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SINGAPORE : With the ever-increasing number of compact digital cameras in the market, consumers are spoilt for choice. TODAY reviews four of the latest models to help you decide which to buy.
Nikon Coolpix S60
The Nikon Coolpix S60 (S$599) recently joined the ever-growing compact digital camera market, touting a 10-megapixel image sensor, a generous 5x optical zoom (33mm-165mm at the 35mm equivalent) lens and a stunning 3.5-inch wide touchscreen display. Clearly targeted at the mass market, this camera comes in seven colours, from platinum bronze to crimson red.
Sporting an LCD screen size as large as that on the iPhone, the one thing that strikes you about the S60 is its lack of buttons. Only the shutter and the power button adorn the top of the camera, with the rest of the controls accessible via the screen.
You can extend and withdraw the lens by tapping the virtual buttons, and you focus on a particular point just by tapping that point on the screen. You can even do an iPhone-style swipe to preview images, although response is sluggish.
The menu interface is slightly lethargic, as you navigate through the various windows to change settings. The menu could also be more user-friendly. For example, I had to tap four times before I could alter the camera's ISO settings.
The handling of S60 is good despite its relatively compact size. Although it looks slightly odd with its asymmetrical convex face, thedesign provides users a good ergonomic grip.
Powering-up the camera takes close to three seconds, with shutdown taking half the time. While auto-focusing is fast and accurate in good lighting conditions, shutter lag can take close to a second. This can be frustrating when you try to take pictures of impatient kids posing.
The picture quality of the S60 is good, with sharp pixel rendition and smooth dynamic range. Auto white balance is accurate in most lighting conditions, but it tends to render skin tones towards the warmer side. Images are devoid of noise at even ISO 400. Noise artifacts only start to appear at ISO 800.
The Nikon Coolpix S60 might not win any beauty pageants, but with its touchscreen display, it will wow plenty of your friends.
Sony Cyber-shot T77
THE T77 (S$549), Sony's slimmest Cyber-shot digital camera to date, is a sleek little number boasting a 10.1-megapixel image sensor, a three-inch touchscreen display, a 4x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 35-140mm in the 35mm format) and an improved high sensitivity mode of ISO 3,200.
Housed in a 13.9mm-thin, metallic credit card-sized shell, the T77 is especially good-looking. But, due to its extreme thinness, the camera could be prone to slipping from your fingers.
Still, it has a reasonably solid build, and it also features a sliding cover to protect the lens.
Apart from an optical zoom button, shutter, play button and power button, the T77 is almost entirely controlled via the touchscreen display. Only after much fiddling did I discover that while the touchscreen did not respond that well to my fingers, it responded fantastically to my fingernails!
Powering-up the camera takes less than 2 seconds, while shutting down is a tad faster. Shutter lag is around 0.5 seconds.
Shot-to-shot timing is good, at about a second, while auto-focusing is zippy. Even in low-lighting conditions, the T77 is able to lock onto a focus quickly.
The picture quality of the T77 is average, with slightly blurred details in the midst of soft pixel rendition. However, skin tones, auto white balance and colour reproduction are smooth and spot-on.
You will notice noise artifacts at an ISO as low as 100, but it is still tolerable up to ISO 400. Any image shot at ISO 800 and above is not recommended for printing. Note also that this camera is only compatible with Sony MS Pro Duo cards.
That said, with its extreme portability and sleek design, the Cyber-shot T77 is a good-to-have digicam for snapshots of your Friday night parties and weekend getaways. Choose from five colours, from nocturnal black to vibrant pink.
Fujifilm FinePix F60fd
Fujifilm's latest digital compact camera, the FinePix F60fd (S$499), comes armed with a 12-megapixel image sensor, 3x optical zoom (35-105mm equivalent of 35mm) lens and a three-inch liquid crystal display packed in a solid, metallic shell. Compared to the slim beauties in the market today, the rather bulky F60fd is admittedly not as appealing. Nonetheless, it's small enough to be able to slip easily into your pocket.
In an era where more gadgets are becoming touchscreen-enabled, the most interesting part of the F60fd is its button layout. All buttons are concentrated on the right side of the camera, with most controls and settings easily tweakable via the dials and buttons on the right rear flank.
Camera operation is by and large zippy, with minimal shutter lag with pre-focus, and a slight lag of 0.5 seconds during auto-focusing and under dim lighting conditions. However, startup takes a tedious 2.5 seconds while shutdown clocks-in at a mediocre 1.7 seconds.
In an earlier review of the F60fd's more senior cousin, the F100fd, I commented about the built-in flash being on the left, which made it prone to being blocked by your fingers. I'm happy to see that the built-in flash on the F60fd has been moved to the centre, giving a more even flash coverage to your subjects.
As a result, shots taken with flash do not exhibit the harshness common in pictures taken with digital compact cameras. In fact, skin tones are as smooth as pictures taken without flash in good lighting conditions. Image quality is great, with sharp rendition of pixels and vivid details. Auto white balance is spot-on, with nice colour reproduction.
In keeping with the tradition of most Fuji film digital compact cameras, noise performance remains remarkable. Images are speckle-free up to ISO 400, with noise artifacts creeping into the picture from ISO 800. Any ISO settings above 800 are not recommended, especially when you need large prints.
Given a choice between the F60fd and the F100fd, I prefer the latter. But the F60fd is a competent performer, with an intuitive button layout, superb image quality and a modest price tag. If you are looking for your first compact digital camera, the FinePix F60fd is well worth considering.
Panasonic DMC-LX3
While other camera brands may engage in a war of escalating pixel count for every new model, Panasonic has adopted a sensible approach by capping the megapixel count of its latest DMC-LX3 (S$799) at 10.1.
With its newly-developed 1/1.63-inch multi-aspect CCD, this pairing promises to increase the light sensitivity for clearer pictures while producing less image noise.
Available in a silver or black metal shell and slightly bigger than a pack of cards, the camera instantly transforms from a deceptively unexciting kit into a sophisticated machine when fitted with an external viewfinder and leather case.
First-time users of Panasonic cameras may need time to familiarise themselves with the tricky arrangement of manual controls on the back. However, the LX3's handy joystick enables quick access to crucial settings, and it won't be long before you're switching between shooting modes with finesse.
Photo pundits on online forums are also relishing the results seen from the Leica DC-Vario-Summicron 24mm lens (equivalent of 35mm) that is mounted on the LX3.
It is possibly the fastest lens amongst compact cameras, and has a 24 - 60mm range supported by image stabilisation. At its widest focal length of 24mm and aperture of f/2.0, focusing is quick and accurate, rendering a pleasing depth-of-field blur.
Though some photographers might gripe at the lack of telephoto range, the camera can still deliver a maximum aperture of f/2.8 when set at 60mm zoom. This is an added advantage for those who want a higher shutter speed to prevent blurry portraits under minimum light.
As for its picture quality, a quick playback a quick playback on its 3-inch display will pacify the photographer's constant chagrin with digital noise in compact cameras. At ISO 400, grain yield is almost negligible in day shots. And in low-light situations, such as an evening street scene, a subdued pixel buildup appears only in darker areas of the image.
Shooting at ISO 800 will step up the distribution of noise across the image. However, a quick switchover to the camera's black-and-white film mode produces rustic monotones evocative of those seen only on film.
Other features include a 2.5-frame-per-second rate, full control over aperture and shutter speed, high-definition recording for motion images and a dependable iA (intelligent auto) mode that enables precision metering to areas of the image that might have been "burnt" or washed out during spontaneous photo opportunities.
As for irritants, which thankfully are few, the plastic lens cap that dangles on a thread gets in the way, especially when you're shooting on the fly. Plus, it tends to knock on the LCD with an annoying "clackety clack" sound. A quick fix would be to chuck the cap for an adaptor that allows the use of a scratch-resistant filter.
However, this could mar the aesthetics and portability of the LX3. In addition, the external 24mm viewfinder becomes redundant if you decide to shoot with the optional 21mm wide-angle lens adaptor.
While the LX3 might not have achieved the cult prestige of Ricoh's GR digital series or Sigma's DP1 compact, it is certain that Panasonic has delivered a camera that will generate interest among DSLR owners shopping for a sidekick shooter.
- TODAY/fa
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