Other Cameras

Available in blue, gold or white Sony’s DSC-T33 Cyber-shot is an update to the T3 model and is slightly larger, but lighter than its predecessor. The front panel of the brushed aluminium shell is flat, with no grips or protrusions. The lens sits in the top right corner, where it may be obscured by the fingers of the left hand when the camera is in use.

Good imaging performance from a smart, ultra-slim digicam that will suit anyone who wants an easily pocketable camera.Sony’s new Cyber-shot DSC-T10 offers many of the same features as the DSC-T30, including a 7.2-megapixel CCD sensor and Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3x optical zoom lens, which remains within the camera body throughout the zoom range. It also boasts ‘Double Anti-Blur’ technology, which combines Super SteadyShot Optical Image Stabilisation and High ISO Sensitivity (up to ISO 1000 selectable) to counteract subject motion and camera shake.

An attractive, well-built slimline camera with built in album functions, excellent video capabilities and a large touch screen.A higher-resolution (10-megapixel) upgrade to the DSC-N1 model, Sony’s new Cyber-shot DSC-N2 boasts a slightly larger sensor than its predecessor but retains the same retracting Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3x optical zoom lens and 3-inch LCD display. The touch-sensitive screen is used for adjusting most controls and icons are large enough to be easily read. Like the N1 model, the new camera is designed both for picture taking and as a picture album and supports the same display functions.

An elegant-looking multimedia digicam that’s slim enough to fit in a jacket pocket or purse.Like the i85 model we reviewed recently, Samsung’s 7.2-megapixel i7 model is more than just a camera. It combines a point-and-shoot digicam with an MP3 player and Portable Multimedia Player (PMP) and throws in a built-in World Tour Guide as well. Although its multimedia capabilities are essentially the same as the i85, the i7 has a novel user interface that switches between modes by changing the angle of the LCD screen.

Visibly larger and thicker than its more expensive ‘cousin’ the Pentax Optio S55 has more user-adjustable settings than the S5z and is, therefore, more likely to appeal to keen photographers. With the same sensor, lens and LCD monitor as the S5z but a top-mounted mode dial with seven still photo settings plus movie and voice recording modes.

Boasting JIS Class-7 waterproofing, the Pentax Optio 33WR is a good choice for bushwalkers, boating enthusiasts and anybody who enjoys outdoor activities. Small and solidly built, with rubberised corners for impact protection, the Optio 33WR is designed mainly for point-and-shoot photography but offers plenty of adjustments, which are quick to access thanks to a well-designed control system. The 2.8x zoom range is covered by moving lens elements within the camera body. Pressing the mode switch on the four-way controller opens a ‘virtual mode dial’ containing 11 shooting modes.

A 12x optical zoom in a slimline digicam body with ‘intelligent’ auto controls and the ability to shoot HD-quality video.Panasonic has long been a leader in the ultra-zoom category, largely because it has produced cameras that are genuinely pocketable but are also easy to use, feature-rich and offer good performance. Unfortunately, it’s taken almost six months since we first experienced the Lumix DMC-TZ7 at Panasonic’s Asian Region launch in Singapore for a review camera to become available. That’s a pity because this camera has a lot to interest potential buyers.

A slimline waterproof, shockproof and snowproof digicam for family snapshooters.Olympus has increased the resolution at the entry level in its popular ‘Tough’ series of digicams with the 8-megapixel Mju 850 SW, which has a 3x optical zoom lens. This second-generation digicam confirms the success of the ‘Tough’ series and present some interesting new updates to previous models. It’s the same size, weight and design as the earlier Mju 790 SW model and is available in silver, black or an arresting lipstick pink.

A high-resolution slimline digicam that is waterproof, ‘drop-proof’ and has a wide zoom lens.Available in black or silver, the Mju 1030 SW is the first in the ‘Tough’ series with a 10-megapixel image sensor. Waterproof to 10 metres, it is also capable of withstanding a drop of two metres and can tolerate temperatures down to -10 degrees Celsius and pressures of up to 100 kilograms, making it the ‘toughest’ in the range. The new camera’s feature set has also evolved since the original 795 SW model, making it even more attractive to photographers who enjoy water sports, skiing and similar adventurous activities.

A small, slim, high-resolution digicam for snapshooters who want a long zoom range.Claimed as the smallest 10x optical zoom digicam, the Olympus Mju 9000 has a slick pocketable plastic body accented in stylish chrome. Equipped with a 12-megapixel CCD sensor, this flagship of the Mju line-up is targeted at travellers who want a small, light, point-and-shoot digicam. Physically smaller than competitors like the Canon PowerShot SX110 IS, Panasonic TZ7 and Ricoh R10, the Mju 9000 is also less capable in many ways.