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The best digital cameras on the market
In the ever expanding industry of digital cameras more and more options are becoming available, the prices are dropping and the performance of even the cheapest cameras is improving vastly, writes Ed Simmons
Two years ago, I carried a mobile phone, and a digital camera. Now, my mobile phone contains a camera which out-performs the camera, and has more memory available for storing the photographs. Selecting my pick of cameras for this review was a difficult task, as so many are available within the £20 to £200 bracket, with so much to offer.
Many digital cameras now serve alternate purposes including video and webcam functions. Some of the more expensive cameras output both jpeg images and the raw data from the circuitry, for later processing on your computer. Many graphics applications can interpret this raw output, and all computer systems read the jpeg images.
The first camera I settled on reviewing is the Premier DS3037S, a compact format pocket/handbag camera with a 3 Mega Pixel resolution, built in flash and a 1.5" LCD display. It is available online from several outlets for £27 to £35. Your photographs are stored onto an SD (Secure Digital) card (not included) - these are now available for very little money and come in sizes from 64Mb to 4Gb (4096Mb).
A 64Mb card in the Premier allows for 80 to 100 photographs, dependent on settings, to be stored before transferral to your computer via a USB. The camera is also capable of recording short, relatively low resolution video with audio. A 4x digital zoom is available, although with more than 2x zoom the images become grainy. There are two 'priority' modes, offering either short exposures or sharpness as the preference in automatic exposure control. Manual exposure control is also possible, although the automatic modes will cover most eventualities.
A good camera to have at hand, very straightforward and easy to use. Recommended as a simple introduction to digital photography.
Kodak's bargain package comprising a 6.1 Mega Pixel camera PDG600 and portable photo printer C633 will cost you £100 to £120. The camera has 3x optical zoom and 5x digital zoom and a 2.4" LCD display. Truly ready to use, the batteries are included and the camera has 16Mb of internal memory so you can start taking photos immediately. Memory can be expanded by means of an SD card slot. The PDG600 takes sharp, still images very easily with 22 modes for scenes and colour effects such as sepia, black & white and negative. The supplied portable printer will produce crisp-looking prints in around a minute, without the need to use a computer at all. Simply dock the camera onto the printer and print. It can be connected to a computer by USB, allowing photos to be copied/transferred for editing and other possible print options. The simplest way from camera to prints I can think of, and at the price, a real bargain.
The Fuji S5600 is a solid contender in the sub £200 market of digital cameras, available from £120 to £150. As with most cameras available now, ease of use is addressed as a starting point. A real plus for a camera at this price is the 10x optical zoom, as optical zoom preserves the resolution of the image, unlike digital zoom which simply enlarges a smaller section of the information being processed. This camera takes clean, sharp photos and is faster to respond than the previous two cameras. Memory is taken care of by a 16Mb XD card, which can be upgraded to 8Gb.
As mentioned earlier, this camera also has aperture/shutter priority control allowing the user to select the desired response. Recommended for serious hobby photographers and those trying to photograph anything in motion, as the faster response time makes a real difference.
Olympus' SP-510 7 Mega Pixel offering is a very user friendly camera offering very high quality output, with up to 3027 by 2304 resolution. A very clear 2.5" LCD screen with good contrast serves as the viewfinder, offering a very good preview of your scene. Impressively detailed and quick to respond, the macro mode allows for photographing subjects as close as 7cm. The built-in flash works well in low light, and has a better result in darkness than the other cameras reviewed here. Pictures are stored on an xD card (not included with this camera) so the change from £200 would be well spent on a large capacity memory card. Compared to the Premier mentioned earlier, the photographs taken by the SP-510 take up 2-5x the memory. This camera is powered with standard AA batteries, meaning you are never far from fresh power. However, as with most of the high resolution cameras on the market today, battery life leaves something to be desired. It is best suited as an introduction to digital for already experienced photographers, or those who want more from their photographs.
Casio's EX-Z70 offers a 7.2 Mega Pixel resolution, coupled with ease of use and a compact size. Although slightly lacking in flashy features, this camera makes up for it by having a rechargeable battery pack. This makes it a sensible investment for anyone who finds their camera never has any batteries in it, although you do still have to remember to charge it. With a 3x optical zoom it is suited to general close-range snaps. The 2.5" LCD screen is clear and the menus are easy to navigate, settings are simple to understand and it is very positive in acknowledging your selections. Although this camera is the most expensive reviewed here at around £195, the features do not entirely match the cost. However, this is compensated for in a large way by the battery life, and the Casio boasts a possible 200 photos per charge. A good offering, with the addition of a slightly higher powered zoom, this would easily top the ratings in the £20-200 braket of cameras. Recommended for keen everyday photographers who would like a simple, reliable camera with a low running cost, with no batteries to buy.
I was pleasantly surprised with all of the cameras I reviewed. None had any serious shortcomings, and there were no clear advantages any camera showed over the others, with the possible exception of the battery life of the Casio EX-Z70. I had no problems connecting any to my computers. I am running Linux (Kubuntu 6.06 LTS) on all my computers, but briefly tested the cameras on Windows XP, with no issues arising.
* For any questions regarding this article or any other technical/computer-related enquiries please do not hesitate to contact Eclipse Audio Services via the website www.eclipseaudioservices.co.uk/ or by phoning 020 8133 8760.
This article was created: 30 May 2007.
This article was last edited: 30 May 2007.
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