Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1

8.5 Rating

Compact and 10x zoom makes the TZ1 a good choice for travellers.Claimed as the smallest 10x zoom digital camera on the market, Panasonic’s 5-megapixel DMC-TZ1 recently received the T.I.P.A. Award for the best ‘Superzoom’ digital camera in Europe. Among the reasons cited for the win are the camera’s Optical Image Stabiliser (which is found in all Panasonic digicams) and the new Venus Engine III processor. The ‘unlimited’ burst mode, which lets users fire off a burst of shots at half-second intervals until the memory is full, also got a Guernsey, as did the integrated retractable lens system with its folded optics technology.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX-1

Panasonic’s new Lumix DMC-LX1 camera is unique in having a CCD sensor that delivers its full 8.4-megapixel resolution for shots taken with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Designed to produce shots for display on the latest ‘widescreen’ TV sets and monitors, the LX1 has a slider on the lens barrel that lets users set the capture aspect ratio to 3:2 or conventional 4:3.

Olympus Mju 720SW

8.5 Rating

An affordable, high resolution digicam that’s waterproof and shock-resistant and includes 25 scene presets.With a slimline stainless steel and aluminium body the new 7.1-megapixel Olympus ø‚ µ 720SW has rubberised gel sealing and shockproofing around the lens, circuit board, battery/card slot and USB port. Waterproof to three metres and withstanding a 1.5 metre drop, the 720SW deserves its “Tough” tag. It’s available in silver or Polar Blue and sports a 3x optical zoom lens and 2.5-inch LCD but no viewfinder.

Olympus Camedia C-60

The quality of both still shots and movie clips was unexceptional. Many JPEG images lacked sharpness and colours, though accurate, were somewhat saturated. The exposure system was patchy and outdoor shots were rather contrasty. Flash performance was adequate but low-light shots had visible noise and some stuck pixels. The C-60’s response times were average, although it took around five seconds to start up, which is pretty slow. Capture lag was consistent at 0.7 seconds, with shutter lag averaging 0.2 seconds.

Olympus Camedia C-760 Ultra Zoom

On test, the C-760 delivered images that were clear, with accurate colour but slightly boosted saturation and contrast. Metering favoured shadows over highlights. No fringing was detected in backlit shots. Stuck pixels were abundant in exposures over five seconds. White balance performance was good, except with incandescent lighting. Response times were below average.

Nikon Coolpix P1

Nikon’s 8-megapixel Coolpix P1 and similarly-featured 5.1-megapixel Coolpix P2, along with Kodak’s EasyShare-One, are the first Wi-Fi cameras to go on sale in Australia. With the growing popularity of home wi-fi networks, the concept looks appealing: a camera that can be wirelessly connected to your computer from anywhere in your home. However, making it happen isn’t as easy as you might think!