The guide to beginners photography helps you get over the “how to” digital photography hump through the crucial fundamentals you need to know. There is also a free report to get some good tips without any investment! Dan digs into the fundamental items that you must know to begin to “shoot like a pro.”
Filed under: Digital Cameras, Education, Entertainment, Photography
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The Panasonic DMC FX150 pushes the number of megapixels available on a standard consumer digital camera even higher. This 14.7 megapixel model offers more pixel power than any other digital camera I have reviewed. There has been a lot written on the Internet and in the press about the way digital camera manufacturers continue to squeeze more and more megapixels onto incredibly small chips. There is a debate as to whether this actually decreases picture quality. With eth DMC FX150 Panasonic have increased the size of the sensor they use. It is not earth shatteringly large, but it is a step in the right direction.
When compared to other compact digital cameras the Panasonic DMC FX150 packs in more features than most competing models. This includes a basic manual mode, bracketing, red eye correction, HD quality movies, image stabilisation and the ability to double the amount of zoom available when shooting at lower resolutions.
Despite the extra features the camera remains easy enough to use. There is a fully automatic mode and I’m sure many people will stick with that and never try any of the more interesting features the camera offers.
Another camera that you can fit into a pocket is the Canon IXUS 970 IS. This is another very good camera, but it does not have the wide angle lens or the many extra features of the DMC FX150.
Rating: Above Average
Overall I was very impressed by the DMC FX150. I found the pictures to be sharp and to have plenty of colour. The camera was also able to bring out a bit of extra detail in more shady areas.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Panasonic DMC FX150 review and ratings
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The Kodak Easyshare Z8612 IS is a super zoom digital camera. It has a 12x optical zoom lens. As with the majority of super zoom cameras, image stabilisation has been added to try to negate the effects of camera shake on your pictures.
The Kodak Easyshare Z8612 IS offers a selection of manual controls (manual exposure, shutter priority, aperture priority and program auto). It also has 8 megapixels.
With so many super zoom digital cameras to choose from the reasons why you may wish to consider the Easyshare Z8612 IS over and above other models include the fact it is smaller and more compact than other cameras with a similar specification. In addition to this it is also a bit easier to use than many super zooms. I found it especially easy to change aperture size and shutter speed. Finally you may also like to know it is one for the cheaper super zoom cameras on the market.
So what are the downsides? I’m sorry to say there are a couple of key problems. The first and most important one is picture quality. It does not match up with many of its rivals. I found noise to be an issue, as was purple fringing. Although this is a common problem with this type of camera it is considerably more obvious with the Kodak Easyshare Z8612 IS than I am used to seeing. I also managed to produce photos that were under exposed and others that were over exposed.
Another issue is that the Kodak Easyshare Z8612 IS does not feel as solid and sturdy in the hand as many other cameras do.
A better alternative may be the Fuji Finepix S1000fd. This camera carries a similar price tag, but takes a better picture.
Rating: Below Average
Summary: One to be avoided.
For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Kodak Easyshare Z8612 IS.
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For most, using a digital camera on the auto setting is going to get them great pictures. These can be inside or out, but the ones outdoors are going to be the best looking ones.
However, that can even vary if there are clouds in the sky or if you are standing in the shadows. If you are indoors at a large event, taking pictures at twilight, or if you are trying to capture fast motion, you are going to have to do more than use the auto setting.
Read more in the full article about Using A Digital Camera
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It is easy to overlook digital cameras made by some of the smaller digital camera brands. People tend to go for what they know which means that Canon, Sony, Nikon, Panasonic and Olympus are always high up of people’s shopping lists. From time to time this can lead to a very good camera like the Samsung L210 getting missed.
It fact there are a number of Samsung digital cameras I like. Often they are available for a small discount and this helps them to offer that bit extra in terms of value for money.
The Samsung L210 is a small digital camera that fits into a pocket quite comfortably. As well as a fully automatic mode it also has a basic manual exposure setting. This allows you to set the aperture and shutter speed. Although the aperture settings are limited it is a useful feature to have. It is also quite rare to find a manual exposure control on such a small compact camera.
A more advanced camera in the Samsung range you may wish to take a look at is the Samsung NV24HD.
Rating: Above Average
I was impressed by the picture quality I achieved with the Samsung L210. It is fine as a snapshot camera and one point that impressed me was the sharpness of the photos I managed to take. This included the landscape shots I took in my tests. Often I find softness towards the edges of these photos, but on the whole the L210 was able to overcome this problem. If you are prepared to look outside of the more well known brands then it is worth your while checking out the Samsung L210.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Samsung L210 review and ratings
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Hmmm. The outstanding feature of the Casio Exilim EX-Z200 is the fact it is very easy to use. This could be applied to all the Casio digital cameras I have tested recently. Casio give you the option of displaying some of the key features on the right hand side of the LCD screen. These help to remind you of the selections you have made. It is also easy to access and change one of these settings.
The Exilim EX-Z200 is not the greatest digital camera ever made in terms of picture quality. I found the pictures tended to be soft away from the centre for landscape style shots. The macro mode can only focus from 15cm away from the subject so it is not a camera to buy if you are really interested in close up work.
You can buy red, black and silver versions of the Exilim EX-Z200 and you should have no problem slipping this camera into a pocket.
There are an increasing number of pocket cameras with a wide angle lens. One that I think offers a bit better value for money is the Olympus FE-350.
Rating: Below Average
Summary: The Casio Exilim EX-Z200 is easy to use, but aside from that it does not have a lot of points that really reach out and grab me and make me recommend this camera as a must buy. I like the fact it can record movies for widescreen televisions and other features such as easy uploading to YouTube may sound good, but I would prefer better quality still photos.
For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Casio Exilim EX-Z200 review and ratings
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I’ve made it a habit to take oodles of pictures. Why you might ask? Because so many things are lost forever if we don’t. Just take your average day with your family and/friends. Maybe you want to snap a few shots with your Canon Power Shot digital camera in the midst of things. Record those priceless moments. They’re the one thing we can’t buy back. Time won’t allow it. We naturally age and move on. Yesterday I spotted my daughter in the backyard, swinging on her swing-set and laughing as she leaped off to the grass below. I snapped a few pictures of her in mid-flight. They’re awesome, and I know she’ll enjoy looking at them when she’s older. Seeing yourself play and go wild at the tender age of eight when you’re now 28 is a blast. I do this sort of thing now with the old photos my parents took of me. Read more here
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Today I have been looking at the Nikon Coolpix S520. I have to admit that with these smaller Nikon cameras I often struggle to get a really good picture out of them. On the whole I find the pictures taken by Nikon compacts to be pleasingly bright, but there is always somewhere where my test pictures manage to go awry.
With the Coolpix S520 it was with scenes with high contrast. The camera did not do especially well either in light coloured areas or with the darker, more shaded sections. This leads to a loss of detail in those sections of my photographs.
The upside was provided by my tests where the subject was much closer to the camera and the scene had more neutral colours. In fact in these photos the Coolpix S520 did well, even when flash was required. In fact I was very happy with my test shots taken using flash. The colours remained natural and the light of the flash unit did not wash the colour out in the way that many other compact cameras do.
Another area of concern was the time taken to capture a picture. I found the start up time to be unimpressive and the time taken to store a photo, ready to take the next one was longer than it should have been.
Pricewise the Coolpix S520 is not as expensive as some pocket cameras, but I feel it is worth investing that bit more to ensure a little more quality. If your don’t mind paying a bit more try taking a look at the Canon IXUS 80 IS.
Rating: Average
Summary: Taking into account the fact the macro mode on the Coolpix S520 is limited I have to describe this camera as average. There are too many areas where I am not convinced by this camera to mark it up any higher than that.
For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Nikon Coolpix S520 review and ratings
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I’ve made it a habit to take oodles of pictures. Why you might ask? Because so many things are lost forever if we don’t. Just take your average day with your family and/friends. Maybe you want to snap a few shots with your Canon Power Shot digital camera in the midst of things. Record those priceless moments. They’re the one thing we can’t buy back. Time won’t allow it. We naturally age and move on.
Read more details in the full article about You Want to Snap a Few Shots With Your Canon Power Shot Digital Camera
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The Panasonic DMC FX500 is the most advanced pocket sized digital camera on the market. Panasonic has packed just about every feature I can think of into this little camera.
To start with there is a wide angle lens for shooting landscapes, groups of people etc. Next up there is the High Definition movie mode. This allows you to shoot High Definition movies for play back on widescreen television sets.
For anyone who is looking to take more control over the way their photos look there are modes for manual exposure, aperture priority and shutter priority. You will also find options to adjust sharpness, saturation, contrast and noise levels.
More standard options include special settings ideal for taking photos to make 6 x 4 inch prints and another for playing back your still photos on widescreen televisions.
When you need extra zoom power you can decrease the number of megapixels you are shooting at from the maximum of 10 and increase the amount of zoom available. If you are prepared to shoot at 2 megapixels a maximum of 8.9x zoom becomes available to you.
On top of this there is a setting to make it easier to see the LCD screen when you are shooting over the heads of a crowd. Image stabilisation is available as is an automatic feature to remove annoying red eye from a portrait shot taken with flash.
Another camera that you can fit into a pocket is the Canon IXUS 90 IS. This is another very good camera, but it does not have the wide angle lens or the many extra features of the DMC FX500.
Rating: Above Average
All these features would be of little use if the DMC FX500 didn’t stack up when it came to taking a photo. I found photo quality to be good. So if you are looking for a small compact digital camera with just about everything thrown in then the DMC FX500 is a very good choice.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Panasonic DMC FX500 review and ratings
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After shopping around for a few weeks, my husband and I decided to buy an issue of Consumer Reports that outlined the best options for anyone buying a digital camera. We found the “Best Buy” pick from the magazine to be perfect for our family.
Bear in mind that many individuals who make a living selling electronics do so largely on commissions. When you do take this approach to finding the best digital cameras for your personal use, do so with a budget in mind. Therefore, if you go looking for the best digital cameras for you, they may try and persuade you to invest in something that you simply don’t need.
The higher resolution will allow you to print out crisp photos, either at home or at a photo processing store. Most come with a decent optical zoom that will allow you to get close to your subject, a few different shooting modes for taking portraits, indoor, and outdoor shots, and various other features depending on the model and manufacturer. Though these cameras may not always fit in a shirt pocket, they’re still easy to carry and use.
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Super zoom digital cameras like the Fuji Finepix S1000fd appeal to sports and wildlife photographers where it is not possible to get in close to the action. Therefore the extra power of the zoom lens gets you in closer.
The Finepix S1000fd is one of the cheaper super zoom cameras on the market. There are a number of reasons for this and you will find the camera lacks manual focus, has a 12x rather than a 18 or 20x zoom lens, has no wide angle capabilities and is also lacking in image stabilisation. This last feature is a bit of a surprise when you consider the number of cameras offering stabilisation right now.
With that list of missing features it will not surprise you to find that the Finepix S1000fd is a little easier to use than many of the cameras that fall into this bracket. Even so it does have manual exposure settings including aperture priority and shutter priority. It is these controls that give you options allowing you to produce creative photos.
Considering its price tag and manual controls the Finepix S1000fd could be considered an option for aspiring photographers who are looking to start a hobby in photography, but do not have the budget for a top of the range compact camera or a entry level Digital SLR camera.
An option with a much longer lens, more controls and features is the Olympus SP-570 UZ. I should point out that the SP-570 UZ is a more advanced digital camera and accordingly costs a fair bit more money than the Finepix S1000fd.
Rating: Average
Most of my test shots were good rather than stunning. The one shot I had a big issue with was the test with the lens fully extended. Although you do not need to use the full power of the lens for every shot the softness of the images I captured with the zoom fully extended proved to be disappointing.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Fuji Finepix S1000FD review and ratings
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The Nikon Coolpix S550 is another pocket sized digital camera in a sea of choices. So what makes the Coolpix S550 stand out from all its rivals and shout for you to buy it? To be honest there are not a great deal of features that make this model stand out on its own from the crowd. It is a pretty regular 10 megapixel digital camera to be honest.
Having a 5x optical zoom lens is useful though. This year in particular we have started to see longer lenses being introduced on these smaller cameras. Not so long ago it was rare to find a pocket camera with a lens longer than 3x zoom, but now cameras with 4x zoom are more common with a few like the Coolpix S550 going longer still at 5x zoom and upwards.
To support the longer zoom the camera offers image stabilisation or vibration reduction as Nikon refer to it in their specifications. You also have the increasingly popular face detection setting. This is supposed to help the cameras create sharper portrait photos, but to be honest in all the cameras I have tested this year I have to admit I have been unable to notice any significant difference in the sharpness of my portrait tests. I guess it sounds impressive when you read the marketing literature though.
In terms of looks and design the Coolpix S550 is a regular, rectangular camera. It is available in black, blue and a fetching plum!
If you are looking for a camera with similar features try taking a look at the Sony DSC W170
Rating: Average
Summary: As ever with Nikon digital cameras I like the brightness and also the colours that the Coolpix S550 is able to produce. In some of my more distant scenic tests focusing becomes soft towards the edges of the photos. For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Nikon Coolpix S550 review and ratings
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The Casio Exilim EX-Z100 is one of those digital cameras where there are not many points that stand out and make it different from so many of the cameras already on the market.
One of the points of difference is the wide angle, optical zoom lens. Although wide angle lenses are becoming more commonplace they are not yet available in abundance when it comes to the smaller, pocket sized cameras.
You certainly have plenty of choice when it comes to colours with the Exilim EX-Z100 being available in six different colours. These are blue, silver, black, gold, pink and brown.
There are plenty of pocket sized digital cameras around. In fact this is the most popular type of digital camera in the stores. There are not so many with a wide angle lens though. This is at least partially due to the difficulty of building great wide angle lenses when they need to be so small in size. Other options include the Olympus FE-350.
Rating: Below Average
Summary: Not all digital cameras can rate above average or average. From time to time a camera comes along that does not quite hit the mark. This was the case, for me at least, with the Casio Exilim EX-Z100. Although there were a fair amount of positive points such as a fast shutter response and widescreen movies I was disappointed with how sharp the photos were. This is especially true for landscape and general scenic type shots where the scene is some distance form the camera.
For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Casio Exilim EX-Z100 review and ratings
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Zoom lenses on compact cameras are getting longer and longer. The camera I am testing today is the Olympus SP-570. This camera has a 20x optical zoom lens. The lens is also versatile enough to be a true wide angle lens making it possible to use it for landscape shots and also for shots where you are unable to get especially close such as sports and wildlife.
Not surprisingly with a lens of this length it is not capable of stunning photographs at all focal lengths. Some compromises have to be made in the design and build of a lens when the camera is going to be sold at the price the SP-570 is. I found most issues when the lens was fully extended. Here I found purple fringing to show in the shots and the photos also lose some of their sharpness.
Aside from that point I would say this camera handles more like a digital SLR than any other camera I can recall testing. One feature I really like is that you zoom in and out by twisting the lens barrel. There is no pushing of small buttons or pulling on a zoom ring with eth SP-570.
On top of this there are manual exposure controls, manual focusing a RAW mode, image stabilisation and a burst mode.
There are a few cameras on the market with a lens nearly as long as the one on the SP-570. If you are looking for an alternative to measure this one against then try taking a look at the Nikon Coolpix P80.
Rating: Above Average
Summary: I like the test pictures I took with the Olympus SP-570. My particular favourite was an indoor portrait using widow light. The SP-570 was able to produce a picture with more detail, which was brighter and had less noise than most compact digitals manage to produce in the same circumstances.
When the lens is fully zoomed some of the sharpness in the photo is lost and purple fringing also becomes apparent in the photo. This is something to be aware of if you are taking photos is bright conditions with light coloured objects that are likely to catch the light.
For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Olympus SP-570 review and ratings
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With so many smaller, compact cameras on the market it is not always easy to come up with a clear reason for buying some cameras. The Olympus MJU 1010 is a bit different. This is because it has a longer than standard 7x optical zoom lens. In fact a small amount of extra zoom becomes available if you are prepared to cut the 10 megapixel resolution down to 5 megapixels. 5 megapixels is still enough to make a decent sized print.
In terms of size you can squeeze the MJU 1010 into a pocket, but in some instances it is a squeeze. Although small in size this is not a truly ultra compact camera. When it comes to looks the typical sloping from of the Olympus MJU range stops the 1010 from becoming an identikit smaller digital camera. You will also find the camera is available on three colours. These are blue, silver and black.
Apart from the longer zoom there is not that much else that makes this camera stand out from the competition.
It is not easy to come up with an exact match for the MJU 1010. Therefore the closest match I can think of is the Panasonic DMC TZ5. The DMC TZ5 offers more in terms of picture quality, but is a bit larger when it comes to the size of the camera.
Rating: Average
Summary: Not bad, but based on picture quality alone I struggle to recommend the Olympus MJU 1010. At times I found the focusing to be quite soft. On top of this the lightest and darkest areas of photos tended to be rather challenging for this camera.
For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Olympus MJU 1010 review and ratings
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Here in the U.K. digital cameras have certainly risen in price in the first half of 2008. So it is something of a pleasant surprise to find a digital camera that fits so easily into a pocket for under £100. Step forward the Casio Exilim EX-Z80.
For such an inexpensive digital camera it is good to see Casio have retained so many of the features you find on their more expensive pocket cameras. This includes a setting for shooting movies as well as a 2.6 inch LCD screen.
One of the factors that always impresses me with Casio Digital Cameras is how easy they are to use. The menu system is well thought out and easy to read. On top of this you have an option to use a small area of the LCD screen to display some of the camera’s key settings. This also makes them easy to change.
As with so many digital cameras the Exilim EX-Z80 is available in a wide range of colours. In this case you have a choice between silver, blue, pink, black, green and shocking pink. It is the first time I have come across two shade of pink to choose from. Personally I’m not sure if this is taking things a bit far!
Another, albeit more expensive, option is the
Casio Exilim EX-Z80. This is even slimmer than the Exilim EX-Z80 and takes a better quality photo.
Rating: Above Average
Summary: I think the Casio Exilim EX-Z80 offers good value for money. Yes picture quality falls short of being outstanding, but it would be unfair to expect a camera in this price bracket to be perfect.
For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Casio Exilim EX-Z80 review and ratings
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Perhaps it is just my imagination, but there do not appear to be so many super thin digital cameras around as there used to be. Don’t get me wrong there are a wealth of cameras that will fit into most pockets, but the extra slim versions appear to be less plentiful than they were previously. One of the reasons for this could be that manufacturers have realised just how hard it is to cram the necessary technology into such small bodies. This is especially true of lenses and if the lens is not up to the job then any camera is going to struggle.
It is therefore a while since I have tested a camera as slim as the Casio Exilim EX-S10. In fact I’m not sure if I have ever tested out a camera as thin as this one. It should fit into more or less any pocket you choose. The good news is that I found the picture quality I was able to get from the Casio Exilim EX-S10 surprisingly good.
In my tests I look out for three main pointers. These are colour, sharpness and brightness. The Exilim EX-S10 did very well indeed when it came to producing bright photographs, above average when it came to sharpness and the colours had a pleasingly natural look to them as well. Once you add in ease of use (I like the way you can show some of the menu options on the right hand side of the LCD screen), widescreen movies, a special You Tube upload mode and more pre programmed scene modes than you can shake a stick at and you have a very good camera when you take the price into account.
As I have not reviewed many of the super slim models recently it is difficult to come up with many alternatives. One camera that comes to mind is the Fuji Finepix Z10 fd. It is cheaper than the Casio Exilim EX-S10, but in my opinion it does not match up to the Casio model when it comes to all round picture quality.
Rating: Above Average
Summary: If I was looking for one of the slimmest digital cameras you can buy then this is certainly one I would consider buying.
For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Casio Exilim EX-S10 review and ratings
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There are so many pocket sized cameras to choose from on the market. It can be difficult to come up with reasons why every one of these cameras is worth buying.
Today I have been reviewing the Nikon Coolpix S600. It looks pleasant enough without looking all that different from so many of its rivals. There are two points I really like about the Coolpix S600. The first is the fact the camera starts up quickly so you can fire off a shot. This reduces the risk of any lost photo opportunities. The second point I like is how easy it is to use this camera. I guess it is not the most advanced camera when it comes to features and the upside of this is the fact that it helps to keep it easy to use. That aside though the menu system is one of the more straightforward you will find. I also think it is easy to read.
Other useful features include image stabilisation, a built in mechanism to fix red eye problems caused by flashlight and the ability to add voice clips to photos you have already taken. This last feature can help to jog your memory about where you were and what you were up to when the picture was originally taken.
The downside of this camera is the picture quality. For some reason I was not able to really get along with the camera. I did not like the soft focus I found in many of my test shots. I also though a lot of the photos were darker than I like to see and I also found some of the photos had colour casts.
If you are looking for a camera with similar features try taking a look at the Panasonic DMC FS20
Rating: Below Average
Summary: Picture quality is the key for me, no matter what else the camera can and cannot do. Therefore I found the Nikon Coolpix S600 a disappointment.
For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Nikon Coolpix S600 review and ratings
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Quite often, we just can not think about the right gift for someone who lives far away. No doubt, it is not easy buying for those who live with you either, or for those you see all of the time too, but long distance is more difficult. If it is a family member, you can be sure that they miss seeing you often, and they may even feel that they are missing out on important moments in your life. Digital photo frames is an excellent option to give as a gift,under such circumstances.
Depending on what size of digital photo frames that you buy, you can add many different photos to the frame. This is something that most do not know exists, and they are going to be thrilled with the gift. If you have children, you can fill digital photo frames with your favorite snapshots. That way they can see what they have missed, and you don’t have to give up your prints. You don’t have to stick to recent photos either. You can start as far as a few years back and add photos through that time to the present. That allows your long distance relative to see the child grow. It will warm their heart.
You can put digital photo frames to use for other purposes and not just for distant relatives. If you are at college, you can fill one with your photos to send home to your parents. This will allow them to see what you are doing at school. They are used to having you around and being part of your life. When you go to school, or move out for the first time, they may very well be feeling very sad about not knowing what you are doing and who you are doing it with. They will love this gift, and will most certainly treasure the contents greatly.
If you use your imagination, you can think of many great things to do with them that make them well worth their price.These can also be great for the office. Instead of having separate frames for pictures of our family or even your pets, you can save space by putting all of your pictures onto digital photo frames. They can sit in one spot on your desk and the pictures can rotate when you feel the need to look at them. Digital photo frames serve many purposes, and are excellent gifts for teachers and other care givers. As the year ends, you can honor the teacher by gifting a digital photo frame pre-loaded with pics of all students.
Check these blog posts for better insight into digital photo frames - large format digital photo frames — digital pocket sized photo frames.
Filed under: Digital Cameras, Gifts, Photography
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At the moment have a couple of cameras in for testing with long zoom lenses. The one I am looking at today is the Nikon Coolpix P80. I can see this camera being popular. Part of this is because of the Nikon brand name. The Coolpix P80 is also capable of taking bright and colourful photos.
As well as the long 18x optical zoom lens the camera has a number of more advanced features. These include manual exposure and manual focusing settings. As well as fully manual exposure you have access to shutter priority and aperture priority. Manual focusing is also available.
To underline the camera’s attraction to sports and wildlife photographers it has a burst mode that can reel off shots at a maximum speed of 13 shots per second when shooting at 3 megapixels. I found the camera could be a bit sluggish when lining up the first shot in the sequence.
For a camera with such a long lens the Coolpix P80 is compact. O.K. it will never fit into a pocket, but it is smaller than other models with extra large zoom lenses.
If you are looking for a similar camera with a long zoom lens try taking a look at the Nikon Coolpix P80 review and ratings
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The Panasonic DMC LZ8 is a step up from a starter level digital camera. This is because it has manual exposure controls. These allow you to set the aperture and shutter speeds. This means that potentially at least the DMC LZ8 could be considered as a good choice for someone just starting out with photography and would like a camera they can learn the basics with.
One positive point is that although the camera has these manual exposure modes, Panasonic have still managed to come up with a camera that is fairly straightforward. It is understandable that to get the most out of the camera you will need to spend time working with it and experimenting.
As well as the manual exposure controls the camera is one of the few to offer the capacity to playback video footage on widescreen TVs.
There are not that many similar cameras to compare the Panasonic DMC LZ8 with. One option that I like is the Canon Powershot A590 IS.
Rating: Below Average
When it comes to the all important matter of picture quality I found that the DMC LZ8 didn’t meet my expectations. Some of the photos were on the dark side. Where there was a strong light source in a photo I also found that the pictures took on a hazy effect that stopped the photos from appearing pin sharp. As ever this is less of an issue with smaller prints, but once you want to blow the photos up to a larger size this becomes more obvious in the shot. As with other Panasonic digital cameras the DMC LZ8 produces a decent macro shot. The colours also have a tendency to be very vivid indeed. This may be to your taste, but I am sure some people will find the depth of colour on the strong side.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Panasonic DMC LZ8 review and ratings
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The Sony W range of digital cameras are less expensive pocket cameras. They are certainly less expensive then the more stylish Sony T range. One of the attractions of the W range is that these cameras usually come with a viewfinder. To many people a viewfinder is still important, especially on sunny days when it can be difficult to see the scene on the LCD display. Another advantage of a viewfinder is that when you use one it can be a great help in holding the camera steady. This is because it is much easier to control any hand shake when the camera is held up close to your eye rather than held out in front of you. This can help to produce sharper photos.
Another useful feature that these cameras have is something called Smart Zoom. This allows you to increase the amount of zoom available for a photo. Smart Zoom becomes available when you are shooting at lower resolutions. So you need to keep this in mind especially if you are planning to make larger prints from your photos.
This range of cameras is also easy to use. I always think having a control dial added to the back or top of the camera simplifies the camera as it helps to place more key controls at your finger tips.
The camera I am testing today is the Sony DSC W110. This is currently the entry model in this series. It has most of the features you will find on other Sony W range models, but it has 7 megapixels rather than anything more exotic.
The top camera in this part of the Sony range is currently the Sony DSC W300.
Rating: Average
Well perhaps the Sony DSC W110 is a bit better than average. I like the colours this range of camera produces and The DSC W110 is very reasonably priced.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Sony DSC W110 review and ratings
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In the spring of 2008 a fair number of cameras with wide angle lenses were sprinkled among the new announcements. The Olympus FE-350 is one of these. Owing to the small nature of the sensor inside a digital camera and the small size of the camera and lens overall the sharpness of pictures taken with a camera with the lens zoomed right out has often struggled compared to other types of photograph. Manufacturers are now feeling increasingly confident that the quality of the optics used with these compact digital cameras is improving. Hence the introduction of more and more digital cameras with wide angle lenses.
Panasonic are probably a little ahead of the field in this market and they have a selection of cameras offering wide angle lenses. When it comes to picture quality one of their models I like is the Panasonic DMC FS20. This camera also rates highly for ease of use. Ease of use is also one of the strengths of the Olympus FE-350. I would go as far as to say this camera is not overburdened with features and Olympus have concentrated their efforts on delivering a camera that is straightforward. This has also help to keep the cost of the camera to a reasonable mark.
The FE-350 has 8 megapixels and a 4x optical zoom lens. Another feature worth noting is the large 3 inch LCD screen. The FE-350 is available in black and silver.
Rating: Below Average
Summary: Picture quality was a problem for me in all my tests. I thought the camera did not handle contrasting scenes very well and often there was a lack of clarity and definition in the photos.
Is the FE-350 right for you? For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Olympus FE-350 review and ratings
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The Sony T range of digital cameras are some of the most stylish you will find on the market. The Sony DSC T300 is the latest model from this range to hit the market. I guess I would describe the design as minimalist. The camera is more or less button free and a sliding lens cover takes up most of the front of the camera. I am not sure what it is, but something really works about the design and gives it a high class look. In fact if I had to buy a digital camera based on looks alone, I would be hard pressed to come up with a camera to beat this one. It is available in silver, red and black.
You should have no problem fitting the DSC T300 into a pocket as it is a very slim and sleek model. The only thing you may wish to think about here is that it is so good looking you may not want to take the chance of scratching the camera in any way when you take it out or put it in a pocket. Therefore a small case is another option worth considering.
The most noticeable feature the DSC T300 has is a touch controlled LCD screen. This is the reason why the camera is almost button free, because all the main controls apart from zoom are controlled through the touch screen. The screen is also very large in size at 3.5 inch and takes up more or less the entire back of the camera.
With 10 megapixels there is plenty of power for generating large prints. The 5x optical zoom lens is a bonus as it allows you to zoom in that bit closer than the more basic 3x optical zoom cameras that are still very common in the pocket camera market.
If the idea of a touch screen does not turn you on and you would like to consider another high quality pocket camera then try taking a look at the Canon IXUS 90 IS.
Rating: Above average
I would describe the picture quality of the DSC T300 as above average and the camera will take a decent snapshot in most situations.
For a full review, some sample images and price comparisons please see: Sony DSC T300 Review and Ratings.
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The Panasonic DMC LZ10 has a number of features tucked away inside its compact body. When you take into account the price tag for this camera it certainly offers a good number of features.
To start with it offers manual exposure controls. These include aperture priority and shutter priority. These features allow you control over the aperture size and shutter speed. They let you influence the way the final image will look. Having these features available makes the DMC LZ10 a possible starter camera for someone who may wish to take up photography as a hobby before moving onto a more advanced model.
You will also find features such as bracketing, a burst mode and continuous shooting. There are also the more standard features such as image stabilisation, face detection and continuous shooting.
A feature I like with the current Panasonic range is the LCD screen high angle mode. This helps you to see the screen more clearly if you need to hold the camera above eye level to take a photo. This could be if you are taking a photo over the top of a crowd.
The power of the 5x optical zoom lens can be increased if you are prepared to take pictures at a lower resolution. The maximum amount of zoom available is 8.9x when shooting at 3 megapixels. This gives you a bit of extra flexibility and you can mix and match megapixels and zoom depending on the photo opportunities.
Panasonic is also the only brand I can recall that offers wide screen movies across more or less the full range of their cameras.
A smaller camera with a 5x optical zoom is the Olympus FE 340.
Rating: Above Average
Overall the Panasonic DMC LZ10 is a good choice for someone who is looking for a camera with plenty of features without paying out for a top of the range digital camera.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Panasonic DMC LZ10 review and ratings
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As zoom lenses get longer manufacturers have been searching for ways to differentiate their cameras. One such way has been to introduce camera that have longer lenses, but also have a more compact body size. Although these cameras are too large to fit easily into a pocket they are much easier to carry around than their larger, heavier competitors.
This spring/summer Panasonic and Sony have both introduced new models that fall into this category. The Panasonic DMC TZ5 and Panasonic DMC TZ4 are the smaller of the models when compared to the Sony DSC H10 , but the Sony model also offers a manual exposure mode.
Another big advantage the DSC H10 has is when it comes to shutter lag. This is the annoying delay between pressing the shutter button and the picture actually being taken. A long delay time is often the cause of a missed photo opportunity. Sony has a very good track record in this area and the shutter lag time recorded by the DSC H10 is one of the fastest I have come across.
The manual exposure mode allows you to set the shutter speed and aperture size. It should be noted that neither shutter priority nor aperture priority is available. I should point out that according to the Sony website you should have access to aperture priority, but for the life of me I could not find it.
I was impressed by the overall picture quality produced by the DSC H10 as well. It may not be the best in the business, but if you are on the lookout for a smaller, super zoom it is worth finding out more about this camera.
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The Fuji Finepix F100FD is one of those cameras that I am struggling to find a unique selling point for. I guess it’s not surprising. In a crowded market not every camera can stand out from the crowd and shout buy me!
The camera does have one or two extra features compared to standard point and shoot cameras. These include face detection, image stabilisation and red eye correction. These three features are being rolled out to more and more cameras and although they are not yet standard across the board they are likely to become so over the next year.
One feature I have not seen on any other consumer compact is a control to adjust the dynamic range. The dynamic range dictates how much detail a camera is able to show in scenes with high contrast with light and dark areas. In my tests this feature did work in a fashion. It did add extra colour to darker areas, but overall the pictures tended to lose definition.
There is a problem elsewhere with the Finepix F100FD. That is on some shots taken using a higher ISO setting a pink band can appear down the side of the photo. A patch is now available to fix this from the Fuji website. The patch can be downloaded free of charge and then applied to the camera.
A more classy point and shoot camera with a wide angle lens is the Panasonic DMC FX35.
Rating: Average
There is nothing drastically wrong with the picture quality output by the Fuji Finepix F100FD, but I feel there are a number of cameras out there that just have the edge over this one. In fact this is not only limited to picture quality, but to build quality and ease of use as well.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Fuji Finepix F100FD review and ratings
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The Canon IXUS range provides that bit of extra quality over and above the majority of their rivals. One of the main reasons for this is the sharpness of the photos they produce. This is a testament to the quality of the lenses Canon fit these small cameras with.
The latest camera in this range for me to review is the Canon IXUS 90 IS. This is a ten megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom lens. Canon has introduced three very similar models in the last few months. There is this one, the Canon IXUS 80 IS and the Canon IXUS 85 IS. There is not a great deal of difference between the three models when it comes to picture quality. Canon have given all three of the cameras a slightly different look. As well as looking a little different the biggest differences are that the IXUS 85 IS is an 8 megapixel model whereas both the IXUS 85 IS and IXUS 90 IS have ten megapixels. These two differ in that the IXUS 85 IS has a viewfinder and a 2.5 inch LCD screen, while the IXUS 90 IS has a larger 3 inch screen, but no viewfinder. Talking of LCD screens the quality of the screens on these cameras is much better than you will find with most other brands. I found the screens easy to see even in very sunny conditions.
Canon also packs a few extras into most of their cameras. Here we can see this with image stabilisation, time lapse movies, additional flash options and a number of colour options. The flash options include the ability to clean up any red eye in a portrait shot taken with the flash on.
If you are interested in diving with this camera then you may also be interesting in buying an underwater case for it. There is also an option to buy a flash unit to go with the camera. This gives a boost to the lighting provided by the built in flash unit.
Rating: Above Average
No complaints about picture quality or anything else come to that. This is a quality digital camera.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Canon IXUS 90 IS review and ratings
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You are spoilt for choice when it comes to picking up a pocket digital camera. In the region of twenty five models have been introduced in the past three months alone. Quite often when I review these cameras it is difficult to come up with clear reasons for buying one camera over another.
The camera I have in front of me today is the Panasonic DMC FS20. This camera is very similar to the Panasonic DMC FS3 and Panasonic DMC FS5. All three are new this spring.
The DMC FS20 is the top of the range model. To be honest there is not a great deal of difference in these cameras, but the DMC FS20 does have a large 3 inch LCD screen and a toggle to help you select the menu options you wish to use.
Panasonic is one of my favourite digital camera brands. You know roughly what you are going to get each time. The build quality of their cameras is good and when it comes to features I always feel Panasonic put plenty of thought into their cameras. They are one of the few brands to include image stabilisation as standard on just about all their cameras. Simple things can make a difference too. An example of this is the easy zoom button on the top of this camera. Press this and the camera immediately zooms into its maximum capacity.
Another feature I like is the fact that you can increase the amount of zoom available if you decide to shoot at lower resolutions. A maximum of 7.1x zoom becomes available when shooting at 2 megapixels. Now you may not want to go this low with the resolution, but there is no need to shoot at the full 10 megapixel resolution if all you are after is 6 x 4 inch or 7 x 5 inch prints. So with this feature Panasonic have added an impressive piece of functionality giving the camera increased flexibility.
Another high quality pocket camera is the: Canon IXUS 85 IS review.
Rating: Above Average
I like the Panasonic DMC FS20. As mentioned above it has a good range of features and ease of use utilities. Picture quality is above average and I also found the camera easy to use.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Panasonic DMC FS20 review and ratings
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The headline grabbing feature of the Sony DSC W300 is likely to be its 13.6 megapixel resolution. In my opinion this offers two big advantages. The first is that you can crop a photo and still be able to make a print. The second is that it gives you flexibility to be able to choose between shooting at a very high resolution or to increase the amount of zoom at your disposal. This is achieved through a feature Sony refer to as super zoom and it become available as you shoot at lower resolutions. There is a maximum of 19x zoom available when shooting at the lowest resolution.
You will notice that I have not included picture quality in the big advantages. This is because I feel that extra megapixels are not the most important factor in taking a high quality photo. There is also a school of thought that in squeezing more and more pixels into a small sensor picture quality may even be harmed rather than improved owing to the fact that each pixel has to be smaller and smaller.
The Sony DSC W300 is a point and shoot camera, but with a number of extra features when compared to other similar models. To start with there are settings for widescreen television playback and 6 x 4 inch prints without the need to trim the image in order to fit it on to the paper for printing. Next up come image stabilisation to counter any handshake when taking a photo and face detection focusing. This is for producing sharper portrait photos.
If you want to take a photo every time someone smiles then the DSC W300 can achieve this through its smile shutter setting. It looks out for someone smiling and automatically fires off a shot.
You can adjust sharpness, saturation and contrast as well as trying to combat noise with the noise reduction setting. After a portrait photo has been taken using flash you can also try to clean up any red eye in the shot by using the red eye correction tool. The power of the flash can be increased or reduced to suit the photo opportunity.
Colours are well catered for too. Alongside the standard black and white and sepia options there are colour filters for red, green, blue, warm and cool.
More advanced features such as continuous shooting for 100 shots and bracketing are available too.
Another classy point and shoot camera with more options than standard is the Canon IXUS 970 IS.
Rating: Average
When it comes to picture quality I can’t describe the Sony DSC W300 as outstanding, but it does a decent job in most situations.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Sony DSC W300 review and ratings
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The Panasonic DMC TZ4 is a surprisingly compact camera considering it has a 10x optical zoom lens. The other difference between this camera and more typical super zoom models is that this camera does not have any sophisticated manual controls. That may disappoint some people, but for others it means you are not paying for features you do not need and it also helps to keep the camera nice and simple when it comes to using it.
Panasonic have packed a lot into the relatively small body of the DMC TZ4. There is some clever stuff here such as being able to shoot widescreen movies and to be able to view the LCD clearly even when you are holding it above eye level to take a photo. There are also special resolutions for playing back still photos on a widescreen television and for making 6 x 4 inch prints without having to have your image trimmed first.
For those of you who like to take landscape photos or perhaps groups of people, the wide angle lens is a bonus. As with any wide angle lens you have the capability to squeeze more detail into the photo.
This generation of Panasonic digital cameras has a different looking menu system to previous models. As much as I liked the previous version the screens used now are brighter. All in all it should not take you long to start to find your way around this camera.
Another smaller super zoom digital camera worth checking out is the Sony DSC H3.
Rating: Above Average
Summary: All in all the Panasonic DMC TZ4 impressed me. It may not be the best camera ever invented, but if you have a spot of traveling lined up and you would like the extra zoom power without having to go for a big hefty camera then this is could be the one for you.
For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Panasonic DMC TZ4 review and ratings
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The Nikon Coolpix P60 is an 8 megapixel digital camera with a 5x optical zoom lens. It is aimed at someone who takes photography more seriously than someone who is look for a basic point and shoot camera.
Key features include image stabilisation, a manual exposure mode that allows you to set the shutter speed and aperture size, an electronic viewfinder and a continuous shooting mode.
Other features that may sound less significant, but mark the Coolpix P60 out as a step up from the more simple models include flash exposure compensation and being able to manually set the focusing area. There is also a useful feature that attempts to automatically correct red eye if it detects it in a portrait taken using flash.
One thing I like about the Coolpix P60 is the design and ergonomics of the camera. The build quality is certainly much better than you find on cheaper models and this becomes apparent the moment you pick the camera up and try it out in the hand. There is a grip on the front that makes it easier to hold the camera steady for taking a shot. The control dial on the top of the camera helps to bring additional controls to your fingertips and make the camera easier to use. The viewfinder will also be an attractive feature to many people who prefer to hold a camera close to them while taking a photograph.
Another camera with more features than a standard point and shoot camera is the Canon Powershot A590 IS.
Rating: Above Average
The Nikon Coolpix P60 takes bright photos with natural colours. It offers an alternative to the models offered by the Canon Powershot range.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Nikon Coolpix P60 review and ratings
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If you take lots of photos of rolling landscapes or groups of people then the best option is likely to be a digital camera with a wide angle lens. This type of lens allows you to squeeze more detail into the shot. The Panasonic DMC FX35 has the widest angle lens I have tested to date. If you want to go any wider than this then you will need to go down the digital SLR route.
The DMC FX35 has a lot going for it. It has a very clean design, but I like the way the camera looks. In the hand it also gives a feeling of having a bit of extra quality. The LCD screen is good quality and I could see it in most conditions. It also has a special high angle mode. This makes the screen easy to see if you need to hold the camera up high to take a shot. The most likely reason for this is if you are taking a picture over the top of a crowd. You could also use this to see what the neighbours are getting up to over the garden wall! Just kidding.
Another feature I like that you do not see on many other cameras is the widescreen movie mode. With the number of widescreen televisions knocking about it is a surprise to me that more brands do not offer a widescreen movie mode.
The DMC FX35 has 10 megapixels and a 4x optical zoom lens. The fact that it is a wide angle lens does mean that when it comes to zooming in the camera has less zoom capability than most 3x optical zoom lenses. That’s certainly worth knowing!
Another camera that you can fit into a pocket is the Canon IXUS 80 IS. This is another very good camera, but it does not have a wide angle lens like the DMC FX35.
Rating: Above Average
I like the Panasonic DMC FX35 a lot and would be happy to own one. Picture quality is very good and I also found the camera easy to use.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Panasonic DMC FX35 review and ratings
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Sometimes I get a camera to review and I think, “Hmmm there is nothing really wrong with this camera. At the same time there isn’t anything that is so outstanding or even different enough about it to come up with a reason to say Buy this camera”. The Sony DSC W130 certainly falls into that category.
Let me see.
Picture quality. Average. The camera can take a decent snapshot, but the quality of the photos does not stand out from the crowd.
Looks. Standard. When it comes to design this could be an identikit digital camera. It has a simple design and is a standard rectangular shape. There is very little to dislike about the design, that’s for sure. It’s also available in black and silver.
Ease of Use. In fairness I find Sony digital cameras easier to use that some other brands, but even so I can’t say this is the easiest digital camera you will find in the shops.
Price. Well, it is cheaper than many of the more sleek and stylish digital cameras, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say this camera is an absolute bargain either.
So why would anyone buy this camera? A lot of people buy because of the brand name. Perhaps you have a Sony television you are happy with or you are a big Playstation fan and always buy Sony. Well, if that is you then the DSC W130 should not disappoint. It does the job it sets out to do without a lot of fuss and bother.
You are almost spoilt for choice when it comes to pocket sized digital cameras. One that is more expensive, but I think is worth the extra money is the Canon IXUS 85 IS. Like the Sony DSC W130 it comes with a viewfinder and has image stabilisation as well. In my view it has the edge when it comes to picture quality.
Rating: Average
Very average indeed! As I say there is nothing really wrong with this camera. I just wish it was that bit better all round.
Summary: For a full review, ratings and sample images please visit: Sony DSC W130 review and ratings
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