Best Camera Guide

Sony TX5 Water Proof Digital Camera

I like my extreme sports however it can be a nightmare on my cameras, that’s why I bring you this review as the new Sony TX5 might just be up to the job. This camera is dust proof, freeze proof, shock proof and water proof down to 3meters. This camera has the ability to handle almost any conditions right out for the box. I’ve found dust to be a major problem with digital cameras in the past, but I do run them to the ground. This compact Sony camera looks and feels like it can handle most shooting conditions of an extreme lifestyle be that down the stake park or in the water.

The Sony TX5 is easy to use with its big 3” viewing screen which also doubles as a touch screen. This gives a nice clean user experience with no need for extra buttons taking up valuable screen space on the back of the camera! What the touch screen also offers is intuitive operations such as flicking or dragging with your finger on the screen to control camera functions.

Taking panoramic photos with the TX5 has been made even easier with Sony’s Intelligent Sweep Panorama. This automatically combines over 100 shots to create a panorama for you within the camera. All you need to do it set it to the intelligent Sweep Panorama mode and sweep the camera round as if your taking a video. What the camera is actuality doing is taking a burst of over 100 images which it can then combine to create extra-wide panoramic pictures.

All in all this Sony Cybershot is a great little rugged camera be it for a person with an extreme lifestyle or the just the casual walker that wants to take stunning panoramic shoots.

Fujifilm FinePix AV100 Digital Camera

Its that time of year again where the different manufactures are bringing out their new digital cameras, I’ve taken a short moment to have a look at the Fuji FinePix AV100 for you. First thing you notice with this product is its price, it still shocks me that you can get a brand name digital camera as good as this for under £100. The Fuji AV100 comes with 12 megapixel resolution and a 3x optical zoom giving you a verity of shooting and after shoot options to get anyone started. If that’s not enough as expected in digital cameras it also includes video recording in 720p HD format. This is such a well built compact camera, nice to hold in the hand with easy to use controls. One feature I do like on the AV 100 its quick preview button. The camera can also be switched on straight into preview mode leaving the lens closed.

This FinePix camera would be great as a starter camera for kids or as a cheap through way for nights out or sporting. My first digital camera all those years ago was a Fuji FinePix camera and it lasted me well and did the job. I’m sure this will do the same and your definitely get your money worth out of the AV100.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

I managed to get my hands on a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 the other day as my friend Andrea treated herself to one. So being me I’ve taken the opportunity to do a quick review of LX3. This high end compact camera is a great solution for photographers that want more control of the images they take, but not with the size and cost of a DSLR. It has the ability to shoot in RAW mode giving you an uncompressed output from the CCD so you can edit later in the highest possible quality.

What makes this camera is the lens, when zoomed out it has the equivalent of a 24mm lens. The Lumix LX3 can also shot at F2.0 when zoomed out which makes this camera great for low light conditions. I tested this in the office and was very impressed with the results achieved indoors with no flash. What would be nice is if this camera had a built in lens cap, It’s not a big down fall but I could live with the clip-on one.

What the LX3 has over its predecessors is the a flash hot shoe on the top of the camera. So if you already own a flash gun you can use it with this cameras to get better lighting. As expected the Panasonic does have a built in flash, however you have to manually pop this up. This did confuse me for a while, as I was forcing the camera to shoot with a flash and nothing was happening, so just remember to pop the flash up before shooting if you need it.

What really makes this camera is its ability to shoot using manual settings, your able to adjust shutter speed, aperture among many other settings. I didn’t get the chance to fully explore all the menus but it does cover a lot of the expected settings you’d have on a lower to mid range DSLR. Its the extra features like a custom function button, and live histogram view when taking photos that pushes this camera away from the normal family compact camera. Overall the Lumix LX3 is like having the features of a pro camera in the size of a compact, a great buy for anyone looking to have maximum control over their images without having to carry lots of kit around with them.

Panasonic Lumix Dmc Camera – ZX1

Hope everyone had a good Christmas break and New Years, happy 2010. I did as I ended up advising my mum on getting the right new compact digital camera in the January sales. After half a day playing with cameras in the shop we decided to go with the Lumix DMC ZX1. This is a great little camera for all round use placing it’s self in the market as a camera that fits nicely in your pocket with the features of a high end compact. It boasts 12 megapixels and 8 times optical zoom which I feel is great combination for its price in comparison to the other Lumix DMCs out there. This is also a 25mm wide angle lens making easier to fit all your family and friends in so no more cutting granny out on the end when taking group photos.

The ZX1 also has some superb features to make taking great photos easier like its effortless face recognition technology. This works by, well I do not know all the technology side but it basically tracks people’s faces to keep your subject in focus even when they are moving around. The large 2.7-inch LCD screen on the DMC-ZX1 also lets you clearly compose your photos and its the little things that help to make the Lumix series of cameras so easy to use like their quick zoom button that punches the camera to full zoom in a flash. Another well thought out feature is the grip on the camera for your thumb which makes it easier to hold in your hand.

Just to remind you this is a digital camera blog before I go any further, as this compact camera also sports some impressive video capturing in it’s movie mode. It can record motion pictures in high definition at 30 frames per second. This enables you to capture some stunning HD video and unlike some of the other compact cameras I’ve used to film video you can use the zooming while shooting video.

Overall this is great mid priced family compact camera. It feels well built in your hands and is easy to use. If your looking for a camera that you can take with you on the move and still achieve stunning results normally found on bigger digital cameras then the Panasonic Lumix DMC ZX1 is the one for you.

Pink FinePix Z35

The last couple of cameras we’ve talked about have been more expensive digital SLRs, it’s time again that we look at one of the compact cameras on the market. Today I turn your attention to the cheap and smart little Fuji FinePix Z35. Important things first, it’s available in five stylish colours including pink and purple. This camera has obliviously been designed with a target of the younger market in mind with it price and colour options.

The features it boasts are impressive considering its price; it includes a 10 megapixels and a 3 times optical zoom lens. To make sure this lens is kept protected this Fuji camera includes a slide cover on the front to protect the lens; there is also a nice 2.5” LCD screen to view the shots you’ve taken back on. With the FinePix Z35 you’re also able to take full advantage of the LCD screen to easily and quickly display photos back in micro thumbnails mode.

I’m impressed by the ’scene recognition auto’ function on the FinePix Z-35 too; this lets you take the photos you want to without having to change the settings. The camera will detect what type of image you are taking and change the settings to suit the scene. So if you are taking a landscape, portrait or taking photos at night the Z35 will know this and change the shooting mode to suite the conditions, giving you better image results.

Overall this is a great little camera and makes a great part of the Fuji FinePix range; it fits easily into your pocket, looks smart and has some great specifications for a camera in this price range.

Nikon D5000 Digital SLR

I think its only fare that I remain impartial and also give you a review of a Nikon Digital SLR available on the market this Christmas. Nikon Digital SLRs currently have a nice range of cameras suiting all needs; however the camera I’ll be looking at today is more aimed at home users and people that treat photography as a hobby.

The Nikon D5000 Digital SLR is one of Nikon’s mid rage DSLR cameras providing quality images and some great features at an affordable price. The D5000 boasts an impressive 12.3 megapixel DX format CMOS image sensor enabling you to capture the moment in outstanding detail and produce stunningly sharp enlargements. With the easy to use automatic features such as sports mode letting you effortlessly make the most of the 12.3 megapixels. Also using the innovative vari-angle LCD monitor makes it easier to take shoots in awkward positions and even capturing sneaky self-portraits has never been simpler.
A nice little trick this camera has that stands out from the others is its quiet shooting mode. When the camera is put into this mode it noticeably reduces the sound made by the internal mechanisms of the camera when the shutter is pressed. I quite like this idea as it makes it ideal for people photographing wildlife; birds being the example that pops to mind as they could easy be spooked by the noises made by the camera. This mode could even just be used at home when taking photos of a sleeping baby for instance.

Additionally Nikon have added the extra ability to shoot high-definition movie clips with the D5000. I’m a bit undecided as to whether the ability to capture video on a SLR camera is needed, but it seems Nikon have done a good job at it. The camera is able to shoot HD 720p for about five minutes; it’s a handy to create some short arty little videos. The thing that sells the video mode for me is being able to record video using the lens available for the D5000. This enables you to take advantage of the depth of field available on these lenses which would normally need an expensive video camera to achieve. However, its sound recording lets it down a little so I don’t think it will be replacing the home video camera any time soon.

Overall the Nikon D5000 Digital SLR is a great little SLR camera and a great choice as a first buy if you’ve got a little bit more budget to spend. What you get for that extra money is a camera with a slightly better build quality that you can feel in your hand and the extra features that make photography easier and more enjoyable.

Canon EOS Camera Cashback

It is exactly one month today that Christmas day will be upon us and for many a new digital camera would have been on our list to Santa Claus, whether it is a present from a loved one or we have decided to treat ourselves it is always a big decision on which one to choose.

Those great people at Canon are going all out to help you with your decision by offering £30 to £50 cash back on their very excellent EOS
450d and EOS 500d. Now as someone who loves photography I would never advocate buying a digital SLR camera just based on price if you can help it but when that camera is as good as the Canon EOS cameras are then the price just sweetens the deal. So if you are really in for a treat this Christmas remember not to do a thing before you have a look at the full range of Canon Eos Digital SLRs and pay special attention to the cashback offers.

The cash back offer is also available on the Canon Powershot SX range.

Canon Ixus 200 IS

When it comes to digital cameras that have all the latest tricks and extras the Canon Ixus 200 IS released last month is right at the forefront of modern compact digital cameras. One of the most impressive features of this amazing camera is its large 3in wide touch screen. With this Canon has brought this much loved technology found in so many handheld devices to digital camera market. This is not just a gimmicky add on though as it can be used to ‘touch to focus’ meaning more artistic shots and control is literally at your finger tips.

The features of the Ixus 200 IS do not stop there, boasting 720p HD movie mode achieved from its 12.1 megapixel CCD chip and the best picture quality assured with Canons patented DIGIC 4 technology you know that you are getting amazing value for money with a RRP of £329.00.

I love finding a bargain though and after shopping around at a few places online I have actually found the Canon Ixus 200 IS Here with a 4gb memory card, leather case and table tripod for just £269.99.

Vivid Pink Casio Exilim Z33

I have noticed over the past year or two manufacturers have cottoned on to the idea that if you make your product pink then it is going to fly of the shelves. We’ve had pink laptops, TVs, stereos, pretty much everything you can dream off but when it comes to the most popular devices Phones, MP3 players and Digital Cameras have to be top of the tree.

That is why when I got my first look at the new Casio Exilim Z33 range I was not surprised to see not one version in pink but two. Alongside the Black, Silver and Blue you get the subtle pink as well as more impressive Vivid Pink Exilim pictured.

This camera is undoubtedly going to be a huge hit as it not only has a sleek sexy design but it packs a 10.1 megapixel resolution backed up with a 3 x Optical and a 4 x Digital zoom. When you add in clever extras like You Tube ™ capture mode which records movies in the ideal settings for the site and then using the included software makes uploading a piece of cake.

Check out the full range of Casio’s including the amazing Exilim Z33 Vivid Pink