Inspiring ways to improve your photos
Inspiring ways to improve your photos
Photo Review Reviews section
Konica Minolta’s DiMAGE Z6 is almost identical in design to the Z3 and Z5 models but sports a higher-resolution, 6-megapixel sensor. The 12x optical zoom lens has the same specifications and focusing range and the control layout is identical, so the problems we identified with the SD card slot in the base of the Z3’s body remain unsolved in the Z6; it is still too easy to open inadvertently.
Kodak’s EasyShare DX 7630 has features to attract photo enthusiasts but presents them in a way that is targeted more at point-and-shoot photographers. The camera’s 6-megapixel sensor is impressive and its plastic body is well-built and thoughtfully designed. User-adjustable controls include P, A, S and M shooting modes, exposure and flash adjustments, ISO settings, 16 scene pre-sets, and a custom mode that lets you save ‘user-created’ selections.
Features and functionality in a compact, well built, high resolution camera, although a few enthusiast functions are limited or absent.For a compact digicam, Canon’s elegant PowerShot S80 provides lots of user-adjustable controls. Although not strictly shirt-pocketable, the S80 is slim enough to slip into a jacket pocket or purse and its retracting 3.6x zoom lens is well protected behind the sliding lens cover/on-off switch. Its sturdy metal body contains an 8-megapixel CCD sensor plus Canon’s DiG!C II image processor and excellent ergonomics make the S80 a satisfying camera to use.
Casio’s new 6-megapixel Exilim EX-Z110 is a surprisingly versatile little camera, with features to attract both novices and more experienced photographers. The former will find the proprietary ‘Anti Shake DSP’ processing, which works by combining a fast shutter speed with post-capture processing and reduces blurring due to camera or subject movement, handy. However, it’s only available in full-auto mode and doesn’t work for shooting movie clips.
An affordable digicam with a longer zoom lens and extended functionality.Added functionality makes Canon’s A700 PowerShot model more interesting than a simple point-and-shoot camera. With a 6x optical zoom lens that covers angles of view from 35mm to 210mm in 35mm format, it also sports a proper mode dial with P, Tv, Av and M settings as well as 10 scene modes, Colour Accent and Colour Swap settings and Stitch Assist.
Canon’s PowerShot S1 IS sports a 10x optical zoom lens plus a gyro-based image stabilisation system. The zoon is powered by an ultrasonic motor (USM) which is fast, quiet and reasonably easy to control. In video mode, where the S1 IS supports VGA capture with sound at 30 frames per second, the zoom switches to its slowest speed so no noise is recorded. Thirteen shooting modes are available through the mode dial, which is divided into the standard Canon Image and Creative zones and includes a custom mode for saving frequently used settings.
Canon’s Digital Ixus 500 has the same compact, stainless steel body and 3x zoom lens as earlier models, with a new Print/Share button that allows image files to be downloaded directly to a Canon Direct or PictBridge-enabled photo printer, or a PC. Lens aperture is controlled automatically using evaluative metering. Centre-weighted and spot metering are also provided.
[ia] Canon’s smallest and lightest zoon lens camera, the Ixus 50, can fit in a shirt pocket but offers plenty of user-adjustable settings. The 35-105mm (equivalent) lens retracts fully, giving the camera a smooth profile with few protrusions and the 5-megapixel CCD chip produces pictures with a top resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels and a file size of just under 3 MB, which suggests restrained compression.
A well built standard zoom lens for DSLR cameras with ‘APS-C sized’ sensors.Tamron has tagged its new 17-50mm F/2.8 lens with the ‘SP’ label, indicating Super Performance, which puts it into the professional product category. It also bears the Di II, indicating a second-generation, digitally integrated lens that is designed for use with ‘APS-C sized’ sensors and mounts are available for Canon, Nikon and Sony DSLRs. As tested on a Canon EOS 300D, it covers a field of view equivalent to approximately 27-80mm.
Sigma’s new 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC zoom lens is marginally heavier than the similarly-featured Tamron lens we reviewed in issue 25 but also somewhat smaller in size and considerably cheaper. Designed specifically for current DSLR cameras with ‘APS-C’ sized sensors (1.5-2.0 field of view crop), this lens has internal focusing, which prevents the front from rotating, making it ideal for use with angle-sensitive accessories like polarisers and graduated filters.
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