» Pentax K20D camera review
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Review based on a production Pentax K20D using V1.01 firmware Having risked being left behind by the speed at which the 'affordable' DSLR market developed, Pentax showed how serious its intentions were with the K10D, a semi-pro-level DSLR with a features list to humble the competition at a very attractive price. Having added so many bells and whistles to the K10D, it's not much of a surprise to find that its successor, the K20D, is essentially a refinement of the same design. But, even though it can't quite boast the same novel-feature-count as its predecessor, the K20D still finds room for some interesting changes. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8 Digital Camera Review
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 Announced in January, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8 is an 8-megapixel, entry-level point-and-shoot with a budget-friendly $180 price tag. Besides its low price, the LZ8’s key features include a 5x optical zoom lens, a well rounded selection of Scene modes, and Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto mode. While the camera may be made for beginners, however, the LZ8 gives new photographers the opportunity to grow with program and manual modes to give users more creative control over their photos. Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and a full Manual mode are found here, and that can’t be said for many entry-level point-and-shoots. But does the Lumix DMC-LZ8 deliver in terms of image quality? Read on to find out. You can read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Olympus SP-570 UZ Review
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 The new SP-570 UZ is the latest in a long line of super-zoom cameras from Olympus. In the distant digital past, Olympus was one of the first manufacturers to market a superzoom camera, and their C-2100UZ model, fondly referred to as the 'UZI' by its owners, quickly achieved something of a cult status. This camera was followed by an entire range of UZ models, but none of them had the image stabilisation feature that contributed so much to the success of the C-2100UZ. In consequence, Olympus lost much of its share of the superzoom segment to the likes of Canon and Panasonic. This all changed last year with the introduction of the SP-550UZ, which offered sensor-shift IS and leapfrogged the competition with a record-breaking 18x zoom lens. That camera was quickly followed by the slightly higher-resolution SP-560UZ, and now we have the 10-megapixel Olympus SP-570UZ, which boasts an entirely new 20x zoom lens, the biggest zoom lens on any compact digital camera. To counteract the inevitable effects of camera-shake, Olympus have wisely included a Dual Image Stabilisation system, plus there's an extensive ISO range of 64-6400. Other standout features include a 10 megapixel sensor, 2.7 inch LCD screen, macro mode of 1cm and full range of creative exposure modes (P/A/S/M). Zoltan Arva-Toth found out if the Olympus SP-570 UZ can live up to its proud heritage. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Canon Digital Rebel XSi Digital Camera Review
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 The Canon Digital Rebel XSi is an update to last year's XTi that ups the resolution to 12.2 megapixels and adds a handful of other new features, including a bigger 3-inch screen, an improved autofocus system, and optical image stabilization in the kit lens. It's also the first Digital Rebel to feature the now commonplace Live View mode, which provides a point-and-shoot-esque live view of the subject on the LCD screen before shooting. But none of these updates are earth-shattering, and the XSi proves to be an evolution rather than a revolution. And it faces stiff competition from a bevy of new SLRs such as the Nikon D60 and the Olympus E-420. However, it is still a strong competitior, and the updates Canon has made under the hood seem to be paying off: image quality is improved over the XTi, with great color and plenty of detail. The XSi costs $780 for the body only and $830 with the 35-70mm kit lens. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 review
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Review based on a production Alpha DSLR-A350 with firmware version 1.0
Sony's first two DSLRs, the A100 and A700 showed clear signs of their Konica Minolta lineage - sharing a lot of DNA with the Maxxum (Dynax) 5D and 7D respectively. Its latest, the A350, still shows signs of that ancestry but also hints at the influences of a company with rather different intentions.
The recently introduced A200, A300 and A350 represent an aggressive assault on the entry level market. All three models are extremely close in terms of price and features (The A300 is a A200 with Live view or an A350 with a less pixel-dense sensor, depending on how you look at it). And, with the A300, Sony has introduced the first single-retailer "exclusive" DSLR: a product only sold through a single outlet, allowing that retailer to maintain a stronger level of influence over selling price.
These baby Alphas, the 200, 300 and 350, are more similar than any group of cameras in any other manufacturer's lineup, complicating the market but also offering a greater degree of choice than ever. Some existing Sony and Konica Minolta owners have been upset by the perceived reduction in features from the A100 but the new Alphas should perhaps be considered the first real Sony products, reflecting a different interpretation of how people choose entry level cameras, rather than the A100's continuation of the assumptions that underpinned the KM 5D. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Nikon D60 review
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 If you've ever seen the Nikon D40 (introduced in November 2006) or the Nikon D40x (March 2007), a glance at the D60 may remind you of a Talking Heads song – the size, shape, and overall design are same as it ever was, same as it ever was. Under the hood, though, there are significant improvements, including a a more powerful processor, a kit lens incorporating image-stabilizing VR technology, enhanced in-camera editing, and a two-stage dust reduction system. That said, the new camera inherits some shortcomings from its predecessors, including incompatibility with many existing Nikon lenses and a very small size and shape that's great for portability but clumsy for a manly man's grip (presumably brand spokesperson Ashton Kutcher has delicate hands). The D60 replaces the D40x in Nikon's product lineup, while the D40, a 6.1-megapixel model at $500, remains as the company's lowest-priced digital SLR. The D60 is sold only as a package with the camera body and a 3x zoom AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens, at $750 complete; unlike most SLRs, you can't buy the body on its own. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX520 review
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 The 10.1-megapixel Lumix DMC-FX520 is Panasonic's first digital camera with a 3-inch touch-screen LCD and a very compact camera for its advanced range of functions. While the touch screen may excite some buyers, photographers are more likely to be attracted by the P, A, S and M shooting modes and the wide-angle Leica DC lens, which supports 5x optical zoom and covers a focal length range of 25mm to 125mm (35mm equivalent).
Solidly built with a smart, brushed metal case that comes in black or gunmetal grey, the FX520 has a retracting lens. A stainless steel finger bar is located on the front panel, with a dimpled thumb pad on the rear. The slim built-in flash tube is slightly off-centre and not directly over the lens to reduce the risk of red eyes in flash shots. The battery and memory card compartment is in the base of the camera, while a metal-lined tripod socket is located at the opposite end of the base plate (not the ideal position). Read the whole review here
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» Canon EOS 450D (Digital Rebel XSi / Kiss X2 Digital) Review
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Review based on a production Canon EOS 450D
Four and a half years have passed since the first affordable digital SLR from Canon; the EOS 300D (Digital Rebel). In that time we have witnessed two further iterations (the EOS 350D and EOS 400D) leading up to today's fourth generation EOS 450D, with twice the megapixel count of the original (twelve versus six) in a smaller body with a far wider range of functionality and features and a $200 lower list price. Since those heady days in 2004 when the EOS 300D was the only kid on the block we've seen Nikon, Pentax and Olympus all attempt to hit the same sweet spot of size, features and price at the 'lower end' of the DSLR market, with varying degrees of success. Without a doubt the EOS 450D will have to do more today to prove itself in an increasingly crowded market. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Pentax K20D review
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The Pentax K20D is a 14.6 Megapixel mid-range DSLR which packs-in a broad range of features many of which are normally reserved for semi-pro models. Announced in January 2008, it’s the successor to the popular K10D, from which it inherits an impressive core specification including a dust and weather-resistant body, built-in Shake Reduction, a decent optical viewfinder, a number of innovative exposure modes, a wealth of custom options and the choice of recording RAW images in either Pentax’s own PEF or Adobe’s open DNG formats.
To this Pentax has slightly increased the screen size to 2.7in, boosted the maximum sensitivity to 6400 ISO, added Live View facilities and an X-Sync port for external lighting, improved the optionally bundled 18-55mm kit lens, and most importantly, significantly increased the resolution from 10.2 to 14.6 Megapixels. Read the whole article here. You can buy the camera here.
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» Olympus SP-570 UZ review
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 With an almost unlimited choice of compacts and DSLR cameras on offer today, you could easily forget that there is another category of cameras out there that appears to be quite popular with a certain user group. So much so that manufacturers keep updating these models with new and innovative functions every year. These ultra-zooms or bridge cameras feature DSLR like performance and sophistication but do not have interchangeable lenses. One such model is the Olympus SP-570UZ, the most recent successor to the 8-megapixel SP-560UZ of last year.
The SP-570UZ has a phenomenal 20x zoom range from 26mm wide angle to 520mm tele (35mm eq.) and with this range at hand it can truly be called a superzoom. Its resolution has been upped to 10-megapixels and it comes with built-in Dual Image Stabilisation and sequential shooting of up to 15 frames per second. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Nikon Coolpix P60 review
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Although it shares the same 1/2.5-inch 8.1-megapixel CCD sensor, and does look superficially similar to the P50, the CoolPix P60 is a very different camera, and in many ways is much better for it. For a start, while the plastic body is still quite square and functional, it is 8mm thinner and slightly less tall and is generally much more attractively proportioned than the rather ungainly P50. It still has a large rubber-coated handgrip accommodating the pair of AA batteries that provide the camera with power, but it is less angular and even more comfortable to hold. It still has the same uncluttered control layout, with a large mode dial on the top and a rocker-switch zoom control on the back, and a simple arrangement of three buttons around a large D-pad. It is a very easy camera to operate and generally pleasant to handle. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Sony Alpha A350 Compared to Nikon D80 Digital SLR Camera Side By Side
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At this year's annual Photo Marketing Association (PMA) trade show, held in Las Vegas, Nevada from Jan 31st to Feb 2nd, a number of new digital SLR cameras were introduced incorporating the latest advanced technologies for 2008.
Canon and Sony among others were busy at the event spreading the word that their new camera models feature today's "must have" digital SLR technologies, including; higher resolution sensors, larger LCD screens, advanced Live View modes, expanded dynamic range options, updated image stabilization technologies, in-camera sensor cleaning mechanisms and more.
One of the cameras to stand out from the crowd and getting a fair amount of attention is Sony's first mid range digital SLR, the 14.2MP Sony Alpha A350 with unique Quick AF Live View.
The Sony Alpha A350 features "new technologies that makes picture taking faster, easier, and more familiar for first-time DSLR users." according to the Sony press release. Read the whole article here. You can buy the Nikon D80 here and the Sony A350 here | |
» Pentax Optio Z10 review
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 The Pentax Optio Z10 features a Pentax-branded 7x optical zoom lens, the highest magnification among current Pentax compact digital cameras. Designed with a refraction lens system, the lens never protrudes from the camera while zooming. The Pentax Z10's 7x optical zoom covers a broad range, from a rather tight wide-angle 38mm-equivalent to a moderate 266mm equivalent telephoto. The lens is coupled with an eight-megapixel sensor and a 2.5-inch LCD display that has 230,000 pixels. As is common on many digicams these days, this LCD is the sole method of framing images, as the Optio Z10 forgoes any form of optical viewfinder. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Nikon D300 review
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 The 12.3-megapixel Nikon D300 updates the older D200 with more resolution on a new CMOS sensor that promises improved noise control. The D300 is the first DSLR in Nikon’s line to include dust reduction, and sits between the $999 D80 and the $3,499 D2Hs. It has an awesome 3-inch live view LCD screen, as does the pro model D3, with some of the best resolution on the market - 921,000 pixels. Overall, the D300 is an excellent camera for the serious or semi-pro photographer who doesn't mind getting involved in the minutae of photography. Point and shoot users won't want to need the features it offers, but it's a excellent camera for the serious (and well-heeled) shooter. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Canon Digital IXUS 970 IS / PowerShot SD890 IS review
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For the past eight years, since the launch of the first 2-megapixel model in the spring of 2000, Canon's Digital IXUS range has pretty much defined the genre for stylish digital compact cameras, with class-leading performance and cutting-edge design. However once in a while even the most prestigious brands can stumble, and when it comes to the design of the new Digital IXUS 970 IS (sold as the PowerShot SD890 IS in the USA) Canon has done just that. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Sigma DP1 review
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The two seem completely at odds with each other – image quality and size. It's been a rule of thumb since the invention of photography that a larger camera with a larger recording area (be it silver or silicon) will – all else being equal – produce superior image quality. And so photographers continue to schlep around cameras and lenses that weigh them down; all in a search for the optimum image.
On the other hand, we all would like to be free from encumbrances. To walk around a foreign city (or a dangerous one) without the weight and sometimes attention drawing of a DSLR would be nice. To take a hike in the woods with ones spouse, able to photograph the mists of early morning or a chance encounter with a deer, without the baggage (both literal and metaphorical) that a DSLR involves is something many of us wish for. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Casio EX-Z200 Review
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 The brand new Casio EX-Z200 is the first ever Casio compact to feature a 28mm wide-angle lens, What's more, this tiny camera manages to squeeze in a 4x zoom, equivalent to 28-112mm, so there's also a useful telephoto focal length too. And even better, Casio have also included a mechanical CCD-shift anti-shake system on the Z200, which physically moves the sensor to help to combat the dreaded effects of camera-shake when hand-holding the camera. Other standout features of the Casio EX-Z200 include a 10 megapixel, 1/2.3 inch CCD sensor, a wide-screen 2.7 inch LCD monitor, a range of Auto Shutter and Best Shot modes for the beginner, and some advanced video modes, including support for the H.264 video standard. Priced at $299 / GBP200, is the Casio EX-Z200 the right pocket point-and-shoot for you? Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi review
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Canon’s EOS 450D – or Digital Rebel XSi as it’s known in North America – is the company’s latest DSLR and the successor to the hugely popular EOS 400D / Rebel XTi. Announced towards the end of January 2008, just a few days before the annual PMA show, the 450D / XSi features a number of key improvements over its predecessor – some predictable, others less so.
In the predictable category is the inevitable increase in resolution from 10.1 to 12.2 Megapixels. This gives the new model around 20% more pixels in total, but with an actual image size of 4272x2848 pixels versus the 3888x2592 pixels of its predecessor, you’re actually only getting a modest increase of approximately 10% in each axis. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here
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» Kodak EasyShare Z1085 IS review
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The Z1085 is a 10.0-megapixel compact camera featuring a 5x zoom optically stabilised lens, a 2.5-inch 230k LCD monitor and manual exposure options, and is currently available direct from Kodak's website for GBP149.99, although it is so new that few other shops are offering it yet. There are surprisingly few cameras that match this specification. Given its plastic body, AA batteries and longer zoom a tempting comparison would be something from Canon's PowerShot A-series, such as the 8-megapixel, 6x zoom A720 IS (GBP155), however a better match would be the Panasonic DMC-LZ10 (GBP170), or the Samsung S1050 (GBP150). Read the whole review here.
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» Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 lab test
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"Ever since we got our first glimpses and sneak preview of Panasonic's newest Travel Zoom pocket camera, the 9.1 megapixel, Lumix DMC-TZ5 (street: $349) with the 10x optically stabilized 28-280mm f/3.3-4.9 DC Leica Vario-Elmarit retracting zoom, we've been waiting impatiently for a testable unit to arrive in the Pop Photo lab. Well, that day has finally arrived. We've already discussed the feature set, build, and shooting experience in our First Look, so this is a bare-bones camera test report, with just a handful of new observations on performance and in-the-field experience thrown in." Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here.
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