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September 28, 2007

Casio Exilim EX-Z77 Review - DigiCamReview

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DigiCamReview have published a review of the sleek Casio Exilim EX-Z77 digital camera. ‘The camera has many options, things like resolution, flash, focusing mode, anti-shake, ISO, white balance, exposure compensation, easy mode, all quickly accessible through the SET button and the Panel Layout mode (you can choose whether you want this on or off, with it on it gives you quick access to the most commonly used features, with it off you have to go into the menu to change options). Flash options are one-touch buttons. One of the more interesting features is the continuous flash shooting mode - this lets you shoot three photos very quickly with flash.’

Read: Casio Exilim EX-Z77 - Digital Camera Review - DigiCamReview

September 27, 2007

Fuji FinePix Z5fd Review – PC Mag

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PC Magazine have published their review of the Fuji FinePix Z5fd pocket camera. ‘Available in silver, raspberry red, and brown finishes, the Z5fd is stylish-looking, with a well-constructed metal body. When opened, its sliding front cover turns the camera on to expose the 3X zoom lens and built-in flash. A small number of buttons puts essential controls at the photographer's fingertips. These buttons also provide one-touch activation of a face-detection mode and a digital antiblur mode that boosts the shutter speed and ISO setting to capture sharper automatic shots. Another function button on the camera provides quick access to quality, ISO, and color settings. Not every feature gets a quick access button, however; exposure compensation and continuous shooting modes are among those that don't. You have to go into the main LCD menu to use them.’

Read: Fuji FinePix Z5fd Review – PC Mag

September 26, 2007

Canon EOS 40D Review - Camera Labs

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A review of the Canon EOS 40D digital SLR camera has been posted over at Camera Labs. 'The EOS 40D’s kit options vary depending on your region. Europe and Australasia have the sensible choice of either the new EF-S 18-55mm IS or the popular EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, while America has the somewhat curious option of the EF 28-135mm IS USM. The latter offers a decent reach, but misses out on wide angle capabilities, but at least all three kit lenses have stabilisation, no doubt a reaction to rival DSLRs with built-in anti-shake facilities. The EOS 40D is of course also available as a body alone. So what we have with the EOS 40D is a camera which appears comfortably superior to Nikon’s D80 and better in many respects to the D200. Indeed the EOS 40D is arguably a mini version of the EOS 1D Mark III with a cropped-frame sensor. Canon clearly took Nikon’s success over the last generation very seriously and after resting on its laurels with the EOS 30D, is now back and fighting.'

Read: Canon EOS 40D Review - Camera Labs

September 24, 2007

Review: Kodak EasyShare V803 - DigitalCameraInfo

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DigitalCameraInfo have published a review of the compact Kodak EasyShare V803 digital camera. 'The Kodak EasyShare V803 is petite and attractive, with its shiny body and curved edges. It is really part camera, part fashion accessory. The buttons and layout on the camera’s back side are modern and minimal. The V803 is offered in eight colors: Pink Bliss, Red Shimmer, Cosmic Blue, Mystic Purple, Golden Dream, White Glaze, Silver Essence, and Midnight Black. Users can pick a color that suits their personality, or at least matches their wardrobe. While cute, the Kodak V803 isn’t the thinnest camera around. Measuring 4.1 x 2.1 x 1 inch, the camera weighs 5 ounces. This EasyShare camera is portable but portly, stylish but stout.'

Read: Kodak EasyShare V803 Digital Camera Review - DigitalCameraInfo.com

September 23, 2007

Canon HV20 Camcorder Review - Computeractive

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Computeractive have published a review of the Canon HV20 camcorder. ‘The HV20 is a strange shape and looks a little bulky compared to some of the sleeker models we’ve seen recently, though the rather ungainly appearance and eyebrow-raising price tag are really its only bad points. In terms of features, the HV20 has almost everything you could possibly look for in a camcorder. As well as recording video in HD (1080i) format, it has an SD memory card slot for storing the still snaps it can take, and even has a built-in flash for low-light photography. It can’t match a dedicated digital still camera for detail, but a 3-megapixel resolution is still more than most other camcorders can muster. A 10x zoom lens and optical image stabiliser are also present, while Instant Auto Focus helps prevent blurriness.’

Read: Review: Canon HV20 digital camcorder - Computeractive

September 21, 2007

Canon PowerShot SD950 IS Review - CNET

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CNET have published a review of the 12-megapixel Canon PowerShot SD950 IS digital camera. ‘In our lab tests, the PowerShot SD950 IS performed well for a 12-megapixel model, though that still makes it slower than some of the other SD models that have fewer megapixels. The camera took 1.3 seconds to start up and capture its first JPEG. After that, it took a slightly sluggish 2 seconds between shots with the flash turned off and 3.5 seconds between shots with the flash turned on. Shutter lag measured a pleasing 0.5 second in our high-contrast test and 1.2 seconds in our low-contrast test, which mimic bright and dim shooting conditions, respectively. In continuous shooting mode, the SD950 IS fell just short of its fancier cousin, the G9, clocking an average of 1.6 frames per second regardless of image size.’

Read: Canon PowerShot SD950 IS - CNET

September 20, 2007

Canon EOS 40D Review – Pocket Lint

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A review of the Canon EOS 40D DSLR digital camera has been posted over at Pocket Lint. ‘While the build is great, the handling suffers slightly from crammed in buttons round the new, larger screen. However, on balance the key button combinations needed to adjust shooting settings are very good. The main shooting control buttons are placed on the top plate behind the shutter button and control dial. Pressing one, say the ISO/exposure/flash compensation button for example and then spinning either the control dial or the large dial on the back plate adjust one of the variables the button deals with. Ditto the metering, AF, and white balance buttons also ranged across the top plate.’

Read: Canon EOS 40D DSLR digital camera Review – Pocket Lint

September 19, 2007

Casio EX-V8 Review -InfoSync World

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A review of the compact Casio EX-V8 digital camera has been posted over at InfoSync World. 'The EX-V8 has an impressive 7X optical zoom lens, especially with its relatively slim size. ISO settings should have offered a little higher than ISO 800, especially when comparable models are shipping with ISO 1600. We’d like to see some better stats from a $300 camera, but it appears most of the money went into the 8.1 megapixel sensor, anti-shake and the 7x internal optical zoom. The auto-focus never seemed to work properly for us. The motor that drove the lens was constantly whirring, and only stopped once we clicked the shutter. The anti-shake made a definite difference, on both video and still shots, working much better than other Casio models we’ve tested. That being said, it usually didn’t matter, because the picture was blurred not by our hand shaking but the failing autofocus.'

Read: Review: Casio EX-V8 compact digital camera - InfoSync World

September 18, 2007

Panasonic HDC-SX5 Camcorder Review - Digital Trends

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Digital Trends have published a review of the Panasonic HDC-SX5 camcorder. 'As always the front of any camcorder is dominated by the lens, in this case a 10x Leica Dicomar optical zoom (700x digital). Don’t bother engaging the digital zoom since the resulting footage is filled with digital noise. It has a twist off ring so you add an optional lens hood or filter. Next to the lens is a flash to help with digital stills since they’ll need all the help they can get as top quality is just 2MP (1920 x 1080 pixels). As I’ve noted many times before, it’s the rare camcorder that takes decent stills and if you can shoot HD video, why bother? Yes, I know there’s always the off chance you might want a still but a 4x6 is about as good as you can get. You’ll also find a cooling outlet, a recording lamp and the white balance/remote control sensor on the front.'

Read: Panasonic HDC-SX5 - Digital Trends

September 17, 2007

Sony HDR-SR8E Camcorder Review - Trusted Reviews

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A review of the Sony HDR-SR8E hard-disk camcorder has been posted over at Trusted Reviews. 'The SR8E has a fair level of high-end features. The built-in lens cover opens automatically when the camera is turned on. The accessory shoe is of course Sony's propriety version, so third-party accessories won't fit. This is a shame, as minijacks are built in for microphone and headphones. But the accessory shoe also supports Sony's 5.1 surround microphone, the ECM-HQP1, assuming you can find one for sale. If you can't, the built-in microphone has three channels - left, right and rear - which it uses to mix the surround signal it records to Dolby Digital 5.1.'

Read: Sony HDR-SR8E Camcorder - Trusted Reviews

September 15, 2007

Review: Canon PowerShot S5 IS - DigitalCameraInfo

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DigitalCameraInfo have published a review of the Canon PowerShot S5 IS hybrid digital camera. ‘The Canon PowerShot S5 IS is built to be handled more than the average compact camera. It has a chunky SLR-like grip that is wide enough for big hands. The inner portion of the hand grip has a rubber surface to give fingers a little more to grip. On the back of the camera, the right thumb can cradle the body on the plastic bumps to the left of the multi-selector. There slight bump beside the multi-selector makes a niche that gives users a better grip. The bottom of the camera is nice and wide, with plenty of room for the left hand. Users can hold the camera like a compact model, with the left thumb supporting the bottom and the other fingers wrapped around the side – or users can hold it like a DSLR, with the left palm cradling the bottom and fingers holding the lens.’

Read: Canon PowerShot S5 IS - DigitalCameraInfo

September 14, 2007

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 Review – The Photography Blog

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A review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 digital camera has been posted over at the Photography Blog. ‘As this is purely a point and shoot camera with no manual controls, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 is not overly complex in terms of the number of external controls that it has, just 8 in total. The majority of the controls are clearly labeled and common to most cameras. There's a clever dial on the top edge of the camera that lets you select the various shooting and scene modes, plus image playback. This dial is reminiscent of the type found on SLR cameras, and enables you to quickly change between the various modes. It does have one drawback - you have to keep switching between the shooting or playback modes, rather than just pressing a button to review your images whilst in a shooting mode, as on most other digital cameras (although the Rev button on the back of the camera provides limited playback functionality).’

Read: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 Review – The Photography Blog

September 13, 2007

Canon PowerShot G9 Review - CNET

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CNET have published a review of the Canon PowerShot G9 digital camera. 'Weighing about 0.2 ounce more than its predecessor--likely the result of the larger LCD--the G9 nevertheless still comes in at just under 13 ounces. Controls cover the areas of the top and back of the camera not covered by the LCD or the optical viewfinder, leaving just enough space for a decent handhold. It's still true that those with large hands may find it difficult to firmly grip the G9 without accidentally covering one button or another. I also found myself wishing that the shutter button and zoom switches were just a bit larger.'

Read: Canon PowerShot G9 - CNET

September 12, 2007

Casio Exilim EX-V7 Review - LetsGoDigital

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LetsGoDigital have published a review of the Casio Exilim EX-V7 digital camera. ‘The Casio Exilim V7 is a middle range digital compact camera with its 7 million pixels. This is more than enough for everyday photography, in fact, it is a standard resolution. The Casio Exilim EX-V7 has Casio’s newest processor, the Exilim Engine 2.0. This processor provides the camera with Autotracking AF, so that the autofocus follows the subject’s movement, controls for clarity so that dark photos are prevented, and controls for colour aberrations. Furthermore, colours can be corrected directly and placed in perspective. The processor is a valuable application, indeed.’

Read: Casio Exilim EX-V7 - LetsGoDigital

September 11, 2007

Olympus FE-250 Review - Trusted Reviews

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Trusted Reviews have published their review of the Olympus FE-250 compact digital camera. 'Olympus has decided that it has a "one button, one function design principle", and it is certainly embodied by the FE-250. The external controls are also minimal, which makes the camera extraordinarily easy to operate. The main menu is also virtually bare, with image size and quality options (only five choices), ISO setting and drive mode, which can be accessed directly from shooting mode anyway, sound recording and panorama stitching mode. There are the usual camera set-up options such as language, date and time and memory card formatting, but that's about it. One uncommon but useful feature is pixel mapping, which can remove any dead pixels, but one thing notable by its absence is the ability to turn off digital zoom.'

Read: Olympus FE-250 - Trusted Reviews

September 10, 2007

Ricoh Caplio R6 Review - DigiCamReview

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DigiCamReview have published a review of the compact Ricoh Caplio R6 digital camera. 'Announced on the 5th of March 07, the Ricoh Caplio R6 is a new compact update to the Ricoh Caplio R5 - the 7 megapixel digital camera has a 7.1x optical zoom lens - this is impressive considering that the camera is now even slimmer. The camera's wide-angle 7.1x optical zoom lens starts at 28mm and zooms to 200mm equivalent, and has a built in lens-cover. The camera also features a "Vibration Correction" CCD sensor, much like Konica Minolta's Anti-shake technology - image stabilisation is becoming more and more common as an effective way to reduce camera shake and blur in low-light or with long zoom lenses. The Ricoh Caplio R6 is available for £162, which is excellent value for money.'

Read: Ricoh Caplio R6 - Digital Camera Review

September 9, 2007

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-G1 Review - CNET

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CNET have published a review of the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-G1 digital camera. ‘Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-G1 defies summarization. Is it an overpriced, overlarge 6-megapixel camera with an optically stabilized f/3.5-to-f/4.3, 38mm-to-114mm (3x) lens? A portable photo album with a big 3.5-inch display but a mere 2GB of memory and frustrating Wi-Fi capabilities? An underfeatured portable media player with not enough memory and basic MP3 and movie playback? Or just a confusing mashup of solutions in search of a problem? The large LCD constrains the G1 to an equally large size; to want this camera you really have to be more interested in huddling around the G1's excellent 3.5-inch LCD display, watching slide shows soundtracked by your favorite MP3s, than in actually shooting photos.’

Read: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1 - CNET

September 7, 2007

Panasonic SDR-H200 Camcorder Review - Camcorder Info

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Camcorder Info have published a review of the Palmcorder SDR-H200 HDD 10X zoom digital camcorder from Panasonic. ‘The Panasonic SDR-H200 is the company’s leading camcorder in their new hybrid hard disk drive (HDD) / SD card camcorder. Featuring an identical imaging set to the VDR-D310, their top DVD camcorder, and the PV-GS320 (Specs, $0), their top MiniDV camcorder, Panasonic obviously places a lot of stock in their quality. The trust is not misplaced. We’ve loved the other camcorders, and the SDR-H200 matches that performance with the convenience of two media. There are some considerable trade-offs with its cousin camcorders, however, and Sony’s DCR-SR200 offers some still competition.’

Read: Panasonic SDR-H200 Camcorder Review – Camcorder Info

September 6, 2007

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX100 Review - Laptop Mag

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A review of the 12-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX100 digital camera has been posted over at Laptop Magazine. 'The idea of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX100 may seem like an anomaly at first. After all, who but professional photographers needs 12 megapixels? And don't prosumers prefer DSLRs? In short, the answer is yes, but even power users want a break from heavy zooms without sacrificing quality, which is where the compact DMC-FX100 fits in. It's the first camera to feature 12-MP resolution and a 28mm wide-angle lens. The FX100's 3.6X optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD, and new 16-meter flash all help make this an impressive performer for $399.'

Read: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX100 - Laptop Mag

September 5, 2007

Casio Exilim Card EX-S880 Review - CNET Asia

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CNET Asia have published a review of the Casio Exilim EX-S880 super-slim digital camera. 'The EX-S880 features an 8-megapixel CCD sensor and Casio's new Exilim Engine 2.0 image processor, compared to the S770's 7-megapixel sensor and original Exilim Engine processor. Beyond these two upgrades, however, the camera's hardware attributes are largely identical to those of its predecessor; as we stated above, both cameras share the same large LCD and 3x lens. The camera's menus and software-based controls keep the same convenient interface, while the new image processor and a few new features set it a bit above the S770.'

Read: Casio Exilim Card EX-S880 - CNET Asia

September 4, 2007

Canon PowerShot SD850 IS Digital Camera Review

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A review of the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS digital camera has been posted over at Digital Camera Info. 'The front of the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS is branded on the left side with a textured metal Canon logo and a printed model name. There is a Digital Elph logo beside the model name. The right side of the camera’s front is a little busier. The optical zoom lens takes up most of this side. The lens sits flat with the rest of the camera body until it is turned on: it then extends in three segments. Each segment has a shiny chrome ring around its edge. Around the glass itself are specs printed on the rim: "Canon Zoom Lens 4x IS, 5.8-23.2mm 1:2.8-5.5." On the right side of the lens around the outer barrel is the "8.0 Megapixels" label. In the upper right corner of the front is the built-in flash unit. Directly above the lens is an auto focus assist lamp, and to its left is a slightly larger optical viewfinder. There is a tiny dot to the upper left of the lens that serves as the built-in microphone. Overall, the front looks compact and neat.'

Read: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS Digital Camera Review - Digital Camera Info

September 3, 2007

Olympus E-510 Review - E Photo Zine

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E Photo Zine have published a review of the Olympus E-510 DSLR camera. ‘Upgraded from the E-500, the Olympus E-510 has a larger resolution, 3fps, Live MOS sensor replacing the old CCD, Image stabiliser, the Olympus Live preview which only lasts a few seconds, Dust reduction which interests me as they don't say dust removal, and a faster Trupic III turbo processor. Looking at the Olympus E-510, it is a nice compact size with lots of buttons which makes it look more professional than it really is, and is surprisingly heavier than its predecessor. The top of the camera has the shutter release in the usual place with the exposure compensation button sat just behind.’

Read: Olympus E-510 Digital SLR Review – E Photo Zine

September 2, 2007

Nikon CoolPix S200 Review - Trusted Reviews

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Trusted Reviews have published a review of the Nikon CoolPix S200 ultracompact digital camera. 'Launched at the same time as the S500 and sharing a similar 7.1MP, 3x zoom, 2.5-in monitor specification, the S200 is nonetheless a very different camera. Where the S500 is replete with advanced technology and designer style, and aimed squarely at Canon's market-leading IXUS range, the S200 is aimed somewhat lower, taking on cameras such as the Pentax Optio M30 (£99), Olympus FE-230 (£99) Samsung L700 (£114), and the Casio EX-Z75 (£149). The S200 went on sale in March at £199, but it is currently available for as little as £123, which makes it fairly competitive on price.'

Read: Nikon CoolPix S200 - Trusted Reviews