Archive for July, 2008
July 31st, 2008 at 11:42pm
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For outstanding image quality, the Samsung NV15 features premium Schneider optics with a 3x optical zoom. On the back of the cameras’ brushed black, stainless steel bodies, lies Samsung’s Smart Touch user interface. For outstanding image quality, the Samsung NV15 features premium Schneider optics with a 3x optical zoom. On the back of the cameras’ brushed black, stainless steel bodies, lies Samsung’s Smart Touch user interface. The upcoming Samsung NV15, 8 and 15 might also be a real winner if the IQ has improved since the last incarnation.
The Samsung NV15 offers ISO excitement ranges from a minimum of ISO 100 spit to a great of ISO 3200, besides shutter speeds vary from 1/1500 help to a max. Images are stored in 20MB of built-in memory or on SD / MMC / SDHC / MMC Plus cards, with a limit of 2GB capacity for all except the SDHC type - this being guaranteed to a maximum of 8GB.
Functioning as a high resolution 8Mp digital camera, the NV8 is a stylish yet practical device sure to attract the next generation of digital photographers. The NV8 with 3x optical zoom is encased in a thin body and boasts the stylish black design in keeping with the NV Series. A number of high-end features on this camera work in tandem with its well thought-out design to appeal at least as much, if not more, to serious shooters as to those looking for quick and easy snapshots. The cameras can zoom, pause, and take photos while recording video. They can also record audio-only files and attach voice annotations to still images.
It starts up in just under two seconds, which is acceptable for a camera in this class, and the autofocus is reasonably quick in good light. Despite the presence of a seemingly adequate AF assist lamp however, focusing in even slightly low light is very unreliable, usually simply announcing “Low Light!” with a big banner across the monitor. On the back of the cameras’ brushed black, stainless steel bodies, lies Samsung’s Smart Touch user interface. Smart Touch enables easy navigation of the cameras’ comprehensive feature sets by simply sliding a finger across the control buttons positioned around the cameras’ 2.5″ LCD screens. With a host of other features, this camera does not require you to be a professional to click memorable pictures. Additionally, the NV 20 supports MPEG-4 format and VGA (640×480) size allowing you to capture and edit your movies on the camera itself.
Samsung has two very similar cameras in the 8.1-megapixel NV8 and today’s camera, the 10.1-megapixel NV15, but in this case adding more megapixels has not produced the desired effect. Instead of labeled dials and buttons to set camera functions, the NV series enables easy navigation of the cameras’ menus using unmarked control buttons positioned around the LCD. The NV15 is certainly a fashionable camera with it’s multi-textured stainless steel body. The camera is built for the casual point-and-shoot audience. It does feature a half-baked manual mode, but the limited options and lack of manual focus make it a pointless feature.
By Dave Jackson
July 30th, 2008 at 11:38pm
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The FinePix S700 features two different ways to frame and view your shot. Choose from either the large, 2.5″ 230k pixel LCD Display, or the .24″ 230k pixel Electronic Viewfinder. The FinePix S700 features two different ways to frame and view your shot. Choose from either the large, 2.5-inch 230k pixel LCD Display, or the 0.24-inch 230k pixel Electronic Viewfinder. Shutter speeds range between 1/1000 and 4 seconds, and there are two continuous-shooting options available, a 1.4fps mode that captures three shots and a 0.6fps mode that can snap much longer series of photos. Autofocus modes include area, multi, center, and continuous AF options, and manual focus is available as well.
In our battery life tests, the camera’s four AA alkaline batteries supported 475 shots — much better than the average score. The FinePix S700 features two different ways to frame and view your shot. Choose from either the large, 2.5″ 230k pixel LCD Display, or the .24″ 230k pixel Electronic Viewfinder. The difference is especially noticeable in the natural facial tones of people in your pictures, in close-ups and group photos alike.The FinePix S700 features two different ways to frame and view your shot. Choose from either the large, 2.5″ 230k pixel LCD Display, or the .24″ 230k pixel Electronic Viewfinder.
You can even select Aperture and Shutter priority to capture special shots just like the pros. It offers an f/3.5-3.7, 38mm-380mm (35mm equivalent) 10x zoom lens, leaving something to be desired on the wide end but keeping the lens reasonably fast for telephoto shots. Both its EVF and its 2.5-inch LCD have a high 230,000-pixel resolution, and the camera provides some media flexibility with a dual SD/xD-Picture Card memory card slot.
It offers the same 10x zoom capability, but now adds 7.1 megapixels, a 2.5-in monitor and a new intelligent flash system. Even the shape of it is different. Other features include multiple exposure modes, auto & manual focus, 8 white balance modes (including a custom hold mode) and a six-mode popup flash. There’s plenty in the Fuji FinePix S700 to cater to the needs of advanced amateurs looking to gain maximum control over their photos. One possible improvement could be made, however: the position of its AF assist lamp, at the top of the hollow between the grip and the flash housing, is easily masked by the user’s hand on the grip.
I love how the flash pops up by itself, no settings required. The flash appears very far away, it’s amazing. I liked the camera’s ‘Natural Light and Flash’ mode shooting option, where the camera captures a pair of consecutive shots–one without flash and another with flash–so you can compare which lighting captured the better image. A continuous-shooting mode snaps shots at a resolution of either 7 megapixels (the unit’s maximum) or 4 megapixels. It recognizes scene conditions and determines the optimum flash output to ensure superb results. Subjects in the foreground appear natural, and background detail is bright and clear.
By Dave Jackson
July 29th, 2008 at 11:31pm
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In truth the Nikon Coolpix P50 can be viewed as an entry-level model cloaked in an outward air of sophistication, thanks to little details like the spongy, leather-look detailing on the grip that houses two bog standard AAs? Not one for hyperbole, Nikon describes the Coolpix P50’s look as ‘orthodox’. If you are looking for a standard snapper and can find the Nikon Coolpix P50 on the cheap, then you might be onto something. But the market is always moving fast, not least from the recent arrival of the new ‘big brother’ Nikon Coolpix P60. The Nikon Coolpix P50 can be powered by alkaline, lithium or oxyride AA batteries or rechargeable Ni-MH batteries, the AA alkaline batteries having an approximate life of 140 shots. Being able to use AA batteries means that your camera should never have to be out of action because of a flat battery.
Where some compacts splurge colours together to form misbalanced images, the Nikon Coolpix P50 produces well balanced pictures. Plus the in-camera D-lighting can assist in ‘rescuing’ blown out shadows and highlights - it’s fast becoming a standard feature of digital image making, and it’s always a good sign to see some pro-calibre technology being fed down to the entry level mass market, for the benefit of all. The Nikon Coolpix P50 camera offers High-Sensitivity mode up to 2000 ISO, which automatically selects the optimal light sensitivity setting to further prevent blurred shots when shooting in lower light, or when capturing fast-moving subjects. The Nikon Coolpix P50 features a 3.6x Zoom-NIKKOR lens with 28mm wide-angle capability that covers a range from panoramic landscapes to close-up portraits. Before you run out and grab the Nikon Coolpix P50 Camera, its been said that it has sluggish AF performance and annoying shutter lag, Optical viewfinder murky and blurred.
The Nikon P50 has a prominent grip bulge on the right side which is covered with a good quality piece of textured, molded rubber providing excellent feel and control. The upper right end also has a protruding metal tab for use with a neck or wrist strap. It features a 3.6x zoom lens with a focal length range equivalent to 28-102mm, a 2.4-inch 115k monitor, an optical viewfinder, electronic image stabilization and optional manual exposure. The most obvious comparison is with something from Canon’s A-series, and in particular the new A580 , a camera with a virtually identical specification apart from a 4x zoom lens. The Coolpix P50 is one of its more humble offerings: an 8 megapixel compact camera with a zoom starting at a pleasantly wide 28mm equivalent. It even has Nikon’s latest ‘Expeed’ branding applied to it.
Nikon has also smartly given all control features on the camera a highly visible brushed chrome finish that makes them stand out against the black camera body. All of the buttons are at least as large as those found on the P5100 and in some instances they are significantly larger. The Coolpix P50 is Nikon’s latest effort to offer an entry-level model into its performance-oriented “P-Series.”.In reality, the small and handy P50 is somewhere in between a performance model and a point & shoot camera. We like the slightly wide 3.6X Nikkor zoom lens, the presence of an optical viewfinder, the generous onboard storage (52MB), and the wealth of features. DigitalCameraInfo.com makes no guarantees regarding any of the advice offered on this web site or by its staff or users. All user comments and postings are not the responsibility of DigitalCameraInfo.com.
By Dave Jackson
Previous Posts
Functioning as a high resolution 8Mp digital camera, the NV8 is a stylish yet practical device sure to attract the next generation of digital photographers. The NV8 with 3x optical zoom is encased in a thin body and boasts the stylish black design in keeping with the NV Series. A number of high-end features on this camera work in tandem with its well thought-out design to appeal at least as much, if not more, to serious shooters as to those looking for quick and easy snapshots. The cameras can zoom, pause, and take photos while recording video. They can also record audio-only files and attach voice annotations to still images.
