Photo Review Reviews section

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

9.5 Rating

The long-awaited replacement for the EOS 5D offers higher resolution plus Full HD video capture.Serious photo enthusiasts have been well catered for in the latest releases from Canon, Nikon and Sony but Canon’s EOS 5D Mark II is probably the most eagerly-awaited of the new models, largely because its predecessor was so successful. Interestingly, the body design of the new model has changed very little from the original 5D. This will please many users, since most controls are in familiar locations and the general look and feel of the new camera is essentially unchanged.

Nikon Coolpix P6000

A compact digicam that offers raw file capture and extensive customisation plus inbuilt geotagging and Ethernet support.Replacing the P5100 model as flagship of Nikon’s compact digicam line-up, the Coolpix P6000 features a slightly larger, 13.5-megapixel CCD sensor, EXPEED processing and 4x Zoom-Nikkor lens. Like its predecessor, it provides the P, A, S and M shooting modes enthusiast photographers require. However, the P6000 adds raw file capture and some useful functions like geo-tagging, a built-in Ethernet connection, wireless flash and user customisation.

Canon PowerShot S100

8.5 Rating

Canon’s new pocketable digicam provides improved handling and a longer lens plus support for raw capture and Full HD video recording.Canon has taken one of its most successful digicams, the PowerShot S95, and upgraded it with a new sensor and image processor, longer zoom lens and better ergonomics to produce the PowerShot S100. It’s also reduced the price by $50 and added a GPS receiver/logger to make the new model even more appealing to travellers.

Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

Canon’s latest ultra-zoom digicam introduces an updated High Sensitivity (HS) CMOS sensor, DiG!C 5 processing, improved image stabilisation and new slow-motion movie effects.Canon’s PowerShot SX40 HS has most of the same features as its predecessor, the PowerShot SX30 IS, which we reviewed in October 2010. However, its price tag is $30 lower, the sensor resolution has been reduced to a more sensible 12 megapixels (effective) and Canon has opted for CMOS technology which, with the new DiG!C 5 image processor, allows the SX40 HS to support Full HD video recording.

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 II DG HSM Lens

8.9 Rating

An ultra-wide zoom lens for digital SLR cameras with both ‘full frame’ and APS-C sized sensors.As is apparent by its name, Sigma’s 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 II DG HSM is a second-generation product that updates the popular 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG ASP HSM that was introduced in 2002. Interestingly, its RRP in Australia is just over $250 lower than the MSRP posted on Sigma Corporation’s US website, which makes this lens excellent value for money for Australians.