The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 remains the ultra zoom digital camera that sets the standard for the others to follow. It has pretty much everything a beginner to serious amateur photographer could wish for: very good to excellent image quality, superb 18x optical wide-angle zoom with an effective optical image stabilization, fast and precise AF even at the long end of the zoom and in low light.

The Panasonic FZ18 has a superb Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens and it shows in the quality of the images. The effective optical image stabilization allows hand holding shots at the long focal lengths and slower shutter speeds. The wide-angle makes this a great camera for landscape and group shots. Read the rest of this entry »

The D80 slots nicely between the entry-level D50 and the semi-professional / professional D200, clearly based on the D70 design but also different enough to be seen as a completely new model. It features a ten megapixel DX format CCD (the same we presume as used by Sony in the DSLR-A100), the metering sensor from the D50 and numerous other items taken or modified from the D200.Key features

* 10.2 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop)
* Image processing engine (similar to D200 / D2X)
* 3D Color Matrix Metering II, 420 pixel sensor (same as D50)
* 11-area AF system (new version of Multi-CAM 1000, similar to D200)
* Custom Auto ISO (selectable maximum ISO, minimum shutter speed)
* Configurable high ISO and long exposure noise reduction Read the rest of this entry »

Olympus Stylus 790 SW
• Desire a quality 7.1 MP resolution point-and-shoot digital camera.
• Camera must be able to take bumps, knocks and falls… and keep working, even in cold temperatures.
• Camera must be weather and waterproof (up to 3m / 10ft).
• Want a compact, JeansPocket™ Certified digital camera (small fashion purse, jeans pocket).
• Have no problem with small buttons and dial as long as they are precise and responsive.
• Able to hold a small camera steady and gentle with shutter release.
• Like the WOW! Factor: this camera makes a fashion statement.

The third generation Olympus SW digital camera, the Olympus Stylus 790 SW, gains a more elegant design in its all-metal brushed silver compact body which is JeansPocket™ Certified. It basically retains its “toughness”: it is shockproof and can internally withstand a 1.5m (5 ft) fall; is waterproof up to 3m (10 ft); and, is freezeproof to -10°C (14°F).

The Stylus 790 SW can be used at the beach, boating on the lake or ocean, hiking, skiing, or just traveling — without worrying about bumps, knocks, rain, mud, sand or dust!

This camera is targeted to Point-and-Shoot photographers, has 7.1MP resolution and a 3x optical zoom. AUTO and 24 Scene Modes simplify shooting. More advanced photographers can also switch to the Programmed AE (P) mode which provides control over ISO (ISO 80 to 1600), WB, exposure compensation, and light metering. Digital Image Stabilization favours a high ISO and fast shutter speed to reduce or eliminate blurring caused by camera shake and/or subject movement (though the use of high ISOs introduce noise and/or loss of image detail).

The large 2.5-in. LCD monitor has a high 230,000 pixels resolution which, together with a fast refresh rate, makes for a clear and smooth display. The LCD monitor gains up in low-light to permit easier composition.
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The Nikon Coolpix P5100 is identical to the Coolpix P5000 with a slight increase to 12.1MP resolution. Many of you will like this relatively compact digital camera that offers total exposure flexibility in an attractive and durable body. The design is clean with lots of controls that make the camera intuitive to use. The P5100 has one of the best grip on a compact digital camera. The textured and almost all-black finish give the camera a professional look.Nikon P5100 User Profile

• Desire a 12.1MP resolution digital camera with very good image quality at ISO 64.
• Want Image Stabilization to prevent blurred pictures due to camera shake.
• Want an easy-to-use point-and-shoot with manual controls.
• Want full exposure flexibility, plus advanced features.
• Want a digital camera for learning and growing in digital photography.

Like on the P5000, advanced functions include Manual AF area frame and corresponding Spot AF area metering, auto exposure bracketing, manual WB and Best Shot Selector. An effective Vibration Reduction (VR) technology (”Image Stabilization”) allows handholding the camera at slow shutter speeds. Read the rest of this entry »

This is all-purpose digital SLR with live view LCD and professional quality underwater housing system. At this year’s PMA — the Mecca of shows for professional photographers — Olympus product manager Sally Smith Clemens pointed out that in the digital era, unlike in the olden days of film, cameras change very quickly. “In electronics, the technology is constantly evolving, and we want to bring the new innovations to our customers as soon as we can,” Smith Clemens said in an interview with USA Today.

And things indeed change quickly. No sooner did we complete a detailed review of the Olympus Evolt E-330 that the company revealed its 10-megapixel Evolt E-410 and E-510 models. Does that mean the E-330 is already obsolete because its maximum image resolution is 7.5 megapixel instead of 10? Not really. Newer is (almost) always better, but we found the E-330 to be an exemplary digital SLR, one that worked beautifully, took great shots, and, best of all, gave us a chance to test it not only for everyday shooting, but also underwater, in full scuba gear. Above you can see how substantial the waterproof housing is. Yes, we probably took more pictures in the depths of sinkholes, caverns, and rivers than we took on the surface. That’s with the extensive, professional-quality PT-E02 underwater housing, of course, and we’ll get into that.

As is, the Evolt-330 is a formidable camera. It has most of the same technologies used in the just released E-410 and E-510 models, and now that the new cameras are out, the E-330 may come down in price (it was originally more expensive than the two new dSLR offerings).
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For a long time, if you wanted a “big zoom” camera, you had to buy a bulky ultra zoom model. Things have started to change though, with ultra-compact, high zoom cameras from Canon, Casio, Pentax, and Sharp now available.

What’s in the Box?

The Exilim EX-V8 has an average bundle. Inside the box you’ll find:

* The 8.1 effective Megapixel Exilim EX-V8 digital camera
* NP-50 lithium-ion rechargeable battery
* AC adapter
* Camera dock
* Wrist strap
* USB cable
* A/V cable
* CD-ROM featuring Casio Photo Loader with Hot Album, Photo Transport, and YouTube Uploader
* Fold-out quick start guide, 26 page basic manual, plus full manual on CD-ROM
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For oldtimers, the name Nikon still conjures up high-quality, top-end single lens reflex cameras, and Nikon continutes to be very active in that space. However, the company also saw the handwriting on the wall and was one of the early adopters in the digital camera space. As a result, they have gathered a huge amount of expertise with digital imaging, and they also have not shied away from competiting, quite successfully, in the lower cost markets. The name “Coolpix” has become almost synonymous with Nikon digital cameras, and so all carry that brand name, but there are different kinds of Coolpix cameras. One of them is the “LIFE” family. These are designed to be compact, user-friendly cameras that combine good performance and easy operation with the advanced imaging technologies, all at affordable prices.

Introduced in the Fall of 2007, the Nikon Coolpix L14 is a new representative of the LIFE family. It is an inexpensive 7.1 megapixel camera that’s quite powerful and flexible. Perhaps its most outstanding feature: It can shoot up to 1,000 shots on a single pair of included Lithium AA batteries. No other camera in its class can do that, and this kind of longevity certain provides peace of mind: you KNOW you won’t run out of juice just when you need the camera most!. Read the rest of this entry »