COMMENT
Here is this week’s (Dec 24-30, 2011) digital camera review roundup:
- LetsGoDigital finds the Olympus PEN E-PM1 [QuickPrice Check]
“is ideal for people that truly value good quality photos and video recordings, but find a digital SLR camera much too heavy and complicated.“
- DigitalCameraReview loves the Pentax Q [QuickPrice Check]
and sees “the market for the "Q" as shooters who like really tiny cameras and available light/natural light aficionados and/or street shooters who like the fast f/1.9 "normal" lens.“
- PhotographyBLOG recommends the Samsung ST96 as “an inexpensive yet at the same time reasonably built pocket snapper, which delivers fuss free results at an inexpensive price point.“
- LetsGoDigital finds that the Olympus E-PL3 [QuickPrice Check]
“has similar image quality to a comparable SLR camera, especially for the lower ISO values.“
- BobAtkins “needed a new P&S camera for those times when all I can carry is something that will fit in my pocket” and found that the Samsung HZ30W / WB600 [QuickPrice Check]
“meets my requirements for manual control, long shutter speeds, optical stabilization and has a pretty good Schneider-Kreuznach 3.9-58.5/3.2-5.8 lens (24-360mm 35mm equivalent).“
- For more camera reviews, to get a second opinion, and just to read the best reviews on the Web, visit our Reviews Matrix.
as “the most exciting camera that I’ve had the pleasure of using in the past five years.“
as “an impressive camera with an unmatched feature set. [...] Performance wise, the P7100 is an all-around winner. All aspects of image quality are great, particularly control over image noise at medium sensitivities.“
and concludes that “The [Nikon] V1 isn’t about ultimate image quality – it’s about being able to capture a moment which eludes most cameras, and this it does with a degree of confidence and consistency which quickly becomes addictive.“
as “[combining] the best qualities of a pocketable point and shoot and an enthusiast compact camera.“
concluding that “The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 is a well-featured super zoom camera that both beginners and serious amateur photographers will enjoy using.“
autofocus can be “slow and unreliable autofocus [but] with a little patience and care to ensure the Nikon Coolpix S6200 is focusing properly, you’ll be rewarded with colourful, detailed, well-exposed shots, much of the time.“
since “in many other respects – namely its AF speed, the size of its viewfinder, Full HD movie mode and overall level of responsiveness – the A65 is a class-leader, matching and sometimes even exceeding the specifications belonging to some of its closest rivals.“
concluding that “Sony has pulled it off and produced one of the most compelling mirrorless ILC models on the market.“
concluding that “it’s like putting a V12 in a minivan: this camera appeals to Joe/Jill Consumer, but it has a racing engine underneath. Focus speed, frame rate, video excel.“
concluding that “enthusiasts and even beginners who are in the market for a high-quality compact camera shouldn’t be disappointed by what the Fuji FinePix X10 has to offer.“
kindly concluding, If [...] you have a lot of money to spend then take a look at the Sigma SD1. The pictures are very good after all and ultimately that’s what’s important.
so that “the [Olympus] E-P3 is my current backcountry camera of choice, where I’m on those long 10-mile or longer dayhikes to exotic locations far from the road.“
since “for an entry level model, the ELPH 100 HS / IXUS 115 HS has a huge amount to offer [...] is well built, looks stunning and is super-compact.“
as “a solid travel-zoom camera that certainly won’t break the bank.“
“the ideal audience for this camera being young families who want an unfussy point and shoot camera.“
finding that “this stylish camera is loaded with fun to use settings, and the hinged LCD is sure to be a hit among the social crowds. We did find a few shortfalls with the camera, but overall it gets a good recommendation from the staff here at Steve’s.“
concluding that “photo quality on the Lumix DMC-GX1 is very good, and comparable to what you’d see on other Micro Four Thirds cameras (including the DMC-G3, which shares the GX1′s sensor)“
concluding that “for most users seeking an adventure-proof upgrade, it’s hard to go wrong with the Nikon Coolpix AW100, our overall best rugged camera of 2011.“
compact ultra zoom “packs a versatile zoom lens and produces decent pictures.“
as “the best-selling point-and-shoot camera in Canon’s 2011 range for good reason.“
if you are looking for “the size, the zoom and the touch screen [...] you won’t find them combined in a more stylish way.“
‘s “image quality gave us pause initially, primarily because of the overaggressive noise suppression and the artifacts it creates. But the Sony WX10 redeems itself in the printed results.“
for “if you’re looking for a classy point-and-shoot with excellent video features and a longer than average zoom it’s a pretty compelling proposition in its own right.“
finding that “the most obvious market for this pumped up PowerShot is the family user, wildlife watcher or sports fan, or even concert go-er.“
finding that “the AF system is blisteringly quick and accurate [but] a bit of a sluggish start-up time, slight delay when switching between using the EVF and LCD for shooting and high ISO noise performance that, while still very good, doesn’t quite match that of its major rivals.“
finding that its “noisy, blurred images–even at low ISOs–is absolutely inexcusable.“
which now comes with a “projector [which] is much brighter, more vivid and can create a bigger projection than before.“
as “image quality is very good among compact system cameras, with remarkable ISO performance from 200 to 1,600, producing images that look good printed at 20×30 inches.“
and finds that “colors are accurate, noise is well controlled, and resolution is acceptable. [...] as a cheap, easy camera built for the most casual of photographers, it gets the job done [and will] make a decent gift.“
