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July 30, 2005
[ REVIEW-TAMRON AF 18~200MM ZOOM ]
Price: $900
Rating: 3
The lowdown: The TAMRON AF 18~200mm f3.5~6.3 DiII XR LD Aspherical [IF] Macro lens must surely be the lens with the longest name in the business! The lens itself is anything but long, at least in its retracted, wide angle mode. It extends about 85mm from the camera body at its shortest and 150mm when it is extended to its 200mm limit.
Keep in mind that on a camera with a 1.5 multiplier factor, such as the Nikon D100, D70, D50 cameras, this lens is the film equivalent of 27mm to 300mm.
One thing we have noticed about other compact, long range zooms is a tendency for the lens barrel to wobble inside itself when it is extended. The Tamron has no such tendency. The telescoping mechanism is reassuringly tight.
Focus is acceptable, but not brilliant. The focussing mechanism is noisy. Without image stabilisation hand-holding at the longest focal length doesn't work well. We used the Tamron lens on the test Nikon D50 [see review] and we found hand-helds at maximum zoom a bit hit and miss. This is not to criticise the lens - there is no divine rule that says that long lenses must be image stabilised, and IS mechanisms add to the cost - it is merely an observation.
Contrast, colour and resolution are good. Barrel distortion at the wide end is noticeable. Macro function is very good, with the lens focussing down to 0.45m, which at 200mm produces impressive close-ups.
TAMRON advises that this lens is specifically designed for digital cameras with APS size sensors and is not suitable for film cameras with their larger sensor area.
The last word: We used this lens as though it were the kit lens on the Nikon D50 and we are generally pleased with its versatility and image quality. At $899 this is a relatively inexpensive lens considering what it does, but still an expensive piece of kit. As most digital SLRs come with a kit lens that is about 18mm at the short end and 55 to 75 at the long end it does seem that consideration should be given to a less ambitious optic. Sigma, for instance, have a 55~200mm lens in their catalogue that is a very good performer.
SEE SAMPLE IMAGES TAKEN WITH THE TAMRON 18~200 LENS IN THE GALLERY >>
Posted by cw at 09:42 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 28, 2005
[ REVIEW—NIKON D50 digital single lens reflex ]
Price: $1599
Rating: 4.5
The lowdown: NIKON's eagerly awaited D50 single lens reflex camera, sibling to the slightly more expensive and very popular D70, arrived in Antipodean shops in July 2005.
The D70s, the revised version of the D70, has a RRP of $1999 and comes with an 18~70mm Nikkor zoom, compared with the D50, selling at $1599 with an 18~55 zoom. At first glance the kit lens is the obvious point of difference between the two. The D70s lens is heavier, bulkier and seems more robust than the quite plasticky D50 lens.
Apart from the lens the cameras are remarkably similar in appearance and feel. Controls are slightly different and the D70 has the edge in ease of use. However, in image quality, after allowances are made for the slightly better lens in the D70, there is not a lot to choose between the two. The D50 seems to have the advantage in terms of picture noise, being comfortably useable up to ISO1600.
There is nothing about the feel and operation of the D50 that suggests that corners have been cut in the electronics or mechanics of the camera. All functions are smooth and well damped. The camera feels balanced in the hand. Operation is lightning fast with no hint of shutter or start-up lag. Focus is fast and accurate even in low contrast lighting. The focus assistance lamp works brilliantly in the dark, even up to a distance of metres.
The D50 uses a rechargeable battery with a exemplary capacity and it uses SD memory cards, unlike the D70, which uses CF.
There are rumours that although the D70s and the D50 are both 6.1mp cameras that their sensors are different and the difference favours the D50. This poses an interesting question for the photographer who already has Nikon lenses in the film kit - D50 or D70s? Save $400 and use the money to buy better optics?
Like this: This is another quality Nikon camera that feels well made and robust. It is larger and heavier than the competition but sits in the hand so well that the weight and bulk are not an issue. Output quality is outstanding.
Dislike that: The kit lens works well enough but it doesn't inspire confidence because of its light weight and plastic materials. It is obviously a lens made down to a price whereas there is nothing about the camera body that suggests penny saving by using cheap materials or manufacturing.
Parting shot: The obvious competitor for the Nikon D50 is the Canon EOS 350D. The Canon is $300 dearer, actually feels like a cheaper camera in its construction, but it does have an 8mp sensor. However Canon also supply a cheap and uninspiring kit lens. This is a decision made easier if the buyer already has lenses for one or the other system, in which case there is no contest. But for those starting from scratch it is a hard one.
The Pentax *istDS and Olympus E300 are in the same price range and should be considered. The Pentax is another 6mp camera whereas the Olympus is 8mp, but has the disadvantage of using a unique lens type and an expensive one at that.
Posted by cw at 04:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 27, 2005
[ PHOTOREVIEW:24 ]
PHOTOREVIEW AUSTRALIA ISSUE 24 is now on sale.Cameras, reviewed by Margaret Brown, include the Nikon D70s, Canon S2-IS, Ricoh Caplio GX8, Pentax Optio S55 and Sony Cybershot DSC-P200. There is also a helpful article on choosing an A3 printer, plus the usual articles about talented photographers and their work.
RRP $8.95
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Posted by cw at 01:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
[ PREPARE TO BE AMAZED! ]
IMAGE AMERICA is an astonishing gallery of photographs taken by ROBERT CLARK as he travels across America with a Sony Ericsson camera phone. The quality of the images, both artistically and technically, is breathtaking. Well worth a look. Who will be the first to do it for Australia?
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Posted by cw at 01:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
[ REVIEW—NIKON Coolpix 7900 ]
Price: $799
Rating: 4.9
The NIKON COOLPIX 7900 has been named Best Digital Compact Camera by the European Technical Image Press Association. [July 2005]
The judges singled out for attention: "several new features which make it the 'Best Digital Compact Camera 2005'. The D-Lighting function adds light and detail to dark areas of shots, while leaving brighter areas unaffected. The In-Camera Red-Eye Fix function automatically detects and corrects red-eye in flash photos. The most innovative new function is Face-priority AF, which can automatically sense the presence of a human face in the frame and sets accurate focus accordingly.”
dpexpert's only disgreement with the judges concerns the merits of the Face-priority auto focus which we think is one of the weirdest gimmicks to be incorporated into a digital camera. Still, it is something the prospective buyer will have to try for fit.
The COOLPIX 7900 is a 7 megapixel 3x zoom camera which also comes in a 5900 5mp version. They are both very attractive cameras, either in the black or silver livery. They are a little bulkier than the competition because of the small hand grip on the right hand end of the camera. Whether the grip is a boon or a nuisance is another matter of taste – we found it a boon. It can sometimes be hard to get a good grip on these little cameras.
The 7900 is strictly point-and-shoot and there were times when we longed desperately for control over shutter speed and aperture. It is frustrating to have the Blur icon winking when there is plenty of light for a hand-held shot if only the aperture could be opened up.
Results from the camera are nevertheless good, at least in "average" conditions. Colour, focus and exposure are generally spot on, except that like all of these compact digital cameras there is a tendency to over-expose in situations of low contrast lighting and to underexpose in high contrast light. The camera has excellent spot metering and exposure compensation is conveniently located so it is easy enough to adjust.
The 7900 has a reasonably accurate optical viewfinder, awkwardly placed in the top left corner of the camera. It is heartening to see Nikon, Kodak and Canon resisting the super-chic LCD-only approach to viewfinders.
Like this: The NIKON CP 7900 comes up to speed quickly and there is no noticeable shutter lag, provided the half-depressed pre-focus technique is used. And the aesthetics of this camera are simply gorgeous.
Dislike that: While acknowledging that there is a market for a fully automatic camera it nevertheless seems peculiar to market a unit at $800 that doesn't provide for any user control of shutter and aperture. The absence of shutter and aperture priority modes limits the usefulness of a camera that might otherwise be a sensible, pocketable supplement to a single lens reflex.
Parting shot: At dpexpert we have had the opportunity to test the Nikon Coolpix 7900, Kodak V550 and Canon Ixus700 side by side. They all have the same virtues and the same vices. Within the limitations of their specifications they all function well. The Kodak is a 5 mp camera, compared with 7 in the others, but that does not put the Kodak at a significant disadvantage.
We have given each of these cameras 4.9 out of a possible 5 stars, not becauce they are perfect but because – as we have explained elsewhere – we have decided to rate cameras according to how well they perform their clearly intended function. These cameras are intended for technophobes who simply will not try to grasp the most basic concepts of camera use but still expect to produce decent images. For such users these cameras are almost perfect. For anyone serious about photography it is best to keep in mind that these are also marketed as fashion accessories.
THERE ARE SAMPLE IMAGES FROM THE NIKON COOLPIX 7900 IN THE GALLERY
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Posted by cw at 09:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 26, 2005
[ PENTAX digital slr web site ]
THE NEW PENTAX WEBSITE for owners and prospective buyers of digital single lens reflex cameras is up but not quite running.
The site is based in and presumably created in Japan, which explains why on one page the camera is called a PETNAX.
The promise is that the site will provide technical information about cameras, plus a history of the company's product development in SLRs and, eventually, advice on photographic techniques and a customer gallery.
CANON HAS A SIMILAR SITE which is more developed than the PENTAX version, but it is elementary in its content. The CANON pages present themselves as a book of instructions for digital beginners.
Given that most digital single lens reflex cameras are probably being sold to serious amateurs making the switch from film to pixels these two offerings appear surprisingly basic, aimed at camera owners with little or no photographic experience. Presumably their customer research tells them something that is counter-intuitive.
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Posted by cw at 09:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 25, 2005
[ CANON PROMISES 100 YEAR PRINT LIFE ]
CANON AUSTRALIA has just announced their new, long-life inkjet print technology — new printers and new inks.
The system, called CHROMALIFE 100, promises to produce prints that are resistant to the fading effects of light, gases and temperature and humidity.
Specifically the company claims that ChromaLife prints, produced on a new range of PIXMA printers due in the shops on 1st September will last for 100 years when stored in an album, 30 years in a glass frame away from direct sunlight and 10 years in a "mixed gas" environment. Does that mean on the fridge door?
CANON says it has used the Wilhelm Imaging Research criteria to test the longevity of its prints.
We will provide information on the new printers and inks as it comes from Canon. Keep an eye on the CANON website for devloping information.
Posted by cw at 05:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 23, 2005
[ PRICE DROPS — the good news ]
OLYMPUS Australia has dropped the recommended retail price on the Olympus C7070 to $999. At the same time the price of the SONY DSC-V3 has dropped a massive $400 to now be the same as the CANON G6 – $1099. We have revised our star rating for the SONY DSC-V3 to 4.5 as it now represents excellent value for money. These are the three best viewfinder cameras in the shops at the moment and any customer can indulge in brand name prejudice confident that whatever camera is chosen it will not be the wrong one.
And as if that were not enough C R Kennedy, the Australian distributor of PENTAX cameras, has broken the $1000 barrier for digital single lens reflex cameras. The PENTAX *istDL with Sigma 18~50 lens is being advertised by Ted's for a few cents under $1000.
Posted by cw at 11:32 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 16, 2005
[ REVIEW—OLYMPUS C 7070 Wide Zoom ]
Price: $999
Rating: 4.9
The low-down: As the “wide zoom” tag on the Olympus C7070 name suggests this camera has a zoom range favouring the short focal length end. Its reach is from 27mm to 110mm film equivalent, which is just about ideal for cathedrals at one end to portraits at the other. The lens is fast (f2.8) at wide to reasonable (f4.8) at the tele end.
The C7070 is a heavy camera -- 433 grams without the battery -- compared with the Canon G6 which is 380 grams. However, the Olympus bulk bespeaks a serious camera. It has an optical viewfinder and a swivelling LCD screen. It has full manual controls plus the inevitable auto mode for those who will not learn.
Once the shooting parameters are set the C7070 is close to perfection. Focus is fast and accurate; white balance and exposure are excellent; operation is quick with no noticeable shutter lag; the 7 megapixel sensor produces beautifully smooth images; skin tones and textures are exemplary. Macro is brilliant. This camera is so good that it would have earned a perfect score except for one thing -- the miserable user’s manual. (See Dislike That)
To get the Olympus C7070 to remember preferred settings they must be set in a thing called My Mode. Most serious cameras automatically return to the last used parameter set, but not the Olympus. In its native mode it returns to factory defaults every time -- auto everything. At first this was an irritation but after a while the logic of the system became apparent. With most cameras it is easy to forget what parameters have been set last time the camera is used and to fire away with incorrect white balance setting or exposure compensation still set to plus or minus a stop or two. The My Mode setup means that the camera can be set to always revert to default preferred settings.
Like this: This camera is a serious photographic tool and the quality of construction and the feel of the controls are ahead of its competitors.
The C7070 comes with a soft case which is unusual in digital cameras.
Dislike that: The user manual is supplied on disc as a 222 page pdf. The owner must print and bind his own manual! At $1099 and for a complex camera this is ridiculous.
Parting shot: In this category of 7 megapixel, optical viewfinder cameras there are three brilliant contenders -- the Olympus, the Canon G6 and the Sony DSC-V3. The Sony is $400 more expensive. The Canon has a faster lens which is not as wide but is longer than the Olympus. Choosing is difficult, but no matter what choice is made it is not wrong.
OLYMPUS Australia has just reduced the RRP for the C7070 to $999.The Sony DSCV3 price has also dropped to $1099, the same as the Canon G6. Three superb cameras at about the same price. Competition is wonderful!
[See the sample images from the OLYMPUS C7070 here]
Posted by cw at 06:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 13, 2005
[ REVIEW—CANON IXUS700 ]
Price: $849
Rating: 4.9
The lowdown: The CANON IXUS700 is a 7 megapixel digital camera with a 3x zoom – 37~111mm film equivalent. The lens is reasonably fast at wide angle – f2.8, falling to f4.9 at maximum telephoto.
The IXUS700 has a smooth metal case, is rugged and is aesthetically pleasing. Controls, such as there are, are well placed and logical and all work smoothly.
This is strictly a superior point and shoot camera. There is no way of selecting shutter or aperture priority. There are two camera settings, fully automatic and a so-called Manual setting in which the user may over ride ISO, white balance, exposure compensation etc through the camera's Function mode.
Focus is quick and accurate. Exposure is good with judicious use of exposure compensation. Resolution is outstanding. Images straight from the camera are sharp and well saturated. Low sharpening and neutral saturation are selectable through the Picture Effect section of the Function set.
There is a very small optical viewfinder which is needed in bright light. Adjusting the LCD brightness required some fiddling to get a realistic representation of the image on the 50mm screen.
Like this: The IXUS700, like its competitors in this price range, seems to be so fast in its responses that we may be able to say that shutter lag is now just a bad memory. We had no trouble capturing the decisive moment.
The camera is small enough to easily fit in a pocket. Face area is almost exactly the same as a credit card and it is 25mm thick. It feels quite heavy, but in the best and most reassuring way.
Results from this camera were consistently good, requiring little or no post processing in the computer.
Dislike that: Picture noise is obvious at ISO400. This is no doubt a consequence of squeezing 7 million light receptors onto a small area sensor. The noise effect can be tamed with noise reduction software, but it is still a nuisance. ISO400 is not particularly fast nor is it demanding too much of any camera.
Flash is harsh with a tendency to over-expose and to produce unacceptably high contrast. The Kodak V550 produces much better flash output, so it would seem that this is one area where Canon can improve its cameras.
Parting shot: Once again dpexpert is impressed with the construction quality and picture taking ability of a small, highly automated camera. The IXUS700 is the sort of camera that can be easily carried everywhere and be ready in a second to snap the once-in-a-lifetime picture. Highly recommended.
[See sample images from the Canon IXUS700 camera in the Gallery]
Posted by cw at 11:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 11, 2005
[ REVIEW—KODAK Easyshare V550 ]
Price: $699
Rating: 4.9
The lowdown: The KODAK Easyshare V550 is a 5 megapixel compact camera with a 3x Schneider Kreuznach zoom. [30~108mm film equivalent]
The V550 has a face area slightly larger than a credit card and a thickness of about 20mm – it easily fits in a pocket. And Kodak obviously have female customers in mind: "Like the little black dress or button down shirt the V550 is perfectly stylish." Well, gosh! Fortunately it also works as a serious camera.
The LCD screen is large and bright, one of the best on any camera. There is also a small and awkwardly placed optical viewfinder in the very top left of the camera body. Like all optical viewfinders it is useful but doesn't show the entire area of the captured image, but it is better than having no supplement at all to the LCD which is useless in bright light.
Controls are unusual on the V550. At first glance there don't seem to be any, except for the most basic buttons for review and delete. However on the flat top of the camera there are pressure-sensitive areas, one of which is for selecting Scene modes. One of the selectable modes is Custom and the preferred parameters for ISO speed, auto focus and exposure modes, contrast, saturation and so on can be set in this mode. Every time the camera is turned on a tap on the Scene pressure spot returns the camera to the last used setting, which most of the time will be Custom. It is like having a P setting although not quite as easy to select.
Focus and exposure are good. Colours are a little over-saturated with a tendency for the auto white balance to produce warm glows. Images are sharp without seeming to be over-sharpened. Kodak have really figured out how to produce brilliant images straight from the camera for printing at the standard 10cm by 15cm size.
The rechargeable battery doesn't have a long life. The camera takes SD cards.
Like this: The camera body is rugged and hefty, surprisingly heavy for such a small unit, but in a reassuring way. The inclusion of an optical viewfinder is applauded. The operation is simple without being insulting or inadequate.
dpexpert doesn't normally test the movie capabilities of these little cameras, considering it a marginally useful gimmick, but in the case of the V550 which promises image stabilisation in Movie mode we gave it a run. The results in the highest resolution/frame rate mode were excellent. The sound was surprisingly good. The investment in a 1gb memory card could pay off.
Dislike that: The layout of the camera invites laziness. Most owners will use it on Auto and will be unhappy with the results. Figuring out the Custom mode setting and how it works is not intuitive and requires some familiarity with the way digital cameras work.
Parting shot: The Kodak V550 and its little sibling the V530 ["dressed in the season's hottest colours–Absolute Pink, Red Shimmer, Midnight Black and Silver Essence–lets women take and share high quality videos and pictures in style"] are worthy additions to Kodak's bewildering range of compact digital cameras. The 4.9 rating indicates how difficult it is to distinguish between different cameras from different makers these days. If a camera performs its intended function perfectly then there is not much point in rating it comparatively with a 14mp full frame single lens reflex.
We like the Kodak V550 and recommend it to anyone looking for a compact camera in the $700 price range.
[See sample images from the Kodak V550 in the Gallery]
Posted by cw at 11:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 06, 2005
[ REVIEW—CANON Powershot S2 IS ]
Price: $799
Rating: 4.9 stars
The Lowdown: The Canon Powershot S2 IS is a 5 megapixel camera in the pseudo SLR form. It has a 12x optical zoom with a film-equivalent range of 36mm~432mm. The lens is fast – f2.7 to f3.5 and it is image stabilised.
The LCD screen swivels and has the Narcissus function – it can be turned forward for self-portraits. The eye level viewfinder is an Electronic View Finder. The camera body is plastic.
The 4.9 rating means that for its intended purpose and all things considered this camera is nearly perfect. The lens is simply astonishing with superb resolution, fast focus and quite amazing image stabilisation. Shots taken at 1/50 second with the lens at maximum extension show no trace of camera shake blur.
Most surprising is that there is no shutter lag such as plagues most cameras of this type. Camera response is not as immediate as with a true SLR but it is at least as good as most digicams in this price range.
There are full manual over rides on all functions, easily accessible through Canon’s well-known on screen selection system. There is no RAW option for image quality.
There is some picture noise above ISO200 and colours do occasionally seem over saturated. Turning the Saturation setting to its minimum made colours more natural and fixed the tendency for reds to bleed.
The Canon uses SD memory and AA batteries and a charger kit is an optional accessory which is essential and therefore should be factored into the cost.
As usual from Canon there is a good, clear instruction manual.
Like this: The Canon S2 IS is simply great fun to use. Because focus is so smooth and quick at any focal length and in any reasonable light, and because there is no shutter lag and the image stabilisation mechanism eliminates the effects of camera shake, this becomes just about the most sophisticated point and shoot camera in the shops.
Dislike that: The electronic viewfinder is still an abomination. dpexpert concedes that there are many happy photographers who love their EVFs but they really are devices that will only be used as a fall-back when bright sunlight makes the LCD screen invisible.
Parting shot: The Canon Powershot S2 IS competes head on with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5. They are similar in specifications and price. Both have magnificent lenses and effective image stabilisation.
[See sample images from the Canon S2 here]
Posted by terry at 10:13 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 01, 2005
[ REVIEW—RICOH CAPLIO GX8 ]
Price: $799
Rating: 3.5 stars
The low-down: The Ricoh Caplio GX8 is an 8 megapixel camera with a 28~85mm (film equivalent) zoom lens. 28mm is ideal for scenery and buildings but 85mm is restricted at the long end. The lens is reasonably fast at f2.5 at wide angle.
Ricoh boast that their cameras are devoid of the dreaded shutter lag and the GX8 is certainly quick. When turned on the metal lens cover snaps open, the lens extends and the camera is ready to use. Writing the image to the memory card is slow.
The camera body is attractive and the form is small enough to fit in a pocket. It also feels rugged. The camera focusses quickly and produces sharp, naturally coloured, well exposed images. The macro mode is exceptionally good, allowing focus down to 1 cm when the lens is set to wide.
There is noticeable picture noise at ISO settings above 200. The manual settings are restricted to 3 aperture choices but there is a range of shutter speeds from 30 seconds to 1/2000 sec. There is no P mode but there is spot metering which works well.
Like this: The Ricoh Caplio GX8 has both optical viewfinder and LCD screen, as all cameras should have. However this camera, like many of its peers, suffers from restricted view through the optical finder. You only see about 80 per cent of the image that the camera is capturing.
The GX8 has an external flash shoe.
Dislike that: There is an astonishing degree of barrel distortion at the wide angle end of the zoom range. With its 28mm wide angle lens the GX8 would be an ideal camera for travelling were it not for the distortion. Every photo of every fine old building in Europe will show bowed uprights.
Parting shot: The Ricoh Caplio GX8 has exemplary resolution and outstanding macro capability and virtually no shutter lag. It comes with a good user manual and is Pictbridge enabled for direct connection to a printer. Were it not for the barrel distortion it would be recommended without reservation.
Posted by terry at 09:50 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack