10.29.07
Posted in Canon, Reviews at 12:49 pm by Contact
The EOS 40D becomes the sixth Canon ‘prosumer’ digital SLR, a line which started back in 2000 with the EOS D30, and how far we’ve come. It’s been eighteen months since the EOS 30D and although on the surface the 40D looks like a fairly subtle upgrade there’s a lot that makes this an even better camera. Of course we expect a step up in megapixels, and so the 40D comes with a ten million pixel CMOS sensor with the same sort of dust reduction as the EOS 400D, an ultrasonic platform which shakes the low pass filter. Other improvements bring the EOS 40D closer into line with the EOS-1D series, these include a move to the same page-by-page menu system, both RAW and sRAW (2.5 MP), 14-bit A/D converter and 14-bit RAW, cross-type AF points for F5.6 or faster lenses, a larger and brighter viewfinder, interchangeable focusing screens, a larger LCD monitor (3.0″) and faster continuous shooting (6.5 fps).
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Posted in Canon, Reviews at 12:47 pm by Contact
Until the arrival of the G7 last September the majority of observers had written off Canon’s ‘prosumer’ G range, presuming that the arrival of affordable digital SLRs had effectively killed the market for high-end compacts such as this. Barely a year later the G7 has been replaced by the G9, a relatively minor update that increases the pixel count from 10MP to 12MP and the screen size from 2.5 to 3.0 inches and - more importantly given the outcry caused by its omission from the G7 - the return of raw shooting capabilities. Other minor tweaks include a better grip and the addition of wireless flash capabilities. Everything else; the 6x stabilized zoom, flash hot shoe, classic all-metal design and solid build, expansive feature set and extensive manual control system is carried over from the G7.
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05.25.07
Posted in Casio, Reviews at 6:27 am by Contact
Announced back in January at the CES show, the EX-V7 is the latest in a long - and generally successful - range of slim, feature-packed Exilim models from Casio. As well as an impressive set of specifications (CCD shift image stabilization, 7x / 38-266mm equiv. zoom, MPEG movies and a wealth of features) and a super-slim all-metal body (under 21mm thick at its thinnest point) the EX-V7 boasts a new version of Casio’s image processing engine. This brings several new technologies to the V7; motion analysis (to ensure a higher ISO and shutter speed are used if needed to freeze fast moving subjects), Auto Tracking AF and enhanced noise reduction and tonal control. As the world’s slimmest 7x zoom camera the EX-V7 is certainly an enticing product for anyone wanting a bit more lens reach without losing pocketability, but is it any good? Let’s find out, starting as ever with the headline features:
- 59.8 mm high, 95.5 mm wide, and 25.1 mm thin (20.8 mm at the thinnest part)
- Cutting-edge, non-protruding 7X internal optical zoom lens (38-266mm equiv.)
- New CCD shift system actually mechanically compensates for camera shake.
- Automatically analyzes the velocity and vector of a moving subject and sets the most appropriate ISO sensitivity and shutter speed.
- ???Auto Tracking AF??? function follows moving subjects
- Tonal control lets users keep bright areas of the scene bright by limiting the occurrence of dark pixels.
- Offers ability to selectively eliminate noise in designated color regions, such as the sky.
- Boasts faster image processing functions that enable instantaneous color correction or angle adjustment.
- High-quality movies using next-generation H.264 video encoding method
- Silent lens motion enables optical zooming while recording movies in stereo sound.
- Records 16:9 wide-aspect movies compatible with wide-screen TVs.
read more ….
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Posted in Olympus, Reviews at 6:18 am by Contact
Digital Photography Review?
Pros
- Amazing 18x zoom range
- Truly versatile 28-504mm range, with real wideangle
- Comprehensive and extensive feature set
- Effective Image Stabilization system (good for two stops)
- Decent resolution
- Good, though by no means class-leading results at lower ISO settings
- Generally natural color rendition (slightly anemic reds aside)
- Raw mode (with JPEG duplicate options)
- Superb battery life
- Excellent handling & build quality
- Decent electronic viewfinder
- Nice screen - gains up well in low light
- Good level of customization available
- Excellent flash exposures
- In-camera editing (including raw conversion) of saved files
- Decent movie quality
Cons
- Images lack biting crispness, some loss of fine detail to noise reduction
- Some corner softness at long end of zoom
- Distortion throughout the zoom range
- Focus slow at long end of zoom and in low light
- Occasional focus errors (where the camera says it’s in focus and it isn’t)
- Full resolution burst mode unimpressive
- Purple fringing and chromatic aberration (fairly mild, but visible)
- Slow file writing (xD-Picture Card)
- Poor artificial light Auto White Balance and slightly unreliable Custom White Balance
- Screen blooming and slow reaction to brightness changes in live preview
- Movie mode restrictions (can’t use sound with IS or zoom turned on)
- Mild overexposure of bright scenes leading to highlight clipping (can be fixed with AE-C)
- Supplied raw converter produces unimpressive results
- HIgher ISO settings noisy and soft (due to noise reduction)
- Almost pointless low-resolution ISO 3200 and ISO 5000 settings
- Disappointing macro performance
read more …
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05.20.07
Posted in Canon, Reviews at 9:20 am by Contact
The Canon SD800 IS Digital ELPH features a compact, stylish case with rounded horizontal edges, and a retracting lens to make it pocket-friendly. The Canon SD800IS includes a 7.1 megapixel imager, and a Canon-branded 3.8x optical zoom lens covers an optimized range of 28-105mm equivalent, a good wide-angle to moderate telephoto.
What’s really cool, though, is that the Canon ELPH SD800 IS incorporates Canon’s excellent Image Stabilization (hence the “IS” in the model name) technology that drastically reduces the effects of camera shake at slow shutter speeds, or long zoom settings. This means that with the SD800 IS Digital ELPH, you can shoot in low light without having to put the camera on a tripod to avoid the camera shake. IS typically lets you take crisp shots under light conditions four times darker than you could manage without it.
read more …?
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Posted in Samsung, Reviews at 9:02 am by Contact
The Samsung NV7 OPS? is the top-of-the-line model in the Korean manufacturer’s line of premium digital cameras. It packs a 7 Megapixel CCD, 7X optical zoom lens, optical image stabilization, full manual controls, and a very unique user interface.
The NV7 has an average bundle. Inside the box you’ll find:
- The 7.2 effective Megapixel Samsung NV7 OPS digital camera
- SLB-0837 lithium-ion rechargeable battery
- Wrist strap
- Lens cap w/retaining strap
- USB cable
- A/V cable
- AC-to-USB converter
- CD-ROM featuring Digimax Master and drivers
- 80 page camera manual (printed)
As is the case with many cameras these days, the NV7 has built-in memory instead of having a memory card included in the box. You’ll find just 19MB of memory on this camera, which holds just five photos at the highest quality setting. That means that you’ll want to buy a memory card right away, and I recommend picking up a 512MB or 1GB card to start. The camera supports both SD and MultiMedia memory cards, though not the newer and higher capacity SDHC format. The camera performs a little better with a high speed memory card, so it’s worth spending a little more money for one.
read more …?
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04.30.07
Posted in Panasonic, Reviews at 12:36 pm by Contact
On February 26th 2006, in a packed press conference on the first day of PMA 2006 Panasonic revealed their first digital SLR, the DMC-L1. The DMC-L1 represents another first, it’s the first non-Olympus Four Thirds digital SLR which has to be good news for the system which has up until now been an Olympus only affair. When it was announced many noted the resemblance to the E-330, this is no coincidence as the DMC-L1 shares its optical subsystem (lens mount, mirror box, viewfinder, auto focus and exposure sensors) with the Olympus E-330.
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Posted in fujifilm, Reviews, Features at 12:34 pm by Contact
In the fast-moving, ‘bigger better faster’ world of the digital compact the Fujifilm FinePix F30 will be one of the rare few that are remembered after they have gone (the nearest this throwaway business gets to a ‘classic’). The reason this unassuming, blocky little camera stands out from the scores of other cameras launched last year - and why it has a mantelpiece covered in industry awards - is simple; image quality, or more specifically, high ISO performance. The F30’s low light capabilities come from a combination of clever technology (Super CCD and Real Photo Processor) and a ’swimming against the tide’ attitude to specification, which means a bigger sensor with fewer pixels.
Specification:
- Face Detection Technology built-in to the camera???s processor
- Real Photo Processor II and new Super CCD HR VI
- ISO 3200 sensitivity at full resolution
- 6.3 million pixels
- 3.0x optical zoom
- Long-life battery (up to 580 shots)
- IR Communication (IR simple??)
- VGA movie capture of 30 frames per second with sound
- PictBridge?? compatible for direct printing without a PC
- Quick response times (0.01 second shutter lag and 1.5 second start-up)
- Aperture and shutter priority modes
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02.09.07
Posted in Pentax, Reviews at 7:23 am by Contact
Digital Photography Review?
Pros:
- Smooth clean images with good color and tone, not as crisp as we would like
- Robust body with dust and weather seals, high build quality
- Accurate and fast auto-focus
- Unique exposure modes; sensitivity, shutter/aperture priority, hyper program
- Selectable program lines; Normal, Hi speed, Depth and MTF (lens sharpness)
- Good range of image parameter adjustment (-5 to +5 for each)
- Dedicated RAW button a useful addition
- Selectable RAW format (PEF or DNG)
- Unlimited continuous shooting in JPEG mode
- Occasionally useful ‘digital preview’ allows you to take a test shot which isn’t saved
- User definable Auto ISO (set minimum and maximum ISO)
- Good built-in flash metering
- Large and bright Pentaprism viewfinder (0.95x magnification)
- In-camera Shake Reduction system offers some advantage in low light
- Dust reduction by anti-static coating and optional sensor ’shake’
- Mirror lock-up implemented as part of the self-timer
- Function menu for quick access to important settings (although hard buttons are better)
- Large, bright and high resolution LCD monitor
- Good battery life from high capacity Lithium-Ion rechargeable
- Proper hinged doors covering the connectors (not the cheap rubber bungs)
- In-camera RAW development and image retouching (B&W, Sepia, Soft etc.)
- USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface (with mass storage device driver)
- Value for money
Cons:
- In-camera image processor unable to deliver crisp sharp edges, better to shoot RAW
- About a third of a stop less highlight dynamic range than the competition
- Slightly inconsistent continuous shooting rate (although always around 3.1 fps)
- Would have been nice to have hard buttons for White Balance and ISO sensitivity
- Turning up sharpness setting doesn’t deliver crisper edges
- Average automatic white balance performance, still very poor under incandescent light
- Flash must be raised for AF assist (although AF works even in very low light)
- Color space selection buried in custom menu
read more…
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Posted in Canon, Reviews at 7:14 am by Contact
Even in the ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ world of compact digital cameras the budget-priced 6x zoom lensed Canon PowerShot A700 was a short-lived model; announced late February and replaced in August by the camera on test here, the PowerShot A710 IS. Aside from a design facelift and a few feature tweaks the biggest - and most welcome - change is that the new model adds optical image stabilization, something we bemoaned the lack of on the A700. There’s also an extra million pixels ( up from 6 to 7MP) and the usual A series mix of manual and automatic features. So let’s find out if the A710 IS a worthy successor to the popular A700, starting, as ever, with the headline features.
- 7.1 Megapixels
- 6x optical zoom with optical Image Stabilizer (35-210mm equiv.)
- DIGIC II, iSAPS, 9-Point AiAF, FlexiZone AF/AE
- Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom
- 2.5?? LCD with wide viewing angle and real-image optical viewfinder
- 20 shooting modes
read more …
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