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Trusted Reviews has posted a review of the Pentax Optio Z10 and writes - 'The Pentax Optio Z10 is a bit of a departure for a company that has specialised in 3x zoom compacts for several years. Build quality and design are good, and general performance is adequate, but image quality issues and the lack of any image stabilisation limit its usefulness, and it looks rather weak compared to several competing models.'
Read more about the Pentax Optio Z10
Trusted Reviews has reviewed the Canon PowerShot S5 IS and writes - 'The Canon PowerShot S5 IS is unquestionably the most versatile digital camera on the market, with a powerful high quality zoom lens, superb image stabilisation, class-leading performance and what may be the best AF system on the market. It has a huge range of features, including a video mode with full zoom lens and stereo audio. It is slightly let down by the small sensor and its inherent noise problems, but it is still an outstanding camera by any standard.'
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CNET reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and writes - "Image quality isn't the 790 SW's strong point, but it isn't particularly bad either at lower ISOs. Colors aren't quite as saturated as they can be on some other cameras, but they do look fairly accurate. The images also aren't as sharp as I'd like to see, but not terribly so, and given that this is a waterproof camera, that's not totally unexpected. The 790 SW's automatic white balance leaves photos shot under incandescent lights slightly warm, but does a good job with fluorescent lighting and, of course, natural sunlight..... While the Stylus 790 SW is far from perfect, it's one of the few cameras on the market, especially in this price range, that can take a beating and actually operate under water or at the top of a ski resort without worry. If you need a camera that can face up to those challenges, then the 790 SW makes sense."
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CNET reviews the Canon PowerShot A720 IS and writes - "Surprisingly broad depth-of-field and solid white balance contribute to the camera's excellent picture quality. Both small text and fine textures appear crisp and full of detail, even when stretching across multiple planes. Slight fringing appeared on off-white and yellow edges, though not to the point that the photos suffered. In general, if you stick to ISO 400 or lower, the A720 IS will produce great pictures."
Read more about the Canon PowerShot A720 IS
Buy it at Amazon at Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Cameras.co.uk reviews the Canon Powershot S5 IS and writes - "The Canon Powershot S5 IS has more features than any similar, super zoom digital camera. It is also one of the more expensive models. On the whole picture quality is very good, but it is a concern that my full zoom test showed a noticeable fall off in sharpness away from the centre of the photo.....The Canon Powershot S5 IS is a feature rich super zoom digital camera. In terms of controls and settings it has the edge over all its rivals. Picture quality is very good overall and outstanding in places."
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Digital Camera Resource Page reviews the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS Digital ELPH and writes - "Photo quality was very good on the SD850 IS. The camera took well-exposed photos, with pleasing, accurate colors. Sharpness is right in the middle: not too sharp, not too soft (and this can be adjusted if you desire). Noise is minimal until you hit ISO 400, with the ISO 800 setting being usable for small prints (ISO 1600 on the other hand, is not). Purple fringing was not a problem. The negatives in the image quality department include noticeable corner blurriness and severe redeye, both of which are common in the ultra-compact class. While there's not much you can do about the blurriness (you won't see it in all but the largest prints, though), you can use the tool in playback mode to get rid of the redeye."
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The Online Photographer reviews the Canon G9 and writes - "I could probably write much more about the G9. It has many more features and highlights than I've noted. But I think you get the idea. It's an exceptional little camera whose specs and performance would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago, particularly for $500. If you're looking for a go-anywhere pocketable camera in this price range you owe it to yourself to look at Canon's G9. I believe that it truly represents today's gold standard for point & shoot camera performance and specifications."
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CNET reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 and gives it a rating of 7.0 out of 10. They write - "Image quality from the H3 can be quite nice if you stick with ISOs 100 and 200, though that niceness is marred a bit by the lens' noticeable distortion, as well as some purple fringing on high-contrast edges toward the edges of images. I saw more noise than I would've liked at ISO 400. While images are still very usable and much of the noise is minimized during printing, there is a noticeable falloff in shadow detail and fine detail at ISO 400. Stepping up to ISO 800, noise increases only slightly, but there's more of a falloff in shadow and fine detail. At ISO 1,600 noise becomes heavy and most shadow and fine detail is lost. The top sensitivity setting of ISO 3,200 yields extremely noisy images with completely blocked up shadows and fine details. For example, text which was crisp and clear at ISO 200 and below, becomes completely illegible at ISO 3,200. I suggest staying below ISO 1,600 when shooting with the H3 and sticking with ISO 100 or ISO 200 whenever possible."
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CNET reviews the Canon PowerShot A650 IS where they give it a rating of 7.6 out of 10. They write - "With its great picture quality and wealth of features, the Canon PowerShot A650 IS makes a great camera for amateur photographers who either don't want to step up to a digital SLR yet, or who simply want a secondary camera alongside their SLR. Despite its performance and noise issues, the A650 IS presents a fine choice for a flexible, high-resolution, photographer-friendly camera."
Read more about the Canon PowerShot A650 IS
Buy it at Amazon at Canon PowerShot A650IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
CNET reviews the Canon PowerShot SD950 IS where they write - "For a 12-megapixel compact camera, the PowerShot SD950 IS fares well. But, if you don't feel you need so many pixels, and unless you plan to print 11x17-inch images regularly, then you can probably get faster performance by choosing a camera with fewer megapixels, such as Canon's 8-megapixel PowerShot SD870 IS--but you will have to give up the optical viewfinder if you do."
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CNET reviews the Olympus Stylus 820 and gives it a rating of 6.4. They write - "Olympus continues the Stylus line of digital cameras with the Stylus 820, an attractive 8-megapixel digital camera. This new model sports a 5x lens, a large, bright LCD screen, and a surprisingly useful new feature Olympus is debuting with its current generation of cameras.... The Olympus Stylus 820 packs some pretty useful features in its stylish metal case. Unfortunately, its painfully slow shooting and overly soft pictures render this otherwise nifty camera a flop."
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Digital Camera Review has reviewed the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 and writes - "The Sony DSC-H9 is a full-featured camera which focuses faster than many competing models. The Carl Zeiss lens, at 15X optical, is among the broadest range available. However, images are noisy at and above ISO 400. Also, the shadow detail loss and lens distortion characteristics tend to detract from an otherwise impressive feature set. Bottom line is that it seems a bit expensive for the performance demonstrated, but if kept between ISO 80 and ISO 400, it can capture quality images, particularly those that require the quick focus and shutter release."
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Digital Camera Review has reviewed the Canon Powershot G9 and writes - "As recently as two years ago many digital camera industry insiders were predicting the imminent demise of top of the line (read expensive) prosumer/enthusiast digital cameras due to the introduction of affordable entry-level digital SLRs – those dire prophecies clearly haven’t come to pass. The G9 has a few warts, but at this point in time and when compared to the other cameras in its class - the G9 is as good as it gets. If that’s not enough, RAW is back, the G9 is more powerful, it has more features, and it’s cheaper (MSRP) than its predecessor."
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Imaging Resource reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W80 and writes - "It's hard to call the Sony W80 the bottom rung in the W-Series because it only gives up a few pixels for a lower price. Otherwise the Sony W80 has all the bells and whistles, making it a terrific bargain. It has a Bionz processor, face detection technology, High ISO, Super SteadyShot, in-camera editing, and HD output signal. The Sony W80 does give away detail to hold onto color at higher ISO settings, but most users won't mind that tradeoff, particularly if you only plan to make 4x6 prints. The color that the Sony W80 holds at ISO 1,600 is pretty good. HD output -- particularly when played as a slide show with the built-in special effects and music -- was stunning on the Sony W80, but only for stills. This isn't an HD movie camera, and it even has trouble playing VGA movies through the dock accessory. But to see any HD output from this camera, you'll have to buy an accessory cable, dock, or dock/printer. Packing that big a technoload (new word, sorry) into such a small package at such a low price makes the W80 an easy Dave's Pick."
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Over at our sister site - Digital Photography School - the last few weeks have been incredibly busy with loads of new tips and tutorials going up on the blog.
Here are 10 of the latest tutorials that you might be interested in checking out:
Also - don't forget to check out the Digital Photography School Forum where over 6300 members talk Digital Cameras and Gear, Photography Techniques and share their images in our weekly Assignments. If you're not already a member - sign up today!
Digital Camera Info reviews the Pentax Optio A30 where they recommend - 'The Pentax Optio A30 is a moderately priced point-and-shoot, with an initial MSRP of $349.95. Its clean and concise design, aluminum alloy body, and wealth of features and manual controls make it a worthwhile consideration for a range of users. The Pentax Optio A30 has a 10-megapixel CCD with Sensor Shift Shake Reduction, and carries two additional digital stabilization shooting modes, one for still images and one for videos. The camera has a 2.5-inch LCD with 232,000-pixel resolution, 3x optical zoom lens, and a face recognition system for both autofocus and auto exposure. A full host of manual controls allow for control over metering, exposure compensation, ISO, white balance, aperture, and shutter speed, although with mixed, and sometimes sluggish, results. The camera’s LCD tends to solarize and the substandard software program only allows users to make the most basic of edits. The A30's true shortcomings however, are in its performance. With inaccurate colors, high noise levels, limited dynamic range, and terrible video quality, this camera isn't worth the $350 price tag.'
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Steves Digicams reviews the Pentax K100D Super Digital SLR where they write - 'This lightweight, durable camera was fun to use. While the K100D Super's 6-megapixel resolution lags behind that of some entry-level models by competing manufacturers, the addition of Shake Reduction (SR) and Dust Removal to a set of mature and useful camera features makes for an attractive consumer dSLR. With the street price hovering around $599 (US) with a 18-55mm zoom lens, the K100D Super is a great value. With a price point that overlaps into consumer digicam territory, the K100D Super offers a compelling choice to point-n-shoot upgraders. Further more, users of Pentax film SLR's will be tempted to make the jump to digital, with their inventory of K-mount lenses being compatible with the K100D Super AND its integral Shake Reduction feature.'
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PhotographyBLOG reviews the Canon PowerShot S5 IS and writes - 'In terms of features and handling the more you play with the Canon PowerShot S5 IS, the more you find to like about it, which means that it requires a period of familiarization. Although certain aspects of the control layout might appear slightly compromised or clunky at first you soon learn to live with its foibles. However, it can't be denied that inability to capture any stills file format other than JPEG will be a major turn off for a chunk of its potential ownership. Ultimately the Canon PowerShot S5 IS is something of a jack-of-all-trades – perhaps even a Swiss Army knife of a camera (though it doesn't play MP3s), and there's certainly more of a focus on shooting movies than many enthusiast cameras, with stereo sound (Wave format) offered, a long play option, and a nicely smooth and quiet zoom action thanks to that Ultrasonic Motor (USM). Despite the fact that 12x is looking a little weedy against the likes of the Olympus SP-560UZ or Panasonic FZ18, you do get a lot of zoom for your money compared to what it would cost to equip a DSLR with a similar rage, and yet its stills performance – although perfectly acceptable – is no star turn.'
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Steves Digicams reviews the Pentax Optio M40 where they write - 'as we stated with the Optio M20 and M30 earlier this year, Pentax has created yet another appealing ultra-compact digital model. With a street price of US$199 or less, good image quality, class average performance, loads of useful features (Face Recognition, Digital Shake Reduction, 13 exposure modes, etc.), and its stylish and durable metal body, the Pentax Optio M40 offers and outstanding value. Having 8-megapixels of resolution, allows you to create huge prints (13x19-inch or larger), just be sure you're using a lower ISO setting. That said, I feel the Optio M40 will be a very popular model during this upcoming holiday season.'
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Megapixel has posted a review of the Olympus E-510 where they write - 'The Olympus E-510 is an excellent amateur dSLR. It fits nicely just above the E-410 and its slightly higher price is easily justified by its additional features. The kit lens — the one used in this review — is of good quality, but the auto focus of the E-510 would likely perform even better with a slightly brighter lens such as some of the high quality lenses manufactured by Olympus. Currently, competition in entry-level digital SLR cameras is intense. And while it may not have the most attractive price, the E-510 offers a number of features that should make it very attractive.'
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Get a Price on the Olympus Evolt E510 from Amazon. Compare prices from other retailers on the E510.
PhotographyBLOG reviews the Canon EOS 40D and writes - 'The high points of the Canon EOS 40D are the tough, durable body, the control layout and that amazing 6.5fps shooting mode. Yes, it does soundly like a badly-muffled machine-gun, but it lets you grab action sequences that lesser cameras would miss. The speed of the AF system keeps moving subjects sharp, too. But perhaps the most striking thing about the Canon EOS 40D is its value. It’s true that it costs more than other 10-megapixel cameras, but it’s also much more professionally-orientated. Its nearest rival in the semi-pro market would be the newly-announced Nikon D300, but the list price is £1300 for the body only, and for that money you could get an EOS 40D and Canon’s 17-85mm image-stabilised lens and have change to spare. The Canon EOS 40D’s strength doesn’t lie in any great technological breakthrough but in its professional appeal and its sheer value for money.'
Did you find this a helpful Review of the 40D? Read more reviews of the Canon EOS 40D
Get a Price on the 40D at AmazonCanon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens
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Photo Review has reviewed the Sony DSLR-A700 where they write - 'Despite taking a while to produce this camera, in the DSLR-A700 Sony has delivered a camera that enthusiasts can enjoy with features that will be of value to many professional photographers. A nice step up from the A100, it goes head-to-head against Canon's recently-released EOS 40D and Nikon's D300, which is expected in November. The only feature missing from the A700 that its rivals have is live viewing using the camera's LCD screen. However, this is of only marginal benefit for most photographers and only provides an advantage over viewfinder-based shooting when the camera is tripod mounted and in situations where precise frame coverage is required. Outside of those occasions, the viewfinder gives a more accurate rendition of the hues and tonal intensities that will be recorded and it's easier to read the shooting data on the viewfinder's screen.'
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DCRP reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX100 where they write - "Writing this conclusion feels a bit strange. While the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX100 is a really nice ultra-compact camera, I think it's more than most people need. Why? Simply put, the 12 Megapixel CCD on the FX100 is overkill for the point-and-shoot crowd. If you're willing to give up a few million pixels, you can get the DMC-FX33 or DMC-FX55, which offer the same features, faster performance (due to smaller file sizes), and better image quality. Do I recommend the FX100? Absolutely. But unless you're making absolutely gigantic prints (and will be keep the ISO really, really low), check out the FX33 or FX55 instead."
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CNET reviews the Fujifilm FinePix A900 and writes - "The Fujifilm FinePix A900 is a conundrum, torn between the worlds of high-end, high-resolution cameras and budget point and shoots. Its sensor and lens, the hearts of any camera, work well. However, its slow performance, bizarrely uneven feature set, and confusing control layout seriously hold it back. If you can put up with these quirks and don't mind going without a burst mode, the A900 makes a solid, affordable choice for a higher-resolution camera. If you don't want to deal with these hassles, a similarly priced 7- or 8-megapixel camera like the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 or the Canon PowerShot A630 would be a better choice. That extra megapixel or two won't matter much against these lower-resolution cameras' better speed and convenience."
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CNET reviews the Canon EOS 40D where they write - "For Canon devotees, the EOS 40D is a great camera and remains an excellent choice compared to most of the dSLRs in and around its price class--with one exception. Despite its many attractions, the Canon EOS 40D doesn't clearly outshine the Nikon D80, which costs a lot less. Though the 40D has the obvious advantage for action shooting--almost double the burst rate and a higher top shutter speed--the D80 generally feels a bit faster and more responsive for single-shot photography. I think the 40D ultimately does deliver better photo quality, but some people might find the differences more subtle than the price differential warrants. And, of course, the more expensive Nikon D300 remains a wild card until we've tested it. So for the moment, the 40D gets a hearty, if not wholly unqualified, endorsement."
Read more reviews of the Canon EOS 40D
Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Trusted Reviews has posted their review of the Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 and writes - 'The Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 is a technological marvel, a pocket-sized compact camera packed with advanced features and useful creative options. It has superior build quality, good handling and class-leading performance, and decent image quality. The only real question is whether you feel it's worth paying a significant premium for a trivial increase in image resolution.'
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Get a price on the Casio EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z1200 at Amazon.
Imaging Resource review the Nikon Coolpix S200 Digital Camera and writes - "A streamlined feature set and an equally sleek design will appeal to snapshooters who appreciate simplicity as well as style. However, its feature set may be a little too meager for more advanced users. The Nikon S200's image noise issues and the use of electronic rather than optical Vibration Reduction won't be of much use for those who like to shoot in low light without a flash. But the camera is easy to use, it's stylish, highly portable and at low ISOs, the Nikon Coolpix S200 can produce some decent images, and good quality prints up to 8x10."
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Pocket Lint reviews the Canon EOS 40D - "Overall, the Canon EOS 40D is a more than able update of the 30D and since the introduction of the first Canon prosumer DSLR, the 3.1-megapixel EOS D30 back in 2000, it is light years ahead on that base line. In a nutshell, this is a cracking camera and one marred only by the odd metering performance, otherwise it is quite simply excellent and worth a close inspection for anyone either trading up or for those pros’ that need a back up body that is not a compromise to far."
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Pocket Lint review the Casio Exilim Zoom EX Z77 and give it a rating of 8 out of 10. They write - "While the Casio Exilim EX Z77 is a mid-range model, it has a few classy features that make it look attractive. Better than average image quality help too and the improved face priority AF set up is uncanny.The price is nice and the handling is the fiddly side of easy so if you really must have optimised for YouTube video capture, the Z77 might be the camera for you and worth a closer look."
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DP Review has posted a preview of the Nikon D3 where they write - 'The professional Nikon D 'single digit' series of digital SLR's started life back in June 1999 with the groundbreaking D1. Groundbreaking because it was the digital SLR which broke Kodak's stranglehold on the digital SLR market and fundamentally brought prices down to a level which most professionals could afford (around the US$5,500 mark). Since then we have seen a steady progression of this line of cameras, while the core values of a high quality full size body with integrated grip have remained the line split into two halves, one targeted at high resolution photography the other high speed sports type photography (lower resolution but faster continuous shooting); the X and H suffixes. It's been almost three years since Nikon introduced a completely new digital SLR with a new sensor (the D2X) and there has been much anticipation that Nikon's next move would be a full-frame chip.'
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PhotographyBLOG reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 and writes - 'The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 is a stylish ultra-compact camera that you can carry with you wherever you go. It's quite responsive with quick focusing, even in low-light conditions, and an adequate Continuous mode of 3fps. Panasonic have focused on making the DMC-FX55 the ultimate point and shoot camera, with a new Intellligent Auto mode that achieves great results in most situations with very little input required from the user. The large, high resolution 3 inch LCD screen is also very welcome, although I missed having a true optical viewfinder in very bright sunlight. The DMC-FX55 is also one of a handful of compact digital cameras to offer a 28mm wide-angle lens, which provides an entirely new angle of view when compared with conventional zoom lenses that typically start at around 35mm. A mere 7mm may not sound like much, but it actually makes a big difference to image composition.'
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Popular Photography review the Canon PowerShot G9 and writes - 'After the disappointing lab results of its predecessor, the Canon PowerShot G7, we were a bit skeptical of the Canon PowerShot G9. Not anymore! In general we like what we see. We like Adaptive Noise RAW conversion. We like a compact camera that syncs with external strobes. We like full manual controls. And we like Scene Assist modes to help beginners get better with their compositions before venturing into the uncharted waters of full manual control. We love the Focus Confirm and face recognition instant playback. We like the high-quality half-camera, half-computer Panoramic capture mode. Overall, we like this camera a lot. However, we're not so impressed with ISO 1600 image quality, nor the mostly useless low-resolution ISO 3200 mode.'
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Lets Go Digital reviews the Casio EXILIM EX-V7 and writes - 'Let it be clear, the Casio EX-V7 is a finely designed camera, easy to operate and has a lot of creative application possibilities. It is a great camera for snapshots and is easy to use, but the demanding user will soon discover its limitations. This is not the group Casio wishes to target, however. The specifications, the extensive automatic programmes and internal image editing are impressive, and ensure that the Casio Exilim EX-V7 is a very attractive digital camera. When Casio improves the quality of the internal optical lens, the Casio Exilim EX-V7 will have a guaranteed share of the market. Now the Casio Exilim EX-V7 is a stylish digital jewel, which is not too bad, either.'
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Pocket Lint reviews the Nikon Coolpix L10 where they give it a rating of 7 out of 10 and write - 'The L10’s focusing issues and the problems with the auto white balance are reminiscent of the L12 I recently tested, but you have to bear in mind this is a budget model and compromises must be made when you’re on a budget. It is still a budget model that nevertheless packs in some neat extras that elevate it above being just a simple snapper.'
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Digital Camera Info reviews the Canon PowerShot S5 IS and recommend - 'The Canon PowerShot S5 IS combines a few aged components with some new technology and upgrades. The 8-megapixel ultra-zoom digital camera has a 12x optical zoom lens that has made several appearances on previous S-series models. The 12x lens used to be considered long, but is now one of the shorter lenses on an ultra-zoom camera. Newer cameras have 15x and 18x lenses – and are less expensive.... The S5 is still a great hybrid digital camera. It takes excellent video with stereo audio, and its 12x optical zoom and image stabilization are functional. If only the pictures were as good. The burst mode lags at 1.5 fps, the autofocus isn’t as quick as its DSLR-like body suggests, and noise renders some images nearly unusable.'
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Trusted Reviews has reviewed the Olympus mju 760 where they give it a rating of 7 out of 10 and write - 'In most respects the Olympus mju 760 is a typical feature-starved budget-priced 3x zoom pocket compact, but superior build quality, stylish design, excellent low-light focusing and of course its weatherproof body set it apart from the crowd. Image quality is no better than most cameras in its class, but no worse either. As a basic snapshot camera it offers excellent value for money.'
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CNET reviews the Olympus Evolt E-510 and gives it a rating of 7.1 out of 10. They write - 'To its credit, the E-510 does a good job of keeping noise under control across its sensitivity range. While noise becomes noticeable at ISO 800 and is clearly apparent at the top setting of ISO 1,600, you should still be able to get acceptable prints throughout the camera's sensitivity range. I just wish that the camera went beyond ISO 1,600. Even an entry-level SLR should reach at least ISO 3,200 at this point. While the exposure quirks mentioned above might sound bad, you really can create very good photos with the Evolt E-510, though it can be a bit frustrating when compared to competitors, such as Canon's EOS Rebel XTi or Nikon's D40x. However, if you like the idea of this Evolt's Live View mode or built-in Image Stabilization (something neither of the aforementioned competitors have), then you should give the E-510 a look.'
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Imaging Resource reviews the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS Digital ELPH and writes - 'With an 8.0 megapixel CCD, 4x optical zoom lens, image stabilization, and a well-designed user interface, the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS takes top spot by a nose in the popular PowerShot line with a compact ELPH body style well suited for travel. Exposure remains under automatic control, something novices will appreciate, and the Canon SD850's pre-programmed Scene modes help with more tricky subjects. The SD850 is a very responsive camera, with low shutter lag in daylight conditions, and good shot-to-shot speeds. It also sports very good battery life, a very capable Movie mode, and excellent download speed. The bright 2.5-inch color LCD monitor is excellent for framing and reviewing shots, and the overall design and layout of the SD850 IS is user-friendly and hassle-free.'
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Imaging Resource has posted their review of the Nikon Coolpix S50c where they recommend - "While the Nikon S50c has an attractive design with some intriguing bells and whistles that are more than gimmicks, I was disappointed with both how the camera performed and the quality of the images it captured. On the bright side, the Nikon S50c has a VR lens, D-Lighting, and In-Camera Red-Eye Fix: all automatically activated with Face Priority autofocus in Portrait mode. But a WiFi-enabled digicam should be able transmit wirelessly to a computer just like it does via USB connection. The Nikon S50c's failure to transmit images to your own computer is a big step backwards. Focus speed and image detail were also disappointing, as were battery life and lens performance. Unfortunately, the Nikon S50c is a very disappointing revision of one of the most attractive digicam designs ever. The Nikon Coolpix S50c will serve as a decent digital camera, given its relatively good printed results, but it's not the best on the market."
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Bob Atkins has posted a review of the Canon EOS 40D and writes - 'In just about every respect the EOS 40D technically outperforms the EOS 30D and so I think it is a worthwhile upgrade for those who can afford to switch and who can use the new features. I didn't feel that way about the 30D, which was a good camera but for me didn't offer enough new features to persuade me to trade in my 20D and upgrade. Based on handling the camera for a day, I'm very pleased with it. The larger LCD and revised (easier to navigate) menu structure is nice. The 3" LCD is very nice. I really like the fact that the shutter is quiet in normal operation and even quieter still in Live View. The larger viewfinder and ISO display are also useful features. Though I'd initially thought of Live View as a bit of a "gimmick", I'm actually thinking or more and more potential uses for it! '
Read more reviews of the Canon EOS 40D
Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens
ePhotozine review the Kodak Easyshare Z885 where they recommend - "The Z885 seems to underperform in some areas and perform well in others. The features are well balanced for the price so that the kind of person buying this camera will not be overwhelmed by it, the zoom is adequate for the price as is the resolution. However, the focus range is appalling in both auto and macro modes. the image stabiliser is only digital and the continuous shooting capability is rubbish. For the price, their are a lot of features but don't expect to be bowled over and the focusing may make picture taking a struggle at times."
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Steves Digicams review the Samsung S1050 and writes - 'the Samsung S1050 is a nice 10-megapixel digital package. With great image quality, average performance, and loads of useful features, I feel the S1050 will make a great choice for anyone who is in the market for a well rounded, compact and versatile digicam. With a street price of $299 or less, it offers a good value, just be sure to check other manufactures offerings in this price range or category as well.'
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Steves Digicams review the FujiFilm FinePix F40fd and writes - 'There wasn't a whole lot of change on the F40fd from the previous model. The big differences were the upgraded 8-megapixel Super CCD image sensor, and the "Cool" new IR communication image transfer mode. That said, we fell the FinePix F40fd is and easy to use compact digicam that is full of features, and with a price tag of just $299 or less, offers a great value for a camera in this class.'
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Imaging Resource review the Canon PowerShot TX1 where they recommend - "We're a bit torn on how to recommend the TX1 given its difficult interface, but there's no question it shoots great video and pretty impressive pictures. Its very good lens has a long reach, and can zoom as you record. If you must have a high-resolution camcorder that fits in a small space, the Canon TX1 is a very good choice. It's also a great 10x digital camera, also in a small space; it's just the awkward controls that spoil the mix. Cram all the power of the excellent Canon S3 IS into a small space, and you're bound to have a compromise or two. Nevertheless, given its good performance in so many areas, we're compelled to make it a Dave's Pick, but we caution you that you'll have to shoot two-handed and learn to work with the small form factor to take full advantage of all that imaging power."
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Steves Digicams reviews the FujiFilm FinePix A900 and writes - 'We have mixed feelings about the Fuji FinePix A900. While its 9-megapixel image sensor and upgraded LCD display are welcomed additions, the low resolution movie mode and slower shooting performances didn't impress us. With a price tag of just over US$150, this camera offers an Ok value, but we recommended you take a good look at other similarly price models before making a decision.'
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Megapixel reviews the Sony DSC-W200 and writes - 'The DSC-W200 yields its best images when the sensitivity is kept as low as possible. Still, the image quality remains acceptable at the full 12 megapixel size up to the 400 ISO level at which point noise starts to become noticeable..... Like many other cameras, the DSC-W200 has both strengths and weaknesses. Its strengths are a good lens; an effective stabilization system; a very well-crafted and very compact size, a huge image resolution and an optical viewfinder.'
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CNET reviews the Canon PowerShot G9 and gives it a rating of 8 out of 10. They write - "Like its predecessor, the G9 offers all of the exposure, focus, and shooting controls any enthusiast would want. They include a spot meter, user-selectable focus zones, two custom settings modes, continuous- or shot-only IS settings, manual ISO settings up to 1,600 plus a High mode that reaches up to 3,200, voice annotation, and a hot shoe.... The Canon PowerShot G9 gets a leg up over its predecessor by improving photo quality and restoring raw-format support while maintaining the same excellent performance and body design. You probably can't miss with this model as a compact backup for your dSLR."
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CNET reviews the Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 digital camera and gives it a rating of 6.6. They write - "If you can get past its slow shot-to-shot time, the Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 makes a very nice high-resolution snapshot camera. Its pictures look great, and their high resolution mean you can blow them up much more than with lower-resolution photos. Higher ISO sensitivity settings and a stronger or wider lens would have been nice, but even without those features, the Z1200 serves well as a point-and-shoot."
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CameraLabs reviews the Canon EOS 40D and writes - 'Canon's EOS 40D features many improvements over its predecessor and finally shows the pesky Nikon D80 who' boss – albeit one which costs almost half as much again. Canon’s delivered a superb DSLR which handles beautifully, is packed with useful features and delivers great-looking images.'
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Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens
Imaging Resource has posted a review of the Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd digital camera where they make the following recommendation - 'The Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd's performance ranges from good to just about average, depending on what you're trying to do. Startup time is a little sluggish at two seconds, but shutdown time is almost instant. Shutter response is good at both wide angle and telephoto, at 0.55 and 0.75 seconds respectively, and even faster at 0.29 second in High Speed AF mode. "Prefocusing" the camera by half-pressing and holding down the shutter button before the final exposure results in an impressive lag time of only 0.018 second. Shot-to-shot cycle times are slower than average, at about 2.65 seconds for large/fine JPEGs, and the camera appears to capture shots continuously in single-shot mode without having to stop and clear the buffer. Continuous mode is average, at 0.52 frames-per-second for 20 large/fine JPEG frames. The flash takes 5.7 seconds to recharge after a full-power shot, which is on the sluggish side. Connected to a computer or printer with USB 2.0, download speeds are fast enough that you shouldn't need a separate card reader. Overall, the FinePix Z5fd is responsive enough for most average family and travel shooting situations, though its shot-to-shot time is somewhat on the slow side.'
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DPReview has posted a hands on preview/review of the Nikon D300 where it writes - 'The D300 design is very similar to the D200, that's no bad thing, it's virtually the same size (very slightly taller), at the front there are new covers over the remote and PC sync terminals, at the rear a larger AF-ON button and a subtle re-arrange of the buttons down the left of the now larger LCD monitor. Build quality is just as good as the D200 (if not slightly better) and certainly in line with its 'bigger brother' the D3. The body is constructed from magnesium alloy, soft rubber is used on the grips both front and back as well as environmental seals on compartment doors. Just like the rest of the family he D300 features oversized buttons on the rear of the camera which are easier to use when wearing gloves.'
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The Nikon D300 is now available for order at Amazon in three configerations:
Photoxels reviews the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and writes - 'The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 continues to be a best value for money and one of my very favourite. In a compact, light and solidly built body, it includes all the features desirable in a digital camera and throws in a couple that are hard to find in many other digital cameras: an effective image stabilization (the real type) and an accurate High Speed AF. All of this wrapped in an interface that is intuitive to use. If you are in the market for an ultra zoom, you definitely owe it to yourself to try the Panasonic FZ18 before finalizing your decision. It is an impressive digital camera and easily the ultra zoom that sets the standard for the others to follow.'
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DigiCamReview has reviewed the Ricoh Caplio R6 and writes - "The Ricoh Caplio R6 has improved on the Ricoh Caplio R5 in a number of ways, most noticable is the camera's smaller, more stylish body, and larger screen, the improved zoom control is also a very welcome addition. Image quality is very good, especially outdoors and the camera has rich colours and good exposure. The Ricoh Caplio R6 is the smallest digital camera to feature a wide-angle 7.1x optical zoom lens with image stabilisation. The camera is very good value for money and I would recommend this camera. The Ricoh Caplio R6 is an extremely capable pocket camera that can produce excellent results."
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Imaging Resource has posted their review of the Nikon Coolpix L12 digital camera where they write - "At this modest price level, you can't expect high-end performance but you do get good performance along with a suite of in-camera image enhancement tools that really matter. And you get Nikon's excellent Macro performance, too (including a flash that works very well in Macro mode). I do miss manual control of aperture, shutter, and even ISO, but no child will. And certainly not an adult whose main interest is just in catching the moment. They'll find the camera easy to carry and use, especially with the large type in the LCD menus. The Vibration Reduction, and Macro mode are going to be a real treats, too. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Vibration Reduction is a really useful camera feature, and to find it in a $160 camera is an unexpected bonus."
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Megapixel reviews the Kodak Easyshare Z885 and writes - 'In view of its manufacturer’s suggested retail price, the Kodak EasyShare Z885 is a camera that is destined to be at the top of anyone’s short list when considering the purchase of a camera with a longer than average zoom and a high resolution. While its monitor offers a comparatively low resolution, that drawback is quickly forgotten when the first photos captured with the camera are viewed. The colour rendition the camera yields is excellent and, as long as they are noise-free, images remain detailed after the compression process.'
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CNET reviews the Canon PowerShot SD870 IS and give it a rating of 8 out of 10. They write - "Canon's PowerShot SD870 IS is a worthy addition to the company's Digital Elph line. Experienced photographers looking for a pocket camera will lament the fact that the camera doesn't have any manual exposure controls, but if you don't feel the need to tinker with your camera's settings and aren't caught up in the pointless megapixel race, you'll likely be very pleased with this point-and-shoot."
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TrustedReviews has posted a review of the Nikon CoolPix S50c where they write - 'The CoolPix S50c is an attractive and well-made camera, and the WiFi capability is both useful and easy to use, but its sluggish performance, unimpressive picture quality and very slow AF system are major problems. Considering the price, unless you really want that wireless connectivity it's a hard camera to recommend.'
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CNET has posted a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1 where they write - "The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1 seems like an awkward convergence device from two years ago, or from a time when putting MP3 players in cameras was all the rage. I wish Sony had opted instead to create the more market-worthy Wi-Fi contender we've been waiting for. Given the high price for what it offers--huge LCD notwithstanding, there's really nothing else worth paying a premium for--I have to suggest that you give this one a pass. Get yourself a really nice MP3 player and a top-notch ultracompact instead."
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DPexpert reviews the PENTAX K100D SUPER DSLR and writes - "This is a case of a good camera getting better. The vibration reduction and dust removal are worthwhile improvements to the K100D and well worth the little extra money. No compact or super-zoom pseudo SLR comes within cooee of the quality in this package. Some may fear that 6 megapixels are not enough but the fact is that 6 million well processed pixels will produce high quality A3+ prints – do you need more? Highly recommended."
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img src="http://www.livingroom.org.au/photolog/canon-eos-40d-2.jpg" height="203" width="220" border="0" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="10" alt="Canon-Eos-40D" />Luminous Landscape reviews the Canon 40D and writes - "My time with the 40D was short, but I found that shooting about a thousand frames over a long weekend was all I needed to be able to draw some preliminary conclusions. These are, in brief, that the image quality of the 40D is excellent, continuing the industry-leading results that Canon has offered for the past 5-6 years. I didn't see any breakthrough in low noise at the highest ISOs, but as with the EOS 5D ISO 400 is essentially noiseless and can be used as an everyday speed. Noise doesn't really become an issue until ISO 1600 and even then isn't that objectionable.... The bottom line is that the Canon 40D is the most DSLR for the money that Canon has ever offered. Certainly in its price range there doesn't seem to be anything that can touch it. Move up a notch in price though and the forthcoming Nikon D300 may well put the squeeze on Canon's hegemony in the DSLR marketplace. Time will tell, and no matter what happens we'll all benefit from the renewed competition."
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Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens
Digital Camera Review has reviewed the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and writes - "Overall, most casual photographers, and even some enthusiasts, will be very happy with the image quality from the FZ18. Color reproduction was good, details were sharp across the entire frame, and default exposure was good. After looking at all the shots that I took, the camera didn't have as good a dynamic range as I would have liked, which is a function of more pixels crammed into a physically small sensor. I had several shots where the bright areas were over-exposed and the dark areas were under-exposed. The more familiar you get with the camera, the better you can adjust settings (like exposure compensation and metering method) to get the shots that you want.
Even though the shot below is under pretty harsh lighting conditions, I would have liked to see a greater dynamic range. In this shot, the shadow areas are under-exposed and the lit areas are over-exposed."
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Digital Camera Info reviews the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS where they write - 'Great pictures are hard to put a price tag on, but Canon stuck a $399 tag on this digital camera. This is high in the price range, especially when compared with other digital cameras that have similar features. The optical image stabilization does vault the SD850 into the upper echelon in terms of its pricing; the step-down model, the SD750, has most of the same Exposure modes and components, but without the optical image stabilization and a slightly smaller lens. The SD750 costs $50 less at $349. But while the Canon SD850 IS is expensive, it does take great pictures – and those can be priceless.'
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DCRP reviews the Samsung NV11 and writes - "Samsung's NV11 certainly makes a bold statement when you first pick it up: it sports a stunning industrial design, and has an interface like none you've ever seen (unless, of course, you've used an earlier NV model). It's got a lot going for it, offering full manual controls and plenty of bells and whistles, though image quality could be better. If you can stomach the Smart Touch interface (I cannot), then it's worth taking a look at the NV11. "
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The Sony Alpha A700 is a 12.2 megapixel (CMOS) DSLR with a 3 inch LCD screen.
It features dus and moisture resistance, magnesium aluminum casing, super steadyshot (analogue and digital stabilization) and HDMI output for high quality playback on HD TVs.
The Sony Alpha A700 has an 11 point auto focussing system, 0.9x viewfinder (95% frame coverage) and shoots at up to 1/8000 second (up to 18 frames per second shooting).
Also announced today with the Sony Alpha A700 are three new lenses. The DT 16-105 mm f.3.5 - 5.6 lens and DT 18 - 250 mm f3.5 - 6.3 lens will be available with the A700 and the 70 -300 mm f4.5 - 5.6 SSM G telephoto lens will be released in 2008.
The DSLR-A700 camera body, DT 16 - 105 mm lens, and DT 18-250 mm lens will be available for about $1,400, $580 and $550, respectively. The DSLR-A700K kit with an 18-70 mm lens will be available for about $1,500, and the DSLR-A700P kit with the 16-105 mm lens will be available for about $1,900. The camera body and DSLR-A700K kit will ship in October and the DSLR-A700P kit in November.
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Sony is expanding its Alpha digital SLR system with the introduction of the DSLR-A700 camera, which is aimed at photo enthusiasts or serious photo hobbyists.
The new model features advanced imaging technologies and ultra-responsive operation, as well as a lightweight, dust- and moisture-resistant, magnesium alloy construction common to enthusiast-class D-SLR cameras.
Like Sony's mainstream DSLR-A100 model, the new A700 unit incorporates Super SteadyShot(R) Inside image stabilization in the camera body and is compatible with most Minolta Maxxum(R) mount lenses in addition to Sony lenses.
"Discerning photo enthusiasts will be impressed with the rugged construction and outstanding performance of the A700," said Phil Lubell, director of marketing for digital cameras at Sony Electronics. "We also expect that this new camera will re-define the post-capture experience with HDMI(TM) output for high-quality playback of images on high-definition televisions."
Picture Quality
The camera's new 12.2-megapixel Exmor(TM) CMOS sensor conducts analog-to-digital (A/D) signal conversion and dual noise reduction right on the sensor itself. Noise reduction is applied to analog signals before A/D conversion and the resulting digital signals are then subject to a second round of noise reduction.
According to Lubell, "These digital signals are virtually immune to external noise and interference."
Clean, noise-free digital signals are then sent to the newly developed BIONZ(TM) processing engine. Lubell said this engine has been optimized to process data-rich picture information at high speeds, and to reduce picture noise in the RAW data stage before final image compression and encoding. The results are high-resolution, detailed images with rich tonal reproduction. Extraordinary Responsiveness
The A700 camera is engineered to be fast and ultra-responsive so as to become "a virtual extension of your own senses," Lubell said, "capturing fleeting moments as you see them."
A newly developed, auto-focus system features 11 wide-area sensors, including a center dual cross sensor comprised of two horizontal and two vertical line sensors for exceptional AF precision. An F2.8 line sensor leverages the brightness of fast aperture lenses for even greater precision. Lubell said that extraordinary focusing speed has been realized through improved algorithms and a high-torque focusing drive motor.
The large, bright, viewfinder uses a precision-ground optical glass pentaprism and a high refractive index eyepiece lens to provide 0.9x viewfinder magnification and 95 percent frame coverage. Manual focusing is aided by an interchangeable spherical acute matte focusing screen.
The camera has a high-performance vertical traverse shutter with a maximum shutter speed of 1/8,000th of a second to freeze fast-moving action. A high-power coreless motor charges the shutter and mirror mechanism, allowing continuous shooting at up to five frames per second. In JPEG fine or standard mode, continuous shooting is limited only by the capacity of the media card (sold separately), while up to 18 frames can be captured in RAW.
Expanded Creativity
The new camera features fourteen creative styles, including night view, autumn leaves or vivid, which can be selected to enhance images. These effects can then be fine-tuned by customizing contrast, sharpness, zone matching and other parameters.
Sony's Dynamic Range Optimizer (DRO) function has been updated on this model so users can choose the desired level of detail recovered in areas of shadow. The advanced mode offers the option of five levels of user selectable correction. Additionally, DRO bracketing creates three images from a single capture with three different levels of DRO.
There is an extensive array of customization options to personalize the camera to match shooting styles. The unit's quick navigation interface can be accessed instantly with the four-way multi-selector, and selected parameters can be adjusted directly by control dials.
Up to 28 camera settings can be stored in one of three user memories for instant recall. The unit's custom function button can be assigned to 15 frequently-accessed functions.
With the supplied remote capture application, the camera can be controlled from a compatible PC via USB without even touching the camera, and files can be stored on the computer instead of the media card.
High-Quality Pictures on an HDTV
The A700 model features an HDMI output for connection to HDTV sets, putting a high-resolution spin on the conventional photo slideshow. When connected to a Sony BRAVIA(R) LCD HD television, photos are optimized for viewing with the new "PhotoTV HD" mode. This mode brings the look of actual printed photography to the television, reproducing high-quality digital photos by fine-tuning such image parameters as sharpness, gradation and color specifically for photographs.
The exceptional viewing experience of this camera also extends to viewing photos on its 3-inch LCD screen. The screen's size and ultra-sharp resolution (921K) makes it possible to check focus and image quality with much greater accuracy.
A Flexible System
The camera will be introduced with two new lenses, bringing Sony's lens and teleconverter catalog up to 23 models. Supplied as a standard kit lens, the new DT 16-105 mm f.3.5 - 5.6 lens features a distinctive zoom range (35mm equivalency of 24 - 157.5 mm); compact, lightweight design; and internal focusing. The other addition is a powerful and compact high-magnification DT 18 - 250 mm f3.5 - 6.3 lens. Sony is also planning to introduce a specialty 70 -300 mm f4.5 - 5.6 SSM G telephoto lens featuring super sonic wave motor auto focus drive system for smooth auto focusing in Spring 2008.
Sony's full line of accessories will also expand to include a new vertical grip. Equipped with buttons and switches for the most essential control functions, it offers the same ease of operation and handling as when shooting vertically. It houses two InfoLithium(R) batteries (sold separately), which will automatically switch to the second battery when the first one runs out. Remaining charges of both batteries are displayed on the camera's LCD screen.
Memory That Keeps Up With The Camera
The model also features separate slots for Memory Stick Duo(TM) media cards compatible with the Memory Stick PRO-HG(TM) high-speed data transfer standard, as well as CompactFlash(TM) Type I/II media cards compatible with the new Ultra Direct Memory Access standard for up to 300x write speeds. Sony is also introducing new 300x high-speed CompactFlash(TM) memory cards, ideal for high-end photographers requiring fast write speeds. The new models, available in 2GB or 8GB capacity, expand Sony's current line of CompactFlash cards that also include 66X and 133X speeds, with capacities ranging from 1GB to 4GB.
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Photo Review has reviewed the Sony DSLR-A700 where they write - 'Despite taking a while to produce this camera, in the DSLR-A700 Sony has delivered a camera that enthusiasts can enjoy with features that will be of value to many professional photographers. A nice step up from the A100, it goes head-to-head against Canon's recently-released EOS 40D and Nikon's D300, which is expected in November. The only feature missing from the A700 that its rivals have is live viewing using the camera's LCD screen. However, this is of only marginal benefit for most photographers and only provides an advantage over viewfinder-based shooting when the camera is tripod mounted and in situations where precise frame coverage is required. Outside of those occasions, the viewfinder gives a more accurate rendition of the hues and tonal intensities that will be recorded and it's easier to read the shooting data on the viewfinder's screen.'
CNET reviews the Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 and writes - "All in all, I'm very impressed by the Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 as an all-around midrange digital SLR. Though more expensive than the Canon EOS 40D, the built-in image stabilizer and higher resolution are worth the extra bucks, unless you really need the little extra oomph in continuous-shooting performance that the 40D delivers. Of course, it remains to be seen how the forthcoming yet pricier Nikon D300 will stack up relative to the A700. If you want to buy now, however, the A700 is a great choice."
Lets Go Digital Reviews the Sony A700 and writes - 'My conclusion after extensively using the Sony DSLR-A700 in practice and testing it thoroughly can be short. Sony's Alpha 700 is a beautiful DSLR and offers the demanding photographer as well as the amateur a perfect tool to practice photography on a high level. The camera is not perfect but if you put some effort in getting to know the camera and making it part of your digital work environment, you will soon find that you have a refined DSLR camera in your hands. If you are looking for a new DSLR or ready to get acquainted with an advanced camera system you definitely ought to put the Sony Alpha 700 on your wish list. '
Trusted Reviews has posted their review of the Sony Alpha a700 Digital SLR where they write - 'Having produced what is arguably the best entry-level DSLR on the market in the A100, Sony has followed it up with another outstanding camera. The A700 is a superb tool for the enthusiast or semi-professional photographer, providing high quality results in almost any conditions. The combination of rugged durability, fast performance, a class-leading AF system, on-board image stabilisation and great handling will prove hard to beat.'
Megapixel reviews the Sony Alpha A700 and writes - 'While the Alpha 100 was Sony's first dSLR camera and the result of its acquisition of Konica Minolta's camera division, the A700 is much more stamped as a Sony camera, and probably indicates the company's intention to anchor itself solidly in the dSLR market segment. Still, although Sony products tend to command a premium, the A700's price point places it in direct competition with very well established dSLR systems and lacks the Live View function adopted by most others, things that could hinder its success.'
DP Review has reviewed the Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 and gives it a 'highly recommended' rating. They write - 'Overall then the A700 is a good performer with good overall image quality with a nice range of features - even if on the negative side there are some quirky design decisions which may or may not affect you. Best of all though is the fact that it weighs in at the lower end of the price band for this category of DSLR, that makes it about $400 less than the Nikon D300 and $300 less than the Olympus E-3.'
Think Camera reviews the Sony a700 DSLR where they give it a rating of 8 out of 10 and write - "The Sony DSLR-A700 is fantastic to use and comes highly recommended - however, if Sony's gameplan is to be at the top of the DSLR tree, this one climbs a couple of branches, not the whole redwood. Plus, there's some stiff competition to contend with, such as the Canon 40D, which manages to include Live View and cost less in the process. But, if you're thinking of buying a camera, then go and actually handle the Sony - that is where you will feel the functionality of the design."
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Trusted Reviews has a review of the Kodak EasyShare C743 and writes, "The Kodak EasyShare C743's low price may be a temptation, but don't be fooled; it actually represents extremely poor value for money. The meagre list of features, horrible zoom control, slow performance, appalling low-light ability, limited battery life and very poor image quality will prove to be a major disappointment for anyone unlucky enough to find themselves in possession of this camera. If the C-series is going the way of the Dodo then the C743 will not be missed."
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Trusted Reviews has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX33 and writes, "Image quality is fortunately one of the areas in which Panasonic's latest generation of cameras has made a lot of progress, but for some reason the company still insists on putting tiny 1/2.5-in sensors in all its cameras, including the FX33. Many other manufacturers are moving more towards larger sensors, because of the advantages in colour depth, dynamic range and noise control. As a result, all of these factors could be better in the results produced by the FX33, but to be fair none are a real problem. Colour rendition and exposure are generally accurate, and the overall level of detail is very good, certainly on a par with other high-quality 8MP cameras. The Venus Engine III provides a noticeable improvement in noise control over previous models, but even so there is some colour speckling visible at all but the lowest ISO settings. A lot of credit goes to the excellent lens, which produces superb edge-to-edge sharpness and relatively little wide-angle distortion."
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Pocket-lint has a review of the Sigma SD14 and writes, "The SD14 lacks any form of scene modes and other fancy photo trickery. This lack means the SD14 is as manual a D-SLR as you’re likely to encounter, and that’s rather refreshing. Unfortunately, that freshness is quickly let down by sluggish performance and a series of issues (AF, noise, white balance, handling) that overall, combine to make the camera less a pleasure to use than it should be. ... given the price and weight of other issues and the fact there are cheaper and better overall D-SLRs on the market, you should think hard before parting with your money."
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Trusted Reviews has a review of the Nikon CoolPix S200 and writes, "Despite the prestigious Nikon badge, the S200 is a pretty run-of-the-mill ultra-compact, with little to distinguish it from several competing models. It is very slim and light, build quality is well up to the usual Nikon standard, and the camera handles well. The electronic vibration reduction also works well, and does give the camera a slight edge over models with only ISO-boost, but this is let down by terrible low-light focusing, average performance and indifferent image quality. Not too bad for the price, but there are better ultra-compact cameras, and better Nikons."
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PCWorld has a review of the Olympus Evolt E-510 and writes, "though its multitude of features might make it a bit daunting to some, the E-510 is a solid, flexible camera that takes very good pictures under most conditions. ... Features wouldn't be worth much if the E-510's pictures weren't of high quality, and Olympus didn't disappoint in this respect either. Color fidelity and saturation were very good, and the E-510 handled most shooting conditions easily. At lower ISO ranges, the E-510's images show very little noise; as you reach and exceed ISO 800, color noise begins to appear, though it's no worse than on other cameras of a similar price."
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PCWorld has a review of the Nikon D40x and writes, T"he camera's image quality is superb, especially from ISO 100 to ISO 800; color noise increases when you shoot at ISO 1600 or 3200, but that's a normal trait of digital SLRs in this price range. Noise became most evident when we used zooming or printed images out at sizes larger than 11 inches by 17 inches. ... The D40x's only downsides will seem minor to most inexperienced digital SLR users."
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Get a Price on the Nikon D40x
The Canon EOS 40D DSLR has started shipping from numerous digital camera retailers.
Amazon have it in stock for order in a 'body only' form at Canon EOS 40D and it is available for pre order with the kit 28-135mm kit lens.
I'd be interested to hear if Canon DSLR users are planning on upgrading?