Photo Review Reviews section

Canon PowerShot SX120 IS

8.5 Rating

An affordable, 10x zoom digicam with a useful suite of controls and functions for family snapshooters.Canon’s PowerShot SX120 IS hits the market as the third in a series of affordable digicams with 10x optical zoom lenses and P, A, S and M shooting controls that began in 2007 with the release of the SX100 IS. Each update has involved a minor increase in sensor resolution plus some small tweaks to the body design and functionality. The on-going market position is unchanged; this camera is targeted at consumers who want a cheap, long-zoom camera.

Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

8.5 Rating

Canon’s second 10-megapixel, 20x optical zoom digicam with advanced shooting controls.Last September, Canon announced two new 10-megapixel PowerShot SX-series digicams: the SX1 IS and the SX10 IS. The PowerShot SX10 IS has many of the features of the SX1 IS model (which we have already reviewed) but uses a CCD sensor instead of a CMOS chip. Both models feature stabilised 20x optical zoom lenses that span the equivalent of 28-560mm in 35mm format. The lens is threaded – but only for the clip-on lens cap and not for filters.

Canon PowerShot S60

On test, the S60 delivered sharp images with natural-looking colours and moderate contrast and saturation levels. Exposures were positioned to provide an excellent balance between highlights and shadows. Long exposures taken after dark were noise-free at ISO 50 and 100 but noise affected at ISO 400.

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

8.5 Rating

Lens-shift stabilisation and plenty of adjustable controls make this 12x zoom digicam attractive to travellers.In its PowerShot S5 IS, Canon has made some worthwhile improvements on its predecessor, the S3 IS, although the basic concept of the camera and many features and functions are unchanged. The new model has higher resolution (8 megapixels vs 6 megapixels) and a larger, vari-angle LCD. Its updated DiG!C III processor supports Face Detection AF and AE, in-camera redeye removal, Auto ISO shift and an extension of the sensitivity range to ISO 1600 (equivalent).

Canon PowerShot S3-IS

8.5 Rating

High resolution plus an optically stabilised long-range zoom lens and a multitude of manual controls make the S3-IS a fine camera for enthusiasts.Canon’s 6-megapixel PowerShot S3-IS has the same 12x optical zoom lens and optical image stabilisation system and range of manual controls as its predecessor. We got the black body – but not raw support – with this upgrade to last year’s 5-megapixel S2-IS. A larger vari-angle LCD monitor means the new model’s body is slightly bigger and heavier – but otherwise little is changed.

Canon PowerShot G9

9 Rating

A compact digicam with an advanced feature set that would make it an excellent complement to a DSLR.Canon has re-introduced raw file capture to its top-of-the-range digicam, the PowerShot G9. This alone makes it a significant upgrade to the G7 model, although the G9 has slightly higher resolution (12.1 megapixels vs 10 megapixels) and a larger, 3.0-inch LCD screen. The viewfinder has been shrunk, however, to provide space for the LCD, which adds just over five grams to overall weight.

Canon PowerShot G7

9 Rating

A well-built, high-resolution digicam with enough adjustments to delight gadget freaks, impressive video facilities and above average performance.Canon’s new PowerShot G7 has much to recommend it over earlier G-series models, with a redesigned body that’s slimmer and 60 grams lighter than its predecessor and has classic rangefinder-like styling. Sensor resolution is now 10-megapixels and the vari-angle LCD is replaced by a fixed 2.5-inch monitor. The optical zoom range increases from 4x to 6x and image stabilisation is added. On the downside, raw format support has been dropped, the G7 is limited to the sRGB colour space and you can see the lens through the viewfinder when it’s at its widest setting.

Canon PowerShot G12

8.8 Rating

The latest model in the popular G-series of digicams for photo enthusiasts adds 720p HD video recording. Canon’s PowerShot G12 can be seen as a minor or major upgrade to its predecessor, the G11, depending on how much you want HD video capabilities. The new model arrives at $100 less than the launch price of its predecessor yet adds a 720p HD movie mode with stereo audio. For movie fans, this would represent a significant improvement on the G11’s VGA video with monaural audio.

AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm

8.5 Rating

The new AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens is the largest, heaviest and costliest of the three 18-200mm DSLR zooms we’ve reviewed in issues 25, 26 and 27. Although it can only be used on Nikon DSLR cameras – where it provides an 11.1x zoom ratio and covers a focal length range equivalent to 27-300mm in 35mm format – it has some distinguishing features that justify its relatively high price tag.

Canon PowerShot G11

9 Rating

The latest model in the popular G-series of digicams for photo enthusiasts.Canon surprised many industry observers by replacing the 14-megapixel PowerShot G10 with the 10-megapixel G11 model. However, this move makes sense because image noise was an issue with the G10 at ISO 400 and most photographers should appreciate having fewer – but larger – photosites that deliver better image quality. Nevertheless, the sensor remains pretty small (7.6 x 5.7 mm) and, more surprisingly, the RRP has risen by $150 since the G10 was released.