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October 2005
Photoxels Editor's
Choice 2005
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The Photoxels
Editor's Choice 2005 -
Best Digital Cameras |
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| The year 2005 saw no
less than 100 new digital camera
models introduced, featuring higher
resolution and better image processing
technology. It is hard today to
buy a digital camera that does
not give very good image quality.
But there's more to what makes
a good digital camera than features
on paper. |
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Out of these 100+ digital cameras,
the editors of Photoxels selected
11 that particularly impressed
them in the following three
criteria: very good to excellent
image quality, low noise, and
fast operations.
Besides these three criteria,
we also considered how a digital
camera really performs in the
field, the frustration -- or
lack thereof -- in using its
many features, and the overall
user's experience in being able
to "get the shot."
Digital cameras, after all,
are made to be used.
So, here they are, in no particular
order:
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Olympus EVOLT E-300
Category: Pro
/ Advanced Amateur
  We
like the one-of-a-kind image
quality that the Olympus EVOLT
E-300 delivers. It's a special
quality that's hard to put into
words. Colours have a particular
depth of tonality that sets
them apart from "candy"
colours. Images maintain good
details in both the shadows
and highlights.
Noise is very low at ISO 100
and 200, but disappointingly
visible at ISO 400 and above,
for a dSLR with a large image
sensor.
There is no practical shutter
lag and AF is very fast and
precise. The "made for
digital" lenses are smooth
in operation, and the camera
handles superbly, despite its
non-conformist design.
The Olympus E-300 innovates
with a Supersonic Wave Filter
that activates everytime the
camera is turned on so as to
keep the image sensor dust-free
-- a major headache in all other
digital SLRs.
We found this camera hard to
put down once we picked it up;
it is intuitive to use with
no frustration or long learning
curve.
[ Photo
Samples | Review
]
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Fujifilm FinePix F10
Category: Point-and-Shoot
 We
like the low noise capability
of the Fujifilm FinePix F10.
The very low noise obtained
at ISO 400 means that indoors
low-light photography is very
much a possibility and sets
the Fujifilm F10 apart from
its competitors, who will have
to respond with either an improved
image sensor and image processing
technology or use a larger image
sensor -- both developments
good for consumers.
The Fujifilm F10 has good handling,
long battery life, a large 2.5
in. LCD monitor that is easy
on the eyes and gains up in
low-light situations. It is
also really fast on startup
and operations.
We found it easy to obtain
excellent image quality with
the Fujifilm F10 in Point-and-Shoot
mode.
[ Photo
Samples | Review
]
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5
Category: Beginner
to Serious Amateur
 We
like the effective image stabilization
built into the excellent Leica
lens of the Panasonic Lumix
DMC-FZ5 which permits hand holding
without camera shake at long
focal lengths.
Its 12x optical zoom provides
one of the longest reach currently
available in a compact consumer
digital camera.
Image quality is very good,
with lots of detail, though
noise is finely visible as the
lowest ISO of 80. Even then,
we believe this does not detract
from the images and the main
audience of this digital camera
will not notice it when displaying
for the Web or printing at 4x6
in. Well exposed images should
print at 8x10 in. without problem.
The Panasonic FZ5 is fast,
with no practical shutter/AF
lag. In fact, auto focus is
incredibly fast, approaching
dSLR speed. The camera is very
responsive and this responsiveness
makes it a pleasure to use.
Overall, the Panasonic Lumix
DMC-FZ5 makes a great all-round
family digital camera. Beginner
amateur photographers (and the
proverbial "soccer moms")
will find it easy to use, and
more serious amateur photographers
will appreciate all the useful
and immensely practical features
-- all in a well-designed and
very compact body.
[ Photo
Samples | Review
]
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Canon PowerShot A520
Category: Beginner
to Serious Amateur
 The
Canon PowerShot A520 is one
of our recommended affordable
entry level digital cameras
for someone just starting out
in photography. It is feature-packed
and will grow with you as you
learn more about digital photography.
We like how the Canon A520
is point-and-shoot easy to use,
yet is equipped with lots of
features found in more expensive
digital cameras: full exposure
flexibility, a 15-1/2000 sec.
shutter speed range, custom
white balance for accurate colour
reproduction, optional tele
and wide-angle converters, and
even an optional waterproof
case effective at depths of
up to 40 meters (130 feet).
It is compact, produces very
good image quality for its category,
with excellent image detail
and low noise at ISO 50. There
is no practical shutter lag.
Autofocus is also fast, except
at the long end of the zoom
when it can take a couple of
seconds to lock.
We like the feel and construction
of the Canon PowerShot A520:
excellent for a budget-priced
digital camera despite its plastic
body, and the camera handles
very well.
[ Photo
Samples | Review
]
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Kodak EasyShare Z740 Zoom
Category: Beginner
to Serious Amateur
 We
find the Kodak EasyShare Z740
Zoom to be a true point-and-shoot
10x optical long zoom digital
camera: easy to use for the
whole family in that famed Kodak
"Press the button and the
camera will do the rest"
ease of use promise.
The Kodak Z740 produces very
good quality images that are
sharp and rich in colours straight
out of the camera. If you do
not want to post-process any
images in an image editing software,
then you will like the images
that come out already sharpened
and saturated in colours.
 Noise
is very low, though finely visible,
at ISO 80. AF works fast with
no practical lag, except at
full telephoto when, depending
on the subject matter, it may
hunt to lock focus. AF is precise
even in complete darkness: the
AF Illuminator works well, and
the LCD even gains up a bit
(in colour, though very gainy).
Not only is this camera point-and-shoot
easy to use, but it has full
exposure flexibility, giving
beginner amateur photographers
lots of room to learn and grow.
Bundled with the EasyShare Printer
Dock Series 3 printer, it is
one of the easiest to use camera
and printer combo available
for "One-Touch printing."
[ Photo
Samples | Review
]
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Nikon Coolpix 7900
Category: Point-and-Shoot
 We
like how easy the Nikon Coolpix
7900 is to use and how it effortlessly
captures well-exposed images
with point-and-shoot simplicity.
Nikon is well-known for its
many useful Scene Modes that
automate most picture-taking
situations, including a new
Underwater Scene Mode.
The Nikon 7900 is light, pocketable
and fuss-free in its operations.
AF is fast and works very well
even in low-light. We like its
many practical features, including
Blur Warning, Best Shot Selector,
and Manual AF Area that lets
you tell the camera where to
lock focus, which is tremendously
useful for off-center subjects,
especially in macro photography.
Noise is very low at ISO 50,
and there is no practical shutter
lag. Other useful features that
we have found that really work
include D-Lighting and Face-priority
AF.
Even though it is a point-and-shoot
digital camera, advanced amateur
photographers desiring a pocketable,
take-anywhere digital camera
will appreciate its intuitive
controls, fast operations and
very good image quality.
[ Photo
Samples | Review
]
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Olympus C-5500 Sport Zoom
Category: Serious
Amateur
 Some
cameras you just love as soon
as you pick it up, and the Olympus
Camedia C-5500 Sport Zoom is
one of those.
It feels comfortable and right
in the hand with a generous
sized hand grip. It starts up
fast and has no practical shutter
lag, so there's no reason to
miss any shot. It focuses fast
and accurately.
We like the 5x optical zoom,
which is above the average zoom
range; the flexible exposure
control; and the excellent quality
images with great detail and
low noise. And the Olympus C-5500
allows you to do all that without
aggravation and frustration,
making it extremely easy to
take good pictures with it.
[ Photo
Samples | Review
]
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Olympus C-7070 Wide Zoom
Category: Serious
to Advanced Amateur
 The
final judgment on a digital
camera is the images it allows
us to capture. And when we look
back at the digital cameras
we reviewed, we remember the
Olympus Camedia C-7070 Wide
Zoom as the one that allowed
us to capture a range of images
with ease.
We especially like the wide-angle
(27mm) coverage of the Olympus
C-7070 WZ and the 4x optical
zoom. The construction of the
all-black magnesium body is
excellent, with a good heft
and solid feel.
Noise is very low at ISO 80
and 100, and image quality is
very good, with accurate colour
reproduction and good detail.
We also like the swivel LCD
monitor with 130K pixels resolution
and fast refresh rate for a
clear and smooth display. Pulled
out at about 30-45 degrees,
it is perfect for low-angle
macro shots without body-bending
gymnastics. There is no practical
shutter lag, and AF is very
good and fast, though it will
sometimes hunt in low-light.
The Olympus C-7070 WZ packs
a lot of professional features
in a digital camera that obviously
targets the serious to advanced
amateur photographers. It would
be overkill for someone just
looking for a Point-and-Shoot,
but for those prepared to put
in the effort required to master
all its available features,
it is a very rewarding camera.
[ Photo
Samples | Review
]
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Fujifilm FinePix S9000
Category: Advanced
Amateur
 There
is no doubt that the Fujifilm
FinePix S9000 has all the features
an advanced amateur photographer
want in a fixed lens digital
camera.
Not only does the Fujifilm
S9000 sports a rare 28mm wide-angle
lens, that lens also zooms 10.7x
times to a 35mm equivalent of
300mm -- using a smooth zoom
ring. Image quality is excellent,
at 9MP resolution and using
the new 5th Generation SuperCCD
HR image sensor with low-light
capability up to ISO 1600 (very
low noise up to ISO 400).
It's fast in startup and shot
to shot, with no practical shutter
lag, and handles like a true
SLR.
[ Photo
Samples | Review
]
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Fujifilm FinePix S5200
Category: Beginner
to Serious Amateur
 Here
is one digital camera I wished
I had when I first started photography.
The Fujifilm FinePix S5200
has 5.1MP resolution, 10x optical
zoom, low noise capability to
ISO 1600 (very low noise up
to ISO 400), and is easily one
of the best looking digital
camera around.
It is fast with no practical
shutter lag and gives excellent
image quality. It is full featured
and will give you lots of room
to learn and grow.
[ Photo
Samples | Review
]
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Canon PowerShot A620
Category: Beginner
to Serious Amateur
 The
Canon PowerShot A620 has 7.1MP
resolution, 4x optical zoom,
and full exposure flexibility.
Its large 2 in. LCD flips out
and rotates, and the camera
accepts optional lenses and
even an underwater case.
It takes 4 AA Alkaline batteries
and battery life is very good.
We found the image quality
to be excellent -- even better
than on some of the more expensive
models!
At less than US$400, it's one
of the best value for your money.
[ Photo
Samples | Review
]
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There are certainly many more deserving
digital cameras, but these were the ones
we were particularly impressed with.
The Editors
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