Unveiled at the PMA International show in February, Samsung's WB2000 is targeted at photographers who want a slimline digicam with a full suite of controls, a high-quality monitor and Full HD video capability. Boasting a 10.2-megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS image sensor and 5x optical zoom lens it is one of the few models of its type with raw file capture and provides a wider range of advanced functions than most competing models. ...[more]
The 10-megapixel EX1 is the new flagship of the company's compact digital camera range. It features a new high-performance 1/1.7-inch (7.6 x 5.7 mm) CCD sensor plus a fast Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan lens with 3x optical zoom (24-72mm equivalent). It also boasts a 3-inch, swivelling AMOLED screen that provides users with a higher contrast ratio, deeper blacks and more accurate colours under most lighting conditions. ...[more]
Sigma's 180mm f/3.5 APO EX DG HSM Macro is the only lens in its macro range with an HSM autofocusing motor - but only on the Sigma, Nikon-D and Canon mounts. Designed for use on full frame digital SLR cameras, but can also be fitted to DSLRs with smaller APS-C size sensors, where it covers a similar field of view to a 270mm lens when fitted to Nikon, Pentax and Sony cameras with 1.5x crop factors or 288mm with Canon DSLRs. ...[more]
The 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro sits in the middle of Sigma's range of 1:1 true macro lenses. Keenly priced, it is designed for use with full frame digital SLR cameras, but can also be fitted to DSLRs with smaller APS-C size sensors. It covers a similar field of view to a 158mm lens in 35mm format when fitted to Nikon, Pentax and Sony cameras with 1.5x crop factors or 168mm with Canon DSLRs. ...[more]
Sigma's 50mm f/2.8 EX DG has the shortest focal length and lowest price of the four macro lenses in the company's current line-up. Designed for use with full frame digital SLR cameras, it can also be fitted to DSLRs with smaller APS-C size sensors, where it covers a similar field of view to a 75mm lens in 35mm format with Nikon, Pentax and Sony cameras or 80mm with Canon cameras. ...[more]
The 12-megapixel SP-600 UZ is the lower-priced model of two super-zoom digicams announced by Olympus in February. Built and priced to attract bargain hunters, it provides a limited range of adjustments but supports 720p video recording. The 15x optical zoom range is adequate for most family users and dual sensor-shift and ISO-boosting stabilisation reduce the incidence of unwanted camera shake - without totally preventing it. ...[more]
When it was unveiled in February, Olympus's SP-800UZ was one of only two digicams with a 30x zoom lens. Claiming the advantage of being the world's smallest in this category, the SP-800UZ boasts a 14-megapixel sensor and was released with a ‘sister' model, the SP-600UZ which sports a 15x zoom lens and 12-megapixel resolution. Reviews of both models will appear on the Photo Review website. ...[more]
Although Tamron has been producing 90mm macro lenses since the late 1970s, the latest SP AF90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 lens is the first with Tamron's latest Di (Digitally Integrated Design) technology, which matches the performance characteristics of current DSLR cameras. The new lens features improved coatings that reduce reflected light bouncing off the mirror-like surface of the sensor, thereby ensuring the full colour and contrast ranges in subjects are recorded. ...[more]
The main difference between Sony's NEX-3 and the more expensive NEX-5 model we reviewed in June lies in the video recording system. Whereas the NEX-5 uses the AVCHD format and can record Dolby Digital soundtracks, the NEX-3 uses the less efficient MP4 compression system for video and MPEG-4 AAC-LC for audio. The NEX-5 is also Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) compliant while top video resolution for the NEX-3 is 1280 x 720 pixels. ...[more]
Kaiser Baas is a company that develops products to solve common digital lifestyle problems for non-specialist consumers. Among its offerings are devices as diverse as digital photo frames, image and sound converters (including scanners), digital TV tuners, portable digital radios, memory card readers and road recorders. The PhotoScanner is the latest in a line of image conversion products that includes two film scanners and a video-to-DVD converter. ...[more]
Although not top of the range, the CanoScan CS5600F is a well-specified flatbed scanner with an attractive price tag and could appeal to everyday consumers who need to scan both reflective originals (such as documents and prints) and images on film. Capable of 4800 x 9600 dpi (dots/inch) resolution and up to 48-bit colour depth it has a built-in film adaptor that accepts up to six frames on 35mm filmstrip or four mounted 35mm slides at a time. ...[more]
We seldom review point-and-shoot digicams unless they include features that are novel or potentially interesting in some way. The recently-released Polaroid Two camera qualified by being the first digicam we've seen with a built-in printer. Ten-sheet packs of 76 x 49 mm ZINK Photo Paper are loaded into the camera body, dropping into a tray behind the lift-up LCD monitor and users can decide which shots to print after they are taken. ...[more]
The AF-S DX Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR II is a minor redesign of a previous lens. It features a new zoom mechanism for reducing zoom creep (the lens slides forward when tilted). A new zoom lock switch has been added and the multi-layer Super Integrated Coating (SIC) has been improved to provide better image quality and contrast. Otherwise, it's identical to the original Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens. ...[more]
Announced at PMA 2010 in February, the new Sigma AF 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM lens is designed specifically for DSLR cameras with APS-C size image sensors and boasts the widest angle of view of its type. It covers angles of view equivalent to a 12-24mm lens in 35mm format (12.8-25.6mm on Canon cameras) and features a number of exotic glass elements that help to keep its size compact and weight relatively low. ...[more]
Although Tamron's SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical [IF] lens has been designed for cameras with 36 x 24mm sensors, it is also usable on cameras with smaller, APS-C sized sensors, where it covers a focal length range of 44.8-120mm on Canon DSLRs or 42-112.5mm on all the rest. The fast f/2.8 maximum aperture applies throughout the 2.7x zoom range with both sensor sizes. ...[more]
Tamron's SP AF17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II VC lens is designed exclusively for cameras with APS-C sized sensors and covers the popular standard zoom range of focal lengths. On Nikon cameras it is equivalent to 26-78mm in 35mm format, while on the Canon EOS 40D body we used for our tests, the equivalent range is 27-80mm. The fast f/2.8 maximum aperture applies across the focal length range. ...[more]
Tamron's SP AF 60mm f/2 Di II Macro lens is considerably lighter and a full f-stop faster than the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens we reviewed recently. This SP (Super Performance) lens covers a focal length equivalent to 93mm in 35mm format with Nikon and Sony cameras or 96mm on the Canon EOS 40D camera we used for our review, which makes it also suitable for portraiture. ...[more]
There's very little difference between the Sigma DP2, which was released in April 2009 and the DP2s, which was announced in February 2010. The sensor and lens in the new camera are the same as the earlier model and the rather quirky user interface is unchanged. According to a company press release, there's a new AF algorithm for faster autofocusing and a Power Save mode to enable more shots per charge. The rear panel buttons are more clearly labelled, and the camera ships with the latest raw file processing software. ...[more]
Although Sony claims its new NEX-5 as the world's smallest and lightest interchangeable-lens camera, this can only apply to the camera body itself, which is similar in size and shape to Sony's H-series digicams. Attach the low-profile E 16mm f/2.8 (SEL16F28) ‘pancake' lens and the camera remains just pocketable; fit the E 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 (SEL1855) zoom lens and you'd be hard pressed to get the camera into a jacket pocket. ...[more]
Attach the LCD monitor to the back panel, remove the touch screen overlay, reduce the viewfinder resolution to 202,000 dots and disable the stereo sound recording capability and you've converted the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 into the DMC-G10. You've also saved $300 in the process. In this review, we'll focus on the differences between the two cameras, as shown in the table below. ...[more]
