subject keeps moving. For example, models cat walking up and down a runway will be not possible to shoot with a compact digital Olympus camera. If you are one of those individuals who just love capturing moments, the digital SLR Olympus camera is certainly what you need.
3) Flexibility
With a digital SLR Olympus camera, you have a lens for all occasions. If for instance you want to take a picture of a nice looking meadow or scenery, you can quickly attach a wide angle lens to your SLR Olympus camera and start clicking away. If you plan on taking a picture of your flowers or sleeping kittens/puppies you can attach a macro lens to the SLR Olympus camera too, you can even be a couple of feet away from your subject and shoot it with a telephoto lens.
4) Bad lighting? No worry
With a digital SLR Olympus camera, you can take pictures even when there is less of light. I know what you are thinking Bah! The compact digital Olympus camera can also capture a picture even when there is not enough light it is an innovation called a flash But the difference is that a digital SLR Olympus camera does not require a flash in order to take pictures so, there!
5) You have total control
You can capture moments at your very own discretion. The SLR Olympus cameras can be used to capture action moments at any time or place. You are sure of also getting clear good and not blurry pictures caused by digital noise which can be found in compact digital Olympus cameras.
The Olympus E-P1 is the latest micro four thirds digital Olympus camera and it is recognized as the worlds smallest digital camera with lens that can be changed. This digital camera from Olympus produces better image quality because it is known to feature the same size sensor as other digital SLR Olympus cameras. This camera is good for what it is, especially for those individual who want high quality pictures but cannot afford to purchase the more expensive digital SLR Olympus camera. The E-P1 can be bought for $749 (699). The price is still pretty steep but you are sure of getting quality photos that will give you joy for a lifetime (now, that is something you cannot put a price tag on).
Where Can you find an Olympus Camera
There are many web sites that market the Olympus brand of cameras, but you can visit the official website of Olympus so that you can get first hand information about new and old products. You can also make inquiries concerning after sale services etc.
You will sure find this article one sure way of getting quality digital cameras online quite interesting.
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Different Between Wide Angle Camera Lens And Digital Camera Telephoto Lens
August 18, 2009 by fts
Filed under Uncategorized
No matter you are a professional photographer or amateur photographer, there are of high chances that one day you will buy in either a wide angle camera lens or a digital camera telephoto lens. And if you are like me, you might have bought a wide angle lens digital camera online and took a dozen of pictures prior to keeping the lens inside your drawer due to the excessive visual distortions.
Many of the professional photographers have come to know about a wide angle camera lens (shorter focal length) and digital camera telephoto lens (long focal length). There might argue on the different between short focal length and long focal length. However, when come to your choice, you are always able to be yourself and choose which lens is suiting you the best.
Focal length is very important when you want to choose for your digital camera lens. This brings photographers to the necessary for understanding the distinct between the wide angle lens digital camera and the digital camera telephoto lens since the feature of the lens resulting the degree at which a subject should be magnified. Nevertheless, the major distinction between a wide angle camera lens and digital camera telephoto lens is that the digital camera telephoto lens has bigger focal lengths whilst the wide angle camera lens has smaller focal points. Thus, if you are shooting photos in an open door hallway, a digital camera telephoto lens will make the door appear nearer whilst a wide angle camera lens can generate a tiny image of the door which appears to be farther.
Many photographers claimed that the wide angle lens digital camera is not able to shoot for high quality portrait style images, since the camera focusing on the background of an object is too distracting. Nonetheless, it is able to perform well when shoot for landscape pictures, particularly if you want to shoot for some objects, which need to keep them focus both in the foreground and background such as room interiors, it is an easy task with a wide angle lens.
For the other positive side, wide angle camera lens has a better depth of field compare to any other longer lenses, it has some great properties like it able to perform a wide view of the scene that is suitable to shoot for landscape photos.
As for the digital camera telephoto lens, it can make your photos appear relatively large by adding prominence to the background.
You should have known that the digital camera telephoto lens enlarges everything you shoot. However, did you also know that you can reduce the depth of field around the subject when you attach your large telephoto lens or zoom in the lens? This is a really marvelous function to get rid of some distracting or unwanted background from your pictures. The shooting result is twofold: the small depth of field ensures it will be completely out of focus and the narrow field of view minimizes how much of the background we can see.
So when taking photos on subjects like animals or people, shooting with a digital camera telephoto lens or zooming in with a zoom lens can always be the best choice. The photos can result of three dimensional effect, with the subject manage to appear with clear and sharp effect from the blurry background.
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Samsung Nv24hd Digital Camera Review
The Samsung NV24HD is a 10 megapixel, compact camera. It has a wide angle, 3.6x optical zoom lens. The HD part of its name comes from the fact you can take still photos and movie clips for playback on a High Definition television set.
Why Buy the Samsung NV24HD?
The Samsung NV24HD includes a number of the latest buzz features such as high definition movies and the ability to automatically take a picture if it detects someone smiling. On top of this there is the wide angle lens, a manual exposure mode and the ability to reduce and potentially eliminate red eye. All these features come in a neat and tidy package.
Image Quality Samsung NV24HD test shots
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom)
The NV24HD gets off to a promising start. Focusing is good, especially in the centre part of the photo. There is a loss of sharpness towards the edges, but this will only be an issue with very large prints. Colours look good.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom)
Digital cameras with wide angle lenses can find focusing difficult when no zoom is being applied. This is because it is hard to build perfect quality into such a small and inexpensive lens. Overall the NV24HD does well, although the softer focusing towards the edges is again in evidence.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom)
The downside of a wide angle lens is that it takes away some of the telephoto capabilities of the lens. In other words the lens is unable to zoom in as close as other 3.6x zoom lenses. Focusing is inline with my first two photos. There is a loss of detail in the darker areas of the photo. This is especially pronounced under the trees to the left of centre.
Outdoor 4 (Building)
I am happy with the sharpness of the photos when the subject has been at distance. Although, as in the first three shots sharpness becomes softer as you move towards the edges of the photo.
Outdoor Portrait
The brightness and focusing are fine, but the NV24HD sure has packed a lot of colour into this photo. The red / orange tinge is overdone for my own personal taste.
Indoor Portrait with Flash
If anything there is too much brightness in this shot as the flash overpowers and covers up some of the detail. As with the outdoor portrait the pink skin tones are overdone.
Indoor Portrait without Flash
Without the flash the camera produces a more natural looking photo. I prefer it to the portrait with flash, although the pink skin tones could be toned down once more.
Colours
My dedicated test for colours shows that the camera is capable of strong, vibrant colour. If anything red tends to have the upper hand here. This may go some way to explaining the strength of the skin tones in my portrait shots.
Macro
When it comes to the amount of detail showing in the macro shot the NV24HD does very well. My original macro shot had a blue tinge to it and the only way I could get rid of it was to use a custom white balance setting. You need to be aware of this if you are looking for a digital camera that you can always use with fully automatic settings. The shot could also do with a touch more brightness.
ISO 400 and ISO 1600
At higher ISO settings the results are pretty standard. At ISO 400 noise is not much of an issue in the lighter areas of a photo, but is already noticeable in shaded or darker areas. At ISO 1600 picture quality in all areas is struggling.
Overall
Perhaps the NV24HD is not the best camera on the market, but it does a decent job in most situations. To get the most out of this camera in terms of picture quality you may need to work with the camera’s settings.
Shutter Lag
Shutter lag times were better than most digital cameras manage. A single photo took 0.23 seconds and five took 7.43 seconds. With flash turned on times were still impressive with a single photo taking 0.45 seconds and five photos taking 12.53 seconds.
Start up time was another plus point. To turn the camera on and take a photo took 2.2 seconds.
You can compare this camera to other models by taking a look at the Shutter Lag Comparison Table.
Style: The design of this range of Samsung digital cameras is different to other brands. There is a raised grip area on the front and the lens unit protrudes as well. The camera is available in black and silver.
Dimensions: 98.5 x 61 x 27mm
Weight: 145.5g
Batteries: Lithium ion. Samsung supply a battery and charging cable with the NV24HD.
Memory cards: Roughly 16mb of storage have been built into the camera. This is enough for around 9 images. To increase the storage capacity you can use both SD and SDHC cards.
Ease of use rating: Very Good. The menu system used is unique to Samsung. I must admit it takes a bit of getting used to, but once mastered it is quick and easy to find and change settings.
Points I like:
Menu system - Start up and Shutter Lag Times
Where it could improve:
Some colour issues
Alternatives
It is not easy to come up with other digital cameras with similar features to the NV24HD. Another compact model with more bells and whistles than normal is the Panasonic DMC FX-500.
Verdict:
The Samsung NV24HD is a bit different to the majority of other compact digital cameras. It has some extra, useful features such as a manual exposure control and High Definition movies. Picture quality is good without really challenging the best cameras. Shutter lag times are also very good.
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
By: PXR5
About the Author:
Samsung Digital Camera Reviews
Panasonic Dmc Tz4 Digital Camera Review
The Panasonic DMC TZ4 has 8 megapixels. For a digital camera with a 10x optical zoom lens it has a very compact body.
Why Buy the Panasonic DMC TZ4?
The main attraction of the DMC TZ4 is its body size in relation to the length of the lens. O.K. it is too big to fit into a pocket, but if it is zoom power you are after then you will struggle to find a good quality camera that is smaller than this one. It also has a wide angle lens. This is an advantage if you are planning to take lots of landscape shots or want to squeeze groups of people into your pictures.
Image Quality Panasonic DMC TZ4 test shots
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom)
I like the look of this picture. The colours work well for me and the contrast between the trees, sky and boats is good. As with other Panasonic Digital Cameras the detail that the DMC TZ4 is able to bring out in shaded areas is impressive. An example of this is how clear the name on the front boat is. One problem worth noting is that where the sun strikes the boats some of the blue lines have taken on a purple tinge.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom)
As mentioned above, this camera has a wide angle lens. You can see the effect of the lens as a wider scene is squeezed into the photo. Focusing is sharp, especially for a wide angle lens. The only negative point is that a small amount of noise can be seen on larger prints in the most distant parts of the shot.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom)
On the whole, focusing with this Panasonic digital camera is sharp, although a small amount of softening occurs towards the edges. This is another bright photo with plenty of contrast.
Outdoor 4 (Building)
Here and there I can see small amounts of purple fringing around some of the windows where the sunlight catches them. As with the third outdoor shot focusing is fine in the centre, but as you move towards the edges the picture is not quite as sharp.
Outdoor Portrait
For the outdoor portrait I have used a white balance setting of shady. This adds a warm, orangey tint to the picture. I also think this is a very sharp photo.
Indoor Portrait with Flash
This Panasonic digital camera produces plenty of light while managing to keep plenty of colour in the photo. This is also a strikingly sharp photo.
Indoor Portrait without Flash
Without flash you can get a more natural looking photo. Once again there is plenty of colour in the shot and if anything the pink in the skin tones is a touch strong. Levels of detail are good.
Colours
As with other cameras in the Panasonic range colours can be a touch strong at times. In my view the vivid colours normally work well, such as in my outdoor scenic shots.
Macro
Panasonic digital cameras usually produce sharp and clear macro shots. The DMC TZ4 should take high quality macro shots for you in most situations.
ISO 400 and ISO 1600
Looking at my test picture taken at ISO 400 it has a lot less noise than many other brands manage. Although there is the expected loss of quality as you increase the ISO setting this camera does a good job when compared to other, similar cameras.
Overall
I havent seen anything in my tests that would put me off this camera. It manages to tick most of the right boxes.
Shutter Lag
Shutter lag times were O.K, although the times taken to capture a single photo could be that bit quicker. My times without flash were 0.45 seconds for a single photo, 9.94 seconds for five photos. My flash the times were 0.50 seconds for a single photo and 11.87 seconds for five photos.
You can compare this camera to other models by taking a look at the Shutter Lag Comparison Table.
Style: You can pick up the DMC TZ4 in black, blue or silver. It is quite a wide camera when looking at it front on. There is a small grip area on the front to help you take a good hold.
Dimensions: 103.3 x 59.3 x 36.2mm mm
Weight: 208g
Batteries: A lithium ion battery provides the power. Both a battery and charger are supplied by Panasonic as standard. According to Panasonic you should be able to take around 330 shots in between charges.
Memory cards: Panasonic have built a healthy 50mb of storage into the DMC TZ4. I was able to take 20 shots before the storage was full. The camera is compatible with SD and SDHC cards.
Ease of use rating: Very Good. There is nothing exactly frightening about the DMC TZ4. This is one if the simplest super zoom cameras around.
Points I like:
Ease of use design and build quality overall picture quality wide screen movies size and length of lens wide angle lens
Where it could improve :
There is nothing that stands out
Alternatives
If you would like the same camera with an extra megapixel you could try the Panasonic DMC TZ5.
Verdict:
As you can see I like the Panasonic DMC TZ4. There is a bit of a gap in the market for a compact camera with a long zoom lens and this camera fills that gap well.
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
Panasonic DMC TZ4 Summary
Description:
8 megapixels and a 10x optical zoom lens
Ease of Use:
8
Features:
8
Colour:
8
Macro:
9
Indoors:
9
Value for Money:
8
Style:
8
Movie Mode:
9
Image Quality:
8
Build Quality:
8
Total:
83
Verdict:
“This camera will do a good job for you. It manages to do more or less exactly what it sets out to do. So if you are after for a straightforward, compact camera, with a longer zoom that can take a good photo take a look at this one.”
Review Date:
May 2008
By: PXR5
About the Author:
Panasonic Dmc Fx500 Digital Camera Review
The Panasonic DMC FX500 is a 10 megapixel digital camera with a 5x optical zoom lens. It has more features than any other pocket sized camera I have reviewed.
Why Buy the Panasonic DMC FX500?
If you are looking for a feature rich pocket camera then you will be delighted by the DMC FX500. It has manual exposure controls, a wide angle lens, high definition movies and a large 3 inch screen. A number of options are touch screen controlled.
On top of these headline features there is also image stabilisation, a setting to make it easy to see the LCD screen when the camera is help above eye level and bracketing. You can also increase the amount of zoom available when shooting at lower resolutions.
Image Quality Panasonic DMC FX500 test shots
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom)
The DMC FX500 does especially well when handling the lighter colours in the shot. This camera is able to show more detail on the boats than the majority of digital cameras manage. When it comes to colours the blues and greens have a natural feel to them. Focusing is sharp without hitting the same levels as the very best compacts manage.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom)
This scene is a stern test for a camera with a lens as wide as this one. In terms of focusing the camera does well, although there is a small amount of drop off in light and brightness as you move towards the edges.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom)
With the lens fully zoomed in the DMC FX500 does well enough when it comes to focusing, but does not earn itself a place in the top quarter of pocket sized digital cameras.
Outdoor 4 (Building)
My final outdoor test is another that tests out how well the camera is able to focus. Based on this set of tests the DMC FX500 does well enough without matching up to the very best. I would give it 7.5 out of 10 for focusing at distance.
Outdoor Portrait
No problems here. Focusing is good with the camera being that much closer to its subject. The extra colour in the shot helps to create a warmer portrait. I think the DMC FX500 does well to find detail in the darker areas of the shot.
Indoor Portrait with Flash
Even with the flash on the DMC FX500 manages to retain colour in the shot. On the whole this photo works well for me. Again there is no problem with the sharpness of the shot.
Indoor Portrait without Flash
I would like to have seen more brightness and definition in this photo. Owing to the DMC FX500 not being able to pull enough light into the shot noise starts to creep in. This takes the edge off the definition of the shot. Although it is not a bad effort I prefer the indoor portrait with flash.
Colours
Over time I feel that Panasonic digital cameras have toned down the colours they produce a notch or two. I think this is a good thing as the colours now have a more natural look to them.
Macro
This is a decent macro shot. I would say it places the DMC FX500 in the top 25 percent of compact digital cameras for close up shots.
ISO 400 and ISO 1600
There is nothing out of the ordinary for my higher ISO tests. There is noise even in the lighter areas of the ISO 400 shot. Noise levels increase in the darker areas of the shot. At ISO 1600 noise is a problem in all areas.
Overall
Perhaps not up there with the very best pocket digital cameras, but a worthy effort none the less.
Shutter Lag
The DMC FX500 produced a set of shutter lag times that were on the slow side of average. The times produced were 0.44 seconds for a single photo and 15.48 seconds for five photos. With flash turned on times increased to 0.54 seconds for a single photo and 17.5 seconds for five photos.
It took 3.08 seconds to turn the camera on and take a picture.
You can compare this camera to other models by taking a look at the Shutter Lag Comparison Table.
Style: Looks wise the DMC FX500 is a fairly regular pocket sized digital camera. It is available in black and silver.
Dimensions: 94.9 x 57.1 x 22.9mm
Weight: 155g
Batteries: Lithium ion. Panasonic supplies both a battery and a charger with the DMC FX500 as standard. Panasonic estimates you should be able to take around 280 shots in between charges.
Memory cards: 50MB of storage have been built into the camera. I was able to take 16 photos before this was full. The DMC FX500 is also compatible with SD and SDHC memory cards.
Ease of use rating: Very Good. Considering all the features packed into the DMC FX500 Panasonic have done a very good job of making the camera as easy to use as possible.
Points I like:
Ease of use - high definition movies - high angle LCD screen - design - manual exposure controls - touch screen controls
Where it could improve:
A touch more brightness in some of the photos
Alternatives
As the DMC FX500 stands out on its own when it comes to features it is impossible to pick another pocket sized camera that is a true alternative. Another more basic, pocket camera worth taking a look at is the Canon IXUS 90 IS.
Verdict:
There is no doubt that the Panasonic DMC FX500 is an impressive camera when it comes to the number of features packed into its compact body. Picture quality is good too and all in all Panasonic have produced a very good digital camera.
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
By: PXR5
About the Author:
Panasonic Digital Camera Reviews
Ricoh R8 Digital Camera Review
The Ricoh R8 is a 10 megapixel digital camera. It has a 7.1x wide angle lens. The design is different to all the more standard digital cameras out there, with a stylish, retro look.
Why Buy the Ricoh R8?
The R8 is a step up from the more simple point and shoot cameras. This is true when it comes to build quality and picture quality. Among its features are image stabilisation, a 2.7 inch LCD screen (I found easy to see even in sunny conditions) and a face recognition setting for portraits. It also has an option to produce square photos.
Image Quality Ricoh R8 test shots
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom)
This is a shot with a lot of contrast. There are the bright areas of the boats and the wooden slats underneath the roof of the building. In addition there are plenty of shady areas under the trees. The R8 manages to bring out an impressive level of detail, especially in the lighter areas where it outperforms many cameras. This helps to make the detail on the boats stand out.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom)
In this photo sharpness stands up well and the scene also shows vivid colours. Many digital cameras tend to lose sharpness when the lens is fully zoomed out, but this camera copes with the scene better than most cameras manage.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom)
As in the first test shot the light colours on the boats are handled well. There is a very small amount of purple fringing, but in my opinion the R8 handles this very well when you take into account the longer than standard zoom lens. Focusing is again above average.
Outdoor 4 (Building)
The R8 does very well in this test. The brickwork on the building is sharply focused. Even in the shady areas the camera does a good job. When it comes to focusing the R8 is up there with the best compact digital cameras.
Outdoor Portrait
Looking at this photo I can see that the colours are very strong. That is fair enough if you like strong colours, but they are a bit too powerful for my own taste. Otherwise the level of detail the R8 manages to pick out is impressive.
Indoor Portrait with Flash
The sharpness of this photo is very good indeed and the R8 picks out the eyes very well. The skin tones are overdone. They give areas of the cheeks and nose a vivid pink that does not exist. This can also be seen in the lips.
Indoor Portrait without Flash
When I looked at the indoor shot with flash I felt the skin tone problem may have been down to the light produced by the flash. Even with the flash turned off the skin tones are harsh. Otherwise the photo is o.k., but could do with a touch of extra brightness.
Colours
The colours produced by the R8 have a different feel to them than those produced by most other digital cameras I have tested. They are certainly vivid and have plenty of brightness too. In some cases the strength of colour is too much for me.
Macro
This is another example of a sharply focused shot with plenty of definition. The R8 is well above average when it comes to close up shots.
ISO 400 and ISO 1600
At ISO 400 you should still be able to take a decent shot in brighter conditions, but darker areas will attract noise. Picture quality has broken down even more than usual at ISO 1600.
Overall
I found focusing and definition to be some way above average. The R8 also handled contrasting scenes well. Colours are very strong and I would prefer to see these toned down in a number of my test shots.
Shutter Lag
Shutter lag times were 0.34 seconds for a single photo and 8.98 seconds for five photos. With flash on times increased to 0.51 seconds for a single shot and 14.4 seconds for five shots. All of these times are standard times.
It took 2.36 seconds to turn the R8 on and take a picture. This is in line with the majority of digital cameras I have tested recently.
You can compare this camera to other models by taking a look at the Shutter Lag Comparison Table.
Style: Ricoh have given the R8 a bit of an old fashioned look. This helps it to stand out from the crowd. It is available in black, silver and in a two tone version.
Dimensions: 102 x 58.3 x 26.1mm
Weight: 168g
Batteries: Ricoh estimates you should be able to get around 270 pictures before the lithium ion battery needs to be recharged. Both a battery and charger are supplied with the R8.
Memory cards: 24mb of storage have been built into the R8. This is enough for around 7 photos. The camera is also compatible with SD and SDHC cards.
Ease of use rating: Good. There are one or two extra features to get used to when compared to a more basic point and shoot model. If you are planning to use the R8 as a fully automatic camera then you should be up and running in no time.
Points I like:
LCD screen clarity - novel design - sharpness
Where it could improve:
Skin tones in some portrait shots
Alternatives
There are not that many digital cameras that strike me as a clear alternative to the R8. Other 10 megapixel cameras with a wide angle lens include: Samsung NV24HD.
Verdict:
I like the Ricoh R8. It is certainly worth considering alongside some of the more widely recognised brands such as Canon, Sony and Panasonic. Aside from some issues with colour the R8 takes a decent photo in most situations.
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By: PXR5
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Olympus Sp 570 Uz Digital Camera Review
The Olympus SP-570 is a 10 megapixel digital camera with a 20x optical zoom lens. This is the longest lens currently available on a consumer digital camera.
Why Buy the Olympus SP-570?
I guess Im stating the obvious when I say the main attraction of the SP-570 is the long zoom lens. This length of zoom usually comes in handy for wildlife and sporting subjects. In addition to the length of the lens, the camera also has manual exposure controls. For anyone who is use to handing an SLR camera you may be interested to hear that the lens is zoomed in and out by twisting the lens barrel rather than the more typical method of pushing buttons on the back of the camera.
As you would expect with a lens this size, the SP-570 offers image stabilisation. The lens has a focal length equivalent to 26 - 520mm in 35mm format. This makes the lens wide angle and makes it ideal for shooting wide scenes, such as landscapes. The camera also comes with a set of manual exposure controls. Therefore this camera is a good choice for someone who sees photography as a hobby.
Image Quality Olympus SP-570 test shots
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom)
The SP-570 certainly handles the lighter colours well in this shot with plenty of detail showing in the boats and also in the white wooden slats under the roof of the building.
There is also impressive levels of detail showing in the in some of the more lightly shaded areas. Focusing is sharp with the brickwork of the building standing out well.
Colours have a gentler feel to them than many of the digital cameras I have tested recently.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom)
This is another fair effort. Sharpness stands up well considering the distance between the camera and the scene. You can also see the benefit of the wide angle lens with plenty of the scene showing in the shot.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom)
With the lens zoomed into to its maximum capacity purple fringing becomes quite evident. This will be more of a problem when taking photos with light coloured objects in the scene, such as the boats in the test shot. As with many cameras, offering extreme length of lens focusing loses some of its sharpness when the lens is fully extended.
Outdoor 4 (Building)
In this test shot the SP-570 copes well with the scene. As I would expect the picture is sharper and the camera has no problem focusing on the brickwork of the building.
Outdoor Portrait
There are no problems with sharpness or colour in this shot. If you find the result is darker in the shadows than you would like then you can try using flash to lighten these areas.
Indoor Portrait with Flash
This is another sharply focused effort. The flash is quite powerful and shows quite clearly on areas of the face.
Indoor Portrait without Flash
For me this is the most impressive photo out of all my test shots. The SP-570 is able to use the available light to produce a natural looking shot. Brightness and definition are better than the vast majority of cameras are able to manage. This is one of the benefits of working with a camera that has a large sized lens.
Colours
In most cases, the colours produced by this Olympus digital camera are calmer and less vivid than most other brands produce. There are instances where I would like to have seen more punch to the colours, but this is a matter of personal taste.
Macro
This is another shot where I am impressed by the amount of brightness the camera is able to show in the photo. Levels of detail are good without quite being top drawer. A touch of purple fringing also shows where the light catches the edge of the watch.
ISO 400 and ISO 1600
My test shots at both ISO 400 and ISO 1600 show fairly typical levels of noise. If you push ISO above these levels, it really becomes a serious problem.
Overall
Overall Im pretty happy. Picture quality impressed me in most situations.
Shutter Lag
A single photo took 0.52 seconds with five taking 12.23 seconds. Turning the flash on increased the times to 1.35 seconds for a single photo and 14.59 seconds for five. I would like to have seen faster times for all of the tests.
It took the camera 3.05 seconds to turn on and capture the first photo.
You can compare this camera to other models by taking a look at the Shutter Lag Comparison Table.
Style: The SP-570 has as much of an SLR like feel than any other compact digital camera I can remember testing. It has a very solid feel in the hand and looks like a compact SLR. It is available in black.
Dimensions: 118.5 x 84 x 87.5 mm
Weight: 445g
Batteries: Four AA batteries are required to power the camera.
Memory cards: The camera is compatible with xD cards. Olympus has built enough memory into the SP-570 to store around 21 photos.
Ease of use rating: Good. To get the most out of thisOlympus digital camera you will need to spend plenty of time working with the camera and getting used to all the controls the camera offers. Olympus has done a good job in placing various controls at your fingertips. There is a control dial on top of the camera and dedicated buttons for focus and exposure lock, continuous shooting and a switch to select manual or automatic focusing.
Points I like:
Looks good build quality handling picture quality
Where it could improve:
Shutter delay could be faster
Alternatives
Although there are an increasing number of longer and longer lenses on the market, the longest lenses I have tested before the SP-570 have 18x zoom lenses. One camera I would suggest checking out is the Nikon Coolpix P80.
Verdict:
The Olympus SP-570 handles more like a Digital SLR than any other camera I have tested. I like the barrel twisting method of zoom. Add in a hot shoe, RAW mode and various manual controls and you have a very good camera for a photography enthusiast.
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By: PXR5
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Panasonic Dmc Fx35 Digital Camera Review
The Panasonic DMC FX35 is a 10 megapixel digital camera with a 4x optical zoom lens. The lens has the widest angle I have tested.
Why Buy the Panasonic DMC FX35?
The wide angle lens will come in handy if you wish to squeeze more width into a photo. For example this could be for a landscape photos or for a group of people. This Panasonic digital camera is also easy to use, small enough to fit into a pocket and looks good too. Picture quality is certainly above average.
Image Quality Panasonic DMC FX35 test shots
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom)
We start off with a pleasant, colourful photo. I like the blues of the sky and the darker greens of the trees. There is a small loss of detail as the sun strikes the boats.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom)
Because of the wide angle lens this was the big interest shot for me. I can see the impact of the lens as soon as I look at the picture. With a normal lens the bungalow on the left hand side does not always manage to creep into the picture. Here the entire building comes into view. Taking into account the wide angle lens focusing is good. There is a loss of light in the corners of the photo.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom)
Once again the DMC FX35 produces a decent effort. Sharpness is good and the colour balance works well too.
Outdoor 4 (Building)
This is my key shot for checking focusing. This Panasonic digital camera handles the test well, especially when you consider this shot was with the zoom lens more or less fully extended. It compares well with shots taken with other cameras.
Outdoor Portrait
Using the white balance setting of shady adds plenty of colour to the shot. I like this shot. It has a warm feel to in and the camera focuses well.
Indoor Portrait with Flash
The DMC FX35 manages to include plenty of detail in the shot. Perhaps a little extra light to get into the darker areas of the shot, such as the hair would have made it even better.
Indoor Portrait without Flash
This is a decent effort. If I was being picky I would say I would also like a touch more brightness in the shot too.
Colours
Panasonic cameras produce strong colours. There is plenty of evidence of this in the second outdoor shot. If you like strong colours then you will like the colours this camera produces.
Macro
I am very happy with the macro shot. The DMC FX35 manages to bring out plenty of detail and the picture is sharply focused.
ISO 400 and ISO 1600
This test produces a result in line with most other digital cameras. At ISO 400 noise is evident in the photo, but to an acceptable level. Any higher and picture quality really suffers. To get the best possible results I would suggest selecting the Intelligent ISO setting for taking photos in poor light when flash cannot be used or when trying to freeze action.
Overall
The DMC FX35 passes most of my tests. I have no real issues with picture quality and it out performs most of its rivals.
Shutter Lag
With the flash unit off my times were 0.37 seconds for a single shot and 12.76 seconds for five. With flash on the times were similar. These were 0.42 seconds for a single shot and 13.08 seconds for five. Without flash the times are roughly average. With flash on the times are fast when compared to other, similar cameras.
You can compare this camera to other models by taking a look at the Shutter Lag Comparison Table.
Style: This is a stylish, small compact digital camera. It has a very clean design and is available in black, blue and silver.
Dimensions: 94.7 x 51.9 x 22mm
Weight: 125g
Batteries: Lithium ion. Panasonic supplies both a battery and a charger with the DMC FX35 as standard.
Memory cards: The built in memory is a generous 50mb. This is enough for around 13 photos. The camera is also compatible with SD and SDHC cards.
Ease of use rating: Very Good. Like all Panasonic digital cameras the DMC FX35 is pretty straightforward. The menu system is clear and easy to read.
Points I like:
Ease of use wide screen movies high angle LCD screen design picture quality
Where it could improve:
A touch more brightness for my indoor tests
Alternatives
Other good quality pocket cameras include the Canon IXUS 80 IS and Canon IXUS 85 IS.
Verdict:
If I was looking for a pocket sized camera I would certainly consider the Panasonic DMC FX35. When it comes to picture quality it is a good all rounder and the wide angle lens is a big advantage for landscapes and groups of people.
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Panasonic DMC FX35 Summary Description: 10 megapixels and a 4x optical zoom lens Ease of Use: 8
Features: 8
Colour: 8
Macro: 8
Indoors: 8
Value for Money: 8
Style: 9
Movie Mode: 9
Image Quality: 9
Build Quality: 8
Total: 83
Verdict: “This camera ticks most of the right boxes. Picture quality is very good, the camera is stylish and it is also easy to use. The camera also has the widest lens I have tested for a compact camera. It will also slip into a pocket.” Review Date: May 2008
By: PXR5
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