Photo Review Reviews section

Lexar Professional 133x Speed 2GB CompactFlash Card

Rugged construction and fast data transfer speeds for today’s DSLR camera users.Just over a year after SanDisk released its Extreme III line of memory cards, Lexar Media has produced a competing line-up in its Professional range, under the ‘133x Speed’ label. The new Lexar cards offer the same 20 MB/second minimum sustained write speed as the SanDisk cards and include the proprietary Write Acceleration Technology, which allows high-performance DSLR cameras to store images as quickly as possible. Each card also carries a lifetime warranty and gives professional photographers unlimited access to Lexar’s technical support facilities.

Canon EF 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 IS USM Zoom Lens

An affordable long-zoom lens with two effective image stabilisation modes.Released concurrently with the EOS 5D, Canon’s EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM telephoto zoom lens replaces the 10-year-old EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens. We tested it on Canon’s new EOS 30D, where it covered a focal length range equivalent to 112-480mm in 35mm film format. The new lens combines ultra-low dispersion (UD) and aspherical lens elements and includes an improved optical image stabiliser (IS) that allows users to shoot at approximately three shutter speed increments slower than a non-stabilised lens. This is a one-stop improvement over its predecessor.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

8.5 Rating

The world’s first Micro Four Thirds System camera with features and performance to appeal to photo enthusiasts.Panasonic’s new Lumix DMC-G1 is the first model in an entirely new camera system, officially known as ‘Micro Four Thirds’ but sometimes dubbed ‘EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens)’ to provide a better picture of the difference between it and a DSLR (which it resembles superficially). Cameras made for this system have no reflex mirror and no optical viewfinder. The sensor is also significantly larger than the sensor in similar-sized advanced digicams.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7

8.5 Rating

An easy-to-use, long-zoom digicam with an excellent menu system and effective image stabilisation. Available in silver or black, Panasonic’s new DMC-FZ7 Lumix camera replaces the popular FZ5 and offers a higher-resolution sensor, larger LCD screen and a redesigned body that is slightly larger and heavier. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) has been relocated directly over the lens barrel, where it’s more comfortable to use and your nose is less likely to touch the LCD – an important feature with the enlarged monitor. A new omni-directional joystick makes manual focus and exposure easier to operate and a higher capacity battery allows up to 320 images to be recorded per charge.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

8 Rating

High resolution and extended zoom range plus a wide variety of user-operated controls in an SLR-sized camera body.As the ninth model in Panasonic’s ‘FZ’ series of 12x zoom cameras, the DMC-FZ50 is a sizeable step-up from its predecessor, with higher sensor resolution. It also sports a new Venus Engine III image processor chip. The higher-resolution sensor has extended the ‘extra optical zoom’ function to 21.4x at 3.2-megapixel resolution, compared with 19.1x for FZ30, while the new processor has improved overall performance. But otherwise, little has changed.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5

Available in black or silver, Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FZ5 sports the same Leica 12x optical zoom lens as its successful predecessor, the DMC-FZ20 but, unlike the FZ20, it cannot maintain the f2.8 maximum aperture throughout its full zoom range. With a plastic body that is almost identical to that of the 3-megapixel FZ3, the FZ5 is smaller and roughly 40% lighter and 20% cheaper than the FZ20. The FZ5’s body is well made and feels comfortable in the hands.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30

Panasonic’s ‘FZ’ series of 12x zoom cameras divides into ‘single digital’ models that are simpler, lighter and more automated and ‘double digit’ models for enthusiasts. The 8-megapixel DMC-FZ30 is the eighth since the release of the DMC-FZ1 in late 2002, making the company something of a long-zoom camera specialist. The new model has plenty to attract enthusiast photographers.

Olympus SP-350

8.5 Rating

A compact, high-resolution camera with plenty of enthusiast features and 24 scene modes. It produces detailed pictures with accurate colours and well-controlled saturation.Most of the controls and functions keen photographers want are provided in the new Olympus SP-350, which is smaller and less than half the weight of the C-7070 Wide Zoom. There’s a high-resolution CCD imager, P, A, S and M shooting modes and a versatile AF system with 143 selectable AF points. Sensitivity starts at ISO 50 and white balance settings can be fine-tuned to produce accurate colours under different types of lighting.

Olympus Camedia C-70 Zoom

With its smart, ‘titanium’ coloured metal body, 7.1-megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom lens and pop-up flash, the Olympus Camedia C-70 Zoom is an attractive package. It’s small enough to slip in a coat pocket and the large (2.0-inch) ‘sunshine’ LCD screen provides a sharp view that is easier to use in bright conditions than standard LCDs. P, A, S and M shooting modes are supported, along with five scene programs and VGA or QVGA video recording at 30 frames per second, plus voice recording. The 5x optical zoom lens can focus to 2cm in macro mode and up to 6x digital zooming is provided. Playback options are very comprehensive.