Sony Cybershot DSC-H2 Review
PhotographyBlog recently reviewed the Sony Cybershot DSC-H2, a big zoom digital camera from Sony. With the size of the camera, I don’t think you’ll ever be able to lose it.
With a massive 12x optical zoom lens equivalent to 36-432mm on a 35mm camera, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H2 is Sony’s current representative in the ultra-zoom class of compact digital cameras. The DSC-H2 has a 6 megapixel sensor and features Sony’s image stabilisation system, called Super Steady Shot, to ensure sharper results when hand-holding the camera at the longer focal lengths. Other highlights of the Sony DSC-H2 include a large 2 inch LCD screen for easier composition and playback, 7 different scene modes for the beginner, and creative shutter-priority, aperture-priority and manual exposure modes for the more experienced photographer.
In the end they give the Sony DSC-H2 a 4.5 out of 5, with some of the low points being its design, and image quality. Two places you don’t want as the low point, but considering they get a 4 out of 5, this camera is still very good.
Fujifilm FinePix Z3 Review
ThinkCamera has a great review up on the Fujifilm FinePix Z3, a compact digital camera that was made for taking shots in average situations, the bar, a dim house, this little shooter should have you covered.
The Z3 does rather a good job at a range of “normal” pictures. The lens seems plenty sharp enough and doesn’t have any major faults. There’s a little distortion at its very widest setting, but nothing that would really trouble you in everyday shooting. By current standards, 5MP could be considered a little on the small side but the camera is capable of some very nice looking A4 prints.
Exposures are also pretty good with most general scenes returning a very pleasing picture. The dual exposure mode can work well if you’re not sure whether to use flash or not. However, on a number of shots with high contrast scenes the main area came back a little underexposed. This isn’t unusual (the camera has to balance a bright sky and dark foreground) and can usually be dealt with by exposure compensation. On most compacts this isn’t a big deal but on the Z3 exposure comp only works in “manual” mode. If you are shooting in “auto” mode (and the camera performs very well in this mode most of the time) you are 10 button presses from adding +1 exposure compensation.
In the end they give the FinePix Z3 a rating of 8 out of 10. Its lowest mark being 6 out of 10 for ease of use. The highest mark being given to its design. If you want to purchase its little brother the Z1, have a look at Digital Camera HQ.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Review
Digital Photography Review has their review up on the Lumix DMC-FZ50, from Panasonic.
Announced bang on schedule exactly a year after the camera it replaces, the FZ50 is the new flagship in Panasonic’s big-zoom Lumix range, upping the image size to a class-leading 10.2 megapixels and adding a couple of welcome new features. Unlike the FZ30, which represented a leap forward in design and features over the FZ20 (and closed the gap between fixed lens and SLR cameras further than ever before), the new camera is a fairly minor upgrade. Then again, the FZ30 was hardly crying out for a massive overhaul; despite a wealth of ’super zoom’ competitors it really does sit in a class of its own, offering true SLR-like handling and operation and an amazingly versatile 35-420mm equivalent 12x optical zoom (with fluid-damped mechanical zoom mechanism).
In the end they gave the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50, a recommended rating, but make sure that we all know that it just made the cutoff for that rating, as its value was only a 7.5 out of 10 on their rating scale.
Pentax K100D Review
Digital Camera Resource Page has a review on the Pentax K100D, a digital SLR from Pentax that looks somewhat like its predecessor the *ist DS2.
The K100D looks a whole lot like the *ist models before it, with the biggest changes inside the camera. it’s a midsize D-SLR that’s very well put-together considering its $600 street price. The camera has a nice, large right hand grip, and it fits well in your hands. Pentax didn’t go overboard with buttons and dials — it’s pretty easy to just pick up and use the K100D. The camera supports all Pentax KA-mount lenses ever made, with a 1.5X focal length conversion ratio. In terms of resolution, the K100D is a bit lacking, still using the same 6.1 Megapixel CCD as the original *ist D. The K100D has a large, fairly bright viewfinder as well as a 2.5″ LCD display. The camera is also somewhat unique in that it uses AA batteries straight out of the box, instead of expensive proprietary li-ion batteries like most of the competition.
If you are looking for a reasonable digital SLR, and are not looking to take too many fast action shots in sequence, the Pentax K100D could be just the camera you are looking for.
Fujifilm Finepix F30 Review
PopPhoto has a review up on the Finepix F30 from Fujifilm.
There’s nothing about the design of the 6-megapixel Fujifilm Finepix F30 ($340 street) that screams “look at me!”
It’s your basic contemporary boxy rectangle 3x retracting-lens digicam. There’s a nice 2.5 inch LCD on the back that gains up and down well enough on its own, along with a button to crank it up in sunlight. It’s got a couple of buttons and knobs here and there in the typical places to control modes and settings. In short, it’s very similar in design to so many other digicams on the market right now. But what’s inside this camera differentiates it from all the other 3x rectangular boxes on the market — an ISO range all the way up to 3200(!).
While they don’t give the camera a final rating they do list off what they liked and did not like. Some of the things they liked included the usable ISO range, aperture/shutter priority mode, ease of use, and long battery life. The negatives listed include a slow maximum aperture at telephoto, confusing manual setting, and no zoom while recording movies.
You can buy the Finepix F30 through Digital Camera HQ.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ3 Review
Imaging Resource has a review up on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ3, where they start by saying that if you have read their review on the LZ5, this camera is pretty similar, and you can almost skip this review if you have read the previous one. Pretty sad state of affairs when cameras are so similar that a range of models really only need one review.
The Panasonic LZ3 is in most ways a typical compact snapshot camera, providing a good selection of automatic features and not much in the way of manual control. But it stands out from the crowd by providing a 6x optical zoom… and by implementing the optical image stabilization that has become standard in newer Lumix cameras. There are two stabilization modes, and while the first produces only a minor difference while stabilizing the LCD preview somewhat, the second mode captures a much more noticeably sharp image than what you’ll get without the OIS at slower shutter speeds. Image stabilization is really a very worthwhile feature on a camera, it makes it a lot easier to get sharp photos when shooting under limited lighting.
In the end they say that the DMC-LZ3 is a good value, and its optical stabilization is great. They mention the lack of sound for movie mode, making movie mode, pretty useless. But overall, I think they give it a thumbs up. I personally love the optical zoom, as it is well above standard.
You can check out and buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ3 from here.
Sony Alpha 100 DSLR Review
Pocket-lint has a review up on the Sony Alpha 100 Digital SLR. A camera that has been receiving rave reviews from pretty much everyone that picks it up.
The Sony Alpha 100 is a compact and relatively lightweight 10-megapixel D-SLR that is based around the Konica Minolta core technologies of a CCD-shift Anti Shake system and the Dynax lens mount. They have been adopted by Sony with the former now called Super Steady Shot.
The Dynax mount (called Maxxum in the US) means the Alpha will benefit from over 16-million lenses already out there and in use, plus a host of new optics ready for launch and the promise of 21 new lenses by the end of this year. Add to that a large collection of other accessories that have been moved across from the KM brand and tweaked for use on the new Alpha 100 and the offering is certainly substantial.
It looks like Pocket-lint was no exception and pretty much loved the A-100 from Sony as they gave it a 9 out of 10, as well as a hot product badge. The two negatives they list for the camera are small things of note at best: noise reduction reduces fine detail, LCD screen lacks punch.
You can check out more reviews, as well as purchase the Sony A-100 DSLR from Digital Camera HQ.
Fuji FinePix F470 Review
Pocket-lint has a review up on the Fuji FinePix F470, a small, rather average consumer digital camera. It has a 6 megapixel CCD, as well as a 3x optical zoom.
Featherweight it may be in terms of physical dimensions and weight but it also featherweight in specification. The F470 has standard 6-megapixel sensor (as opposed to a Fuji SuperCCD) at the top of its spec’ billing, 10-scene modes include the usual bits and bobs, such as portrait, landscape and sports and a flower close-up mode among others.
Images can be stored on the camera’s 16MB of internal memory but you’ll get just five images if that’s all you use; factor in the price of an additional external xD-Picture Card in your budget, it’s the camera’s removable storage of choice.
In the end they give it an eight out of ten thanks to its build quality, weight, and image quality. The downsides were listed as being a low maximum ISO, and no optical viewfinder.
Casio Exilim EX-S600 Review
ThinkCamera has a review up on the Casio Exilim EX-S600.
The S600 is a camera which can truly be called “pocket-sized”. Not much bigger than a credit card, a mere 13.7mm thin at the thinnest point, and weighing in at 115g I could carry the camera around all day in a pocket without it becoming a nuisance or weighing me down.
With a metal body and a sleek design you automatically feel that this is a special piece of kit. In other cameras of a similar size, you often see a cutback in features such as zoom and resolution, but not with the S600. A steady 6.0 million pixels, remarkably clear and sharp 2.2” LCD screen and 3x optical zoom seems to sit comfortably next to the £200 price tag.
They give it a respectable rating of six out of ten, mostly due to the slow cycle time for taking images.
Nikon Coolpix L4 Review
TrustedReviews takes a look at the Coolpix L4, a small, and inexpensive 4 megapixel digital camera from Nikon.
Despite its bargain bin price, the L4 is every inch a Nikon. It is elegantly designed, compact and extremely well built. The body is made of plastic, but it feels strong and solid, with no worrying creaks when squeezed. It’s finished in an attractive glossy silver colour with chrome trim and certainly looks a lot more expensive than it is.
The L4 has a resolution of “only” 4-megapixels. This may not sound like a lot these days, especially when compared to the 10MP Casio EX-Z1000 I reviewed a couple of weeks ago, but it’s worth remembering that just five years ago this would have been one of the most powerful cameras on the market. 4MP is more than enough for photo-quality snapshots, and even blown up to A4 it won’t look too shabby. There’s a lot more to picture quality than just megapixels.
In the end the Coolpix L4 manages to earn itself an 8 out of 10, thanks to its amazing value and reasonable features. They really should have worked a bit harder on image quality, as that scores the lowest mark, getting only a six out of ten.
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