Other Cameras

Konica Minolta’s latest ‘X’ series camera is similar to the X50 model, although slightly smaller and lighter. Price-wise the X60 competes with the Olympus ø‚ µ-mini S and Pentax Optio S5z models, and, like an increasing number of ultra-compact digicams, replaces the viewfinder with a large LCD, which is used for shot composition and image reviewing.

[ia] Kodak’s EasyShare Z700 combines a medium-range Retinar all-glass zoom lens (35-175 mm equivalent) with a 4-megapixel CCD and 1.6-inch indoor/outdoor monitor. Straightforward to use, its body has the ‘boxy’ shape Kodak favours for its ‘high-zoom’ models, plus a built-in flash. A rotating mode dial switches the camera on and engages the main shooting modes.

Kodak’s 4-megapixel CX7430 features an all-glass Kodak Retinar aspheric lens with 3x optical zoom. Up to 4x digital zoom is also provided.

HP’s Photosmart R707 is a keenly-priced, compact, entry-level camera with some interesting functions that will help novice photographers to capture a higher percentage of good, usable shots. Its solidly-built body feels comfortable in the hand and is small enough to slip in a jacket pocket.

A smart-looking slimline digicam with some features to attract everyday photographers.Keenly-priced for such a stylish point-and-shoot camera, Fujifilm’s FinePix Z5fd sports a 6.3-megapixel Super CCD HR imager and a 3x optical zoom lens that remains within the camera’s metal body. It’s available in raspberry red, mocha brown and silver and offers some handy features for web-savvy users. The camera is activated by sliding the lens cover to the right, as shown below, which lights up the model name on the front panel.

Designed for snapshooters, Fujifilm’s S3500 has SLR-like styling, a light plastic body and pop-up flash and comes with a clip-on lens cap and screw-in lens hood. Four shooting modes are provided – auto, scene position, manual and movie – and the scene menu has only four settings: portrait, landscape, sport and night. The manual mode is the only one where users can set exposure and flash compensation, adjust the white balance and sharpness and use the aperture priority mode (which has three aperture settings).

A slimline digicam with a 10x optical zoom lens and new, extended dynamic range sensor technology.Fujifilm has used the EXR sensor technology featured in the FinePix S200EXR camera in its slimline FinePix F70EXR model. The sensor chip is the same size, too, but its resolution is lower at 10 megapixels instead of 12. The retracting zoom lens is quite different from the flagship model, offering only 10x optical zoom but providing a wider angle of view (equivalent to 27mm in 35mm format) at the expense of light-capturing ‘speed’.

Fujifilm’s FinePix A340 is targeted squarely at point-and-shoot photographers who want a camera that has high resolution but is simple to use. The 4-megapixel sensor is a regular CCD and it’s partnered with a standard 3x optical zoom lens with fairly average specifications. The default shooting mode is fully automatic. Manual mode settings cover resolution/quality, white balance and exposure compensation only.

[ia] Available with black, camel or indigo leather-coated front panels, Kyocera’s Contax U4R has the same CCD sensor as the Contax i4R we reviewed in the last issue of Photo Review but replaces the fixed focal length lens with a 3x zoom that ranges from 38-115mm equivalent in 35mm format. Like its smaller cousin, the U4R’s lens is made by Carl Zeiss and carries the T* tag to indicate superior anti-reflection coatings.

[ia] The first camera in Kyocera’s Contax ‘i’ range, the i4R, is small, slim and very stylish. Its aluminium shell, which is available in red, silver or black, will please all tastes and its bright LCD screen is easy to view. No viewfinder is provided. For the most part, the i4R is beautifully constructed, with an easy-to-use control layout and top panel buttons that lie flush with the camera body.