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Last week in our weekly newsletter I gave three recommendations for good Digital Photography Books (some of the best books I've come across). A number of people have emailed to ask me to post them again on the main blog because they deleted the email. Here they are:
Since the newsletter I've also had a few readers write in with recommendation for other recommended Digital Photography Books that they've found helpful.
A few of them I'd heard of and used but there's a few that I've not seen before that I'll be ordering from Amazon this afternoon. I hope people find them helpful. Here they are:
Let us know of any digital photography books that you've found helpful and would recommend and I'll add them to the list.
Lets Go Digital reviews the Canon IXUS 900 Ti where they write - 'All in all, a very interesting Digital IXUS to review. The Canon Digital IXUS series cameras have already been enjoying a fair share of attention for years, and the introduction of the Canon Digital IXUS 900 Ti is likely to see to it that this will continue. We had the Canon IXUS 900 Ti in our office for quite some time, and were able to test it extensively. Just how the Canon Digital IXUS 900Ti performed in practice, and whether or not it will contribute to the IXUS success, can be read in the following Canon Digital IXUS 900 Ti digital camera review.'
Read more about the Canon IXUS 900 Ti
Compare prices on the Canon Powershot SD900 and get the latest price on the Canon PowerShot SD900 at Amazon at Amazon.
Digital Trends reviews the Canon Digital Rebel XTi where they give it a rating of 8.5 and write - 'The Canon Rebel XTi has a decent kit. As noted, the basic lens that’s supplied is 18-55mm that’ll leave you wanting more on the telephoto side. Also this is not Canon’s finest piece of glass. You really need to buy higher-quality lenses to step up image quality. Consider the kit lens a place setter as you get more comfortable with the whole interchangeable lens world. You’ll definitely want another—or three. The camera comes with all the requisite accessories other than a CompactFlash card (go for a high-speed edition). There’s a nice 180-page owner’s manual, neck strap, lens caps, cables, battery/charger and two software CD ROMs. One has imaging software for PC and Mac and the second has operating instructions for the programs.'
Read more reviews of the Canon Digital Rebel XTi
Compare prices on the Canon EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi and get the latest price on the Canon Digital Rebel XTi / 400d at Amazon.
CNET reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50K and gives it a rating of 7.4. They write - 'Overall, images from the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 were impressive, especially for a Panasonic, whose cameras tend to be noisier than this one. We still saw some noise, even at its lowest ISO, but some of this may have been worsened by compression artifacts, which showed up to turn some diagonal and curved lines jaggy. Exposures were generally accurate, and colors were well saturated. Also, we saw very little distortion from the lens at its midpoint and also at its furthest telephoto settings. At its widest, the lens showed some noticeable barrel distortion, though you'll likely notice it only if you're shooting something with straight lines, such as a skyscraper or a telephone pole. For a non-SLR lens, it's very sharp. We saw lots of crisp, fine detail in our shots at lower ISOs.'
Read more reviews of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50K
Compare prices on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 and Get the Latest Price on the "Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20K at Amazon Comments (0)
The Think Camera Reviews the Canon 30D where they give it a rating of 8 out of 10 and write - "I started this review by saying that I would help you decide between the 30D and the 5D. I can't - it's up to you whether you prefer the full frame of the 5D or the cropped sensor of the 30D (plus the extra £750 in your pocket - the 5D is currently twice the price of the 30D). With the right lenses the 5D delivers better images with slightly lower noise but the 30D is really so good that I wouldn't expect most users to grumble about it in the slightest. As for comparing the 30D with other manufacturers - well, it's pretty much what you would expect. Taking everything into account I'd rate it as better than cheaper cameras by other manufacturers and not as good as much more expensive ones. That may sound like a cop out but it reinforces the advice on buying a DSLR we stick by here at ThinkCamera: read the reviews to find any shortcomings and rule out any lemons, choose the price band you feel comfortable with and then try the resulting cameras until you find the one you like the best. For about £800 body only you'd expect a pretty good camera - and that's exactly what you get with the Canon 30D."
Read more reviews of the Canon EOS 30D
Get a price on the Canon EOS 30D 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body only) or with EF-S 17-55mm F2.8 IS Lens at Amazon.
Compare other Canon EOS 30D Prices.
Cameras.co.uk reviews the Sony DSC T10 and writes - "The Sony DSC T10 is one of the better pocket sized digital cameras. On the whole picture quality is very good. I like the design and its ease of use is another attraction. As with other cameras in the Sony range the camera does not come cheap, but at the end of the day you get what you pay for.... The Sony DSC T10 is a high quality, pocket sized digital camera. Images are sharp and with well balanced colours photos has a natural look to them. The build quality is of a good standard and the camera has a stylish design. This is one of the best pocket sized digital cameras around. Recommended."
Read more reviews of the Sony DSC T10
Compare prices on the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T10
Think Camera reviews the Samsung NV3 and writes - "From a multi-function point of view the NV3 performs quite well, the video and music modes working better than other PMPs I've seen and the LCD and speakers being up to the job. However as a camera the NV3 is lacking. The sensor seems to be inadequate for a £225 7.2 MP camera these days and the noise reduction techniques may keep some photos from being brilliant. Still, if you were using the whole package of features as intended and you were only going to use the photos for the web then it would be worth a look - especially if style is important. "
Read more reviews of the Samsung NV3
Compare prices on the Samsung NV3
Cameras.co.uk reviews the Fuji Finepix F20 and writes - "If you are looking for a classy point and shoot digital camera then you could do a lot worse than taking a close look at the Fuji Finepix F20. I was very impressed by the sharpness of the images the camera produced. It is very good in lowlight situations and I like the way it looks as well.... The Fuji Finepix F20 strikes me as a good, solid camera. I was impressed by the picture quality and the camera was able to take sharp photos in all my tests. In this area it manages to outperform the majority of its rivals. It has an unfussy, but attractive design and offers good value for money."
Read more reviews of the Fujifilm Finepix F20
Compare prices on the Fuji Finepix F20 and get the latest price on the Fujifilm Finepix F20 at Amazon.
Imaging Resource reviews the Canon Powershot A630 and writes - "In terms of picture quality the Powershot A630 performed just about how I expected it to in my tests. Colours are strong without being overpowering, plus the images are sharper than average. The manual exposure controls also give you the chance to have a greater influence over the way each image looks.... The Canon Powershot A630 is another solid offering from Canon. With manual exposure controls, a more than reasonable price tag and good picture quality the Powershot A630 is likely to be a big seller. Recommended."
Compare prices on the Canon Powershot A630 and
get the latest price on the Canon PowerShot SD630 at Amazon.
Imaging Resource reviews the Nikon Coolpix P3 and writes - "While it's easy enough for a beginner to capture great images, the real attraction of the Nikon Coolpix P3 is you can go a bit beyond its automatic control; creating rather than merely capturing images. Nikon's Feature System helps the novice use the Coolpix P3, but tools like Vibration Reduction and fast shot-to-shot options make more choices available to anyone who turns them on. And with Wireless G transfers and printing, the Nikon Coolpix P3 is convenient and fun, too. Not a bad feature set to pack in your pocket or purse, and certainly a Dave's Pick for its image quality, solid styling and enough options to make the Nikon Coolpix P3 a serious power photo tool."
Read more reviews of the Nikon Coolpix P3
Get prices on the Nikon Coolpix P3 - compare them with Amazon's prices.
Trusted Reviews has posted their review of the Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS and writes - 'The Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS combines every piece of cutting edge technology currently available in the digital camera market into one beautifully made high-performance package, and tops it off with superb image quality. It’s an expensive luxury gadget, but if you really want the best then you should expect to pay a little extra for it.'
Read more about the Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS
See prices on the Canon Powershot SD800 and get the latest price on the Canon PowerShot SD800 at Amazon.
Lets Go Digital reviews the Pentax Optio W10 and writes - 'Not only did we test the Pentax Optio W10 above the water, we have also submitted it to a fair share of underwater testing. It should be said that the water-proof housing adds a large, indisputable surplus value to the camera. The quality of the images proves excellent, and even the underwater shots generally suffice. The Pentax Optio W10 is a camera that will appeal to a large audience. Moreover, it will prove right up the alley of those who love water sports. Photographing both in and around the water is very enjoyable indeed, and allows you to capture shots you normally wouldn't dare dream of, considering the risk of damage to the camera. The Pentax Optio W10 is a very attractive camera, and will undoubtedly be the perfect holiday companion. A camera that ensures truly effortless, trouble-free photography; a successful concept! '
Read more reviews of the Pentax Optio W10
Compare prices on the Pentax Optio W10 and get the latest price on the Pentax Optio W10
BenQ Unveils the World’s Slimmest Seven-Megapixel Digital Camera
Oct 13, 2006
The award-winning BenQ X720 features a 7 megapixel CCD image sensor, 3x optical zoom, smc Pentax lens and the world’s slimmest body at 12.5 mm.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN, 13 October, 2006 – BenQ today introduced the BenQ X720, the slimmest 7.0 megapixel digital camera featuring 3x optical zoom, smc Pentax (Super Multi-Coating) lens, 1/2.5 inch CCD image sensor and a bright 2.5 inch LCD display. The BenQ X720 features an elegant stainless-steel body with a shiny metal grip and has been awarded with the prestigious 2006 iF China Design Award and 2006 G-mark Good Design Award for its smooth, exquisite, elegantly crafted, blade-like design.
“The design of X720 reflects BenQ’s Meeting of Opposites design philosophy. It brings together work and play, technology and style, tenacity and smoothness.” said Manfred Wang, Director of BenQ Lifestyle Design Center. “If you look closely at X720, you will see that it is the embodiment of refined style and technology, a perfect blender of pleasure and work”
In addition to its refined exterior, the X720 is equipped with an array of functions including S.S.F (Super Shake-Free) system which allows the user to record photographs and videos with brighter, clear and natural color. The BenQ X720 supports high light sensitivity of up to ISO 1200 and up to ISO 4000 in recording mode of which helps to facilitate shooting when capturing fast-moving objects or taking photos in poor lighting conditions. The BenQ X720 also offers 7-scene modes for quick setting adjustments as well as PictBridge function for direct photo printing via a compatible printer.
Source: BenQ X720 News Release
Photoxels reviews the Olympus EVOLT E-330 DSLR and writes - 'The Olympus EVOLT E-330 has the image quality and flexibility that advanced amateur photographers desire in a digital SLR but seems to be also targeting the beginner amateur photographers who want to make the jump to a Digital SLR with its Live View LCD and Scene Modes. It has 7.5 megapixel resolution on a 4/3 in. (17.3 x 13 mm) Live MOS Sensor, and can be purchased body only or with the 14-45mm (28-90mm, 35 mm equivalent) f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital Lens kit.'
Read more about the Olympus Evolt E-330
Compare prices on the Olympus E-330 and get the latest price on the Olympus Evolt E330 at Amazon
Megapixel reviews the Nikon D80 and writes - 'the D80 is an important step beyond the D70, and is an excellent alternative to the more expensive D200. Compared to its predecessor, the D80’s autofocus is much faster, its sensitivity range is greater and it is equipped with a 2.5-inch LCD monitor. Just as important, the 10.2-megapixel resolution of the D80 allows it to capture even finer details than had been possible with the D70. Last but not least, the D80 can be mated to a vertical grip that supports a second shutter release for vertical shots, something that was unavailable on the D70.'
Read more reviews of the Nikon D80
Compare prices from around the web on the Nikon D80
Get the latest price on the Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body only)
Think Camera reviews the Panasonic Lumix TZ1 where they give it a rating of 7 out of 10 and write - 'When Panasonic called the TZ1 a “Travel Zoom” it described it perfectly. The camera can perform well at both the Wide and Tele end of the scale, allowing you to capture both portrait and landscape shots of the places you visit, and the sturdiness of the camera means you can use the camera without a big fear of it breaking in a bag or if you drop it - although I wouldn't try it. Picture quality is reasonable but not outstanding, with the lens being let down somewhat by the sensor, but it is good enough for any situation.'
Read more about the Panasonic Lumix TZ1
Compare prices on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 and get the latest price on it at Amazon
Cameras.co.uk review the Pentax Optio M10 where they write - 'Pentax have produced a camera with an above average design for the price. It is fairly slim and has a useful grip on the front. Although the body is made of plastic the build quality appears to be good.... The Pentax Optio M10 is a fairly standard entry level digital camera. It has plenty of megapixels and is easy to use. Picture quality for this type of camera is about average and as ever a realistic view of the camera's capabilities needs to be taken.'
Read more about the Pentax Optio M10
Compare prices on the Pentax Optio M10 and get the latest price on the Pentax Optio M10 6MP
Think Camera reviews the Casio Exilim EX-Z700 where they give it a rating of 9 out of 10 and write - 'This is going to come as no real surprise - Casio get another ThinkCamera Editor's Choice for the Z700. It does everything that the Z600 does with more pixels and a couple of new tricks. Low light shooting isn't quite as good but it's still better than 90% of the cameras we test so I'll let that one slide. Online prices go all the way up to £250 but shop hard and you should get the camera and some memory for less than £200 which makes it a great buy.'
Read more reviews of the Casio Exilim EX-Z700
Read more about the Casio Exilim EX-Z700
Camera Labs reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 where they write - 'we’re still awarding the FZ50 our Recommended rating simply because despite its problems, it remains one of the best super-zooms around and is available at a compelling price. The zoom range is massive, the optical quality of a very high standard, and thanks to effective stabilisation, it’s quite possible to shoot static subjects under low light at 100 ISO and enjoy excellent results. And remember it's smaller, lighter and cheaper than most DSLRs while thrashing kit lenses in terms of range, quality and stabilisation, not to mention having no worries over dust. In these respects it’s a great camera, but don’t kid yourself you’ve got 10 Megapixel quality at anything other than the lowest sensitivities.'
Read more reviews of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50
Compare prices on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 and Get the Latest Price on the "Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20K at Amazon
Digital Camera Review has reviewed the Kodak Easyshare V705 where they write - 'The Kodak Easyshare V705 is a good camera for a snapshot type photographer who would like (or need) a wide angle lens (real estate agents, panorama afcionados). The camera is a nice size, looks fun, and is easy to whip out of a pocket or purse to capture the spur of the moment shot. The ultra-wide angle lens is impressive and a great feature to have in a camera of this size. By including the fun panorama assist feature, Kodak has given the photographer a lot of flexibility for fun landscape or cityscape shots.'
Read more about the Kodak Easyshare V705
Compare Prices on the Kodak Easyshare V705 or get the latest price on the Kodak EasyShare V705 at Amazon
DP Review has reviewed the Samsung NV10 where they give it a rating of 'recommended' and write 'Ultimately then, this is a very well priced, very well specified and well-designed camera that offers a real alternative to the Casio Exilims and Canon Elphs that dominate the ultra-slim sector. It's not the most compact camera on the market, but it is very slim and pocketable, and it packs a weighty punch. If you find the output to your taste there are few reasons not to consider it, nor for me to recommend it.'
Read more reviews of the Samsung NV10
Compare prices on the Samsun NV10
Digital Camera Review posts their review of the Nikon Coolpix S9 where they write - 'Overall, I liked the Nikon Coolpix S9. The camera is nice and compact - definitely small enough to slip into a pocket or purse. It operates quickly and takes good shots. The S9 is also one of the cheaper, high quality ultra-compact cameras that you’ll find. Unfortunately, with the money that you save, I would recommend that you get a spare battery since the battery life of the camera is not amazing. It would probably make it through a weekend vacation, but that’s about it.'
Read more about the Nikon Coolpix S9
Compare prices on the Nikon Coolpix S9 and get the latest price on the Nikon Coolpix S9 6MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
DP Expert reviews the Kodak P712 digital camera and writes - ''The Kodak P712 is a disappointing camera. It is just as well that digital images are free because you must take at least 5 photos to get one worth keeping. We understand the attraction of these super-zoom cameras. They seem to offer so much -- a pseudo SLR through-the-lens viewfinder; a lens which is the equivalent of at least three interchangeables; a compact body and, so people hope, simplicity. In our experience it takes much more effort to produce a good picture with these gimmicky cameras than with any digital SLR. The super-zooms are light and cheap and that is the end of their advantage. Kodak’s lovely little V550 is a better camera even with only 5 million pixels and a 3x zoom and optical viewfinder.'
Read more reviews of the Kodak P712
Compare prices on the Kodak EasyShare P712 and get the latest price on the Kodak Easyshare P712 at Amazon.
PhotographyBLOG reviews the Fujifilm Finepix F20 and gives it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 and writes - 'In not placing so many demands on performance, chiefly not unduly overstretching itself (and its SR chip) as regards ISO, Fujifilm has delivered a minor triumph. Though of course you're going to lose detail shooting above ISO 800, I was also surprised how much was retained. Any unusable images were due more to camera shake, and resultant image blur, than image noise, which is perhaps one area that Fujifilm has yet to adequately address. Though ISO 2000 is less of a headline grabber than the F30’s ISO 3200, I think the Fujifilm Finepix F20 is a better camera for it. To sum up, a recommendation and certainly one of the most successful marriages of price to performance I've seen in recent months. It's well built, feels sturdy enough to withstand a few knocks and suggests itself as another reliable option for a back up point-and-shoot camera on those occasions when taking a consumer-level DSLR out is both impractical and inadvisable.'
Read more reviews of the Fujifilm Finepix F20
Compare prices on the Fuji Finepix F20 and get the latest price on the Fujifilm Finepix F20 at Amazon.
CNET reviews the Olympus FE-180 and writes - 'The Olympus FE-180 is a fine, inexpensive snapshot camera. It doesn't have any manual settings to play with, but it quickly and easily produces attractive images for a low price. With an included set of rechargeable batteries and a charger, this sub-$200 shooter is a great deal for anyone who wants pretty pictures without a lot of trouble or cost.'
Read more about the Olympus FE-180
Compare prices in the Olympus FE-180 and get the latest price on the Olympus FE-180
CNET reviews the Kodak EasyShare Z710 and writes - 'The EasyShare Z710's image quality was neither bad nor impressive in our tests. As usual, colors were accurate and adequately saturated. At lower ISOs, the camera was able to capture oodles of detail; we were even able to discern the individual hairs on the plush ape in our test scene. The camera's high-quality lens no doubt helped in this and showed almost no noticeable distortion, even at the wide and telephoto extremes of its zoom range. Most superzooms show at least some noticeable distortion at one of the extremes if not both. As is typical of Kodak, we saw some minor JPEG artifacts in images, which caused some curved lines to become jaggy, though most causal snapshooters might not notice this.'
Read more about the Kodak EasyShare Z710
Compare prices on the Kodak EasyShare Z710 and get the latest price on the Kodak EasyShare Z710 at Amazon
DCRP has posted their review of the Canon PowerShot SD800 IS Digital ELPH and they write - 'Image quality is very good overall, but not without its problems. On the positive side, I was pleased with both exposure and color accuracy. Noise levels are low through ISO 400, and sharpness was right about where I like it. The SD800 does have trouble with three photo quality issues, though: corner softness, purple fringing, and redeye. The first two are the tradeoffs for having a compact, wide-angle lens (and won't be noticeable when you actually print the photos), while the last one seems to come with the territory in the ultra-compact class.'
Read more about the Canon Powershot SD800 IS
See prices on the Canon Powershot SD800 and get the latest price on the Canon PowerShot SD800 at Amazon.
Imaging Resource reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N2 where they write - 'Again making waves in the digital camera marketplace, Sony innovates with the Cyber-shot DSC-N2. The camera's touch-screen technology allows for a clean body style (perfect for pockets) while enabling a much simpler user interface. Touch controls not only extend to the Sony N2's main menu functions, but also let you alter images in-camera with the Paint tool, and pinpoint focus exactly where you want it as you shoot, all with a simple touch of the screen. Add to this the Sony N2's 10-megapixel CCD, available manual exposure control, and host of creative tools, and you have an extremely capable camera that takes great pictures in a wide range of situations. Though the higher ISO settings do produce quite a bit of image noise, the Sony N2 is still quite capable of capturing useable images under very bright or dark conditions. At an MSRP of $449.95, the DSC-N2 offers a lot in its small package, and it's a clear Dave's Pick.'
Read more about the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-N2
Compare prices on the Sony Cybershot DSC-N2 and get the latest price on the Sony Cybershot DSC-N2 at Amazon
CNET reviews the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T50 and writes - 'If you like its touch-screen interface, then Sony's Cyber Shot DSC-T50 is a great choice in a pocket camera. If you'd rather stick with time-tested, old-fashion controls, then Sony's DSC-T30 offers everything this camera does and is just as great a choice. We suggest you go to a store and try this camera alongside the T30, if possible, before buying, though both can produce beautiful images, especially in decent lighting conditions.'
Read more about the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T50
Compare prices on the Sony Cybershot DSC-T50 and get the latest price on the SONY 7.0 Megapixel DSCT50 Cyber-shot
CNET reviews the Olympus FE-170 where they write - 'Because of its terrible performance and mediocre shots, the Olympus FE-170 really isn't worth your time or money. If you really want an inexpensive, easy-to-use snapshot camera, spend the extra $30 and get the Olympus FE-180. It has all of the good qualities of the FE-170 and few of the bad. As a bonus, the FE-180 comes with a set of rechargeable batteries and a wall charger. Sometimes spending a little extra can go a long way.'
Read more about the Olympus FE-170
Compare prices on the Olympus FE-170 and get the latest price on the Olympus FE-170
PhotographyBLOG has posted their review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 where they give it a rating of 4 out of 5 and write - 'The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 is an evolution of a very unique, innovative and intriguing camera, the DMC-LX1. The new model has the important addition of a 16:9 wide-screen LCD which matches the sensor, making the DMC-LX2 a true wide-screen camera. It still offers a choice of image aspects, from wide-screen 16:9 to the more conventional 4:3., so if you are interested in panoramic photography, but also want to take "normal" images (albeit at a reduced resolution), then the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 is a great choice. Other improvements over the original DMC-LX1 are less noteworthy - you may not use the extra scene modes, for example. The DMC-LX2 is actually a backwards step in some respects, most notably the fastest shutter speed which drops from 1/4000th to 1/2000th, and slower continuous shooting. The DMC-LX2 still offers a wealth of advanced features that all serious photographers will love, with a faster RAW mode and better software.'
Read more reviews of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2
Get the latest price on the Panasonic DMC-LX2S at Amazon.
Digital Camera Info reviews the Fuji FinePix F20 and writes - 'The Fujifilm FinePix F20 has obviously been built on a budget, with a poor screen and a very limited amount of memory. But it’s still a nice camera if you’re on a budget too. The F20 is a good choice if you’re looking for a simple to use, straightforward camera with reasonable resolution. We’ll have to wait and see how the image quality works out, but it looks promising, as previous Fuji models with similar imaging chips have performed very well.'
Read more about the Fujifilm FinePix F20
Compare prices on the Fuji Finepix F20 and get the latest price on the Fujifilm Finepix F20 at Amazon.
Digital Camera Info reviews the Olympus SP-510 UZ and writes - 'The SP-510 UZ has a number of nice improvements over the SP-500 UZ. There’s more resolution, electronic image stabilization and a number of other small improvements. And the price has dropped: the SP-500 UZ was launched at $379, while the SP-510 UZ is launched at $329.95. That’s a pretty considerable drop which makes the camera even more attractive. The bulky case and weight will put of some users, but if you are looking for a well-featured camera with a zoom long enough to focus on the wildlife, the SP-510 UZ is definitely worth considering.'
Read more about the Olympus SP-510 UZ
Compare prices on the Olympus SP-510 and get the latest price on the Olympus SP-510 UZ 7.1 MP 10x Optical/5x Digital Zoom Digital Camera + Lenses + 1GB Pro Accessory Kit
DP Review has posted their review of the Panasonic DMC-LX2 and gives it a rating of 'recommended' and writes - 'And so, in conclusion, we have what is becoming something of a theme with Panasonic's high end models; a superb, innovative, unique and well-designed camera with an (apparently) noisy sensor and - much more importantly - a processing engine that replaces fine detail with smeary, watercolor-like artefacts. You can avoid this by turning the noise reduction down and sticking to ISO 100 or 200 (you REALLY want to turn the NR down at ISO 200) - or by shooting in raw mode and doing your own noise processing, if it bothers you. Of course at 'normal' print sizes the noise issue is largely moot, but if you want to make decent enlargements you will need to pay careful attention to the setting you use when shooting, and stick to the lowest ISO modes.'
Read more reviews of the Panasonic DMC-LX2
Get the latest price on the Panasonic DMC-LX2S
Trusted Reviews have posted their review of the Canon PowerShot A710 IS and writes - 'The Canon PowerShot A710 IS is expensive for a compact camera, although it does offer a wide range of features for the money. Overall performance is outstanding, however build quality and more importantly image quality are not up to the standards we’ve come to expect from Canon, and the possible flash fault is damning. The latter may be an issue with our review sample, but as things stand, it’s a bit of a disappointment.'
Read more about the Canon Powershot A710 IS
Compare prices on the Canon Powershot A710 and get the latest price on the Canon PowerShot A710 IS 7.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom
My eternal quest for the 'perfect' second smaller point and shoot camera to compliment my DSLR continued in the last few weeks with an examination of the Fujifilm Finepix F30.
My requirements for a back up point and shoot are fairly simple (although my standards are pretty high). Here's my wish list:
At a first glance the Fujifilm Finepix F30 seems to have all of these bases covered (at least on a specifications level) but how did it perform?
I've been a user of the award winning Finepix F10 for the past year - so was keen to try the F30 out for myself.
The Finepix F30 is definitely similar to the F10 (and F11) in terms of design. It's received a few design tweaks (it's now has a two tone titanium and aluminium casing and a more rounded design) but largely it's very similar to the F10 at a first glance. The F30 is nice to look at but definitely not in the league of some of Canon's IXUS range in terms of sleekness. I don't hate it, but I'm not expecting anyone to stop me in the street and ask me where I got such a cool looking camera.
The camera is definitely small enough to slip into a pocket, feels solid enough and fits comfortably into the hand - next to my DSLR it's tiny.
The LCD screen (2.5 inches) is bright and easy to see. It has a function that alters it's brightness in different lighting conditions which is handy. You'll want this of course because the F30 doesn't have a viewfinder and you'll need the LCD for framing your shots.
Turning the camera on reveals that the F30 has a new menu system to the F10 (something it needed as I found the previous menu system was not overly intuitive and quite clunky to get around). Start up was reasonably quick and setting the camera up was a breeze.
Shooting Modes - The F30 has even more shooting modes than the F10 (the normal ones plus Snow, Beach, Underwater, Museum and Party) and a good range of flash modes including a handy 'Natural + Flash' mode which takes two shots at a time with one using the flash and the other using available light (no flash). I found this mode to be very handy in those in between times when you're not sure whether a flash is right or not (and when you don't want to make your subject pose twice).
Manual Control - My desire for a full manual mode isn't met with the F30, however there is Shutter and Aperture Priority modes (something not on he F10) which is definately a step in the right direction. Add to that three metering options (multi, average and spot) and eight white balance modes it's actually a camera which puts some real creative control in the hands of the photographer (although I'd say that the menu mode still takes a while to get used to and that some of the modes are not exactly at the finger tips of the photographer).
Battery life is promoted as lasting for 580 shots per charge (I'm up over this now and still haven't had to recharge).
Connectivity - Gone is the annoying adaptor for charging and transferring images to a computer that was in the F10. Instead the F30 has fairly standard connectivity via USB 2.0, video out and DC port for charging.
Shutter lag is not an issue on the F30 (as with most modern digital cameras).
Movie mode is quite good also with continuous recording of video and sound at 640 x 380 at 30 frames per second.
Flash - The in built flash is powerful yet when it needs to be it's quite subtle - I'd even go so far as to call it smart.
Continuous Shooting Mode - there are 3 continuous shooting modes on the F30 (top 3 (which takes 3 shots as you hold the shutter), final 3 (which lets you hold the shutter as long as you like and then records the last three shots taken) and 'long period' (which takes longer brackets of shots). Final 3 and Top 3 shoot at 2.3 frames per second but long period mode only shoots at 0.5 frames per second (too slow to be much use).
Outdoors in brighter conditions the F30 is not quite as impressive as it is in low light, but in comparison to others in it's class it's still very very good. Images were crisp, colours were accurate in most cases (I thought reds were sometimes a little too red) and the contrast in shots was quite good. I do find myself touching up the outdoor shots that I take a little in Photoshop as the images come out a touch lifeless but I've done this with most point and shoot cameras previously.
I have recommended the Fujifilm Finepix F30 many to numerous friends and family since getting my hands on one and after a few weeks with it ended up getting one for myself as my secondary camera - it's the best compact point and shoot digital camera that I've come across.
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Steves Digicams reviews the Canon Powershot A630 and writes - 'last year we said "Canon has struck gold" with the A620 and A610, and this year they have done it yet again. With an MSRP of just US$299, I feel the Canon PowerShot A630 offers and outstanding value for such a capable 8-megapixel model. Therefore, we feel it will make an excellent choice for anyone in the market for an affordable model with excellent image quality, speedy performance, and a wealth of exposure modes, all packed in a stylish, yet rugged metal/plastic shell. If you need a bit more resolution, and like Canon's Remote Capture feature, then check out the 10-megapixel A640, which can be had for about $100 more.'
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Steves Digicams reviews the Canon Powershot A640 and writes - 'Images were very pleasing when using the 10-megapixel Large SuperFine quality mode. Outdoors it captures beautiful pictures that show nice exposure and rich color saturation. I also noticed that sky detail was beautiful when there are clouds visible. Our samples were sharp from edge to edge, thanks in part to the fast and accurate 9-point "Smart" AiAF autofocus system. Image noise is very low when using ISO speeds of 200 or less, with noise becoming more noticeable at ISO 400, and very clear at ISO 800. However, when viewing these higher ISO images at 23% (the typical fit size for a 19-inch monitor set to 1024x768), they look good and still are capable of creating nice prints. The ability to use faster shutter speeds in lower lighting, and the ability to capture that special moment, makes up for the lost image quality, in my opinion.'
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Imaging Resource reviews the Hewlett Packard Photosmart R927 and writes - 'There's a lot to like on the HP R927 including a stylish but sturdy stainless steel design, a huge 3-inch LCD with decent resolution, and good overall speed for a consumer camera including virtually no shutter lag when you pre-focus. Best of all about the HP 927 -- as with many models in HP's Photosmart series -- is its extensive feature set. HP's helpful Real Life technologies include one of the best Red-eye removal features I've used along with a very fun new Design Galley function that lets you tweak your images in a variety of ways without the need of a PC or additional software. The R927 is also very simple and intuitive to use with an easy-to-read menu system and a straight-forward layout. The HP R927 has a lot of features a beginning photographer could definitely use including ample scene modes and easy-to-use Bracketing functions. Best of all is the HP R927's revamped Image Advice function which comments on your pictures after you've taken them, and offers suggestion on how to make them better the next time.'
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