Acer CP-8660 Digital Camera Review

Acer CP-8660 Digital Camera Review

Technical Specs of Acer CP-8660 Digital Camera

8.3Mp compact digital camera (maximum resolution 3,264×2,448 pixels)
6x zoom lens
f2.8-4.8 aperture
ISO 64 to 400
shutter 1/1,500 sec
2.8in LCD viewfinder
max video 640×480/30fps
lithium-ion battery with charger
SD slot
25MB internal
96x29x61mm
180g

Expert Review on Acer CP-8660 Digital Camera

Perched at the top of the Acer family of cameras is the imposing 8Mp (megapixel) CP-8660. It looks good, with its vaguely retro styling and classy black-and-silver finish, and it feels every bit as nice as it looks. The solid construction and comfortable, digit-friendly features are pleasing to wrap your hands around.

This isn’t the daintiest of compacts, although the extra girth is used to good effect. Not only does it increase comfort, but it allows Acer to up the level of technology. The 2.8in screen may not be a rotating model, but it is generously proportioned, dominating the rear of the Acer. Another generously sized component is the 6x optical zoom, which roughly translates to 37-222mm in 35mm terms. The glassware is finished off with a healthy f2.8-4.8 aperture range and an impressive 2cm Super Macro.

With the lens offering so much promise, we were disappointed to find that getting the 8660 to focus correctly was hit or miss. Even in bright daylight, it was a common occurrence for subjects to idly cruise into and then out of focus again. On the up side, the Acer has a good manual focusing feature, although it doesn’t work in all modes. Another disappointment is that images must be dropped to 5Mp to benefit from image stabilisation.

The autofocus wasn’t the only potential deal-breaker, either. The auto white balance was hopeless in anything other than bright daylight, requiring frequent babysitting, manual intervention and tweaking. It’s not all bad news, though. The Acer produced impressively clean images, with little noise on lower ISOs. Even maxed out at ISO 400, the Acer behaved better than many other cameras we could name, and finer image detail was reproduced admirably.

source: pcadvisor.co.uk

Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam Review

Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam Review

Technical Specs of Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam

1/3in CCD
Widescreen Video Capture
72x120x91mm, 0.5kg
Mini DV, NTSC
3.3Mp sensor
effective sensor resolution – video: 2.1Mp, still: 3Mp
F/1.8-2.9 lens aperture
automatic, manual focus
5.1mm – 51mm range
10x optical zoom, 120x digital zoom
electronic (Super Steady Shot) image stabilisation
built-in microphone
electronic colour viewfinder, 2.7in TFT active matrix
1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery included
1 year warranty

Expert Review on Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam

The £360 inc VAT Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam, Sony’s high-end MiniDV camcorder, offers step-up features such as a higher-capacity battery, a charging dock and the ability to capture higher-resolution video than can other HC series models. Although the Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam scored points with our jury in still-image performance, the Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam’s low-light video quality and battery life were merely average.

With a body composed of plastic and metal, the Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam fits nicely in your palm. The 2.7in widescreen LCD has touch-screen controls and play, record and stop buttons sit just below the Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam’s screen, enabling you to keep your eye on the action while controlling the camera. A built-in lens cap and a top-loading cassette mechanism are other subtle design pluses. The Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam includes Sony’s proprietary AIS accessory shoe for attaching an AIS-compatible microphone or flash. The camcorder comes with a dock that supports FireWire and USB transfers and provides connectors for AV cables and power (the latter ports are included on the camcorder as well).

The Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam delivered impressive still images. Our panel of experts judged the test shots we took with the 3Mp unit as Superior, thanks to high marks for colour accuracy, sharpness and exposure. The Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam’s video quality was impressive, too. High marks for audio clarity and for video taken in standard light, along with middling scores for low-light video, yielded an overall video quality score of Very Good.

source: pcadvisor.co.uk

Sony DCR-DVD408 DVD Handycam Camcorder Review

Sony DCR-DVD408 DVD Handycam Camcorder Review

Technical Specs of Sony DCR-DVD408 DVD Handycam Camcorder

1/3 inch 3.31 megapixel CCD (movie mode: 2050K effective pixels / still mode: 3050K effective pixels)
CZ Vario-Sonar T* lens (filter diameter: 30mm)
High resolution 16:9 widescreen recording
SteadyShot
2.7 inch 123K dots Wide Hybrid LCD
Intelligent flash
Super NightShot
Easy Handycam
123K dots wide colour viewfinder
Touch panel (active menu)
Dolby Digital 5.1 Creator (Centre Mic.Ready)
Memory Stick Duo Slot
DVD-R/-RW/+RW compliant
PictBridge
Supplied accessories: power cord, AC adapter AC-L200, AV cable, InfoLITHIUM battery NP-FP70, CD-ROM (Picture Package + Nero Express 6), wireless remote control and cleaning cloth

Expert Review on Sony DCR-DVD408 DVD Handycam Camcorder

Easy to operate, Sony’s DCR-DVD408 DVD Handycam produces great-looking movies in widescreen (16:9) format. The Sony DCR-DVD408 DVD Handycam’s DVD media lets you record video and then play it back on most DVD players, without any need for a computer or knowledge of video editing.

The Sony DCR-DVD408 DVD Handycam feels solid, fits comfortably in your right hand, and is easy to operate with thumb and forefinger. The well-placed switches include a smooth, variable-speed lever to control the camcorder’s 10X optical zoom, a still-shot button and a dual-function switch that lets you quickly turn the unit on or off – or flip from video to still shooting – with one hand.

You manage most of the Sony DCR-DVD408 DVD Handycam’s other settings via the 2.7in, wide-format LCD touch screen. The Sony DCR-DVD408 DVD Handycam’s LCD panel also includes a second set of zoom and start/stop buttons, although you’re unlikely to use these unless you’ve turned the LCD toward yourself for a self-portrait. A small number of dedicated buttons let you switch from wide-screen to standard (4:3) format, set backlight control, and jump into playback mode.

One other button sets the Easy mode, which turns off most of the Sony DCR-DVD408 DVD Handycam’s menu options and sets the Sony DCR-DVD408 DVD Handycam to full automatic – a good choice if you’re a camcorder newbie. We awarded the Sony DCR-DVD408 DVD Handycam a PC Advisor grade of Superior for video quality, and it earned high audio-quality marks as well. Even casual clips looked quite pleasing.

source: pcadvisor.co.uk

Sony DSC-T100 Digital Camera Review

Sony DSC-T100 Digital Camera Review

Technical Specs of Sony DSC-T100 Digital Camera

8Mp sensor
1/2.5in CCD
3,264×2,448 resolution
640×480 movie resolution (30 frames per second)
5x optical zoom
5.8-29mm aperture
3in, 230,000-pixel LCD
1cm/35cm normal, macro focus distance
automatic shutter speed: 1/4 – 1/1,000 seconds, manual shutter speed: 1 – 1/1,000 seconds
80-3,200 ISO range
31MB internal storage
rechargeable lithium-N battery
91.8×59.2×22.3mm, 141g
Bionz processor, Face Recognition mode, Super Steady Shot image stabiliser

Expert Review on Sony DSC-T100 Digital Camera

The latest in Sony’s T-series line of slim digital still cameras, the DSC-T100, is now on sale in the UK. We got hold of the Sony DSC-T100 for a review and were impressed, apart from the PlayStation 3-like lack of an HDMI cable. This latest model packs an 8.1Mp image sensor, 5x optical zoom and a big 3in LCD display on the back.

We got a chance to use the camera for a couple of weeks and ended up with some great looking pictures and a favorable impression. First impressions are of a handsome camera thanks in large part to its brushed-aluminum face and the large display on the back. You can switch it on by sliding a cover down to reveal the lens, and off by doing the opposite. The camera starts up quickly and is almost immediately ready to take a picture.

The 8Mp image sensor Sony has fitted into the camera is generous. In fact, you’ll probably want to set it to a lower resolution for day-to-day photography because you just don’t need that much resolution for most pictures. An 8Mp image works out at 3,264 pixels by 2,448 pixels and occupies about 2MB of space, versus 1.5MB for a 5Mp image, from which you’ll still be able to produce a good looking print. You’ll also be able to store more on a Memory Stick Duo card or the camera’s built-in 31MB of memory.

While you’re unlikely to need the 8Mp mode for day-to-day shooting, it does come in handy if you want to capture something at a distance. When you’re a distance from your subject and the camera’s optical zoom hits its limit then a top-resolution image should mean you can still zoom in a little on the image when it’s in your PC and end up with a good shot.

source: pcadvisor.co.uk

Canon Digital Ixus i Zoom Camera Review

Canon Digital Ixus i Zoom Camera Review

Technical Specs of Canon Digital Ixus i Zoom Camera

5Mp
max res 2,592×1,944
2.4x optical zoom
4x digital zoom
16MB MMC card
max photos on 16MB=138
min=5
1x lithium battery (supplied, along with recharger)
movie/audio capture
1.8in LCD
1-year warranty
96x45x24mm
120g

Expert Review on Canon Digital Ixus i Zoom Camera

While Canon’s ultracompact Ixus digicams have tended to be pricey and somewhat short on features, the models are invariably innovative, beautifully designed and easy to use, producing great automatic images for point-and-shooters who want compact style. It’s good to see the i zoom doesn’t swerve from the Ixus principles.

Specifications alone are average – if you want to exploit the possibilities of digital photography you can’t do it here. The 5Mp (megapixel) CCD (charge-coupled device) provides a resolution of 2,592×1,944, and the optical zoom is just 2.4x. Shots are saved on a measly 16MB MMC card, and there’s no optical viewfinder to compose shots. Movie mode manages no more than a slightly jerky 15fps (frames per second).

So far, so average; but the i zoom excels when you look beyond its constituent parts. The silver-and-black metal body with its contoured Perpetual Curve design screams ‘must-buy gadget’ and we found it as much of a joy to use as it is to look at.

This is one responsive camera. Focus lock, startup and shot-to-shot time are impressively speedy, so you shouldn’t miss a trick. Reviewing pics is also rapid – hold down left or right and the i zoom flips the images to a low resolution so it can scroll quickly through hundreds of snaps. It then reverts to high-res when you stop on a shot to see if it’s worth keeping. Top points too for the blur-free 1.8in LCD, which is fine for composing shots in low ambient light.

The zoom buttons are up and down on the four-way navipad, doubling as navigation controls when you’re going through the options – which include white balance, exposure compensation and colour effects – on the i zoom’s uncluttered interface. And on the all-important question of image quality the Ixus doesn’t disappoint. Colours are accurate and not overbearing, while the detail is great for a 5Mp model. Macro shots are spot-on, but the flash lacks depth – low-light shots taken from more than 2m away using auto mode are very dark.

source: pcadvisor.co.uk

Canon DC20 Digital Camera Review

Canon DC20 Digital Camera Review

Technical Specs of Canon DC20 Digital Camera

2.2Mp CCD
Mpeg2 recording to 8cm DVD-R or -RW
f1.8, 10x optical zoom
1,632×1,224 still resolution
USB 2.0
A/V-out

Expert Review on Canon DC20 Digital Camera

The pretenders to DV’s crown are lining up for battle. One of the first to enter the fray was recordable DVD, with Sony currently the most enthusiastic backer. But Canon has finally joined the ranks with a new DVD camcorder range, currently consisting of the DC20 and the cheaper DC10.

The main difference between the two models is the CCD (charge-coupled device). While the DC20 has a 1/3.9in sensor offering 2.2Mp (megapixels), the DC10 has a slightly smaller 1/4in unit providing just 1.33Mp. The DC20 also incorporates a built-in video light and flash, so will be more functional in poorly lit interiors. One big selling point is the ability to record to DVD. The smaller 8cm discs are used, and both -R and -RW are supported. The -R format is more DVD-player-compatible, but has to be finalised before you can watch the disc on anything other than the camcorder itself. DVD-RW discs can use VR format, which reduces compatibility in favour of the ability to edit on disc and add footage incrementally. The problem is, both discs can store only 21 minutes of video at the top settings, less than a DV tape or hard disk.

The DC20 offers a decent range of options. The more popular ones are available via an innovative menu that wraps around the edge of the LCD panel. Despite its obvious consumer orientation, the DC20 proved itself more than capable in terms of quality. In daylight, colour fidelity was very good, and low-light performance was acceptable, marred only by a slight red over-emphasis. But more serious videomakers won’t be impressed by the lack of an accessory shoe, mic input or headphone socket. Discs load from the back, so tripod use isn’t hindered.

source: pcadvisor.co.uk

Casio EX-Z1080 10.1Mp Compact Camera Review

Casio EX-Z1080 10.1Mp Digital Camera Review

Technical Specs of Casio EX-Z1080 10.1Mp Digital Camera

10.1Mp
3x optical zoom
2.6in LCD screen
image stabilisation
face detection
YouTube
Face-Detection/Recognition & Auto Tracking AF
Super Life Battery
MPEG-4 H.264 Video

Expert Review on Casio EX-Z1080 10.1Mp Digital Camera

Small size, quick operation, and long battery life make the Casio EX-Z1080 a great compact camera. It comes in pink, blue, black, and silver. The first thing you notice on the £135, 10.1Mp EX-Z1080 we tested is its metallic-pink shell and a big sticker touting its YouTube-capture mode – suggesting the camera’s target buyer is young and female. If you don’t fit that demographic, the Casio EX-Z1080 also comes in blue, black, and silver.

Also notable is the Casio EX-Z1080′s 2.6in LCD, which fits within a 3.5in-wide body. But looks are deceiving. A narrow column on the wide-format screen’s left side holds the camera’s settings menu, so the viewing area during shooting is more like 2.25in. That said, we found the Casio EX-Z1080′s viewfinder exceptionally clear and sharp, even in bright sunlight, making it a pleasure to use. That’s important, because the pocket-sized Z1080 does not include an optical viewfinder.

With the LCD taking up nearly all of the Casio EX-Z1080′s back side, there’s little real estate for hard controls – you get only tiny menu and Best Shot (scene mode) buttons, plus a four-way thumb-control button, all to the right of the LCD. Fortunately, a large shutter-release button is on top, surrounded by a comfortable-to-operate zoom lever.

Changing basic camera settings is much like the efficient Function control you find in Canon point-and-shoots: press the Set button; use the up/down cursor buttons to roll through settings categories (ISO, focus, exposure value, and so on); then scroll though your choices with the right/left cursor buttons. A list of the current settings remains visible on the Casio EX-Z1080′s screen at all times. It’s quick and effective.

We also like the ability to assign preferred functions (such as white balance) to the right/left cursor buttons. The only oddity is the duplication of the Set button’s functions in the Casio EX-Z1080′s more traditional Menu screens – an unneeded complication. Scene modes on the Casio EX-Z1080 are called Best Shots. Using the tiny button on the back, you can select modes for photographing portraits or pets, plus more esoteric options such as old-photo colour correction (take a picture of an old photo, and the Exilim tries to restore its colors) and YouTube-optimised video recording.

Dock the camera in its cradle and press the USB button, and the included photo software detects video files and lets you upload them to the YouTube site in a couple of clicks. In all, the Casio EX-Z1080 has a daunting 41 special settings, but it presents them nicely with colourful samples and short descriptions.

source: pcadvisor.co.uk

Casio Exilim EX-S880 8.3Mp Compact Camera Review

Casio Exilim EX-S880 8.3Mp Compact Camera Review

Technical Specs of Casio Exilim EX-S880 8.3Mp Compact Camera

8.3Mp
3,264×2,448
848×480@30fps
3x optical zoom
1/2.5in sensor
no optical image stabilisation
face-recognition capability included
f2.7-f8.0l 38-114
2.8in (230K) LCD
10MB (SD)
lithium rechargeable battery
64-1,600
1/2-1/2,000
94.5×60.4×17.3mm
144g
Movie Wizard, Ulead VideoStudio 10.0 Plus trial

Expert Review on Casio Exilim EX-S880 8.3Mp Compact Camera

The ultra-thin 8.3Mp Casio Exilim EX-S880 compact camera is similar in shape and size to BenQ’s DC-T700, however Casio forgoes the touchscreen for a more traditional approach. This means buttons, and quite a lot of them. However, the Casio Exilim EX-S880′s design is such that a total of eleven switches and a cursor pad area presented in such a tidy and well thought-out way that the camera never seems cluttered.

The Casio Exilim EX-S880 is in fact an easy camera to use. During shooting, the Casio Exilim EX-S880 supports two different information display systems, a traditional layout with small overlaid icons, and a “panel” mode which devotes the righthand margin of the screen to a narrow column of icons that can be stepped through with the cursor pad.

This allows very quick and easy adjustments without taking your eye off your composition and without having to switch into a full-blown menu system. The most touted new feature of the Casio Exilim EX-S880 is its YouTube capture mode. When selecting this mode, video is captured in a display format optimised to look good when uploaded directly to YouTube.

Video shooting also gets its very own button, which means you don’t have to stop and swap between still and video modes. Furthermore, because the Casio Exilim EX-S880 is always recording into a buffer, you can actually capture video from a few seconds before you pressed the button, ensuring you don’t miss any priceless moments.

Face detection is supported, but it’s not quite as quick and accurate as Canon’s (seen here on the Canon IXUS 75). It does however support a “family first” option where you can teach it to recognise your friends and family. Priority is usually given to the largest and closest faces in the picture, but in this mode the Casio Exilim EX-S880 will instead give priority to the faces it recognises, making them the target for best exposure and focus.

Unlike many other compact cameras, the Casio Exilim EX-S880 enjoys a two- rather than a one-year warranty.

source: pcadvisor.co.uk

Casio EX-Z1080 10.1Mp Compact Camera Review

Casio EX-Z1080 10.1Mp Compact Camera Review

Technical Specs of Casio EX-Z1080 10.1Mp Compact Camera

12.1Mp compact camera
3x optical zoom
2.8in LCD viewfinder
ISO 50-400
AVI video capability
11.4MB internal memory, card slot takes, SD, MMC
rechargeable lithium battery with charger
93.3×58.5×22.4mm
152g

Expert Review on Casio EX-Z1080 10.1Mp Compact Camera

The Casio Exilim Z1200 is the UK’s first compact digital camera to break through the 12Mp mark. Now, how many (mega) pixels do you need? For most compact camera pictures 8Mp is more than ample – 7 or even 6Mp is usually more than enough. What the Casio Exilim Z1200′s 12.1Mp will do for you however, as well as giving you unbelievably crystal-clear shots, is allow you a second chance at composing your shot.

The Casio Exilim Z1200′s 12.1Mp photos can be printed at high quality at poster size, which most people will rarely ever do. So you can zoom in and crop out certain elements of your shot, and still have a very high quality photo. This way a full length photo of your partner standing in the middle of a landscape can, if taken with the Casio Exilim Z1200, become a portrait with a nice backdrop. The Casio Exilim Z1200 isn’t just about incredible detailed shots, however. It has one of the most intuitive operating systems we have come across, too.

The usual functions are displayed on the right of the Casio Exilim Z1200′s display, with nice easy-to-navigate icons. The Z1200 also has a one-touch best-shot function activated by a small button on the back of the camera which will make shot selection a dream for any beginner. The Casio Exilim Z1200 is no simple point-and-click camera though, as with most decent digital cameras over the £200 mark you get full manual control over all aspects of the camera including shutter speeds and focal length, which nearly (but not quite) makes up for the minimal ISO selection.

Shutter lag isn’t too bad with the Casio Exilim Z1200. It can be further reduced by depressing the shot button, but the time taken to process your shot when using a high resolution mode is yawn inducing. And there’s little point having a 12Mp camera and not taking hi-res shots… Combine this with various problems when shooting in low light – including a hit-and-miss face recognition system and you’re left with a camera that struggles when outside its comfort zone. But the Casio Exilim Z1200 is outstanding in perfect conditions.

source: pcadvisor.co.uk

Canon PowerShot G7 Digital Camera Review

Canon PowerShot G7 Digital Camera Review

Technical Specs of Canon PowerShot G7 Digital Camera

10Mp compact digital camera
zoom lens 6x/4x (optical/digital)
range 35-210mm
aperture f2.8-4.8
ISO 80 to 1,600
shutter 1/2,000 sec
2.5in LCD viewfinder
video capture at 640×480/30fps
lithium-ion battery with charger
SD card slot
106x43x72m
320g

Expert Review on Canon PowerShot G7 Digital Camera

The G7′s comprehensive feature set includes a 10Mp (megapixel) sensor, face-detection autofocus, optical image stabilisation and a maximum ISO light sensitivity of 1,600. This is a sturdy-looking, sophisticated successor to the G6. However, it has a fair few shortcomings. The large, high-resolution 2.5in LCD doesn’t swivel (the G6′s did), there’s no wireless remote and the strip of rubberised material is a poor substitute for a true hand grip.

The mode dial on top of the camera offers a typical assortment of shooting modes, plus two positions you can assign to customised settings. Working with the dedicated ISO dial is far more convenient than using an LCD menu. Unfortunately, the top panel lacks a status display. The G7 delivered very sharp shots in our tests, and scored highly on image quality. We were disappointed, however, by the indifferent accuracy of its exposures on indoor shots (at automatic settings), especially where we used the built-in flash. Thankfully, it’s more accurate outdoors. The slow autofocus proved frustrating: the lens tended to swim in and out for several seconds before locking on. In dim lighting, it sometimes produced out-of-focus shots.

The G7′s 6x optical zoom is fairly modest, and photo enthusiasts may be disappointed to discover that the G7 shoots only Jpegs. If you like to use a tripod, be warned that the SD (secure digital) card slot is located next to the battery compartment on the underside; before you can swap cards, you’ll have to remove the camera from the tripod. A final criticism concerns the G7′s battery, which lasted for just 275 shots – at this level, you should be looking for 400.

source: pcadvisor.co.uk