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DigiCam Review has reviewed the Casio Exilim EX-Z120 where they write - 'The Casio Exilim EX-Z120 is a compact, metal bodied digital camera that provides very good 7 megapixel images. The camera provides a good 2“ screen, excellent battery life, a good video mode, and an average macro mode. The camera provides a mode for every type of digital camera user, from the very beginner, to the advanced expert and the digital camera is very easy to use in all modes. The camera doesn't appear to cut back on features, yet still manages to provide excellent value for money as one of the cheapest 7 megapixel, 3x optical zoom digital cameras available. The Casio Exilim EX-Z120 is definitely recommended!'
Read more about the Casio Exilim EX-Z120
Get the Latest Price on the Casio Exilim EX-Z120
Megapixel has posted a review of the Olympus SP-700 where they write - 'In summary, the SP-700 is an interesting camera that is simple to use and which has the advantage of a large monitor, giving the user an excellent preview of the image about to be captured. Its 6-megapixel images can be printed out to 7 x 9.4 inch (18 x 24 cm) size at 300 dpi without any problem, and its automatic capabilities should appeal to those that want a sleek, compact, and fuss-free camera to carry along anytime and anywhere.'
Read more reviews of the Olympus SP-700
Steves Digicams has posted a review of the Nikon D200 DSLR where they write - 'With the release of the D200, Nikon have climbed to the top of the enthusiast dSLR market. With a host of features typically reserved for professional cameras, 10.2-megapixels of resolution and excellent image quality, Nikon has not only surpassed Canon in the enthusiast market, they have blurred the distinction with their own professional D2X. If the D200 were an entry-level dSLR, I'd complain about the softness of its JPEG images. But this is an enthusiast dSLR, and the need to apply a bit of USM in post processing is preferable to having an over-sharpened JPEG out of the camera. High ISO image noise can be an issue, but it is most pronounced when images are under exposed; proper exposures complemented by Nikons in-camera High ISO NR feature or post-processing noise reduction result in quite useable images at the highest sensitivity settings. It has been a long time coming, but patient Nikon loyalists have been rewarded with a new benchmark enthusiast dSLR; their patience may be tested more while waiting for their orders to be filled as Nikon struggles to keep up with the demand for this very fine camera. At an MSRP of $1700 it's not inexpensive, but the D200's features and image quality justify its price early in the product cycle.'
Read more reviews of the Nikon D200
Get a price on the Nikon D200 from Amazon and compare prices on the Nikon D200 from around the web.
Trusted Reviews has posted a review of the Olympus E-500 where they write - 'The E-500 should secure Olympus a place on the lucrative consumer D-SLR shelf alongside the Nikon D50, Canon EOS 350D and Pentax *ist DL. It is a very well designed camera, combining excellent picture quality, outstanding performance and lots of creative versatility, while still maintaining beginner-friendly simplicity and easy handling. It is a genuine pleasure to use, and produces superb results. If you’re looking for a good SLR for under £600 with a lens, then it should definitely be on your shortlist.'
Read more reviews and ratings of the Olympus E-500
Get the Latest Price on the Olympus EVOLT E500
This month Digital Photography Blog is excited to welcome a new sponsor on board - MyPhotoFun.
MyPhotoFun is an innovative Australian company that specializes in helping digital camera owners to organize and share their digital images with family and friends using photo alums especially designed for digital images.
At the core of their system is a free software (downloadable from their site) that allows you to design your album for later printing.
Their service handles all the printing, binding (into a hard cover album) and delivery of your finished product to your doorstep anywhere in Australia within 14 days.
The process is simple - simply transfer your photos from your digital camera to the software - design your album and then shoot it off to MyPhotoFun and just a couple of weeks later you'll have a professionally bound album in your hands.
They can put together 3 different sizes of albums (starting at just $19.95) and also have the ability to use your photos to produce desk and birthday calendars.
I know from personal experience what a great thing producing a photo album from digital photos can be. I make one each year with the highlights of the year that has just been and with the upcoming birth of our first child we're planning to use them as gifts for grandparents and family (the pocket sized ones make the perfect brag books).
So for all your digital photo album needs head over to MyPhotoFun.
CNET gives a rating of 7.2 out of 10 to the Pentax *ist DS2 in it's review of the DSLR and writes - 'Like the DS, the Pentax *ist DS2 is a relatively light but robust and easy-to-navigate digital SLR, with 6- megapixel resolution, an impressively bright viewfinder, responsive 11-point autofocus, and a wide array of advanced automatic and manual features that should please longtime SLR enthusiasts without befuddling newcomers. The picture quality is generally solid, with minimal noise at typical settings and nearly no chromatic aberration. A minor weakness is the DS2's erratic automatic white balance, but overall, the DS2 is a hearty, well-performing, intuitive, and easy-to-handle camera. For those approaching the dSLR market with a bag of Pentax lenses--or no lenses at all--it's a camera to consider.'
Read more reviews of the Pentax *ist DS2
DP Interface has posted a review of the Canon PowerShot SD600 Digital ELPH where they write - 'The Canon PowerShot SD600 Digital ELPH is a great go-anywhere camera which took the SD450 and made everything better. The SD600 features 6 effective megapixels, 3x optical zoom and a 2.5 inch LCD. The SD600's new LCD has more resolution and is a little sharper yet it's still not as sharp or as high-res as other cameras. Still, the LCD is visible both indoors and outdoors. The Night Display feature brightens the LCD at the cost of frame rate while holding down the DISPlay button boosts the LCD backlight.'
Read more reviews of the Canon Powershot SD600
Get the latest price on the Canon PowerShot SD600
Steves Digicams reviews the Canon Powershot A540 which they recommend by writing - 'Shooting performance was awesome for a point-n-shoot in this class. From power up to first image was captured measured just 1.6 seconds, and waking the camera from sleep mode to image capture took only 1 second. Shutter lag, the delay between depressing the shutter button and capturing an image, was less than 1/10 of a second when pre-focused, and only 2/10 of a second including autofocus. When using single drive mode and shooting a sequence of images, the shot to shot delay averaged approx. 1.5 seconds without the flash, but increases dramatically to between 4 - 6 seconds when using the flash, depending on subject distance and battery life.'
Read more about the Canon Powershot A540
Get the latest price on the Canon PowerShot A540
PCWorld posts a review of the Fujifilm FinePix S5200 where they write - 'We were very impressed with the image quality of the S5200: In our tests with studio and natural lights, images displayed bright, vivid colors and lots of detail. Flesh tones looked great, with natural colors and plenty of shadow detail. Though the camera shoots only at a resolution of 5.1 megapixels, the results were noticeably sharper than from many higher-resolution cameras (such as the 8-megapixel Panasonic DMC-FZ30 and the 6-megapixel Konica Minolta DiMage 6Z). The sharpening that the camera applies didn't cause much color interference: We saw very little evidence of color fringing....The easy-to-use S5200 takes great pictures and offers a good range of advanced features for a low price.'
Read many more reviews and ratings of the Fujifilm Finepix S5200
Get the Latest Price on the "Fujifilm Finepix S5600 (also known as the S5200)
Steves Digicams posts a review of the Canon Powershot A430 where they write - 'The overall image quality is excellent for such an affordably priced camera. In fact it sometimes rivals that of more expensive cameras with similar resolution. You can choose from several image sizes (Large: 2272 x 1704, Middle 1: 1600 x 1200, Middle 2: 1024 x 768, Small: 640 x 480, Wide: 2272 x 1280, and Postcard Date Imprint Mode: 1600 x 1200.) And, the quality is also selectable between Normal, Fine and SuperFine. The better the quality the less compression of the image. More compression may equal a smaller file size, but you will see a difference in you images. We've found that the most popular settings are either the default Large Fine mode or Large SuperFine, which is what we used. Either of these modes will produce awesome pictures and beautiful prints.'
Read more about the Canon PowerShot A430 digital camera
Compare prices on the Canon Powershot A430 digital camera and get the latest price on the Canon PowerShot A430 at Amazon
Digital Photography Interface has a worthwhile review of the Sony Cyber-shot W30 where they write - 'There are some things that can be improved. The zoom lever could be made stiffer so the zoom can't be operated by accident (I understand this is Sony's first attempt at a zoom lever after years of using buttons). Buffer could be increased as continuous shooting is rather slow and I think the overall performance of the W30 is lacking. The excellent movie mode from other Sony cameras is here too - Also recorded in MPEG format, the main reason file sizes are small and easy to buffer for movies. I think that the Sony Cyber-shot W30 is a great overall camera - featuring great image quality, excellent battery life, good macro mode and can record VGA movies at 30 FPS. However, I'd rather upgrade to the W50 (which has a larger LCD) for just a mere $20.'
Read more reviews of the Sony Cybershot DSC-W30
Get the latest price on the Sony Cybershot DSCW30
Steves Digicams posts a review of the Canon Powershot A530 and writes - 'Like its big brother the A540, the PowerShot A530 is an excellent entry-level point-n-shoot model. It continues Canon's tradition of offering outstanding image quality and performance, with helpful and easy to use exposure modes. It is small enough to be tucked away in an average size pocket or handbag, and the durable metal/polycarbonate body is sure to survive the active users lifestyle; or when Mom tosses it into her purse. The only annoyance I found was the flash recharge time and the fact that the LCD goes blank while the flash is charging. With an MSRP of only $229, we feel it offers an awesome value and will make any family, business, or tourist user very happy, whether you're just entering the digital age or upgrading to a newer model.'
Read more about the Canon PowerShot A530
Compare prices on the Canon PowerShot A530 and get the latest price on the Canon PowerShot A530
PCWorld post a review of the Casio Exilim EX-S600 which they give a rating of 76 out of 100 ('good') and write - 'In general, the camera is small, light, and pretty easy to handle, but those with big hands might find its thin profile a bit uncomfortable. With the zoom control situated on the back, gripping the camera can be a little difficult, as it's hard to hold the camera and adjust the zoom. All of the other controls are accessible through buttons on the back, too. Since there's no control dial, however, you end up pushing buttons a lot to reach some features and settings. No controls, except the shutter button, sit on the top of the camera....With its fairly good image quality and compact design, the EX-S600 would be a good choice for people who need a camera they can grab and take on the run.'
Read more reviews of the Casio Exilim EX-S600
Compare prices on the Casio Exilim EX-S600 and get the latest price on the Casio Exilim EX-S600 at Amazon
Digital Photography Interface has posted a review of the Nikon Coolpix S5 where they conclude - 'The Nikon Coolpix S5 is the greatly improved predecessor of the S3. It has 6 megapixels, a large and high-resolution 2.5 inch LCD plus some improved functions. I quite like the new styling and "wave design" of the S5, admittedly much better than the S3's design. The LCD is large, very sharp and the viewing angle is fairly good but visibility was not the best. The mode button plus the rotary dial is much better than that clumsy old mode switch. At times, the rotary dial was too easy to turn.'
Read more reviews of the Nikon Coolpix S5 digital camera
Compare prices on the Nikon Coolpix S5 and get the latest price on the Nikon Coolpix S5 at Amazon.
XYZ Computing has posted a review of the Kodak EasyShare V550 where they write - 'The V550 was clearly designed to compete with cameras like Canon's PowerShot SD400. Canon has been the leader of the digital camera industry for some time now, so emulating their form factor and specifications was certainly a step in the right direction. Kodak was able to put together a nicer exterior and easier to use interface than any used on the PowerShots. Even so, the Kodak lacks the distinction and tweaking with Canon has been able to work into it models- the V550's image quality, battery life, and macro capilities are all a bit behind. The price of the Kodak gives its a considerable advantage over the Canon models, though it will still be a tough choice considering the brand name and refinement which Canon brings to the table.'
Read more reviews of the Kodak Easyshare V550
Get the latest price on the Kodak EasyShare V550 5MP Digital Camera
Imaging Resource has a great review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 Digital Camera where they conclude by writing - 'The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 seems about average at first, with a 3x zoom in a small, stylish body, and a big 2.5 inch LCD. But when you learn it has Panasonic's MegaOIS Optical Image Stabilization technology added, despite its average 3x zoom, that's better than average. Image stabilization is becoming a hot feature, capturing sharper images in lower light at low shutter speeds without raising ISO. Unfortunately, the FX9 needs the optical image stabilization to make up for its shortcomings in terms of low light and flash performance. Indoor shots will come out quite yellow, unfortunately, unless you go through the trouble to set white balance manually, which is a bit of a burden. Still, the Panasonic FX9 also offers 6-megapixel resolution, very bright color without oversaturating skin tones, good macro focusing, and excellent battery life. The Panasonic Lumix FX9 is a good little camera, and clearly one of the best bargains on the market for an optically stabilized digital camera.'
Read many more ratings and reviews of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9
Compare prices on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 and get a price on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX9 at Amazon
PCWorld has posted a review of the Nikon Coolpix P2 digital camera and were not really impressed with it on the whole. They write - 'But while the wireless image transfer is a nice feature to have, I found that the quality of the P2's images was not so appealing. They weren't particularly bad; they just weren't that good when examined alongside the images of other similarly priced cameras. The colors were acceptable (if a little dark) and the images were reasonably sharp. As the P2 is a point-and-shoot camera, its lack of a full manual mode is not surprising. You do get some control, though, via an aperture priority mode (no shutter priority) and both white balance and exposure bracketing.'
Read more reviews and ratings of the Nikon Coolpix P2
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DCRP has posted a review of the Olympus Stylus 710 where they write - 'The Stylus 710 is a very stylish, wedge-shaped ultra-compact camera. Olympus touts its scratchproof finish, and sure enough, the Stylus was the only metal camera to survive my ten camera Stanford trip without even a mark. Not only is the body scratchproof, but it's also water resistant as well. While you can't go swimming with it (without the optional underwater case, that is), the Stylus can get splashed, and since everything is sealed, dust, sand, and dirt stay out of the camera's important parts too. The camera is well designed for the most part, though it would've been nice if some of the buttons were a little bit larger. The Stylus has a large 2.5" LCD display that's great in low light, but the 115,000 pixel resolution left something to be desired.'
Read more reviews and ratings of the Olympus Stylus 710
Get the latest price on the Olympus Stylus 710
PhotographyBLOG has news of Pentax who is expected to Withdraw some of their Products from European Market as a result of changes to regulations in the EU which would see their products in violation of the law:
'News has reached us that Pentax are set to withdraw a number of its products from the European market, as new EU legislation regarding the use of lead solder in camera circuit boards is about to come into force (Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2004 (RoHS Regulations)). Pentax is the second company to pull product due to this legislation - the Hasselblad Xpan has already been withdrawn from market. The full list includes the Pentax 645N II and 67II medium format cameras, some lenses and a number of digital compact cameras (the majority of which have already been discontinued due to product life cycles).'
DP Review has posted a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX01 and give it a rating of 'recommended'. They write - 'Noise aside, the FX01 is a real gem of a camera, and one I shall be very sorry to give back, mainly because using a compact with a 28mm equiv. lens is like a breath of fresh air compared to the 35 to 38mm wide end found on most models, which simply doesn't allow you to capture the whole scene in a single shot. Of course there are compromises; there are cameras with sharper lenses (though in the ultra-compact sector not many), the lack of real photographic control may put some off, and the low-light noise issue cannot be ignored. But in the final analysis the FX01 sits in a class of its own as a truly pocketable camera with a high quality 28mm equivalent lens, with image stabilization thrown in to sweeten the deal (although as has been pointed out to me in the forums Ricoh also sells compact cameras with 28mm zooms in some parts of the world).'
Read more reviews of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX01
Get the Latest Price on the Panasonic Leica DMC-FX01
Digital Camera Info has posted a review with a comparison of the Nikon D200 (above) vs. Canon EOS 5D (below). They compare them on a number of different aspects and conclude by writing - 'The D200 is a much faster camera with a more logical ergonomic design. With the Nikon, users can turn the camera on and snap off a shot in a single motion - an action that would require two hands and far more time with the 5D. The D200 can also shoot 5 frames a second, while the 5D can only muster 3. This combined with the D200’s more robust body (not to mention its more affordable price tag), makes it a much more formidable alternative for photojournalists or casual shooters. At lower sensitivity settings (ISO 100-400), the two cameras produce images of comparable quality in terms of noise, color, dynamic range and sharpness. While the 5D still retains a slight edge, the difference is negligible for the quality both cameras produce. However, once the sensitivity is pushed to ISO 400 and beyond, Canon earns the extra $1,300 tacked on the 5D’s price tag. At sensitivity settings beyond ISO 500, the 5D continues to create images of exception quality, while the D200 falters and produces results more consistent with consumer-level designs.'
Read more reviews of the Nikon D200 and the Canon EOS 5D
Get a price on the Nikon D200 from Amazon and compare prices on the Nikon D200 from around the web.
CNET has posted a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5K where they give it a rating of 6.6 out of 10 and write - 'The modest Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 tops Panasonic's midrange line of compact, 6X-zoom snapshot cameras; its 6-megapixel resolution and about $50 are all that differentiate it from its 5-megapixel sibling, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ3. Both incorporate a 37mm-to-222mm (35mm equivalent) Leica lens, optical image stabilization, and numerous ways to control image capture, though they lack manual exposure modes. The DMC-LZ5 fares moderately well in bright environments, but poor performance and average photo quality lessen the allure of this attractively priced model.'
Read more reviews and ratings of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5
Get the latest price on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 6MP Digital Camera
PhotographyBLOG has posted a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS2 where they write - 'The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS2 may only be the entry-level offering in Panasonic's new range of digital cameras, but that doesn't mean that it lacks features. The LS2 offers a 3x zoom lens covering a 35-105mm focal length and a 5 megapixel sensor that is more than adequate for prints up to A4 in size. Panasonic include their Mega O.I.S image stabilisation system on all of their cameras, and as usual it works very well, allowing you to hand-hold the camera in situations where you would normally get blurred results. Image quality is on the whole good, although the inability to alter image sharpness in the camera is frustrating. Indeed, the 5 megapixel 1/2.5 inch sensor used in the DMC-LS2 is not as noisy as those used in other Panasonic cameras that I have tested, with ISO 80-200 being perfectly usable. This means that in conjunction with the Mega O.I.S system, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS2 can deal with most shooting situations, both indoors and out.'
Read more reviews and ratings of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS2
Compare prices on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS2 and get the latest price on at Amazon
The innovative Olympus E-330 digital SLR available in a choice of six kits for specific applications
Hamburg, March 2006 – Whether for travel, medical, macro, nature, architectural or underwater photography – and just about anything in between – Olympus will introduce six kits to accompany the sales start of the E-330 digital SLR, and thereby provide customised, professional solutions for virtually any photographic situation. Key element in each of the kits is, of course, the Olympus E-330 body – a remarkable feat of technology. It is the world’s first digital SLR to provide continuous Live Previews. Now, instead of being forced to frame compositions by looking through the viewfinder, photographers have the freedom of framing while looking at the Live Preview on the camera’s large 6.4cm HyperCrystal LCD. Extending usability even further, the screen can be tilted up 90° and down 45° to provide unparalleled shooting and framing ease. Image quality, speed and sensitivity are second to none thanks to the incorporation of a latest-generation Live MOS sensor with 7.5 million pixels. Naturally, as with all cameras in the Olympus E-System range, the E-330 is equipped with the Olympus-exclusive Supersonic Wave Filter which eliminates the danger of dust entering the camera body and settling on the image sensor. Compatibility with the full range of E-System accessories makes the E-330 ideal for a multitude of applications. And the availability of these six new kits makes this surprisingly affordable.
<Compare prices on the Olympus E-330 and get the latest price on the Olympus Evolt E330 at Amazon
Olympus E-330 Pro Kit
Comprising the Olympus E-330 body, ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-54mm 1:2.8-3.5 lens, FL-50 external flash unit plus the protective SBC-1 E-System Bag Compact, the Pro Kit includes only premium equipment and gives photographers everything they need for a professional start into digital SLR photography. The high-quality wide-angle standard zoom lens provides a focal range of 14-54mm (equivalent to 28-108mm on a 35mm camera) and delivers crisp images thanks to three aspherical lens elements. Topping off the kit is the FL-50 external flash, which enables exact control and delivers extraordinary power with an impressive Guide Number of 50.
Olympus E-330 Travelling Pro Kit
Looking for extensive photographic versatility with the guarantee of high quality results while on the move but not sold on the bulk of conventional systems? Then the Travelling Pro Kit is just the shot. It contains the E-330 body, ZUIKO DIGITAL 11-22mm 1:2.8-3.5 splash proof lens, ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 18-180mm 1:3.5-6.3 lens, FL-36 external flash plus SBC-1 E-System Bag Compact for protection while travelling. Covering a mammoth focal range of 11-180mm with just two lenses (equivalent to 22-360mm on a 35mm camera), photographers will enjoy incredible flexibility without the burden of needing to lug around a whole suitcase of lenses. Moreover, due to the E-330’s large, multi-angle 6.4cm LCD and Live Preview function, users such as photojournalists have the freedom to keep an eye on the surroundings while framing and shooting – so to be sure not to miss the next photo opportunity.
Olympus E-330 Medical & Macro Pro Kit
Specially created for the particular needs of medical and dental practitioners, the Medical & Macro Pro Kit comes with the E-330 body, the splash proof ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-54mm 1:2.8-3.5 and ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50mm 1:2.0 Macro lenses, SRF-11 Ring Flash set with FR-1 flash adapter ring and SBC-1 E-System Bag Compact. As well as for general photo purposes using the 14-54mm lens (equivalent to 28-108mm on a 35mm camera), users can be assured of stunningly true-to-life macro shots captured by the 50mm Macro lens (equivalent to 100mm on a 35mm camera). It offers a magnification of 1:2 (half life-size), which is equivalent to life size (1:1) in a 35mm film photo. The Ring Flash ensures perfect, homogeneous illumination at close range, so that shots of teeth, skin or other subjects are faithfully reproduced – even in low lighting. And thanks to the revolutionary Live Preview capabilities of the E-330 on the 6.4cm LCD, practitioners using this kit will also benefit from continuous and direct eye contact with the patient while photos are being taken – as they now can be framed without needing to look through the viewfinder.
Olympus E-330 Architecture Pro Kit
The special photographic demands of architects represent a particularly tough challenge for photo equipment. But with the Architecture Pro Kit, these are perfectly met – in professional quality. The kit includes the E-330 body, the splash proof ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm 1:4.0 and ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-54mm 1:2.8-3.5 lenses, FL-50 external flash and SBC-1 E-System Bag Compact. With an angle of view right up to 114°, and a minimum working distance of merely 10cm, the ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm (35mm equivalent focal length: 14-28mm) deserves special mention in this setup. It offers architects extraordinary freedom to capture their subjects with a bright 1:4.0 fixed aperture and also allows for exaggerated perspectives. This is capped-off with the E-330’s Live Preview capabilities and multi-angle LCD which lets compositions be easily framed from low on the ground or above the head, for example, without the photographer needing to contort the body to look through the viewfinder. The second zoom lens assures a greater shooting range and the FL-50 external flash provides pro-level power with a Guide Number of 50, ensuring that lighting is never in short supply.
Olympus E-330 Nature Pro Kit
To capture the wonder of nature in all of its diversity, nature photographers require equipment that covers the gamut of situations and encounters – from the fascination of a budding tiger lily up close to the spectacle of a distant volcano eruption. To make the most of every situation, the Nature Pro Kit boasts a host of premium equipment. In addition to the Olympus E-330 body, it includes: ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm 1:4.0 lens, ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-54mm 1:2.8-3.5 lens, ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50-200mm 1:2.8-3.5 lens, ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50mm 1:2.0 Macro lens and EC-14 1.4x teleconverter – all of which are splash proof, making them ideal for outdoor assignments. In addition, the kit includes the E-System Bag to ensure comfortable carrying and secure protection. Together, the components of the Nature Pro Kit cover the whole spectrum from 7mm extreme wide-angles (equivalent to 14mm on a 35mm camera) to 280mm (560mm equivalent). On top of that, the Macro lens allows for stunning close-ups. Furthermore, thanks to the B Mode in the Live Preview function of the E-330 – which allows users to choose a section of the composition and magnify this 10x so that manual focusing can be accurately carried out – photographers are assured uncompromisingly high quality results. Another advantage for nature photographers is that the Live Preview on the 6.4cm LCD frees them of the need to keep looking through the viewfinder when waiting for that special moment to hit the shutter release. They therefore can always have the surrounding area in sight and won’t miss out on any shooting opportunity.
Olympus E-330 Underwater Pro Kit
With its Live Preview technology, the E-330 has brought about a revolution in the way SLR photography can be carried out. Instead of needing to look through the viewfinder to compose shots, photographers can now use the LCD. For underwater photography this is of special consequence as the difficulty of framing a shot using the eyepiece while wearing a diving mask has become a thing of the past. Now, with the Underwater Pro Kit, ambitious photographers wanting to capture the world below the water’s surface have the comfort of framing shots using the LCD – previously only possible with a compact digital camera – yet with the versatility and superior quality only an SLR can deliver. All they need for magnificent underwater shots is available in one convenient package. It comprises the E-330 body, ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-45mm 1:3.5-5.6 lens, ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50mm 1:2.0 Macro lens, FL-36 external flash plus the corresponding underwater cases, ports and bracket (PT-E02, PPO-E01, PPO-E03, PFL-E01, PTSA-01 and PTBK-E01) – making first-class photography possible in depths of up to 60m. The kit provides for versatility from wide-angle to mid-telephoto needs (28-100mm equivalent on a 35mm camera) in addition to including a bright macro lens for stunning close-ups of marine life. The flash unit supports photographers’ creativity and ensures illumination even in dark depths.
Specially designed for individual photographic requirements, these six kits for the Olympus E-330 open up new avenues for creative and qualitative digital SLR photography. Each provides users with the power and versatility they need to execute their task at hand – building on the unique Live Preview capabilities of the E-330 and the high image quality and ergonomic handling of the Olympus E-System. The kits will be available from mid-March 2006, the Underwater Pro Kit from mid-April.
Overview of Olympus E-330 Kit Contents*:
Pro Kit
* Olympus E-330 body
* ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-54mm 1:2.8-3.5 (28-108mm)
* FL-50 external flash unit
* SBC-1 E-System Bag Compact
Travelling Pro Kit
* Olympus E-330 body
* ZUIKO DIGITAL 11-22mm 1:2.8-3.5 (22-44mm)
* ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 18-180mm 1:3.5-6.3 (36-360mm)
* FL-36 external flash
* SBC-1 E-System Bag Compact
Medical & Macro Pro Kit
* Olympus E-330 body
* ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-54mm 1:2.8-3.5 (28-108mm)
* ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50mm 1:2.0 Macro (100mm)
* SRF-11 Ring Flash set with FR-1 flash adapter ring
* SBC-1 E-System Bag Compact
Architecture Pro Kit
* Olympus E-330 body
* ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm 1:4.0 (14-28mm)
* ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-54mm 1:2.8-3.5 (28-108mm)
* FL-50 external flash
* SBC-1 E-System Bag Compact
Nature Pro Kit
* Olympus E-330 body
* ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 7-14mm 1:4.0 (14-28mm)
* ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-54mm 1:2.8-3.5 (28-108mm)
* ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50-200mm 1:2.8-3.5 (100-400mm)
* ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50mm 1:2.0 Macro (100mm)
* EC-14 teleconverter (1.4x)
* E-System Bag
Underwater Pro Kit
* Olympus E-330 body
* ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-45mm 1:3.5-5.6 (28-90mm)
* ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 50mm 1:2.0 Macro (100mm)
* FL-36 external flash
* Underwater cases, ports and bracket: PT-E02, PPO-E01, PPO-E03, PFL-E01, PTSA-01 and PTBK-E01
* Figures in brackets refer to focal length equivalent on a 35mm camera system.
Source: Olympus News Release
Photoxels has posted a review of the Canon PowerShot SD550 Digital ELPH where they write - 'The Canon PowerShot SD550 produces very good to excellent image quality -- and that is the main criteria that users would (should) be mostly concerned with. Add in fast operations with no practical shutter lag, fast and precise AF that works in low-light, accurate exposure metering, and one of the most elegant and beautifully designed body on a digital camera -- and you can't go wrong if you are looking for a take-anywhere ultra compact digital camera. Why not check it out online or at your favourite camera retail store?'
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Pocket Lint has posted a review of the Fujifilm Finepix V10 and gives it a rating of 9 out of 10. This fits with what I've heard from quite a few V10 users - it's certainly getting good reviews! This review concludes 'The FinePix V10 offers a stylish and well-made compact digital camera to the masses with superb noise control and even better image quality. Issues surrounding the compromised controls (due to the gaming functions) may be minor to some, more worrying to others, but at least they’re confined to the non-shooting controls. In short, if superb image quality in a lightweight pocketable package is where you’re at, the V10 is where you should be.'
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Read more about the Olympus Mju 700
ephotozine has posted a review of the Nikon Coolpix S5 digital camera and writes - 'The Nikon Coolpix S5 is a quality feature-packed camera that will satisfy anyone looking for an ultra-compact digital camera to take pictures whilst out and about. The only disappointments are the limited ISO sensitivity range, and the amount of noise present at the maximum ISO400 setting. The amount of preset scene modes and features are easy enough for a complete novice to use, but still providing enough control for some more demanding users.'
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Camera Hobby has posted a review of the Nikon D50 SLR where they sum it up pretty well in terms of who the D50 is good for - 'For those that demand more from the camera, they should be looking at the D200 or D2 series of pro cameras as being the appropriate tools for use in demanding environments with commensurate performance. For the intended market Nikon is catering the D50 towards, consumers wanting better quality than high-end digicams, the D50 has a good mix of features and capabilities and the various D50 kit prices are competitive with high-end digicams that can’t match the speed, handling, and high ISO performance of the D50. Given the choice between say the Sony R1 and the D50 with a kit lens, there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that I’d take the D50 that offers much better flexibility and ability to grow with you as one develops as a photographer.'
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Luminous Landscape reviews the medium format Mamiya ZD digital camera and writes - 'So in the end, the Mamiya ZD is a camera that every photographer who needs or wants the large files that a 22 MP sensor produces should take a look at, especially if he or she is on a tight budget. Or, of course, if the form-factor appeals to you, there is no other camera like this currently on the market. And using the camera with studio strobes, there would be no vibration problems.'
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ePhotoZine has posted a review of the Olympus E-330 where they write - 'It isn't simple trying to decide exactly how I feel about the Olympus E-330. It is a well built camera, capable of delivering very high quality images in good light. The live-view display is a useful addition but, with concentrating on this new technology it seems Olympus have neglected to update other features of the camera, like the autofocus system. It just seems archaic when compared to the multipoint AF arrays in cameras like the Canon EOS 350D and the Nikon D50. Negative points aside, the quality of the images produced at the lower ISO settings is very good, contrasty and sharp right to the edges and this alone makes the Olympus E-330 worthy of consideration for photographers looking to buy a camera suitable for most general photography tasks.'
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Pentax are getting ready to launch a new 70mm lens with an f2.4 aperture.
PhotographyBLOG has all the details of it and writes:
'Product information
Thom Hogan has posted a review of the 18-200mm AF-S DX VR Lens and writes - 'One of the surprises with the D200 announcement was that it could be purchased with a new DX wide angle to telephoto zoom lens. Having a kit lens for consumer camera isn't new for Nikon, but this was a doozy: 18-200mm focal lengths plus vibration reduction and AF-S speed. This looked like the do-all, be-all lens for virtually everything except extreme wide angle, extreme telephoto, extreme macro, and extreme low light. In other words, a lens you would use most of the time. These all-in-one beasts have come to be referred by the trade a "superzooms," though most have proven to be far less than super.'
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Megapixel has posted a review of the Sony DSC-N1 and writes - 'The N1 yields images that are nothing short of excellent, especially when these are captured under full sun. The images show no sign of chromatic aberration, no barrel distortion with subjects at standard distances — a little bit of distortion is sometimes observable when the subject is shot in macro mode — and no pincushion distortion at the telephoto end. Sharpness is also excellent right across the frame, and is uniformly good irrespective of the focal length.'
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Imaging Resource has written a very helpful review of the Fuji FinePix S5200 Digital Camera and names it as one of the best digital cameras on the market at present. They write - 'The previous Fujifilm S5100, 2800 and 3800 Zoom cameras were exceptional values for the money, and the updated Fuji FinePix S5200 offers the same great value with the addition of a 5.1-megapixel CCD, and decent high ISO performance. The S5200's higher resolution is a welcome improvement, providing great image quality for a budget-priced digital camera, and its 10x optical zoom is excellent for distant subjects. Its color is more accurate than that of most consumer digicams, although that means it's less saturated on bright colors than most consumer cameras. Overall, the Fuji S5200 has just about all an enthusiast user could want in terms of expanded photographic controls, including full Manual exposure mode for ultimate creativity. About all it lacks relative to its competitors in the 10x zoom category is image stabilization. Given its price and its 5-megapixel resolution, its lack of stabilization really can't be counted against it.'
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Trusted Reviews has just posted a review of the Canon IXUS Wireless where they conclude - 'Although it is a 5MP camera, the file sizes at the Superfine quality setting are quite large, averaging around 2.2MB. Nonetheless the download speed was quite respectable, copying over a dozen images in just a couple of minutes. The range on the connection was quite good too, and I was able to send images to my laptop in the next room with no problem, although this may vary depending on the wireless hardware in your computer.... Although it is very expensive for a 5MP compact, the Canon IXUS Wireless is an extremely high quality camera that is versatile but easy to use, and is capable of taking superb pictures. The WiFi connection is easy to set up and use, and works well. The only question is whether wireless downloading would be sufficiently useful to you to justify the price.'
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DCRP reviews the Canon EOS-30D and writes - 'Photo quality was excellent on this 8.2 Megapixel camera. Photos were well-exposed, with accurate colors, very low noise levels (even at high ISO sensitivities), and minimal purple fringing. As is the case with most D-SLRs, photos are on the soft side straight out of the camera, and you can compensate for this by increasing the in-camera sharpening a bit. One thing that really got nailed home during my time with the 30D is how important lens quality is. I bought the Canon 17 - 85 EF-S lens a few months back, and have been less than thrilled with its sharpness -- and you'll see the results in the photo gallery. Slap on some better glass and you'll get much sharper photos, as the photos taken with my 50 mm lens attest.'
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DP Expert reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-R1 which they are pretty impressed with. They write - 'The Sony DSC–R1 is a worthy successor to the F828, the best all-in-one camera that we had so far tested. Occasionally a camera comes along that is such a pleasure to use that you find yourself picking it up and looking for subjects just for the fun of it. The R1 inspires confidence that every picture will be sharp, well exposed and accurately coloured. Add to that the quality of construction and the responsive feel of the camera and it gets a high recommendation.'
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PhotographyBLOG reviews the Canon Digital IXUS 55 which they are pretty impressed with - giving it a rating of 4 stars out of 5. They write - 'The IXUS 55 is a tiny camera that both looks great and works well, with a number of innovative features on offer. On paper it doesn't seem to offer anything different to a lot of other, cheaper cameras - 3x optical zoom lens, 7 megapixel sensor, large 2.5 inch LCD screen - but pick the IXUS 55 up and there is an undeniable sense of quality which far exceeds the competition. Just as impressively, Canon have managed to include a large LCD screen and small optical viewfinder despite the tiny dimensions of the IXUS 55. Unfortunately image quality isn't quite up to the high standards set by the rest of the camera. Due to the small 1/2.5 inch CCD, the 5 megapixel images are noisy at ISO 200 and 400, and they are also a little soft out of the camera with no option for increasing the sharpness level. If you want a camera with similar build quality that is also pocketable but with better image quality, I would suggest that you take a look at the slightly bigger and more expensive IXUS 750. So the Canon Digital IXUS 55 is obviously not going to satisfy everyone, as it doesn't offer full manual control over aperture and shutter speeds and the image quality is not best in class, but if you want a stylish ultra-compact camera, the IXUS is well worth considering.'
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