Best picks for Digicams

Casio Exilim EX-Z1000

 Smaller than its predecessor, the EX-Z1000, which is claimed to be the world’s first pocket-sized 10 megapixel camera, the EX-Z1050 sports a large display screen at 2.6-inch. The display takes up most space at the rear leaving lesser space for the control panel. It has a 1/1.75 inch CCD which results in a 10.1 megapixel resolution. Sporting a 3x optical zoom and a rapid autofocus time of 0.13 seconds, it is the fastest in this category. It supports ISO speed ranging from 80 to 800—a good feature as speeds exceeding 400 result in very noisy images. The shutter speed ranges from 4 sec to 1/1000 sec and is adjusted automatically by the camera depending on the lighting conditions. Although you don’t have complete manual control over the exposure, you have the option to take your pick from 38 preset scene modes, depending on the subject and the lighting condition. The camera can capture seven images per second in burst mode—you won’t miss the perfect moment in an action scene. If you’re looking for style and stellar performance at the same time, this one is just right for you.

Price: Rs 16500

Contact: Casio India Pvt Ltd

Phone: 011-41054330

Email- NA

Warranty: 2 years

For: Stylish, good picture quality.

Against: No bundled memory.

Best Value 2008

Fujifilm Finepix F40fd

The F40fd is the first camera from Fujifilm’s Finepix range of cameras to feature a dual memory card slot, as it supports the popular SD card along with the xD-Picture card. The stylish, metal-and-plastic body camera features an 8.1 megapixel resolution sensor with a 3x optical zoom, a shutter speed of 1/2000 sec and ISO modes ranging from 100 to 1600. Manufactured without a manual mode, this camera is aimed at beginners who prefer compact point-and-shoot models. The camera has a large 2.5-inch LCD display and a shoot modes dial on the rear of the camera. Additional features include face detection.

The camera doesn’t suffer much from chromatic aberration which helps in good reproduction of colors with less fringing problems with objects in bright lighting. The macro mode is below average needing a minimum distance of 7 cm from the subject. All these and more combined with the performance and build quality compared to its price tag makes the Fujifilm FinePix F40fd take the Best Value award in the ultra-compact category.

Price: Rs 9500

Contact: Fuji Films India Pvt Ltd

Phone: 0124-4325500

Email-kwada@fujifilms.com

For: Dual memory card slot, good color reproduction.

Against: Slightly heavy.

Best Performance May 2008

Canon PowerShot G7

The Canon PowerShot G7—big brother to the G6—is a smart-looking camera, with a tough matte-black exterior made of metal and plastic. It’s lighter in weight and flaunts an array of upgrades to its predecessor. Some of them being; the Digic III processor, a wondrous 2 cm macro focus, a 10 MP 1/1.8-inch CCD, 6x optical zoom lens and optical image stabilization. Plus, the G7 is crowned with an ISO dial while the ISO lets you choose from a range of 80 to1600 for low-light conditions.

Although the G7 is a performer, it has its downsides, such as its price. At a whooping Rs 34,695, why wouldn’t someone buy an SLR camera as opposed to getting restricted to a digital one? Secondly, the G7 surprisingly doesn’t support RAW image format nor an optical zoom for the A/V shooting mode. If one has a thing for the user-friendly interface of digital cameras, then it’s better to opt for a mega zoom camera. All-in-all, there’s no doubt that the G7 performs well, but is it worth the buck, our answer is, ‘no’!

Price: Rs24000

Contact: J J Mehta & Sons

Phone: 022-24302104

Email- info@jjmehta.com

For: Commendable macro focus, presence of ISO dial and hot shoe support.

Against: Overpriced, no support for RAW-image format.

Best Value 2008

Kodak EasyShare C613

A  very easy to use, slim and compact camera with a sufficiently large 2.4-inch TFT display, theKodak EasyShare C613 digital camera wins the ‘Best Value’ award hands down. The reason—a good ratio of nice build quality, very good performance, decent ergonomics to the price. It is the cheapest 6.1 megapixel camera in the mainstream category, selling at a mere Rs 5,499. It has programmable mode options with 17 different scene modes. Another good feature is that it has all three metering options (Matrix, center weight, and spot metering). You can record videos with audio; however it does not have a TV out feature. An advantage of this camera is the option of using AA size batteries, unlike other cameras which have a built-in chargeable battery which requires you to carry a bulky charger. Also, the flash recharging time is pretty fast. The minimum distance required from the subject in macro mode is 13 cm which is inconvenient when clicking object close-ups. So if you are looking for a very basic point-and-shoot camera for casual photography during family trips and parties, this is the cheapest option.

Price: Rs 5499

Contact: Kodak India Ltd

Phone: 1800-22-4949

Email- contactindia@kodak.com

For: Use of 2xAA batteries.

Against: Noisy images in low light.

Best Performance May 2008

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 is the younger sibling of DSC-H7 / H9 featuring a 10x zoom lens in a compact shell—so compact that it doesn’t look like a mega-zoom camera when the lens is completely retracted. Sporting a black shell with a grainy matt finish, the camera features a 1/2.5-inch CCD with a focal length of 6.3 mm which translates into 38 mm when compared to that of a 35 mm film camera. Hence the field of view at the widest angle is a tad narrower as compared to other cameras in its category which have shorter focal lengths. Like all other cameras belonging to Sony’s Cyber-shot series, the user interface of the H3 isn’t much different. The rear panel of the camera sports a 2.5-inch LCD display and a control pad featuring 5-way navigation and shortcuts for flash, self-timer and macro mode. The zoom rocker is located to the top right of the display. Feature-wise the DSC-H3 comes quite close to the chunkier mega-zoom cameras in its category. If you’re looking for a mega-zoom camera with superb performance on a tight budget, grab this one.

Price: Rs 15990

Contact: Sony India Pvt Ltd

Phone: 011-66006600

Email- sonyindia.care@ap.sony.com

For: Light and compact, good build quality, very low noise levels.

Against: None.

Best Value 2008

Fujifilm FinePix S5700

The Fujifilm FinePix S5700 is targeted at those looking for a mega zoom digital camera on a shoestring budget. Resembling an SLR camera, the FinePix S5700 offers a good and sturdy grip. It needs to be loaded with four AA batteries. This entry-level mega zoom camera features a 7.1 MP image sensor and a telescopic zoom lens which can zoom 10 times into distant objects.

You can further zoom five times with digital zoom activated. The camera offers sufficient features for creative photography. With ISO speeds ranging from ISO 64 to 1600, you can capture shots in low light without the need for flash. However, we noted the results are a bit noisy even with ISO set to minimum. Another weak point is its macro range—while most digital cameras in the category allow shooting extreme close ups from a distance of 1 cm, this one needs to be at least 5 cm away from the subject. Nevertheless, the camera is a good option for its price. Rs 11,500 for a 10x mega zoom camera loaded with features, it cannot possibly be a bad buy.

Price: Rs 11500

Contact: Fuji Films India Pvt Ltd

Phone: 0124-4325500

Email-kwada@fujifilms.com