SlashScope

The Canon PowerShot A550 digital camera has been reviewed over at KenRockwell.com. 'The Canon A550 is photography's best buy as of February 2007. For $199.99 (list price) you get a camera capable of making excellent photos. It's got an excellent, sharp 4x optical zoom and 7.1 Megapixels, far more than enough for making great prints at least 12 x 18" (30 x 40 cm). You can pay more, but you won't get significantly better photos unless you're looking at science lab tests with a very powerful microscope. If you do use that microscope, the A550 is sharper than many more expensive cameras that compromise optical quality in favor of more compact size!'

Features:
• 7.1 Megapixels
• 4x optical zoom
• DIGIC II, iSAPS and 9-point AiAF
• 2.0" LCD screen
• 13 shooting modes and My Colors
• High-speed ISO 800
• VGA movies with sound
• PictBridge and Print/Share button
• Powered by AA batteries

Read: Canon PowerShot A550 - KenRockwell.com

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The Nikon Coolpix S10 digital camera has been reviewed over at The Photography Blog. ‘The Nikon Coolpix S10 is a return to the past in terms of design, with the retro twisting body being first seen on Coolpix models like the 900 and 950. Nikon have brought that design bang up to date with a 10x optical zoom lens (38-380mm), large 2.5 inch LCD screen and maximum ISO of 800. Advanced Vibration Reduction helps to combat camera shake by shifting the camera's sensor, an essential feature with such a long lens, whilst the unique swivel body allows greater freedom to shoot from different angles. The Nikon S10 also features the usual trio of Nikon technologies, namely Face-priority AF, D-Lighting and In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, to help improve your photos. Other features include a 6 megapixel sensor, PictMotion movies, one-touch portrait button and 15 different scene modes.’

Read: Nikon Coolpix S10 Review - The Photography Blog

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Megapixel.net have published their review of the Pentax K100D digital SLR. 'Pentax's K100D fits in between the K110D and the K10D in the company's line-up of digital SLR cameras. The K100D has a 6.1 megapixel resolution, a 2.5-inch LCD monitor, and an image stabilization system at the CCD level. The K100D's polycarbonate body is black, solid, and extremely well-finished. The body shape is well-designed and provides comfortable and secure hold, with rubber covered areas on the grip and a ridge that fits the thumb on the back. The top of the K100D's grip supports the chrome shutter release, surrounded by the power switch, which also serves as a depth of field preview when pulled to the position.'

Features:
• 6.1 MP APS-C size CCD with high-performance imaging engine and advanced image-processing technologies
• High-precision SAFOX VIII 11-point auto focus (9 cross-type sensors) system with single and continuous AF
• Sensitivity equivalent to ISO 200 to 3200 with an auto mode that takes advantage of the entire range
• Mode Dial includes the standard Exposure Modes, Auto Picture Mode, Picture Modes, and now Scene Modes
• Large 2.5-inch LCD monitor with 210,000 pixel resolution, wide viewing angle and 12 time zoom
• Sophisticated 16-segment multi-pattern metering determines the optimal exposure settings

Read: Pentax K100D - Megapixel.net

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A review of the Canon ZR850 MiniDV Camcorder, which records high-quality digital video on small tapes, has been posted on CNET. 'As the top model in Canon's Mini DV line this year, you shouldn't expect earth-shattering improvements from the ZR850 over last year's models. After all, manufacturers seem to be putting more resources into DVD and hard drive-based models. The overall design keeps what we referred to last year as the "palm-friendly design," and again bumps the optical zoom up a bit, this time from 25x to 35x. As we've come to expect from Canon, the ZR850 delivers admirable color reproduction in good lighting, but it can't keep up with the competition when it comes to low light.'

Features:
• 35x Optical and 1000x Digital Zoom
• Lens: Focal length: 2.6-91mm, f/2.0 - 5.0
• Image Stabilization: Shoot Steady Video even without a tripod for professional looking videos
• Smooth Zoom Control: 3 pre-set zoom speeds
• Level and Grid Markers: Both markers can be set to White or grey for enhanced visibility
• Built-in Video Light
• 1.07 Megapixels 1/6-inch CCD Image Sensor
• MiniDV Tape Format
• Viewfinder: 0.35-inch, 114,000 pixels, widescreen
• LCD Screen: 2.7-inch, 112,000 pixels, widescreen
• Exposure Lock: Lets you lock your exposure settings and then recompose your shot
• Auto Slow Shutter Function: Ensures perfect exposures in low light by lowering your shutter speed
• 9 Point Ai-AF: Auto Intelligent Auto focus will bring it into sharp focus
• Progressive Photo gives you sharper detail in your digital photography
• Scene Modes: Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight or Fireworks
• Image Effects: Vivid, Neutral, Low-Sharpening, and Skin Detail
• Dimensions: Width 2.2 x Height 3.6 x Depth 4.7 inch (57 x 92 x 119 mm not including grip belt)
• Weight: 13.4 ounces (380 grams

Read: Canon ZR850 - CNET

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A review of the 8-megapixel Kodak EasyShare V803 digital camera has been posted at Pocket Lint. 'Kodak’s latest V-series cameras have two new additions; identical apart from the V803 has an 8-megapixel sensor the other, the V1003 has a 10-megapixel sensor. Each is available in a range of natty colours and here I test the black 8-megapixel variant, the V803.Initial impressions are very good, the camera features a nice 3x-zoom lens that pops out ready for action and the large 2.5-inch LCD makes for easy use of menus and keeping abreast of the key features you are using when shooting.'

Read: Kodak EasyShare V803 digital camera Review - Pocket Lint

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CNET have published their review of the Panasonic SDR-S150 SD card-based camcorder 'The SDR-S150's modest feature set makes the menus and manual controls easy to understand and navigate. You can activate the wind filter or enable zooming for the mic; choose from among three different recording-quality options--best quality (25 minutes on the bundled 2GB card), medium quality (50 minutes), and lowest quality (100 minutes); jump between wide-screen and standard 4:3 aspect modes; enable the optical image stabilization and digital zoom; and boost the sensor gain for low-light shooting (MagicPix). When shooting in Auto mode, your options are limited to backlight compensation, Soft Skin mode, and a zoom macro mode. The Soft Skin mode seems a bit redundant, since the video is never sharp enough to show the kind of detail that makes a mode like this necessary.'

Read: Panasonic SDR-S150 - CNET

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Digital Trends have posted a review of the 10-megapixel Pentax K10D digital SLR. 'The front of the camera is pretty straight forward and dominated by the lens opening. Pentax, like every major D-SLR maker, has dozens of optional lenses. The K10D accepts all Pentax F-, FA-, DA- and DFA- lenses and they’ll function with the camera’s electronics when used in Auto. The lens supplied is the usual 18-55mm which translates to 27-82.5mm due to the 1.5x digital factor. Surrounding the lens mount is a key to change auto focus setting (single, continuous, manual), a flash open key and a very cool one not found on the competition—a RAW button. If you’re shooting in JPEG and the urge to shoot in high-quality RAW hits you, simply hit the button and you’re set. Almost every other D-SLR makes you go through the menu system to perform this task. Nice one, Pentax! You’ll also find a few subtle logos but nothing that seriously detracts from the design.'

Read: Pentax K10D - Digital Trends

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The Canon PowerShot A460 digital camera has been reviewed over at CNET. ' The chunky, brick-shaped A460 weighs 7.4 ounces with batteries and memory card, and at 1.6 inches thick, it's a bit too fat to fit in your jeans. The minimalist control layout consists of four buttons and a zoom rocker integrated into a menu-navigating joy pad. This is an irritating design, and large thumbs will be prone to accidentally bumping the zoom in or out, or changing settings such as flash when using the zoom. As a budget shooter, the A460 fails to really stand out of the crowd. Its most notable aspect is its 38mm-to-152mm-equivalent 4x lens, slightly more powerful than the 3x lenses found on most snapshot cameras. Its 2-inch LCD, however, is just a bit smaller than the norm. Fortunately, the small screen leaves enough room for an optical viewfinder, offering greater flexibility when framing shots. Besides those features, the A460 has the standard compliment of scene modes and presets, though its movie mode is limited to either VGA resolution at 10 frames per second or QVGA (320x240) at 30fps. Most cameras have a 30fps VGA movie mode, making this a disappointing omission for users who want to shoot videos with their camera.'

Read: Canon PowerShot A460 - CNET

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A review of the lightweight Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 10-megapixel digital camera has been posted at PC Magazine. 'The LX2 has a 4X optical zoom, which is just a bit more than the normal 3X optical, and it starts out at a very wide 28mm setting. The actual setting is a range of 6.3 to 25.2mm, which is equivalent to a 35mm lens with a 28mm to 112mm zoom. It has corresponding maximum f-stops of f/2.8 to 4.9. I'd like to see the telephoto end have a larger number, but perhaps the sensor or lens can't handle such a wide aperture at the telephoto en Even so, the 28mm is a great place to start, whether you're trying to capture a large group shot at a party or you want to send your in-laws shots of the new baby's room without creating panoramas. A 28mm wide angle gives you a bit of distortion at the edges, but I think you'll be able to overlook this considering that you can capture more of a scene. I also appreciate the high ISO, which goes all the way up to 3,200 ISO.'

Read: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 - PC Mag

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Digital Camera Review have published their review of the compact Powershot SD900 digital camera. 'The SD900 is a new addition to the Powershot line and like many point and shoot cameras in the Canon SD line, it offers virtually no manual controls. The ability to produce images with large file sizes seems tailored for those who wish to print big enlargements or aggressively crop their shots to produce the desired result. Canon provides a wrist strap, battery charger, battery pack, AV and interface cables, a 32MB SD memory card and CD-ROM software with each SD900. With a 10 megapixel sensor that 32MB card won’t last long, so plan on buying one with more capacity. A 4GB card allows for some 950+ images at the largest file size and image quality settings, at least according to the camera’s counter.'

Read: Canon Powershot SD900 - Digital Camera Review

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Trusted Reviews have posted their review of the Canon EOS 400D digital SLR. 'The handgrip is still a bit skinny compared to the generous grips on its Sony and Nikon rivals, but even with my large hands it felt comfortable and secure to hold. It is slightly heavier than its predecessor, weighing 510g body only as opposed to 485g for the 350D, and it is a whole millimetre thicker, measuring 126.5 x 94.2 x 65mm (64mm for the 350D). It is smaller and lighter than the Sony A100, but a little larger and heavier than the Olympus E-400. There are some significant external changes, at least one of which will not be welcomed by everyone. It loses the 350D’s backlit LCD data display, opting instead to present shooting and status data on the monitor screen, as do most of the current mid-range DSLRs. The monitor is larger and sharper, 2.5in and 230k pixels versus 1.8in and 115k pixels for the 350D, which is a big improvement, and like the Sony A100 and Olympus E-400 it has a proximity sensor under the viewfinder eyepiece so the monitor shuts off when you put the camera to your eye. Data is displayed in black text on a white background, which is easy to read, and is laid out is a clear and concise manner.'

Read: Canon EOS 400D - Trusted Reviews

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A review of the Nikon Coolpix S9 digital camera has been posted over at Computer Active. 'Swelling Nikon’s ‘Style’ series, the slender metallic chassis of the S9 follows on from the Wifi equipped S7c, though it boasts a million less pixels under the bonnet (a still respectable 6.1 megapixels). With width and height a fraction larger than a credit card, and an internal 3x optical zoom, the S9 glides into palm or pocket. No mere boy racer, this lightweight compact features Nikon’s Face Priority AF whereby your subject remains sharp even if not central in the frame. It adds in-camera red eye fix, the ability to enhance detail in shadow and create frame-by-frame ‘stop motion’ clips.'

Read: Review: Nikon Coolpix S9 digital camera - Computer Active

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Trusted Reviews have published their review of the budget-priced Fujifilm FinePix A700 digital snap shooter. 'Despite its low price, few corners have been cut in build quality or finish. The A700 has a part metal, part plastic case in a matt silver colour that doesn’t show up finger marks, with some shiny chrome parts that do, but it is well made and feels solid and robust. Measuring 93 x 60 x 30mm it’s not a particularly small camera, and weighing approximately 190g including two AA batteries it’s none too light either, so it’s not really one to carry in your shirt pocket. However the lens has an automatic cover and folds flush with the body, while the minimal controls are all smoothly rounded, so it’ll live comfortably in a coat pocket or handbag.'

Read: Fujifilm FinePix A700 - Trusted Reviews

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A review of the D2X Professional digital SLR camera from Nikon has been posted over at CNET. 'Built to last, with a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, the Nikon D2Xs sports the same thoughtful design as its predecessor. Its built-in vertical grip helps make this model larger than the average SLR. It measures 6.2x5.9x3.4 inches without a lens, and at 2.8 pounds (with its battery and a CompactFlash card), it's not exactly light either, though it's still about half a pound lighter than the EOS-1Ds Mark II. That said, the D2Xs is extremely comfortable to hold, with a fully rubberized grip that's very nicely contoured. It even has a slight indentation on the inside of the front of the grip that, along with the curved ridge on the camera back, keeps the camera feeling secure in your hand no matter what angle you hold it at. Buttons and dials are conveniently located for the most part, and Nikon paid close attention to making sure that any controls that might be susceptible to accidental switching have some sort of locking mechanism. For example, you have to pull the diopter dial out before turning it, just as you have to pull a wristwatch's pin to set the time, and the second shutter release (on the vertical grip) and the menu navigation rocker can both be locked. In our field tests, we were able to quickly and easily change any of the shooting parameters without confusion. The one slightly counterintuitive control involves playback. To navigate through images you've taken, you have to press up or down on the rocker control, but pressing left or right would make more sense. Nikon's big, bright viewfinder makes framing and manual focusing more enjoyable than they are on some less-expensive SLRs.'

Read: Nikon D2Xs (with lens) - CNET

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Digital Trends have reviewed the Panasonic HDC-SD1 camcorder which records HD video direct to SDHC cards. 'The Panasonic HDC-SD1 is a perfect example of the blessings of solid state memory. Because video is recorded directly to Secure Digital or SDHC cards, bulky tape mechanisms and HDDs are nowhere to be found. This let Panasonic engineers create one of the slickest-looking camcorders ever. While it won’t have the cachet of the iPod or iPhone, it’s very sleek and stylish - a true small wonder. The -SD1 measures 2.9 inches wide, 2.71 high and 5.6 inches deep; it weighs 17.4 ounces with battery, SD card and strap. The horizontal-style camcorder has a minimalist design with very few buttons. The plastic body has a silver tone while the LCD monitor door has a pearl-like luster. The front is dominated by the 12x Leica Dicomar zoom with a built-in lens cap. You can add filters and accessory lenses that fit the 43mm diameter twist-off ring.'

Read: Panasonic HDC-SD1 - Digital Trends

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Personal Computer World have published their review of the Nikon D40 digital SLR camera. 'Despite its size, the D40 finds room for a large 2.5in LCD panel that is put to good use by a new menu and control system. Quite unlike anything we’ve seen before on a digital SLR, the D40’s user interface is a graphically rich, yet un-cluttered affair more like those on Nikon's Coolpix range of compact cameras. There’s no top-mounted status LCD on the D40, but all the information you need is displayed clearly at the rear. As with the Olympus control system, the status readout on the D40 becomes interactive, allowing you to navigate through it with the cursor keys and change settings such as ISO, white balance and quality options quickly without having to delve into the full menu system.'

Read: Nikon D40 - Personal Computer World

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A review of the Nikon Coolpix S7c digital camera has been posted on the Digital Camera Resource Page. 'The Coolpix S7c ($350) is the update to the Coolpix S6, which was one of Nikon's first cameras to support Wi-Fi. The S7c supports Wi-Fi too -- in fact, it's been enhanced over its predecessor. While before you could just transfer photos to your computer wirelessly, the S7c lets you e-mail photos right from your camera, from almost any Wi-Fi access point. It's even preset for T-Mobile Hotspots (usually found at Starbucks), so you can send some photos while sipping your double americano.'

Read: DCRP Review: Nikon Coolpix S7c

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Digital Photography Review have reviewed the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 compact ultra-zoom camera which features a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens with MEGA O.I.S. Optical Image Stabilizer, ISO rating up to 3200, Venus Engine III image processor, and a 2.5-inch LCD diaplay. 'Almost exactly a year after the introduction of the DMC-FZ7, Panasonic's popular compact super-zoom camera, comes its replacement; the Lumix DMC-FZ8. Where the FZ7 was a fairly major upgrade to the camera that came before it (the FZ5), the FZ8 is, perhaps inevitably, more evolutionary. The body design and operation is almost identical - no bad thing, given the huge improvements made over the FZ5 - and the only really big news is the inclusion of Raw shooting and a much better electronic viewfinder.'

Read: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 - Digital Photography Review

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Digital Camera Info have published their review of the Kodak EasyShare V705ultra-wide-angle zoom digital camera. 'The dual lens look of the Kodak EasyShare V705 is very similar to the other V-series dual lens cameras. The lenses are stacked atop each other, and both lenses are encircled by a larger decorative silver circle. This looks a little odd to consumers who are more interested in the traditional single lens format, but Kodak pulls it off and even makes it look stylish. The camera body is boxy with sharp edges and chrome highlights throughout; it looks sleek and is just the type of camera you want to whip out of your pocket when snapping a few pictures at the club or charity event. The Kodak EasyShare V705 comes in three colors: Silver Essence, Midnight Black, and Absolute Pink. The silver color can be found in stores, but the black and pink cameras can only be found online. Overall, the slim and sleek design of the Kodak EasyShare V705 makes it very tempting for point-and-shooters everywhere.'

Read: Kodak EasyShare V705 - Digital Camera Info

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A review of the Kodak EasyShare C875 digital camera has been posted over at Trusted Reviews. 'This is a deceptive camera. At first glance it looks like any other point-and-shoot zoom compact, but that simple appearance disguises what is actually a surprisingly high-spec device. It has a strong all-metal body with a good ergonomic design, an 8-megapixel CCD, a decently fast f2.8 – f/4.4 Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon 5x zoom lens with a focal length equivalent to 37 – 185mm, a high resolution 2.5in LCD monitor and a full range of manual exposure controls. In fact if you look around there isn’t another camera on the market that can match it. The closest equivalent is probably the Canon PowerShot A630, but that is made of plastic and only has a 4x zoom lens. It also costs around £170, while the C875 is widely available for under £125.'

Read: Kodak EasyShare C875 - Trusted Reviews

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CNET have published their review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W35 digital camera. 'Though identical in size and shape to the DSC-W30, the 0.9-inch thick DSC-W35 is a full ounce lighter than its predecessor. With battery, the W35 weighs a scant 5.3 ounces compared to the W30's significantly heftier 6.8 ounces. A much lighter battery accounts for some of this weight difference, as the metal cameras respectively weigh 4.2 and 4.5 ounces without battery or memory card. Fortunately, the battery doesn't sacrifice any power with its weight; the W35's battery is a 3.6-volt, 960 mAh lithium-ion pack, just like the W30. From the mode dial in the upper-right corner to the USB jack just below the LCD, the two cameras' designs are almost exactly the same. The controls are responsive and comfortable to handle, so we can't really find any fault in Sony recycling their design. The only problem we found was the anemic 2-inch LCD screen. We're glad that it leaves enough room on the back of the camera for an optical viewfinder, but these days a 2-inch screen just feels too small.'

Read: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W35 - CNET

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Digital Camera Info have published their review of the PowerShot SD40 digital camera from Canon. 'The Canon PowerShot SD40 follows the SD30 by adding a few more megapixels, a whole new image processor, and a few adjustments to the specs. This 7.1-megapixel Digital Elph comes in four trendy colors and measures smaller than most cell phones. It has a 2.4x optical zoom lens and a 1.8-inch LCD screen. The biggest innovation on the SD40 is the Digic III image processor that touts face detection and noise reduction technology. In September 2006, Canon announced the SD40 along with two other PowerShot cameras. The company claims that its newer Digital Elphs, including the SD40, are designed to be a little more upscale than previous models. The Canon PowerShot SD40 looks to be just that with its stainless steel housing and trendy styling. The digital camera retails for $349.'

Read: Canon PowerShot SD40 Digital Camera Review - Digital Camera Info

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Camcorder Info have published their "First Impressions" review of the Sony DCR-HC48 MiniDV Handycam camcorder. 'In our tests, the HC46 was a strong performer, producing video that was near the top of its class. We found the camcorder to suffer from blue noise randomly scattered throughout the image, evidenced by numerically higher blue channel readings than expected. This is an unfortunate deficiency found in many Sony camcorders. Resolution scores for the HC46 were very good and only the Elura 100 among similarly priced MiniDV camcorders outclassed it. Sony’s top-of-the-line MiniDV DCR-HC96 is the only camcorder to carry over unchanged from last year, and we found it to be a stellar performer with superb color reproduction and sharpness. The HC96 has a significantly larger sensor measuring 1/3” and boasts 2048K effective pixels, but the added imaging power comes with a steep $800 price tag. The HC36, last year’s step-down model from the HC46, turned in lower scores for both performance and resolution. It came equipped with a lower-resolution 1/6” CCD that has been carried over to its next generation model, the 2007 DCR-HC38.'

Read: Sony DCR-HC48 First Impressions Review - Camcorder Info

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Trusted Reviews have published their review of the Fujifilm FinePix S9600 digital SLR camera. 'The S9600 is physically almost identical to the S9500, and indeed there are no immediately visible external differences apart from the model number on the top of the flash housing. This isn’t at all unexpected; the S9500 won much praise for its exceptional handling, so if it ain’t broke there’s little point in fixing it. There are a couple of changes to the specification though. The S9500’s fold-out 1.8-in, 118,000 pixel LCD monitor has been replaced with a much better 2-in 235,000 pixel unit, which is – at least as far as I am aware – the highest resolution monitor on any camera currently available. It is bright and relatively non-reflective, making it usable in bright sunlight. As on the S9500, the monitor can be folded upward by 90 degrees for use as a waist-level finder, or downward by 45 degrees for overhead use.'

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