Leica Digilux 2

A beautifully crafted metal body and M-System styling make Leica’s Digilux 2 stand out from competing cameras – as does its high price tag. Unlike many high-end digicams, where zoom, aperture and focus are accessed via lever/rocker switches or menu settings, on the Digilux 2, these settings are the same as on a film camera. Metering options (centre-weighted, multi-field and spot) are selected via a ring surrounding the shutter button. Click-stops minimise the risk of accidental setting changes. The DC Vario-Summicron lens is big, very fast and distortion-free and its aperture range is much wider than most digicams provide.

Fujifilm FinePix S9500

Fujifilm’s new FinePix S9500 targets enthusiast buyers who want a high-resolution, feature-rich camera without the bulk, weight, hassles and expense of a high-resolution digital SLR. With its 9-megapixel imager and 10.7x optical zoom lens – and under-$1000 price point – this new model meets at least some of these requirements.

Canon PowerShot G6

Slimmer and sleeker than the PowerShot G5, Canon’s PowerShot G6 has the same lens but a larger grip and vari-angle monitor. Improved DiG!C image processing makes the G6’s zoom more responsive, with 13 selectable positions and the ability to move from wide to tele in less than two seconds. New AF algorithms improve focusing speed and a 9-point AiAF system has been added to the AF options, along with a new super macro mode.

Canon PowerShot Pro 1

Shots taken with the test camera in bright lighting had a wide dynamic range plus accurate colours. Pictures taken in normal lighting were clean, but noise was evident in low-light shots at ISO 200 and over. Coloured fringing was negligible in backlit shots. Shutter lag averaged 0.8 seconds when focusing was involved and 0.4 seconds with pre-focusing.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1

9 Rating

A superb touch-screen monitor and built-in photo storage give this pocketable camera wide appeal. Imaging performance is above average and colours are accurately recorded.Sony’s recently-released Cyber-shot DSC-N1 camera breaks new ground in the slimline digicam market because it allows users to shoot and display pictures in a totally new – and remarkably engaging – way. As well as boasting a high-resolution CCD sensor, the N1 has a huge, touch-sensitive LCD screen that is used for adjusting camera settings, composing shots and viewing both just-captured and previously-stored pictures.

Sigma SD14

8 Rating

An interesting camera for serious photographers but with some functionality limitations and a relatively high price tag.It’s been ages since we reviewed a Sigma DSLR camera, the last model being the not-so-impressive SD10. Fortunately, its replacement, the SD14 is a somewhat different beast, although it still uses a Foveon image sensor. For starters, it’s more compact and 85 grams lighter than the SD10. It’s also the first Sigma DSLR capable of shooting JPEG files as well as X3F raw files.

Sigma DP2s

8 Rating

A compact, advanced digital camera with a large Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor and few automated functions.There’s very little difference between the Sigma DP2, which was released in April 2009 and the DP2s, which was announced in February 2010. The sensor and lens in the new camera are the same as the earlier model and the rather quirky user interface is unchanged. According to a company press release, there’s a new AF algorithm for faster autofocusing and a Power Save mode to enable more shots per charge. The rear panel buttons are more clearly labelled, and the camera ships with the latest raw file processing software.

Samsung WB2000

8.5 Rating

A slim, lightweight digicam with a 5x zoom lens, advanced controls, raw file support and Full HD video recording.Unveiled at the PMA International show in February, Samsung’s WB2000 is targeted at photographers who want a slimline digicam with a full suite of controls, a high-quality monitor and Full HD video capability. Boasting a 10.2-megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS image sensor and 5x optical zoom lens it is one of the few models of its type with raw file capture and provides a wider range of advanced functions than most competing models.

Samsung NX11

8.5 Rating

A modest upgrade to the NX10 with a redesigned grip and support for i-Function lenses.Samsung’s mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera line-up now consists of four models: the original NX10, the NX5, NX100 and the new NX11. The NX11features a re-designed hand grip and adds a new panoramic shooting mode plus 1:1 and 16:9 aspect ratios for still capture and support for the company’s i-Function lenses (introduced with the NX100). The sensor, viewfinder and LCD monitor are unchanged since the NX10.

Samsung NX100

8 Rating

The latest ‘mirrorless’ camera from Samsung is styled like a compact digicam but has a much larger sensor and supports 720p HD movie recording.Styled like a compact digicam – and only a little larger – Samsung’s NX100 is quite different from the SLR-like NX10 the company released earlier this year. It sports an APS-C size sensor with an effective resolution of 14.6 megapixels and introduces a new series of lenses. A high-resolution 3-inch AMOLED screen covers much of the rear panel – but if you want a viewfinder, it’s an add-on accessory.