Digital Camera Review

CNET reviews the Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd and writes:

Like most, the 6-megapixel Z5fd offers a 3x zoom lens with a typically narrow f/3.5-4.2 36mm-108mm-equivalent lens. The 5-ounce camera’s dimensions are 2.2 inches high by 3.6 inches wide by 0.8 inch deep, which makes it comfortable to stick in your pocket, but not quite as comfortable to shoot with. For instance, because of the combination of the camera’s thin profile and the position of the lens so close to the edge, my finger frequently crept into the frame (only once did it actually end up in the photo, though). …

Though the 2.5-inch LCD tends to blow out in bright sunlight, it otherwise works very well. Plus, the Z5fd offers the option of driving the display at 30fps, 60fps, or in a standard power save mode. Though denoted by frame rates, the 60fps does make the screen look slightly higher resolution than the other modes. As you’d guess, it draws more power, as well. …

All of which adds up to a pretty typical, not particularly notable addition to the budget-camera pantheon. The Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd probably ranks as one of the smaller, cuter budget models, but it’s ultimately your call as to whether the marginally slimmer build makes up for the missing features and inconsistent photo quality. I don’t think it does.

Detail review about this camera  Fujifilm FinePix Z5fd

Tags: Fujifilm, Compact Camera by deshot
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Trusted Reviews has posted their review of the Pentax Optio M40 and writes:

OK, that was a bit harsh and I apologise unreservedly, after all Pentax did all the R&D stuff when it launched the Optio M30 7-megapixel ultra-compact in January this year, and launching an 8-megapixel version six months later is really just a way of recouping the cost of that investment, but the fact remains that the Optio M40 is virtually identical to the M30 in every respect other than sensor resolution. It is also competing with virtually the same cameras at the same price point. The M40 is available for around £130, while the M30 has dropped in price to around £100. I wonder if I could get away with copying my review of the M30 and just updating the features table? No, I thought not. …

The built-in flash is also the same as the M30, and it’s a very good one, however I noticed that on the box, one of the selling points listed for the M40 is a massive 15.5 metre flash range, which would be comparable with the most powerful professional flashguns designed for SLRs. I’m afraid this is a bit of a cheat though. It is traditional to specify flash ranges at fixed ISO settings, usually 100 ISO. Under these conditions most compact cameras have a flash range of around four metres at wide angle, which is perfectly adequate for most social photography. The M40’s flash only has that huge range at the maximum sensitivity setting of 3200 ISO in Digital SR mode, and with the best will in the world, picture quality at that setting is pretty terrible. …

The Optio M40 is only a marginal improvement over the M30, but it is not a bad little camera. It is well made, has good handling for an ultra-compact, and is extremely easy to use. It performs fairly well, and apart from the lens distortion the image quality is pretty good, especially its noise control at higher ISO settings. As before though, weak points are poor low light ability and lens distortion, but for the price it is certainly worth considering.

More detail review about this camera Pentax Optio M40

Tags: Pentax, Compact Camera by deshot
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Imaging Resource reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S700 and writes:

 The 7.2 megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S700 features a 3x optical zoom lens with Sony branding, 2.4 inches 112,000 pixel LCD display, optical viewfinder, and a maximum sensitivity of ISO 1,000 equivalent. The Sony S700 has Auto and Programmed Auto exposure modes, as well as seven scene modes (Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Beach, Snow, High Sensitivity, Soft Snap). …

The Sony S700’s zoom lens smoothly tracks from wide-angle to full telephoto and slips pretty quickly into digital zoom. It’s also responsive enough to stop when you let go of the Zoom lever, making composition precise. …

Sony recently dropped the price of the S700 to $150, but even that doesn’t get it a Dave’s Pick. The Sony S700 is a decent camera if you can get it for under $150 and only plan to shoot 4×6 snapshots, it just doesn’t rise to the level of some others at similar price points.

Detail review about this camera Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S700

Tags: Sony, Compact Camera by deshot
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Lets Go Digital Reviews the Sony A700 and writes:

Finally Sony are making good their promise to bring a real Alpha system on the market that not only appeals to the amateur but the semi-pro and even the professional photographer alike with the introduction of the Sony Alpha 700. …

Sony can boost on many years of experience with their image stabilization system so it is not surprising to find the Super SteadyShot system in the new Sony A700. The system works slightly different than the stabilization technique used in Sony’s camcorders. The Super SteadyShot system of the Sony Alpha 700 is quite advanced and works, in short, by means of moving the sensor that corrects camera jitter. It means that Sony uses an image stabilizer that is integrated in the body of the camera. One big advantage of this method is that lenses do not have to be equipped separately with this technique. Sony claims that the stabilization has a margin of 2.5 to 4 stops and that this is an improvement compared to the Alpha 100, thanks to the improved BIONZ processor. …

My conclusion after extensively using the Sony DSLR-A700 in practice and testing it thoroughly can be short. Sony’s Alpha 700 is a beautiful DSLR and offers the demanding photographer as well as the amateur a perfect tool to practice photography on a high level. The camera is not perfect but if you put some effort in getting to know the camera and making it part of your digital work environment, you will soon find that you have a refined DSLR camera in your hands.

More detail review about this camera  Sony A700

Tags: Sony, DSLR Camera by deshot
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DP Review has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D where they give it a rating of ‘highly recommended’ and write:

The EOS 40D becomes the sixth Canon ‘prosumer’ digital SLR, a line which started back in 2000 with the EOS D30, and how far we’ve come. It’s been eighteen months since the EOS 30D and although on the surface the 40D looks like a fairly subtle upgrade there’s a lot that makes this an even better camera. Of course we expect a step up in megapixels, and so the 40D comes with a ten million pixel CMOS sensor with the same sort of dust reduction as the EOS 400D, an ultrasonic platform which shakes the low pass filter. …

From the front at least there are very few changes from the EOS 30D, a little chiseling of the viewfinder chamber and a new finger tuck on the hand grip but overall no real surprises. The rear however has undergone more of a re-design, mostly thanks to the now three inch LCD monitor. Several buttons which ran down the left side of the EOS 30D’s monitor have now shifted to below the EOS 40D’s monitor also there’s now a dedicated AF-ON button ‘under your thumb’. We should be thankful that Canon hasn’t removed the most useless button of all; Direct Print. …

Seven years since the EOS D30, the sixth incarnation of that camera displays all of the advantages of a progressive evolution in both features and quality. With each step up the evolutionary ladder to the EOS 40D Canon has demonstrated improvements in image quality, performance, usability and features. They also demonstrated that as well as meeting the ‘requirements of the market’ they also listened to owners and reviewers by implementing the most commonly requested feature changes. With the EOS 40D these include permanent display of ISO sensitivity on both the top LCD and viewfinder status bar, the warning message with the CF compartment is opened during a write process and the addition of the AF-ON button.

More detail review about this camera Canon EOS 40D

Tags: Canon, DSLR Camera by deshot
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