Expert Camera Reviews

The Coolpix S10 is a swivel-body digital camera from Nikon. The S10 is an update to the Nikon’s existing Coolpix S4 model, adding a couple of very useful features such as a 6 megapixel CCD, a big 10x optical zoom lens, a 2.5 inch LCD monitor, 800 ISO sensitivity and all latest technical gizmos which include face detection, image stabilization and vibration reduction. Nikon’s best shot selection mode which automatically chooses the sharpest from a series of images is also included in the S10.

Positives features of the CoolPix S10:

• 2.5 inch LCD with 170 degree viewing angle
• Vibration reduction technology
• Face detection auto-focus in Portrait mode
• Fix red-eye in-camera
• D-Lighting to lighten underexposed subjects
• View in-camera slide shows
• Sensitivity up to ISO 800
• Joystick for menu navigation

Negatives features of the S10 are:

• Not much space for the right hand to grip the camera due to the swivel design
• Vertical flash next to lens on swivel design
• Small zoom lever
• No Manual, Aperture Priority, or Shutter Priority mode
• Awkward lens cover
• EV adjustment hidden in menu system
• No USB 2.0 High Speed support
• No optical or electronic viewfinder

Specifications:
Megapixels - 6.0
Weight (oz.) - 7.7
Optical Zoom - 10x
LCD Size - 2.5 inch
Flash Range (ft) - 3.3 to 17.7
Image stabilizer - Yes
Battery type - Lithium Ion
Special features – Built-in flash strobe, macro mode with focus up to 1.6 inch, recording
movies at VGA resolution with sound, seven white balance modes, SD cards for storage,

Summary:
The S10 priced at $400 is quite expensive compared to other consumer oriented super-zoom cameras such as the Kodak Z650 or Fuji S5600 after taking into consideration the amount of drawbacks this camera has.

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The Fujifilm FinePix E900 features a 9-megapixel and a fifth generation super CCD high resolution sensor. The compact and lightweight FinePix E900 is the current flagship of Fujifilm’s E-series. The fully automatic features of the E900 provide point and shoot simplicity, while manual and customizable feature settings provide additional control particularly when combined with the power of optional lenses. The E900 delivers some impressive images even at ISO 800. The high speed USB port connectivity can be used for direct printing with any PictBridge compatible photo printer.

The selling points of the FinePix E900 are:
• Produces very good high quality photos
• Good high ISO performance although its a non-SLR camera
• Full manual controls
• Support for conversion lenses
• Batteries rechargeable
• Fast startup, focusing, shot-to-shot speeds
• Useful Natural Light mode
• High shutter speeds to minimize blurriness in photos
• USB 2.0 high speed support

Drawbacks of the FinePix E900 are:
• Slow performance in RAW recording and playback mode
• LCD can be difficult to see in low light; screen is low resolution as well
• No focus distance on LCD in manual focus mode
• No AF-assist lamp; poor low light focusing
• Lens locked at wide-angle in macro mode
• Full shutter speed range only available in manual mode
• Small memory card of 16 MB

Specifications:
Megapixels - 9.0
Weight (oz.) - 7.0
Optical Zoom - 4x
LCD Size - 2.0 inch
Battery type - AA (x2)
Special features - RAW images file format, Voice memos for still images, USB
2.0 connectivity, DPOF and PictBridge compatible, Standard, Chrome and Black and white color modes, JPEG and RAW image format support.

Summary:
From usability point of view, the FinePix E900 covers a range which includes beginners to sophisticated photographer. This makes it a great choice for multiple-users and also a good choice for someone who is looking for a camera that’s easy to use to get started with initially, but has additional features to offer as one becomes more experienced. The E900’s print quality is with no doubts very impressing especially in a point and shoot mode to deliver suitable 13×19 images even at ISO 800.

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The Fujifilm FinePix S5200 is a 5.1 megapixel with a 10x optical zoom, which is well-designed and a well-built camera with very good image quality and performance. While smaller than any digital SLR, yet it is too big for someone with casual shooting needs, but it’s the perfect size for a long-lens enthusiast’s camera. The S5200 has a comfortable and well-balanced body that fits nicely in the hands, and a high-speed sensor that provides usable natural and low-light images at sensitivities up to ISO 1600.

The good points about this camera are:

• Record movies at two resolutions, 640×480 or 320×240 at 30 frames per second
• High quality 10x zoom lens
• Solid image quality at high ISO speeds
• Attractive designs
• Special natural lights and anti-blur modes
• Stores images on xD picture cards
• Electronic color viewfinder
• Voice memos can be attached to still images
• Long battery life

Drawbacks of the S5200 are:

• Can record movies only with monaural sound and no zoom
• Bulky size and shape
• No image stabilization
• Noise at low ISO settings
• Small LCD screen
• Manual focusing is awkward to use

Specifications:
Megapixels - 5.1
Weight (oz.) - 16.6
Optical Zoom - 10x
LCD Size - 1.8 inch
Flash Range (ft) - Built-in manual popup multi-mode flash
Image stabilizer - No
Battery type - AA (x4)
Special features - USB 2.0 Connectivity, Self timer, Supports RAW format, Red
Eye reduction mode, comfortable handgrip

Summary:
The Fujifilm FinePix S5200 is a well-designed, well-built camera with very good performance. Its large size, absence of an image stabilizer and artifacts in its photos may turn off some photographers.

The Canon Powershot S3 IS is an update to the very popular PowerShot S2 ultra zoom, Image stabilized camera. In the S3, the upgrades are fairly minor for most of the parts. The basic specifications apart from the sensor are pretty the same as the S2. Just like the S2, the S3 has a 12x optical zoom with image stabilization, flip and twist LCD viewfinder, tons of photographic control modes and advanced movie mode with stereo sound. There are also some new scene modes in the S3 which are, color accent and color swap.

The good points about this camera are:
• Comfortable design
• Response to action is quite fast
• Good color accuracy
• Very good battery life
• Auto Hi and ISO 800 settings
• Stills can be captured while recording movies
• Powerful built-in flash
• Fast file downloads via high speed USB 2.0 port

The drawbacks for the Canon S3 Powershot S3 IS are:
• Fast shutter speeds not available at all lens apertures
• No support for Raw file
• Movie files are restricted to 1 GB in size
• The AVI movie format is not as compact as MPEG-4
• Small LCD
• Fake wide screen

Specifications:
Megapixels - 6.0
Weight (oz.) - 14.5
Optical Zoom - 12x
LCD Size - 2 inch
Flash Range (ft) - 1.6 to 17ft
Image stabilizer - Optical
Battery type - 2 x AA
Special features – 10 custom photo effects, USB cable to connect to PC, DPOF
and PictBridge compatibility, NTSC and PAL compatible, sound caption recording, USB 2.0 High Speed Port.

Summary:
The long-zoom digital camera market is pretty crowded these days and competition is growing day by day, so it takes a lot for a product to really stand out. Despite the stiff competition from others, the Canon PowerShot S3 is indeed a standout and highly recommended product to buy.

Canon’s A710 is a 7.1 megapixel camera with a powerful 6x optical zoom, and Canon’s Image Stabilizer Technology that will keep your photos clear and sharp at every point in the zoom and even in low light. It has an easy high-tech operability and a load of creative shooting modes. The A710’s sensor yields an ISO range equivalent to 80 to 800, while shutter speeds from 1/2000 to 15 seconds are possible. Canon has packed a good range of controls and features into the Powershot A710 including manual exposure controls which is suitable for anyone who is looking for a step up from the typical auto cameras.

Some good features which are worth mentioning about the A710 are:

• Excellent lens, sharp corners and low chromatic aberration.
• Macro mode to capture a very small area
• Excellent low light shooting capability
• Full manual control
• Startup and shutdown are quick and menu options are available quickly
• Unlimited burst length in continuous mode with a fast SD card
• High ISO capability
• The camera body has vibrant and appealing colors

Negatives points are:

• Slow flash recycling
• LCD screen is big and bright but not as sharp as others
• Video recording is limited to 1 GB file size
• The 16 MB card which is included in the camera is very small in size
• The camera struggles when the ISO settings are increased

Specifications:
Megapixels - 7.1
Weight (oz.) - 7.41
Optical Zoom - 6x
LCD Size - 2.5 inch
Flash Range (ft) - 1.8 to 11 ft
Image stabilizer - Yes
Battery type - AA Alkaline (x 2) and Rechargeable AA Ni-MH (x2)
Special features - Image stabilization, Continuous Shooting and a variable delay
Self-Timer mode, USB cable for PC connection, DPOF compatible, White balance with seven modes

Summary:
The Canon A710 has enough megapixels for excellent enlargements without risking much image noise. The A710’s excellent 6x optical zoom is remarkable and is a great case to pick a slightly larger camera over those slim cameras with great corner sharpness and very little chromatic aberration.

Powered by a 4x optical zoom lens and with lots of manual settings and a reasonably low price tag, Canon’s PowerShot A640 looks quite appealing. Though it lacks the flexibility of higher-end cameras, still the 10 megapixel A640 is a smart, full-featured camera with some surprising benefits. The A640’s most outstanding feature is its 2.5-inch LCD. The LCD can be flipped and twisted to get shots from odd angles. The high performance features include 21 shooting modes and a high ISO 800 auto settings to shoot in low light.

The auto white balance feature handles a wide range of lighting well. The shutter response is excellent at wide angle settings. The A640 has an accurate LCD viewfinder and a good articulated LCD. The camera has an excellent battery life and a good low light capability. The case design is done so well that it fits into large as well as small hands. The A640 has a better than average exposure and a good user interface which makes sense.

There are some drawbacks of the A640 camera, they are:
• Inaccurate optical viewfinder
• Too many manuals to find what you are looking for
• Flash hides in the corners while shooting at wide angles
• Its noisy at ISO 800
• It has no image stabilization

Specifications:
Megapixels - 10.0
Weight (oz.) - 8.6
Optical Zoom - 4x
LCD Size - 2.5 inch
Flash Range (ft) - 1.5 to 14 ft
Image stabilizer - No
Battery type - 4 x AA
Special features - Audio Notes with still images, custom setting mode, DPOF and
PictBridge Printing Capability, Print/Share button for direct printing and image transfer, Remote Capture.

Summary:
Though the A640 is not a great choice for low-light shooting, yet it is a solid digital camera with plenty of features that photographers will love. The Canon A640 is just an excellent multi-purpose digital camera. It’s easy to see why Canon A630 continues to be popular. They are well-built and the design is user friendly, the pictures are outstanding and they’re easy to operate. We go further and give it our recommendation as a great all-around performer for almost anyone.

The Canon PowerShot A630 is a 8.0 megapixel CCD with a 4x optical zoom lens that offers a 35mm equivalent focal range of 35 to 140mm. Designed with ease of use the Canon A630 offers both a range of features for experts as well as beginners. For beginners there’s a fully automatic mode, and a generous selection of 13 scene modes. For expert photographers there is Manual, Aperture shutter priority, manual White Balance and three Metering modes. The users have the ability to exert more control over the photographic process. Two new features in the A630 are Safety zoom and Digital Tele-converter.

The auto white balance feature handles a wide range of lighting well. The shutter response is excellent at wide angle settings. The A630 has an accurate LCD viewfinder. The camera has an excellent battery life and a good low light capability. The case design is done so well that it fits into large as well as small hands. The A630 has a good user interface which makes sense.

There are some drawbacks of the A630 camera, they are:
• Inaccurate optical viewfinder
• Too many manuals to find what you are looking for
• Flash hides in the corners while shooting at wide angles
• Its noisy at ISO 800
• It has no image stabilization
• Not ideal for low light shooting

Specifications:
Megapixels - 8.0
Weight (oz.) - 8.6
Optical Zoom - 4x
LCD Size - 2.5 inch
Flash Range (ft) - 1.5 to 14 ft
Image stabilizer - No
Battery type - 4 x AA
Special features – Good skin tones, continuous shooting mode, color swap mode, custom
setting mode, DPOF and PictBridge Printing Capability, Print/Share button for direct printing and image transfer.

Summary:
Though the A630 is not a great choice for low-light shooting, yet the Canon A630 is a solid, feature-rich digital camera. The Canon A630 is just an excellent multi-purpose digital camera. It’s easy to see why Canon A630 continues to be popular. They are well-built and the design is user friendly, the pictures are outstanding and they’re easy to operate.

The Powershot G7 is a 10 megapixel camera, with 6x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom and with manual and automatic controls. The G7 continues has all the Canon’s latest features which include the new Digic III processor, face detection and image stabilization. It is one of the most advanced compact digital cameras you will find and the layout of the camera helps to bring some its more advanced features to the fingertips of the more serious photographer. The Canon G7 can accept accessory lenses and an accessory flash. This camera is most likely to appeal to people who see photography as their hobby and would want to involve themselves in the technical aspects of photography.

Some features of the G7 which make it a good choice to buy are:
• The zoom is quite
• Excellent lens delivers good sharpness across the frame
• Good low light shooting capability
• It has a good shutter response at both wide angles and telephoto
• It has an accurate viewfinder
• Face detection auto focus is fast and accurate
• Its capable of making 16 x 20 inch prints without distortion

The drawbacks are:
• It is highly priced at $600 compared to other compact cameras
• It doesn’t support RAW file format
• It lacks a LCD articulating screen
• The optical viewfinder is inaccurate
• Its auto rotation is not recognized by many standard applications.

Specifications:
Megapixels - 10.0
Weight (oz.) - 11.3
Optical Zoom - 6x
LCD Size - 2.5 inch
Flash Range (ft) - 1.5 to 13 ft
Image stabilizer - Optical
Battery type - Lithium Ion rechargeable battery
Special features – Adjustable AF area, Computer controlled shooting
options, Movie recording with sound, Adjustable self timer, DPOF and PictBridge compatible.

Summary
The Canon G7 is a great choice if you want a highly priced digital camera just to please you with its presence and its output. But if your photography needs require an articulation LCD viewfinder to capture high and low angle shots then the A640 is a better alternative to the G7.

The PowerShot S2-IS is a compact high resolution, exceptionally long and excellently engineered zoom digital camera with stylish movie recording capabilities and an exciting collection of shooting options. The S2 was launched in April 2005. The S2 is a major upgrade to the S1 specification’s and spots a new body. A comparison with its predecessor the S1, gives an idea of what’s new in the S2. The S2 is larger and heavier due to the large sensor which leads to a larger lens and ultimately provides a wider zoom range. Problems in the S1 model have been rectified and addressed in Canon’s PowerShot S2.

The Canon S2 IS accommodates a wide range of users with its changeable level of exposure control. Experienced photographers will appreciate the Manual, Aperture Priority, and Shutter Priority modes, while for novices the Auto, Program AE, and Scene modes would be extremely useful. The most prominent feature of the S2 is the 12x optical zoom lens. The optical image stabilization feature of the Canon S2 is found only in handful of digital cameras. The S2 has a tremendous movie recording capability which is at 640×480 pixels and can capture 30 frames per second. The camera has good movie modes with stereo sound and the silent zoom lens feature can be used while recording a movie.

Some of the drawbacks of the Canon S2 are:

• High Image noise at ISO 400
• No rechargeable batteries or charger included with the camera.
• Movie files are restricted to 1 GB
• Focus is difficult to determine from the LCD screen while in the manual focus mode
• No RAW file support

Specifications:
Megapixels – 5.0
Weight (oz.) – 14.3
Optical Zoom – 12x
LCD Size - 1.8 inch
Flash Range (ft) – 2.3 to 17.1 ft
Image stabilizer – Yes, Lens 3 modes
Battery type - AA-size Alkaline Battery (x4)
AA-size NiMH Battery (x4)
Special features – NTSC, PAL, Stereo, SD Memory Card, JPEG, AVI, WAV, Red Eye Reduction, Auto and Custom white balance.

Summary
The Canon PowerShot S2 IS priced at $499 is ideal to be placed in the multi-purpose and family camera category. It is a good buy considering the specifications and features that it has and not to forget that you also get the Canon advantage.