The PowerShot SX30 IS has got you prepared for your next extreme photo opportunity. This point-and-shoot digital camera comes with a massive 35x Wide-Angle (24-840mm) Optical Zoom lens--a first for any PowerShot! It also comes with a 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD, 14.1 Megapixels, High Dynamic Range, Zoom Framing Assist and much more. Canon PowerShot SX30 Highlights 35x wide-angle optical zoom (24-840mm) with Optical Image Stabilizer The PowerShot SX30 IS is equipped with a 35x Optical Zoom lens with a focal length of 4.3-150.5mm (35mm equivalent: 24-840mm) that allows you to shoot any scene from wide-angle to telephoto. The camera uses a VCM (Voice Coil Motor) for high-speed, quiet, energy-efficient lens movement with precise control. Focal length is conveniently indicated on the lens barrel. The lens is optimized to fully exploit its zoom length and wide shooting angle in concert with the camera's high 14.1 Megapixel resolution. UD glass effectively suppresses chromatic aberration, while enhanced negative refractive power ensures that distortion at the wide-angle is also corrected. Further aberration is controlled with the inclusion of a double-sided aspherical glass-molded lens and ultra-high refraction index lens. The SX30 IS is equipped with Canon's acclaimed Optical Image Stabilizer Technology that automatically detects and corrects camera shake--one of the leading causes of fuzzy or blurred shots. Even when zoomed in, you can get the steady, crisp, brilliant images you'll be proud to shoot and share. And Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer Technology is convenient to use. It functions perfectly with or without a flash. Improvements to Movie modes: Dynamic mode enables users to use the Optical Image Stabilizer while shooting video Dynamic IS allows you to capture video with more precision and ease than ever before! Without having to make any additional camera adjustments, Dynamic IS automatically operates the moment you start recording video. This image stabilizer continuously readjusts throughout the camera's entire zoom range to correct a broad range of motion -- especially when shooting in the wide-angle end, so footage comes out steady and clear even while you're walking and recording at the same time! And with a powerful 35x Optical Zoom, you'll never be too far away from capturing your greatest memories! Best of all, the Optical Zoom can now be used while shooting video--a first for any of the Canon PowerShot SX digital cameras! So no matter the distance or environment, Canon lets you stay confident that you'll capture the footage you want. Shoots superb 720p HD video with stereo sound; HDMI output The PowerShot SX30 IS lets you record video in beautiful high definition (1280 x 720 pixels). The camera also makes it easy to enjoy HD videos (and still photos) on your HDTV with a mini-HDMI connector for direct connection to a high-definition TV monitor. You'll enjoy the HD experience with no degradation of image or audio in the signal, plus the ability to display up to 130 still images at once. New Zoom Framing Assist button With its 35x Optical Zoom lens, the SX30 IS can certainly capture subjects located at a very far distance; however, even with a powerful zoom lens it can often be tricky to track a moving subject while zoomed out to the maximum telephoto range and attempting to steady the camera. To counter this problem, Canon created the Zoom Framing Assist function. By simply pressing and holding the convenient Zoom Framing Assist function button, the camera will automatically zoom out to a wider focal point, allowing you to look for your elusive subject. Once found, releasing the button will cause the camera to return to its original position and intelligently keep the subject in focus, so you don't have to trouble yourself with any of the controls. Recording video and images has never been easier with a Canon PowerShot! Advanced Smart AUTO intelligently selects the proper settings Just set the Canon PowerShot SX30 IS to Smart AUTO and you're ready for maximum enjoyment from your picture taking every time. It's a relaxing and satisfying way to shoot because you can completely concentrate on your subject knowing that the camera has the technical details covered. Advanced Canon technology intelligently analyzes your situation and shooting conditions. Then it automatically selects an appropriate setting from 28 specially defined settings. So whether you're photographing flowers, a captivating sunset, or your friends at the park, you can be confident that you're getting dramatic, memorable images. DIGIC 4 Image Processor and 14.1 megapixels The PowerShot SX30 IS is equipped with many of the same features as a higher-end camera: an ultra-powerful zoom, eye-popping resolution and advanced picture-improving technology. 14.1 Megapixels of resolution gives your photography incomparable depth and ensures that any section of any shot can be enlarged and cropped with no loss in quality when you edit the image or even if you choose to print the image. It can create crisp, clear 13" x 19" posters. Canon's proprietary DIGIC Image Processors have long set its cameras apart from the competition, and the new DIGIC 4 sets the bar even higher. Faster, more accurate noise reduction delivers better image quality, even at high ISO speeds. iSAPS Technology is an entirely original scene-recognition technology developed for digital cameras by Canon. Using an internal database of thousands of different photos, iSAPS works with the advanced DIGIC 4 Image Processor to improve focus speed and accuracy, as well as exposure and white balance. Large 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD enables easy viewing The camera's 2.7-inch PureColor System LCD screen gives you the big picture, whether you're shooting, reviewing or showing off your images. This high-resolution screen offers a crisp, clear picture to make shooting, playback and using the camera's menu functions especially convenient. The clear and bright LCD also features Night Display for easy viewing in low light. It also has an electronic viewfinder that provides sharp images when you shoot up close during Macro photography. Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, which makes powering up simple The PowerShot SX30 IS now uses a rechargeable lithium-ion NB-7L battery. For ultimate convenience and simplicity, just charge the batteries and you're ready for your next photographic adventure! What's in the Box PowerShot SX30 IS Camera body Lithium-ion Battery Pack NB-7L Battery Charger CB-2LZ Neck Strap NS-DC11 Lens Cap Case for Hot Shoe Cap AV Cable AVC-DC400ST USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM KODAK EASYSHARE SPORT Camera Overview Ready for life unlimited. Whether it's a dunk in the pool, a downpour on the hiking trail, or a spilled drink at the restaurant, check out the great outdoors without worrying about dirt, dust, and sand. Be ready with the KODAK EASYSHARE SPORT Camera. Take your best shot—up to 10 ft underwater. Plus, wherever you go, your friends will wish they were there. With Kodak's Share button you can tag pictures directly from your camera for e-mailing to friends or uploading to popular social networking sites 2 . Only KODAK Digital Cameras allow you to simultaneously share to multiple social networks and e-mail 1 . Kodak's Share button makes sharing your videos and pictures as simple with One Button Upload: • Just press Share when in review mode • Choose your favorite sharing destinations: FACEBOOK, e-mail, KODAK Gallery and KODAK PULSE Digital Frames 2 , and other popular sharing sites • Connect your camera to your computer or insert your memory card and your videos or pictures are automatically uploaded to the destination(s) 1 Kodak's exclusive Share Button: • Automatically shares when you connect to a PC 1 • Tags to the largest number of socialnetworks 3 • Uploads friend tags to FACEBOOK 1 Take a swim and take your best shot: Waterproof*, dustproof**, and worry proof • Take the plunge—shoot stills and video up to 10 ft underwater • Go anywhere—dustproof design lets you shoot in just about any environment • Don't get the blues—underwater white balance mode gives true-to-life colors in the pool or under the waves * IEC 60529 IPX8 compliant— learn more ** IEC 60529 IP6X compliant— learn more Features: • Share your world big and bright with 12 MP: More megapixels means you can crop and enlarge and still have great picture quality. Make stunning prints up to 30 x 40 in. • 2.4 in. bright LCD: Relive moments and view pictures with brilliance and clarity thanks to KODAK Color Science • Face detection: For great shots of friends and family, face detection locates faces and automatically adjusts camera settings • Never miss a moment with AA batteries: Your camera is always ready to go using convenient AA batteries Kodak's Smart Capture feature: Beautiful pictures, more often-automatically Become a better photographer with a smarter camera. Kodak's innovative Smart Capture feature automatically identifies the scene and adjusts camera settings for a great picture in just about any environment. • Intelligent scene detection—analyzes the scene to give you better pictures under various conditions • Intelligent capture control—automatically sets camera settings for clear, sharp pictures even in low light and challenging situations • Intelligent image processing—reduces noise and clears up dark shadows for vibrant, crisp details and true-to-life colors What's In the Box: Everything you need to shoot and share • KODAK EASYSHARE SPORT Camera • KODAK Alkaline AA Batteries or equivalent • Essential Floating Wrist Strap/ Orange • USB cable • User Guide 1 All Kodak digital still and video cameras manufactured in 2011 or later. 2 KODAK PULSE Display and KODAK Gallery support still pictures; video not supported. 3 Sharing sites vary by region Sony DSC-H70 Shoot life at its fullest with the Sony DSC-H70. Get closer to your subjects with 10x optical zoom. Capture landscapes with one touch Sweep Panorama, take 720p HD videos, get perfect portraits with Smile Shutter or get everyone in the picture with the 25mm wide angle lens. Sony DSC-H70 Feature Highlights 3.0-inch LCD 3.0-inch LCD to preview and review your photos. Compact camera with 10x zoom The Sony 10x optical zoom G lens brings distant subjects super close for great outdoors, sports, and travel photos. The compact size makes it easy to take with you in a pocket, purse, or backpack. Sweep Panorama Mode Reach beyond the traditional wide angle lens, and capture more breathtaking shots with Sweep Panorama Mode. Simply press the shutter button and sweep the camera in the desired direction and the camera continuously shoots at a high speed, then seamlessly stitches the images together with automatic position adjustment to create one stunning panoramic image. Available in wide and ultra-wide options, the camera can take panoramic shots of up to 260 degrees. Now capturing wide landscapes is as easy as press and sweep. 720p MP4 HD Movie Mode 5 In 720p MP4 movie mode the camera shoots 1280 x 720 high definition movies at 30 fps, which is the format when working with a PC 5 . Users will create high quality movies with full use of optical zoom in files small enough to transfer to compatible PC or Mac. Once transferred to a computer you can effortlessly upload your media to popular photo and video-sharing websites such as Photobucket and YouTube. (Compatible computer with internet capability required) Optical SteadyShot image stabilization Optical SteadyShot image stabilization uses a built-in gyro sensor to detect camera shake and automatically shifts the lens to help prevent blur without sacrificing image quality. Active Mode Stabilize hand held HD movies with active mode. For recording on the go this feature was designed to minimize motion capturing the video without all of the movement. Motion Detection Motion Detection, along with Face Motion Detection adjusts ISO sensitivity and increases the shutter speed when movement is detected, reducing blur in moving subjects and faces. Intelligent Auto Mode Unlike traditional auto mode, Intelligent Auto (iAuto) mode does the thinking, recognizing scenes, lighting conditions, faces, and adjusts settings resulting clear images, faces with natural skin tone and less blur. Take advantage of all the technology without leaving Auto mode. Kids on the playground, landscape shots, a beautiful flower or an indoor birthday party; all result in clear images without leaving auto mode. Soft Skin Mode Portrait subjects will love the results. Soft Skin mode recognizes skin tones and reduces the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles without affecting the rest of the shot. Natural Flash Conventional point-and-shoot camera flash shots just don't capture colors the way the eye sees them. Natural Flash mode takes a reference shot without flash and then uses that reference to correct the color, for far more lifelike images. In camera guide Take all the guesswork out of photography with the in camera guide. It's convenient step-by-step instructions lead to a perfect shot. Smile Shutter technology Smile Shutter technology captures a smile the moment it happens. Simply press the Smile Shutter button and the camera does the rest. Also select adult and child priority and indicate the degree of Smile Detection Sensitivity. Intelligent Scene Recognition can be used together with Smile Shutter mode. This means that beautiful smiles can be captured with settings optimized for the particular scene, even in difficult conditions such as twilight and backlighting. Face Detection technology Sony's Face Detection technology can automatically distinguish between children and adults. Face Detection technology detects up to eight individual faces and adjusts flash, focus, exposure, and white balance to help deliver crisp, properly lit images of family and friends. Anti-blink Function It's frustrating to capture the perfect shot, only to review it later and discover subjects blinked during the photo. When the camera is set to Soft Snap, the Anti-blink function captures two images, recording only the photo with less squinting or blinking. If a blink is detected in other shooting modes, a warning will be displayed after you take the shot. TransferJet technology TransferJet technology, developed by Sony and advanced and promoted by consortium of 18 other companies, allows transfer of up to ten files between two TransferJet enabled devices just by touching their TransferJet logos together, without the hassle of hunting for cables or the complication of pairing 6 . High Sensitivity Mode (ISO 3200) High ISO allows for faster shutter speed, so you can take photos indoors or in low light without the need for a flash. In addition to High Sensitivity Mode (ISO), you can select up to seven ISO settings (Auto, 125, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200) when shooting in Program Auto Mode to adjust sensitivity to the shooting conditions. Easy Shooting Mode With Easy Shooting Mode, even beginners can take great photos. In Easy Shooting Mode, easy-to-understand basic instructions are displayed on the LCD screen and the camera switches to all automatic settings, removing several function choices and allowing you to focus on just your subject. Since this mode works together with Intelligent Scene Recognition, the camera selects the optimum setting for each scene. In addition the easy mode simplifies preview mode. In-Camera Retouching Tools Retouch and enhance your photos on the go with in-camera Trimming, Red-Eye Correction, and Unsharp Masking functions. Self-Portrait Timer Self-Portrait Timer helps take the guesswork out of self portraits by utilizing Face Detection technology to recognize when your face enters the frame. Once the camera detects your face, it triggers a 2-second timer, and then snaps a picture. PHOTOMUSIC 4 PHOTOMUSIC 4 combines images with music (4 tracks, 5 minutes per track) to produce fun and entertaining slide shows with standard visual effects (Simple, Nostalgic, Active, and Stylish). Select from pre-loaded tracks on the camera or transfer your own from your compatible computer (sold separately). Compatible with PC and MAC Systems The Full HD video captured with the DSC-H70 can be used with the provided Picture Motion Browser software1 for PC and iMovie (sold separately) for Mac systems. Includes Sony PMB (Picture Motion Browser) Software ver. 5.5 1 Sony Picture Motion Browser software offers a simple, intuitive way to transfer, sort, and view video and still images on a compatible PC. In addition, multiple output options let you burn your memories to DVD (sold separately), as well as take advantage of one click upload to a number of popular video and photo sharing sites 7 . Includes Sony PMB Portable software 2 With the pre-installed Picture Motion Browser (PMB) Portable 5.5 (Mac vers. 1.3) software 2 the DSC-H70 makes it easy to pre-select videos and images in the camera and conveniently upload them from the camera to a compatible PC and popular Internet sharing sites 7 without the need for any additional software or install. PMB requires Microsoft Windows XP SP3/ Windows Vista SP2/Windows 7 environments not supported. Not supported by Mac OS. Uploading directly to the web requires PMB Portable software and USB cable (included), and PC with internet connectivity. Windows XP SP3 64-bit and Starter Edition and Windows Vista Starter Edition environments not supported. Compatible BRAVIA HDTV, and component cable required for PhotoTV HD viewing. Specifications for BRAVIA HDTV shown vary according to market region. Four preset music tracks stored in internal memory. Imported music tracks can be up to five minutes long. When using Music Transfer to download music, tracks longer than five minutes will be reduced to five minutes when uploading to the Cyber-shot camera. Movie recording is limited to 29 minute segments. TransferJet enabled media (sold separately) and TransferJet technology required in both devices. Interoperability and compatibility among TransferJet enabled devices may vary. Requires compatible wireless access point(s). Some features may rely on Internet services. One look at Canon's new PowerShot S95 will have you moving "upgrade my digital camera" to the top of your to-do list. The ultra-slim, ultra-intelligent S95 is loaded with all a serious photographer's must-haves, including a bright f/2.0 wide-angle lens and professional-style control ring for intuitive manual control. Canon's HS System is on board for spectacular performance and image quality in low light. And, new for a compact, the S95 incorporates Canon's Hybrid IS for blur-free shooting even close-up. You'll shoot stunning 720p HD video with stereo sound, then watch it immediately on your HDTV with the simple HDMI connection. If photography's your passion, now is the perfect time to step up to PowerShot S95. Canon PowerShot S95 Highlights Canon's HS System for improved low light performance and better image quality The PowerShot S95 employs the Canon HS System by combining a powerful 10.0-megapixel CCD sensor and Canon's DIGIC 4 Image Processor. Thanks to this technological advancement, the S95 is dramatically more sensitive than cameras with identical megapixel counts, and delivers spectacular images with minimal noise. Increased sensitivity demands a higher ISO speed, and the PowerShot S95 delivers with a new maximum setting of ISO 12,800. Blur and camera shake are notably reduced for the ultimate in sharpness and clarity. Shoot beautiful 720p HD video in stereo sound The PowerShot S95 lets you record video in beautiful high definition (1280 x 720 pixels). The camera also makes it easy to enjoy HD videos (and still photos) on your HDTV with a mini-HDMI connector for direct connection to a high-definition TV monitor. You'll enjoy the HD experience with no degradation of image or audio in the signal, plus the ability to display up to 130 still images at once. Control ring for intuitive manual control Focus, Exposure, ISO, Step Zoom, or White Balance can now be adjusted more precisely than ever with the S95's control ring. It's even more intuitive and quicker than the usual 2-button control and the S95 lets you decide which function the ring will adjust. Bright f/2.0 lens The S95 sports an f/2.0 aperture, perfect for creating enticing portraits, by drawing attention to the face and blurring the background with its impressively shallow depth-of-field. The Macro setting lets you get even closer. The large aperture also does more. It lets you capture more nuances in low light shooting by using more of the available light. You'll be ready for anything with a lens aperture larger than even many professional sizes. Canon's Hybrid IS to compensate for angular and shift camera shake during close-up shooting The PowerShot S95 is one of the first compact cameras to be equipped with Canon's highly advanced Hybrid IS function, which corrects camera shake from two sources to deliver sharp, blur-free images even when you zoom in close to your subject. Hybrid IS employs both an angular sensor and an accelerometer, enabling it to suppress both the blur caused by the angle of the camera and the "shift blur" that happens when your subject moves parallel to the camera, a problem that is especially noticeable at large zoom factors. With the ability to produce clear, steady images in most situations and at any zoom length, the PowerShot S95 is the camera you'll want to take everywhere. Full range of shooting and recording modes The PowerShot S95's RAW mode lets you shoot images without JPEG compression. It gives you clearer images and complete creative control in editing. RAW images are transferred directly to the computer where they can then be edited using image adjustment software or a processing application to adjust your images as you please. The camera can also be set to allow the simultaneous recording of both RAW and JPEG images while shooting. Also, with 26 Shooting Modes including 18 Special Scene Modes, you're ready for whatever shot comes your way. 3.8x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer, plus a 28mm wide-angle lens The PowerShot S95 features Canon's precision 28mm wide-angle 3.8x optical zoom lens that allows you to shoot most scenes from wide-angle to telephoto. It lets you capture more in every frame, so everyone fits in a family gathering shot. When it's time to take a closer look, the Canon Optical Image Stabilizer helps minimize camera shake and reveal almost every detail. What's in the Box PowerShot S95 Camera body Lithium-ion Battery Pack NB-6L Battery Charger CB-2LY Wrist Strap WS-DC9 AV Cable AVC-DC400ST USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM New Technology for Outstanding Images. 12.2 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor and DIGIC 4 Image Processor for high image quality and speed. Canon's CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor captures images with exceptional clarity and tonal range, and offers the most pixels in its class. It offers many of the same new technologies to maximize each pixel's light gathering efficiency that were first seen with the professional EOS-1D Mark III model. It's an APS-C size sensor (22.2 x 14.8mm), and there's an effective 1.6x increase in the lens's marked focal length when attached. 12.2 Megapixel APS-C Size CMOS Sensor DIGIC 4 Image Processor The improved DIGIC 4 Image Processor ensures that images are captured, processed and saved with remarkable speed. The EOS Rebel T3 DSLR's new 3:2 multiple aspect ratio, in-camera RAW image processing, creative filters, image resizing and provided S2 and S3 image-recording quality are all possible thanks to the DIGIC 4 Image Processor. With dazzling results, the new DIGIC 4 Image Processor also works to capture and process data of images shot at 12.2 Megapixels at 3.0 fps, as well as 14-bit signal processing for excellent image gradation, enhanced Face Detection Live mode, Full HD video recording, Auto Lighting Optimizer and Lens Peripheral Optimization. Excellence from Dawn to Dusk. ISO 100 - 6400 for shooting from bright to dim light. With a broad range of ISO settings, the EOS Rebel T3 enables shooting from sunrise to sunset and helps ensure capture of the finest detail. With enhanced high-sensitivity optimization, subjects can be captured clearly and easily at high shutter speeds without flash, with minimized blur and noise. In bright scenes, especially long exposures in daylight, optimal exposure can be achieved with a fully open wide-diameter lens, no dark filter needed. High Definition Made Easy. Improved EOS HD Movie mode with expanded recording [HD: 30p (29.97) / 25p], and with in-camera video editing options. The EOS Rebel T3 DSLR's expanded repertoire of technologies includes shooting video in brilliantly clear, exactingly sharp high definition for playback on your HDTV! Shooting at 1280 x 720 at 30 (29.97) or 25 frames per second, HD video can be taken immediately through the EOS Rebel T3 camera's intuitive operation and layout. Parameters for white balance and picture style are already set — just grab and go! Incredible AutoFocus. High speed, reliable 9-point AF system utilizing a high precision, f/5.6 cross-type center point. The EOS Rebel T3 has a high-precision, 9-point AF system utilizing a high-precision, f/5.6 cross-type center point. The 9-point AF system uses both normal and high-precision focus depending on the aperture and available light. The 9 focus points can be chosen automatically or manually selected. 9-point AF Accurate Metering for Perfect Exposure. Enhanced metering with a 63-zone, Dual-layer metering system for accurate metering between exposures. The EOS Rebel T3 features Canon's newest Dual-layer sensor, with 63 zones. By measuring not only the amount of light, but also taking into account color and luminosity, this new system delivers a very high level of accuracy for better results every time. Since the metering sensor has a color measurement function, exposure errors and focus errors caused by different light sources are minimized; the EOS Rebel T3 gives stable exposure from shot to shot in situations where light changes, such as sports on a cloudy day, or indoor holiday scenes. Metering zones Speedy, Precise Operation. 3.0 fps continuous shooting up to approximately 3 JPEGs or approximately 2 RAW. The EOS Rebel T3 operates with such effortless speed that operation is nothing short of intuitive. With instant startup times, speedy autofocus and minimal shutter lag, the EOS Rebel T3 is one of the fastest cameras available today. It can shoot up to 3.0 fps (frames per second), in bursts of up to approximately 3 JPEGs or 2 RAW files, so you won't miss a shot. 3.0 fps Continuous Shooting See the Image on a Large LCD with Live View Function. 2.7-inch wide TFT LCD monitor (230,000 dots) with Live View function for improved viewing. The EOS Rebel T3 has a huge, bright 2.7-inch TFT (thin film transistor) LCD monitor with 230,000 pixels and a viewing angle of 170°. It's perfect for Live View composition or viewing camera settings like AF, ISO, Metering, AF Point selection and flash options. And the maximum brightness of the EOS Rebel T3 DSLR's LCD monitor is about 30% greater than its predecessor, which is a big benefit when you're using the camera in bright sunlight. Live View Function Live View Function enables you to view your subjects directly on the huge 2.7-inch LCD monitor. It's easy to magnify any part of the scene 5x or 10x for precise manual focus. And now, there are two ways to use Autofocus along with Live View Function in the EOS Rebel T3. You can even choose a grid overlay, perfect for keeping straight lines in your subject straight in your pictures. In the studio, Live View Function can be used remotely via a computer through the EOS Rebel T3 DSLR's USB connection. Make Your Images As You See Them. Express your creativity with ease using advanced imaging features like the new Basic+ function, Quick Setting function and Creative Auto. Basic+ is a new creative imaging feature that makes it easy to create the image effects you want. It can be set with the Quick Control screen in Basic Zone modes. Basic+ provides two options: Shoot by ambience selection: Based on the Picture Style and its parameters (sharpness, contrast, saturation, and color tone), the exposure compensation and white balance correction are adjusted to attain the selected ambience. You can also select the strength of the ambience effect. Shoot by lighting or scene type: Although the actual parameter set is the white balance, the settings are expressed in more understandable terms. The EOS Rebel T3 DSLR's Quick Control screen gives you instant access to the most common settings, all in one place! It's a great way to quickly confirm or change settings while you're shooting. The Quick Control screen is particularly useful when you're shooting from a tripod or monopod, with the camera at eye level, because it eliminates the need to view the LCD data panel on top of the camera while changing settings. For beginners looking to expand their photographic horizons, the EOS Rebel T3 offers Creative Auto mode. While basic settings are based on full automatic operation, shooting guides on the LCD screen enable you to make corrections based on simple to follow guidelines. In essence, with Creative Auto mode, you can learn about photography while taking stunning photographs. Photography Made Truly Easy. New Feature Guide offers short descriptions of each function and Quick Control screen for easy operation. The Canon EOS Rebel T3 DSLR demystifies great photography by including an in-camera Feature Guide. Appearing on the camera's LCD, the Feature Guide displays a simple description or advice for the respective function. It is displayed in each shooting mode, during Mode Dial operations, and for Quick Control screen functions (during normal shooting, Live View shooting, movie shooting, and playback). The Feature Guide appears automatically during Mode Dial operations and when a function is selected on the Quick Control screen. Speedy, Wireless Image Capture and Transmission. Compatibility with SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. The EOS Rebel T3 uses popular SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards. Compact, inexpensive and available in increasingly large capacities, SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards are a perfect complement to the EOS Rebel T3 DSLR's compact and lightweight body design. Additionally, the EOS Rebel T3 is compatible with Eye-Fi* SD cards, which are outfitted with a Wi-Fi transmitter (IEEE 802.11b/g) and internal antenna for wireless, high-speed transfer of images. With an Eye-Fi card installed, the EOS Rebel T3 can display the Eye-Fi's connection status and error notes with ease, for fully functional wireless uploading of images directly from the camera. *Canon cameras are not guaranteed to support Eye-Fi card functions, including wireless transfer. In case of an issue with the Eye-Fi card, please consult with the card manufacturer. The use of Eye-Fi cards may not be available outside the United States and Canada; please contact the card manufacturer for territory availability. Shooting Made Easy Compatible with the full line of Canon EF and EF-S lenses. EF & EF-S Lenses The EOS Rebel T3 is compatible with all Canon lenses in the EF and EF-S lineup, ranging from ultra-wide angle to super telephoto lenses. Canon lenses employ advanced optical expertise and micron-precision engineering to deliver unprecedented performance in all facets of the photographic process. Special optical technologies, such as Aspherical, ultra-low dispersion, or fluorite elements are featured in the universally acclaimed L Series lenses, and Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer technology are featured in select lenses to minimize the effect of camera shake. Through Canon lenses, photographers can truly maximize the quality and liberating performance of the EOS Rebel T3. Smart, sleek and creative, the PowerShot SX130 IS is the perfect companion to all your good times. Now you can capture every detail of special moments in crisp, stunning 720p HD--even while using the high-powered 12x wide-angle optical zoom. You'll record in stereo sound, then play back your videos instantly on you computer. The SX130 IS is all about creativity, with fun new scene modes like Miniature Effect for Movies, and Fisheye Effect for artistically distorted stills. While you're having fun creating, the camera's Smart Flash Exposure and advanced Smart AUTO systems are ensuring that every image is the best it can be. Add the DIGIC 4 Image Processor, 12.1 megapixels and Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer, and you've got the ideal camera for making the good times last. Canon PowerShot SX130IS Highlights Shoot 720p HD video with stereo sound while using the optical zoom The PowerShot SX130 IS is the perfect combination of still camera and extraordinary video maker. Videos are recorded in spectacularly detailed 720p HD with clear stereo sound. Better yet, you can now zoom in and out as your creativity demands, without losing a bit of the 720p HD resolution. Given the SX130 IS's powerful 12x wide-angle optical zoom, this capability is especially meaningful. 12x wide-angle optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer With precision engineering and decades of leadership in optics technology, Canon has created a bright, wide-angle lens that magnifies to an astonishing 12x. Moreover, it's sized to fit the SX130 IS's compact profile, performs at high speed, and keeps power consumption low. Whether you're at a sporting event, school play, or just out and about shooting, you'll love how the SX130's powerful wide-angle 12x optical zoom gets you up close fast and puts more image into every frame. And Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer controls camera shake to ensure that throughout the zoom range, your images are steady and crystal clear. Scene modes like Miniature Effect for Movie and Fisheye Effect offers creative options for videos and images Explore your creativity! The PowerShot SX130 IS gives you fun, easy ways to play with perspective in your still images and videos, too. Miniature Effect for Movies (also available for still images) enhances perspective to give whatever you're shooting the fascinating look of a scene shot with miniature models. At the same time, selective frames are removed to enhance the effect when you play the scene back at 30 fps. "Fisheye" lenses are favorites of professional photographers: their quirky, convex perspective gives a fun creative punch to shots of kids, pets and more. The SX130 IS creates a Fisheye Effect without the need to attach a special lens--simply activate the mode, choose from three levels (low, medium and high) and shoot! Smart Flash Exposure determines the correct flash based on the shooting situation Smart Flash Exposure is a technology that uses the proper flash by analyzing a wide range of lighting conditions, and helps ensure against over or underexposed images. The detail and color of your photo remain intact and truer to life even in challenging lighting. Advanced Smart AUTO selects from 28 predefined shooting situations Just set the Canon PowerShot SX130 IS to Smart AUTO and you're ready for maximum enjoyment from your picture taking every time. It's a relaxing and satisfying way to shoot because you can completely concentrate on your subject, knowing that the camera has the technical details covered. Advanced Canon technology intelligently analyzes your situation and shooting conditions. Then it automatically selects an appropriate setting from 28 specially defined settings. So whether you're photographing flowers, a captivating sunset, or your friends at the park, you can be confident that you're getting dramatic, memorable images. With 22 Shooting Modes including 12 Special Scene Modes, you're ready for whatever shot comes your way. Capture amazing detail with 12.1-megapixel resolution Powerful DIGIC 4 Image Processor with 12.1 megapixels The PowerShot SX130 IS is equipped with many of the same features as a higher-end camera: an ultra-powerful zoom, eye-popping resolution and advanced picture-improving technology. 12.1 Megapixels of resolution gives your photography incomparable depth and ensures that any section of any shot can be enlarged and cropped with no loss in quality when you edit the image even if you choose to print the image. It can create crisp, clear 13 x 19-inch posters. Canon's proprietary DIGIC Image Processors have long set its cameras apart from the competition, and the new DIGIC 4 sets the bar even higher. Faster, more accurate noise reduction delivers better image quality, even at high ISO speeds. Large 3.0-inch LCD with wide viewing angle The camera's high resolution (230,000 dots) 3.0-inch LCD gives you the big picture, whether you're shooting, reviewing or showing off your images. This high-resolution screen offers a crisp, clear picture to make shooting, playback and using the camera's menu functions especially convenient. Clear and bright, it also features Night Display for easy viewing in low light. AA battery power enables you to easily power up Conveniently, you don't need to worry about running out of batteries or having to recharge them. Since AA-size batteries can be purchased at any store, simply get new ones locally--wherever you go, no special power adapters or chargers are needed. What's in the Box PowerShot SX130 IS Camera body AA-size Alkaline Battery (x2) Wrist Strap WS-800 AV Cable AVC-DC400ST USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM ELPH S100 Sleek and Serious The PowerShot S100 is a sophisticated pocket-friendly point-and-shoot digital camera that has the power advanced users and enthusiasts need to create standout images. As with other PowerShot cameras, the compact PowerShot S100 incorporates all of the advanced Canon technologies that make capturing superb photos and video as easy as pressing a button. As automatic or manual as you need it to be, the PowerShot S100 is a serious photographic tool, which incorporates the Canon HS SYSTEM, now featuring the new DIGIC 5 Image Processor. The fast f/2.0 lens helps you tackle unfavorable lighting and capture breathtaking portraits with beautiful, shallow depth-of-field. 12.1 Megapixels ensure crisp, richly detailed images, and a 5x Optical Zoom provides an excellent all-around range to shoot near or far. Experience the Power Canon DIGIC 5 Image Processor The latest-generation Canon DIGIC 5 Image Processor brings phenomenal increases in processing speed and power. Improved chip architecture and algorithms deliver greatly expanded functionality with further refinement in image quality. Improved noise reduction produces clearer images when shooting in low light at high ISO speeds. Enhanced i-Contrast performance adjusts differences between light and dark areas to achieve even more natural-looking results. The faster processing speed also results in faster continuous shooting capability while maintaining full image quality. The DIGIC 5 Image Processor also makes possible a new, highly advanced automatic white balance system. Whereas conventional white balance makes an overall adjustment based on a single type of light source, the new Canon Multi-Area White Balance analyzes several areas of the image to determine whether different adjustments are needed, for example, for the main subject and the background. Noise Reduction Conventional Image Processor Sony DSC-WX9 - unrestricted power in a compact package. With powerful features like Full HD movie for high quality movies, low light performance for improved image clarity, 10 fps to capture the precise moment, and 3D still image capture for a new way to experience your pictures, you wouldn't believe something so compact could be this powerful. Sony DSC-WX9 Feature Highlights 16.1 Megapixel Back-illuminated “Exmor R” CMOS Image Sensor The DSC-WX9 features a 16.1 megapixel “Exmor R” CMOS image sensor that brings out the full resolving power of the camera's Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens to deliver extremely fast speed, high resolution, and stunning low-light sensitivity with improved image clarity and drastically reduced grain. In addition, the combined “Exmor R” CMOS sensor and BIONZ image processor delivers extremely fast 10fps, Anti Motion Blur, Hand-held Twilight and 1080i movie modes 3 . 3.0-inch XtraFine 3.0-inch XtraFine technology gives you deeper blacks and more color in your display, all while being thinner than most LCDs. Full HD 1080@60i Record crystal clear movies at the highest resolution available with capabilities for 60i in 1080 AVCHD 3 . This provides stunning, fast motion video with less distortion for playback on your HD TV. 3D still image and panorama Produce awe-inspiring images with 3D still image and 3D Sweep Panorama capabilities 4 . Photos will take on a new dimension of creative capabilities for viewing the world in a whole new way. iSweep Panorama With iSweep Panorama just press the shutter, pan the landscape and let the camera do the rest. It automatically links together each frame to produce a panoramic image. This model even detects faces and moving subjects to stitch intelligently different widths to help avoid subject distortion. Background Defocus DSLR photographs are often beautiful because they blur the background, putting the emphasis on the subject. Now our point-and-shoot cameras can deliver this signature DSLR benefit. The system takes two shots, identifies the background and applies a defocused background keeping the subject crisp and clear. Backlight Correction HDR Don't miss a single detail in high contrast shots. The built in backlight correction analyzes the image and automatically adjusts accordingly to give you a perfectly lit shot. Backlight Correction HDR helps correct for this by taking three pictures at different exposure settings and processing the best elements of each into a single image for more natural looking shots. Superior Auto Mode Get cleaner, more dynamic pictures and fewer missed shots. The camera automatically recognizes the correct scene mode, then quickly shoots and combines up to six shots to produce images with greater clarity, optimum dynamic range using backlight correction HDR technology and lower image noise using 6 shots layering technology. Superior Auto intelligently detects 36 scenes for still images and 44 scenes for movies, making it easy to get the best shot. Digital Zoom Capturing the right shot at the right moment has never been so easy. Digital zoom brings the action up close to get that perfect shot, every time. Optical SteadyShot image stabilization Optical SteadyShot image stabilization uses a built-in gyro sensor to detect camera shake and automatically shifts the lens to help prevent blur without sacrificing image quality. Soft Skin Mode Portrait subjects will love the results. Soft Skin mode recognizes skin tones and reduces the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles without affecting the rest of the shot. Natural Flash Conventional point-and-shoot camera flash shots just don't capture colors the way the eye sees them. Natural Flash mode takes a reference shot without flash and then uses that reference to correct the color, for far more lifelike images. Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens with 25mm equivalent wide 5x Optical Zoom The high-performance Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x optical zoom lens brings distant subjects closer for video recording as well as for outdoor, sports, and travel photos, and Close Focus shoots close-ups up to just under ½-inch from the subject. A wide angle of 25mm equivalent wide-angle lens allows you to take wider shots of the scene or group in crowded spaces. HDMI output The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a compact audio/video connector interface for transmitting uncompressed digital streams. HDMI connects digital audio/video sources such as a compatible camcorder, Blu-ray Disc player, a personal computer, a video game console, or an AV receiver to a compatible digital audio device and/or video monitor such as a digital television (DTV). Easily connect your Cyber-shot camera via HDMI cable to any compatible HDMI compatible device to easily enjoy and upload content 6 . Smile Shutter technology Smile Shutter technology captures a smile the moment it happens. Simply press the Smile Shutter button and the camera does the rest. You can also select adult and child priority and indicate the degree of Smile Detection Sensitivity. Intelligent Scene Recognition can be used together with Smile Shutter mode. This means that beautiful smiles can be captured with settings optimized for the particular scene, even in difficult conditions such as twilight and backlighting. Face Detection technology Sony's Face Detection technology can automatically distinguish between children and adults. Face Detection technology detects up to eight individual faces and adjusts flash, focus, exposure, and white balance to help deliver crisp, properly lit images of family and friends. Motion Detection Motion Detection, along with Face Motion Detection adjusts ISO sensitivity and increases the shutter speed when movement is detected, reducing blur in moving subjects and faces. Anti-blink Function It's frustrating to capture the perfect shot, only to review it later and discover subjects blinked during the photo. When the camera is set to Soft Snap, the Anti-blink function captures two images, recording only the photo with less squinting or blinking. If a blink is detected in other shooting modes, a warning will be displayed after you take the shot. Sweep Multi Angle Mode In Sweep Multi Angle mode, the camera takes 15 images at different angles as it sweeps across the scene. By tilting the camera during playback, the camera's Gyro Sensor detects motion and displays the image in a 3D-like view on the camera's LCD. Anti-Motion Blur Mode Capture cleaner and sharper images in low light for non landscape shots. When set in Anti-motion Blur Mode, the DSC-WX9 captures six images in a fraction of a second with higher shutter speed and combines the data from all six to create a single image of extraordinary detail and dramatically reduce subject blur, beyond the capability of traditional cameras. TransferJet technology TransferJet technology, developed by Sony and advanced and promoted by consortium of 18 other companies, allows you to transfer up to ten files between two TransferJet enabled devices just by touching their TransferJet logos together, without the hassle of hunting for cables or the complication of pairing 5 . Compatible with PC and MAC Systems The high definition, AVCHD, video captured with the DSC-WX9 can be used with the provided Picture Motion Browser software 1 for PC and iMovie (sold separately) for Mac systems². Includes Sony PMB (Picture Motion Browser) Software ver. 5.51 Sony Picture Motion Browser software offers a simple, intuitive way to transfer, sort, and view your video and still images on your compatible PC. In addition, multiple output options let you burn your memories to DVD using an external DVD burning device (sold separately), as well as take advantage of one click upload to a number of popular video and photo sharing sites (such as Facebook and Sony's Personal Space). Using the new 5.5 version also enables playback of 3D images taken on the Cyber-shot camera. Includes Sony PMB Portable software 2 With the pre-installed Picture Motion Browser (PMB) Portable software 2 the DSC-WX9 makes it easy to pre-select videos and images in the camera and conveniently upload them from the camera to a compatible PC and popular Internet sharing sites 7 without the need for any additional software or install. PMB requires Microsoft Windows XP SP3/ Windows Vista SP2/Windows 7 environments not supported. Not supported by Mac OS. Uploading directly to the web requires PMB Portable (ver 5.5) for Windows; (ver 1.3) for Mac software and USB cable (included), and PC with internet connectivity. Windows XP SP3 64-bit and Starter Edition and Windows Vista Starter Edition environments not supported. Movie recording is limited to 29 minute segments. 3D viewing requires 3D HDTV, a high speed HDMI cable (supporting at least 10.2 Gbps) connection and 3D glasses (all sold separately). TransferJet enabled media (sold separately) and TransferJet technology required in both devices. Interoperability and compatibility among TransferJet enabled devices may vary. HD Viewing requires an HD output adapter cable (VMC-MD3) and compatible HDTV, both sold separately. Requires compatible wireless access point(s). Some features may rely on Internet services. Sony DSC-W530 Shoot more life with the Sony DSC-W530. Capture landscapes with one touch using Sweep Panorama, get that perfect portrait with Smile Shutter, snap wider scenes with the 26mm wide angle lens, get high quality photos with 14.1 megapixels, and automatically get clear shots with SteadyShot image stabilization and iAuto; all in a sleek little design. Sony DSC-W530 Feature Highlights 14.1 Megapixel Super HAD CCD Image Sensor A powerful 14.1 megapixel ½.3-inch Super HAD CCD image sensor helps you capture gorgeous images with superb contrast and clarity down to the finest detail. With 14.1 megapixels, you can create stunning, photo-quality prints up to A3+ (13x19-inch) size, or crop your images and still come away with high resolution shots. 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD display (230k pixels) Generous 2.7-inch (230K pixels) Clear Photo LCD display features sharp, natural color that makes it easy to compose shots, read menus, and view photos, even in bright sunlight. Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens with 26mm equivalent wide 4x Optical Zoom The high-performance Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 4x optical zoom lens brings distant subjects closer for video recording as well as for outdoor, sports, and travel photos, and Close Focus shoots close-ups up to just under ½-inch from the subject. A wide angle of 26mm equivalent wide-angle lens allows you to take wider shots of the scene or group in crowded spaces. Sweep Panorama mode Reach beyond the traditional wide angle lens, and capture more breathtaking shots with Sweep Panorama Mode. Simply press the shutter button and sweep the camera in the desired direction and the camera continuously shoots at a high speed, then seamlessly stitches the images together with automatic position adjustment to create one stunning panoramic image. Available in wide and ultra-wide options, the camera can take panoramic shots of up to 268 degrees. Now capturing wide landscapes is as easy as press and sweep. SteadyShot image stabilization SteadyShot image stabilization compensates for camera shake and helps prevent blur through use of digital processing technologies. Intelligent Auto Mode Unlike traditional auto mode, Intelligent Auto (iAuto) mode thinks for you, recognizing scenes, lighting conditions, faces, and adjusts settings resulting clear images, faces with natural skin tone and less blur. Take advantage of all the technology without leaving Auto mode. Kids on the playground, landscape shots, a beautiful flower or an indoor birthday party; all result in clear images without leaving auto mode. Face Detection technology Face Detection technology detects up to eight individual faces and adjusts focus, exposure, and white balance to help deliver crisp, properly lit images of family and friends. Smile Shutter technology Smile Shutter technology captures a smile the moment it happens. Simply press the Smile Shutter button and the camera does the rest. You can also select adult and child priority and indicate the degree of Smile Detection Sensitivity. Intelligent Scene Recognition can now be used together with Smile Shutter mode when the Intelligent Auto mode is on. This means that beautiful smiles can be captured with settings optimized for the particular scene, even in difficult conditions such as twilight and backlighting. 480p AVI VGA Movie Mode 4 In 480p AVI movie mode the camera shoots 640 x 480 movies at 30 fps, which is the format when working with a PC. Users will create movies in files small enough to transfer to compatible PC or Mac. Once transferred to your computer effortlessly upload media to popular photo and video-sharing websites such as Photobucket and YouTube. (Compatible computer with internet capability required) Soft Skin mode Portrait subjects will love the results. Soft Skin mode recognizes skin tones and reduces the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles without affecting the rest of the shot. Natural Flash Conventional point-and-shoot camera flash shots just don't capture colors the way the eye sees them. Natural Flash mode takes a reference shot without flash and then uses that reference to correct the color, for far more lifelike images. Self-Portrait Timer Self-Portrait Timer helps take the guesswork out of self portraits by utilizing Face Detection technology to recognize when your face enters the frame. Once the camera detects your face, it triggers a 2-second timer, and then snaps a picture. Anti-blink Function It's frustrating to capture the perfect shot, only to review it later and discover subjects blinked during the photo. The Anti-blink function works to help counter blinking and squinting. When the camera is set to Soft Snap, the Anti-blink function captures two images, recording only the photo with less squinting. If a blink is detected in other shooting modes, a warning will be displayed after you take the shot. Dynamic Range Optimizer Standard and Plus Dynamic Range Optimizer (DRO) Standard and Plus uses a sophisticated algorithm to help recover shadows and highlights. The result is more natural images with clearer details that more closely match what your naked eye sees. DRO is particularly effective when shooting backlit portraits or any scene with a dramatic contrast between background and foreground lighting. DRO Plus allows for even greater optimization by analyzing each region of an image and performing additional image processing. Intelligent Scene Recognition (iSCN) Mode Intelligent Scene Recognition (iSCN) Mode automatically detects eight different types of scenes and, within just 1/30th of a second, selects the appropriate camera settings: Backlight, Backlight Portrait, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Twilight using a tripod, Portrait, Landscape and macro. iSCN has two modes: Auto and Advanced. In Auto Mode, the camera takes a single shot using the optimal settings. In Advanced Mode, the camera takes a photo with the optimal settings and, if in difficult lighting (low light or back light) immediately takes a second photo with another optimized setting so you can choose which to keep. High Sensitivity Mode (ISO 3200) High ISO allows for faster shutter speed, so you can take photos indoors or in low light without the need for a flash. In addition to High Sensitivity Mode (ISO), you can select up to seven ISO settings (Auto, 125, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200) when shooting in Program Auto Mode to adjust sensitivity to your shooting conditions. Easy Shooting Mode With Easy Shooting Mode, even beginners can take great photos. In Easy Shooting Mode, easy-to-understand basic instructions are displayed on the LCD screen and the camera switches to all automatic settings, removing several function choices and allowing you to focus on just your subject. Since this mode works together with Intelligent Scene Recognition, the camera selects the optimum setting for each scene. In addition the easy mode simplifies preview mode. Includes Sony PMB (Picture Motion Browser) Software ver. 5.3 1 Sony Picture Motion Browser software offers a simple, intuitive way to transfer, sort, and view your video and still images on your compatible PC. In addition, multiple output options let you burn your memories to DVD (sold separately), as well as take advantage of one click upload to a number of popular video and photo sharing sites 3 . Includes Sony PMBP (Picture Motion Browser Portable) software 2 With the pre-installed Picture Motion Browser (PMB) Portable software 2 the DSC-W530 makes it easy to pre-select videos and images in the camera and conveniently upload them from the camera to a compatible PC and popular Internet sharing site 3 without the need for any additional software or install. PMB requires Microsoft Windows XP SP3/ Windows Vista SP2/Windows 7. Not supported by Mac OS. Uploading directly to the web requires PMB Portable (ver 5.2) for Windows; (ver 1.2) for Mac software and USB cable (included), and PC with internet connectivity. Windows XP SP3 64-bit and Starter Edition and Windows Vista Starter Edition environments not supported. Requires compatible wireless access point(s). Some features may rely on Internet services. Movie recording is limited to (29min segments for AVI) Replacing the Foscam FI8908W, the FI8918W is this latest camera from Foscam. The FI8918W is a wireless or wired, pan/tilt IP camera solution for indoor use. It combines a high quality digital video camera, remote pan/tilt ability with network connectivity and a powerful web server to bring clear video to your desktop or smartphone from anywhere on your local network or over the Internet. The high quality video image is transmitted with 30fps speed on the LAN/WAN by using MJPEG hardware compression technology. The image resultion is 640 x 480 (300k Pixels). The Foscam FI8918W camera is based on the TCP/IP standard. The control, management and maintenance of the camera is done simply by using your browser to remotely configure and upgrade the firmware. The Foscam FI8918W IP camera can reach up to 8 meters of visibility in absolute darkness with 11 infrared LED's. Meet the new Nikon D7000, a camera ready to go wherever your photography or cinematography takes you. Experience stunning images with sharp resolution and smooth tonal gradation, thanks to the 16-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor and a powerful EXPEED 2 image processing engine. Take advantage of its wide ISO range of 100 to 6400 (expandable to 25,600) and its incredibly low levels of noise. Expect your images tack-sharp and accurately exposed, thanks to the camera’s 39-point AF and Scene Recognition System using a 2,016-pixel RGB matrix metering sensor. And with an approx. 0.052-second release time lag and approx. 6 frames-per-second shooting, you won’t miss a moment. Feast your eyes on an updated G Series digital camera: The G12. It's ready to impress the advanced amateurs who have always celebrated the G Series. The G12 is still loaded with powerful technologies that has made the G Series cameras so renowned, like the Canon HS SYSTEM, 2.8-inch Vari-angle PureColor System LCD, and RAW + JPEG image modes. Now, this flagship camera paves the way with these new upgrades like 720p HD Video with stereo sound to get crystal clear footage, multiple aspect ratios, High Dynamic Range, Electronic Level, Tracking AF, a Front Dial and much more to give you even more creative control than before! Canon PowerShot G12 Highlights 10.0 Megapixel sensor combined with the DIGIC 4 Image Processor creates Canon's HS SYSTEM The PowerShot G12 employs the HS SYSTEM by combining a powerful 10.0 Megapixel CCD sensor and Canon's DIGIC 4 Image Processor. Thanks to this technological advancement, the G12 is dramatically more sensitive than cameras with identical megapixel counts, and delivers spectacular images with minimal noise. Increased sensitivity demands a higher ISO speed, and the PowerShot G12 delivers with a new maximum setting of ISO 3200. Blur and camera shake are notably reduced for the ultimate in sharpness and clarity. In addition, a new Low Light mode lets you capture images in an astonishing range of conditions. The camera automatically adjusts the ISO speed from ISO 320 to ISO 12800 in relation to ambient brightness, subject movement and camera shake. Shoot 720p HD video in stereo sound and play back on an HDTV via the HDMI output The PowerShot G12 lets you record video in beautiful high definition (1280 x 720 pixels). The camera also makes it easy to enjoy HD videos (and still photos) on your HDTV with a mini-HDMI connector for direct connection to a high-definition TV monitor. You'll enjoy the HD experience with no degradation of image or audio in the signal, plus the ability to display up to 130 still images at once. The PowerShot G12 also includes spectacular video functionality. When shooting video, you can get up close with the 5x Optical Zoom for riveting detail and realism, from the overall appearance to facial expressions! And the camera's Smart AUTO technology that helps ensure the perfect still image works to bring that same quality to your video. Shooting and recording modes including RAW + JPEG The PowerShot G12's RAW mode lets you shoot images without JPEG compression. It gives you clearer images and complete creative control in editing. RAW images are transferred directly to the computer where they can then be edited using image adjustment software or a processing application to adjust your images as you please. The camera can also be set to allow the simultaneous recording of both RAW and JPEG images while shooting. Canon's Hybrid IS compensates for angular and shift camera shake during close-up shooting The PowerShot G12 is equipped with Canon's highly advanced Hybrid IS function, which corrects camera shake from two sources to deliver sharp, blur-free images even when you zoom in close to your subject. Hybrid IS employs both an angular sensor and an accelerometer, enabling it to suppress both the blur caused by the angle of the camera and the "shift blur" that happens when your subject moves parallel to the camera, a problem that is especially noticeable at large zoom factors. With the ability to produce clear, steady images in all situations and at any zoom length, the PowerShot G12 is the camera you'll want to take everywhere. 2.8-inch Vari-angle LCD with 461,000 dots plus an optical viewfinder The PowerShot G12 gives you a large 2.8-inch PureColor System LCD screen for excellent control when framing your shots. But size is only part of the story. Canon's PureColor System LCD offers spectacular color, resolution and contrast even at an angle. The screen is durable and easy to see. It is a perfect feature for gathering friends and family around to see your images. 5x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer, plus a 28mm Wide-Angle Lens The camera is equipped with a long, 5x Optical Zoom, and Canon's own Optical Image Stabilizer Technology keeps images steady and blur-free all through the zoom range--even in low light--by detecting motion and generating a corrective signal. Because it is an optical system, more corrective movement is allowed and there is no degradation of image quality. The G12 is a highly versatile camera with a wide-angle zoom lens that reaches all the way from 28mm at the wide end to 140mm at the telephoto end (35mm format equivalent). You'll capture more image in every shot, and add greater depth to your overall photography. Optional accessories including Speedlite flashes, underwater housing and Tele-Converter Lens are available The PowerShot G12 is compatible with the Speedlite flash series intended for all EOS series SLR cameras. Attach a Speedlite flash to the hot shoe, then you can set and control the flash on the "Flash Control" menu in the camera. With a Speedlight, the G12 is given extra functions such as autoflash metering, FE lock and Flash exposure compensation; continuous shooting with external flash. Also Canon's Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 enables you to have multiple slave flashes and wireless control. A Tele-Converter lens designed for the G12, Filter Adapter FA-DC58B and WP-DC34 Waterproof Case is also available. High Dynamic Range scene mode combines multiple shots into one picture Shooting in high contrast environments can often result in photos with overexposed and underexposed sections. So to tackle this problem, Canon developed the High Dynamic Range shooting mode to make select PowerShot cameras even more intuitive. Under High Dynamic Range* the camera will shoot three different exposures in a succession (underexposed, overexposed and normal) and then merge them into a single image. Underexposed areas are combined with the overexposed and vice versa, resulting in an evenly detailed image with flattering shadows and highlights. *Tripod is required. What's in the Box PowerShot G12 Camera body Lithium-ion Battery Pack NB-7L Battery Charger CB-2LZ Neck Strap NS-DC9 AV Cable AVC-DC400ST USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM High Resolution Still Capture 18.0 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor and DIGIC 4 Image Processor for high image quality and speed. The EOS Rebel T3i has an 18.0 Megapixel CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor that captures images with exceptional clarity and tonal range and offers more than enough resolution for big enlargements or crops. This first-class sensor features many of the same new technologies as used by professional Canon cameras to maximize each pixel's light-gathering efficiency. Its APS-C size sensor creates an effective 1.6x field of view (compared to 35mm format). DIGIC 4 Image Processor The Canon DIGIC 4 Image Processor dramatically speeds up the entire EOS Rebel T3i DSLR's camera operations for intuitive operation and offers improvements in both fine detail and natural color reproduction. It works in concert with the EOS Rebel T3i DSLR's CMOS Image Sensor to achieve phenomenal levels of performance in nearly any situation. Amazing Results, No Matter the Light. ISO 100 - 6400 (expandable to 12800) for shooting from bright to dim light. The EOS Rebel T3i features an expanded ISO range that makes shooting possible in situations previously unthinkable without flash. With an ISO rating up to 6400 (expandable to ISO 12800), along with the DIGIC 4 Image Processor's improved noise-reduction technology, creative possibilities abound. Combine the EOS Rebel T3i with one of Canon's EF or EF-S lenses with Optical Image Stabilizer and the shooting possibilities for both movies and stills expand even further. HD Dreams Come True. Improved EOS Full HD Movie mode with manual exposure control, expanded recording [1920 x 1080 Full HD video at frame rates of 30 (29.97), 24 (23.976) and 25.0 frames per second] with new Movie Digital zoom and Video Snapshot features for enhanced video shooting options. The EOS Rebel T3i does not just shoot video clips, it offers the enhanced ease-of-use, image quality, smooth frame rates and adaptive exposure compensation necessary in a professional video-making tool by boasting the most advanced EOS video capturing features to date: When Full HD (1920 x 1080) is set, you can use Movie Digital Zoom to magnify the center of the image by 3-10x while at the same time maintaining gorgeous Canon Full HD image quality. With the Video Snapshot feature, the EOS Rebel T3i DSLR will capture short video clips (of 2, 4 or 8 seconds) then combine them automatically into one video file as a snapshot or highlights “album.” With no editing needed after shooting, the compiled video is perfect for sharing online or displaying directly on an HDTV via the camera's HDMI port. In addition to a number of different recording size and frame rate modes, the EOS Rebel T3i enables easy manual control of exposure, focus and Live View features and even allows for in-camera editing. The large CMOS sensor and compatibility with over 60 lenses provide a wealth of depth-of-field options. And it's all as easy as the press of a button — the EOS Rebel T3i has a dedicated Live View/Movie Recording start/stop button that gets the shooting started fast. Three Recording Sizes Full HD Video is captured at 1920 x 1080 resolution at 30p (29.97), 24p (23.976) or 25p frames per second, for up to 4GB per clip. Video are saved as .MOV files and can be viewed in Full HD with HDMI output. Other recording sizes include HD at 1280 x 720 (50p/60p (59.94) fps) or SD/VGA at 640 x 480 (30p (29.97) and 25p fps). Low Angles or High, a Big Vari-angle LCD Captures All the Details. Vari-angle 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor (3:2) for shooting at high or low angles and 1,040,000-dot VGA with reflection reduction using multi coating and high-transparency materials for bright and clear viewing. The EOS Rebel T3i features a bright, high resolution, flip-out Vari-angle 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor for shooting at a variety of angles. By simply rotating the monitor, you can hold the camera directly overhead for above-the-crowd shots at concerts, or hold the camera at a low angle for kids and pets. By rotating the LCD monitor fully, the EOS Rebel T3i becomes the ideal camera for self-portraits. The EOS Rebel T3i freely enables easy angle adjustments even if the camera is mounted on a tripod or has a battery grip attached. Model used is not EOS Rebel T3i and is used to illustrate vari-angle feature only. With 1,040,000 (dots/VGA) pixels for spectacular detail, the advanced, smudge-resistant monitor includes high transparency materials plus anti-reflective and water-repellant coatings to provide clear and bright viewing. Superb for reviewing, editing and deleting photos or composing new images in Live View function, the Vari-angle Clear View LCD monitor is also the perfect means for accessing camera settings like ISO, metering modes, AF Point selection, the horizontal Electronic Level and flash options. Automatic Scene Analysis for Standout Color. New Scene Intelligent Auto mode and Picture Style Auto incorporating the new EOS Scene Detection System to capture beautiful scenes with ease. The EOS Rebel T3i DSLR's new Scene Intelligent Auto mode unites five Canon digital camera technologies - the new Picture Style Auto, plus Automatic Lighting Optimizer, Automatic White Balance, Autofocus, and Automatic Exposure -into a powerful new feature for photographers. Using the advanced EOS Scene Detection System, the camera automatically analyzes the image, taking into account faces, colors, brightness, movement and contrast. Scene Intelligent Auto then chooses the enhancing features to deliver maximum impact. Blues and greens are more vivid, “hot” colors are more fiery, and skin tones are smooth and truer to life. Intelligent Scene Analysis for Superb Exposure. Enhanced metering with a 63-zone, Dual-layer metering system for accurate metering between exposures, and 9-point AF system utilizing a high precision, f/2.8 cross-type center point. The EOS Rebel T3i features a sophisticated, 63-zone Dual-layer sensor designed to complement the 9-point AF system. By taking into account the color and luminosity surrounding chosen AF points, this system delivers an advanced level of accuracy for better results even in difficult lighting situations. Since the metering sensor has a color measurement function, exposure errors and focus errors caused by different light sources are minimized; the EOS Rebel T3i gives stable exposure from shot to shot in situations where light changes, such as in a theater or concert hall. This makes the EOS Rebel T3i ideal for scenes with extreme difference in brightness such as brightly lit scenes or backlit scenes; the camera balances exposure of the main subject at the background, and exposures are not overly influenced by bright areas in the shot. Since the EOS Rebel T3i provides high-speed X-sync (“X-sync” means the fastest shutter speed that can synchronize with a flash burst at the moment the shutter is fully released) up to 1/200 sec., the range of photographic expression is dramatically increased, allowing the EOS Rebel T3i to be used with confidence in bright scenes or dim. 63-zone Metering System Make Your Images As You See Them. Express your creativity with advanced imaging features like Basic+ function, Multi-Aspect function and Creative Filters. Basic+ is a new creative imaging feature that makes it easy to create the image effects you want. It can be set with the Quick Control screen in Basic Zone modes. Basic+ provides two options: Shoot by ambience selection Based on the Picture Style and its parameters (sharpness, contrast, saturation, and color tone), the exposure compensation and white balance correction are adjusted to attain the selected ambience. You can also can also select the strength of the ambience effect. Shoot by lighting or scene type Although the actual parameter set is the white balance, the settings are expressed in more understandable terms. The Multi-Aspect Function of the EOS Rebel T3i lets you express an image in one of three ways by matching the aspect ratio to each scene. In addition to the camera's standard 3:2 ration, the Multi-Aspect Function includes a 1:1 ratio that creates the sensation that the viewer's gaze is focusing upon the center of the image. At the 4:3 ratio, you get nearly the same aspect ratio as a regular TV or a 4:3 computer display. The 16:9 aspect ratio provides a wide look, much the same as HDTV. The EOS Rebel T3i incorporates five in-camera Creative Filters so you can artistically manipulate scenes without the aid of an outside computer. Soft Focus lends a dreamy, romantic aspect, while Grainy Black and White gives a dramatically gritty, hard-bitten look. Miniature Effect creates an illusion in which expansive subjects are seemingly reduced to doll-house-like proportions, and Toy Camera Effect recreates the colors and softness rendered by cameras with a plastic lens, an effect often sought after by art photographers. Fish Eye Effect mimics the “Fisheye” lenses that are favorites of professional photographers for their quirky, convex perspective. Never Miss a Moment. 3.7 fps continuous shooting up to approximately 34 JPEGs or approximately 6 RAW. The EOS Rebel T3i can shoot up to 3.7 frames per second (fps) for up to approximately 6 consecutive RAW files or approximately 34 full-resolution JPEGs. Shooting at speeds of up to 1/4000 sec., the EOS Rebel T3i can capture even rapidly-unfolding scenes with ease. Photography Made Truly Easy. New Feature Guide offers short descriptions of each function and Quick Control screen for easy operation. The Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR demystifies great photography by including an in-camera Feature Guide. Appearing on the camera's LCD, the Feature Guide displays a simple description or advice for the respective function. It is displayed in each shooting mode, during Mode Dial operations, and for Quick Control screen functions (during normal shooting, Live View shooting, movie shooting, and playback). The Feature Guide appears automatically during Mode Dial operations and when a function is selected on the Quick Control screen. Flexible Storage with Memory Cards. Compatibility with SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. The EOS Rebel T3i uses popular SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards. Compact, inexpensive and available in increasingly large capacities, SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards are a perfect complement to the EOS Rebel T3i DSLR's compact and lightweight body design. Additionally, the EOS Rebel T3i is compatible with Eye-Fi* SD cards, which are outfitted with a Wi-Fi transmitter (IEEE 802.11b/g) and an internal antenna for wireless, high-speed transfer of images. With an Eye-Fi card installed, the EOS Rebel EOS Rebel T3i can display the Eye-Fi's connection status and error notes with ease, for fully functional wireless uploading of images directly from the camera. *Canon cameras are not guaranteed to support Eye-Fi card functions, including wireless transfer. In case of an issue with the Eye-Fi card, please consult with the card manufacturer. The use of Eye-Fi cards may not be available outside the United States and Canada; please contact the card manufacturer for territory availability. The Best Optics for the Best Images. Compatible with the full line of Canon EF and EF-S lenses. EF Lenses The EOS Rebel T3i is compatible with all Canon lenses in the EF lineup, including compact and lightweight EF-S lenses, ranging from ultra-wide angle to super telephoto lenses. Canon lenses employ advanced optical expertise and micron-precision engineering to deliver outstanding performance and deliver beautiful results. Special technologies like the Canon Image Stabilizer technology in select lenses helps to minimize the effect of camera shake, effectively adding up to four stops of light. With a dizzying array of lenses perfect for travel, sports, still life and everything in between, photographers can truly maximize the quality and performance of their EOS Rebel T3i with superlative Canon optics. Flash Photography With a flash sync speed of 1/200 of a second, the EOS Rebel T3i also features the acclaimed E-TTL II flash metering system. With any of the flashes in the EX Speedlite line, E-TTL II provides reliable flash output whether shooting fill-in flash pictures in sunlight, or using flash in total darkness. With E-TTL II, the exact same 35-zone metering sensor used for measuring ambient light is also used for flash metering — giving even finer metering command of the image area. If you prefer a broader area for flash metering, there's a menu setting to change to “Average” flash metering — where the entire 35-zone area is measured evenly for flash exposure. Additionally, the EOS Rebel T3i has a Speedlite transmitter built-in for convenient, full-featured wireless control of EX-series Speedlite flashes set as slave units. The Canon Speedlite 430EX II is the ideal step-up accessory for powerful flash shooting with the EOS Rebel T3i. It has excellent flash power (maximum guide number of 141 ft./43m at ISO 100), and is the perfect way to get great flash pictures when you can't get right up to the subject. The 430EX II is also great for bounce flash, with its tilting and swiveling flash head. It automatically zooms the flash head to cover lenses ranging from 16mm up to 105mm or longer with the EOS Rebel T3i. Of course, it works with the camera to provide full E-TTL II automatic flash exposure. And the 430EX II has a powerful AF-assist beam, which allows the camera to autofocus even in total darkness on subjects as far as 32 ft. from the camera. Speedlite 430EX II Nikon's affordable, compact and lightweight D3100 digital SLR features a high-resolution 14-megapixel CMOS DX sensor, high-quality 3x NIKKOR 18-55mm VR image stabilization zoom lens and intuitive onboard assistance including the learn-as-you grow Guide Mode. Capture beautiful pictures and amazing Full HD 1080p movies with sound and full-time autofocus. Easily capture the action other cameras miss with a fast start up time, split-second shutter release, 3 frames per second shooting and 11-point autofocus. Capture 3 frames per second for fast action shooting. Capture pictures and make movies in near darkness with an ISO range of 100 to 3200 (expandable to 12800-Hi2). EXPEED 2, Nikon's new image processing engine, assures breathtakingly rich image quality, managing color, contrast, exposure and noise. One-touch Live View and movie recording lets you see the action on the 3-inch monitor and the Scene Recognition System automatically chooses the ideal settings. You can also select from 6 Automatic Exposure Scene Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close-up or Night Portrait for stunning results in otherwise challenging conditions. Active D-Lighting restores picture-enhancing detail in shadows and highlights. A built-in pop-up flash is ready for those times when there just isn't enough light and in-camera image editing allows creative freedom and effects, without the need for a computer. Nikon D3100 Highlights Easy-to-use Guide Mode walks you through the settings you need for the shot you want. 14.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS Image Sensor Delivers beautiful photographs and prints well beyond 20 x 30 inches. Includes 3x 18-55mm Zoom-NIKKOR VR Image Stabilization Lens Included lens offers the legendary NIKKOR optical quality and fast, accurate autofocus for vivid color, striking contrast and crisp detail and VR image stabilization to ensure the sharpest hand-held pictures and movies. Full 1080p HD Cinematic Video Features full-time autofocus and sound; record cinematic-quality movies in Full 1080p HD format (1920 x 1080 pixels). Easy-To-Use The D3100 features Nikon's Guide Mode with intuitive controls and on-board assistance helping you take better pictures every step of the way. Compact and Lightweight Design Beautifully styled--ready to go wherever life takes you. Split-second Shutter Response Eliminates the frustration of shutter delay, capturing moments that other cameras miss. Fast 11-point Autofocus System Delivers razor-sharp pictures. ISO sensitivity 100-3200, expandable to ISO 12800 equivalent Delivers exceptional results, even in the most challenging low-light situations. 3-inch monitor Features One-Touch Live View shooting and movie capture. Scene Auto Selector Lets the D3100 decide the best mode to match the shooting situation when using Live View. EXPEED 2 Nikon's new image processing engine assures breathtakingly rich image quality, managing color, contrast, exposure, noise and speed. Scene Recognition System in Live View Automatically optimizes exposure, autofocus, and white balance, allowing you to obtain beautiful photos without the hassle of making complicated camera adjustments yourself. 6 Automatic Exposure Scene Modes Just set the Mode dial to Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close-up or Night Portrait for stunning results in otherwise challenging conditions. Active D-Lighting Restores picture-enhancing detail in shadows and highlights. D-Lighting in action. Picture Control Choose from Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, or Landscape to apply a personal look and feel to your pictures. Automatic Image Sensor Cleaning Ultrasonic process and exclusive Airflow Control combats the accumulation of dust in front of the image sensor, safeguarding image quality shot after shot. Built-in pop-up flash Perfect for those times when there isn't enough light. In-camera Image Editing Allows creative freedom, without the need for a computer, offering easy editing functions. Compatible Lenses AF-S and AF-I: All functions supported Type G or D AF NIKKOR without built-in autofocus motor: All functions except autofocus supported. IX NIKKOR lenses not supported. Other AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D color matrix metering II. Lenses for F3AF not supported. Type D PC NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and some shooting modes. AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D color matrix metering II. Non-CPU: Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function. Note: Electronic rangefinder can be used if lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster. What's in the Box D3100 digital SLR camera body; AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens; EN-EL14 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, MH-24 Battery Charger, DK-5 Eyepiece Cap, DK-20 Rubber Eyecap, AN-DC3 Camera Strap, BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cover, BF-1B Body Cap, ViewNX 2 CD-ROM Top Reviews

Top Reviews

All Products


Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digit
Canon SX30IS 14.1MP Digital Camera with 3
Kodak EasyShare Sport C123 (Blue) (New Mo
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H70 16.1 MP Digital S
Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera
Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP CMOS Digital S
Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 MP Digital C
Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camer
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WX9 16.2 MP Exmor R C
Sony's Cyber-Shot DSC-W530 14.1 MP Digita
Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digit
Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital
Canon G12 10 MP Digital Camera with 5x Op
Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SL
Nikon COOLPIX P300 12.2 CMOS Digital Came
Nikon COOLPIX L24 14 MP Digital Camera wi
Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digit
Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera wit

Reviews



Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and DIGIC 4 Imaging with EF-S 18-135mm IS f/3.5-5.6 Standard Zoom Lens (Electronics)

reviews:
Canon T3i vs Nikon D5100 on July 12, 2011
First time DSLR owner on March 19, 2011
A dSLR to grow with me... on June 24, 2011


Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Silver) (Electronics)

reviews:
Why to get the silver one instead of the black one on July 27, 2011
A Sweet Point And Shoot Camera on June 11, 2011


Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WX9 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080/60i Video (Black) (Electronics)

reviews:
Excellent camera for the price on April 16, 2011
Amazing camera for the price! on May 6, 2011


Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm IS II Lens and EOS HD Movie Mode (Black) (Electronics)

reviews:
Decent but has some flaws on May 25, 2011
Great camera! on April 17, 2011
Love it! on April 8, 2011
Great camera for first-time SLR owners on May 27, 2011
Great walk-around or travel DSLR on June 7, 2011
I LOVE IT! on April 8, 2011
Great bang for the buck on August 23, 2011
Amazing results for the beginner on September 3, 2011
I'd recommend this camera to DSLR newbies. on July 23, 2011


Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens (Electronics)

reviews:
Deciding Between the Nikon D5100, D7000, D3100, and D90 on April 18, 2011
It's a good camera with a few reservations (especailly the HDR feature) on April 24, 2011
Nice DSLR! Great images! on April 25, 2011
Outstanding Camera on April 23, 2011
Nikon D5100 vs Canon T3i on July 13, 2011
If image quality is your highest priority on June 1, 2011
Great Simple DSLR on May 1, 2011


Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and DIGIC 4 Imaging (Body Only) (Electronics)

reviews:
Choosing between the T3i, T2i, 60D and 7D on February 27, 2011
Quite pleased with the Canon T3i on May 4, 2011


Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3.0-Inch LCD (Electronics)

reviews:
A Fantastic Compact Zoom Choice on December 12, 2010
Amazing Straight From The Box on August 31, 2010
Superb mini all-rounder on November 1, 2010
Great Camera, nice and clear! on September 3, 2010
A Terrific Travel Camera on December 7, 2010
Very close to perfect... on September 23, 2010
Amazing camera for the money.. on September 4, 2010
Holy Macro! on December 12, 2010


Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WX9 16.1 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080/60i Video (Red) (Electronics)

reviews:
Excellent camera for the price on April 17, 2011


Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Silver) (Electronics)

reviews:
Why to get the silver one instead of the black one on July 27, 2011
A Sweet Point And Shoot Camera on June 11, 2011


Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens (Electronics)

reviews:
Nikon D3100 VS. D300 VS. D700 on September 23, 2010
D70 Upgrade on October 1, 2010
All good things come in small packages! How true for Nikon D3100! on September 23, 2010
Takes excellent pictures and gets out of the way while doing it on November 14, 2010
First time DSLR buyer. on December 11, 2010
Nikon D3100 - An Excellent DSLR For The Entry-Level Photographer on February 23, 2011
Forget all the others on November 19, 2010


Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera (Black) (Electronics)

reviews:
Wonderful compact camera with hd video on March 19, 2011
Awesome Pocket Camera on March 10, 2011
Another great Canon product! on March 29, 2011
Great camera if it's what you're looking for on March 19, 2011


Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Red) (Electronics)

reviews:
Awesome Point and Shoot on March 14, 2011


Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera (Black) (Electronics)

reviews:
Wonderful compact camera with hd video on March 19, 2011
Awesome Pocket Camera on March 10, 2011
Another great Canon product! on March 29, 2011
Great camera if it's what you're looking for on March 19, 2011


Nikon COOLPIX P300 12.2 CMOS Digital Camera with 4.2x f/1.8 NIKKOR Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080p Video (Black) (Electronics)

reviews:
Returned the LX5 & S95...kept the P300 on March 29, 2011
If video as well as stills are important to you on April 5, 2011
Excellent low-light pictures and HD video! on April 13, 2011
makes a great carry camera. on April 27, 2011
A really good point and shoot on March 31, 2011
Amazing little camera on April 26, 2011
Nikon P300 on May 11, 2011
Why I picked Nikon P300 over Canon S100 and Lumix LX5 on September 16, 2011


Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 3.0-Inch LCD and 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens (Electronics)

reviews:
Great Camera -- A perspective from a D300/700 Owner on October 24, 2010
Simply Superb -- and that's from a D700 owner... on October 27, 2010
Incredible NIkon, Worth the Wait on October 16, 2010


Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Red) (Electronics)

reviews:
Awesome Point and Shoot on March 14, 2011


Kodak EasyShare Sport C123 (Red) (New Model) (Electronics)

reviews:
If you want a "cheap and cheerful" waterproof camera, this one is great on July 10, 2011
Unbelievable value on June 12, 2011


Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and DIGIC 4 Imaging with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Electronics)

reviews:
Choosing between the T3i, T2i, 60D and 7D on February 27, 2011
Busy Mom/The Family Photographer - T3i a great intro dSLR on March 21, 2011
a high end for DSLR beginners! on February 28, 2011
Works great! Amazing in low light and awesome video recording. on March 3, 2011


Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Electronics)

reviews:
Excellent image quality, full controls and pocketable on September 9, 2010
Great camera and upgrade to superb S90 on September 5, 2010
Wow! What an improvement! on August 31, 2010
a little realism on November 13, 2010
Simply Superb on September 19, 2010
Simply Amazing on September 8, 2010


Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera (Black) (Electronics)

reviews:
Wonderful compact camera with hd video on March 19, 2011
Awesome Pocket Camera on March 10, 2011
Another great Canon product! on March 29, 2011
Great camera if it's what you're looking for on March 19, 2011


Nikon COOLPIX L24 14 MP Digital Camera with 3.6x NIKKOR Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LCD (Black) (Electronics)

reviews:
Good Compact Digital Camera on April 23, 2011
Terrific photos, easy to use on April 25, 2011


Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H70 16.1 MP Digital Still Camera with 10x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom G Lens and 3.0-inch LCD (Black Bundle) (Electronics)

reviews:
Not all that I'd hoped, but okay on June 5, 2011


Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only) (Electronics)

reviews:
Great Camera -- A perspective from a D300/700 Owner on October 20, 2010
Cool things you might not know the D7000 can do on October 26, 2010
Best DX (cropped) Camera To Date; Amazing ISO Performance on October 21, 2010
D7000 vs. the D90 on February 15, 2011


Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WX9 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080/60i Video (Silver) (Electronics)

reviews:
Very nice cam for the price. on June 11, 2011
Excellent camera for the money on July 7, 2011
Best camera I've owned on June 14, 2011


Nikon COOLPIX L24 14 MP Digital Camera with 3.6x NIKKOR Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LCD (Red) (Electronics)

reviews:
Simple operation, clear photos on April 7, 2011
Terrific point & shoot camera on May 29, 2011
Pictures are fine but... on July 5, 2011
fantastic little camera! on July 1, 2011


Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Silver) (Electronics)

reviews:
Why to get the silver one instead of the black one on July 27, 2011
A Sweet Point And Shoot Camera on June 11, 2011


Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H70 16.1 MP Digital Still Camera with 10x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom G Lens and 3.0-inch LCD (Black) (Electronics)

reviews:
Typical Sony camera...GREAT! on April 8, 2011
Sony 16mp camera on April 14, 2011
Great for the price on May 1, 2011


Nikon COOLPIX L24 14 MP Digital Camera with 3.6x NIKKOR Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LCD (Silver) (Electronics)

reviews:
AWESOME camera! on April 30, 2011


Canon SX30IS 14.1MP Digital Camera with 35x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 Inch Wide LCD (Electronics)

reviews:
The pros and cons - mostly pros on October 19, 2010
Amazing camera! Well worth the wait!!! on October 11, 2010
I traded an EOS 7D for this! on May 8, 2011
Super-Zoom Shootout: Canon SX30 IS vs. Olympus SP-590UZ on November 20, 2010
It looks like a keeper... on October 11, 2010
Don't expect miracles with a small sensor on November 6, 2010


Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Red) (Electronics)

reviews:
Awesome Point and Shoot on March 14, 2011


Kodak EasyShare Sport C123 (Gray) (New Model) (Electronics)

reviews:
Extreme Surprised!! on June 1, 2011


Sony's Cyber-Shot DSC-W530 14.1 MP Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 4x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 2.7-inch LCD (Black) (Electronics)

reviews:
Review by actual owner - great little snapshot camera on April 19, 2011
Great camera for the price on July 4, 2011
Good little camera. on June 29, 2011
Great Camera on June 29, 2011
Great camera on August 7, 2011
Takes good pictures on September 12, 2011
Great small camera! on August 7, 2011


Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H70 16.1 MP Digital Still Camera with 10x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom G Lens and 3.0-inch LCD (Red Bundle) (Electronics)

reviews:
A Great Portable Camera on May 21, 2011


Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch Vari-Angle LCD Monitor (Body Only) (Electronics)

reviews:
Nikon D7000 Sensor for $400 cheaper on May 23, 2011


Kodak EasyShare Sport C123 (Blue) (New Model) (Electronics)

reviews:
Great camera for the price! on April 29, 2011
Very nice for the price on May 25, 2011
For the price, it's twice as nice on June 20, 2011


Canon G12 10 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.8 Inch Vari-Angle LCD (Electronics)

reviews:
Fantastic tool for serious photographers - but not perfect. on October 2, 2010
Not a toy, excellent photo quality for a serius photographer on October 12, 2010
Feast your eyes on an upgraded G series digital camera! on October 5, 2010
Most impressive! on November 5, 2010
The Canon G12 for advanced photography on January 8, 2011
Just what I ws looking for on November 21, 2010


Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H70 16.1 MP Digital Still Camera with 10x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom G Lens and 3.0-inch LCD (Blue) (Electronics)

reviews:
crystal clear pictures & mom friendly on March 16, 2011
Almost Perfect..... on April 12, 2011

Featured Reviews



Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and DIGIC 4 Imaging with EF-S 18-135mm IS f/3.5-5.6 Standard Zoom Lens (Electronics)

First time DSLR owner

by: MacMaven234 (Los Angeles, CA)

I'm not worthy to be a serious reviewer of this product, as I'm just learning what all the photo jargon means. Let me just say excellent professional looking shots are pretty easy with this camera, and I highly recommend it to anyone thinking of purchasing an SLR camera. I love the 18-135mm lens, as...

Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Silver) (Electronics)

Awesome Point and Shoot

by: Keith Corbin

This is a point and shoot class camera, if you understand that going in, you are going to be more than impressed with it. I'm going from an SD630 and hands down, this beats it. I even had an SX210IS and these images are on par with it, if not better. I had to return my SX210IS as it had issues with dust on the ima...

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WX9 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080/60i Video (Black) (Electronics)

Excellent camera for the price

by: Hitman (Houston, Texas)

I currently own a D90 but decided to buy this camera for occasions not convenient to carry a bulky camera. I have used this camera during last weekend shooting under daylight, indoor and low light condition and I am really impressed with camera. What I like: - Outside shooting: Excellent pictur...

Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm IS II Lens and EOS HD Movie Mode (Black) (Electronics)

I LOVE IT!

by: 11tifelikni (Minnesota)

Love this camera. Takes excellent pictures and I love that it has a movie mode that can be used with manual focus. I was debating between this product and the Canon XSi and I learned that this camera is like the laptop compaired to the XSi as the old desktop. This is the newest product but is fantastic. Love the men...

Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens (Electronics)

Nikon D7000 Sensor for $400 cheaper

by: B. Fuller (United States)

(TOP 500 REVIEWER) This is a fantastic new offering from Nikon. You get most of the best parts of the D7000 for 1/3 cheaper. If you are looking for a starter camera or a back up body to the D7000 this is it. Here are the major differences between the D5100 and D7000. D5100 Exact same s...

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and DIGIC 4 Imaging (Body Only) (Electronics)

Choosing between the T3i, T2i, 60D and 7D

by: dojoklo (Cambridge, MA)

The Canon Rebel T3i takes the consumer level dSLR a couple steps closer to the mid-level Canon 60D with the addition of the rotating rear LCD screen, remote flash firing, and in-camera processing features. The already highly competent, older Rebel T2i already shared many important feat...

Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3.0-Inch LCD (Electronics)

Very Nice

by: sailorboy414

Well yes it is bigger than most pocket cameras, but the lens is bigger. I brought another excellent little Canon I have and took pictures, at dusk, of some buildings. The difference was very obvious. The SX130 pictures had way more light than the smaller camera. If you ask me the AA (which it does eat) batteries are an advantag...

Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Silver) (Electronics)

Awesome Point and Shoot

by: Keith Corbin

This is a point and shoot class camera, if you understand that going in, you are going to be more than impressed with it. I'm going from an SD630 and hands down, this beats it. I even had an SX210IS and these images are on par with it, if not better. I had to return my SX210IS as it had issues with dust on the ima...

Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens (Electronics)

Forget all the others

by: Dan InGold "xz38" (Boston, MA)

First impression: I have tried Nikon d40, d5000, d90, canon xsi, and canon 40d. I would say d90 and d40 are the only two cameras comparable to this. when I received the camera,the kit lens is too tight to auto focus. I called up and asked a replacement. Even for this, I still give it 5 stars as it...

Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera (Black) (Electronics)

Great camera if it's what you're looking for

by: Force2BRW

I've only had it for a couple days now, but I can honestly say this camera was worth every penny so far. It has a lot of interesting features, and is the only camera I have found that hits all the strong points I was looking for (120 fps @ 640x480 resolution, full 1080 hd video, optical zoom and ...

Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Red) (Electronics)

Awesome Point and Shoot

by: Keith Corbin

This is a point and shoot class camera, if you understand that going in, you are going to be more than impressed with it. I'm going from an SD630 and hands down, this beats it. I even had an SX210IS and these images are on par with it, if not better. I had to return my SX210IS as it had issues with dust on the ima...

Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera (Black) (Electronics)

Great camera if it's what you're looking for

by: Force2BRW

I've only had it for a couple days now, but I can honestly say this camera was worth every penny so far. It has a lot of interesting features, and is the only camera I have found that hits all the strong points I was looking for (120 fps @ 640x480 resolution, full 1080 hd video, optical zoom and ...

Nikon COOLPIX P300 12.2 CMOS Digital Camera with 4.2x f/1.8 NIKKOR Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080p Video (Black) (Electronics)

makes a great carry camera.

by: J. Parkes (Winter Springs, Florida)

I am a Nikon fan and though Cannon has done a better job with it's P&S cameras, Nikon has finally stepped up it's game. I use a Nikon D90 with an array of great lenses, but the truth is unless i plan a shooting day i'm just tired of having to lug around a DSLR and it's bag of essentials...

Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 3.0-Inch LCD and 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens (Electronics)

D7000 vs. D90

by: Grilling Sensations (Elk River, MN USA)

The positives of the D7000 vs. D90 after two months of use: 1. I shoot mainly indoor sports primarily high school jazz and high-kick dance routines in low and lousy light typically. This camera is considerably better than the D90 in this area. Very sharp and bright images with little or no noise ...

Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Red) (Electronics)

Awesome Point and Shoot

by: Keith Corbin

This is a point and shoot class camera, if you understand that going in, you are going to be more than impressed with it. I'm going from an SD630 and hands down, this beats it. I even had an SX210IS and these images are on par with it, if not better. I had to return my SX210IS as it had issues with dust on the ima...

Kodak EasyShare Sport C123 (Red) (New Model) (Electronics)

If you want a "cheap and cheerful" waterproof camera, this one is great

by: Eric Schurr (Boston, MA)

If you're looking for a simple point-and-shoot that you can take underwater, this camera is great. Let me begin by explaining that I am an avid photographer; I have over $10,000 in high end DSLR equipment and lenses. I have over 20,000 photos in my colle...

Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and DIGIC 4 Imaging with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Electronics)

Works great! Amazing in low light and awesome video recording.

by: Chad B

I purchased this camera mainly for recording video. Its quality is amazing, and the on-board mic records great to me as well. For anyone wondering about the new HD digital movie zoom, I created a video demonstrating its quality and the microphone quality as well! Its on youtube. Ju...

Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Electronics)

Simply Amazing

by: Surfseventy8 (Nantucket, MA United States)

When I first saw the S90, I was quite intrigued by the amazing low light performance. As a dSLR shooter, I've become quite used to shooting at ISO 800 and above with virtually no noise. I hate the look of photos taken with tiny, on-camera flashes. They are very unflattering so I try to shoot w...

Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera (Black) (Electronics)

Great camera if it's what you're looking for

by: Force2BRW

I've only had it for a couple days now, but I can honestly say this camera was worth every penny so far. It has a lot of interesting features, and is the only camera I have found that hits all the strong points I was looking for (120 fps @ 640x480 resolution, full 1080 hd video, optical zoom and ...

Nikon COOLPIX L24 14 MP Digital Camera with 3.6x NIKKOR Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LCD (Black) (Electronics)

Terrific photos, easy to use

by: Scott Clines

Although I haven't used all its features yet, I love this camera! The photos are sharp and clear, and it is so easy to use that I just took it out and started shooting. If I could post just one of my dragonfly photos in which you can see every vein in their wings there could be no doubt as to the quality of t...

Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only) (Electronics)

Nikon's Best DX Camera

by: Chad (Colorado, USA)

I bought my D7000 as an upgrade from my D80, which was itself an upgrade from the D50. I'm not one to buy a new dSLR every couple of years; I have been wanting to migrate from the D80 for awhile now because I don't like its meter, which consistently overexposed and blew out the highlights in pictures. I con...

Nikon COOLPIX L24 14 MP Digital Camera with 3.6x NIKKOR Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LCD (Red) (Electronics)

Simple operation, clear photos

by: Stephen G. Ayres (Kentucky, USA)

Disclaimer: This particular review isn't being written from an avid photographer's point of view. I needed a small, inexpensive, good-quality, easy-to-use camera for my job. My main use for this camera is taking good, clear indoor before/after photos of various electronic devices and re...

Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Silver) (Electronics)

Awesome Point and Shoot

by: Keith Corbin

This is a point and shoot class camera, if you understand that going in, you are going to be more than impressed with it. I'm going from an SD630 and hands down, this beats it. I even had an SX210IS and these images are on par with it, if not better. I had to return my SX210IS as it had issues with dust on the ima...

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H70 16.1 MP Digital Still Camera with 10x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom G Lens and 3.0-inch LCD (Black) (Electronics)

Great for the price

by: Josie "momofone" (Indianapolis, IN USA)

I tried several $150.00 cameras. That was my "limit." This one is so much better! I read a professional review that said this camera was really not good enough for action shots involving animals and kids. So untrue! All of the other cameras I have experienced had what I think is called a lon...

Canon SX30IS 14.1MP Digital Camera with 35x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 Inch Wide LCD (Electronics)

Don't expect miracles with a small sensor

by: 4-Decade Amateur

I used a Nikon E8800 (8mp, 10x zoom) for 5 years as my primary digital P&S. It was satisfactory in every way, although newer cameras with large LCD displays, longer zoom, faster shutter response and lots of additional electronic features did tempt me to switch. But the images produced by the ...

Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Red) (Electronics)

Awesome Point and Shoot

by: Keith Corbin

This is a point and shoot class camera, if you understand that going in, you are going to be more than impressed with it. I'm going from an SD630 and hands down, this beats it. I even had an SX210IS and these images are on par with it, if not better. I had to return my SX210IS as it had issues with dust on the ima...

Kodak EasyShare Sport C123 (Gray) (New Model) (Electronics)

Extreme Surprised!!

by: TashaPhD

I was truly blown away by the picture quality! I just printed some of the pictures and they look way better than I anticipated from a waterproof camera - insanely inexpensive at that. I kept the camera submerged for long periods of time and I never noticed any sort of leakage. My vacation would not have been complete with...

Sony's Cyber-Shot DSC-W530 14.1 MP Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 4x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 2.7-inch LCD (Black) (Electronics)

Great camera for the price

by: Adam

The intelligent shooting mode is great--it detects different scene types (landscape, sunny, cloudy, etc.) and auto-adjusts the exposure settings to get the best picture. Picture quality is great. It also has a movie mode that takes nice videos. The mic for the audio is a little weak but it is only a point and shoot cam...

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H70 16.1 MP Digital Still Camera with 10x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom G Lens and 3.0-inch LCD (Red Bundle) (Electronics)

A Great Portable Camera

by: Ruth Adamson (Dallas, Tx)

I really like this Sony. I bought it because I needed a portable camera. I use a Canon S10 IS but it is too big to carry around on vacation or casual events. I was wary because the reviews on Amazon were varied but a digital camera review site gave it extremely high marks. After having this camera for...



by:

Great Camera -- A perspective from a D300/700 Owner This is very simple, if you are a Nikon shooter looking for a new camera then stop reading and buy this camera. It's that good. Handling This camera is brilliant to hold and use. Nikon has done it again and has made the user interface more usable and streamlined. What to change flash modes. Pres...

Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch Vari-Angle LCD Monitor (Body Only) (Electronics)

Nikon D7000 Sensor for $400 cheaper

by: B. Fuller (United States)

(TOP 500 REVIEWER) This is a fantastic new offering from Nikon. You get most of the best parts of the D7000 for 1/3 cheaper. If you are looking for a starter camera or a back up body to the D7000 this is it. Here are the major differences between the D5100 and D7000. D5100 Exact same s...

Canon G12 10 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.8 Inch Vari-Angle LCD (Electronics)

Very happy with my G12 Purchase

by: Richard A. Bretschneider "RicBret" (San Jose - CA)

A little history: I shot a lot of SLR film back in my college days, mostly for newspaper and print publications - not pro work, but still had to produce like one. Over the years I stopped having time for such things, until digital photography raised its head in the '90...

Kodak EasyShare Sport C123 (Blue) (New Model) (Electronics)

Very nice for the price

by: Shania (Ohio)

I bought this camera for my 15 year old son who is taking a 2 week hiking trip. He hasn't actually taken the trip yet, but he's been playing around with the camera (we both have, actually) at home to get comfortable with its features and abilities. Considering the price, I am actually quite impressed. Aside from ...

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H70 16.1 MP Digital Still Camera with 10x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom G Lens and 3.0-inch LCD (Blue) (Electronics)

Almost Perfect.....

by: TGV

I bought the camera this past weekend, used it at my sons baseball game the pictures came out nice, just wish the zoom was a little bit longer, for having 10x zoom the camera is small and slim, it might not have touch screen and all the other little nice features but it does what a camera should do take nice pictures. I use to...



CANON POWERSHOT ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP DIGITAL CAMERA (BLACK) (ELECTRONICS)

return home






Wonderful compact camera with hd video

by: J. Gebauer
on: March 19, 2011



I'm a DSLR photographer who shoots professionally and has managed a camera store in the past. I wanted something I can take with me everywhere but still produces good quality shots. I also wanted a camera that could shoot good looking videos. I researched several models and after much deliberation decided on the Canon 300 HS. I'm very happy I did.

Image Quality:

I tested cameras and lenses all the time while managing the camera store so whenever I purchase a new camera or lens I always test it. The Canon 300 HS doesn't produce the quality of images my Nikon D7000 does but I didn't expect it to. The edges get a little soft with the 300 HS when looking at the image at 100% whereas the D7000 images are almost tact sharp.

Comparing the 300 HS to the Canon Powershot SD1000 from a few years ago, the 300 HS blows it out of the water. The SD1000 is a 7 MP camera. Shooting the same shots on a tripod with the same focal length on the lens the 300 HS uses its extra MPs well. When looking at the images from each camera at 100%, at the wide angle zoom setting and normal zoom setting both cameras have about the same relative slight softness on the edges. However the 300 HS has more MP so it actually produces much more detail in the image. I think it was smart for Canon to keep the MP at 12 because last years models while being 14 MP (SD1400) didn't give any extra detail from what I could tell than the 12 MP version (SD1300). The SD1400 was basically just creating larger files. When zooming in the telephoto setting the 300 HS clearly produced a sharper image than the SD1000. Often cameras have sweet spots in the zoom range in which it will produce crisper images. The 300 HS has consistently good sharpness throughout it's zoom range.

HS system and ISO:

The image processing with the HS system truly works to reduce noise at higher ISOs enabling people to produce better quality images in low light. The improvement in image quality gets more and more visible the greater and greater the ISO. ISO 400 with the 300 HS was almost as good as ISO 200 on the SD1000. ISO 800 on the 300 HS was a tad better than ISO 400 on the SD1000. ISO 1600 on the 300 HS was between ISO 400 and 800 on the SD1000. ISO 3200 on the 300 HS produced the same quality of image (noise) as ISO 800 on the SD1000. A 2 stop in film speed improvement is big.

1080p video and slow motion:

With good light, the 300 HS produces wonderful smooth 1080 videos. If you look at a lot of HD videos from compact cameras the video often looks jumpy. From what I've seen it wasn't until you got to the Canon G12 or Panasonic LX5 that the video looked smooth. Both of those cameras only shoot 720p whereas this camera shoots 1080p. The video also very good detail. It truly looks HD.

If you are wanting zoom and continuous AF with your video this camera is the one you want compared to the 100 HS which doesn't allow you to zoom. The continuous AF with face recognition is stellar with this camera in video mode. I was videoing my wife while she was driving. It focused on her face. I switched to the scenery outside. It immediately focused on that. I then went back to my wife and it found her face and focused on it right away. I even videoed her reflection in the rear view mirror and it found her face in the mirror no problem and focused on it. AMAZING!!!!

Commenting on a complaint I've read about the zoom being slow in video mode. If you like getting motion sickness whenever someone rapidly zooms in or out during their video this is not your camera. As smooth looking as the video is, the zoom is also. The smooth zoom creates nice looking transitions instead of warp speed ahead looks.

The slow motion is a fun feature that works well. You need to have good lighting though. In low light even with high ISO's it produced very dark videos. In a review someone commented that it should have sound with the slow motion video. I honestly don't know how that could work unless you want to listen to everything at 1/5 it's normal speed. I think it's a good thing that it doesn't have sound with the slow motion videos.

AF:

I commented on AF partially in the video portion of the review. It does have several AF modes for various situations. The face detection works great. If you have a person in the picture but want something other than the person to be in focus you will need to change AF modes from face detection. The reviewer that had the problem with the 300 HS focusing on things he didn't want the camera to focus on likely didn't have the correct AF mode for the shooting situations. The 300 HS does have a center AF if you prefer that.

Areas for Canon to improve on with the 300 HS:

The camera is so well thought out that I'm surprised Canon let this slip. I love having a wide angle zoom go down to 24mm. It's great for scenery and photojournalist type shots. If you shoot at the widest angle zoom and use the flash, the lens on the 300 HS blocks the flash's exposure on the bottom right corner of the image. The corner is completely black. If you zoom in a bit so you aren't at the widest angle setting when using the flash you will be fine. Still all Canon had to do is not put the flash so close to the lens.

When shooting video in lower light situations the video does start to get noisy and grainy quicker than some other cameras.

Conclusion:

All in all this is a wonderfully thought out camera with great image quality and image processing and it shoots stellar videos for it's compact size.

673 people were helped by this review.

return home



Awesome Point and Shoot

by: Keith Corbin
on: March 14, 2011



This is a point and shoot class camera, if you understand that going in, you are going to be more than impressed with it. I'm going from an SD630 and hands down, this beats it. I even had an SX210IS and these images are on par with it, if not better. I had to return my SX210IS as it had issues with dust on the image sensor and I've been waiting for a new P&S class to come out. I bit the bullet on this, well, the black version Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Black) and what can I say - I am happy!

300HS vs 500HS:

There is a 500HS version of the camera, which is approx $50 more. To this point, the only differences I can tell are the LCD on the back as well as aperture priority and shutter priority, while the 300hs does not. The touch screen on the 500hs can also be used to focus on a particular subject. The 500hs also has a wider aperture at 2.0, the 300hs has 2.7.

Form Factor/Display:

Small. Awesome. There is a texture on the camera, I really like this as it seems like it will help if you hands are wet (sweat, snow, etc). Easy to operate one hand and if using both hands, flash isn't in a horrible place. Display is very bright and button seem intuitive as with other Canon cameras. Battery and SD are on the bottom door, USB and HDMI are in a covered side port. Comes with a wrist strap if you desire a little extra security.

Boot Time/Software:

Camera is ready to take photos very fast. From the time you press the button, it's pretty much set to catch the action. Time between photos wasn't terrible (about 1.5 seconds) and if you need it, there is continuous shot mode. Had no problem with the Canon software on Windows 7. I've used the Canon Photo Window import for a while, does a good job of getting photos off the camera without duplicates. I use Picasa to then manage my photo library (I skip the Zoom Browser, but it's really not bad if you want to use it, I'm just a slave to Google/gmail)

Computer Connectivity:

I didn't find this anywhere in the specs, so if you're looking, the camera uses mini-USB, similar to all Canon's that have come out over the last few years.

Optical Zoom:

You're going to be impressed with the form factor of this camera and it's 5x OPTICAL zoom. I immediately disabled digital zoom as 12.1MP + 5x Optical will get you very close to the action. You're better off digitally enhancing the photos later on.

Battery + Memory Card:

This uses the NBL-4 (again, I found confusion on this and accessories) - so if you have some of those laying around keep them as they'll work just fine in this camera. This is nice as my SD630 uses the NBL-4 so now I have 2 chargers + 3 batteries. It took my 32GB SDHC without any issues and holds thousands of images. Images have tended to be between 2 and 3mb on the highest settings.

Image Quality:

Look, I'm no photo fanatic, I don't expect the people buying this camera are. I am looking for solid images and this camera delivers. There are a ton a feature you can delve into and I'm sure they are good. It has manual mode, so if you fancy that, you can go down that path. But I'm the type of person that knows when something looks good, OK or great. This camera consistently delivers GREAT photos. I'm happy with the low light and images aren't blurry or grainy (within reasonable expectations).

Video:

FINALLY! Optical zoom on a Canon during video! 1080p brings this camera up to par with others in its class and it does a decent job. I didn't notice any major noise when zooming in and out while recording video. I know this is the excuse Canon has used in the past as to why they never had this feature. It shoots nice clips for those quick moments. This will NOT replace a true DV cam, but hey, for a few minute clips here and there, you will simply not be dissapointed.

198 people were helped by this review.

return home



Awesome Pocket Camera

by: Jiunjr Feng "Robert" (Fremont, CA USA)
on: March 10, 2011



Got this camera from my Japanese friend as a birthday gift, which is IXY 410F. I found out that camera name in USA is ELPH 300 HS. After open the box and play couple days, the weight is super light as my old school Canon SD1000 and the indoor picture quality is not bad comparing with my current S95, so it catched my eyes right away after we received it. Even it's SD1400 replacement from canon point of view, I have to say this tiny camera with S95 quality.

ELPH 300 HS vs S95

ELPH 300 HS wins on 1080P movie, weight (70% of S95), CMOS sensor, 24mm, 5x zoom, shooting speed (2 time faster than S95), cost (62.5% of S95)

S95 is better on the sensor size (1/1.7" as G12), Aperture F/2.0, RAW.

I would say...

For sure S95 won on manual setting, but I used my Canon Rebel XS most of the time when looking for quality pictures, and S95 didn't provide more point-and-shoot advantages than ELPH 300 HS to me. CMOS sensor is more sensertive comparing with CCD, so I cannot tell huge difference between bigger size CCD and smaller size CMOS sensors even from those indoor low light pictures. End out, I traded the manual settings to small size, light weight, and fast shooting speed.

So, my S95 moved on eBay...... and IXY 410F (ELPH 300 HS) is in my wife's bag...... I have to wait for it to be available on Amazon to get another one for myself.

86 people were helped by this review.

return home



Another great Canon product!

by: sojo
on: March 29, 2011



I currently own a 5D Mark II and was looking to replace my Canon S80 which is now 6 yrs old. While I love the S80 and the quality pics it captured, the bulkiness of this point-and-shoot (P&S) became inconvenient. My wife was adamant she wanted a more compact P&S this time around.

In addition to great pics, I was looking for a P&S with 1080p video capability so I wouldn't have to get a separate camcorder. Let me say that the 300 HS is a quality camera packed into a sleek body that I can easily slip into any pocket on the run.

Most Canon cameras (I am a Canon loyalist) take great shots. But what most impresses me about this camera are its low-light capabilities. It obviously can not match the image quality of a DSLR, but for a P&S, I was impressed! Indoor night shots of my kids WITHOUT flash (incandescent lighting only) come out amazingly crisp with minimal noise. Autofocus is quite impressive as it tracks faces in the frame further enhancing ease of use. Menu functions are quite intuitive (if you've owned previous Canon models). It's got plenty of preset shooting modes. And it's quick between shots for a P&S (a couple seconds with flash photography).

I also compared the 1080p video vs Flip Ultra HD which shoots in 720p. The video quality is like night-and-day with the 300 HS finishing ahead by a mile. Low-light video is grainy but still watchable (unwatchable on Flip). In daylight, video looks beautiful. Video is easily imported into both iphoto and imovie. Just make sure you have a large memory card as 1080p takes up 16GB/hour of video. I bought a 32GB card.

I did purchase an extra battery after reading battery life can be short. I've had the camera a week and have used it for 15-30 minutes daily (including video capture) and I have not needed to recharge yet.

I'd also recommend the black body as it has a textured housing that makes holding this small camera much easier.

Also purchased a Caselogic TBC - 302 compact camera case which fits this camera perfectly. It has a small side pocket that I slip the extra battery in.

Overall, considering the excellent quality of the camera, easy portability, and great price, this camera is worth every penny.

38 people were helped by this review.

return home



Why to get the silver one instead of the black one

by: Jake Danzig (Spook City, USA)
on: July 27, 2011



I've always been a proponent of function over form, but this is one of the rare cases I've run into where there is such a huge difference in satisfaction with one over the other that I felt it my duty to share with fellow consumers almost immediately. Keep in mind that this review is only to help those of you out there who have already decided that the functionality of this camera satisfies you, but you are struggling with which color to get, as I was.

Long story short, I've had both a black one and a silver one in my hand over the course of the last week (black returned due to a manufacturing problem that Amazon, as always, handled in an A+ manner - I chose to replace with the silver). Now I'm the type of guy that always gets everything in black - clothes, furniture, and especially gadgets, so naturally I gravitated toward the black model. That being said, get the silver one - period. The black one does look cool, but the sandpaper texture, while providing good grip, absolutely detracts from the overall value of this camera. It makes it a pain to pull out of your pocket, picks up dirt and lint like a magnet, and just has an overall cheap feel to it. I couldn't even wipe the screen off with a microfiber cloth without it catching and nearly tearing on the housing. When I received the silver one, the first thing I thought when I opened it was, "You've got to be kidding me. How can a color change alone constitute such a vast difference in satisfaction?" The answer is because I now feel like I have a quality camera I can actually use instead of something I have to constantly worry about catching on things and wiping lint off of. Everything about the silver one blows the black out of the water; smooth finish feels very nice, looks nice, doesn't act like a lint brush, and the entire camera has a much sturdier, more solid feel to it in general. In fact, one of the first huge things I noticed was the quality of the battery door. I've owned many Canon P&S cameras over the years, and when I first saw the door to the black camera, it immediately struck me as something way more low budget than I'm accustomed to seeing with Canon cameras. When I received the silver one, instantly noticed the quality was back up to par.

One final consideration that always manifests apprehension in the back of my mind when considering black cameras is that black, as everyone knows, absorbs sunlight, while lighter colors reflect it. if you're going to use it mainly indoors or at night then no problem, but if you plan on using it the sun a lot like at the beach, on vacations, heavy daylight use in general, then it only makes sense to me that black cameras in these cases would be more prone to overheating and/or accelerated mechanical wear and tear. If it's really enough to make a significant difference in the life cycle of the product is questionable, but that's just one of those things that, unlike with phones, handheld video game systems, etc, keeps me from automatically defaulting to the black model.

In summary, great camera no matter what color you get, but for the price I just feel like the silver one gives me so much more value. I can't speak of the red one as I've not seen it, but I've heard the texture is the same as the silver, and with regards to the advantages over the black one, most of the above would still apply. Red is more of a girly color than silver though, so please keep that in mind if you're a guy.

37 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great camera if it's what you're looking for

by: Force2BRW
on: March 19, 2011



I've only had it for a couple days now, but I can honestly say this camera was worth every penny so far. It has a lot of interesting features, and is the only camera I have found that hits all the strong points I was looking for (120 fps @ 640x480 resolution, full 1080 hd video, optical zoom and auto focus during movie recording, strong low-light performance, good image stabilization, and small form factor [very small. much smaller than other cameras like it that I was considering])

Other things of note: I have Photoshop, and use it regularly, so I wasn't looking for a camera that can do everything by itself. This camera cannot shoot hdr pictures by itself like the Exilim ZR-10 or 100 can, nor can it take panoramic pictures all by itself. It does have a "panorama helper" kind of application, which will help you line up the shots, but you must then use software later to merge them (it comes with software, compatible with both mac and pc, that will help you merge photos, as well as sort through them and manage them, but I find that Photoshop does a much better job than the packaged software does at creating panoramas. I also use the HDR toning option on Photoshop to simulate an actual HDR picture. As long as all the details are there (not blown out or too dark to brighten), PS can create a very convincing HDR picture, and this camera does a good job at getting all the detail in pictures.

It also doesn't take the fastest pictures (around 3 per second) on continuous mode, but I rarely (if ever) take more than 1 picture at a time. I may take pictures in succession, but I generally set each one up, rather than just shotgunning a bunch of pictures.

The pictures are very sharp. I haven't had much time with video or sound yet, but the little that I have played around with it produced pretty good results. (altho sound can get very distorted with windy sound in a windy environment, as many camera's microphones can. still thinking about/searching for a remedy...)

Also, just a little side note, the finish on the camera is left a bit rough. This is a good thing, as it gives the camera more grip, and makes it less likely to slip out of your hand. I have used cameras that were shiny and slippery before, and it make taking pictures with one hand much more difficult and risky. The rough texture keep this camera more firm in your hand. This also makes the camera less prone to finger prints, altho the screen will collect plenty of those (but that has never really bothered me much)

Just a couple knocks against it that I have found so far, but they are not deal breakers for me. It says that it can take pictures with shutter speeds between 1/2000s and 15s. This may be true, but it is not user choosable. You cannot set the shutter speed of the camera. It has options for "Longer Exposure" (or something named like that), but does not let you choose the speed. I have not gotten it to hit a 15 second exposure yet. I was thinking of trying a city scene on a tripod where you set the exposure long so that the car lights look like streaks, but it doesn't seem to stay open long enough.

Also, the zoom doesn't seem to be variable, it goes at one speed, and it's pretty fast, so sometimes it can be hard to hit that sweet spot if you are trying to get a shot somewhere in the middle (5x zoom, which I think is very reasonable for it's size), and optical zoom is pretty slow while recording video, but still an option, which is more than many cameras of this type can say. The battery may also be a tad short (especially if doing a lot of video and/or zooming in and out, but that will shorten the life all camera batteries), but they are pretty small, and you can get extra, generic batteries for very cheap.

There is no way to plug in the camera to a wall for continuous shooting/video, so you need to replace the battery when it dies. However, I have seen the option of having a battery stand-in that sits in the battery slot and runs a line down to an adapter that plugs into the wall, but this will require you to leave the battery door open while using it)

For everything your getting, I think this camera is well worth $250. It takes sharp, accurately colored pictures look great on their own, as well as with Photoshop. If you do not own any imaging editing software, this camera still produces great pictures, has a ton of very cool, very interesting modes (some of which I've never seen on any camera before), and comes with some simple editing software (mainly for merging panorama shots. there is also other, free image editing software out there on the internet if you are so inclined)

Edit:

You CAN choose the shutter speed, it's just not as simple to find as some of the other options. You have to go into program mode, choose the Long Shutter option. Exit program mode. When you're back to the normal screen, press the up button (+/-). From there, you can choose the shutter speed by pressing right and left. Glad to find the option!

30 people were helped by this review.

return home



A Sweet Point And Shoot Camera

by: Albert A. Azose (Van Nuys, CA United States)
on: June 11, 2011



Based partly on the reviews here, I bought the Elph 300HS Silver, and played with it for several hours, initially shooting about 150 stills and about 10 minutes of video. I settled on the Elph 300HS because I wanted a reliable and solid point and shoot camera, where the Auto feature would do all the work. I admit I'm no photography pro, and I certainly don't have the time, patience, or inclination to fiddle with all the interminable and esoteric photographic settings, nor did I want a bulky camera to lug around.

The video looks very good, especially on a hi-def monitor but tends to blur very slightly when zooming in too fast. And I have to admit that having a zoom feature on hi-def video was a strong selling point for me. The tiny stereo microphone works fine, and like all other similar cameras, picks up the ubiquitous wind sounds. You should also be aware that these hi-def videos take up a lot more file space on your SD cards than "mere" DVD quality.

I compared one or two pics on the Elph to the same shots taken at the same time on my older Canon Powershot A710IS (12 vs. 7 megapixels) and there was a slight discernable increase in the quality of the still shots. I had hoped that the Elph photos would be much sharper and clearer because of the newer technology and the additional 5 megapixels, but the increase in quality, while noticeable, was minimal. In all fairness, however, I did not print the photos, I only viewed them on my hi-def monitor. With the price of ink cartridges these days, I'm very selective about printing color photos on my printer, but I am certain that the Elph photos, if printed, would look much better than those of my older camera.

As claimed, the Elph does indeed take great shots in lower light, but the tradeoff for this is that the resulting photos seem to be a little softer than the shots taken in normal light.

Another slight disappointment, as pointed out in another review, is that the videos are saved as .mov files rather than .avi or .wmv files. Windows Movie Player will play them, but only by expanding the file types to "any file". Fortunately, there are several programs out there which will convert these .mov files. The one I use, Prism Video File Converter, can convert these .mov files to .wmv files (among others), and the .mov file sizes are reduced by an astonishing factor of one fifth, without a noticeable decrease in quality. If you plan to edit or combine your Elph videos by using Windows Movie Maker, it will happily handle .wmv files, but not .mov files.

The really surprising thing about the Elph is its very tiny size, a worthy example of the art and science of miniaturization. Yet, it still feels quite heavy in the hand, no doubt due to all the electronic components packed into its tiny but solid metal frame which provide all its many features. Bottom line? It ain't perfect, but it's one hell of a sweet point and shoot camera.

22 people were helped by this review.

return home



Awesome Point and Shoot

by: Keith Corbin
on: March 14, 2011



This is a point and shoot class camera, if you understand that going in, you are going to be more than impressed with it. I'm going from an SD630 and hands down, this beats it. I even had an SX210IS and these images are on par with it, if not better. I had to return my SX210IS as it had issues with dust on the image sensor and I've been waiting for a new P&S class to come out. I bit the bullet on this, well, the black version Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Black) and what can I say - I am happy!

300HS vs 500HS:

There is a 500HS version of the camera, which is approx $50 more. To this point, the only differences I can tell are the LCD on the back as well as aperture priority and shutter priority, while the 300hs does not. The touch screen on the 500hs can also be used to focus on a particular subject. The 500hs also has a wider aperture at 2.0, the 300hs has 2.7.

Form Factor/Display:

Small. Awesome. There is a texture on the camera, I really like this as it seems like it will help if you hands are wet (sweat, snow, etc). Easy to operate one hand and if using both hands, flash isn't in a horrible place. Display is very bright and button seem intuitive as with other Canon cameras. Battery and SD are on the bottom door, USB and HDMI are in a covered side port. Comes with a wrist strap if you desire a little extra security.

Boot Time/Software:

Camera is ready to take photos very fast. From the time you press the button, it's pretty much set to catch the action. Time between photos wasn't terrible (about 1.5 seconds) and if you need it, there is continuous shot mode. Had no problem with the Canon software on Windows 7. I've used the Canon Photo Window import for a while, does a good job of getting photos off the camera without duplicates. I use Picasa to then manage my photo library (I skip the Zoom Browser, but it's really not bad if you want to use it, I'm just a slave to Google/gmail)

Computer Connectivity:

I didn't find this anywhere in the specs, so if you're looking, the camera uses mini-USB, similar to all Canon's that have come out over the last few years.

Optical Zoom:

You're going to be impressed with the form factor of this camera and it's 5x OPTICAL zoom. I immediately disabled digital zoom as 12.1MP + 5x Optical will get you very close to the action. You're better off digitally enhancing the photos later on.

Battery + Memory Card:

This uses the NBL-4 (again, I found confusion on this and accessories) - so if you have some of those laying around keep them as they'll work just fine in this camera. This is nice as my SD630 uses the NBL-4 so now I have 2 chargers + 3 batteries. It took my 32GB SDHC without any issues and holds thousands of images. Images have tended to be between 2 and 3mb on the highest settings.

Image Quality:

Look, I'm no photo fanatic, I don't expect the people buying this camera are. I am looking for solid images and this camera delivers. There are a ton a feature you can delve into and I'm sure they are good. It has manual mode, so if you fancy that, you can go down that path. But I'm the type of person that knows when something looks good, OK or great. This camera consistently delivers GREAT photos. I'm happy with the low light and images aren't blurry or grainy (within reasonable expectations).

Video:

FINALLY! Optical zoom on a Canon during video! 1080p brings this camera up to par with others in its class and it does a decent job. I didn't notice any major noise when zooming in and out while recording video. I know this is the excuse Canon has used in the past as to why they never had this feature. It shoots nice clips for those quick moments. This will NOT replace a true DV cam, but hey, for a few minute clips here and there, you will simply not be dissapointed.

21 people were helped by this review.

return home



CANON SX30IS 14.1MP DIGITAL CAMERA WITH 35X WIDE ANGLE OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZED ZOOM AND 2.7 INCH WIDE LCD (ELECTRONICS)

return home



The PowerShot SX30 IS has got you prepared for your next extreme photo opportunity. This point-and-shoot digital camera comes with a massive 35x Wide-Angle (24-840mm) Optical Zoom lens--a first for any PowerShot! It also comes with a 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD, 14.1 Megapixels, High Dynamic Range, Zoom Framing Assist and much more. Canon PowerShot SX30 Highlights 35x wide-angle optical zoom (24-840mm) with Optical Image Stabilizer The PowerShot SX30 IS is equipped with a 35x Optical Zoom lens with a focal length of 4.3-150.5mm (35mm equivalent: 24-840mm) that allows you to shoot any scene from wide-angle to telephoto. The camera uses a VCM (Voice Coil Motor) for high-speed, quiet, energy-efficient lens movement with precise control. Focal length is conveniently indicated on the lens barrel. The lens is optimized to fully exploit its zoom length and wide shooting angle in concert with the camera's high 14.1 Megapixel resolution. UD glass effectively suppresses chromatic aberration, while enhanced negative refractive power ensures that distortion at the wide-angle is also corrected. Further aberration is controlled with the inclusion of a double-sided aspherical glass-molded lens and ultra-high refraction index lens. The SX30 IS is equipped with Canon's acclaimed Optical Image Stabilizer Technology that automatically detects and corrects camera shake--one of the leading causes of fuzzy or blurred shots. Even when zoomed in, you can get the steady, crisp, brilliant images you'll be proud to shoot and share. And Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer Technology is convenient to use. It functions perfectly with or without a flash. Improvements to Movie modes: Dynamic mode enables users to use the Optical Image Stabilizer while shooting video Dynamic IS allows you to capture video with more precision and ease than ever before! Without having to make any additional camera adjustments, Dynamic IS automatically operates the moment you start recording video. This image stabilizer continuously readjusts throughout the camera's entire zoom range to correct a broad range of motion -- especially when shooting in the wide-angle end, so footage comes out steady and clear even while you're walking and recording at the same time! And with a powerful 35x Optical Zoom, you'll never be too far away from capturing your greatest memories! Best of all, the Optical Zoom can now be used while shooting video--a first for any of the Canon PowerShot SX digital cameras! So no matter the distance or environment, Canon lets you stay confident that you'll capture the footage you want. Shoots superb 720p HD video with stereo sound; HDMI output The PowerShot SX30 IS lets you record video in beautiful high definition (1280 x 720 pixels). The camera also makes it easy to enjoy HD videos (and still photos) on your HDTV with a mini-HDMI connector for direct connection to a high-definition TV monitor. You'll enjoy the HD experience with no degradation of image or audio in the signal, plus the ability to display up to 130 still images at once. New Zoom Framing Assist button With its 35x Optical Zoom lens, the SX30 IS can certainly capture subjects located at a very far distance; however, even with a powerful zoom lens it can often be tricky to track a moving subject while zoomed out to the maximum telephoto range and attempting to steady the camera. To counter this problem, Canon created the Zoom Framing Assist function. By simply pressing and holding the convenient Zoom Framing Assist function button, the camera will automatically zoom out to a wider focal point, allowing you to look for your elusive subject. Once found, releasing the button will cause the camera to return to its original position and intelligently keep the subject in focus, so you don't have to trouble yourself with any of the controls. Recording video and images has never been easier with a Canon PowerShot! Advanced Smart AUTO intelligently selects the proper settings Just set the Canon PowerShot SX30 IS to Smart AUTO and you're ready for maximum enjoyment from your picture taking every time. It's a relaxing and satisfying way to shoot because you can completely concentrate on your subject knowing that the camera has the technical details covered. Advanced Canon technology intelligently analyzes your situation and shooting conditions. Then it automatically selects an appropriate setting from 28 specially defined settings. So whether you're photographing flowers, a captivating sunset, or your friends at the park, you can be confident that you're getting dramatic, memorable images. DIGIC 4 Image Processor and 14.1 megapixels The PowerShot SX30 IS is equipped with many of the same features as a higher-end camera: an ultra-powerful zoom, eye-popping resolution and advanced picture-improving technology. 14.1 Megapixels of resolution gives your photography incomparable depth and ensures that any section of any shot can be enlarged and cropped with no loss in quality when you edit the image or even if you choose to print the image. It can create crisp, clear 13" x 19" posters. Canon's proprietary DIGIC Image Processors have long set its cameras apart from the competition, and the new DIGIC 4 sets the bar even higher. Faster, more accurate noise reduction delivers better image quality, even at high ISO speeds. iSAPS Technology is an entirely original scene-recognition technology developed for digital cameras by Canon. Using an internal database of thousands of different photos, iSAPS works with the advanced DIGIC 4 Image Processor to improve focus speed and accuracy, as well as exposure and white balance. Large 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD enables easy viewing The camera's 2.7-inch PureColor System LCD screen gives you the big picture, whether you're shooting, reviewing or showing off your images. This high-resolution screen offers a crisp, clear picture to make shooting, playback and using the camera's menu functions especially convenient. The clear and bright LCD also features Night Display for easy viewing in low light. It also has an electronic viewfinder that provides sharp images when you shoot up close during Macro photography. Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, which makes powering up simple The PowerShot SX30 IS now uses a rechargeable lithium-ion NB-7L battery. For ultimate convenience and simplicity, just charge the batteries and you're ready for your next photographic adventure! What's in the Box PowerShot SX30 IS Camera body Lithium-ion Battery Pack NB-7L Battery Charger CB-2LZ Neck Strap NS-DC11 Lens Cap Case for Hot Shoe Cap AV Cable AVC-DC400ST USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM




The pros and cons - mostly pros

by: Daniel Brewer "Victorinox knife guy"
on: October 19, 2010



I purchased this camera as a replacement for my Panasonic FZ-35. After having taken a few hundred pictures - including some side-by-side comparisons with the FZ35, here is my impression.

The canon image processor is much better at color balance and overall image capture than the FZ35 - images are brighter and so capture more details otherwise lost in shadow or just a tendency the FZ35 has towards gray-scale processing in order to get the excellent sharpness the FZ35 is known for.

Having said that - I would not recommend using the Auto setting on the Canon. Its choice of focal point within an image tends towards creating images where the background is just as likely to be more in focus than the subject. Typically the camera tries to focus around the edge of the subject rather than the subject itself. Sometimes this can work to improve clarity by improving depth of focus a bit, sometimes it creates an image where nothing is in focus and sometimes it causes the camera to focus on "edgy" subjects that may not really be the subject at all - like a lamp post in the background, tree trunks in the background, etc. In the playback mode you can select a display which shows you the cameras focal point - which can help explain why some of your images look they way they do in Auto. Auto mode will also adjust the color of an entire image when it senses facial recognition to improve skin tones, but honestly the color balance of the Canon is so good anyway this is almost unnecessary and sometimes tends towards overcompensation so your entire image takes on a sickly green/brown hue.

However, if you switch from auto to P - or in fact any other of the SCN or mode selections on the dial, these annoying Auto features are disabled and you can get some really great photos. At this point the camera uses a single center focus frame (the size and position of which can easily be manually adjusted to fit your subject if you like) and you start getting pictures more like you expect. In addition, the customization options of the Canon such as magnifying the focal frame, color options, easy adjustment of just about any shooting function, combined with the superb zoom range still make this camera best in class. My only complaint for SCN settings is I wish they had a "sunset" but that is easily created in the color menu where you can select to emphasize reds.

The canon normally produces very clear images, however Canon generally processes to keep color balance as opposed to edge distinction at higher ISO speeds so sometimes the images become a bit more fuzzy than what those of us used the the FZ35 might like - on the other hand red stays red rather than turning black. You can manually limit the ISO to whatever maximum you prefer with the easy to use ISO button.

If you want to add a lens filter protector, polarizer, etc. you will need to purchase the 67MM adapter to do so (Canon FA-DC67A) - and good luck finding one!

This camera, like all of the others in this class, struggle with poor light conditions due to their small sensor. However unlike the competition, canon allows you to mount an external flash and that pretty much clears up this issue if you're willing to pay the expense. The way I look at it its a cheaper option than a $1,000-$3,000 DSLR which can go up to ISO 6,000 for low light conditions.

Overall the Canon is definitely a step up from anything else that was out there - but it does have its quirks you need to be aware of and work around. The opportunity for creativity on one camera/lens is really unrivaled by anything else out there. The ability to go from 1 cm away macro to 35x superzoom at the pull of a switch just can't be found on any other camera, combined with the scene options such as fisheye not normally found on other such cameras, and wide range of color options also not found on the Canon competitors in this class, you have a great tool for creative photography. So while the SX30 is certainly not perfect and image quality will sometimes be less than your $3,000 DSLR+lens (although for some pictures you'd need large magnification/blow-up to tell the difference) - on the whole it's worth putting up with the limitations for the other factors. One caution - if you're looking for a simple to use point-and-shoot this may not be your best choice due to the often poor intelligence in Auto setting. If not for this it would have gotten 5 stars.

519 people were helped by this review.

return home



Amazing camera! Well worth the wait!!!

by: Josh Bieker "BoxSetJunkie" (Morehead, KY USA)
on: October 11, 2010



I scouted the camera's release back in September and have been waiting impatiently for it's arrival in early October! I finally got it last week and couldn't be more pleased! I've taken well over 2000 pics and at least 20 videos so far. Can't seem to put it down (literally- i've yet to use a tripod, even at 35 and 140x zooms)! I have shaky hands, so I was pleasantly surprised at the quality in any shooting situation! The zoom seems to be the most reviewed feature, but this thing is far from done there! It has a million features from fully automated shooting to complete manual functionality! Tons of effects and modes (check Canon's site). I had looked at several DSLR cameras, and even tested a few out, and for beginner to intermediate usage this camera is gonna be tough to beat! Especially with that price tag. Here are some of the features that appealed to me: 14.1 MP, 35x wide angle zoom, 720p HD video, TV, AV , Manual mode (especially this- complete control of aperture, shutter, and focus), all the common photo effects, 4.5 stop Image Stabilization. If you're looking for a professional quality camera, but aren't ready for DSLR pricing this is the camera to own! You won't be disappointed!!

UPDATE 10/26/10:

I have taken well over 4000 pics now. Still loving the overall performance and quality. I don't own previous versions of this camera so I can't compare it to the other models.

I sent about 50 shots in to be printed turned out amazing on 4x6 and 5x7. 8x10's to follow soon!

Anybody interested in lens accessories, i found a link on another review for this site:

[...]

They have some great options for all three versions of this camera (as well as some other brands). I just ordered the 58mm filter adapter and the Hoya HMC Circular Polarizer (6 coats) 58mm. should be here this week. i'll update on those. should help a lot with my landscape shots!

266 people were helped by this review.

return home



I traded an EOS 7D for this!

by: coolreviewer1 "coolkayaker1" (Fox Valley, Illinois USA)
on: May 8, 2011



(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I'm a just a fellow who wants to take nature photos, and my kid at soccer and stuff for eBay and such. I owned a Canon EOS 7D with fancy lenses, the whole works--about $3000 worth of Canon stuff. all I needed was this camera.

The EOS DSLR is heavy, "fixy", and not good for nature walks and plenty of mobility at sporting events. Rarely would I use the 8 frames per second shooting rates. I watched the DVDs on EOS 7D, and played with it and took some pretty artsy photos that I blew up and put in my office. It's a great camera, the pricey EOS DSRL. But it had plenty of drawbacks: price, size, bulk, complex attachments, battery life, compact flash rather than SDR cards, and on and on.

But for what I need, this Canon here is stellar, and I sold all my EOS stuff, and extra lenses on eBay!! I'm totally thrilled with the size, build, and photo quality of this camera. Frankly, it's one of those situation where, to get the highest level of quality you have to pay exponentially more (the EOS 7D), with plenty of limitations (bulk, attachments, multiple lenses, etc.), when for most of us who just want to take quality photos, this is plenty enough. I pop this into a Lowepro camera fannypack and I'm good to shoot and walk and hike all afternoon. I adore the zoom, and as the reviewer below me states, when I zoom, of course there's less light entry into the camera and the images will be "hazy". So, you must select a very bright subject at top zoom. I can easily take my son on the bench across the entire field in soccer, and it's amazing.

I wish the lens wouldn't move in and out whenever you turn the camera on, but rather just when you need zoom. With every "on" cycle, the lens does it's silent grinding in and out like it's adjusting itself, even if I want to just taken a normal photo. Battery drain, unnecessary mechanical movement, in my opinion. I wish it'd do it only when I want zoom.

Other than that, for me, the guy who might submit a photo to my local newspaper photo contest once in a blue moon, but mostly want to take excellent photos at the family barbecue, this camera is the best I have every owned. And I've owned a lot (including SONY HRs, and Fuji hand helds, and on and on). The movie capability, the size, the zoom, the battery life (very good), and the price (I paid more than this for one Sigma lens) makes this camera a winner. I will mention that this particular camera is hard to find: I think Canon may know that it'll hurt the sales of some of the more pricey, entry level interchangeable lens DSLRs they sell because, spec for spec, they are very similar.

Please do me a quick favor and click if this review did or did not help you, either way your feedback helps me know what to include in the future on the reviews. Thanks, I appreciate it. Have a wonderful day

245 people were helped by this review.

return home



Super-Zoom Shootout: Canon SX30 IS vs. Olympus SP-590UZ

by: David Siegfried (Chicago, IL United States)
on: November 20, 2010



This is a head-to-head comparison of the Canon SX30 IS and the Olympus SP-590UZ, which are both competitors in the super-zoom class of compact cameras. I will compare some of the features of these two cameras but mostly talk about the image quality between the two since I consider that the most important reason for choosing a camera.

When the Olympus SP-590UZ came out in 2009 it had the longest zoom range of any compact camera with its 26x zoom equivalent to 26 - 676mm at f/3.5 - 5.0. Olympus has since come out with the SP-800UZ which has an even longer 30x zoom but is inferior in my opinion because it is strictly a point-and-shoot camera with no user control over aperture and shutter speed and no viewfinder.

The Canon SX30 follows the SX20 and currently has the longest zoom range on the compact camera market, a 35x zoom equivalent to 24 - 840mm at f/2.7 - 5.8

I took photos using both cameras of the same subjects using the same lighting and exposure settings. All photos were taken in aperture priority mode (Av). I have uploaded a number of comparison shots to the customer image section so you can follow along.

At the far wide end of the range, both cameras performed about equally, that is to say, adequate but not extremely sharp. These cameras are aimed at birders and other telephoto enthusiasts, and so most of the test shots I took were at the long end of the range. Here the Canon was consistently sharper and was able to resolve finer detail, as in the photo of the evergreen tree tops, the milkweed seed strands, and the detail of the cement wall behind the light post. Both cameras quickly start to exhibit noise above ISO 100, but the Olympus was even showing some color noise at the lowest ISO setting of 64. By ISO 400 the shots are still usable but the noise in the Canon images is finer and better under control while Olympus photos are grainier. Noise reduction in Photoshop can clean up some of the noise with some possible compromise in sharpness.

The one disappointment in the Canon SX30 is the macro mode. The focusing range is "approximately 0 - 50 cm" which sounds great but you literally have to get right on top of the object to fill the frame with the image. The Olympus has a dedicated Super Macro mode which allows you to take macro shots from further away from your subject. This not only allows you not to disturb your subject but also prevents the camera from casting a shadow on it. Macro shots with the Olympus are not only much easier to take but the results are better.

Here's a direct comparison of some of the features of these two Super-Zoom cameras:

Lens: Advantage Canon with a longer zoom and sharper focus. The Canon is faster at the wide end but both lenses are pretty slow in their telephoto ranges. Neither is great for capturing sports action or birds in flight. Neither camera is good for low light conditions without a flash either. Although the Canon lens is sharper it has some chromatic aberration.

LCD screen: Canon has an articulating screen which means you can take shots from unusual angles and still see the screen. Olympus only has a fixed screen.

Picture Modes: Canon has 10 color modes and one customizable mode, Olympus only has Normal and Vivid.

Zoom markings: Canon lens has focal length markings on the lens, Olympus has none. Neither camera has a focal length readout on the screen, which would be nice.

Lens Cap: The Canon lens cap can remain on while the camera is powered up. The Olympus lens cap has to be removed before powering on the camera, or else the protruding lens will push it off.

Menus and buttons: I have no preference here, both cameras have good manual control and it's all about getting used to one or the other.

Focus: The Olympus auto-focus seems to be more accurate at close distances. I saw some back focusing with the Canon at close range. Both cameras do a terrible job with manual focus, it is very hard to use. The Canon has a focus bracketing feature, something which I wanted to have for focus stacking, but I found out it only works in manual focus mode and it's slow. Advantage Olympus.

Image Stabilization: The Canon seems to "lock in" while the Olympus seems to slowly drift. I prefer the "locking" image stabilization of the Canon even though it jumps around at times.

Image Quality: This is where it counts and the Canon is the clear winner, particularly in the telephoto range. The images may need to be sharpened up in PhotoShop but the examples I posted were straight out of the camera. The Olympus would only be a better choice if you were going to be doing a lot of macro work.

Conclusions:

The Canon SX30 IS is the clear winner and appears to be the best super-zoom compact available at the moment. The optics may not be as good as a lens with a shorter focal range and there is some noise apparent even at low ISO values. Unfortunately camera makers insist on cramming more mega-pixels onto these tiny sensors which means more noise. For these reasons and for the disappointing implementation of macro, Canon gets deducted one star.

The image quality will never be as good as a DSLR or a Micro Four Thirds camera such as the Panasonic DMC-GH1 and I would not recommend this camera for professional or fine arts photography, but it would be a convenient and versatile choice under daylight conditions when you want to carry a minimum amount of equipment.

82 people were helped by this review.

return home



It looks like a keeper...

by: Vanamali Ashram "Hari Aum" (Heartwood, USA)
on: October 11, 2010



I sold my Panasonic DMC-FZ18 to a birder in India last spring, thinking that I would simply order one of the next generation of ultra-zooms. Thanks to Amazons 30 day return policy I tried the Fujifilm HS10, Nikon P100, Panasonic FZ100 and now the Canon SX30IS. Its my first day...but it looks like the Canon is a keeper (finally). From a birders perspective....focusing was a constant struggle for the Nikon & Fuji...they only took good pictures in ideal conditions...and even then images were soft (blurry detail). The Panasonic did a great job of staying in focus...but is shots were too soft for my eye. This Canon is doing an amazing job of focusing, it ignored the foliage in the way & picked out a crow perched in a tree enjoying an apple, more than a 1000 feet distant at 35X. My 35X shot of a Golden crowned sparrow ...in mediocre light... was really detailed and the 35X shot of a Black Phoebe in late afternoon light was tops as well. The image stabilization is excellent!...and it feels so much lighter than the Fuji...comparable with the Panasonic FZ100. To be continued...

168 people were helped by this review.

return home



Don't expect miracles with a small sensor

by: 4-Decade Amateur
on: November 6, 2010



I used a Nikon E8800 (8mp, 10x zoom) for 5 years as my primary digital P&S. It was satisfactory in every way, although newer cameras with large LCD displays, longer zoom, faster shutter response and lots of additional electronic features did tempt me to switch. But the images produced by the 8800 were so consistent and noticeably better than what my buddies produced with a range of other P&S cameras that the temptation to 'upgrade' was easy to suppress. Sadly a few months ago the 8800 became unusable because of Nikon's dreaded "System Error" which has defied repair; so a replacement became unavoidable.

My style of photography demands a good zoom and I tried several cameras (Lumix FZ-28, Pentax X-90, Finepix S-1800, etc) and found the quality of images were well below the clarity of the 8800. Basically it comes down to the size of the sensor, which is a much under-rated factor as all manufacturers and sellers try to convince us that the mega-pixel count is the ultimate metric for resolution - WRONG. For instance the 8800 has a 8mp CCD 1/1.5" sensor (which translates to an area of 0.58sq cm and a pixel density of approx 12mp/sqcm ). All the cameras mentioned above use a sensor size 1/2.33" (0.28 sq cm), ie less than half the size of the E8800 and, due to the increase in megapixel count, with a 400% increase in pixel density ! No wonder the images aren't as sharp, especially when enlarged to full size on a computer screen. The Canon G-11 has a larger sensor but its optical zoom tops out at 5x, hence it did not appeal to me.

The SX30IS also has the small 1/2.33" sensor and, as expected, I noticed a lot of image noise even when the light conditions were good. To overcome this problem I changed the ISO setting to 80 (instead of the default AUTO) and reduced the resolution to 7M. This has improved the clarity of the pictures and reduced the unwanted image `noise' considerably. It is now my 'standard' setting.

The SX30IS is a delight to use. In particular the wide angle is really wide and the zoom is WOW! The digital zoom does not produce unacceptable graininess in the image. The in-built flash does a commendable job even at the fixed ISO 80 setting. The camera has a comfortable size & balance and a good feel to it. Being about 100 gms lighter than my E8800 makes it easier to carry around and, if necessary, to hold & operate with one hand. The articulated screen is very useful. The auto-focus is fairly accurate though at large zoom settings the best focus is obtained on the 2nd or 3rd attempt. It does take a bit of time getting used to the different menus and features, but that's to be expected where so many features are crammed into such a small package.

The cons : I would suggest two improvements. Firstly, the `Frame Assist' button needs to be relocated. At present it is positioned exactly where the average user would place the thumb of the right hand. Pressing this button is intended to cycle the zoom lens back to a wider angle; a very useful feature. However, despite my conscious efforts to place my thumb in the groove meant for it, this button often gets pressed unintentionally. At best it forces the user to miss the shot while the zoom gets back to the correct setting, but it certainly confuses users who can't figure out why the zoom sometimes operates without activation! The second point of improvement is the need to have a self-activated pop-up flash.

60 people were helped by this review.

return home



KODAK EASYSHARE SPORT C123 (BLUE) (NEW MODEL) (ELECTRONICS)

return home



KODAK EASYSHARE SPORT Camera Overview Ready for life unlimited. Whether it's a dunk in the pool, a downpour on the hiking trail, or a spilled drink at the restaurant, check out the great outdoors without worrying about dirt, dust, and sand. Be ready with the KODAK EASYSHARE SPORT Camera. Take your best shot—up to 10 ft underwater. Plus, wherever you go, your friends will wish they were there. With Kodak's Share button you can tag pictures directly from your camera for e-mailing to friends or uploading to popular social networking sites 2 . Only KODAK Digital Cameras allow you to simultaneously share to multiple social networks and e-mail 1 . Kodak's Share button makes sharing your videos and pictures as simple with One Button Upload:


• Just press Share
when in review mode


• Choose your favorite sharing destinations: FACEBOOK, e-mail, KODAK Gallery and KODAK PULSE Digital Frames 2 , and other popular sharing sites


• Connect your camera to your computer
or insert your memory card and your videos or pictures are automatically uploaded to the destination(s) 1 Kodak's exclusive Share Button:


• Automatically shares when you connect to a PC 1


• Tags to the largest number of socialnetworks 3


• Uploads friend tags to FACEBOOK 1 Take a swim and take your best shot: Waterproof*, dustproof**, and worry proof


• Take the plunge—shoot stills and video up to 10 ft underwater


• Go anywhere—dustproof design lets you shoot in just about any environment


• Don't get the blues—underwater white balance mode gives true-to-life colors in the pool or under the waves * IEC 60529 IPX8 compliant— learn more ** IEC 60529 IP6X compliant— learn more Features:


• Share your world big and bright with 12 MP: More megapixels means you can crop and enlarge and still have great picture quality. Make stunning prints up to 30 x 40 in.


• 2.4 in. bright LCD: Relive moments and view pictures with brilliance and clarity thanks to KODAK Color Science


• Face detection: For great shots of friends and family, face detection locates faces and automatically adjusts camera settings

• Never miss a moment with AA batteries: Your camera is always ready to go using convenient AA batteries Kodak's Smart Capture feature: Beautiful pictures, more often-automatically Become a better photographer with a smarter camera. Kodak's innovative Smart Capture feature automatically identifies the scene and adjusts camera settings for a great picture in just about any environment.


• Intelligent scene detection—analyzes the scene to give you better pictures under various conditions


• Intelligent capture control—automatically sets camera settings for clear, sharp pictures even in low light and challenging situations


• Intelligent image processing—reduces noise and clears up dark shadows for vibrant, crisp details and true-to-life colors What's In the Box: Everything you need to shoot and share •


KODAK EASYSHARE SPORT Camera •


KODAK Alkaline AA Batteries or equivalent •


Essential Floating Wrist Strap/ Orange •


USB cable •


User Guide 1 All Kodak digital still and video cameras manufactured in 2011 or later. 2 KODAK PULSE Display and KODAK Gallery support still pictures; video not supported. 3 Sharing sites vary by region



Great camera for the price!

by: sciencedad
on: April 29, 2011



We recently purchased this camera for our Disney Cruise. Our seven year old son was scheduled to snorkle with stingrays on Castaway Cay and we wanted to capture that experience. We were able to take photos and video of him with the stingrays, some of it underwater. The camera took clear pictures and video. The only drawback was it is hard to see the screen (so you know what you are photographing) and there is no viewfinder but that problem was easily outweighed by the price. We are very pleased with our purchase!

102 people were helped by this review.

return home



Very nice for the price

by: Shania (Ohio)
on: May 25, 2011



I bought this camera for my 15 year old son who is taking a 2 week hiking trip. He hasn't actually taken the trip yet, but he's been playing around with the camera (we both have, actually) at home to get comfortable with its features and abilities. Considering the price, I am actually quite impressed. Aside from the price, there are two reasons I choose this camera. First, it is waterproof (to 10 feet)and could therefore withstand getting dropped in a puddle or rained on. The waterproof feature just takes that type of worry out of the equation. My son is also a competitive swimmer, so I fully expect he will at some point also enjoy it in the pool with his friends. The second reason for choosing this camera was the "easy share" of the pictures. You set up emails or a facebook account in advance, then as you take the pictures you choose where you will share them (email, facebook). To actually share them, you will need to plug into a computer, but then it will automatically and quickly send those pictures to wherever you have designated. (Hint: you need to designate an email to send from and a yahoo or gmail account are the easiest to use to set up... techies may know more, but this worked best for me). The biggest suprise was the pictures themselves. The quality is actually not bad. Professional photographers and photo enthusiasts of course would not be satisfied, but for a 15 year old boy or me, this works pretty good. Settings for lighting, etc. are available and are pretty simple to use. Video is good in good lighting. Lighting is probably the key to all, but we haven't had any problems so far with any light (assuming use of the flash in poor lighting). Things that I would like to see would be the ability to associate with more than one facebook account at a time and a view finder so that you could see what you were doing in bright sunlight, but these are minor disadvantages. Given the price, this is really a very nice camera and will serve our purposes very well.

53 people were helped by this review.

return home



If you want a "cheap and cheerful" waterproof camera, this one is great

by: Eric Schurr (Boston, MA)
on: July 10, 2011



If you're looking for a simple point-and-shoot that you can take underwater, this camera is great.

Let me begin by explaining that I am an avid photographer; I have over $10,000 in high end DSLR equipment and lenses. I have over 20,000 photos in my collection. I know something about photography.

I recently went on a sailing vacation with my family and wanted a simple digital camera to take in the water. I wasn't looking for something high-end because all i really wanted to do was shoot pics of my kids snorkeling and scuba diving. I didn't want a disposable because they aren't digital, you usually have to wind them which is a real pain in the water, and they shoot poor pictures. My wife bought me a $500 top-of-the-line underwater point-and-shoot Panasonic Lumix but I took it back because it was overkill. It was waterproof to 40 feet, had an altimeter, etc -- I didn't need all that. I found this Kodak camera and it was perfect. It worked great -- we took on jet skis, on snorkeling trips, and down to 11 feet underwater scuba diving. It never had an issue -- it started up quickly, operated simply and reliably, and the photos are just fine. Frankly, the videos are even better -- I was surprised at good they are! Of course, the photos don't compare to my $2,000 Nikon DSLR, but I wasn't expecting them to. I just wanted a camera that could capture some of the memories of the water fun on our sailing trip, and this did it.

36 people were helped by this review.

return home



Extreme Surprised!!

by: TashaPhD
on: June 1, 2011



I was truly blown away by the picture quality! I just printed some of the pictures and they look way better than I anticipated from a waterproof camera - insanely inexpensive at that. I kept the camera submerged for long periods of time and I never noticed any sort of leakage. My vacation would not have been complete without it...serious!

Only drawback is the speed at which you can take multiple pictures in repetition. The screen takes a second to process the photo so you have to wait a few seconds to take another picture.

24 people were helped by this review.

return home



For the price, it's twice as nice

by: N. Oldani
on: June 20, 2011



I have now had this camera for three months now. We use it every time we are at the pool, have taken it to the lake, and on a float trip. I have not experienced the lack of "waterproofness" that a couple of reviews did. This camera is great for the price. We used to use disposable waterproof cameras and that gets expensive fast so we decided to give this a shot. Love it. It has already paid for itself. There is "fog" every so often, but that is actually water drops on the lens (at least in our case). The video is great too, considering we never had it in the water before! All in all, this camera should NOT replace your other cameras. Take it for what it is... a fun addition to summer and water. And in this day and age, it is super easy to return a broken product, so even with the couple complaints, it is still worth buying... in MY opinion ;)

16 people were helped by this review.

return home



Unbelievable value

by: Herb
on: June 12, 2011



I purchased this last minute from another retailer for a trip to the Cayman Islands where I knew we would be doing extensive snorkeling. In the past, I have rented underwater cameras while there or used disposable cameras and had the photos developed. I couldn't believe the quality of the pictures considering the price of the camera.

I agree with some of the other reviewers in that it is difficult to see the screen when it is bright out. I found that setting the LCD brightness to maximum helped to relieve this but I still had to be at the correct angle to see it clearly. Like all compact UW cameras, the flash is fairly ineffective due to back-scatter unless the water is crystal clear or the subject is within a foot or so of the camera.

Regardless, i can't recommend this highly enough. While some of the adjustments are limited, from an underwater camera standpoint, this is a deal that can't be beat. I think that it compares favorably with the low end Fuji camera at about half the price. I think one of the best things is that it uses AA batteries and sips them at that. I was averaging about 140 shots per day (50% with flash) with camera on and ready to shoot (read screen on and active) for at least a 3 to 4 hours hours a day and two alkaline AA batteries would last about 2 days. I will test with NiMH and update the review later. I was also able to exceed the depth limitation and still take pictures but YMMV (I took several pictures at around 15 ft.).

Most of the modes work reasonably well for a cheap Point and Shoot camera. Obviously, it is not a DSLR (or even advanced P&S) but still highly serviceable. My only complaint in this area is that in UW mode the camera caused a greenish cast on most all pictures. It would be nice to be able to set white balance manually to avoid this but it was a simple fix with Photoshop Elements (I would imagine that it is simple with other photo editors, too).

If you are planning a vacation where you will be taking underwater photos in shallow water, buy one of these. Basically, you can buy this camera for the cost of 2 disposable 35mm UW cameras and photo processing fees and you will be able to use the camera again and again.

Update:

One other issue/nice to have is close focus (I think that other reviewers may have mentioned this). Once you are closer than about 12" focus becomes iffy. Some times it works, some times it doesn't. It would be nice to have a dedicated macro mode but I am still exceedingly happy with my purchase.

10 people were helped by this review.

return home



much better than i thought

by: Dan
on: May 16, 2011



The pic quality is much better than I thought. I bought the blue one, it is so cute. I carry it all day. it is easy to use and it has different color formats.

The disadvantage is that it does not have cap for lense (not a zoom lense), so it is easy for dust rest on the lense.

13 people were helped by this review.

return home



SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-H70 16.1 MP DIGITAL STILL CAMERA WITH 10X WIDE-ANGLE OPTICAL ZOOM G LENS AND 3.0-INCH LCD (BLUE) (ELECTRONICS)

return home



Sony DSC-H70 Shoot life at its fullest with the Sony DSC-H70. Get closer to your subjects with 10x optical zoom. Capture landscapes with one touch Sweep Panorama, take 720p HD videos, get perfect portraits with Smile Shutter or get everyone in the picture with the 25mm wide angle lens. Sony DSC-H70 Feature Highlights 3.0-inch LCD


3.0-inch LCD to preview and review your photos. Compact camera with 10x zoom


The Sony 10x optical zoom G lens brings distant subjects super close for great outdoors, sports, and travel photos. The compact size makes it easy to take with you in a pocket, purse, or backpack. Sweep Panorama Mode Reach beyond the traditional wide angle lens, and capture more breathtaking shots with Sweep Panorama Mode. Simply press the shutter button and sweep the camera in the desired direction and the camera continuously shoots at a high speed, then seamlessly stitches the images together with automatic position adjustment to create one stunning panoramic image. Available in wide and ultra-wide options, the camera can take panoramic shots of up to 260 degrees. Now capturing wide landscapes is as easy as press and sweep. 720p MP4 HD Movie Mode 5


In 720p MP4 movie mode the camera shoots 1280 x 720 high definition movies at 30 fps, which is the format when working with a PC 5 .
Users will create high quality movies with full use of optical zoom in files small enough to transfer to compatible PC or Mac. Once transferred to a computer you can effortlessly upload your media to popular photo and video-sharing websites such as Photobucket and YouTube. (Compatible computer with internet capability required) Optical SteadyShot image stabilization


Optical SteadyShot image stabilization uses a built-in gyro sensor to detect camera shake and automatically shifts the lens to help prevent blur without sacrificing image quality. Active Mode


Stabilize hand held HD movies with active mode. For recording on the go this feature was designed to minimize motion capturing the video without all of the movement. Motion Detection Motion Detection, along with Face Motion Detection adjusts ISO sensitivity and increases the shutter speed when movement is detected, reducing blur in moving subjects and faces. Intelligent Auto Mode Unlike traditional auto mode, Intelligent Auto (iAuto) mode does the thinking, recognizing scenes, lighting conditions, faces, and adjusts settings resulting clear images, faces with natural skin tone and less blur. Take advantage of all the technology without leaving Auto mode. Kids on the playground, landscape shots, a beautiful flower or an indoor birthday party; all result in clear images without leaving auto mode. Soft Skin Mode


Portrait subjects will love the results. Soft Skin mode recognizes skin tones and reduces the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles without affecting the rest of the shot. Natural Flash


Conventional point-and-shoot camera flash shots just don't capture colors the way the eye sees them. Natural Flash mode takes a reference shot without flash and then uses that reference to correct the color, for far more lifelike images. In camera guide


Take all the guesswork out of photography with the in camera guide. It's convenient step-by-step instructions lead to a perfect shot. Smile Shutter technology Smile Shutter technology captures a smile the moment it happens. Simply press the Smile Shutter button and the camera does the rest. Also select adult and child priority and indicate the degree of Smile Detection Sensitivity. Intelligent Scene Recognition can be used together with Smile Shutter mode. This means that beautiful smiles can be captured with settings optimized for the particular scene, even in difficult conditions such as twilight and backlighting. Face Detection technology Sony's Face Detection technology can automatically distinguish between children and adults. Face Detection technology detects up to eight individual faces and adjusts flash, focus, exposure, and white balance to help deliver crisp, properly lit images of family and friends. Anti-blink Function It's frustrating to capture the perfect shot, only to review it later and discover subjects blinked during the photo. When the camera is set to Soft Snap, the Anti-blink function captures two images, recording only the photo with less squinting or blinking. If a blink is detected in other shooting modes, a warning will be displayed after you take the shot. TransferJet technology


TransferJet technology, developed by Sony and advanced and promoted by consortium of 18 other companies, allows transfer of up to ten files between two TransferJet enabled devices just by touching their TransferJet logos together, without the hassle of hunting for cables or the complication of pairing 6 . High Sensitivity Mode (ISO 3200) High ISO allows for faster shutter speed, so you can take photos indoors or in low light without the need for a flash. In addition to High Sensitivity Mode (ISO), you can select up to seven ISO settings (Auto, 125, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200) when shooting in Program Auto Mode to adjust sensitivity to the shooting conditions. Easy Shooting Mode With Easy Shooting Mode, even beginners can take great photos. In Easy Shooting Mode, easy-to-understand basic instructions are displayed on the LCD screen and the camera switches to all automatic settings, removing several function choices and allowing you to focus on just your subject. Since this mode works together with Intelligent Scene Recognition, the camera selects the optimum setting for each scene. In addition the easy mode simplifies preview mode. In-Camera Retouching Tools Retouch and enhance your photos on the go with in-camera Trimming, Red-Eye Correction, and Unsharp Masking functions. Self-Portrait Timer


Self-Portrait Timer helps take the guesswork out of self portraits by utilizing Face Detection technology to recognize when your face enters the frame. Once the camera detects your face, it triggers a 2-second timer, and then snaps a picture. PHOTOMUSIC 4 PHOTOMUSIC 4 combines images with music (4 tracks, 5 minutes per track) to produce fun and entertaining slide shows with standard visual effects (Simple, Nostalgic, Active, and Stylish). Select from pre-loaded tracks on the camera or transfer your own from your compatible computer (sold separately). Compatible with PC and MAC Systems


The Full HD video captured with the DSC-H70 can be used with the provided Picture Motion Browser software1 for PC and iMovie (sold separately) for Mac systems. Includes Sony PMB (Picture Motion Browser) Software ver. 5.5 1 Sony Picture Motion Browser software offers a simple, intuitive way to transfer, sort, and view video and still images on a compatible PC. In addition, multiple output options let you burn your memories to DVD (sold separately), as well as take advantage of one click upload to a number of popular video and photo sharing sites 7 . Includes Sony PMB Portable software 2


With the pre-installed Picture Motion Browser (PMB) Portable 5.5 (Mac vers. 1.3) software 2 the DSC-H70 makes it easy to pre-select videos and images in the camera and conveniently upload them from the camera to a compatible PC and popular Internet sharing sites 7 without the need for any additional software or install. PMB requires Microsoft Windows XP SP3/ Windows Vista SP2/Windows 7 environments not supported. Not supported by Mac OS.
Uploading directly to the web requires PMB Portable software and USB cable (included), and PC with internet connectivity. Windows XP SP3 64-bit and Starter Edition and Windows Vista Starter Edition environments not supported. Compatible BRAVIA HDTV, and component cable required for PhotoTV HD viewing. Specifications for BRAVIA HDTV shown vary according to market region. Four preset music tracks stored in internal memory. Imported music tracks can be up to five minutes long. When using Music Transfer to download music, tracks longer than five minutes will be reduced to five minutes when uploading to the Cyber-shot camera. Movie recording is limited to 29 minute segments. TransferJet enabled media (sold separately) and TransferJet technology required in both devices.
Interoperability and compatibility among TransferJet enabled devices may vary. Requires compatible wireless access point(s). Some features may rely on Internet services.



crystal clear pictures & mom friendly

by: sherman
on: March 16, 2011



I bought this as a gift for my mom to replace her nice, but bulky digital SLR. Her requirements were the camera must take excellent pictures, be user friendly or intuitive, and also be easy to grasp and hold while taking a photo.

The Sony DSC-H70 passed all three by me, and more importantly by my technologically declined mom.

The 10x optical zoom on the camera is sweet, while it isn't as flawless as the alpha models lenses or carl zeiss lenses it comes really close. It has a very high-quality lens and internal components. For the price/quality tradeoff I think this camera beats out all camera's under $300 currently on the market. I think the 16 MP is probably overkill, but it doesn't seem to sacrifice image richness so the more the merrier. Also, the blue color looks classy.

A huge selling point is the smart design of the camera. It has a groove for your thumb on the back, and the front has a slightly raised and concave area opposite of the lens side to grip. With the really thin cameras it seems people end up pinching the edges or hold the camera in an awkward position. You can grip this with a more natural grasp which helps keep the camera steady (although it does have a really good image stabilizer on it).

I was instantly a fan of the option for the auto setting that takes two shots at slightly different settings when light conditions are low or there is abnormal backlight conditions. When I tested it under a variety of poor light conditions one of the two pictures always turned out great (the other was good too, but one was just more ideal). That feature alone is worth buying the camera for. Saves a ton of time knowing you'll have a good snapshot when light conditions are less than ideal. The smile recognizer actually does work well and I can see it coming in handy quite often. The panorama setting works better than any camera I've seen to date. I weebled and wobbled the camera on purpose and the panorama still would turn out really well.

Those are the main items noticeably better than other digital point-and-shoots. It does come with an digital instruction manual on the camera if your curious about what something is when you are away from home.

I've been playing with my FujiFilm 3D camera recently, which if you are a photography geek I recommend scoping out. I went with 3D over high-quality 2D, but after seeing this in action I'm seriously considering the H70. Before this I was eyeing the alpha line (a55) from sony, which is an amazing camera in its own right.

126 people were helped by this review.

return home



Typical Sony camera...GREAT!

by: H. Fink
on: April 8, 2011



This is my 3rd Sony camera and like the others it takes great pictures. What I mainly like about the camera is the SteadyShot stabilization and the Active mode that is available for videos. Other cameras usually only have an electronic stabilization which doesn't really do anything. Sony's actually physically moves the sensor. Getting up in years, my hands are not as steady as they used to be and at full zoom, taking a picture or video with other cameras at full zoom is very jumpy. Another cool feature is the Sweep Panorama which creates some great shots. Unfortunately the only way I have found to view them in sweep mode is using the included PMB software. Viewing them in a slideshow only gives a static image though. All-in-all, you can't go wrong with this camera.

PRO's - Steadyshot, great pictures. zoom range

CON's - Zoom noise is very prevalent in videos

46 people were helped by this review.

return home



Sony 16mp camera

by: Roy Allen "rlaj" (Austin, TX USA)
on: April 14, 2011



Bought this camera five days ago. Paid full retail which was around $229.00 and I had to buy a memory card, it did not come with one. The picture quality is great and it is very simple to use. The panorama actually works pretty good and I got it to take a panoramic photo on the 3rd try. The movie quality is outstanding, and again, easy to use. There are some settings I've yet to figure out. To me, it seems like a lot of camera fo the money. Plus, I've not had many problems with Sony products.

44 people were helped by this review.

return home



Almost Perfect.....

by: TGV
on: April 12, 2011



I bought the camera this past weekend, used it at my sons baseball game the pictures came out nice, just wish the zoom was a little bit longer, for having 10x zoom the camera is small and slim, it might not have touch screen and all the other little nice features but it does what a camera should do take nice pictures. I use to use a olypmus 10x zoom and a kodak 10x zoom but this little camera in my opinion takes nicer looking photos and is a lot smaller then those other bulker cameras i use to use, I think this camera is a bang for the buck.

28 people were helped by this review.

return home



A Great Portable Camera

by: Ruth Adamson (Dallas, Tx)
on: May 21, 2011



I really like this Sony. I bought it because I needed a portable camera. I use a Canon S10 IS but it is too big to carry around on vacation or casual events. I was wary because the reviews on Amazon were varied but a digital camera review site gave it extremely high marks. After having this camera for 3 weeks, here are the pros and cons:

PROS:

The best auto - mode I have seen anywhere. I took pics in Disney world in daytime and low light conditions, indoor and out, and the pictures came out great with no flash needed...ISO adjusted automatically

Burst mode - press and hold button to take 3 consecutive shots

10x zoom - almost unheard of for a camera this small

Shutter speed is great, yes really. But if you are in auto mode and the setting has changed (daytime to twilight for example) your first shot will be delayed while it changes to the new mode

Portrait mode will recognize up to 8 faces in your picture, great for families or group shots

Sony now has a slot for an SD card in addition to their Memory Stick, this was a big selling point for me

CONS:

Shutter speed for changing modes as above. You can manually set the mode to bypass that.

I have not yet figured out how to stop the preview after a pic. Not sure that is Sony's fault.

No optical viewfinder. They are more rare in small cameras but help when it's sunny out.

This camera takes some practice. Not a lot, but you really do need to look at the online manual to get the best use from it.

MY CONCLUSION:

Overall I am very happy with my purchase. If you want a point and shoot that is easy out of the box, there are better suited cameras out there. If you want a camera that's a few steps up from a basic point and shoot, this one is great if you are willing to take the time to learn how to use it. Once you do, changing the settings is fast and easy.

22 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great for the price

by: Josie "momofone" (Indianapolis, IN USA)
on: May 1, 2011



I tried several $150.00 cameras. That was my "limit." This one is so much better! I read a professional review that said this camera was really not good enough for action shots involving animals and kids. So untrue! All of the other cameras I have experienced had what I think is called a long shutter lag. You would hit the button and the picture wouldn't snap for another second - you always lost the good shot. It seems to me that this one shoots very quickly. The review said the time between pictures was over 4 seconds. It was fast enough for me, and didn't seem to be 4 seconds at all. I love this camera and am very happy to have spent the extra $40 over what I wanted to spend.

18 people were helped by this review.

return home



Not all that I'd hoped, but okay

by: Granover
on: June 5, 2011



I bought this camera because my previous Sony had 7.2 pixels and 4x zoom. The H70 model has 16mp and 10x zoom. I liked that I could continue using the same battery and use either the SD card or my memory stick pro duo cards. However, there is no viewfinder, which made it very hard to take video because of the glare off the screen in bright sunlight. Also, the camera mode dial is on the top, which I find harder to use than my previous Sony. I am not a pro, just wanted a point and shoot. The battery discharges faster, perhaps because of the increased pixels? The video, although stated as 720p, does seem a bit better than the older camera which stated the vidio was 1080p. That was a pleasant surprise; it did help with shooting video of my grandids' sports events.

I bought the bundle, it was a better deal. But the camera case is really tight; it does not hold an extra battery unless you jam one in. The case does not have a neck strap either. All in all, it was the best price for this model camera that I've seen anywhere.

8 people were helped by this review.

return home



Amazing Quality

by: Jim
on: June 7, 2011



Worth the money!

There are only two minor problems that I found, easily fixable:

1) There is a tiny bit of stretching at the corners of pictures. As an example I took a picture of my girlfriend standing in front of the Eiffel tower. She wanted the entire tower in the picture, so I basically had to take the picture looking straight up (we were at the base). When I tilted the camera so that just her upper body was in the picture, her face stretched. This is due to the fact that the camera has a wide angle lens.

If you want to take pictures and focus on a person's face, it works great! But if there face is the size of a pinky nail and is located in one of the corners of the lcd screen (and therefore the lens) expect stretching. I'm sure most people won't find this to be a problem anyway. To fix my picture I just had my girlfriend get closer to the camera, fixed everything.

2) Night shots aren't the best, but for a point-and-shoot, there pretty damn good. The first ones weren't always clear, so just press the delete button and try again.

Overall, this camera is a steal. The smart camera function works really well and it is a 16 mega pixel camera... for $200! I got it. I love it. Don't second guess yourself! Get this camera!

6 people were helped by this review.

return home



CANON POWERSHOT S95 10 MP DIGITAL CAMERA WITH 3.8X WIDE ANGLE OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZED ZOOM AND 3.0-INCH LCD (ELECTRONICS)

return home



One look at Canon's new PowerShot S95 will have you moving "upgrade my digital camera" to the top of your to-do list. The ultra-slim, ultra-intelligent S95 is loaded with all a serious photographer's must-haves, including a bright f/2.0 wide-angle lens and professional-style control ring for intuitive manual control. Canon's HS System is on board for spectacular performance and image quality in low light. And, new for a compact, the S95 incorporates Canon's Hybrid IS for blur-free shooting even close-up. You'll shoot stunning 720p HD video with stereo sound, then watch it immediately on your HDTV with the simple HDMI connection. If photography's your passion, now is the perfect time to step up to PowerShot S95. Canon PowerShot S95 Highlights Canon's HS System for improved low light performance and better image quality The PowerShot S95 employs the Canon HS System by combining a powerful 10.0-megapixel CCD sensor and Canon's DIGIC 4 Image Processor. Thanks to this technological advancement, the S95 is dramatically more sensitive than cameras with identical megapixel counts, and delivers spectacular images with minimal noise. Increased sensitivity demands a higher ISO speed, and the PowerShot S95 delivers with a new maximum setting of ISO 12,800. Blur and camera shake are notably reduced for the ultimate in sharpness and clarity. Shoot beautiful 720p HD video in stereo sound The PowerShot S95 lets you record video in beautiful high definition (1280 x 720 pixels). The camera also makes it easy to enjoy HD videos (and still photos) on your HDTV with a mini-HDMI connector for direct connection to a high-definition TV monitor. You'll enjoy the HD experience with no degradation of image or audio in the signal, plus the ability to display up to 130 still images at once. Control ring for intuitive manual control Focus, Exposure, ISO, Step Zoom, or White Balance can now be adjusted more precisely than ever with the S95's control ring. It's even more intuitive and quicker than the usual 2-button control and the S95 lets you decide which function the ring will adjust. Bright f/2.0 lens The S95 sports an f/2.0 aperture, perfect for creating enticing portraits, by drawing attention to the face and blurring the background with its impressively shallow depth-of-field. The Macro setting lets you get even closer. The large aperture also does more. It lets you capture more nuances in low light shooting by using more of the available light. You'll be ready for anything with a lens aperture larger than even many professional sizes. Canon's Hybrid IS to compensate for angular and shift camera shake during close-up shooting The PowerShot S95 is one of the first compact cameras to be equipped with Canon's highly advanced Hybrid IS function, which corrects camera shake from two sources to deliver sharp, blur-free images even when you zoom in close to your subject. Hybrid IS employs both an angular sensor and an accelerometer, enabling it to suppress both the blur caused by the angle of the camera and the "shift blur" that happens when your subject moves parallel to the camera, a problem that is especially noticeable at large zoom factors. With the ability to produce clear, steady images in most situations and at any zoom length, the PowerShot S95 is the camera you'll want to take everywhere. Full range of shooting and recording modes The PowerShot S95's RAW mode lets you shoot images without JPEG compression. It gives you clearer images and complete creative control in editing. RAW images are transferred directly to the computer where they can then be edited using image adjustment software or a processing application to adjust your images as you please. The camera can also be set to allow the simultaneous recording of both RAW and JPEG images while shooting. Also, with 26 Shooting Modes including 18 Special Scene Modes, you're ready for whatever shot comes your way. 3.8x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer, plus a 28mm wide-angle lens The PowerShot S95 features Canon's precision 28mm wide-angle 3.8x optical zoom lens that allows you to shoot most scenes from wide-angle to telephoto. It lets you capture more in every frame, so everyone fits in a family gathering shot. When it's time to take a closer look, the Canon Optical Image Stabilizer helps minimize camera shake and reveal almost every detail. What's in the Box PowerShot S95 Camera body Lithium-ion Battery Pack NB-6L Battery Charger CB-2LY Wrist Strap WS-DC9 AV Cable AVC-DC400ST USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM




Excellent image quality, full controls and pocketable

by: Michael Sandman (Brookline, MA United States)
on: September 9, 2010



(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

If you're looking for a pocketable camera that has reasonably high quality images, lets you control aperture, speed and focus and shoot in RAW format, this is it. I bought mine as an upgrade from a previous small but versatile camera, a Canon Powershot S70.

The Powershot S95 was introduced in August 2010 as a slight upgrade to the S90, which was widely praised for its image quality and excellent interface but criticized for being hard to hold ("like a bar of soap in the shower") and for having a control dial that turned too easily. The S95 fixes both problems and adds a couple of other features in a package that fits in the pocket of your jeans (if they're not super tight). The case is metal, and although there are no finger grips on the body, it's not slippery at all. It feels like it's covered with super-fine sandpaper (like 1000 or 1500 grit, for those you who know what that feels like).

The second major complaint about the S-90 was that the function selection ring on the rear moved too easily. The ring on the S-95 has a slight click when you move it, and it doesn't move unless you want it to.

There are a couple of other cameras of this type, including the Panasonic LX-3 and LX-5 and the Samsung TL500. They all have let you control camera functions, and like the S95 they have 10 MP sensors that are almost twice as large as a typical pocket camera, so the pixels on the sensor are larger. That lets them gather light more efficiently, which reduces digital "noise" when you shoot in dim light. Image quality is noticeably better than photos from typical pocket cameras. You can make an 8 x 10 or perhaps 11x14 enlargement, although a digital SLR will be significantly better for larger prints. They also have f/2.0 lenses at their widest angle, although the aperture closes down as you zoom in.

The Canon has two advantages over the Panasonic LX-3 & LX-5. First, you really can put it in your pocket or in a belt case no bigger than the one you use for a mobile phone. Second, the interface is a brilliant re-thinking of how a very small camera with a full set of controls should work. There's not much room for buttons on the small surface, but you don't have to get into a multi-level menu on the LCD, and yet changing settings is fast and intuitive.

For example, there's a ring around the lens that you can grip easily to control zoom, or, shutter speed, or aperture, change ISO, or manually focus. You select what you want it to do by pressing a button on the top, and when you look at the LCD screen you can see what it's programmed for. There's a selection wheel on the back for other functions, and when you move it, a clear set of choices appears on the screen. The selections are context-appropriate, so they change depending on whether you've set the camera for aperture control, "Program" control, etc.

The two Panasonics have the same sensor as their Canon equivalents, but they offer a slightly wider lens (24mm vs. 28 for the S95). The LX-3 has a much shorter telephoto - only 60 mm. The LX-5, which was introduced a couple of weeks before the S95, has a 90mm telephoto, and you can buy an add-on optical viewfinder. It also has a flash shoe in addition to the pop-up flash, although you can buy a dedicated add-on flash for the S-95 to supplement its pop-up flash The LX-5 is about 25% more expensive than the Canon S95 (and 60% more with the optional viewfinder) and while it would fit in a coat pocket, you can't stuff it into a trouser pocket.

If you want a truly pocketable camera that gives you good image quality and full control over your photography, the S95 is an excellent choice.

713 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great camera and upgrade to superb S90

by: Thomas Mclean "absit iniuria verbis" (Los Angeles, Ca USA)
on: September 5, 2010



I own both the S90 and S95 (G10 and G11 also, as well as F-1 and numerous Nikons including the D90).

Hands down, I took more photos on a daily basis with the S90 since I took it EVERYWHERE.

As they say, the absolute best camera is the one you have when you need to take a photograph.

The picture quality of the S90 is superb and the S95 is at least as good.

Often the biggest limiter to picture quality is the skill of the photographer.

Time spent mastering a particular camera is well spent and paper specs often can mislead.

Discussing subtle nuances over comparable cameras is often more academic than practical.

The S95 gives the serious photographer tremendous flexibility from full auto to full manual and superb features that are packaged in a truly pocketable high performing camera that is arguably best in class.

So what has improved:

Body finish...more tactile and grippy

Selection wheel on back has click stops....hurray!

On/off button is where it should be.

720p movie mode added (24 fps vs 30 for lx5) with stereo recording.

More scenes including High Dynamic Range (very cool)

Numerous technical innovations that result in more stable, sharper pictures.

Button feel on back is more positive.

Ring on front has more friction and feels more positive.

Body even smaller and more pocketable.

Menu system updated but if you can drive a S90, G10 or G11 you will be off and running.

Improved hand lanyard placement.

Improved shutter release.

Slightly rounded corners...looks feels better.

What stayed the same:

Battery door and card slot.

Same cables and connectors.

Lack of grip....no denying it would add weight but...

Build quality...as good as it will get.

What got worse:

This part is highly subjective because different people see the same change differently (I see the size reduction as good, while others have said it's bad....so be wary and know if you agree with peoples reasons).

Thumb rest no longer there...I missed it.

So there you have my first impressions and if I had to choose between the S90 and S95, the S95 is the clear winner!

343 people were helped by this review.

return home



Wow! What an improvement!

by: Amazon Fan for Many Years (Alexandria, Virginia)
on: August 31, 2010



I spent two or three months doing tons of research to replace my old Canon SD870. Finally a month ago I decided to buy the S90 despite the fact that it didn't have 720 HD video, it was a one-year old model, and many reviewers disliked the looseness of the control dial. My S90 arrived in the middle of August and over the course of many days I learned how to use all the functions and was very pleased with the results.

And then on August 19 Canon announced the upcoming release of the Canon S95. I immediately returned my S90 and anxiously awaited the arrival of its successor. Earlier today it was delivered and I've been using it all day.

I must say that I wanted to love the S90, but the smoothness of the body annoyed me. I figured I'd just have to get used to the slipperiness. But now that I have the S95 in my hands, I can't believe what a difference the matte finish makes regarding secure handling. There's no way you can appreciate the difference if you haven't handled both models yourself. Honestly, that feature alone is worth the slightly higher price.

Control dial issues? No longer! Subtle click-stops have solved that problem.

Finger missing the shutter button on the S90? Well, the geniuses at Canon took care of that, also. You won't mistake the shutter button on the S95 for any other button due to the distinct and secure feel.

I'm in love with this camera. I won't go into details about picture quality because it's as good as its predecessor; there are examples all over the Internet. And of course the S95's 720 HD video is a big improvement over the standard video of the S90.

Only one "con" I can think of: The new, smooth, elegant display on the back is no longer recessed therefore you'll have to be careful if you place the camera face up on a flat surface. In that position it appears the screen will come in direct contact with the table's surface.

474 people were helped by this review.

return home



a little realism

by: ~--&
on: November 13, 2010



62;FM&

60;--~

Let me begin by saying that I think many of the "negative" reviews here are from people with unrealistic expectations. I have had the s95 for a couple of months now (and I see it has come down in price) and think it is a great little camera. Some people may think it is supposed to be a "wonder camera" that will turn you into an amazing photographer that produces professional quality DSLR images and will still fit in your pocket! Well, it's not that.

It is a camera that is just a little too big to fit comfortably into the pocket of my jeans, but that is alright because I would rather keep it in a case that I can clip to my belt or that my wife can easily throw into her purse. It does fit very easily into a loose shirt pocket of a side pocket of some cargo pants.

It is a camera that is capable of producing uncompressed RAW images (not too many choices in this size that can do that), and/or compressed JPEGs. For most people the JPEGs are fine, for some the RAW is a major draw to the s95. Even in JPEG mode the images are great. I am coming from a several year old point and shoot and this thing is better by far. Some people argue that this or that camera/phone takes images of equal quality when shooting JPEGs... this might be true (phone cameras have come a long way) but can your phone shoot in RAW? No? okay then quit your whining.

Does the s95 make me a GREAT photographer? NO. I am still as good (or bad) as ever, but the s95 does give me several tools to use that go a long way to help me become a better photographer.

Movies: good quality. Far better than I expected and stereo sound.

Part of the reason I got this camera is to take pictures of my daughter as she grows. Right now she is 9 months old. If you set it on "kids/pets" it is nice and fast but you give up creative control for the shot. If you are using some of the great and plentiful manual features there is sufficient lag to be a little frustrating if you are trying to catch a fleeting smile. Not anything that would make me want to return the camera, and certainly due to my abilities as a photographer... like choosing a faster ISO, or a wider aperture setting, or using the flash.

Battery life is fine. I actually thought it is quite good. I guess I am not one of those people who has to check every shot and watch ever little movie over and over again while it is still in the camera. I am more of a "sort it all out later" kind of a guy. I give a quick check to see if I got a decent shot or not, and my wife will look at the pictures we took at the end of the day (the s95s display is awesome for this), but that's it. The battery lasted a couple of days for us with fairly heavy use. We did buy a second battery, and I am glad that we did but only because it is really convenient and pretty cheap (if you buy an off brand). Certainly the battery life shouldn't be an issue for anyone.

I gave serious consideration to the Panasonic/Lumix for this purchase but thought that if I was going to spend that much I should be getting into the micro 4/3rds realm. That will probably be my next camera purchase once the tech evolves a bit more, and prices are a little lower.

Bottom line for the Cannon s95:

Great (semi)small point and shoot camera!

Not a miracle worker, not a revelation, just a solid performer with a lot of manual controls not found on most other point and shoots.

Value: Pretty good

I don't feel cheated having paid $399, now with the price at $366 you can get a spare battery, a SD card and a case and still get out the door for under $400! Not bad.

Cheers

55 people were helped by this review.

return home



Simply Superb

by: RonAnnArbor (Ann Arbor, MI United States)
on: September 19, 2010



(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I've become quite the compact camera expert of late, buying for myself as a backup to a dSLR, but also for colleagues and employees.

Simply, the new Canon s95 is the best quality compact I have used. It's out of stock in a lot of places, but shop around -- even the Big Boxes seem to have them right now (don't pay the overinflated prices some marketplace vendors are asking).

Having recently used the Panasonic Lumix LX5 for a week in Paris, I wish I had the s95 instead. The Lumix was returned the day I returned. It quite simply is not a compact camera, and stayed in the backpack more than any other compact camera would have.

The S95 by contrast, has identical IQ, fits into a pants pocket, is small, and easy to use. The settings are quickly changed either through the menu, the mode dial, or the front ring. The small tweeks between the S90 and the S95 actually make a world of difference -- and it's a fine fine high IQ compact camera.

Compared to a standard pocket camera, though, you might might find the zoom range quite limiting. It's better than the Lumix, but only just. It certainly is not capable of superzoom -- the optical zoom works to 3.8x -- but with digital zoom you can get to 15x. Those photos are unusable. The digital zoom is fine in a pinch for a "must have" shot, but they are all pixilated and blurry one you get into the digital zoom range. If you are looking for a superzoom, this camera is NOT IT.

But with the 10 mp size of photos, you can easily crop down, and the IQ is so fine that it will still look clear and sharp at normal printing size up to 10 x 8 for super cropped shots.

I've been very happy with the S95 and have used it all weekend for several hundred shots. I am consistently surprised at the excellent IQ in almost all shooting situations. (There does seem to be some flare when shooting into sunlit situations). I see no chromatic aberation, no vignetting, and simply clear shots. The IQ is fine across all scene modes. Some of the creative modes are fun. The bokeh in depth of field shots looks great.

IF you are contemplating between the older s90 and the s95, there is no comparison -- you will NOT be happy with the s90 once you see what the s95 will do.

Quite simply, this and the Lumix LX5 are the best compact cameras on the market as far as high-end IQ and features. Either camera will do a great job with low-light shots up to 3200 (note that noise is still quite visible with both cameras, heavy at any ISO above 800 but also noticable in anything over 400 ISO with either camera).

Still, for the money, the features, and the sheer compactness, there is no other current camera that matches the S95. Highly recommended.

Pros: Great low-light shots; up to 3200 ISO; great IQ across most shooting situations; very compact and small; easy to use dials and menus. Good ISO.

Cons: Limited focal-range up to 3.8x only (up to focal distance 105). Anything shot in digital zoom is unusable. No grip on body. No dedicated video recording button.

51 people were helped by this review.

return home



Simply Amazing

by: Surfseventy8 (Nantucket, MA United States)
on: September 8, 2010



When I first saw the S90, I was quite intrigued by the amazing low light performance. As a dSLR shooter, I've become quite used to shooting at ISO 800 and above with virtually no noise. I hate the look of photos taken with tiny, on-camera flashes. They are very unflattering so I try to shoot with natural light as much as possible. I've had a few older, basic point and shoots and eventually moved up to the G9 but they all had the same issue: tons of noise on any photo shot above ISO 200. With the larger sensor size faster f/2.0 lens and advanced in-camera noise reduction processing, this seems to do just fine at ISO 1250 and 1600.

This camera definitely rocks. The small size means that it's easy to keep in my pocket at all times. My other camera is a Nikon D700 with a huge, heavy lens that I hate to take out just because of its size. The S95 is giving my pro camera a run for its money. The picture quality is great and the in-camera scenes give you so many options as well as full manual mode. Shutter lag is virtually non-existent. The LCD screen is bright and fairly accurate as far as colors. My last Canon, the G9, had a purplish tint to the LCD and didn't display colors properly. The S95's screen is polarized which makes it much easier to see in bright sunlight. The downside to this is that if you wear polarized sunglasses, the screen goes black when turned horizontally.

The ergonomics of this camera leave a little to be desired. It's not easy to turn on or off with one hand and i'm always struggling with how to hold it while shooting. I find that I press buttons accidentally. I suppose that's to be expected on a camera that's this small. I'm also less than impressed with the HD video. The picture quality was great considering it's a p&s but it is a little jumpy since it only records 24 fps. Battery life is a little short, 1/2 a day of shooting (about 150 photos, a few >1 minute videos and some playback). If you plan to take this camera on vacation, do yourself a huge favor and get a spare battery.

41 people were helped by this review.

return home



CANON EOS REBEL T3 12.2 MP CMOS DIGITAL SLR WITH 18-55MM IS II LENS AND EOS HD MOVIE MODE (BLACK) (ELECTRONICS)

return home



New Technology for Outstanding Images. 12.2 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor and DIGIC 4 Image Processor for high image quality and speed. Canon's CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor captures images with exceptional clarity and tonal range, and offers the most pixels in its class. It offers many of the same new technologies to maximize each pixel's light gathering efficiency that were first seen with the professional EOS-1D Mark III model. It's an APS-C size sensor (22.2 x 14.8mm), and there's an effective 1.6x increase in the lens's marked focal length when attached. 12.2 Megapixel APS-C Size CMOS Sensor DIGIC 4 Image Processor The improved DIGIC 4 Image Processor ensures that images are captured, processed and saved with remarkable speed. The EOS Rebel T3 DSLR's new 3:2 multiple aspect ratio, in-camera RAW image processing, creative filters, image resizing and provided S2 and S3 image-recording quality are all possible thanks to the DIGIC 4 Image Processor. With dazzling results, the new DIGIC 4 Image Processor also works to capture and process data of images shot at 12.2 Megapixels at 3.0 fps, as well as 14-bit signal processing for excellent image gradation, enhanced Face Detection Live mode, Full HD video recording, Auto Lighting Optimizer and Lens Peripheral Optimization. Excellence from Dawn to Dusk. ISO 100 - 6400 for shooting from bright to dim light. With a broad range of ISO settings, the EOS Rebel T3 enables shooting from sunrise to sunset and helps ensure capture of the finest detail. With enhanced high-sensitivity optimization, subjects can be captured clearly and easily at high shutter speeds without flash, with minimized blur and noise. In bright scenes, especially long exposures in daylight, optimal exposure can be achieved with a fully open wide-diameter lens, no dark filter needed. High Definition Made Easy. Improved EOS HD Movie mode with expanded recording [HD: 30p (29.97) / 25p], and with in-camera video editing options. The EOS Rebel T3 DSLR's expanded repertoire of technologies includes shooting video in brilliantly clear, exactingly sharp high definition for playback on your HDTV! Shooting at 1280 x 720 at 30 (29.97) or 25 frames per second, HD video can be taken immediately through the EOS Rebel T3 camera's intuitive operation and layout. Parameters for white balance and picture style are already set — just grab and go! Incredible AutoFocus. High speed, reliable 9-point AF system utilizing a high precision, f/5.6 cross-type center point. The EOS Rebel T3 has a high-precision, 9-point AF system utilizing a high-precision, f/5.6 cross-type center point. The 9-point AF system uses both normal and high-precision focus depending on the aperture and available light. The 9 focus points can be chosen automatically or manually selected. 9-point AF Accurate Metering for Perfect Exposure. Enhanced metering with a 63-zone, Dual-layer metering system for accurate metering between exposures. The EOS Rebel T3 features Canon's newest Dual-layer sensor, with 63 zones. By measuring not only the amount of light, but also taking into account color and luminosity, this new system delivers a very high level of accuracy for better results every time. Since the metering sensor has a color measurement function, exposure errors and focus errors caused by different light sources are minimized; the EOS Rebel T3 gives stable exposure from shot to shot in situations where light changes, such as sports on a cloudy day, or indoor holiday scenes. Metering zones Speedy, Precise Operation. 3.0 fps continuous shooting up to approximately 3 JPEGs or approximately 2 RAW. The EOS Rebel T3 operates with such effortless speed that operation is nothing short of intuitive. With instant startup times, speedy autofocus and minimal shutter lag, the EOS Rebel T3 is one of the fastest cameras available today. It can shoot up to 3.0 fps (frames per second), in bursts of up to approximately 3 JPEGs or 2 RAW files, so you won't miss a shot. 3.0 fps Continuous Shooting See the Image on a Large LCD with Live View Function. 2.7-inch wide TFT LCD monitor (230,000 dots) with Live View function for improved viewing. The EOS Rebel T3 has a huge, bright 2.7-inch TFT (thin film transistor) LCD monitor with 230,000 pixels and a viewing angle of 170°. It's perfect for Live View composition or viewing camera settings like AF, ISO, Metering, AF Point selection and flash options. And the maximum brightness of the EOS Rebel T3 DSLR's LCD monitor is about 30% greater than its predecessor, which is a big benefit when you're using the camera in bright sunlight. Live View Function Live View Function enables you to view your subjects directly on the huge 2.7-inch LCD monitor. It's easy to magnify any part of the scene 5x or 10x for precise manual focus. And now, there are two ways to use Autofocus along with Live View Function in the EOS Rebel T3. You can even choose a grid overlay, perfect for keeping straight lines in your subject straight in your pictures. In the studio, Live View Function can be used remotely via a computer through the EOS Rebel T3 DSLR's USB connection. Make Your Images As You See Them. Express your creativity with ease using advanced imaging features like the new Basic+ function, Quick Setting function and Creative Auto. Basic+ is a new creative imaging feature that makes it easy to create the image effects you want. It can be set with the Quick Control screen in Basic Zone modes. Basic+ provides two options: Shoot by ambience selection: Based on the Picture Style and its parameters (sharpness, contrast, saturation, and color tone), the exposure compensation and white balance correction are adjusted to attain the selected ambience. You can also select the strength of the ambience effect. Shoot by lighting or scene type: Although the actual parameter set is the white balance, the settings are expressed in more understandable terms. The EOS Rebel T3 DSLR's Quick Control screen gives you instant access to the most common settings, all in one place! It's a great way to quickly confirm or change settings while you're shooting. The Quick Control screen is particularly useful when you're shooting from a tripod or monopod, with the camera at eye level, because it eliminates the need to view the LCD data panel on top of the camera while changing settings. For beginners looking to expand their photographic horizons, the EOS Rebel T3 offers Creative Auto mode. While basic settings are based on full automatic operation, shooting guides on the LCD screen enable you to make corrections based on simple to follow guidelines. In essence, with Creative Auto mode, you can learn about photography while taking stunning photographs. Photography Made Truly Easy. New Feature Guide offers short descriptions of each function and Quick Control screen for easy operation. The Canon EOS Rebel T3 DSLR demystifies great photography by including an in-camera Feature Guide. Appearing on the camera's LCD, the Feature Guide displays a simple description or advice for the respective function. It is displayed in each shooting mode, during Mode Dial operations, and for Quick Control screen functions (during normal shooting, Live View shooting, movie shooting, and playback). The Feature Guide appears automatically during Mode Dial operations and when a function is selected on the Quick Control screen. Speedy, Wireless Image Capture and Transmission. Compatibility with SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. The EOS Rebel T3 uses popular SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards. Compact, inexpensive and available in increasingly large capacities, SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards are a perfect complement to the EOS Rebel T3 DSLR's compact and lightweight body design. Additionally, the EOS Rebel T3 is compatible with Eye-Fi* SD cards, which are outfitted with a Wi-Fi transmitter (IEEE 802.11b/g) and internal antenna for wireless, high-speed transfer of images. With an Eye-Fi card installed, the EOS Rebel T3 can display the Eye-Fi's connection status and error notes with ease, for fully functional wireless uploading of images directly from the camera. *Canon cameras are not guaranteed to support Eye-Fi card functions, including wireless transfer. In case of an issue with the Eye-Fi card, please consult with the card manufacturer. The use of Eye-Fi cards may not be available outside the United States and Canada; please contact the card manufacturer for territory availability. Shooting Made Easy Compatible with the full line of Canon EF and EF-S lenses. EF & EF-S Lenses The EOS Rebel T3 is compatible with all Canon lenses in the EF and EF-S lineup, ranging from ultra-wide angle to super telephoto lenses. Canon lenses employ advanced optical expertise and micron-precision engineering to deliver unprecedented performance in all facets of the photographic process. Special optical technologies, such as Aspherical, ultra-low dispersion, or fluorite elements are featured in the universally acclaimed L Series lenses, and Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer technology are featured in select lenses to minimize the effect of camera shake. Through Canon lenses, photographers can truly maximize the quality and liberating performance of the EOS Rebel T3.




Decent but has some flaws

by: S. Vogt
on: May 25, 2011



My concern is when people pick up this DSLR in the store and handle it and then handle the D3100, they will automatically assume the D3100 is a better DSLR simply on the body construction alone. The plastic body feels (and is) cheap. And that, unfortunatley, will be hard to overcome for a lot of people. No textured grip is an unfortunate omission. At the entry-level, you don't expect full weather-sealing or magnesium alloy body but most others (Pentax K-x, Nikon D3100) at least are constructed of somewhat better materials and have a textured hand grip. The one plus side to the glossy-plastic body is that it makes the DSLR very lightweight. In fact, it probably is the lightest DSLR I've shot with.

The controls are pretty straight-forward on this camera. And I always like Canon's menu system, very intuitive. It has plenty of auto controls for newbie photographers but of course has a full manual suite of controls so it's perfect for students or folks in general who want to learn photography and want a camera they can grow with. In terms of the performance, this DSLR impressed me. Overall operation is very quick, shot-to-shot times are decent, and the autofocus is very fast. I have worked the with D3100 as well... and can safely say that the Rebel T3 outperforms it on almost all fronts (I'm sure I'll catch hell from the Nikon folks for that).

The viewfinder is 95% coverage and isn't the greatest but I found it to be satisfactory. And despite the relatively low screen resolution of 230k, I found the screen somewhat viewable in direct sunlight and better than the one on the D3100. Again, it's not wonderful, but not as bad as some I've seen (the worst was the Pentax K-x). They've also upgraded the AF system from 7 points on the Rebel XS to 9 points.

One move that was very smart on Canon's part was to keep the megapixel count at a modest 12 megapixels. And interestingly enough, it seems to work better with the supplied kit lens than some of the higher-end siblings. The combination of the kit lens and the 12 MP sensor leads to some very impressive image quality (especially if you bump up the sharpness a little bit in the camera settings) - and this camera will happily shoot with Canon's low-end lenses with some very decent results. One complaint I do have is, because of the light-weight plastic construction of the body, it tends to be out of balance with the longer, heavier lenses. I noticed this when I attached the EF-S 55-250 lens on it. It may not be a dealbreaker for everybody, but some people might find this irritating. Colors are very punchy but not to the point of over-saturation. I won't confidently say it's better than D3100 for image quality, but it at least matches it. And for the most part you can get clean images from this DSLR up to ISO 1600, which is impressive.

As far as the movie mode goes, it's only 1280x720 HD but actually the video quality is excellent. However, the manual controls are very limited. If you're equal parts into photos and movies, I would consider the Rebel T3i or 60d over this one though, as those have far more extensive manual controls for video shooting.

So overall, if you're able to overlook the rather cheap plastic construction, this is a very formidable entry-level DSLR that is suitable for both newbie photographers, and even pros looking for a light-weight companion to their regular gear.

245 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great camera!

by: A. Gift For You
on: April 17, 2011



For the price of the camera, you wouldn't really expect much. However, that is completely false. For the small price, this camera really packs a big punch. It was a no-brainer for me to choose Canon for my first DSLR. Every single camera I've ever owned is a Canon, and I've never been disappointed. This camera is great for the beginner photographer, and even for the more advanced photographer. It's a breeze to learn how to work all of it's functions and most importantly, it delivers such amazing quality photos. The kit comes with a 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 image stabilization lens. Even with a moderately wide aperture, the lens performs exceptionally well under low-light situations. I will eventually grow out of this lens, but for now it's doing well for me. I feel like as I grow in my photography, this camera will grow with me and last me years to come. One of my goals is to become a freelance photographer. I have many many years before I get to that point, but right now, this is a good starting point.

68 people were helped by this review.

return home



Love it!

by: nakiska
on: April 8, 2011



I purchased this camera a few days ago and I've had nothing but FUN with it! Aside from my simple Kodak Easyshare point and shoot, I had a Canon EOS Elan 7 (35mm) and had been wanting to switch it over to Digital for several years. The longer I waited, the better the camera's got and more affordable they became.

I decided on the Canon T3 mostly because of the affordable price. (Nearly 1/2 of the T3i) I felt like I was getting a very good value for my money. I was right!

This camera takes amazing photo's! Clear, crisp, true color.

It's very easy to use, right out of the box.

Fit's all my old lenses and the remote from the Elan 7

All the advanced manual settings I could want topped with the instant gratification of seeing how the settings affect the picture instantly.

This camera allows you to use live screen shooting which so many people like these days and it takes HD video.

The 12 megapixels is plenty even when enlarging OVER 11 x 14".

For a lower end Canon DSLR, it's a huge value for the money. This camera is an excellent choice for the hobbiest/enthusiast.

I am SOO glad I purchased it!

Nakiska

84 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great camera for first-time SLR owners

by: Susy
on: May 27, 2011



I had some doubts about this camera when I looked online, but when I handled it for the first time, I was very impressed. Since my photography focus is horses, it was important to me to have a camera with no shutter lag and instantaneous recovery time between shots, which the T3 has.

I also purchased a 55-250 IS zoom lens, a UV filter to protect the lens, and a class 10 Sandisk Extreme SD card. They have worked very well together and I haven't experienced any problems. The kit lens has enough zoom for most indoor shots, but outside, I nearly always use the 55-250 zoom lens instead.

The battery life is great. I can take several extensive photoshoots before having to charge the battery. I use the manual settings more than the auto settings because I can set the AF points for more creative shots. The photo quality is great and images are sharp with good color (assuming you focused properly. :) )

The video quality is very good at its original size but decreases significantly when displayed on a larger screen. One drawback is that once the recording is started, you can't zoom or change the focus. But it does have audio - although of medium quality.

The onscreen interface was really helpful for me as an SLR newbie because each setting is briefly explained on the screen when settings are changed. The kit manuals are helpful and explained everything I needed to get started. I miss the textured grip, but find the smooth rubber easy to clean when I get dirty hands with the horses. The battery and card slots are on the bottom of the camera which means you can't set it down while it is open, but that's a relatively small issue.

Overall, I've been extremely satisfied with the Canon Rebel T3 and would recommend it for first-time SLR owners like me.

22 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great walk-around or travel DSLR

by: htche
on: June 7, 2011



This is a great entry level DSLR. I have shot all recent canon DSLRs (7D, 60D, T2i, T3i...) and I'm looking for a light travel/casual shooting camera to upgrade my XSI. I thought the T3i was it, but after trying out this camera, I think this is the cam I was looking for. Have the cam for a few days now. The build quality is a little better than what I would expect from an entry level cam. It's nice and light. The menu is simple but still offers a lot of nice custom settings.

One thing to keep in mind is that the low resolution LCD doesn't always tell the whole story. My initial test photos look rather ordinary under this LCD. However, when I view them in my desktop, they are a lot nicer. In any case, that isn't a concern for me as the LCD is just for preview anyway.

Color/saturation is spot on. ISO performance is what surprised me. I took a photo in 3200ISO, uploaded it to my website (unprocessed) and ask my photography-savvy friends to guess what ISO it was. Most of them say 400 or 800, 2-3 stops off the mark. It's so amazing, the stock lens is now totally usable indoor.

Overall, I highly recommend this camera for first-time DSLR users or advance users who need a light walk-around or travel cam.

17 people were helped by this review.

return home



I LOVE IT!

by: 11tifelikni (Minnesota)
on: April 8, 2011



Love this camera. Takes excellent pictures and I love that it has a movie mode that can be used with manual focus. I was debating between this product and the Canon XSi and I learned that this camera is like the laptop compaired to the XSi as the old desktop. This is the newest product but is fantastic. Love the menu they put on this camera and the lens that comes with the kit is a pretty good quality lens. EXCELLENT PRODUCT!

22 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great bang for the buck

by: W. Stewart "Bill" (Long Island, NY)
on: August 23, 2011



I think the camera is an amazing buy for the money. I was able to unpack the contents & begin shooting good pictures IMMEDIATELY, using the fully automatic settings & the included partially charged battery. You will however, need to supply an SD Card as this is not included, not even a small one.

The menu was a LITTLE confusing at first, but I quickly got the gist of things and am taking good pictures with the camera. Having used the full-auto settings and just dabbling with the advanced settings, I'm very pleased with the purchase and I think anyone who is either new to DSLR cameras or who doesn't want to spend over $1000 for a 'pro' or 'prosumer' DSLR will also be very happy with it right out of the box... or ANY of the T series cameras for that matter.

If you're going to be shooting in RAW (or like I do in RAW+L) I recommend getting AT LEAST a 16GB card, if not a 32GB card. The included battery is a champ. It lasts a good long time & charges quickly. I was going to get a 2nd battery, but I don't think it's necessary at this time as it lasts for several hundred shots. The manual says it takes 2 hrs to charge a fully depleted battery, but the math doesn't work out that way. The included charger is portable & charges the included 860mAh Li-Ion battey at a 580mAh rate, so a full charge should be about 1.5hrs. I'll have to time it when I need a full charge & have the spare time to check it every 10 mins or so beyond the 1hr mark.

Only a few negatives:

* When using the fully automatic settings indoors the white balance is just a little off, but this is fairly common w/all brands in the entry-level range. It can easily be corrected in photoshop, or by manually choosing one of the white balance lighting scenarios (incandescent bulb, fluorescent, or sun) depending on your situation. My outdoor shots look great on full auto settings.

* Having not used an SLR type camera in a NUMBER of years (I've never owned a DSLR), I found that the manual it comes with is not very thorough, and neither is the larger PDF manual on the included CD. However; it's not Canon's job to teach you photography and therefore I think the manual is just adequate. The only real trouble I had was trying to figure out how to attach the included eyepiece cover when shooting on a tripod w/studio lighting using auto exposure settings... it's not explained anywhere. You need to slide off the cover that is there already (the eye cushion) and slide on the cover... duh! Cripes O Mighty! They explain how to attach the camera strap (like you really need to read that...), but not the eyepiece cover?! Those experienced with SLR photography don't need any more, those totally new are covered by both the instuctions & the quick-start guide; but, those in-between won't find the info they're looking for here... get this book: Canon EOS Rebel T3/1100D For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

* There is no memory card included. Even a tiny one would be appreciated for the completely new user to start shooting right away when buying the 'kit' version. It may be the 1st D-SLR for the majority of it's purchasers, but it's probably not anyone's 1st digital camera in general.. so you probably have one of these lying around already.

* A textured grip would be nice, but like the exclusion of the included memory card this is helping to keep the price down on this puppy.

In summary:

Is it a good camera for the $$: Yes, 5/5

Is it a good camera in general: Yes, 4/5 (auto white balance could be better, textured grip would be nice)

Is the 'kit' worthwhile: Yes, 4/5 (including even a tiny SD Card would be nice for the camera newbie)

Good instructions: Barely, 3/5

Would I buy it again: YES

Recommend to a friend: YES

Overall rating: 5/5

Bill

11 people were helped by this review.

return home



Amazing results for the beginner

by: manguard
on: September 3, 2011



I bought this camera upgrading from a PowerShot S95 and was a little skeptical about it because I typically like to get the 'higher-end' type items, like the S95 to the PowerShot series, but in the world of DSLRS that puts you in the range of $1000+ just for the starter kit lens and body. Some online reviews also nit pick this camera because it doesn't feel professional and lacks a super detailed screen. While these are completely valid points, I find the fact that this camera out performs any short comings when in the hands of a beginner. I am producing amazing results and am blown away with the flexibility of the options once I dig a little deeper into how to use them (P, Tv, Av) I am finding myself becoming obsessed and always thinking about photography now that I have this tool to introduce me to this new world. There is no contest in the pictures the S95 takes and this. The battery life is ridiculous- I used it all afternoon shooting continuous high shutter speed in Av for about 600 shots and 7 minutes of HD video and its still showing that I haven't dented the remaining battery life. I also picked up a 55-250MM IS lens which has made my zoom range cover a good distance so I'm able to take pictures at sporting events from the stands. The kit lens is more than adequate for simple portraits and landscapes. Definitely get a flash though, the flash range on this one is pretty much a joke. I can safely recommend this camera to anyone looking to step up to a DSLR but doesn't want to dive right into a 1000 dollar system. Eventually, I can see myself growing out of this camera. I'm sure after about 250000 shots I will be ready for something a little more 'professional' or 'pro-sumer' but right now the bang-for-the-buck has totally been pegged by Canon with the T3.

9 people were helped by this review.

return home



I'd recommend this camera to DSLR newbies.

by: Daniel Gallegos
on: July 23, 2011



I bought this camera after extensive online research into what makes for a good entry-level DSLR. But, definitely, one of the biggest motivators for me was its price. You do get what you pay for with this camera and if you're new to the DSLR world, you'll be impressed by its ease of use, size and weight and simple functionality.

I've been doing mostly portrait photography and the kit lens (18-55 IS II f/3.5-5.6) that came with the T3 performs very well. The images are sharp and to tell the truth, 12.2 MP was more than enough for me. I've ordered prints online and they look amazing.

There are only two complaints I have about this camera. First, I was used to picking up higher end DSLRs and noticed the composition of the bodies was a lot more solid. The T3's body, at times, seems a little too plastic. Second, I would have loved for Canon to have placed a grip on the front part of the camera where one's hand is positioned near the shutter button.

This camera will appeal to you if you want the speed, functionality and improved photographic capabilities of a DSLR but are not yet ready to go full speed and buy a higher-priced camera.

9 people were helped by this review.

return home



CANON POWERSHOT SX130IS 12.1 MP DIGITAL CAMERA WITH 12X WIDE ANGLE OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZED ZOOM WITH 3.0-INCH LCD (ELECTRONICS)

return home



Smart, sleek and creative, the PowerShot SX130 IS is the perfect companion to all your good times. Now you can capture every detail of special moments in crisp, stunning 720p HD--even while using the high-powered 12x wide-angle optical zoom. You'll record in stereo sound, then play back your videos instantly on you computer. The SX130 IS is all about creativity, with fun new scene modes like Miniature Effect for Movies, and Fisheye Effect for artistically distorted stills. While you're having fun creating, the camera's Smart Flash Exposure and advanced Smart AUTO systems are ensuring that every image is the best it can be. Add the DIGIC 4 Image Processor, 12.1 megapixels and Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer, and you've got the ideal camera for making the good times last. Canon PowerShot SX130IS Highlights Shoot 720p HD video with stereo sound while using the optical zoom The PowerShot SX130 IS is the perfect combination of still camera and extraordinary video maker. Videos are recorded in spectacularly detailed 720p HD with clear stereo sound. Better yet, you can now zoom in and out as your creativity demands, without losing a bit of the 720p HD resolution. Given the SX130 IS's powerful 12x wide-angle optical zoom, this capability is especially meaningful. 12x wide-angle optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer With precision engineering and decades of leadership in optics technology, Canon has created a bright, wide-angle lens that magnifies to an astonishing 12x. Moreover, it's sized to fit the SX130 IS's compact profile, performs at high speed, and keeps power consumption low. Whether you're at a sporting event, school play, or just out and about shooting, you'll love how the SX130's powerful wide-angle 12x optical zoom gets you up close fast and puts more image into every frame. And Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer controls camera shake to ensure that throughout the zoom range, your images are steady and crystal clear. Scene modes like Miniature Effect for Movie and Fisheye Effect offers creative options for videos and images Explore your creativity! The PowerShot SX130 IS gives you fun, easy ways to play with perspective in your still images and videos, too. Miniature Effect for Movies (also available for still images) enhances perspective to give whatever you're shooting the fascinating look of a scene shot with miniature models. At the same time, selective frames are removed to enhance the effect when you play the scene back at 30 fps. "Fisheye" lenses are favorites of professional photographers: their quirky, convex perspective gives a fun creative punch to shots of kids, pets and more. The SX130 IS creates a Fisheye Effect without the need to attach a special lens--simply activate the mode, choose from three levels (low, medium and high) and shoot! Smart Flash Exposure determines the correct flash based on the shooting situation Smart Flash Exposure is a technology that uses the proper flash by analyzing a wide range of lighting conditions, and helps ensure against over or underexposed images. The detail and color of your photo remain intact and truer to life even in challenging lighting. Advanced Smart AUTO selects from 28 predefined shooting situations Just set the Canon PowerShot SX130 IS to Smart AUTO and you're ready for maximum enjoyment from your picture taking every time. It's a relaxing and satisfying way to shoot because you can completely concentrate on your subject, knowing that the camera has the technical details covered. Advanced Canon technology intelligently analyzes your situation and shooting conditions. Then it automatically selects an appropriate setting from 28 specially defined settings. So whether you're photographing flowers, a captivating sunset, or your friends at the park, you can be confident that you're getting dramatic, memorable images. With 22 Shooting Modes including 12 Special Scene Modes, you're ready for whatever shot comes your way. Capture amazing detail with 12.1-megapixel resolution Powerful DIGIC 4 Image Processor with 12.1 megapixels The PowerShot SX130 IS is equipped with many of the same features as a higher-end camera: an ultra-powerful zoom, eye-popping resolution and advanced picture-improving technology. 12.1 Megapixels of resolution gives your photography incomparable depth and ensures that any section of any shot can be enlarged and cropped with no loss in quality when you edit the image even if you choose to print the image. It can create crisp, clear 13 x 19-inch posters. Canon's proprietary DIGIC Image Processors have long set its cameras apart from the competition, and the new DIGIC 4 sets the bar even higher. Faster, more accurate noise reduction delivers better image quality, even at high ISO speeds. Large 3.0-inch LCD with wide viewing angle The camera's high resolution (230,000 dots) 3.0-inch LCD gives you the big picture, whether you're shooting, reviewing or showing off your images. This high-resolution screen offers a crisp, clear picture to make shooting, playback and using the camera's menu functions especially convenient. Clear and bright, it also features Night Display for easy viewing in low light. AA battery power enables you to easily power up Conveniently, you don't need to worry about running out of batteries or having to recharge them. Since AA-size batteries can be purchased at any store, simply get new ones locally--wherever you go, no special power adapters or chargers are needed. What's in the Box PowerShot SX130 IS Camera body AA-size Alkaline Battery (x2) Wrist Strap WS-800 AV Cable AVC-DC400ST USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM




A Fantastic Compact Zoom Choice

by: J. Whiteside (Spokane, WA)
on: December 12, 2010



I'll start by saying that I'm a Canon fan. Three out of four of my current digital cameras, including both my DSLR's, are Canon. When I was looking to upgrade my compact zoom, this unit caught my eye for both its price point and its feature set. For a sub-$200 compact zoom, this camera definitely leads the pack.

Pros:

* 12 megapixel image capture

* Very good image quality

* Full 720P HD video capture

* Excellent low light performance for its class

* Excellent image stabilization capability

* Full manual control, including Av, Tv and full manual modes

* Great zoom range, especially at the wide end

* Excellent, fast and intuitive performance

* Reasonable battery performance with rechargables (a MUST!)

* Works with convenient AA batteries

* Excellent flash for its class

* Excellent color fidelity with no detectable image artifacts

* Fast continuous shooting for a compact camera

* Perfect size for a compact zoom, fits in a large pocket

* Fantastic price/performance ratio

Cons:

* No CCD cleaner that I've found

* No flash shoe for an external flash

* No external audio inputs for video capture

* 10 minute video capture limit

* No RAW image support

* Terrible support for HD video codec

* No optical/digital viewfinder / LCD display only

* My unit got a speck of dust inside the lens, creating a spot on images/video for awhile

It's been a couple years since I've purchased a camera and I was a bit surprised to see how far the feature sets have come, especially on the lower-end compacts. I've now put this camera through the paces in many different situations and overall, I'm very pleased with everything about it so far.

My criteria for this camera purchase was fairly simple. I wanted a compact zoom with decent optical range, AA battery support, excellent color fidelity, reasonable low light performance and a unit that provided full manual control. I'm an amateur/semi-pro photographer and I expect a lot from my cameras. After reviewing the options out there, this one was a clear winner.

First, I'll speak to the image quality and zoom. I've been very impressed with both its color fidelity and the overall image quality. Images are sharp and its ability to provide vivid color and great dynamic range within images is fantastic. With the unit's lack of RAW support, this was very important to me. At the low end of the zoom, there is a bit of the wide-angle effect...but I really appreciate how wide this camera is able to go. At the far end of the zoom, the optical quality is still great and I haven't detected any weak spots within the optical range. I've never been impressed with digital zoom, and I nearly always avoid it...but as is typical with digital zoom, you'll get artifacts at the furthest end of the spectrum. For a compact, the macro mode is also quite functional, allowing a very short focus range of less than 1/2" - and the 2" focus minimum for normal mode is also quite impressive.

Aperture performance was up to my expectations for a camera lens of this quality, if not even a little better than I expected. The range is from f/3.4 to f/8.0 in aperture priority mode, and I typically would want more on the far end, but as far as I'm concerned, this camera produces f/22 and above quality in landscapes. You're not going to get beautiful bokeh effects at the low end (f/3.4) but this is typical of compact cameras with inexpensive lenses. With that said, though, I was surprised to see any bokeh whatsoever...and it is possible to get a little.

Low light performance is important to me as this is one of my strongest interests in photography. Up to ISO800, there is very little noise in the captured images and I've found that my noise filters will clean up what little there is quite well. ISO1600 starts to introduce a fairly strong noise characteristic, but I expected as much. There is no ISO3200 support, but personally, I feel like this is a waste in a camera at this price point as there's no way you're going to get good performance at such extremes. The image stabilization works well, especially when you're right on the edge of needing a tripod. The camera features an auto focus assist beam, which is a welcome addition within a camera at this price point. Low-light video performance was quite good, although it does take a performance hit in the noise department...but I was still very impressed that it performs as well as it does by producing very watchable low-light video results.

The overall feature set for a relatively inexpensive compact is just staggering to me. All of the basic features are there for a person who appreciates some creative control, including full Tv, Av and manual modes. The automatic modes are great for those times when I don't want to put effort in and P-mode (full auto, except for control over ISO) was an absolute necessity for me. The time-to-live is quick and from an off-state, I can capture an image in less than 3 seconds. I've tested some of the newer, fancier features and I have to say, they're quite impressive. The smile detection blew my mind because it actually worked! The ability to auto-shoot portraits when new people enter the scene is also pretty amazing to me. Blink detection? I would have never thought of that, but it's actually worked for me in a couple of cases. The HD-video is a great addition to my camera lineup and I've started playing with it fairly extensively. I have noticed a bit of discrepancy between the image stability on the LCD screen and the actual result in the produced video, but then again, if I wanted super-stable video, I'd use a tripod. There is a 10 minute limit to video capture, which could be a deal breaker for some, but for my purposes it's just fine. It picks up audio quite well, which was surprising to me - although you're not going to get movie studio quality out of the thing.

Physically speaking, the camera is very comfortable to hold and all of the buttons are conveniently placed. Anyone who's used a Canon camera will feel quite at home with it...and even if you're not, I wouldn't anticipate much difficulty. I haven't had any notable difficulty with the button placement, but have inadvertently turned off the camera when I was trying to capture a picture in a hurried situation. It's not exactly a sub-compact, but for a compact zoom, the size is perfect and exceeds my expectations. (It fits in a large pocket quite easily, but not well in smaller ones, such as most rear pockets.) The lens retraction is very nice and the lens portion only sticks out about 3/4" from the body when fully retracted.

Battery performance met my expectations, for the most part. The use of rechargeable batteries is a must for any digital camera - it's no secret that ALL digital cameras suck up a lot of juice. (This is WHY most of cameras use proprietary NiMH batteries!) For me, I'm fairly heavily invested into NiMH AA batteries, so it was very important for this purchase to support them. I don't get the rated performance, but I never trust those values and I can certainly squeak 200+ images out of a set of 2300mAh batteries, without flash usage. Video use does suck up the juice, but I've still been surprisingly impressed with its performance as I expected a lot less. I wouldn't really consider using standard alkaline batteries in a digital camera for all but a pinch situation and if you expect good performance on alkaline batteries, you're not going to get it. I did find the camera did not like a couple of my sets of 2700mAh batteries, and wouldn't even turn on...and while that bugged me, it wasn't a deal breaker as it does work with 90% of my batteries. A quality battery charger/tester goes a long way, as you won't get good performance if your batteries aren't up to snuff and aren't properly matched according to actual capacity.

I really only have a couple of complaints. Somehow my unit got a fairly large spec of dust inside the lens, and for awhile, all my images/video had a blurry spot on them - particularly in images with fairly strong light/midrange backgrounds. I'm a little concern about the seal and its ability to prevent dust from entering into the lens. Eventually, this speck of dust went away and my images are back to normal - but it's frustrating when you can't do anything about something like this. Additionally, the HD video codec that is used by this camera (H.264/Apple Quicktime MOV) is very frustrating to work with on a computer. It's just not well supported yet and takes a LONG time to open on my computer, even within Apple's quicktime application. (My machine is a quad-core 3.2Ghz proc, 4GB RAM...fast, for all intents and purposes - perhaps I have an issue with my computer's video codecs and I am willing to concede that possibility.) With that said though, I've found it best to convert it to a different format for editing...a step that I would rather avoid. These two issues prevented me from giving the product a full five-star rating.

Overall, though, I'm impressed with this camera and it fit the bill perfectly for me. I hope you've found this review helpful!

277 people were helped by this review.

return home



Amazing Straight From The Box

by: jenmt
on: August 31, 2010



I first heard about the SX130is on August 19th- the same day I had decided that my final purchase decision would be the SX120is. After reading a few reviews, it had me convinced that this would be worth waiting for. I received my SX130is late this morning- and have to say, right from the box it was just amazing. Every time in the past when purchasing a new camera, it takes some adjusting and "breaking in" before fully great-quality pictures come, but with this one, literally from the first shot it has been wonderful. The HD video also records wonderfuly, and the sound is great as well- even with using all of the 48x digital zoom! The one "downside" to the video mode is that the image doesn't auto-focus as you zoom in, at times you have to re-focus using the shutter just as you normally would when taking a picture, but I personally didn't find that too annoying once I figured it out. The miniature and fisheye modes are a blast to use, and the smart-shutter mode (takes the photo when a smile is detected, without using the shutter) is neat too. The LCD is a nice big size, and has an auto-rotate for images in the playback mode, as well as an option to scroll through them when selecting. A fun fact which I also noticed is that it has a "screensaver," which displays the time to save the screen (as a computer would). Although some might consider it a bit "bulky" compared to most compact point and shoots, the size is perfect for someone like me who has bigger hands, allowing for a decent grip and non-clumsy hold. Overall, I just absolutely LOVE this camera (which I why I already give it 5 stars, hands down). Definitely recomend this to anyone; is well worth the money!

***Updated on 9/24***

After finally getting some Rayovac recharcable NiMH batteries, I can finally say that this camera is well worth the money. If you use regular AA (nonrechargeable) batteries, it will blow through them like crazy, so I learned the hard way. But the NiMH last much, much longer, plus are rechargeable. If you plan on purchasing this camera, I would highly recommend also getting the batteries- it is well worth the extra money.

418 people were helped by this review.

return home



Superb mini all-rounder

by: Clint (Inverness)
on: November 1, 2010



I bought this camera mainly because it was reviewed as having good pic and video quality, it has HD video, and it takes AA batteries. So far it's been superb all round.

The AA batteries bit is a really big deal for me. I so nearly bit the bullet and got a camera that uses a proprietary battery pack -- as, tragically, they almost all do now -- only to discover, when trying to get 2 spare packs, that they're basically unobtainable! This makes such a camera useless for me, as on a long trip (e.g. weekend hike), once the battery is dead, you're stuffed until you find a 110v outlet to charge from.

I understand that AAs are more bulky for a given charge, and presumably that's why the SX130 only takes two. I'd personally take a larger handgrip to make room for two more batteries, but the bottom line is, it doesn't really matter. Just take along spares, and change them out as needed. Use NiMH batteries for best life (conventional batteries like Duracells simply can't handle the loads of a digital camera), but in a pinch, you know that more charge is almost always going to be easily available. And when rechargables wear out, getting new ones is a snap.

So anyhow... I basically love the camera. It's compact and light, and easily fits in a jacket pocket, so it's always handy for a snapshot. It takes great pictures, and superb clear 720p movies. The stereo sound is good, but with built-in mics, wind noise will always be a problem if there is much wind at all. You can zoom while filming, but the noise is quite audible on the soundtrack (though subtle enough not to be really annoying, mostly). I've started using a separate sound recorder for projects where I care about the live sound.

The reason for dinging one star is the one niggly point I've found to date: video capture is limited to 9 mins 59 seconds per clip. This is a hard and consistent limit; I guess it's to avoid the 2GB file size limit. It's never been a problem for me so far, but I could see where it could become an issue for some types of filming.

Battery life isn't great, but like I said, just carry two or three (or ten!) sets of spares, easy. For the record, here's what I got on a single set of Eneloops, taking continuous 10-minute video clips until it died: battery warning came on at 80 minutes; batteries died at 110 minutes. One 16GB memory card stored 85 minutes of video, averaging 186 MB per minute. I'm using a 32GB card now (class 10), and it works great.

In case you're wondering what it records in the .MOV files it captures, ffmpeg tells me that the video format is:

Video: h264, yuv420p, 1280x720, 22301 kb/s, 29.97 fps

Audio: pcm, 48000 Hz, 2 channels, s16, 1536 kb/s

So overall, great. I do wish there was more choice of cameras taking standard batteries; but this one fits the bill nicely.

164 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great Camera, nice and clear!

by: Arthur Carter (Phoenix, AZ USA)
on: September 3, 2010



I was looking for a new camera to replace my 4 year old canon a630, 8mp, 4x zoom before our vacation next month. I was going to go with the sx120is, but it did not have HD video like all the other cameras had on them. Will I use that much, maybe, maybe not, but I at least wanted that option since all the other new cameras have it. Then I found out why the sx120is was going down in price, to make way for the sx130is. I looked everywhere and no one had it in stock yet. Then amazon got it a couple days later and I ordered it. Right away I thought it looked great. Very nice, something to hold onto, unlike the new small size cameras-I just don't like that they are so tiny. Love the big screen on the back. I thought I would miss not having a viewfinder and only using the rear display, but then i thought about it-I only use the display anyways on my camera and never the viewfinder! Sometimes the display looks grainy when not enough light, but after seeing the shot I just took, the pic was perfect. I like that it uses 2 AA batteries since I use rechargables-my other one used 4, so I have 2 extra for a backup now. I love how it zooms in on the face and the smile shutter is a neat trick. Have not played with the hd video yet, but I would have liked a mini-hdmi out of the camera. Also would like the flash to pop up on its own instead of saying on the screen to put the flash up. Other than that, there are so many controls, I'll probably never use them all and mainly use it on auto, which is great! The 12 MP and 12x optical zoom is great. Just note the 4x digital zoom does not work in widescreen mode, but it never did on my other camera either. A great camera to get without paying the extra money for the D-SLR cameras.

127 people were helped by this review.

return home



A Terrific Travel Camera

by: Alan Houston "alanhouston-texas" (Houston, Texas, United States)
on: December 7, 2010



(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

My guess: if a professional photographer were going on a week-end trip, and wanted to travel light with just ONE camera and lens, the SX130 might be that camera. No $200 camera does a better job of producing high quality photos outdoors in good sunlight.

If I am spending a week-end in an interesting place, I may take 300 or 400 photos a day. Most small cameras use expensive proprietary rechargeable batteries, so you need an extra $50 battery. The SX130 uses AA batteries, available at most corner stores around the world. That means you are never left without a battery. The SX130 eats throw-away AA batteries like popcorn. If you take only 250 or 350 photos per year, use lithium AA batteries, as they provide about 400 photos per set, if 10% or 20% of your photos use flash, and lithium batteries last for years when not being used.

The most affordable option is a set of "pre-charged" rechargeable batteries. Two "pre-charged" batteries such as the Sanyo Eneloops, provide about 250 outdoor photos, so a set of four get you through a week-end trip of 500 photos before you need to recharge. With heavy use of the flash, two pre-charged battereis will last about 100 photos, so for a wedding or party, bring along two extra pre-charged batteries. A package of four pre-charged AA batteries sells for under $15 and will last two or three years of heavy use.

The SX130 has an "easy mode" that permits even a child to take great photos outdoors, after learning to pre-focus before taking the photo. And, the SX130 has dozens of manual settings that enable experienced users to set a custom white balance, set the ISO level, adjust contrast, color tone, and color saturation.

If a user takes a few hours to work through the 140 pages of the owners' manual with the camera in-hand, practicing each of the settings, it becomes easy to learn how to dial-in precisely the photo you want. In bright sunlight, the SX130 can take photos that look very much like those from a $1,000 DSLR camera.

The SX130 is too big and heavy to put in a pocket, but it is much smaller and lighter than a DSLR...no DSLR comes with the powerful ultra-zoom lens of the SX130...a lens that ranges from a wide angle, for taking a photo of the interior of a room, a large group of people or of a large building...and a powerful telephoto that provides a sharp view of a seagull that is a hundred yards away.

The flash of the SX130 is designed to work best with subjects that are three feet to seven feet from the camera...if you keep your subject close to the camera, the flash can yield good results. WARNING: it feels like a week before the flash recharges...but it is only ten seconds...not the flash for pictures of kids playing or dogs running. This is a flash for taking photos of subjects who are willing to sit still...for a long, long time.

There are other cameras selling for under $200 that are much smaller than the SX130. However, no camera selling for under $200 provides its combination of a powerfull ultra-zoom lens, the option using full manual controls, and produces outdoor photos that look like they were taken with a professional DSLR camera.

53 people were helped by this review.

return home



Very close to perfect...

by: A. Hochberg
on: September 23, 2010



I have the SX110is and love it for the same reasons that I love this one, the SX130is. My father is a professional photographer, so I know a thing or two about cameras.

Actually, of course, every year they make the cameras better and entice buyers like me. This one has the HD video, and the 12x zoom, and 12.1 megapixels. Both features sold me. The SX110is now goes to my wife who has a fine collection of fairly new electronics that I discard annually.

The quality of photos is spectacular. The color is far superior to any camera in a comparable price range, especially a simple point and shoot. My 3 week old daughters skin tones show up amazingly realistic.

HD video is a plus. I am not sure how much I will use since I have an HD camcorder, but still, in a pinch it is nice. My only issue with the camera is the placement of the 'video' mode, so far from the 'auto' mode on the dial selector. This makes it inconvenient to switch back and forth, which is the main reason why I will probably not use the video mode as much, and the reason why I proclaim that this camera is 'very close to perfect', and not just perfct.

Canon has never let me down. The AA batteries make me happy. I hate running out of power on a camping trip with no options. The screen size is magnificent and bright.

This is a great purchase, until next year when they add a feature that I MUST HAVE!!

52 people were helped by this review.

return home



Amazing camera for the money..

by: Stephanie M
on: September 4, 2010



I previously had the SX110 model and I loved that camera. I am loving the 130 just as much. The photos I get from this camera are amazing, and that's on Auto mode. Loving the Fisheye and Miniature settings too. Of course the thing I love most is the optical zoom(on this model, it's 12x). I also like that the camera takes AA batteries.

I have a DSLR as well but this camera will be my go to camera, much like the 110 was. For $249, you get a lot.Like I said, you can use the Auto mode, but you can utilize manual settings once you start feeling more confident.

I'm giving the SX 110 to my mom...

40 people were helped by this review.

return home



Holy Macro!

by: Skyler
on: December 12, 2010



I sell on eBay full time. I was looking to replace the canon P&S that I was currently using with something that was a little bigger, that had a better flash and Macro settings. (For product listing photos)

This review is going to touch on a couple cool features that I like for the sake of eBay.

1. The macro capabilities on this thing are amazing! In Manual mode with Macro on, you can have the lens 1/2" away, and it will still lock focus and snap a photo. The best Macro that I personally have seen.

2. Again in Manual mode, I LOVE the fact that it shows you exactly what the picture will look like before you take the picture. If your ISO is low, you shutter speed too quick, and it is darker, your screen will show you how dark the picture will be. Turn the iso up, put the shutter speed slower, and the image on the screen gets brighter letting you know you are getting a better shot.

No more taking the picture, looking at it, deleting it, re-doing settings and then doing the process all over again.

Which by the way, is also helpful if you are at a wedding or an event where you only have 1 chance to get the shot.

The reason I only give it 4 stars, is the battery life. However, after I blew through the 2 provided batteries after 1 hour, I put in rechargeables that have lasted all day so far.

Everything else with the camera is fun to play with. The minature effect has gained popularity in the past couple years. If you go to google images and search for "Tilt Shift", you will see what it does. It works best when you are higher up, taking a photo of city scapes, buildings, cars, people etc. A lot of people will do a fake "Tilt Shift" photo with photoshop.

This review as stated above, is more for how I use it with eBay. I have not included a full review of all features.

31 people were helped by this review.

return home



Very Nice

by: sailorboy414
on: November 14, 2010



Well yes it is bigger than most pocket cameras, but the lens is bigger. I brought another excellent little Canon I have and took pictures, at dusk, of some buildings. The difference was very obvious. The SX130 pictures had way more light than the smaller camera. If you ask me the AA (which it does eat) batteries are an advantage. You can buy replacements everywhere if you don't have a power plug. You can buy your own rechargeable batteries for very little money. With other cameras if something goes wrong with your battery you have to order a new one, for $40-$100 dollars, with SX130, no problem. I used a mulit battery charger to charge my wife's new Sony camera, the battery never worked in the camera again. Some chip in the battery got messed up. Had to buy a new one.

Picture queasily is excellent, but don't rely too much on presets. Especially low light setting. Use P mode and control the camera, decide what ISO you want to use. All of these cameras bump up the ISO high to get low light photos, but this just results in more noise.

I read in some reviews that the flash is a bit slow. It may be on the first shot, but after that it recycles just as fast as on other cameras. It is a little big to call pocket camera, but I use it as a secondary camera, "for better pictures".

Overall I think camera delivers what it promises. It doesn't pretend to be small, but it gives you the versatility of AA batteries and, if you know how to use it, takes excellent pics. It turns on in a fraction of a second and is ready to use. The weight of the camera makes it more stable when holding, with less shake. If you grade it in it's category, it is a great camera!

25 people were helped by this review.

return home



NIKON D5100 16.2MP CMOS DIGITAL SLR CAMERA WITH 18-55MM F/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR NIKKOR ZOOM LENS (ELECTRONICS)

return home






Nikon D7000 Sensor for $400 cheaper

by: B. Fuller (United States)
on: May 23, 2011



(TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is a fantastic new offering from Nikon. You get most of the best parts of the D7000 for 1/3 cheaper. If you are looking for a starter camera or a back up body to the D7000 this is it.

Here are the major differences between the D5100 and D7000.

D5100

Exact same sensor and processing abilities as the D7000. Some of the best Image Quality available in any DSLR. ISO 3200 is very usable with low noise.

- Swivel screen while the D7000 is fixed -- Since the contrast autofocus (ie Live View) is not very good on either of these cameras this is not really a player unless you are using a tripod. Then the swivel screen is very useful.

- 4 fps vs 6 fps for D7000 - No big deal 4 fps is plenty fast to fill your card with similar looking pictures. Also, in RAW D7000 buffers out pretty fast and then slows down anyway.

- 11 focus points vs 39 for D7000 - Most of the time not really a big deal. Sometimes all those extra points get in the way and slow you down.

No internal auto focus motor while the D7000 has one -- If you don't have any D series or older lenses this is not an issue. If you do, they will not autofocus on this camera.

- Only one SD slot vs 2 for the D7000 -- A big difference when getting paid to shoot. Otherwise, always format your cards in your camera and not on the computer. Doing that I have never had a failure. (Jinxed myself now)

Not weather sealed vs D7000 partially weather sealed - Don't drop either one in the water and keep both out of dust.

- Has less external switches than the D7000 - This means you need to go to the menus more often which slows things down. This can be severely annoying or not depending on your shooting style. The D7000 handles better but this is not a deal breaker on the D5100.

Built in flash is not a commander for Nikon Creative Light System while D7000 is -- If you don't use off camera flash or you use radio triggers this is not a big deal.

1.2 lbs vs 1.7 lbs for D7000.

Overall the D5100 is a great camera. The D7000 have some extra features that make it worth the extra money but if you don't need them you get all the fantastic D7000 IQ for 2/3rd the price.

140 people were helped by this review.

return home



Deciding Between the Nikon D5100, D7000, D3100, and D90

by: dojoklo (Cambridge, MA)
on: April 18, 2011



The Nikon D5100 brings the high quality 16.2 megapixel sensor, great low-light performance, and full HD video capability with all the frame rate options from the popular pro-sumer D7000 to the enthusiast level model - and then includes a fully adjustable side-mounted rotating screen to boot. The D5100 should prove to be an excellent option for new dSLR users plus those experienced enthusiasts wishing to upgrade their D50, D60, or even their D3000 to gain additional megapixels, shooting and processing speed, video, and an improved rear LCD screen. The variety of features and functions offered on the various Nikon dSLR cameras might make it difficult to choose between them, but there are some important differences.

The new Nikon D5100 sits just above the D3100, a bit below the aging D90, and several steps below the fully-featured and highly customizable Nikon D7000. The D5100 boasts a 16 megapixel image sensor (just like the D7000), shoots 4 frames per second in continuous mode, has HD video capability at 24, 25, and 30 fps, and includes the fully rotating rear LCD screen improved in flexibility from the screen of the D5000.

Generally as the cameras increase in price and capability from the entry level model to the enthusiast pro-sumer model they gain more sophisticated autofocus and exposure metering systems, shoot faster (more frames per second) in continuous shooting mode, have more controls and buttons for changing settings on the camera body, and offer more menu and custom function options.

Sensor and Image Quality: The sensors of the D5100 and D7000 are greatly improved over the older D90 in a couple of ways. The D5100 and D7000 have 16.2 megapixel sensors, where the D90 has 12.3 megapixels. The relatively new D3100 has a 14.2 MP sensor. This increase in resolution allows for more intrusive editing of the files in Photoshop, the ability to crop a picture and still obtain an image with high enough resolution for printing or display, and allows for larger prints. In addition, the improved sensor results in better performance at high ISO settings and in low light, better dynamic range, tonal range, and color sensitivity. Have a look at the dxomark website to compare the sensors.

Exposure Metering: The D5100, while sharing a similar sensor to the D7000, does not have the same advanced metering system. It shares the less sophisticated 420 pixel RGB metering sensor of the D3100 and offers matrix metering, non-adjustable center-weighted, and spot metering modes. This system may be more than sufficient for many users, especially those not intending to adjust their exposure settings and dig into their menus in reaction to complex lighting situations. But if your shooting demands require more precise exposure metering and control over the size of the areas being metered, you need to consider the D7000 or D90. The 2016 pixel RGB metering sensor of the D7000 is also improved compared to the D90, and will result in more accurate metering performance of straightforward and complex lighting scenes and situations. Both these cameras offer matrix metering, center-weighted, and spot metering modes. With center-weighted metering on the D90, you can select the size of the center-weighted area to be a 6, 8, or 10mm center circle, and the D7000 adds a 13mm circle option.

Autofocus: The autofocus systems of the D3100, D5100, and D90 all have 11 autofocus (AF) points with the center one being a more accurate cross-type. These AF systems may be more than sufficient for most users, and they can successfully track moving objects in the frame such as athletes, performers, or animals. However, if you specialize in sports, action, wildlife, or bird photography, you are going to want to consider the much more sophisticated, accurate, and customizable AF system of the D7000. The D7000 boasts a significantly improved AF system of 39 AF points with 9 of them being cross type. The AF system of the D7000 allows for you to use these points in various ways including automatic AF point selection, single point AF, and dynamic area AF using your choice of 9 points, 21 points, all points, or all points with 3D-tracking. It is important to note that the D5100 and D3100 do not have an autofocusing motor built into the body so you have to be sure to purchase lenses with built-in AF motors. For example, the Nikon "Nifty 50" 50mm f/1.8 will not autofocus with these cameras. The D7000 and D90 have the built-in motor.

Body, Construction and Size/ Weight: The D5100 is just slightly larger and a tiny bit heavier than the D3100, both weighing just over one pound. Both have plastic bodies and more limited buttons and controls that the higher end models. Many users should find its size and weight great for using and carrying around, though some prefer the ergonomics of a larger body. The D90 and D7000 appear very similar at first glance, but the plastic body of the D90 has been upgraded to the partially magnesium alloy body (top and rear) of the D7000. This adds slightly to the weight: 1.5 lbs for the D90 vs. 1.7 lbs for the D7000. The D7000 also has weather sealing at the memory card and battery doors, which the D5100 and D3100 do not. The higher end D7000 and D90 include not only the 3" rear LCD screen but also a top LCD panel for viewing and changing your settings. This is essential for photographers who are constantly changing their settings to deal with various shooting situations. For most users, including even those using the camera daily or in travel situations, the non-magnesium construction of the D5100 should be far more than good enough, strong enough, and durable enough.

ISO: As mentioned in the Sensor and Image Quality section above, the high ISO performance of the D7000 is greatly improved over the D90. The tests at dxomark.com tell this story, along with the fact that the native ISO range of the D7000 is 100-6400 expandable up to 25,600. The D5100 shares these specifications, and should offer similar results. The D3100 has a native ISO range of 100-3200 expandable to 12800, and the range of the D90 is 200-3200. This means that with the D7000 and D5100 you can use higher ISO settings when required, such as in low light situations, and not have as much difficulty with digital noise, particularly in the shadow areas of images.

Controls: As with construction, the buttons and controls vary with these cameras. The D3100 and D5100 offer more limited, basic controls on the exterior of the camera. However you can use the rear LCD screen to quickly change many settings, or else go into the menus. The D7000 offers an extensive array of controls on the camera body, allowing one to quickly change an large number of settings as they work, including focus mode and focus area settings, shooting mode, and exposure mode. The controls of the D7000 are similar to the D90 with some changes including the addition of the shooting mode ring under the mode dial (to change from single shot to high speed continuous to self timer, etc.), and the live-view switch with movie record button inside it. The D7000 also offers 2 customizable user settings (U1, U2) on the mode dial, and you can assign functions of your choice to buttons such as the Fn Button.

Menus and Custom Settings: These allow for greater control over customizing how the camera functions. The D5100 has less Menu and Custom Settings options than the D90 and the highly customizable D7000, and more than the D3100 (which offers no custom settings). These settings enable you to customize the operation, function, and controls to work how you want them to, including things like exposure increments, Live View options, tweaking how the autofocus system operates, setting more precise white balance settings, and customizing which button does what. There are ebooks such as my Nikon D7000 Experience - The Photographer's Guide to Operation and Image Creation with the Nikon D7000 and Nikon D5100 Experience - The Still Photographer's Guide to Operation and Image Creation with the Nikon D5100 which walk you through all of the Menu settings and Custom Settings so that you can set up your camera to work best for how you photograph, and also begin to learn to master all the advanced features, settings, and controls of these powerful dSLR camera.

Wireless Flash: The D7000 includes the feature of advanced wireless lighting using the built in flash as a commander for off-camera Nikon Speedlights. However, the D5100 and D3100 do not have this capability. With the D7000, you can set up one or more Speedlights in remote mode, then trigger them wirelessly with the built in flash of the camera.

Viewfinder: The D5100 has a pentamirror viewfinder with approximately 95% coverage of the actual resulting image, the same as the D3100. The higher quality pentaprism viewfinder of the D90 gives 96% coverage of the actual resulting image, while the D7000 has an even larger, brighter pentaprism viewfinder with 100% coverage. Author's note: this review was written and posted on Amazon by dojoklo - please do not steal it, post it elsewhere, and claim it as your own writing. Thank you. While in-and-of-itself, a 95% viewfinder works just fine, when you compare it side-by-side with the large, clear view of the D7000, you can see and understand the advantages of a clearer view of your entire scene with a 100% view, pentaprism viewfinder.

Processor: The Nikon D5100 and D3100 use the fast Expeed 2 image processor just like the D7000. This allows for more video options including full 1080p HD at 24, 25, and 30 fps, overall faster processing of stills and video files, and the ability to maintain fast continuous speed shooting for numerous frames. The D90 has the older Nikon Expeed processor, which is also generally fast enough to handle its processing needs.

Continuous Shooting Speed: As you work your way up the Nikon dSLR line-up the cameras' continuous shooting speed and maximum shots at that rate increases. The D3100 shoots 3 frames per second (fps) in continuous shooting mode, the D5100 shoots 4 fps, and the D7000 shoots 6 fps for up to 100 shots. The D90 can shoot 4.5 fps up to 100 images. If you often capture action and really need the higher frame rate, such as for sports, action, or wildlife shooting, you are going to have to seriously consider the D7000 over the other cameras. Paired with its advanced autofocus system, this fast frame rate can sharply capture moving objects is all types of situations. A nice feature of the D7000 is that you can adjust the low speed continuous mode to shoot anywhere from 1 to 5 fps, using the custom settings.

Memory Card: The D5100, D3100, and D90 all use a single SD memory card. The D7000 accepts 2 SD cards, where the second card can be used in a variety of ways: overflow when the first card fills up, JPEG on one / RAW on the other, or mirrored backup of the first card. The second card can come in handy as well if one is shooting video files, and one card can be designated for stills and the other video.

Battery and Battery Grip: The D5100 and D3100 both use the EN-EL14 battery, and the D7000 uses the new, higher capacity EN-EL15 battery. The D7000 accepts the optional MB-D11 battery pack/ vertical grip which is constructed of magnesium alloy. The D90 uses the EN-EL3e battery and its optional battery pack/ vertical grip is the MB-D80. The D5100 and D3100 don't accept a battery grip. The battery grip is handy for providing the ability to use a second battery and thus prolonging shooting time, and also creates a larger camera body which some users find more comfortable, especially when shooting in portrait orientation.

Full HD video: The D5100 shoots 1080p and 720p video at 24, 25, and 30 fps. The D3100 shoots 1080p at 24 fps and 720p at 24, 25, and 30 fps. The D7000 also shoots 1080p at 24 fps only and 720p at 24, 25, and 30 fps, up to 20 minutes with full-time continuous autofocus. The D90 offers 720p video at 24 fps, with a 5 minute shooting time.

Ease of Operation: While beginners may find all the buttons, controls, and menus of any dSLR difficult and confusing at first, the menus and controls of the D5100 and D3100 are pretty basic and simple to learn for a dedicated user. The additional controls and menus of the D7000 and D90 are all quite intelligently designed and will become intuitive and straightforward for the more advanced user once they are learned and understood. Again, have a look at helpful guides such as my Nikon D7000 Experience - The Photographer's Guide to Operation and Image Creation with the Nikon D7000 and Nikon D5100 Experience - The Still Photographer's Guide to Operation and Image Creation with the Nikon D5100 to begin to learn to master all the advanced features, settings, and controls of these powerful dSLR cameras.

Hands on Experience: The camera body of the D5100 fits nicely in the hand, and is a little bit taller than the D3100, so the pinky doesn't fall off the grip quite as easily. The rubber gripping surface and rubber thumb spot work nicely, and help retain the grip on the body, even when holding it at your side or carrying it around without a strap, and the light weight of the camera also adds to this ease of portability. Those who prefer the ergonomics of a larger, more solid feeling camera body will have to look at the D90 or D7000. The Live View switch, placed on the top of the camera at the mode dial, feels and sounds a little plasticy, but works find, and the record button for movies is conveniently placed on the top of the camera, near the shutter button. The FN button, on the front near the lens mount, can be customized to adjust one of a number of settings quickly, like image quality, white balance, HDR, or +RAW (to take a RAW file in addition to a JPEG if set on just JPEG). I prefer to make it an ISO button. The side mounted rear LCD screen is a definite improvement over the bottom mounted, limited screen of the D5000, and rugged and durable. The view through the viewfinder is a bit tiny and cramped, as is typically the case in this level of dSLR. Changing settings is quick and easy with the "i" button and rear LCD screen. Overall, the body, feel, controls, and LCD screen of the D5100 make for a great image taking experience.

242 people were helped by this review.

return home



It's a good camera with a few reservations (especailly the HDR feature)

by: T Payne "t_payne" (Fremont, CA United States)
on: April 24, 2011



As with any review, a lot is dependent on the reviewer's taste, expectations and understanding of the product. So let me make it clear where I fit in there and then how this camera performed.

I have a lot of photography and video experience but I am not a professional. What I EXPECT is a camera that is easy to use but powerful in features. I like seeing new technology even when it is sometimes inferior to older technology (I know some of you can relate to that). I expect good build quality and I expect that a camera does what it is advertised to do. This camera basically did not disappoint. But I will say honestly that I was comparing this to the D7000 even though the latter is a good $400 more expensive. But the D5100 was newer and it had some things the D7000 does not have that I thought were important to me:

1. A swivel screen (I've never had a still camera with that). I am upgrading from a D70.

2. Capable of HDR pictures with in-camera processing.

3. Cheaper and lighter weight.

Many of you may choose the D5100 for other reasons but these were mine. In the end, I returned it and bought the D7000 (that review is coming soon). Here is why:

I like the idea of HDR photography and the D5100 can do it right in the camera! To explain why I gravitated towards this particular feature, I need to step back and mention an in-camera feature I had once on a point-and-shoot. I used to have an HP camera and it helped you frame a panoramic picture. When you were done, it stitched it together. Voila! You had a panoramic picture ready to go. When I upgraded to the next model, it also had a panoramic feature to help you frame it, but it did not do in-camera stitching (as most all cameras do not these days). Instead, you are supposed to stitch it with the software the camera comes with. So guess what happened? Nothing....I stopped doing panoramic pictures, because I was too lazy to take the time to find the right pictures, import them into the software, stitch and then export it back to the right folder - too much hassle.

Well, the idea with in-camera HDR was a real selling point for me on the D5100. As of this writing, I am not aware of any other camera that does this (I'm sure someone will correct me?). So this may be the

1 reason I ended up getting the D5100 and it is the

1 I returned it. If you look at Nikon's website they advertise this feature and show an example of a lighthouse - the result is stunning, just as you would expect from HDR. Let me just say flat-out: this will not be the result you see in the real-world. I took about 100 different high-contrast shots and most of them looked better with the HDR processing but most of them only looked *marginally* better. The shadows had more detail and the bright areas were less blown out. So it works. But I then bracketed +2,0,-2 images and plugged them into Photomatrix and BAM! Now that's HDR! No comparison whatsoever. It turns out, the Nikon D5100's version of HDR is to take just two shots (-3,+3 , or some variation on the stops) and then it combines it into one image. If the (+3) shot was a little blurry, because over-exposed shots tend to be this way, then the final HDR image is blurry too. Now when this happens on a bracketed set, that is OK, because you still have the normal (0) exposure to take back with you at the end of your vacation. But if the D5100 made a bunch of blurry shots, you are hosed. There is no way to recover from that. You would have to analyze every shot closely on that little 3" screen to verify you got the shot or you would need to take duplicates with normal exposure just to make sure. Also, the HDR feature is not even written in the instruction manual - go ahead and look...no where to be found! I had to look it up in the longer online pdf manual to see how to use the feature, and it turns out you have to press about 6 buttons pretty deep in the menu just to get the camera to take an HDR. Once you depress the shutter, you have to go back through the whole menu again. Ridiculous! Finally, I figured out you can assign the "Fn" button to handle this, which was really a very good workaround. So all in all, I was really excited about in-camera HDR and in reality, it was a big disappointment. Now on to the other stuff:

The swivel screen: You either love it or hate it. I hated it, but that has nothing to do with the actual camera, just the concept. Basically I think it's mechanically the weakest point of the camera. That little swivel is just asking to snap off the next time I chase my son around the house and back into a corner or cabinet. I can guess it would cost a fortune to have Nikon fix that. Also, I am not into swiveling the screen closed so the screen faces the camera when I am done shooting. I am simply not that meticulous. I want to have a spontaneous camera that I can pick up and shoot whenever I want. So what's the point if I have to un-swivel the screen every time I want to use it and then swivel it closed when I am done. Also, think of all that wear-and-tear. So if you don't close it properly then it is liable to get scratched over time. The D7000 and all the other fixed LCD DSLRs have a plastic screen protector that costs a few bucks to replace - you can't really use a screen protector on the D5100. So either you swivel it closed every time or you risk scratching the screen. In the end, I felt the swivel screen took away from my spontaneity and made me think about not scratching the screen all the time.

Now a few general things: The camera is lighter and cheaper than the D7000. That can be good or bad depending on how you look at it. But for how much this camera costs, I don't want it to feel cheap - and it does. I compared both cameras and it was the little things like how the buttons felt and how the grip was shaped that made the D5100 feel a lot cheaper. Also the 18-55mm lens it comes with is really very limiting. I am not interesting in being one of those people that walks around with 3 lenses in a huge 10lb bag that I carry everywhere. The D7000 comes with the 18-105mm which is not amazing, but it is much better for general use. I personally went with the Tamron 18-270mm, but that's another story. Here are some other things to consider: The D5100 has a bunch of "Effects" like "miniature", "fisheye", etc. These can be done much more easily in the D5100 than in the D7000 where you have to apply the effect to a picture after you take it while the D5100 applies it immediately to the picture. But these are just gimmicks for me - you try the effect out once and move on.

After thoroughly playing with the D5100, the D7000 became an easy choice. For $400 (of course, it's $400 when you compare just the cost of the bodies not the kits) you get a lot of manual buttons so you don't have to dive into menus to change things. You get a dedicated screen on the top that gives you critical info. You get a weather-sealed case with the top and back being magnesium alloy. You get 2 custom user settings, faster more precise focusing and a better lens with the kit. So you say, "no duh, you pay more, you get more". That is true, but my logic was that the D5100 is not really all that cheap to begin with. If I'm shelling out serious cash for a DSLR, it better not feel like a toy in my hand - the D5100 feels like a toy. It also has very few buttons which means any time you want to make a change, you need to dive into a menu. Gosh I hate that! I have a Canon G10 which is more capable - at least it has an ISO and exposure dial right there on the top - no menus no nothing, and it is just a fancy point-and-shoot.

As for the video, I appreciated the fact that the D5100 takes 1080p at 30FPS unlike the D7000 which maxes out at 24FPS. I do video with a far more capable dedicated video camera, so I didn't really bother with this. But from the little I saw, the built-in microphone was weak and the auto-focus was sluggish, inaccurate and loud ( you can hear the focusing in your video). I would only use the camera's video if I was desperate. The D7000 performed no better.

As far as picture quality goes, I am not a pro, but I did compare identical pictures to the D7000 at the pixel level and I am convinced they are the same chips. The pictures are simply awesome. Beautiful color, sharp, clean and excellent light sensitivity. You really will have a hard time complaining.

IN CONCLUSION: Although it "feels" like a toy after you hold the D7000, it is a well-built camera that takes excellent pictures and can do most of the same things the D90 and D7000 are capable of - you just have to hunt for the stuff you need. I do not like hunting for things when a photo-opportunity arises. The HDR feature is mostly useless and could potentially ruin some pictures. The swivel LCD may be useful for some but I did not like it. If the camera is used mainly for a family get-together, a European vacation or even to take short videos of your kids and pets, then this is an excellent choice. If you are like me and enjoy HDR photography, astrophotography, macro-shots and have a deeper understanding of how all the features of how cameras work (like why you would change the metering from "Matrix" to "spot" or why it's useful to change ISO settings all the time, etc) then you will be really frustrated by the D5100 - you are better off spending the money and getting the D7000. I give this camera 4 stars because the HDR feature was a big selling point and it is useless by my standard. I would knock off another half-star for not having at least a dedicated button to change ISO and for having weak video capabilities, but I'm feeling generous tonight ;)

I hope you found this review helpful. I will try to do a more complete review of the D7000 soon.

160 people were helped by this review.

return home



Nice DSLR! Great images!

by: Jeffrey (Mason, TX United States)
on: April 25, 2011



I have been a retired SLR photographer for several years so the D5100 is my re-entry into DSLR. Previously, I had an N90s and one of the first digital Nikons; the D20. I have been shooting a Canon G10 for several years even doing some HDR with it. I've had the D5100 about a week and have shot a 100 photos on a variety of subjects - family, landscape, sunset, and macro - all with the 18-55 kit lens.

It shoots great! Detail is way better than I expected for a "consumer" model. Actually, I chose the D5100 because the quality of the pics was my foremost goal. It comes with the same 16mp chip as the D7000 for $400 less. I wanted to spend that money on glass. I've had almost no trouble figuring out how to set the manual controls and have had good luck with the SCENES modes for most shooting. (I haven't tried the EFFECTS and I'm not sure that I will - more of a Photoshop processing kind of guy). My biggest challenge has been getting correct focus as the camera tries to do way more than I'm used to and, if I have it in the wrong SCENE mode, there's no telling what might happen. The dancing yellow squares on the face recognition function is a little disconcerting. I have also had to learn patience as the VR function is nice but a little slow when handheld. I have learned to leave it off until I really need it.

I think that most of the professional reviewers overstate the weaknesses of many of the products out there and the D5100 is no exception, maybe because it's hard to difference a crowded competitive product line. At any rate, here is my take on some of the deficiencies. First, the location of the LiveView button work great for me. Because it is a lever rather than a button it is easy to locate and use without moving my hand on the grip. Another complaint has been the lack of an ISO button. I do prefer buttons over menus but there are too many functions which I would like to have on a button that there wouldn't be room for all of them. I programmed the fn button (which is done easily in the menus) to allow me to control the ISO. It works well both when I'm working through the viewer or the display screen. I will agree with complaints that the fn button is too close to the flash button. I've inadvertently mixed them up and it cost me a pic or two. However, I only need to make that kind of mistake a couple of times before learn to avoid the problem.

The rear screen is great...very high resolution. The zooming function works well and I have been able to check image focus easily. The side tilt is very elegant and I like that if flips to protect the screen when not in use.

I'm not much of a videographer but I did shoot some video and the image quality if fantastic. I put it on my TV and the quality was great. The focus works pretty well although you can see it occasionally get behind for a few seconds for quick moving subjects - like cars and kids. The microphone isn't worth much so it may be worth investing in the add-on microphone for more serious video projects.

All in all, the quality and fit of the camera is very good in spite of being made from plastic. i wouldn't want to drop it or the lens for that matter - they are not made like my old N90s or my 70-200 f2.8 but, on the other hand, I won't won't miss the extra 5 lbs. of weight because this camera is LIGHT! It is small but fits the hand well and is joy to carry around.

To summarize: As you would expect from a Nikon, great photos; as good as the D7000 (according to dpreview) and $400 less. Easy to use, light, good manual control, and good assisted control through scenes. The D5100 is a good choice if you are looking for high quality images without all the bells and whistles of the D7000.

No "cons" except don't drop it...probably won't survive! Battery life isn't great either (I tend to use the display and LiveView a lot) so I've already invested in a backup battery.

36 people were helped by this review.

return home



Outstanding Camera

by: UncleTrick (Las Vegas, NV.)
on: April 23, 2011



I own a Nikon D300 and I love that camera. It's a work horse, but it's heavy. I was looking for a camera that I could use as more of an every day type of camera. You know, something to grab to take a few shots without a lot of fuss, weight and fooling with settings. In other words, a fun, easy to use camera.

I had purchased one of the Micro Four Thirds cameras because it was light and small, but I found the quality lacking when compared to APS-C cameras. Also, most of the available Micro Four Thirds lenses are way too expensive for the quality you get with them; they're not that great. (The exception is the Panasonic 20mm lens - that's a good lens. Perhaps still a bit expensive.)

Enter the D5100. When I saw this camera, I knew it would be exactly what I was looking for. It's small, lightweight, easy to use but still maintains superb image quality. It's really outstanding in low light. I don't know what kind of algorithms Nikon is using, but shooting at ISO 1600 is no problem. Even the shots at ISO 3200 look good and clean up nicely.

The great thing about this camera is that it's versatile and flexible. You can shoot in auto, or you can use Aperture or Shutter priority for more control. If you're an advanced user, you'll be happy for the manual mode that allows you total control.

This camera really is the best of both worlds. A camera that an advanced amateur can use and at the same time feel confident that he/she can hand over to an inexperienced spouse or friend and know that the camera won't be too much for them to handle.

It's really a nice fit between the D3100 (more features, same sensor as the D7000) and less expense and bulk of the D7000. Plus, I love the flip out LCD.

23 people were helped by this review.

return home



Nikon D5100 vs Canon T3i

by: Yang Luo (San Diego, CA)
on: July 13, 2011



As a Nikon owner for years, I recently had a chance to evaluate both Nikon D5100 and Canon T3i, here is my list of the differences between these two entry level flagships from the two big players:

1. T3i has 4 buttons on the back defined to be used to control "AF", "White Balance", "Drive Mode", and "Picture Control", plus a dedicated ISO button on the shoulder, and a focus point selector on the top right corner of the back, which is great. For D5100, you have to go deep into the menu. This first one is very important to many experienced photographers.

2. T3i can trigger external flash, D5100 can't.

3. T3i has White Balance Shifts with the Custom White Balance, Nikon D5100 Customer White Balance is a one shot setup.

4. T3i's image quality seems to be a little better than D5100. Especially the LCD is brighter and looks great.

5. T3i can work with any Canon lens, D5100 only works with AF-S lenses due to the lack of a body motor.

6. T3i's White Balance Bracketing is both ways. D5100 is only for Amber and Blue.

7. D5100 has Distortion Control, before and after shoot, T3i doesn't.

8. D5100 has Color Balance adjustment after shot, T3i doesn't.

9. D5100 has Straighten feature, T3i doesn't.

10. D5100 has Perspective adjustment, T3i doesn't.

11. D5100 makes smarter decision when shoot in P, A, S modes, while T3i frequently make you shoot in a wired combination like "1/320, ISO3200, f22"...

12. D5100's battery lasts much longer, almost 50% longer. T3i's battery is small and looks cheap.

13. D5100 has HDR feature which sometimes maybe useful.

14. D5100's power switch is located in a perfect position. T3i's is a little awkward.

Common issues:

1. When in bright sunlight, both tend to produce yellowish images, that's more like a common issue of CMOS sensor. I have never had a problem with CCD cameras, but I have experienced the same issue with all the CMOS cameras including Nikon D7000, Nikon D90, Nikon D300s.

2. Live Mode focuses very slow on both (Nikon is slightly better).

Both cameras are great, it all depends on your preference.

28 people were helped by this review.

return home



If image quality is your highest priority

by: nightshooter (USA)
on: June 1, 2011



As a former D90 shooter, I can say without reservation that the D5100 is now Nikon's biggest bang for the buck. The AF accuracy on this camera is much better than what I experienced with the D90. Image quality is astoundingly superior (i.e, great noise reduction while image stays sharp, sharp, sharp).

Contrary to what has been written by others, I find the "i" (Information menu) option for changing settings (e.g., ISO) to be quite fast and easy, once you "get" how to use it (in lieu of hunting for buttons or dials or button/dial combinations for everything). And, most importantly, the Command dial is still where it should be for quickly changing exposure settings.

In agreement with others, if you want a heavier APS-C camera and want to pay $400(US) more for all those buttons, be my guest and buy the Nikon D7000 instead. Perhaps you need a larger viewfinder, or have older and/or AF-D lenses you want to keep, so you need a built-in AF (camera) motor to focus. If so, then spending the additional money for the D7000 might be worth it. But if you stay with Nikon's line-up, only a heavier/more expensive FX D700 can truly produce better IQ (and I would say perhaps, depending on conditions, because the resolution of the D5100 is really phenomenal).

I've put together a very affordable D5100 kit:(wide-angle)Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 DI-II B.I.M., (walk-around) Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 OS HSM, Nikon 35 F/1.8 (honestly not used much), (tele) Nikon 70-300mm. For under $2800 (US), I now get a broader focal range, and the kind of image quality that I used to think was out of reach for my wallet.

20 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great Simple DSLR

by: El Guapo (New York, NY)
on: May 1, 2011



I've only had the D5100 for a few days, and I love it. I loved it out of the box. Before buying it, I'd been considering the more expensive Nikon D7000 and the Canon EOS 60D. But being the type of guy who is in general very technology/gadget challenged, I knew I'd never use 90% of the available features on either camera, so I couldn't really justify the extra expense.

What I love immediately about the D5100 is how easy it is to use right out of the box. Pictures are of course phenomenal, and in particular I've enjoyed using the "Night Vision" effect setting to capture some excellent black & white images of my pets in poor lighting without having to irritate them with a flash. Video is terrific and very easy to use. I expect I'll have a ton of fun with this camera.

Cons? It's a bit plasticky feeling, but do I really care? No. I won't be lugging this camera to the top of Mt. Everest, nor shooting action pics in the rain. One issue is that it is virtually impossible to find a compatible fast fixed focal length 85mm+ portrait lens unless you want to spend significantly more than you paid for the camera itself - which I do not. For this camera's motor to drive the lens in AF, you will need to use AF-S/AF-I lenses only, and there are not a lot of great [fast] affordable portrait lens options in that class, IMHO. But being at most a very casual photo kind of guy, I can live with that shortcoming. The kit lens takes wonderful shots.

Overall, I'm extremely pleased and I expect that anyone wanting a good camera for casual photo/video use will be as well.

15 people were helped by this review.

return home



Nikon D7000 Sensor for $400 cheaper

by: B. Fuller (United States)
on: May 23, 2011



(TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is a fantastic new offering from Nikon. You get most of the best parts of the D7000 for 1/3 cheaper. If you are looking for a starter camera or a back up body to the D7000 this is it.

Here are the major differences between the D5100 and D7000.

D5100

Exact same sensor and processing abilities as the D7000. Some of the best Image Quality available in any DSLR. ISO 3200 is very usable with low noise.

- Swivel screen while the D7000 is fixed -- Since the contrast autofocus (ie Live View) is not very good on either of these cameras this is not really a player unless you are using a tripod. Then the swivel screen is very useful.

- 4 fps vs 6 fps for D7000 - No big deal 4 fps is plenty fast to fill your card with similar looking pictures. Also, in RAW D7000 buffers out pretty fast and then slows down anyway.

- 11 focus points vs 39 for D7000 - Most of the time not really a big deal. Sometimes all those extra points get in the way and slow you down.

No internal auto focus motor while the D7000 has one -- If you don't have any D series or older lenses this is not an issue. If you do, they will not autofocus on this camera.

- Only one SD slot vs 2 for the D7000 -- A big difference when getting paid to shoot. Otherwise, always format your cards in your camera and not on the computer. Doing that I have never had a failure. (Jinxed myself now)

Not weather sealed vs D7000 partially weather sealed - Don't drop either one in the water and keep both out of dust.

- Has less external switches than the D7000 - This means you need to go to the menus more often which slows things down. This can be severely annoying or not depending on your shooting style. The D7000 handles better but this is not a deal breaker on the D5100.

Built in flash is not a commander for Nikon Creative Light System while D7000 is -- If you don't use off camera flash or you use radio triggers this is not a big deal.

1.2 lbs vs 1.7 lbs for D7000.

Overall the D5100 is a great camera. The D7000 have some extra features that make it worth the extra money but if you don't need them you get all the fantastic D7000 IQ for 2/3rd the price.

23 people were helped by this review.

return home



SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-WX9 16.2 MP EXMOR R CMOS DIGITAL STILL CAMERA WITH CARL ZEISS VARIO-TESSAR 5X WIDE-ANGLE OPTICAL ZOOM LENS AND FULL HD 1080/60I VIDEO (BLACK) (ELECTRONICS)

return home



Sony DSC-WX9 - unrestricted power in a compact package. With powerful features like Full HD movie for high quality movies, low light performance for improved image clarity, 10 fps to capture the precise moment, and 3D still image capture for a new way to experience your pictures, you wouldn't believe something so compact could be this powerful. Sony DSC-WX9 Feature Highlights 16.1 Megapixel Back-illuminated “Exmor R” CMOS Image Sensor The DSC-WX9 features a 16.1 megapixel “Exmor R” CMOS image sensor that brings out the full resolving power of the camera's Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens to deliver extremely fast speed, high resolution, and stunning low-light sensitivity with improved image clarity and drastically reduced grain. In addition, the combined “Exmor R” CMOS sensor and BIONZ image processor delivers extremely fast 10fps, Anti Motion Blur, Hand-held Twilight and 1080i movie modes 3 . 3.0-inch XtraFine


3.0-inch XtraFine technology gives you deeper blacks and more color in your display, all while being thinner than most LCDs. Full HD 1080@60i Record crystal clear movies at the highest resolution available with capabilities for 60i in 1080 AVCHD 3 . This provides stunning, fast motion video with less distortion for playback on your HD TV. 3D still image and panorama


Produce awe-inspiring images with 3D still image and 3D Sweep Panorama capabilities 4 . Photos will take on a new dimension of creative capabilities for viewing the world in a whole new way. iSweep Panorama


With iSweep Panorama just press the shutter, pan the landscape and let the camera do the rest. It automatically links together each frame to produce a panoramic image. This model even detects faces and moving subjects to stitch intelligently different widths to help avoid subject distortion. Background Defocus


DSLR photographs are often beautiful because they blur the background, putting the emphasis on the subject. Now our point-and-shoot cameras can deliver this signature DSLR benefit. The system takes two shots, identifies the background and applies a defocused background keeping the subject crisp and clear. Backlight Correction HDR


Don't miss a single detail in high contrast shots. The built in backlight correction analyzes the image and automatically adjusts accordingly to give you a perfectly lit shot. Backlight Correction HDR helps correct for this by taking three pictures at different exposure settings and processing the best elements of each into a single image for more natural looking shots. Superior Auto Mode


Get cleaner, more dynamic pictures and fewer missed shots. The camera automatically recognizes the correct scene mode, then quickly shoots and combines up to six shots to produce images with greater clarity, optimum dynamic range using backlight correction HDR technology and lower image noise using 6 shots layering technology. Superior Auto intelligently detects 36 scenes for still images and 44 scenes for movies, making it easy to get the best shot. Digital Zoom


Capturing the right shot at the right moment has never been so easy. Digital zoom brings the action up close to get that perfect shot, every time. Optical SteadyShot image stabilization


Optical SteadyShot image stabilization uses a built-in gyro sensor to detect camera shake and automatically shifts the lens to help prevent blur without sacrificing image quality. Soft Skin Mode


Portrait subjects will love the results. Soft Skin mode recognizes skin tones and reduces the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles without affecting the rest of the shot. Natural Flash


Conventional point-and-shoot camera flash shots just don't capture colors the way the eye sees them. Natural Flash mode takes a reference shot without flash and then uses that reference to correct the color, for far more lifelike images. Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens with 25mm equivalent wide 5x Optical Zoom The high-performance Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x optical zoom lens brings distant subjects closer for video recording as well as for outdoor, sports, and travel photos, and Close Focus shoots close-ups up to just under ½-inch from the subject. A wide angle of 25mm equivalent wide-angle lens allows you to take wider shots of the scene or group in crowded spaces. HDMI output


The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a compact audio/video connector interface for transmitting uncompressed digital streams. HDMI connects digital audio/video sources such as a compatible camcorder, Blu-ray Disc player, a personal computer, a video game console, or an AV receiver to a compatible digital audio device and/or video monitor such as a digital television (DTV). Easily connect your Cyber-shot camera via HDMI cable to any compatible HDMI compatible device to easily enjoy and upload content 6 . Smile Shutter technology Smile Shutter technology captures a smile the moment it happens. Simply press the Smile Shutter button and the camera does the rest. You can also select adult and child priority and indicate the degree of Smile Detection Sensitivity. Intelligent Scene Recognition can be used together with Smile Shutter mode. This means that beautiful smiles can be captured with settings optimized for the particular scene, even in difficult conditions such as twilight and backlighting. Face Detection technology Sony's Face Detection technology can automatically distinguish between children and adults. Face Detection technology detects up to eight individual faces and adjusts flash, focus, exposure, and white balance to help deliver crisp, properly lit images of family and friends. Motion Detection Motion Detection, along with Face Motion Detection adjusts ISO sensitivity and increases the shutter speed when movement is detected, reducing blur in moving subjects and faces. Anti-blink Function It's frustrating to capture the perfect shot, only to review it later and discover subjects blinked during the photo. When the camera is set to Soft Snap, the Anti-blink function captures two images, recording only the photo with less squinting or blinking. If a blink is detected in other shooting modes, a warning will be displayed after you take the shot. Sweep Multi Angle Mode


In Sweep Multi Angle mode, the camera takes 15 images at different angles as it sweeps across the scene. By tilting the camera during playback, the camera's Gyro Sensor detects motion and displays the image in a 3D-like view on the camera's LCD. Anti-Motion Blur Mode Capture cleaner and sharper images in low light for non landscape shots. When set in Anti-motion Blur Mode, the DSC-WX9 captures six images in a fraction of a second with higher shutter speed and combines the data from all six to create a single image of extraordinary detail and dramatically reduce subject blur, beyond the capability of traditional cameras. TransferJet technology


TransferJet technology, developed by Sony and advanced and promoted by consortium of 18 other companies, allows you to transfer up to ten files between two TransferJet enabled devices just by touching their TransferJet logos together, without the hassle of hunting for cables or the complication of pairing 5 . Compatible with PC and MAC Systems


The high definition, AVCHD, video captured with the DSC-WX9 can be used with the provided Picture Motion Browser software 1 for PC and iMovie (sold separately) for Mac systems². Includes Sony PMB (Picture Motion Browser) Software ver. 5.51 Sony Picture Motion Browser software offers a simple, intuitive way to transfer, sort, and view your video and still images on your compatible PC. In addition, multiple output options let you burn your memories to DVD
using an external
DVD burning device (sold separately), as well as take advantage of one click upload to a number of popular video and photo sharing sites (such as Facebook and Sony's Personal Space). Using the new 5.5 version also enables playback of 3D images taken on the Cyber-shot camera. Includes Sony PMB Portable software 2


With the pre-installed Picture Motion Browser (PMB) Portable software 2 the DSC-WX9 makes it easy to pre-select videos and images in the camera and conveniently upload them from the camera to a compatible PC and popular Internet sharing sites 7 without the need for any additional software or install. PMB requires Microsoft Windows XP SP3/ Windows Vista SP2/Windows 7 environments not supported. Not supported by Mac OS.
Uploading directly to the web requires PMB Portable (ver 5.5) for Windows; (ver 1.3) for Mac software and USB cable (included), and PC with internet connectivity. Windows XP SP3 64-bit and Starter Edition and Windows Vista Starter Edition environments not supported. Movie recording is limited to 29 minute segments. 3D viewing requires 3D HDTV, a high speed HDMI cable (supporting at least 10.2 Gbps) connection and 3D glasses (all sold separately). TransferJet enabled media (sold separately) and TransferJet technology required in both devices.
Interoperability and compatibility among TransferJet enabled devices may vary. HD Viewing requires an HD output adapter cable (VMC-MD3) and compatible HDTV, both sold separately. Requires compatible wireless access point(s). Some features may rely on Internet services.



Excellent camera for the price

by: Hitman (Houston, Texas)
on: April 16, 2011



I currently own a D90 but decided to buy this camera for occasions not convenient to carry a bulky camera. I have used this camera during last weekend shooting under daylight, indoor and low light condition and I am really impressed with camera.

What I like:

- Outside shooting: Excellent picture

- Indoor shooting: Excellent picture even under auto mode. Apparently we cannot compare with DSL camera but the picture quality is much better than previous Sony digital cameras that I owned (See uploaded images)

- Superior Auto Mode: a new feature that automatically reduce blur and noise after each shooting.

- Sweep Panorama is great and time saving

- 3D picture is a nice feature, I tried it with my 3D TV and it looks great, although it is not as good as you are watching 3D movie from Bluray but you actually can see some depths of the image.

- 1080i movie recording is great even watching on 55" TV.

- Can use both SDHC & Duo cards.

- Inexpensive for a extra battery, $12 from Amazon.

What I do not like or need some time to adapt:

- Battery is not so good (The bright 921K XtraFine screen should be the main reason) but a spare battery can fix this.

- The screen easily captures your fingerprints. Looking for the screen protection.

- Need some time to learn using dial control for mode changing.

- Superior Auto Mode: needs about 2 seconds after each shot to process the image. When you want to act fast, this mode should not be your choice.

23 people were helped by this review.

return home



Amazing camera for the price!

by: Eliot Pooh (USA)
on: May 6, 2011



I have now had the WX9 for a week, and I can say that at $200, this camera is a great bang for the buck! The image quality is superb in good lightning, and remains excellent if one uses the "Superb" auto mode; I really am very pleasantly surprised at how the mode can produce such good results on a very compact point and shoot.

Many of the features I believed to be mere gimmicks, I find that I am using frequently. Panoramas are very easy to take and allow for countless possibilities of unique shots that couldn't otherwise be taken. The background defocus mode, although admittedly not a perfect a replica of the bokeh effect one can achieve on a DSLR, is a good enough replacement to convince almost anyone. The HDR mode is also very useful in situations where you need to take a picture of a subject with a window, or other light source in the background.

The 3'' display is also one of the highlights of the camera. With its 921k dots, it is incredibly sharp and colorful. Most other point and shoots have only 230k displays and the better ones have 460k displays. This camera beats them all! One little gripe I have with it is that it gets smudgy very easily. I think Sony should apply oleophobic coating, like the one used on the iPhones, on its cameras' displays given their size and the importance in the cameras' usage.

I also don't appreciate the click-wheel controls. I'm getting used to it now, but I don't understand why Sony just didn't use a 4-way d-pad instead, which would have made the controls easier.

I initially thought the 16mp count to be excessive, and that it would only introduce a lot of noise into the pictures, but the camera really takes much larger pictures than a 10mp camera while retaining image quality.

Of course, don't expect DSLR-like or even $500-camera-like results, but if you intend to use at least some of the features of the camera, I believe you can't get any better than the WX9 for 200 bucks!

15 people were helped by this review.

return home



Very nice cam for the price.

by: BoomBucks
on: June 11, 2011



I'm gonna make it short:

PROS:

- amazing daytime photos with vibrant colors.

- nice slow syncro flash mode.

- video quality is awesome.

- the price is unbeatable.

- Nice panoramic photos

CONS:

- slow and lagged user interface.

- microphone sucks. any simple breeze will cause distortion in sound. if you want a camera to use at clubs, bars or other loud places, this one in not for you.

- backlit sensor almost makes no difference. still very grainy photos in Twilight Handheld mode.

- does not come with a case

- you can hear the lens motor in videos when zooming in/out

14 people were helped by this review.

return home



Excellent camera for the price

by: Hitman (Houston, Texas)
on: April 17, 2011



I currently own a D90 but decided to buy this camera for occasions not convenient to carry a bulky camera. I have used this camera during last weekend shooting under daylight, indoor and low light condition and I am really impressed with camera.

What I like:

- Outside shooting: Excellent picture

- Indoor shooting: Excellent picture even under auto mode. Apparently we cannot compare with DSL camera but the picture quality is much better than previous Sony digital cameras that I owned (See uploaded images)

- Superior Auto Mode: a new feature that automatically reduce blur and noise after each shooting.

- Sweep Panorama is great and time saving

- 3D picture is a nice feature, I tried it with my 3D TV and it looks great, although it is not as good as you are watching 3D movie from Bluray but you actually can see some depths of the image.

- 1080i movie recording is great even watching on 55" TV.

- Can use both SDHC & Duo cards.

- Inexpensive for a extra battery, $12 from Amazon.

What I do not like or need some time to adapt:

- Battery is not so good (The bright 921K XtraFine screen should be the main reason) but a spare battery can fix this.

- The screen easily captures your fingerprints. Looking for the screen protection.

- Need some time to learn using dial control for mode changing.

- Superior Auto Mode: needs about 2 seconds after each shot to process the image. When you want to act fast, this mode should not be your choice.

15 people were helped by this review.

return home



Excellent camera for the money

by: I. Ming "Meticulous shopper" (New York City)
on: July 7, 2011



My past two point and shoot cameras were Canons and I had pretty much decided on the Elph 500 back in March '11. Long story short, I picked SONY over Canon because I have had enough of Canon always taking forever to launch new products and charging hefty premiums for their reputation, marginally better image quality and popularity. Canon products are always playing catch up in innovation and technology (think wide lens, LCD resolution, focus speeds, back lit sensor, true HD movie and what not).

The Sony WX9 captures very good video, both in bright and low light conditions. I am extremely pleased with this purchase and I am so glad I switched.(and I am the type who is very loyal to my brands)

I love the panoramic (panning) capture feature. I could easily capture a full shot of the Yankee stadium (and still maintain on a 4 by 6 aspect ratio for Facebook uploading). It's a very convenient feature, especially if you always felt that you camera was just never wide enough (even at 24 mm). I now have the option to shoot an "ultra wide" picture without the drawback of "fish eye" distortions.

The portrait feature with background blurring is pretty neat too. It just gives me option to get more creative with my compositions. My Facebook friends are loving those shots. Normally you can only pull off this effect with a DSLR and a pro-sumer lens. But who caries a DSLR for dinner or party. The LCD screen is amazing too. It has one of the highest resolution in its class and it is very crisp and sharp.

Of course, this camera has flaws too, and then quite a big one. The battery performance average at best. Its stamina is about half of what I am used too with a Canon camera. I resolved the issue by getting a second battery and charger which are readily available on Ebay. I reckon that shooting movies in HD requires more battery power. Sony like their camera to be as thin as possible and I guess that's why all their line of camera have below average stamina. The trade-off is reasonable.

Overall, I'm very happy with this product. I would recommend the WX9 to anyone in a heart beat.

8 people were helped by this review.

return home



Best camera I've owned

by: Suved Rai
on: June 14, 2011



Perfect for what I needed. This camera has a ton of cool features that I'm not going into detail into. The main ones that have me sold are below:

* In the simplest mode with no special settings I can click pictures super fast! This camera seems to have one of the lowest time lags between pictures that I've seen in point and shoots. It's the main reason I bought this and I love this feature. Thanks to this I get really cool reactions of people on camera.

* The Panoramic view option is really cool too.... Fun feature to play around with.

* Video quality in this camera is excellent.

(These are the main points I can recollect now... If I remember some additional specifics I'll update this post later)

8 people were helped by this review.

return home



Very good one

by: Rajan Raman "Rajan" (Phoenix)
on: June 3, 2011



I bought this camera to replace my Canon Point & Shoot. I have been buying Canon cameras till this point and like them a lot. But, both my Canon point and shoots went bust after 2 - 3 years. So, I decided to move away from Canon and did an extensive research with a capped budget of 200$. I initially set my eyes on Panasonic ZS7 with the Leica lens, the price of that shot up and so I removed it from my list and continued by search. In my initial research I was avoiding Sony as in the past they only took Memory sticks and those were expensive. But, when I found out that this can take both memory stick and SD card, it came in as a strong option.

I was looking for a camera with good zoom, decent low light performance (so preferably CMOS), good video, brand lens and recent model as I plan to have it for a few years. Finally toss up was between the Canon ELPH 100 HS and this one. Since, I wanted something other than Canon, I chose this Red one to match the red of my JVC camcorder.

So far, I am pretty impressed by the performance of this little one. The menus are neat, the LCD screen is awesome. I have mostly used Intelligent Auto and it works well most of the time. Videos are great and battery life is decent as well. I haven't used 3D (probably would never will) and that was never a factor. Provided companion software is good and does it work without any issues. I just wish the zoom is little more than 5X (10X would have been nice), but you can't have everything at the sub 200 price point.

Overall, I would recommend this as a strong buy for anybody looking for a camera in the $200 range.

7 people were helped by this review.

return home



SONY'S CYBER-SHOT DSC-W530 14.1 MP DIGITAL STILL CAMERA WITH CARL ZEISS VARIO-TESSAR 4X WIDE-ANGLE OPTICAL ZOOM LENS AND 2.7-INCH LCD (BLACK) (ELECTRONICS)

return home



Sony DSC-W530 Shoot more life with the Sony DSC-W530.
Capture landscapes with one touch using Sweep Panorama, get that perfect portrait with Smile Shutter, snap wider scenes with the 26mm wide angle lens, get high quality photos with 14.1 megapixels, and automatically get clear shots with SteadyShot image stabilization and iAuto; all in a sleek little design. Sony DSC-W530 Feature Highlights 14.1 Megapixel Super HAD CCD Image Sensor A powerful 14.1 megapixel ½.3-inch Super HAD CCD image sensor helps you capture gorgeous images with superb contrast and clarity down to the finest detail. With 14.1 megapixels, you can create stunning, photo-quality prints up to A3+ (13x19-inch) size, or crop your images and still come away with high resolution shots. 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD display (230k pixels) Generous 2.7-inch (230K pixels) Clear Photo LCD display features sharp, natural color that makes it easy to compose shots, read menus, and view photos, even in bright sunlight. Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens with 26mm equivalent wide 4x Optical Zoom The high-performance Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 4x optical zoom lens brings distant subjects closer for video recording as well as for outdoor, sports, and travel photos, and Close Focus shoots close-ups up to just under ½-inch from the subject. A wide angle of 26mm equivalent wide-angle lens allows you to take wider shots of the scene or group in crowded spaces. Sweep Panorama mode Reach beyond the traditional wide angle lens, and capture more breathtaking shots with Sweep Panorama Mode. Simply press the shutter button and sweep the camera in the desired direction and the camera continuously shoots at a high speed, then seamlessly stitches the images together with automatic position adjustment to create one stunning panoramic image. Available in wide and ultra-wide options, the camera can take panoramic shots of up to 268 degrees. Now capturing wide landscapes is as easy as press and sweep. SteadyShot image stabilization


SteadyShot image stabilization compensates for camera shake and helps prevent blur through use of digital processing technologies. Intelligent Auto Mode Unlike traditional auto mode, Intelligent Auto (iAuto) mode thinks for you, recognizing scenes, lighting conditions, faces, and adjusts settings resulting clear images, faces with natural skin tone and less blur. Take advantage of all the technology without leaving Auto mode. Kids on the playground, landscape shots, a beautiful flower or an indoor birthday party; all result in clear images without leaving auto mode. Face Detection technology Face Detection technology detects up to eight individual faces and adjusts focus, exposure, and white balance to help deliver crisp, properly lit images of family and friends. Smile Shutter technology Smile Shutter technology captures a smile the moment it happens. Simply press the Smile Shutter button and the camera does the rest. You can also select adult and child priority and indicate the degree of Smile Detection Sensitivity. Intelligent Scene Recognition can now be used together with Smile Shutter mode when the Intelligent Auto mode is on. This means that beautiful smiles can be captured with settings optimized for the particular scene, even in difficult conditions such as twilight and backlighting. 480p AVI VGA Movie Mode 4
In 480p AVI movie mode the camera shoots 640 x 480 movies at 30 fps, which is the format when working with a PC. Users will create movies
in files small enough to transfer to compatible PC or Mac. Once transferred to your computer effortlessly upload media to popular photo and video-sharing websites such as Photobucket and YouTube. (Compatible computer with internet capability required) Soft Skin mode


Portrait subjects will love the results. Soft Skin mode recognizes skin tones and reduces the appearance of blemishes and wrinkles without affecting the rest of the shot.
Natural Flash Conventional point-and-shoot camera flash shots just don't capture colors the way the eye sees them. Natural Flash mode takes a reference shot without flash and then uses that reference to correct the color, for far more lifelike images. Self-Portrait Timer


Self-Portrait Timer helps take the guesswork out of self portraits by utilizing Face Detection technology to recognize when your face enters the frame. Once the camera detects your face, it triggers a 2-second timer, and then snaps a picture. Anti-blink Function It's frustrating to capture the perfect shot, only to review it later and discover subjects blinked during the photo. The Anti-blink function works to help counter blinking and squinting. When the camera is set to Soft Snap, the Anti-blink function captures two images, recording only the photo with less squinting. If a blink is detected in other shooting modes, a warning will be displayed after you take the shot. Dynamic Range Optimizer Standard and Plus Dynamic Range Optimizer (DRO) Standard and Plus uses a sophisticated algorithm to help recover shadows and highlights. The result is more natural images with clearer details that more closely match what your naked eye sees. DRO is particularly effective when shooting backlit portraits or any scene with a dramatic contrast between background and foreground lighting. DRO Plus allows for even greater optimization by analyzing each region of an image and performing additional image processing. Intelligent Scene Recognition (iSCN) Mode


Intelligent Scene Recognition (iSCN) Mode automatically detects eight different types of scenes and, within just 1/30th of a second, selects the appropriate camera settings: Backlight, Backlight Portrait, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Twilight using a tripod, Portrait, Landscape and macro. iSCN has two modes: Auto and Advanced. In Auto Mode, the camera takes a single shot using the optimal settings. In Advanced Mode, the camera takes a photo with the optimal settings and, if in difficult lighting (low light or back light) immediately takes a second photo with another optimized setting so you can choose which to keep. High Sensitivity Mode (ISO 3200) High ISO allows for faster shutter speed, so you can take photos indoors or in low light without the need for a flash. In addition to High Sensitivity Mode (ISO), you can select up to seven ISO settings (Auto, 125, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200) when shooting in Program Auto Mode to adjust sensitivity to your shooting conditions. Easy Shooting Mode


With Easy Shooting Mode, even beginners can take great photos. In Easy Shooting Mode, easy-to-understand basic instructions are displayed on the LCD screen and the camera switches to all automatic settings, removing several function choices and allowing you to focus on just your subject.
Since this mode works together with Intelligent Scene Recognition, the camera selects the optimum setting for each scene.
In addition the easy mode simplifies preview mode. Includes Sony PMB (Picture Motion Browser) Software ver. 5.3 1 Sony Picture Motion Browser software offers a simple, intuitive way to transfer, sort, and view your video and still images on your compatible PC. In addition, multiple output options let you burn your memories to DVD (sold separately), as well as take advantage of one click upload to a number of popular video and photo sharing sites 3 . Includes Sony PMBP (Picture Motion Browser Portable) software 2


With the pre-installed Picture Motion Browser (PMB) Portable software 2 the DSC-W530 makes it easy to pre-select videos and images in the camera and conveniently upload them from the camera to a compatible PC and popular Internet sharing site 3 without the need for any additional software or install. PMB requires Microsoft Windows XP SP3/ Windows Vista SP2/Windows 7. Not supported by Mac OS. Uploading directly to the web requires PMB Portable (ver 5.2) for Windows; (ver 1.2) for Mac software and USB cable (included), and PC with internet connectivity. Windows XP SP3 64-bit and Starter Edition and Windows Vista Starter Edition environments not supported. Requires compatible wireless access point(s). Some features may rely on Internet services. Movie recording is limited to (29min segments for AVI)



Review by actual owner - great little snapshot camera

by: Davey Williams "davey williams" (los angeles, ca USA)
on: April 19, 2011



I was able to get this model a little early, and was excited to try it out in - what better city to test a camera? - Paris. The last Sony snapshot camera I used was on a trip in 2007, and I was so dissatisfied with that camera that I sold it immediately after returning home. I was eager to see if Sony had improved their entry level cameras, especially the picture quality. I shall post some pictures to offer examples up in the product details, but these will be reduced in size for posting.

Photo quality: My initial day out indicated that they have made dramatic improvements in both quality and speed. Photos in daylight were crisp and clear in just about every shot, and any that weren't were only because I was shooting poorly on purpose to test the photos. I was also quite happy with the quality of shots in low light and indoors, which is where I noticed the most improvement over past Sony low-end offerings. There was some blurring in darker situations, of course, but for the most part the software was able to produce images that are well balanced and low grain. The 14 megapixel feature is great - there are many photos I've been able to crop and retain quality, and photos of, say, a stone sarcophagus can be zoomed in upon when viewing images later to see very good detail.

I must also mention that the camera is very good at balancing photos. It almost always produces a picture with an appropriate contrast, and only in the worst cases did the image wash out in an area. For example, a shot of Joan of Arc (the statue, not the person) in Notre Dame came out very well even with a stained glass window in the background. The stained glass was bright but distinguishable, and the detail of the stone statue was clear and well balanced. Only in extreme cases - such as a shot of a black sculpture in the Louvre with a window behind it with blaring sunlight - did the camera fail to balance the image, but these are the kind of bad photography shots one would never expect a camera to take well.

Types of Photos: Like most all snapshot photos, this camera will perform best shooting still subjects with plenty of light. Moving objects didn't tend to blur, a problem I'd had with other cheap snapshot cameras, but the response time can make getting these shots difficult. Trying to capture a motorcycle passing an old church, my 7-10 attempts were mostly good photos, but getting the moving bike in the exact spot I wanted was nearly impossible.

Features: Overall, this camera lacks in features, although for most uses I found it sufficient, and at the price I didn't expect a lot of extras. The 4x zoom is relatively fast and easy to use, and about right for this type of camera. I was surprised there was no optical zoom given the high megapixels, but I can live with cropping on the computer. The panorama mode is nifty but not that useful - it works quite well in creating a long image, which of course will cause distortion in most cases. To use this feature, you set the mode and clich the shutter. The camera will prompt you to move it from left to right, and then it will generate the image (which is always impossible to see on the display owing to its shape.) Here I would have liked some add'l features - there is just 'one size' for panorama shots - you must sweep all the way across or the image will fail. This creates many shots that will need to be messed with on the computer later, which is okay but annoying. I was also disappointed panorama doesn't work in an up and down orientation - you always have to sweep the camera in the same manner. You can, of course, hold it sideways to create a vertical panorama, but I really wanted some vertical shots tqking advantage of a larger width. Still, panoramas of the Tour Eiffel allowed me to create some fun, unique shots of the full height of the structure. There are not many other features - just some rudimentary quality settings, face detection, etc. Some might want to move up to a camera with more features, but I actually appreciated this in a point and shoot camera.

Battery life: Here the camera could use some help. Perhaps I'm spoiled by my Apple products, but digital cameras have more or less remained stuck in 2002 concerning batteries. It's annoying to have a separate charger, and battery life isn't great. Three hours of shooting...granted, constant shooting...at St Denis drained it. Given how light and small it is, I'd fully support doubling the battery size to get twice the life. I'd also love for camera makers to start to move toward USB charging options.

I'd also love it if cameras would start incorporating some onboard space. It feels like the dark ages to have to buy a card. 2 - 4 gig of onboard memory with a card slot for expansion would be nice.

Overall, a great, small, fun camera that's easy to grab and go. I wish Sony would re-imagine some of the ways digital cameras work, perhaps taking some cues from iPods, especially regarding batteries, but for the price this nifty unit is great.

Pros: Excellent pics for camera in this price range, good color balance, good in darker spaces, a few fun features

Cons: Battery life could be better, charging options, not many features or in-camera editing options

108 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great camera for the price

by: Adam
on: July 4, 2011



The intelligent shooting mode is great--it detects different scene types (landscape, sunny, cloudy, etc.) and auto-adjusts the exposure settings to get the best picture. Picture quality is great. It also has a movie mode that takes nice videos. The mic for the audio is a little weak but it is only a point and shoot camera, so a so-so mic is to be expected. The panorama mode is very easy to use--just point and sweep while holding the shutter--and the camera automatically stitches everything together with no overlap or missed sections. I've used panorama mode at a baseball stadium and at a lake and got great detail in both settings.

The battery life could be a bit better, but it lasts for at least 8 hours of shooting. I was turning the camera off and on a lot, which had a bigger drain on the battery, I'm sure.

I first used a SanDisk 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo with this camera, and the camera would not read the card properly. I even reformatted the memory card with my computer and the camera still would not read the card. I finally purchased a SanDisk SDHC memory card that works fine. Others have had problems too with the SanDisk Memory Stick Pro Duo, so be careful with that.

Pros- Intelligent mode for automatically adjusting the settings; picture quality; movie mode and panorama mode; good quality for the price.

Cons- Rechargeable battery could last a bit longer; Battery is specific Sony battery that can only be charged from a wall outlet with the included charging doc; Mic is a bit weak for audio when shooting movies.

23 people were helped by this review.

return home



Good little camera.

by: Linda R "Linda R" (Houston, Tx USA)
on: June 29, 2011



This is a great little camera. It does exactly what it says it's going to do. First charge on the battery took over 125pictures without needing a charge. I only charged it because I didn't want it to die in the middle of me using it next time. Pictures look great in outdoor and indoor pictures. Best point and shoot I have owned.

15 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great Camera

by: Adam Graham (California, USA)
on: June 29, 2011



Really just as expected. Quality hardware from Sony as always, quality images a camera at this size and price. Takes not only Sony MemoryStick but also standard SD cards as well. It's light, so it's not a burden to carry in a pocket or purse, but not so light that it feels hollow and chincy. The settings allow for very simple point-and-shoot operation as well as some more moderately advanced settings for different scenes and lighting. Intuitive interface. All-around good buy.

8 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great camera

by: Colin Christopher
on: August 7, 2011



I haven't bought a new camera for myself in years, so I did a lot of research before buying this one. Actually, I did too much research and wound up confused. I finally just broke down and ordered this one because it seemed like a good deal.

I'm really glad I bought it. It takes great pictures and it's easy to use. I don't like to spend a lot of time figuring out technology, and the menu on this camera makes things really easy to figure out. I haven't even looked at the owner's manual since I got the camera. The panoramic feature is awesome: just set it on panoramic, hold the button down, and scan the scene from left to right.

The only thing I wish this camera had was a lower MP setting. It takes pictures in four settings: VGA, 5 MP, 10 MP, and 14 MP. The 10 and 14 are very detailed and ideal for blowing up into large prints. Even the 5 MP looks good in a large size. The VGA setting is pretty poor quality, not even worthy of viewing on your computer or sending to someone via email. The solution to this is the 5 MP setting, which produces a great quality picture but is also a very large-sized file, so you can't send many pics at once. It would be great if this camera had a 2 or 3 MP setting. Not a huge deal, though.

4 people were helped by this review.

return home



Takes good pictures

by: V
on: September 12, 2011



Actually, this camera takes fabulous pictures. If you can point and shoot without shaking excessively, this is the camera for you. The picture quality comes out amazing, and the auto-detecting features of the camera are very helpful as well. Things might show up a little grainy on the LCD screen in less-than-optimal lighting but once you get it onto the computer that's where you see just how great the picture quality of this camera is. I was taking pictures with my cousin the other day and he even compared it to SLR quality pictures!

Some may think that 14.1 MP is a little excessive - it is. Correct me if I'm wrong, because I heard this from a friend, but theoretically the human eye can only see the difference up to 12 MP for regular sized photos. Higher MP also takes up more space on your memory card, so if you're the type of person who never deletes pictures make sure to get a bigger SDHC card. I personally prefer the best quality pictures, whether or not my eyes can detect the difference, so I went for the highest MP on the market.

It is a lot smaller than I imagined it to be. It's totally pocket-sized and very easy to carry around.

Unfortunately, aside from fantastic pictures, cool features, and the cute size, this camera is lacking everywhere else. When I first picked it up I was surprised at the cheap quality of the plastic that covered it. Of course, this makes it very light and also adds to the portability of this little camera. But I'm also very afraid of dropping this thing because I'd expect it to break into pieces in its first fall. If you know you are prone to dropping things, this might not be the camera for you. Of course, this problem can be fixed by using the wrist strap provided in the packaging, and/or spending an additional $5-$10 on a camera case. But I still have to reiterate that this camera's exterior is really not made very well. The door for the AV cord (the cord that connects the camera to the computer via USB) wiggles like a loose tooth and I wouldn't be surprised if it broke off altogether within the next year. I wouldn't recommend this camera for children under 13.

I agree with the other reviewers that the shutter speed for this camera is indeed, horrifyingly slow. I don't think this is the type of cameras to take to sports games or other places where there is a lot of movement and fidgeting involved. This may be the first camera I can call my own, but I know for a fact that compared to other cameras, this one very nearly crosses the line for being unreasonably slow. For my own purposes though, as a female college student who's not very interested in sports and doesn't have kids running around, I can look past this slight negative aspect.

I haven't had the chance to use this camera all that much for an event or anything. So far I've only used it to test the quality of pictures, so as of now I can't really say anything about the battery life. But I don't think its that bad, really. Battery life is always something that everything can improve on.

Overall, for the price of only a little over $100, you have to admit: this camera takes wonderful pictures. And I think the outstanding quality of photos this camera produces makes up for all its flaws. I am very happy about this purchase, but honestly, if something were to happen to this camera and I needed to replace it, I would go for a different model.

2 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great small camera!

by: R. Marcus "Fast Frog" (Grand Junction, CO)
on: August 7, 2011



This product was surprisingly small! Even though I've got small hands, I'm older and and hanging on to things becomes more of a challange as time goes by. The pic quality is superb! And you have more "how to take" options than you can shake a stick at, but they work. The computer interfacing was a little frightning but as a non techno-geek I just followed directions and things fell into place. I like the picture enhancing tools which R easy to use as you review your down loaded pics. There's a ton of tech applications that one can use if you're into high tech viewing. The battery life could be better. This is the one draw back that that needs to be noted. However, for less than $130 this 14.1 megapixel camera, 4 gig card and nice carry case is a great buy!!

2 people were helped by this review.

return home



Better then my Nikon

by: J. Bradford "JB" (Southern California)
on: September 23, 2011



I loved by past Coolpix Nikon, but was always annoyed with the lag of taking the photo. This time around I was searching for a quicker snap and this camera was the ticket. Takes the same great quality photos at a faster rate. I bought this one for my Mother, but now I am jealous and will be buying one for myself very soon!

1 people were helped by this review.

return home



CANON POWERSHOT ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP DIGITAL CAMERA (BLACK) (ELECTRONICS)

return home






Wonderful compact camera with hd video

by: J. Gebauer
on: March 19, 2011



I'm a DSLR photographer who shoots professionally and has managed a camera store in the past. I wanted something I can take with me everywhere but still produces good quality shots. I also wanted a camera that could shoot good looking videos. I researched several models and after much deliberation decided on the Canon 300 HS. I'm very happy I did.

Image Quality:

I tested cameras and lenses all the time while managing the camera store so whenever I purchase a new camera or lens I always test it. The Canon 300 HS doesn't produce the quality of images my Nikon D7000 does but I didn't expect it to. The edges get a little soft with the 300 HS when looking at the image at 100% whereas the D7000 images are almost tact sharp.

Comparing the 300 HS to the Canon Powershot SD1000 from a few years ago, the 300 HS blows it out of the water. The SD1000 is a 7 MP camera. Shooting the same shots on a tripod with the same focal length on the lens the 300 HS uses its extra MPs well. When looking at the images from each camera at 100%, at the wide angle zoom setting and normal zoom setting both cameras have about the same relative slight softness on the edges. However the 300 HS has more MP so it actually produces much more detail in the image. I think it was smart for Canon to keep the MP at 12 because last years models while being 14 MP (SD1400) didn't give any extra detail from what I could tell than the 12 MP version (SD1300). The SD1400 was basically just creating larger files. When zooming in the telephoto setting the 300 HS clearly produced a sharper image than the SD1000. Often cameras have sweet spots in the zoom range in which it will produce crisper images. The 300 HS has consistently good sharpness throughout it's zoom range.

HS system and ISO:

The image processing with the HS system truly works to reduce noise at higher ISOs enabling people to produce better quality images in low light. The improvement in image quality gets more and more visible the greater and greater the ISO. ISO 400 with the 300 HS was almost as good as ISO 200 on the SD1000. ISO 800 on the 300 HS was a tad better than ISO 400 on the SD1000. ISO 1600 on the 300 HS was between ISO 400 and 800 on the SD1000. ISO 3200 on the 300 HS produced the same quality of image (noise) as ISO 800 on the SD1000. A 2 stop in film speed improvement is big.

1080p video and slow motion:

With good light, the 300 HS produces wonderful smooth 1080 videos. If you look at a lot of HD videos from compact cameras the video often looks jumpy. From what I've seen it wasn't until you got to the Canon G12 or Panasonic LX5 that the video looked smooth. Both of those cameras only shoot 720p whereas this camera shoots 1080p. The video also very good detail. It truly looks HD.

If you are wanting zoom and continuous AF with your video this camera is the one you want compared to the 100 HS which doesn't allow you to zoom. The continuous AF with face recognition is stellar with this camera in video mode. I was videoing my wife while she was driving. It focused on her face. I switched to the scenery outside. It immediately focused on that. I then went back to my wife and it found her face and focused on it right away. I even videoed her reflection in the rear view mirror and it found her face in the mirror no problem and focused on it. AMAZING!!!!

Commenting on a complaint I've read about the zoom being slow in video mode. If you like getting motion sickness whenever someone rapidly zooms in or out during their video this is not your camera. As smooth looking as the video is, the zoom is also. The smooth zoom creates nice looking transitions instead of warp speed ahead looks.

The slow motion is a fun feature that works well. You need to have good lighting though. In low light even with high ISO's it produced very dark videos. In a review someone commented that it should have sound with the slow motion video. I honestly don't know how that could work unless you want to listen to everything at 1/5 it's normal speed. I think it's a good thing that it doesn't have sound with the slow motion videos.

AF:

I commented on AF partially in the video portion of the review. It does have several AF modes for various situations. The face detection works great. If you have a person in the picture but want something other than the person to be in focus you will need to change AF modes from face detection. The reviewer that had the problem with the 300 HS focusing on things he didn't want the camera to focus on likely didn't have the correct AF mode for the shooting situations. The 300 HS does have a center AF if you prefer that.

Areas for Canon to improve on with the 300 HS:

The camera is so well thought out that I'm surprised Canon let this slip. I love having a wide angle zoom go down to 24mm. It's great for scenery and photojournalist type shots. If you shoot at the widest angle zoom and use the flash, the lens on the 300 HS blocks the flash's exposure on the bottom right corner of the image. The corner is completely black. If you zoom in a bit so you aren't at the widest angle setting when using the flash you will be fine. Still all Canon had to do is not put the flash so close to the lens.

When shooting video in lower light situations the video does start to get noisy and grainy quicker than some other cameras.

Conclusion:

All in all this is a wonderfully thought out camera with great image quality and image processing and it shoots stellar videos for it's compact size.

673 people were helped by this review.

return home



Awesome Point and Shoot

by: Keith Corbin
on: March 14, 2011



This is a point and shoot class camera, if you understand that going in, you are going to be more than impressed with it. I'm going from an SD630 and hands down, this beats it. I even had an SX210IS and these images are on par with it, if not better. I had to return my SX210IS as it had issues with dust on the image sensor and I've been waiting for a new P&S class to come out. I bit the bullet on this, well, the black version Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Black) and what can I say - I am happy!

300HS vs 500HS:

There is a 500HS version of the camera, which is approx $50 more. To this point, the only differences I can tell are the LCD on the back as well as aperture priority and shutter priority, while the 300hs does not. The touch screen on the 500hs can also be used to focus on a particular subject. The 500hs also has a wider aperture at 2.0, the 300hs has 2.7.

Form Factor/Display:

Small. Awesome. There is a texture on the camera, I really like this as it seems like it will help if you hands are wet (sweat, snow, etc). Easy to operate one hand and if using both hands, flash isn't in a horrible place. Display is very bright and button seem intuitive as with other Canon cameras. Battery and SD are on the bottom door, USB and HDMI are in a covered side port. Comes with a wrist strap if you desire a little extra security.

Boot Time/Software:

Camera is ready to take photos very fast. From the time you press the button, it's pretty much set to catch the action. Time between photos wasn't terrible (about 1.5 seconds) and if you need it, there is continuous shot mode. Had no problem with the Canon software on Windows 7. I've used the Canon Photo Window import for a while, does a good job of getting photos off the camera without duplicates. I use Picasa to then manage my photo library (I skip the Zoom Browser, but it's really not bad if you want to use it, I'm just a slave to Google/gmail)

Computer Connectivity:

I didn't find this anywhere in the specs, so if you're looking, the camera uses mini-USB, similar to all Canon's that have come out over the last few years.

Optical Zoom:

You're going to be impressed with the form factor of this camera and it's 5x OPTICAL zoom. I immediately disabled digital zoom as 12.1MP + 5x Optical will get you very close to the action. You're better off digitally enhancing the photos later on.

Battery + Memory Card:

This uses the NBL-4 (again, I found confusion on this and accessories) - so if you have some of those laying around keep them as they'll work just fine in this camera. This is nice as my SD630 uses the NBL-4 so now I have 2 chargers + 3 batteries. It took my 32GB SDHC without any issues and holds thousands of images. Images have tended to be between 2 and 3mb on the highest settings.

Image Quality:

Look, I'm no photo fanatic, I don't expect the people buying this camera are. I am looking for solid images and this camera delivers. There are a ton a feature you can delve into and I'm sure they are good. It has manual mode, so if you fancy that, you can go down that path. But I'm the type of person that knows when something looks good, OK or great. This camera consistently delivers GREAT photos. I'm happy with the low light and images aren't blurry or grainy (within reasonable expectations).

Video:

FINALLY! Optical zoom on a Canon during video! 1080p brings this camera up to par with others in its class and it does a decent job. I didn't notice any major noise when zooming in and out while recording video. I know this is the excuse Canon has used in the past as to why they never had this feature. It shoots nice clips for those quick moments. This will NOT replace a true DV cam, but hey, for a few minute clips here and there, you will simply not be dissapointed.

198 people were helped by this review.

return home



Awesome Pocket Camera

by: Jiunjr Feng "Robert" (Fremont, CA USA)
on: March 10, 2011



Got this camera from my Japanese friend as a birthday gift, which is IXY 410F. I found out that camera name in USA is ELPH 300 HS. After open the box and play couple days, the weight is super light as my old school Canon SD1000 and the indoor picture quality is not bad comparing with my current S95, so it catched my eyes right away after we received it. Even it's SD1400 replacement from canon point of view, I have to say this tiny camera with S95 quality.

ELPH 300 HS vs S95

ELPH 300 HS wins on 1080P movie, weight (70% of S95), CMOS sensor, 24mm, 5x zoom, shooting speed (2 time faster than S95), cost (62.5% of S95)

S95 is better on the sensor size (1/1.7" as G12), Aperture F/2.0, RAW.

I would say...

For sure S95 won on manual setting, but I used my Canon Rebel XS most of the time when looking for quality pictures, and S95 didn't provide more point-and-shoot advantages than ELPH 300 HS to me. CMOS sensor is more sensertive comparing with CCD, so I cannot tell huge difference between bigger size CCD and smaller size CMOS sensors even from those indoor low light pictures. End out, I traded the manual settings to small size, light weight, and fast shooting speed.

So, my S95 moved on eBay...... and IXY 410F (ELPH 300 HS) is in my wife's bag...... I have to wait for it to be available on Amazon to get another one for myself.

86 people were helped by this review.

return home



Another great Canon product!

by: sojo
on: March 29, 2011



I currently own a 5D Mark II and was looking to replace my Canon S80 which is now 6 yrs old. While I love the S80 and the quality pics it captured, the bulkiness of this point-and-shoot (P&S) became inconvenient. My wife was adamant she wanted a more compact P&S this time around.

In addition to great pics, I was looking for a P&S with 1080p video capability so I wouldn't have to get a separate camcorder. Let me say that the 300 HS is a quality camera packed into a sleek body that I can easily slip into any pocket on the run.

Most Canon cameras (I am a Canon loyalist) take great shots. But what most impresses me about this camera are its low-light capabilities. It obviously can not match the image quality of a DSLR, but for a P&S, I was impressed! Indoor night shots of my kids WITHOUT flash (incandescent lighting only) come out amazingly crisp with minimal noise. Autofocus is quite impressive as it tracks faces in the frame further enhancing ease of use. Menu functions are quite intuitive (if you've owned previous Canon models). It's got plenty of preset shooting modes. And it's quick between shots for a P&S (a couple seconds with flash photography).

I also compared the 1080p video vs Flip Ultra HD which shoots in 720p. The video quality is like night-and-day with the 300 HS finishing ahead by a mile. Low-light video is grainy but still watchable (unwatchable on Flip). In daylight, video looks beautiful. Video is easily imported into both iphoto and imovie. Just make sure you have a large memory card as 1080p takes up 16GB/hour of video. I bought a 32GB card.

I did purchase an extra battery after reading battery life can be short. I've had the camera a week and have used it for 15-30 minutes daily (including video capture) and I have not needed to recharge yet.

I'd also recommend the black body as it has a textured housing that makes holding this small camera much easier.

Also purchased a Caselogic TBC - 302 compact camera case which fits this camera perfectly. It has a small side pocket that I slip the extra battery in.

Overall, considering the excellent quality of the camera, easy portability, and great price, this camera is worth every penny.

38 people were helped by this review.

return home



Why to get the silver one instead of the black one

by: Jake Danzig (Spook City, USA)
on: July 27, 2011



I've always been a proponent of function over form, but this is one of the rare cases I've run into where there is such a huge difference in satisfaction with one over the other that I felt it my duty to share with fellow consumers almost immediately. Keep in mind that this review is only to help those of you out there who have already decided that the functionality of this camera satisfies you, but you are struggling with which color to get, as I was.

Long story short, I've had both a black one and a silver one in my hand over the course of the last week (black returned due to a manufacturing problem that Amazon, as always, handled in an A+ manner - I chose to replace with the silver). Now I'm the type of guy that always gets everything in black - clothes, furniture, and especially gadgets, so naturally I gravitated toward the black model. That being said, get the silver one - period. The black one does look cool, but the sandpaper texture, while providing good grip, absolutely detracts from the overall value of this camera. It makes it a pain to pull out of your pocket, picks up dirt and lint like a magnet, and just has an overall cheap feel to it. I couldn't even wipe the screen off with a microfiber cloth without it catching and nearly tearing on the housing. When I received the silver one, the first thing I thought when I opened it was, "You've got to be kidding me. How can a color change alone constitute such a vast difference in satisfaction?" The answer is because I now feel like I have a quality camera I can actually use instead of something I have to constantly worry about catching on things and wiping lint off of. Everything about the silver one blows the black out of the water; smooth finish feels very nice, looks nice, doesn't act like a lint brush, and the entire camera has a much sturdier, more solid feel to it in general. In fact, one of the first huge things I noticed was the quality of the battery door. I've owned many Canon P&S cameras over the years, and when I first saw the door to the black camera, it immediately struck me as something way more low budget than I'm accustomed to seeing with Canon cameras. When I received the silver one, instantly noticed the quality was back up to par.

One final consideration that always manifests apprehension in the back of my mind when considering black cameras is that black, as everyone knows, absorbs sunlight, while lighter colors reflect it. if you're going to use it mainly indoors or at night then no problem, but if you plan on using it the sun a lot like at the beach, on vacations, heavy daylight use in general, then it only makes sense to me that black cameras in these cases would be more prone to overheating and/or accelerated mechanical wear and tear. If it's really enough to make a significant difference in the life cycle of the product is questionable, but that's just one of those things that, unlike with phones, handheld video game systems, etc, keeps me from automatically defaulting to the black model.

In summary, great camera no matter what color you get, but for the price I just feel like the silver one gives me so much more value. I can't speak of the red one as I've not seen it, but I've heard the texture is the same as the silver, and with regards to the advantages over the black one, most of the above would still apply. Red is more of a girly color than silver though, so please keep that in mind if you're a guy.

37 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great camera if it's what you're looking for

by: Force2BRW
on: March 19, 2011



I've only had it for a couple days now, but I can honestly say this camera was worth every penny so far. It has a lot of interesting features, and is the only camera I have found that hits all the strong points I was looking for (120 fps @ 640x480 resolution, full 1080 hd video, optical zoom and auto focus during movie recording, strong low-light performance, good image stabilization, and small form factor [very small. much smaller than other cameras like it that I was considering])

Other things of note: I have Photoshop, and use it regularly, so I wasn't looking for a camera that can do everything by itself. This camera cannot shoot hdr pictures by itself like the Exilim ZR-10 or 100 can, nor can it take panoramic pictures all by itself. It does have a "panorama helper" kind of application, which will help you line up the shots, but you must then use software later to merge them (it comes with software, compatible with both mac and pc, that will help you merge photos, as well as sort through them and manage them, but I find that Photoshop does a much better job than the packaged software does at creating panoramas. I also use the HDR toning option on Photoshop to simulate an actual HDR picture. As long as all the details are there (not blown out or too dark to brighten), PS can create a very convincing HDR picture, and this camera does a good job at getting all the detail in pictures.

It also doesn't take the fastest pictures (around 3 per second) on continuous mode, but I rarely (if ever) take more than 1 picture at a time. I may take pictures in succession, but I generally set each one up, rather than just shotgunning a bunch of pictures.

The pictures are very sharp. I haven't had much time with video or sound yet, but the little that I have played around with it produced pretty good results. (altho sound can get very distorted with windy sound in a windy environment, as many camera's microphones can. still thinking about/searching for a remedy...)

Also, just a little side note, the finish on the camera is left a bit rough. This is a good thing, as it gives the camera more grip, and makes it less likely to slip out of your hand. I have used cameras that were shiny and slippery before, and it make taking pictures with one hand much more difficult and risky. The rough texture keep this camera more firm in your hand. This also makes the camera less prone to finger prints, altho the screen will collect plenty of those (but that has never really bothered me much)

Just a couple knocks against it that I have found so far, but they are not deal breakers for me. It says that it can take pictures with shutter speeds between 1/2000s and 15s. This may be true, but it is not user choosable. You cannot set the shutter speed of the camera. It has options for "Longer Exposure" (or something named like that), but does not let you choose the speed. I have not gotten it to hit a 15 second exposure yet. I was thinking of trying a city scene on a tripod where you set the exposure long so that the car lights look like streaks, but it doesn't seem to stay open long enough.

Also, the zoom doesn't seem to be variable, it goes at one speed, and it's pretty fast, so sometimes it can be hard to hit that sweet spot if you are trying to get a shot somewhere in the middle (5x zoom, which I think is very reasonable for it's size), and optical zoom is pretty slow while recording video, but still an option, which is more than many cameras of this type can say. The battery may also be a tad short (especially if doing a lot of video and/or zooming in and out, but that will shorten the life all camera batteries), but they are pretty small, and you can get extra, generic batteries for very cheap.

There is no way to plug in the camera to a wall for continuous shooting/video, so you need to replace the battery when it dies. However, I have seen the option of having a battery stand-in that sits in the battery slot and runs a line down to an adapter that plugs into the wall, but this will require you to leave the battery door open while using it)

For everything your getting, I think this camera is well worth $250. It takes sharp, accurately colored pictures look great on their own, as well as with Photoshop. If you do not own any imaging editing software, this camera still produces great pictures, has a ton of very cool, very interesting modes (some of which I've never seen on any camera before), and comes with some simple editing software (mainly for merging panorama shots. there is also other, free image editing software out there on the internet if you are so inclined)

Edit:

You CAN choose the shutter speed, it's just not as simple to find as some of the other options. You have to go into program mode, choose the Long Shutter option. Exit program mode. When you're back to the normal screen, press the up button (+/-). From there, you can choose the shutter speed by pressing right and left. Glad to find the option!

30 people were helped by this review.

return home



A Sweet Point And Shoot Camera

by: Albert A. Azose (Van Nuys, CA United States)
on: June 11, 2011



Based partly on the reviews here, I bought the Elph 300HS Silver, and played with it for several hours, initially shooting about 150 stills and about 10 minutes of video. I settled on the Elph 300HS because I wanted a reliable and solid point and shoot camera, where the Auto feature would do all the work. I admit I'm no photography pro, and I certainly don't have the time, patience, or inclination to fiddle with all the interminable and esoteric photographic settings, nor did I want a bulky camera to lug around.

The video looks very good, especially on a hi-def monitor but tends to blur very slightly when zooming in too fast. And I have to admit that having a zoom feature on hi-def video was a strong selling point for me. The tiny stereo microphone works fine, and like all other similar cameras, picks up the ubiquitous wind sounds. You should also be aware that these hi-def videos take up a lot more file space on your SD cards than "mere" DVD quality.

I compared one or two pics on the Elph to the same shots taken at the same time on my older Canon Powershot A710IS (12 vs. 7 megapixels) and there was a slight discernable increase in the quality of the still shots. I had hoped that the Elph photos would be much sharper and clearer because of the newer technology and the additional 5 megapixels, but the increase in quality, while noticeable, was minimal. In all fairness, however, I did not print the photos, I only viewed them on my hi-def monitor. With the price of ink cartridges these days, I'm very selective about printing color photos on my printer, but I am certain that the Elph photos, if printed, would look much better than those of my older camera.

As claimed, the Elph does indeed take great shots in lower light, but the tradeoff for this is that the resulting photos seem to be a little softer than the shots taken in normal light.

Another slight disappointment, as pointed out in another review, is that the videos are saved as .mov files rather than .avi or .wmv files. Windows Movie Player will play them, but only by expanding the file types to "any file". Fortunately, there are several programs out there which will convert these .mov files. The one I use, Prism Video File Converter, can convert these .mov files to .wmv files (among others), and the .mov file sizes are reduced by an astonishing factor of one fifth, without a noticeable decrease in quality. If you plan to edit or combine your Elph videos by using Windows Movie Maker, it will happily handle .wmv files, but not .mov files.

The really surprising thing about the Elph is its very tiny size, a worthy example of the art and science of miniaturization. Yet, it still feels quite heavy in the hand, no doubt due to all the electronic components packed into its tiny but solid metal frame which provide all its many features. Bottom line? It ain't perfect, but it's one hell of a sweet point and shoot camera.

22 people were helped by this review.

return home



Awesome Point and Shoot

by: Keith Corbin
on: March 14, 2011



This is a point and shoot class camera, if you understand that going in, you are going to be more than impressed with it. I'm going from an SD630 and hands down, this beats it. I even had an SX210IS and these images are on par with it, if not better. I had to return my SX210IS as it had issues with dust on the image sensor and I've been waiting for a new P&S class to come out. I bit the bullet on this, well, the black version Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Black) and what can I say - I am happy!

300HS vs 500HS:

There is a 500HS version of the camera, which is approx $50 more. To this point, the only differences I can tell are the LCD on the back as well as aperture priority and shutter priority, while the 300hs does not. The touch screen on the 500hs can also be used to focus on a particular subject. The 500hs also has a wider aperture at 2.0, the 300hs has 2.7.

Form Factor/Display:

Small. Awesome. There is a texture on the camera, I really like this as it seems like it will help if you hands are wet (sweat, snow, etc). Easy to operate one hand and if using both hands, flash isn't in a horrible place. Display is very bright and button seem intuitive as with other Canon cameras. Battery and SD are on the bottom door, USB and HDMI are in a covered side port. Comes with a wrist strap if you desire a little extra security.

Boot Time/Software:

Camera is ready to take photos very fast. From the time you press the button, it's pretty much set to catch the action. Time between photos wasn't terrible (about 1.5 seconds) and if you need it, there is continuous shot mode. Had no problem with the Canon software on Windows 7. I've used the Canon Photo Window import for a while, does a good job of getting photos off the camera without duplicates. I use Picasa to then manage my photo library (I skip the Zoom Browser, but it's really not bad if you want to use it, I'm just a slave to Google/gmail)

Computer Connectivity:

I didn't find this anywhere in the specs, so if you're looking, the camera uses mini-USB, similar to all Canon's that have come out over the last few years.

Optical Zoom:

You're going to be impressed with the form factor of this camera and it's 5x OPTICAL zoom. I immediately disabled digital zoom as 12.1MP + 5x Optical will get you very close to the action. You're better off digitally enhancing the photos later on.

Battery + Memory Card:

This uses the NBL-4 (again, I found confusion on this and accessories) - so if you have some of those laying around keep them as they'll work just fine in this camera. This is nice as my SD630 uses the NBL-4 so now I have 2 chargers + 3 batteries. It took my 32GB SDHC without any issues and holds thousands of images. Images have tended to be between 2 and 3mb on the highest settings.

Image Quality:

Look, I'm no photo fanatic, I don't expect the people buying this camera are. I am looking for solid images and this camera delivers. There are a ton a feature you can delve into and I'm sure they are good. It has manual mode, so if you fancy that, you can go down that path. But I'm the type of person that knows when something looks good, OK or great. This camera consistently delivers GREAT photos. I'm happy with the low light and images aren't blurry or grainy (within reasonable expectations).

Video:

FINALLY! Optical zoom on a Canon during video! 1080p brings this camera up to par with others in its class and it does a decent job. I didn't notice any major noise when zooming in and out while recording video. I know this is the excuse Canon has used in the past as to why they never had this feature. It shoots nice clips for those quick moments. This will NOT replace a true DV cam, but hey, for a few minute clips here and there, you will simply not be dissapointed.

21 people were helped by this review.

return home



by:
on: ,



Great Camera -- A perspective from a D300/700 Owner

This is very simple, if you are a Nikon shooter looking for a new camera then stop reading and buy this camera. It's that good.

Handling

This camera is brilliant to hold and use. Nikon has done it again and has made the user interface more usable and streamlined. What to change flash modes. Press the flash pop-up button and rotate the control wheel...

Read the full review ›

Published 11 months ago by B. Fuller

742 people were helped by this review.

return home



NIKON D7000 16.2MP DX-FORMAT CMOS DIGITAL SLR WITH 3.0-INCH LCD (BODY ONLY) (ELECTRONICS)

return home



Meet the new Nikon D7000, a camera ready to go wherever your photography or cinematography takes you. Experience stunning images with sharp resolution and smooth tonal gradation, thanks to the 16-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor and a powerful EXPEED 2 image processing engine. Take advantage of its wide ISO range of 100 to 6400 (expandable to 25,600) and its incredibly low levels of noise. Expect your images tack-sharp and accurately exposed, thanks to the camera’s 39-point AF and Scene Recognition System using a 2,016-pixel RGB matrix metering sensor. And with an approx. 0.052-second release time lag and approx. 6 frames-per-second shooting, you won’t miss a moment.




Great Camera -- A perspective from a D300/700 Owner

by: B. Fuller (United States)
on: October 20, 2010



(TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is very simple, if you are a Nikon shooter looking for a new camera then stop reading and buy this camera. It's that good.

Handling

This camera is brilliant to hold and use. Nikon has done it again and has made the user interface more usable and streamlined. What to change flash modes. Press the flash pop-up button and rotate the control wheel. Sweet. Want to change create and use a User defined mode? There are two. Set your mode up. Go to the menu and save it. To use it rotate the shooting mode dial to U1 or U2. Presto you are there. In the D300 and D700 you to have to setup things in the menu and switch in the menu. Also, there were 2 sets of things you could change and they were not all inclusive. It was all horribly confusing and I never used it. Speaking of shooting modes. There is now one position on the shooting mode dial for scene mode shooting. You change through the different scene modes with the control wheel and the type scene shows up on the back screen. Sweet. I can go on and on but needless to say Nikon have really improved their interface. One caveat, I don't think it is quite up to par with the GH1 to change exposure compensation (IMO the most important control) but still a huge step in the correct direction in handling. I like the handling of the D7000 better than either the D700/300.

Low Light Shooting

The D300 wasn't that great for Hi ISO. It shoots clean at 400 ISO and usable up to 1600. (The D90 and D300s were better) The D700 was fantastic. Clean at 1600 ISO and usable up to 6400. It opened up new worlds. The D7000 is close to the equal of the D700. Enough said. Just to give you an example. The bouquet toss at a reception is often done in poor light. By using 1600 instead of 400 you get the equivalent of 4 times more light. At ISO400 you flash may need to use 1/4 power and you can get 1 maybe 2 shots of the toss and catch before the flash needs to recharge. At ISO1600 your flash would only need to use 1/16th power and now you can get 5-6 shots. This is huge.

Picture Quality

Like all modern DSLRs it takes great pictures. I don't pixel peep so I can't really say that I notice a difference between the pictures from the D7000 and any of my 12mp cameras. It makes really nice pictures and that is all I care about.

Useful Photography Features (Not Marketing Features)

--100% view finder! Big bright with 100% coverage. No more guessing of your framing. (It is not as bright as the D700. However, it is 100% vice 95%)

--2 SD slots - When your getting paid to shoot a wedding or any gig, my card broke is not an excuse. Very useful feature. For the home user put two smaller cards rather than one big card and save some money.

--Smaller and lighter than D300, D700, D3s, D3x- When you stand on your feet for 9 hours shooting the wedding and reception, you start to feel every ounce you are carrying. Often you will be carrying two bodies with a fast tele zoom and fast wide zoom. That starts to get heavy. Light weight here we come.

--2016-Segment RGB Meter- for spot on exposure and white balance--No one touches Nikon on this and this one is fantastic.

--1/8000th -- Very useful for shooting into the sun wide open with a bright lens

--1/250 -- Could be better (1/500th for D40) but could be much worse. Auto FP helps.

--Magnesium body and better sealing -- Shoot in dusty environments without messing up the inside your camera.

--Uses the ML-L3 infra red remote -- Small and cheap. IR sensor on the front and back of the camera.

--Autofocus focus motor for non-AF-S lenses

Marketing Features that will sometimes be Useful

--16Mp -- Nikon was obviously getting creamed in the marketing wars on this. This is going to lead to bigger files requiring larger hard drives and faster computers. Occasionally it will be useful if you can't frame as close as you would like and you need to crop or you need to print big. Alien Skin Blow Up 2, Image Resizing Plug-in Software for Photoshop, Macintosh & Windows and Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition 1-user Full are two very nice programs that can increase the size of your photos for printing large. 16 MP is nice by not necessary.

--39 Point Auto Focus -- To me in some ways this is better than the 51 point of the D300 and D700 as that gets too unwieldy. However, you really don't even need 39. However, still useful on occasion.

--6 frames per second-- I very rarely ever put my camera in 3 frames per second. When I do so it fills the card quickly. If you are shooting the big game then 6 is nice. Or it is nice for some cool special effects shots. Other than that you won't really find yourself using it that much.

Video

The other thing I am not really going to dwell on is the video capabilities. In my opinion all the various video options are mostly marketing hype really targeted at a niche market. Shallow depth of field video is difficult and time consuming to shoot and edit properly. The average family home user has neither the time nor inclination to do this. With that said, it is nice to only have to carry one device to take still pictures and video. So I do enjoy that feature, however 1080 is not really necessary. In fact with up converting DVD players standard def is still very usable and takes up far less space. Suffice it to say that the video capabilities are very good and should do anything a home user would need it to do. Can be used for pro Videos as demonstrated by Chase Jarvis.

Intangibles

This is a very nice camera and it feels very solid in your hands. It feels far more substantial than the D40/D90 without feeling like a brick the way the D300/D700 do. I am sure the D300 has more marketing features than the D7000 but I would have to research them to figure out what they are.

Conclusion

In the end it all comes down to what is important to you. Smaller weight and size is becoming much more important to me and this camera is a very good trade off of features for size and weight. Anything that is missing I don't even use so I am not sure what it may be. My D700 was recently stolen and while I miss it, the D7000 is a worthy replacement for it. I opted to get the D7000 and Panasonic GH2 and save the $300 difference for a lens.

Pros

--100% view finder!

--6 fps (7D is 8. However, I think this number is overhyped in most cases. Even shooting at 3 FPS will fill up you card with photos that look remarkably similar) 8+ is needed for professionals shooting professional sports. Not enthusiast shooting High School etc.

--16mp sensor (a marketing increase but still nice to allow some room for cropping)

--14 bit photos

--39 point auto focus sensors (19 cross point) this is a bit of a marketing thing but it is still nice and it does not matter about the 51 on D300s and above. Still very nice.

--2016 scene meter - compares against data base for WB setting and color settings

--Excellent battery life

--MD-11 Optional Battery Grip

--2 SD card slots for back up redundancy or double the card space! Outstanding

--Magnesium used to make camera stronger

Cons

--16mp senor (takes up more storage on your hard drive) (12mp JPG 3mb 12 mp RAW = 12 mb 16mp JPEG = 5 mb 16 mp RAW = 16 mb. This is for 12 bit. 14 bit would require more)

--Camera heavier than it used to be

--No swivel screen - after using the GH1 extensively you really miss this when shooting at weird angles. You especially miss it for macro photography.

--No full time live view - Ditto from above. Live view is what you see is what you get. Forgot to change white balance-- you will see that when people are yellow, blue or green. Have it set in manual and blowing everything out-- you'll see that as a white screen.

Decision Matrix

Nikon

For the Nikon shooter this is a no brainer. If you are in the market for a camera, then skip the D300s. The D700 is getting long in the tooth and many people are buying the D7000 while waiting for D800. If you already own a D700 then this camera is a very good complement to it. Use the money you saved over the more expensive camera to buy a nice lens.

Here is a breakdown vs other Nikon DSLRs

D3100-- Two completely different classes with the D7000 being worth the difference in many. However at the end of the day they will both make nice pictures. Also, the lenses are more important than the camera. You can get the D3100 and 18-200mm for the same price. Something to think about.

D5000-- Good sensor and nice camera. D3100 comments also apply here.

D90--Tough choice. The best DX sensor of its generation and still better than most. If you can't quite stretch to the D7000, this is a very tempting proposition.

D300S-- Irrelevant. The D7000 has a much better sensor, is smaller, lighter, cheaper, and better metering.

Nikon D700-- Would be a good complement to the D7000. Use D7000 when you need the 1.5x crop on the long end and a deeper depth of field due to the smaller chip (about 1 stop deeper) and D700 for when you want to isolate a subject with a shallow depth of field or you want to use the full width of a wide angle such as the 14-24mm. If you don't need the shallower depth of field of a FX sensor and you have the lenses to cover the 1.5x crop then the D7000 should suit just fine. D3s and D3x -- Different leagues altogether. However, the D7000 is 90% of the camera for 1/4 to 1/6th the money.

Canon

The 7D is an outstanding camera and while I think the D7000 is a better camera (better sensor, 2 SD card slots, 2016 RGB metering, Price) it is not that much better to warrant switching if you are already invested in lenses.

Sony

The Sony SLT-A55 is a great camera but not in the league of the D7000. However it is $350 less and does have so unique properties. It is rumored to have the same sensor as the D7000 but Nikon always does their magic and makes it better (D3x vs A900). The translucent mirror allows for fast shooting but loses 1/3 a stop of light. Still a very nice camera.

Non-DSLR Owner or DSLR owner with just the Kit Lens

When you are buying a DSLR, you are really buying into the lens system. So factor that into you decision making matrix. For that reason, if you have not spent a fortune on lenses yet then I recommend the m4/3 as in my opinion that is the future. The sensor of the top m4/3(GH2) is every bit as good if not better than the current crop of DX sensors and almost as good as the D7000. It is getting to the point, the sensor doesn't matter as much. At this point handling, size and weight start to become more important.

With this in mind I would recommend the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 16.05 MP Live MOS Interchangeable Lens Camera with 3-inch Free-Angle Touch Screen LCD and 14-42mm Hybrid Lens (Black) to anyone not invested in a lens system. It is smaller, lighter, more capable on the video side and in many ways better on the stills side. It needs a faster flash sync speed, faster shutter speed and the construction is not up to Nikon or Canon standards (In all fairness this cuts down on weight and I have not had a failure with my GH1.) It is probably not quite as good at the high ISO. On the positive side it has a multi-aspect sensor as it is actually an 18mp sensor (16:9, 2:3, and 4:3 will all be 16mp not crops of one aspect ratio) It sells for $899 body only, $999 with the 14-42mm and $1499 with the fantastic 14-140mm 10x zoom. The lack of a mirror flipping up is a benefit in all cases. Also, you can use just about any lens ever made on this camera. Nikon, Leica, Canon, Pentax, C Lenses. You lose auto focus on any auto focus lenses and there is no accurate way to adjust your aperture on G series lenses. While the GH1 sensor was by far the best M4/3 sensor and equaled most DX sensors of its generation, it did not quite stand up to the D90 sensor. I expect the D7000 to have a higher Dynamic Range and be an overall better sensor. However, that difference will not be noticeable to the lay users. What you get is a noticeably smaller and lighter camera that out handles any DSLR on the market and has the best video capabilities. In my opinion the GH2 will be the best all-around camera of its generation. The GH1 is the camera I reach for 90% of the time when I shoot for pleasure. When Panasonic puts out a full Pro line of lenses, I will use it more in the Pro situations. I am sure the GH2 will be my new go to camera.

742 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great Camera -- A perspective from a D300/700 Owner

by: B. Fuller (United States)
on: October 24, 2010



(TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is very simple, if you are a Nikon shooter looking for a new camera then stop reading and buy this camera. It's that good.

Handling

This camera is brilliant to hold and use. Nikon has done it again and has made the user interface more usable and streamlined. What to change flash modes. Press the flash pop-up button and rotate the control wheel. Sweet. Want to change create and use a User defined mode? There are two. Set your mode up. Go to the menu and save it. To use it rotate the shooting mode dial to U1 or U2. Presto you are there. In the D300 and D700 you to have to setup things in the menu and switch in the menu. Also, there were 2 sets of things you could change and they were not all inclusive. It was all horribly confusing and I never used it. Speaking of shooting modes. There is now one position on the shooting mode dial for scene mode shooting. You change through the different scene modes with the control wheel and the type scene shows up on the back screen. Sweet. I can go on and on but needless to say Nikon have really improved their interface. One caveat, I don't think it is quite up to par with the GH1 to change exposure compensation (IMO the most important control) but still a huge step in the correct direction in handling. I like the handling of the D7000 better than either the D700/300.

Low Light Shooting

The D300 wasn't that great for Hi ISO. It shoots clean at 400 ISO and usable up to 1600. (The D90 and D300s were better) The D700 was fantastic. Clean at 1600 ISO and usable up to 6400. It opened up new worlds. The D7000 is close to the equal of the D700. Enough said. Just to give you an example. The bouquet toss at a reception is often done in poor light. By using 1600 instead of 400 you get the equivalent of 4 times more light. At ISO400 you flash may need to use 1/4 power and you can get 1 maybe 2 shots of the toss and catch before the flash needs to recharge. At ISO1600 your flash would only need to use 1/16th power and now you can get 5-6 shots. This is huge.

Picture Quality

Like all modern DSLRs it takes great pictures. I don't pixel peep so I can't really say that I notice a difference between the pictures from the D7000 and any of my 12mp cameras. It makes really nice pictures and that is all I care about.

Useful Photography Features (Not Marketing Features)

--100% view finder! Big bright with 100% coverage. No more guessing of your framing. (It is not as bright as the D700. However, it is 100% vice 95%)

--2 SD slots - When your getting paid to shoot a wedding or any gig, my card broke is not an excuse. Very useful feature. For the home user put two smaller cards rather than one big card and save some money.

--Smaller and lighter than D300, D700, D3s, D3x- When you stand on your feet for 9 hours shooting the wedding and reception, you start to feel every ounce you are carrying. Often you will be carrying two bodies with a fast tele zoom and fast wide zoom. That starts to get heavy. Light weight here we come.

--2016-Segment RGB Meter- for spot on exposure and white balance--No one touches Nikon on this and this one is fantastic.

--1/8000th -- Very useful for shooting into the sun wide open with a bright lens

--1/250 -- Could be better (1/500th for D40) but could be much worse. Auto FP helps.

--Magnesium body and better sealing -- Shoot in dusty environments without messing up the inside your camera.

--Uses the ML-L3 infra red remote -- Small and cheap. IR sensor on the front and back of the camera.

--Autofocus focus motor for non-AF-S lenses

Marketing Features that will sometimes be Useful

--16Mp -- Nikon was obviously getting creamed in the marketing wars on this. This is going to lead to bigger files requiring larger hard drives and faster computers. Occasionally it will be useful if you can't frame as close as you would like and you need to crop or you need to print big. Alien Skin Blow Up 2, Image Resizing Plug-in Software for Photoshop, Macintosh & Windows and Genuine Fractals 6 Professional Edition 1-user Full are two very nice programs that can increase the size of your photos for printing large. 16 MP is nice by not necessary.

--39 Point Auto Focus -- To me in some ways this is better than the 51 point of the D300 and D700 as that gets too unwieldy. However, you really don't even need 39. However, still useful on occasion.

--6 frames per second-- I very rarely ever put my camera in 3 frames per second. When I do so it fills the card quickly. If you are shooting the big game then 6 is nice. Or it is nice for some cool special effects shots. Other than that you won't really find yourself using it that much.

Video

The other thing I am not really going to dwell on is the video capabilities. In my opinion all the various video options are mostly marketing hype really targeted at a niche market. Shallow depth of field video is difficult and time consuming to shoot and edit properly. The average family home user has neither the time nor inclination to do this. With that said, it is nice to only have to carry one device to take still pictures and video. So I do enjoy that feature, however 1080 is not really necessary. In fact with up converting DVD players standard def is still very usable and takes up far less space. Suffice it to say that the video capabilities are very good and should do anything a home user would need it to do. Can be used for pro Videos as demonstrated by Chase Jarvis.

Intangibles

This is a very nice camera and it feels very solid in your hands. It feels far more substantial than the D40/D90 without feeling like a brick the way the D300/D700 do. I am sure the D300 has more marketing features than the D7000 but I would have to research them to figure out what they are. As for the lens, I am not really that hot on this lens. It will do fine but the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon DX-Format Digital SLR Cameras is far more useful. Also, you can buy the Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens and Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Zoom Nikkor Lens for about the same price as the difference between this and the body only.

Conclusion

In the end it all comes down to what is important to you. Smaller weight and size is becoming much more important to me and this camera is a very good trade off of features for size and weight. Anything that is missing I don't even use so I am not sure what it may be. My D700 was recently stolen and while I miss it, the D7000 is a worthy replacement for it. I opted to get the D7000 and Panasonic GH2 and save the $300 difference for a lens.

Pros

--100% view finder!

--6 fps (7D is 8. However, I think this number is overhyped in most cases. Even shooting at 3 FPS will fill up you card with photos that look remarkably similar) 8+ is needed for professionals shooting professional sports. Not enthusiast shooting High School etc.

--16mp sensor (a marketing increase but still nice to allow some room for cropping)

--14 bit photos

--39 point auto focus sensors (19 cross point) this is a bit of a marketing thing but it is still nice and it does not matter about the 51 on D300s and above. Still very nice.

--2016 scene meter - compares against data base for WB setting and color settings

--Excellent battery life

--MD-11 Optional Battery Grip

--2 SD card slots for back up redundancy or double the card space! Outstanding

--Magnesium used to make camera stronger

Cons

--16mp senor (takes up more storage on your hard drive) (12mp JPG 3mb 12 mp RAW = 12 mb 16mp JPEG = 5 mb 16 mp RAW = 16 mb. This is for 12 bit. 14 bit would require more)

--Camera heavier than it used to be

--No swivel screen - after using the GH1 extensively you really miss this when shooting at weird angles. You especially miss it for macro photography.

--No full time live view - Ditto from above. Live view is what you see is what you get. Forgot to change white balance-- you will see that when people are yellow, blue or green. Have it set in manual and blowing everything out-- you'll see that as a white screen.

Decision Matrix

Nikon

For the Nikon shooter this is a no brainer. If you are in the market for a camera, then skip the D300s. The D700 is getting long in the tooth and many people are buying the D7000 while waiting for D800. If you already own a D700 then this camera is a very good complement to it. Use the money you saved over the more expensive camera to buy a nice lens.

Here is a breakdown vs other Nikon DSLRs

D3100-- Two completely different classes with the D7000 being worth the difference in many. However at the end of the day they will both make nice pictures. Also, the lenses are more important than the camera. You can get the D3100 and 18-200mm for the same price. Something to think about.

D5000-- Good sensor and nice camera. D3100 comments also apply here.

D90--Tough choice. The best DX sensor of its generation and still better than most. If you can't quite stretch to the D7000, this is a very tempting proposition.

D300S-- Irrelevant. The D7000 has a much better sensor, is smaller, lighter, cheaper, and better metering.

Nikon D700-- Would be a good complement to the D7000. Use D7000 when you need the 1.5x crop on the long end and a deeper depth of field due to the smaller chip (about 1 stop deeper) and D700 for when you want to isolate a subject with a shallow depth of field or you want to use the full width of a wide angle such as the 14-24mm. If you don't need the shallower depth of field of a FX sensor and you have the lenses to cover the 1.5x crop then the D7000 should suit just fine. D3s and D3x -- Different leagues altogether. However, the D7000 is 90% of the camera for 1/4 to 1/6th the money.

Canon

The 7D is an outstanding camera and while I think the D7000 is a better camera (better sensor, 2 SD card slots, 2016 RGB metering, Price) it is not that much better to warrant switching if you are already invested in lenses.

Sony

The Sony SLT-A55 is a great camera but not in the league of the D7000. However it is $350 less and does have so unique properties. It is rumored to have the same sensor as the D7000 but Nikon always does their magic and makes it better (D3x vs A900). The translucent mirror allows for fast shooting but loses 1/3 a stop of light. Still a very nice camera.

Non-DSLR Owner or DSLR owner with just the Kit Lens

When you are buying a DSLR, you are really buying into the lens system. So factor that into you decision making matrix. For that reason, if you have not spent a fortune on lenses yet then I recommend the m4/3 as in my opinion that is the future. The sensor of the top m4/3(GH2) is every bit as good if not better than the current crop of DX sensors and almost as good as the D7000. It is getting to the point, the sensor doesn't matter as much. At this point handling, size and weight start to become more important.

With this in mind I would recommend the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 16.05 MP Live MOS Interchangeable Lens Camera with 3-inch Free-Angle Touch Screen LCD and 14-42mm Hybrid Lens (Black) to anyone not invested in a lens system. It is smaller, lighter, more capable on the video side and in many ways better on the stills side. It needs a faster flash sync speed, faster shutter speed and the construction is not up to Nikon or Canon standards (In all fairness this cuts down on weight and I have not had a failure with my GH1.) It is probably not quite as good at the high ISO. On the positive side it has a multi-aspect sensor as it is actually an 18mp sensor (16:9, 2:3, and 4:3 will all be 16mp not crops of one aspect ratio) It sells for $899 body only, $999 with the 14-42mm and $1499 with the fantastic 14-140mm 10x zoom. The lack of a mirror flipping up is a benefit in all cases. Also, you can use just about any lens ever made on this camera. Nikon, Leica, Canon, Pentax, C Lenses. You lose auto focus on any auto focus lenses and there is no accurate way to adjust your aperture on G series lenses. While the GH1 sensor was by far the best M4/3 sensor and equaled most DX sensors of its generation, it did not quite stand up to the D90 sensor. I expect the D7000 to have a higher Dynamic Range and be an overall better sensor. However, that difference will not be noticeable to the lay users. What you get is a noticeably smaller and lighter camera that out handles any DSLR on the market and has the best video capabilities. In my opinion the GH2 will be the best all-around camera of its generation. The GH1 is the camera I reach for 90% of the time when I shoot for pleasure. When Panasonic puts out a full Pro line of lenses, I will use it more in the Pro situations. I am sure the GH2 will be my new go to camera.

409 people were helped by this review.

return home



Cool things you might not know the D7000 can do

by: James Sabo (Shadow Hills, CA United States)
on: October 26, 2010



Just take it for granted that this takes amazing pictures under all conditions, including low light, and that it contains all the manual controls that you'd ever want.

Instead, here's some things that the camera does that you might not have heard about:

* Built-in EyeFi support

If you've used EyeFi SD cards before, you probably assumed that it would work with the D7000, since the D7000 now uses SD cards instead of CF. But not only do you not have to mess around with SD-to-CF adapters, the camera is actually EyeFi aware-- you can choose to have it upload or not upload on a slot-by-slot basis (so you might have it automatically upload the RAW files you saved to an EyeFi Pro card in slot 1, but not bother to upload the JPEGs you saved to the EyeFi Explorer card in slot 2), and there is also an icon that appears on the Info display to indicate that there are files waiting to upload, that the upload is in progress or disabled, etc.

The Nikon Wifi adapter is going for $400. A 4GB, class 6 EyeFi card goes for $40. If you really want to move RAW files, snag the Pro version for $80. Yes, the Nikon adapter does things that EyeFi can't, but if you just want to get your files onto a PC without pulling the card, why spend 10X the money?

You're stuck with the usual limitations of the EyeFi card, but I fully expect to use this feature a LOT with studio portraits-- yeah, it only takes 10 seconds to pull the card and have Windows recognize that you added it, then another 5 seconds to eject the card and stick it back in the camera. But if you just want a quick check that your exposure or focus is where you want it, wouldn't you rather just hit a single key and see your last shot, then get right back into the flow? You may want to drop your JPEG file sizes to speed up the transfer.

* In-camera RAW file processing

The camera contains a ton of built-in settings-- in addition to the basics like Standard, Normal, Landscape, etc, you also get all the various Scene modes, which are basically variations on those main settings.

RAW processing allows you to see how the shot would have looked had you used one of those other modes. In other words, you shoot in Normal, which basically applies no processing to the image, then select the RAW file, and choose how you'd like to adjust it. You can change the white balance settings, exposure, basic picture setting (landscape, portrait, etc), noise reduction, color space, and dynamic lighting. With the exception of the advanced details on the basic picture settings, you see a preview of how your change will affect the picture.

If you like it, just hit EXEcute and it writes out a JPEG to your card. Don't like it, just back out and nothing's saved.

This means that you don't have to worry that shooting in Vivid is going to result in an oversaturated image, or you can punch something up even more after the fact. The only real drawback here to me is that it is going to kick out a JPEG, so if you're planning on doing further editing in Photoshop, this may not be the best route. But if you're just looking to go right from the camera to the web, or want to get an idea of how playing with custom settings will affect your shots, this is a massive shortcut to taking and then deleting a ton of shots. (And keep in mind that Photoshop will allow you to mess with most of these settings when importing RAW files anyway, and the plugin D7000-compatible RAW plugin had a release candidate posted yesterday, so you can finally open your RAW shots.)

And a related feature that's in most other Nikons, but that you might not know about-- you can define your own basic picture settings. Want something that's super-saturated and super-contrasty? Just hit a few buttons, choose a name, and you're done. On the older Nikons, you had to edit the basic profile itself, now, you can use one as a starting point and adjust from there. Much cleaner.

* User-defined settings on the control knob

Not as hidden as the first two, but I can't emphasize how cool this feature is. Here's the situation I was in last night-- I was shooting a singing contest in a dimly-lit venue. I was allowed to use a flash, but I didn't want to constantly be blasting the singers while they were performing.

I defined one setting as shutter priority, 1/60th, ISO Hi 2, center-weighted metering & focus, no flash. The second setting was automatic, ISO auto, full metering and autofocus, flash enabled. I'd take a couple shots in U2 with the flash, close the flash down and switch to U1 and shoot a half a dozen shots, then switch back to U2 and use the flash for a couple more shots. There was no fumbling for controls, no worrying that I changed the shutter speed without realizing it when changing between Auto and S-- every time I went from U2 to U1, all my settings were reset to where I put them before the event started.

I don't think I ever felt as confident about my camera settings in a rapidly changing situation as I did last night-- with just a simple twist of a knob, I was able to change to a completely different shooting configuration with absolute confidence that it was what I wanted.

To me, the utility of this is almost endless-- I'll probably set up one setting for studio portraits, and the other for landscape stuff. If I was still shooting news, I'd probably be swapping between flash and no-flash configurations. For sports, I'd change between action modes and post-game portraits.

The only thing that would make this even better would be if I could import and export settings for later use-- even if you use the "Save/Load" settings option to back up your current configuration to a memory card, it doesn't appear that this information is stored. However, it may be a bug in the Load settings feature, as a number of my settings were incorrectly reset when I tried to load in settings. Either way, it would work better if I could treat these like custom basic picture settings, saving them by name and loading them at will.

* Built-in interval timer shooting

Want to take time-lapse pictures? Just set up your camera on the tripod, specify when you want it to start, how many pictures to take overall, and how many pictures to take each interval and walk away. When it's time to start taking pictures, the camera will automatically focus and shoot, then go back to waiting for the next shot. No messing around with tethering, 3rd party software, whatever-- it's all in the camera, and it's all super-easy to set up. You'll find yourself taking pictures of your living room just to see what your cat actually does all day while you're at work.

* Zoom in live view

This might just be "new to me," but I found it to be very cool for manually adjusting focus when on a tripod-- frame your basic shot, then change to live view. From there, zoom in with the magnifying glass key, and move around the image with the navigation pad until you find the point you want to focus on, then manually focus. Since you can zoom into a tiny portion of the overall image, you can see that you're getting exactly the focus point you want before you take the shot. One gotcha that I always forget, though-- don't forget to pick your aperture BEFORE going into live view, as you can't change it once live view has started.

* Adjustable shooting rate

Again, might be "new to me," but in addition to blasting away at 6fps, you can manually adjust that from 1 to 5 FPS in order to get a different effect. You obviously need to be using a fast enough shutter speed to support your choice-- if you're at 1/2 a second, you're not going to shoot faster than 2FPS.

As I mentioned in one of my other reviews, I used to be a semi-pro photographer-- I was the photo editor for both a weekly and a daily paper, I've shot tons of sports and news photos, and landscape photography is my hobby. I've recently gotten back into portrait photography as well. While I never owned as many cameras as a true pro would have (that semi- means that I never made enough money at it to be able to really spring for equipment), I have shot with a lot of other people's equipment, and I can honestly say that this is the best camera I've ever used.

258 people were helped by this review.

return home



Best DX (cropped) Camera To Date; Amazing ISO Performance

by: J. Anderson (Austin, TX)
on: October 21, 2010



My first DSLR was a D80 I purchased four years ago. The shutter went out a few weeks back but I had been planning to upgrade to the D7000 anyway so this just hurried things up. I bought the D7000 kit with the 18-105 lens but quickly sold that on Ebay. I was shooting with a Tamron 17-50 2.8 lens on the D80. For low light, it worked pretty well but greater than half the time I needed to use my SB-600 flash to capture my young kids doing what they do (move). The only downside to the Tamron, or combination of the Tamron with the D80, was that the images tended to be soft, especially when opened up. So I also upgraded my lens to the Nikkor 16-85. While this is a variable lens that maxes out at 3.5, it is amazingly sharp combined with the D7000. And the extra reach is great for getting better shots and also providing relatively shallow depth of field that otherwise would be lost with the slower aperture.

The reason I mention the lens change is that I wouldn't have gone to a variable lens had it not been for the amazing ISO performance on the D7000. I am now shooting flashless at very fast shutter speeds. I usually shoot raw and process with Lightroom and I'm seeing amazing results at 800 ISO even when fully blown up (1:1). At ISO 1600, I can see minor noise but Lightroom 3's noise reduction easily eliminates it. 3200 certainly isn't noiseless but again, Lightroom can clean it up very well in most situations. My old D80 had more noise at 400 than the D7000 has at 1600; I'd say 800 on it was equivalent to 3200 on the D7000. I could see printing 1600 shots at smaller sizes with no need for software cleanup. So while my results are preliminary (3 weeks in), I am astonished at the ISO capabilities of this camera. I no longer have d700 envy and am glad I can get great dx lenses for under $700 as opposed to $1500 for fx. Perfect for enthusiasts like me!

You've seen the stat that the D7000 can shoot 6 shots per second. The 6FPS shutter is in some ways overkill. But if you shoot HDR/Bracket shots in quick succession having such a rapid shutter can allow you to do so handheld in a pinch. This is really only possible because of the high ISO capabilities enabling very fast shutter times. And for sporting events and the like, it's nice to have the ability to rapidly fire off shots.

I have also noticed considerably improved metering and white balance on the D7000 compared to my old D80. Of the 350 or so shots I've taken, I am spending much less time adjusting lighting and white balance in Lightroom.

As others have mentioned, the ergonomics/design of the camera are quite good and I really enjoy the many direct access shortcuts for adjusting everything from focus to flash to white balance and much more. The two custom settings are very easy to set and perfect for your two most common profiles (e.g. indoor portrait and outdoor landscape). The screen is beautiful and moving in and around even RAW files is very smooth and fast. I went with two 16GB SD class 10 Transcend cards and while I'm currently using the RAW 1 / JPEG 2 option, I plan to use the second as a backup card once I go to RAW only.

I've only toyed with the video function but that was a part of my consideration since I dislike carrying two cameras, plus chargers and media, on family vacations. The tests I've done in 1080P have been very impressive, albeit large as you would expect. Auto-focusing while video recording is okay, as long as the background isn't too noisy or subjects too many. The biggest downside I have experienced is the built-in microphone picks up lots of auto focusing noise. I have not yet invested in an external mic but probably will need to.

All in all I am very pleased with the D7000 and see no major shortcomings. It's not cheap, but you get a lot for your money if you are in the market for a prosumer class DSLR. For users who won't explore and use the MANY options and capabilities of this camera, I would recommend considering the 3100/5100. For D80/90 users who are ready to step up big time in terms of performance, this is the upgrade you have been waiting for. Some will hold out for a D700 successor (D800 or whatever it ends up being called). I have no doubt it will be an amazing camera but cost wise, you're going to be looking at $2500+ for the body alone and pay roughly double for coverage equivalent lenses. So figure $4K just to get started. Too rich for my non-professional needs but certainly should be considered if your work or wants dictate that level of camera. And there maybe be a D300s replacement in the works too. Still, I'd urge anyone to consider the D7000, which in my opinion is the best cropped sensor DSLR to date.

152 people were helped by this review.

return home



D7000 vs. the D90

by: R. Willard (Corona, CA)
on: February 15, 2011



Hundreds of general reviews of the D7000 have already been written, so instead of trying to reinvent that wheel I will address specific issues that people who are thinking of upgrading may find helpful. If you currently own a D80 the upgrade is a no-brainer. Just do it, you won't regret it. If you're using a D90, as I was before, you may be considering the upgrade to a D7000 a bit more skeptically.

I am a serious amateur/hobbyist with more than 50 years of experience in photography, and have progressed from a D50 to a D80 to a D90 (each owned for two years), to the D7000 purchased two months ago.

Initially I wondered if the upgrade from a D90 would really be worth it. Well, it definitely is. The D7000 isn't an upgrade to the D90 in the traditional sense that we tend to think of upgrades, it's a whole NEW CAMERA. The improvements I'm most impressed with that matter most to me personally for my kind of photography?

1. New sensor with greater dynamic range and superior high-ISO performance. The first DX body to come close to approximating FX cameras in these areas.

2. New 39-point AF module that puts the D80 and D90's 11-point AF to shame in AF-C and makes easy work of any kind of action photography. Not only faster and more precise autofocusing, but also a significantly improved method for quickly choosing different AF modes.

3. Improved layout of buttons and controls on the body, but with a nearly identical menu structure to the D90 that makes it easy to learn and implement everything, including the D7000's new features. The learning curve should be minimal coming from a D80 or D90. And there are enough similarities to the D300 to make it an easy transition.

4. Metering, especially matrix metering, is more accurate in a wider variety of lighting conditions -- definitely improved over the D90 and a major improvement over the D80. A camera's meter readings are always suggestions, not commandments, and EV compensation is often necessary. But the D7000's matrix metering gets the exposure very close to right the vast majority of the time.

5. The D7000's light touch (hair trigger) shutter release takes a little getting used to, but it definitely minimizes the chance of camera motion blur when taking a picture. I understand that D300 and D700 users won't notice much difference in the touch, but it's a major improvement if you're coming from any of Nikon's consumer DSLRs.

6. The 6 fps continuous mode is plenty fast enough to capture very fast action like birds in flight. And the new dial configuration makes it easier than ever to change shooting modes quickly.

7. Programmable U1 and U2 modes eliminate time-consuming menu diving and button pushing when you want to switch instantaneously between settings for different situations (landscape or scenic shots vs. action photography, for example).

8. The introduction of several "pro body features" in a consumer camera like AF fine tuning, which is not something you need all the time or want to use indiscriminately, but it's wonderful to have when you need it.

9. Better construction gives the D7000 a "pro feel" not present in other consumer grade Nikon bodies. A subjective opinion, I know, but just picking up a D7000 tells you that you're handling a very solid, serious piece of equipment.

10. Yes, we all bemoaned the introduction of a new D7000 battery. But this new EN-EL15 is a powerhouse that will give the Energizer Bunny a run for his money. A very positive new enhancement.

11. Last but not least (lest we forget the real purpose of a camera), I am taking better pictures (technically, at least) with my D7000 than I did with my D90 -- and doing so much more easily and efficiently. Compared to the 2-3 months it took me to adapt to the D80 and D90 when I upgraded to those bodies before I began getting really satisfactory results, there hasn't been any such prolonged learning curve with my D7000.

I have not commented on the D7000's video capabilities because I don't shoot video with it. I have noted that autofocusing with any lens in Live View is rather slow, even in good light, and many lenses may have difficulty achieving an accurate focus lock in low light. And a few lenses may fail to autofocus in Live View at all. This is not really important to me because I very rarely use this feature, but it is something to be aware of.

A word about lenses: Achieving the best results with the higher resolution of the 16MP D7000 does require good lenses. The 18-105 VR kit lens is adequate and will yield perfectly satisfactory results. However, obtaining the superior image quality that the camera is capable of calls for better quality glass. For an excellent general purpose "walkaround" lens that is also a Best Buy at $449, I personally recommend the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Lens for Nikon Mount Digital SLR Cameras . I prefer this Sigma to the somewhat overpriced Nikon 16-85 VR. To cover the telephoto range, I would suggest adding the excellent Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Nikkor Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras to your arsenal.

I hope Amazon shoppers for the D7000 body only who thinking of upgrading from a previous DSLR find my observations helpful.

UPDATE ON 03/16/11 --

Here is a link to my Flickr photostream if you would like view some of the photos I have taken with the D7000. They include the EXIF info and were taken with the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM and Nikon 70-300 VR.

[...]

One feature I didn't mention in my original review is in-camera editing. This is not something new, but it's much more robust in the D7000 and I use it quite a bit. For example, JPEG shooters will appreciate the in-camera WB adjustment that lets you correct color balance that's way off right in the camera and then make subtle adjustments in post processing. Likewise, in-camera B&W and sepia conversions produce images with a full tonal gradient for later creative manipulation on the computer. Both of these are handy time-savers, and your original image always remains intact. The in-camera cropping options have also been expanded to include virtually all of the popular formats and provide excellent flexibility for basic cropping.

The more I use my D7000, the more I appreciate what a significant upgrade it is to the D90.

70 people were helped by this review.

return home



Simply Superb -- and that's from a D700 owner...

by: RonAnnArbor (Ann Arbor, MI United States)
on: October 27, 2010



(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

First, let me say that for the last (almost) two years I have been using the Nikon D700, and occasionally the D300s and D90 as a backup.

When I saw the specs and reviews for the D7000 I knew I had to try it out -- and guess what -- I haven't used my D700 at all since getting my D7000...

It feels great. It's light, but well made, feels secure and not at all "plastic-y" The controls and buttons are all terrific and a huge improvement from the D90.

The camera, while easy to use, has all the bells and whistles, great image quality, and a good user interface. In fact, the shots look better out of the camera than with the D300s. In reality, the image quality is virtually indistinguishable from the D700 up to ISO 3200, and only slightly better on the D700 upto about 6400. There's no comparison higher, the D700 wins hands down. Sure the D700 is better at low-light shooting with its full size sensor -- but the D7000 absolutely has surprised me in this area as well.

It has features you expect in Pro cameras, and I wouldnt be surprised to see the D7000 become the back-up camera of choice for full frame shooters.

That being said -- the 18-105 lens is pretty week. I already have a great selection of DX lenses including the amazing 17-55 2.8 lens (there just isn't anything that looks and feels and works as well as that lens on an FX), and the 18-200. It's a joy to use these lenses again on a regular basis. The 18-105 is average at best, and I have eBayed mine already. You might want to get the body only if you already have DX lenses.

And after a few event shoots with the D7000, it's a joy to use something that weighs half of what the D700 weighs. The reality is, I will most likely also purchase the D700 update when it eventually comes down the pike, but I might very well end up selling mine off for now while waiting for that.

I am simply in love with this little camera -- it's by far Nikon's best current DX lens, and it even competes with their FX D700 for image quality. Who can ask for more. Highly recommended.

75 people were helped by this review.

return home



Incredible NIkon, Worth the Wait

by: D. Waterman "The Rev" (Minneapolis, MN)
on: October 16, 2010



I won't go in to lots of words, but I will tell you I have used a number of DSLR cameras (Nikon D40, D40x, D60, D50, D70, D70s, D80, D90, and now the D7000 as well as Canon 20D, 30D, 40D, 500D and 550D) and the Nikon D7000 may be one of the finest DX cameras I have ever used. In the past 24 hours I have logged 250 pictures and and I am impressed with the quality of the picture, and the ease of use with the camera. You might be tempted to think it's just a glorified D90, but you would wrong. It's better than the D90, and from what I am reading, better than the D300s which is more money. The camera feels good in the hands, has a solid feel, is weatherproof, and overall speaks professional photographer. For $1,500 in a kit, it is money well spent.

I waited for the D7000 over any other DSLR for one reason: Auto-Focus in video mode. It was worth the wait. I had almost dropped the $1,400 on the Canon 60D but hesitated because the 60D was dumbed down in many ways by Canon so as to not impede on 7D sales. Nikon went all out and demolished the need for the D300s, while making a DSLR worth having. The video mode allows you to run auto-focus while shooting, which no other DSLR has done to this point. Additionally, you can now shoot 1080p in 24 frames (23.97 actually) per second, which is cinema quality. Also, you can shoot up to 20 minutes of video in one shoot, versus only 12 minutes for the Canon 60D, T2i, and T1i. You may think you are buying the D7000 for photography only, but wait until you see what you can do with video. Being able to do DOF shooting makes the DSLR video even more valuable, allowing you to do things you would have to spend thousands on in a professional camera.

The D7000 may very well be Nikon's best DSLR in quite some time. I have used many, but this has quickly become my favorite.

93 people were helped by this review.

return home



D70 to D7000

by: S. KING (Portland, OR United States)
on: October 25, 2010



In April of 2004, I bought my first DSLR, the Nikon D70. I paid $1299.99 for the D70 and 18-70 kit lens. I loved the D70 - it was good enough that I could resist the D80, D200, etc. I spent my money on lenses instead. Then along came the D7000. I was nervous about jumping before DP Review has given their full report, but trusted Nikon and couldn't resist the specs. Well, after several hundred shots I'm resting easy: this is an absolutely fantastic camera.

If you're like me coming from the D70, the D7000 is a step forward by every objective and subjective measure. I'm especially pleased with the D7000's new sensor. Two and half times the resolution changed the way I frame shots. I can pull back a bit during sports shooting to leave room for alignment corrections that eat up pixels at the edges. Unlike the D70, ISO 1600 is quite usable and ISO 3200 viable. I'm actually using Auto-ISO now, a feature I switched off in the D70 since I couldn't stand the noise.

The back panel display is also a sight to behold. With 7 times the resolution of the D70, the display is beautiful, bright and good enough to weed out poor shots on site.

The D7000 ergonomics felt immediately comfortable to my Nikon fingers. The only thing that made me pause was to locate the trash can button, which is now upper left rather than bottom right.

Of course, many other pleasant surprises await, a customizable button, live view, Active D-Lighting, not to mention 1080P video.

So, to those still snapping away with their D70's, this is the one! Enjoy!!!

-- EDIT --

If you are interested in the various GPS adapters for location tagging, be aware the D7000 uses a USB style connector for GPS units. This is different and incompatible with most other Nikon DSLRs. Make sure your GPS specifically states D7000 in it's compatibility list.

56 people were helped by this review.

return home



D7000 vs. D90

by: Grilling Sensations (Elk River, MN USA)
on: January 29, 2011



The positives of the D7000 vs. D90 after two months of use:

1. I shoot mainly indoor sports primarily high school jazz and high-kick dance routines in low and lousy light typically. This camera is considerably better than the D90 in this area. Very sharp and bright images with little or no noise up to ISO 6400. I generally use a Nikon f/2.8 70-200mm VR lens which yields excellent results.

2. 100% image as shown in viewfinder.

3. New extra dial that lets you store two completely different sets of camera settings. This makes switching between two modes especially fast when needed.

The negatives (only applies if you expect to shoot many shots quickly and in raw)

1. One of the things even the expert reviewers are missing is that this camera at 16MP creates around a 20MB raw file. This isn't a problem for general use but when shooting rapid fire or shooting every second or so the buffer fills up before writing out to the card. You can take up to 10 shots at any speed you wish but once it is full you have to wait several seconds to open space to continue or take fewer shots which is what I do to not miss that all important moment. I never had this issue with the D90 - I could shoot as rapid as I wanted. Granted the image is much better/larger and in 14 or 12 bit raw but be aware of this limitation going in. When shooting JPEG, the buffer size increases considerably so if you normally shoot JPEG it might not be a problem.

2. The dual card slot sounds great. There are several menu options to configure how you want the slots to behave; mirror so that as you take each photo the camera writes out to the other card at the same time. Sounds great for backup? It is great if you shoot slow or general stuff. However, shooting quick, fast shots, it slows the write process down even further to the point where it is not very useable. So I always opt for having the second card to act as overflow so when the first card fills up it automatically switches to the second card. This doesn't seem to slow it down. There are also several different configurations for the dual card slots. I would suggest downloading the user manual from Nikon prior to purchase to see if it will meet your needs.

3. As you push the shutter release it is harder to determine when the shutter will close and slightly delayed on occasion compared to the D90 which was crisp and felt just right. Its not too bad once you get accustomed to it being more sensitive and know how to deal with it but at first you will notice a sharp contrast.

4. I added a battery grip which makes the camera balance and grip much better especially with the larger lens for going into portrait position. Nice features on it and well positioned. However, its a trade off in that you have to take the grip off every time you want to charge the battery that remains in the camera. Only one battery is in this battery grip vs. the design made for the D90 which was two.

In general I highly recommend this camera despite the comments above. The limitations above are something to be aware of for my shooting conditions. If these don't match how you plan to use the camera you will be delighted by it's performance over the D90. You will still be delighted in any case.

I also have used the D700 and D3 and I would say this camera produces images comparable to the D700 in in some cases superior. It's not D3 or D3X class but the images are hard to distinguish until you get into really low light situations.

No difference:

The magnesium body vs plastic body. I didn't really notice the difference between the two cameras. They feel and look about the same and weigh very close.

29 people were helped by this review.

return home



Nikon's Best DX Camera

by: Chad (Colorado, USA)
on: December 14, 2010



I bought my D7000 as an upgrade from my D80, which was itself an upgrade from the D50. I'm not one to buy a new dSLR every couple of years; I have been wanting to migrate from the D80 for awhile now because I don't like its meter, which consistently overexposed and blew out the highlights in pictures. I considered the D90, of course, but it wasn't quite enough to make me take the plunge. The D7000 is. I don't understand Nikon's naming convention on this camera, though: Prior to this, the pro-level cameras had one numeric digit (D1, D2, D3), the enthusiast-level cameras had two digits (D40-D60 for lower end, D70-D90 for higher end), and the newer consumer-level cameras had four digits (D3100, D5000). The D7000 in no way belongs in the same class as any consumer-grade camera. Nikon may have created an entirely different class of dSLR here. It beats every two-digit camera they've made, and might even render the amazing D300s largely irrelevant, but that's just an opinion. So, Nikon's inconsistent nomenclature notwithstanding, this camera is fantastic in nearly every way.

Suffice it to say that anyone interested in this camera knows the specs. Nothing in the marketing blurbs, however, can convey the way the D7000 feels and operates in the hands of a photographer. This camera just hums. It feels solid and professional, the buttons and dials are thoughtfully placed (no surprise there... ergonomics and build quality are why I shoot with Nikon), and the performance is just breathtaking. The D7000 borrows numerous features from its pro-grade lineup, such as blazing speed (largely unnecessary but still impressive at 6 fps), magnesium alloy body, virtual horizon, user-defined controls for entire banks of settings, etc. And it gets some features of its own, like 14-bit processing, a new processing engine, a newly-designed 16.2 MP sensor, vastly improved metering (much better than my D80), an intervalometer (for unsupervised timed interval shooting), and 100% viewfinder coverage. A full range of "live" adaptive dynamic range lighting control (called "D-lighting") is available, including an "AUTO" setting my D80 lacked. This really helps with high-contrast scenes, preserving the detail in the light areas while bringing out some of the details in the shadows. Focusing is fast, fast, fast, even with my non-Nikkor lens, which had regular problems on the D80. The D7000 manages it perfectly. Obviously, performance with my Nikkor lenses is silent, fast, and flawless. All of this translates into a remarkable experience for the experienced photographer. Playback is great too -- fast response when zooming (including diagonal zooming), and a new feature called "Face Playback" or something like that which is actually as useful as it is gimmicky, unlike most things like this which are more gimmicky than useful in real-world applications. When zooming in on a photo with people in it, the screen puts a small white box around all the faces. Set the zoom level, then use the front dial button to move instantly from face to face. Use the main (rear) dial to move to the next picture at the same zoom level. It's really useful and fun for checking to see if everyone is smiling and has their eyes open in a group photo. It's definitely gimmicky, since it's not strictly necessary, but in this case, it's actually quite useful, too. I enjoy this feature.

The menus are logically laid out, and pressing the "?" button offers more in-depth information on any of the myriad features and functions in the menus. Everything is HIGHLY customizable... you can easily spend several hours playing with menu settings, but owing to Nikon's liberal sprinkling of dedicated buttons and controls on the D7000 body, you won't need to dive into the menus very often after the initial tweaks are made. The superb degree of customization possible is what pushes the D7000 solidly into the very high end of enthusiast cameras. If you tend to leave your dSLR set on AUTO nearly all the time, don't waste the money on the D7000; buy the excellent D3100 instead. It's got many of the same features for half the price.

Battery life on the D7000 is completely insane. For even an enthusiast shooter, one full charge can easily last a week of shooting 100+ photos per day. Going on a weekend vacation? A week? Leave the charger at home. I took it on a six-day trip to Thailand and lost only one segment on the battery meter during that time (although to be fair, I didn't shoot hundreds and hundreds of photos). The D7000 is rated at 1,050 shots per charge, and I believe it based on my own usage so far. This is nothing particularly jaw-dropping for me, though: the D80 battery lasts forever, too. I also love the twin SD card slots with their multiple options for use: overflow, backup, dedicated video/RAW assignment... brilliant.

As reported, low-light performance is excellent, particularly with a fast lens. Even with a standard f/3.5 zoom, the lack of noise in ISOs up to 1600 means you won't be popping that flash up very often. I use my SB-600 speedlight now almost exclusively for wireless creative lighting techniques, not to actually supply light needed for a photo. At ISO 800, shooting handheld indoors is a breeze. When you do use the flash (for fill-flash situations, for example), it's pretty much perfect, typical for Nikon.

This is a serious rival for Canon's 60D, which I'd suggest is the D7000's only real competition in this class of dSLR. I'd say the D7000 beats the 60D in most real-world respects (though some of that is based on my own preference for Nikon's ergonomics), although I understand the 60D is superb for video. I'm not a videographer, so I can't really comment on that. (I can add that, in playing around with it, I do find the autofocusing during video shooting to be pretty bad.) The vast majority of the time, I'll be using my D7000 for still photography. I'd take the D7000 over the D300s, and the doubling of price doesn't warrant the purchase of the fantastic D700 (for me, at least).

I was lucky to get this camera at all given Nikon's continuing supply/demand issues. Even though it was released three months ago, it's near-impossible to find it in stock anywhere. I live outside the US currently and was, happily, able to get a D7000 body at a Nikon retailer for about the same price (when converted) as it should sell for in the States, about $1,200.

Money well-spent, I must say.

For me, upgrading from the D80, the chief improvements were:

- The meter. Metering on the D80 was pretty bad, in all honesty. The D7000 is far, far better at reading the light, which is the most crucial point of photography. This excellent full-color RGB meter, in concert with active D-lighting (for high-contrast scenes), and seriously intelligent metering algorithms, makes getting the "right shot" much more effortless.

- White balance. One of the most critical settings in digital photography, and the D7000 handles it brilliantly with so many nuanced settings and adjustments possible. Love it.

- Fantastic high-ISO performance. I rarely ever use the built-in flash and when I use my SB-600, it's typically off-camera use for fun or creative lighting effects. The D7000 handles low-light shooting amazingly well, especially when used with a fast lens like my Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 prime. Even with a f/3.5-4.5 or 5.6 zoom, performance is impressive.

- The 3-inch 921,000-dot LCD. The D80's LCD is quite good... until you've spent a couple of days with the D7000. If you're upgrading from the D70/s to the D7000, it's like an entirely new world. Though it's not an articulating LCD like the one on the Canon 60D, the LCD on the D7000 is still completely fantastic. Super-sharp, bright, and responsive.

- U1 and U2 user-defined settings. Wow, I love this! I wish there were 3 or 4 settings, but having even two memories for entire banks of complex camera settings is great. The preloaded "scene" settings are also on an entirely different level from the D80 (you set "Scene" on the left dial, press "info," then use the command dial to choose from tons of scene options on the main LCD), if you care to use Nikon's predefined scene algorithms. I used a couple (sunset, food) to test them out and the results were quite good.

- 1080p movies and Live View. I don't envision using the D7000 to shoot a lot of movies, but even having that capability is an obvious benefit over the D80.

- User-defined menu creation. You can put your most-used menu commands into a separate menu for your personal use and easy, single menu-level access. I really like this feature.

- Seems to handle off-brand lenses better. Three of my lenses are Nikkors, but two are Tamrons. On my 18-250mm Tamron, the D80 would routinely struggle with it, either taking some time to autofocus or "losing" the lens altogether. The display would simply read "F --" as if there were no lens attached. I'd either have to remove and reattach the lens or switch the camera off and back on. This has never happened with the D7000.

- The "info" button that puts all of the information that's on the top LCD screen, and a lot more, on the big, color rear LCD screen. I realize numerous newer Nikons do this, but the D80 didn't, so this is a quantum leap for me.

- The integrated sensor cleaner. I presume it's ultrasonic and just vibrates any errant dust particles off the sensor. You can set this to occur every time the camera is switched on, or activate it on demand. My D80 had no such feature.

- More megapixels. You'll notice this is last on the list because it doesn't really make that big a difference. The resolution of the D80 was amply sufficient and I still get awesome shots on my 7.2-MP point and shoot Casio EX-Z750, which I continue to love. But 16.2 MP allows for easy cropping with no real loss of useful resolution, so it's definitely a big step up from the 10.1 MP of the D80.

37 people were helped by this review.

return home



by:
on: ,



Fantastic tool for serious photographers - but not perfect.

So I owned a G11 - and for whatever reason sold it a few months back. I have since tried the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 and Samsung TL500. This whole time I was searching for something better than the G-series - I only found it with the GF1 - but it is too large to be a compact.

I only give this camera 4 stars instead of 5 for the...

Read the full review ›

Published 12 months ago by Todd Gilbert

1,399 people were helped by this review.

return home



CANON G12 10 MP DIGITAL CAMERA WITH 5X OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZED ZOOM AND 2.8 INCH VARI-ANGLE LCD (ELECTRONICS)

return home



Feast your eyes on an updated G Series digital camera: The G12. It's ready to impress the advanced amateurs who have always celebrated the G Series. The G12 is still loaded with powerful technologies that has made the G Series cameras so renowned, like the Canon HS SYSTEM, 2.8-inch Vari-angle PureColor System LCD, and RAW + JPEG image modes. Now, this flagship camera paves the way with these new upgrades like 720p HD Video with stereo sound to get crystal clear footage, multiple aspect ratios, High Dynamic Range, Electronic Level, Tracking AF, a Front Dial and much more to give you even more creative control than before! Canon PowerShot G12 Highlights 10.0 Megapixel sensor combined with the DIGIC 4 Image Processor creates Canon's HS SYSTEM The PowerShot G12 employs the HS SYSTEM by combining a powerful 10.0 Megapixel CCD sensor and Canon's DIGIC 4 Image Processor. Thanks to this technological advancement, the G12 is dramatically more sensitive than cameras with identical megapixel counts, and delivers spectacular images with minimal noise. Increased sensitivity demands a higher ISO speed, and the PowerShot G12 delivers with a new maximum setting of ISO 3200. Blur and camera shake are notably reduced for the ultimate in sharpness and clarity. In addition, a new Low Light mode lets you capture images in an astonishing range of conditions. The camera automatically adjusts the ISO speed from ISO 320 to ISO 12800 in relation to ambient brightness, subject movement and camera shake. Shoot 720p HD video in stereo sound and play back on an HDTV via the HDMI output The PowerShot G12 lets you record video in beautiful high definition (1280 x 720 pixels). The camera also makes it easy to enjoy HD videos (and still photos) on your HDTV with a mini-HDMI connector for direct connection to a high-definition TV monitor. You'll enjoy the HD experience with no degradation of image or audio in the signal, plus the ability to display up to 130 still images at once. The PowerShot G12 also includes spectacular video functionality. When shooting video, you can get up close with the 5x Optical Zoom for riveting detail and realism, from the overall appearance to facial expressions! And the camera's Smart AUTO technology that helps ensure the perfect still image works to bring that same quality to your video. Shooting and recording modes including RAW + JPEG The PowerShot G12's RAW mode lets you shoot images without JPEG compression. It gives you clearer images and complete creative control in editing. RAW images are transferred directly to the computer where they can then be edited using image adjustment software or a processing application to adjust your images as you please. The camera can also be set to allow the simultaneous recording of both RAW and JPEG images while shooting. Canon's Hybrid IS compensates for angular and shift camera shake during close-up shooting The PowerShot G12 is equipped with Canon's highly advanced Hybrid IS function, which corrects camera shake from two sources to deliver sharp, blur-free images even when you zoom in close to your subject. Hybrid IS employs both an angular sensor and an accelerometer, enabling it to suppress both the blur caused by the angle of the camera and the "shift blur" that happens when your subject moves parallel to the camera, a problem that is especially noticeable at large zoom factors. With the ability to produce clear, steady images in all situations and at any zoom length, the PowerShot G12 is the camera you'll want to take everywhere. 2.8-inch Vari-angle LCD with 461,000 dots plus an optical viewfinder The PowerShot G12 gives you a large 2.8-inch PureColor System LCD screen for excellent control when framing your shots. But size is only part of the story. Canon's PureColor System LCD offers spectacular color, resolution and contrast even at an angle. The screen is durable and easy to see. It is a perfect feature for gathering friends and family around to see your images. 5x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer, plus a 28mm Wide-Angle Lens The camera is equipped with a long, 5x Optical Zoom, and Canon's own Optical Image Stabilizer Technology keeps images steady and blur-free all through the zoom range--even in low light--by detecting motion and generating a corrective signal. Because it is an optical system, more corrective movement is allowed and there is no degradation of image quality. The G12 is a highly versatile camera with a wide-angle zoom lens that reaches all the way from 28mm at the wide end to 140mm at the telephoto end (35mm format equivalent). You'll capture more image in every shot, and add greater depth to your overall photography. Optional accessories including Speedlite flashes, underwater housing and Tele-Converter Lens are available The PowerShot G12 is compatible with the Speedlite flash series intended for all EOS series SLR cameras. Attach a Speedlite flash to the hot shoe, then you can set and control the flash on the "Flash Control" menu in the camera. With a Speedlight, the G12 is given extra functions such as autoflash metering, FE lock and Flash exposure compensation; continuous shooting with external flash. Also Canon's Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 enables you to have multiple slave flashes and wireless control. A Tele-Converter lens designed for the G12, Filter Adapter FA-DC58B and WP-DC34 Waterproof Case is also available. High Dynamic Range scene mode combines multiple shots into one picture Shooting in high contrast environments can often result in photos with overexposed and underexposed sections. So to tackle this problem, Canon developed the High Dynamic Range shooting mode to make select PowerShot cameras even more intuitive. Under High Dynamic Range* the camera will shoot three different exposures in a succession (underexposed, overexposed and normal) and then merge them into a single image. Underexposed areas are combined with the overexposed and vice versa, resulting in an evenly detailed image with flattering shadows and highlights. *Tripod is required. What's in the Box PowerShot G12 Camera body Lithium-ion Battery Pack NB-7L Battery Charger CB-2LZ Neck Strap NS-DC9 AV Cable AVC-DC400ST USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM




Fantastic tool for serious photographers - but not perfect.

by: Todd Gilbert
on: October 2, 2010



So I owned a G11 - and for whatever reason sold it a few months back. I have since tried the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 , Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 and Samsung TL500 . This whole time I was searching for something better than the G-series - I only found it with the GF1 - but it is too large to be a compact.

I only give this camera 4 stars instead of 5 for the following reasons.

1. External Speedlite control - you still need a "Master" unit like a 580EX II or Canon STE2 to control external Speedlites. Canon should get off their butt in this area to compete with the new Nikon P7000 . I almost considered going the Nikon route just to have that feature built in. Canon - start paying attention to what David Hobby says.

2. The screen is only 460K resolution. The Nikon mentioned above is 960K. The Samsung TL500 I mentioned above sports a beautiful AMOLED screen that knocks this one out of the park.

3. The pathetic optical viewfinder. You are catering to those people that say a camera MUST have one of these - stop it. You are wasting space with something so awful that even a disposable camera does better. I would rather have a higher resolution bigger screen (or a smaller camera) than this awful piece of warped tunnel-vision.

4. The rear control wheel is too small - enlarge it so it feels more like one of your DSLRs.

5. While the lens is gorgeously sharp (I mean competing with some of my L-lenses sharp) - f/2.8 to f/4.5 is slow.

6. The lens needs to be wider - 24mm f/2 (or even f/1.8 in the Samsung) equiv is the primary reason I tried the LX5 and TL500 before going back to Canon.

7. No microphone input for video recording.

8. Just too big and bulky - slim it down (but do NOT remove the articulating display).

So 8 knocks like that might sound like a big deal - but believe me when I say this - the camera is phenomenal.

Image quality is outstanding - I have had to process my RAW files with their converter (typically use Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 - but even with their converter image quality is second to none in the compact world. I actually prefer to do product shots with a G-Series than my usual 5D2 kit due to the flexibility and increased depth of field. The lens is magnificently sharp. HD video results look pretty good - but not stellar. It'll do in a pinch - but its no camcorder replacement.

Operation speed is very very good. I have read a few posts saying that focusing speed is vastly improved from the G11 - I haven't found that to be the case but none-the-less its pretty good.

Construction quality is pretty good - but I don't like the rough textured finish as much as the smooth finish on the G11 - it somehow makes it feel cheaper.

Controls are absolutely second to none. Dedicated EV and ISO dials are wonderful. The new front control dial is great. The rear dial however could use a bit of an extension - hard to operate quickly with my fat thumb. The whole camera is a little fat - slim it down and kill the awful optical viewfinder. Would like a dedicated movie button like pretty much all of its competitors. The articulating display is fantastic - PLEASE include this whenever you update the 5D.

Value for the money is mostly good - but if you are like me and need on-camera control of external flashes add a whopping $200+ for the ST-E2.

All in all a fantastic camera - even if it is a minimal update to the G11.

Why I picked it over LX5 > See my LX5 review - but I didn't particularly like that camera. Biggest reason would the articulating display followed by the awful screen resolution when composing on the LX5.

Why I picked it over the TL500 > I couldn't get the TL500 to trigger external strobes using radio triggers - that plus the lens is MUCH sharper on the Canon. I must have a bad copy of the TL500 as finding a sharp photo in my 50+ test shots is pretty hard.

Why I picked it over the S95 > Hotshoe and articulating display. If the S95 had those it would win hands down.

Why I picked it over the P7000 > Articulating display is about it here if you don't take into account I already own several Canon Speedlites.

Why I picked it over the GF1 or EP1 > Size + Nikon P7000 comments.

Hope you found my review helpful - if so please click the link below!

Edit 30 days in: I would add one more negative - once you lock focus in video to start recording - that focus cannot be changed after the fact - disappointed in that.

Also - I dropped mine this morning =( from 4ft onto concrete. Surprised that everything still works great and as expected it got marred up and one corner's metal is a little bent - but it still works which is impressive.

1,399 people were helped by this review.

return home



Not a toy, excellent photo quality for a serius photographer

by: Tathyana yepez j.
on: October 12, 2010



I went to LA last week, from Ecuador for 10 days on vacations, I wished to have this new camera in my hands to feel it, but at Samy's store at Fairfax blvd, they didn't have the camera yet, I ordered one from Amazon, (cost ¡$600 plus fast shipping! because it was the only one available at that moment, but...), finally I have it in my hands.

first impressions: small enough, not exactly a point & shoot camera, but not to big too, ideal to bring with you a better equipment than any point & shoot camera any were without to carry a big dslr and a bunch of lenses, actually y have a Canon 5d mkII, a canon 50d and I began the dslr world with the famous Canon 20d, something interesting is that I use all this cameras with a bunch of old Nikkor lenses (at least 20 years old) using an adapter ring, for me it is the perfect marriage, Canon body with old Nikkor lenses, of course I can only use the manual mode and have to use the manual focus ring to get focus but... while my sight is 20/20 love the final results.

Some features about this camera:

1 The lcd is fantastic, allows to take pictures or movie shoots in practical any position and situation, nice also when you are taking videos or do not want to be noticed when you are shooting, getting more spontaneous photos.

2 The ergonomic of the wheels for ISO,compensation and the mode selector are very well located, they work firmly.

3 The new front wheel, that works for increase or decrease the aperture or shutter speed is great.

4 The menu is easy to use and I like the new formats and sizes you can take pictures, 10:9, 4:3, 1:1, 3:2, 4:5 allows to get a better composition and photo formats without crop the image.

5 the rugged feel is nice for me, besides is only in two parts of the camera, where your hand and fingers needs more support.

6 At first instance I though the optical view finder appears to be so simple and "awful" like somebody told before, but, the diopter corrector works fine and when I clean the visor glasses, become so clear and nice that actually I am using it a lot, because do not need to open the lcd screen and it is possible to see the green or orange light which tells you that the exposition is ok or not, "going back to the old times".

7 I did not test enough the video, but at first look, it is ok and allows to record some interesting moments.

8 The quality of the pictures is awesome, really love it, finally can get almost the quality I have with my DSLRs but in a small camera.

9 It is fast, is ready to take pictures maybe in a second.

10 The quality of the lcd screen may be is not the best, but, allows you to see if the picture is ok, and normally if you see that the picture is ok, when you opened in any software the picture is !really great!

11 for me all the wheels are well located, the buttons are in the right place, I have a normal hands size, use xl gloves, but have not fat fingers.

12 The autofocus works great, fast and with an excellent accuracy, feature not easy to find in a small camera, so reduces the possibility of loosing a nice photo.

12 Could be perfect, but nothing is.

This is my first week with this camera, I will let you know more and more of my experience.

for now, I am really happy, fits my requirements.

147 people were helped by this review.

return home



Feast your eyes on an upgraded G series digital camera!

by: Steven Brys "Koala Lover!" (New Jersey, USA)
on: October 5, 2010



First, let me say I own or have owned a G10, G11, and G12. I am not really sure why anyone expect the G12 to be a major upgrade to the G11. The title of this review is the first line of Canon's marketing material on the Canon USA website....so this is what I personally expected, and Canon delivered, as far as I am concerned. I am not a professional, so my observations are from the viewpoint of an average guy with a serious camera addiction. I took photos side by side using my G10, G11, and G12 and I have to be honest, I could not tell much difference, though a slight nod would go to the newest camera. They are all great, however, and suit an average user like me perfectly. My tests were not scientific and not comprehensive - I have to work for a living after all. I am very pleased with the image quality, but is it a major upgrade from previous G series cameras, I do not think so. If I were forced to choose one, I would probably go for the G12 because the photos look slightly nicer to me, and the camera is easier to work with but only if I am forced to choose!

Build quality is also as you would come to expect from a Canon high end compact camera that costs $500. It is excellent just like the G10 and G11. They all feel and look pretty similar. There is an extra rubber grip on the back for your thumb which is kind of nice. Overall, and I have smallish hands, I find the G12 the easiest of these 3 cameras I have been comparing, to hold.

Probably the most important new feature is employment of Canon's HS (high sensitivity) system (combination of sensor and processing engine) which migrates from the EOS line. Does it deliver on its promise to improve image quality and allow shooting at higher ISO? I think the answer is yes it does, but not very much. The camera maxes out at 3200 ISO marked on the dial and you can bump it up to 12,800 albeit at lower resolution using the Low Light mode. Again, this is how it looks to my not professional rapidly aging, eyes. Whether it is worth running out an upgrading from a G11 is totally subjective and I cannot answer this for anyone. The camera also has the Hybrid IS system a la the updated 100mm Canon macro lens which compensates for a greater range of camera shake type. It looked to me like the camera did a more effective job at obtaining sharper photos at the same speeds as my G11. This is important to me as my hands do shake and I enjoy macro and cannot always use a tripod. Nor would I expect people buying a carry along point and shoot camera to carry a tripod with them.

There are additional new shooting modes like HDR that takes several photos then combines them for greater detail, better exposure. FYI, this feature was available in Ricoh cameras for sometime already, so Canon and Nikon are just catching up here. But I think it works a bit better on the Canon than it does in my Ricoh. The photos do look a bit richer, more detailed to me. Canon offers a level adjuster with this camera so you can keep your photos looking, well more level. Another feature that has been available elsewhere for years.

There are other niceties about this camera. Like you can pre-set the maximum ISO level (I like because a lot of cameras seem to default to a higher ISO than I would set for myself), there is a front dial to control settings (another inheritance from the EOS line), you can control the dynamic range (just like on Sony cameras from the past) for improved highlight clipping control, and you can shoot in a 1:1 aspect ratio (square which I personally like however, you guessed it, Canon is late to the party on this feature too) to name a few.

I will not comment on the video. I never use it and if I were able to trade video capability for say, a slightly bigger or better sensor, or a faster lens, I would do so in a heartbeat. But I have no idea if such a thing is even possible or practical. This is only my opinion and reflects my personal set of priorities. If it were up to me, I would dispense with most of the shooting scenes and the video if it meant a lower price or a camera with better image quality.

I share the findings of many that this is an incremental upgrade of the G11 as Canon's own literature seems to suggest. Higher expectations than this may be met with disappointment. But in my opinion, the G12 raises the bar, if only a little, of one of the best compact cameras available. I think as long as you keep what the G12 is, (an upgrade) in perspective with what it is not (evolutionary) you will not find yourself regretting your purchase.

224 people were helped by this review.

return home



Most impressive!

by: G. S. Harmon
on: November 5, 2010



As I'm an old film guy who has resisted digital photography almost as much as dentist visits, I've really avoided making the jump. Of course, I've had a few small point and shoot cameras for quick snapshots. But recently, I've found it necessary to get a camera with more capabilities and quality.

I'd love to have a higher-end DSLR, but flying these days really doesn't lend itself to lugging a big camera bag with a couple of lenses, flash, etc. I gripe just taking my shoes off at the security checkpoint. And I am avoiding paying checked bag fees as much as I possibly can!

Last April, I finally decided to get something a bit nicer, and after weeks of searching through review after review, I finally settled on a Fuji HS10. At first, I loved that camera. Then, I discovered that particular unit was eating batteries with the voracity of John Pinette at a Vegas buffet. So, back it went. And I waited and continued to research.

Then, along comes Canon with this G12. Remember, I'm an old film guy, so I like some controls. But after 5 minutes playing with this camera, I was most impressed. Startup - it's ready to go in a flash. Focus - spot on for 99% of the photos I've shot (nothing's perfect), and that 1% I can peg on me for focus issues. Low light? Simply amazing! This camera's ability to compensate for low light is borderline spooky. Combined with the lens image stabilization, I've taken shots that would have required a tripod, cable release, and good old-fashioned luck with a film camera.

Sports mode is very good. While the 'rapid-fire' shots aren't blazing fast, they are sharp, clean, and quick to save. In fact, the camera is fast with saves in most every mode I've tried. And speaking of modes, I discovered one that I've fallen in love with - Nostalgia mode. With a quick click of the front-mounted scroll-wheel, one can age a photo making it appear a bit washed out and grainy. For artistic shots, this mode just made me feel like I was working darkroom magic without the darkroom!

Some folks have complained that it's too big for a pocket. I didn't really have any issues with that. In fact, I think that for everything this camera can do, it's size is one of the biggest selling points.

I just returned from a quick trip to Jamaica where I took all sorts of shots. The ones that got the most compliments were the low-light shots. And everyone that asked and showed this camera were amazed at what it was able to do.

As I mentioned - I'm incredibly impressed with this camera.

85 people were helped by this review.

return home



The Canon G12 for advanced photography

by: Moreno Tagliapietra "fine art photography" (New York)
on: January 8, 2011



Hello, I am a part-time fine art photographer and my favorite subjects are landscapes, flowers, classic European architecture, travel, visual arts and crafts. I work with two DSLR systems but like to have with me a compact camera at all times for any eventuality. Depth of field, composition and sharpness are typically more important to me than very fast focusing and shooting (I work mostly in Av mode) but sometimes I need my equipment to be responsive enough to capture travel's fleeting moments.

I have recently replaced my award-winning compact Fuji E900 with a Canon G12. Living not far from B&H in Manhattan, I had the chance to "play" with it and the other two cameras I was considering - the Nikon P7000 and the Panasonic LX5 with its external EVF - before buying. After putting the camera through its paces for a couple of weeks with my kind of photography I have come to the following conclusions.

The G12 is an advanced compact camera larger than your average pocketable but smaller than a micro 4/3" or similar. It does not fit in a shirt pocket but it does it in a regular pouch together with your wallet, cell phone etc. (I never use photo bags to avoid advertising the equipment). The fact that it has some size and weight makes it more stable in my hands and allows for its numerous external controls.

The camera's key features include a larger than average 1/1.7" 10Mp sensor with superior image quality in low light and higher ISO values, a sharp 28-140mm zoom lens, an optical viewfinder, a fully articulated LCD monitor, many dedicated external controls, manual exposure, Raw format, good responsiveness, reasonably fast autofocus even in low light, and a powerful flash.

Beginning with the G11, Canon has dared bringing down the resolution of its G series sensors from 14Mp to 10Mp, which is more than enough for most users. This gutsy move has significantly reduced high ISO noise. I can make enlargements around 16x20" from the G12 with ISO 800 pics in good light and ISO400 in low light (in Raw format and proper processing in Camera Raw).

The 5x zoom lens, even if not particularly bright, extends from a very useful 28mm wide angle to a 140mm short telephoto. This conservative zoom range covers most of my typical photography, keeps the lens sharp through every focal length and reduces distortions and aberrations. Some kinds of photography can be done with inexpensive equipment but true wide angle and telephoto work requires high quality, expensive equipment and solid technique (if you are serious about your photography stay away from superzoom cameras). The zoom control is a bit on the sensitive side.

Composing with an LCD monitor is sometimes useful but generally awkward and unstable, does not help you concentrate on your subject, and is downright impossible in bright light. The G12 offers an optical viewfinder which, while small and covering only 77% of the image, is often a life saver. When I worked with slide film I strove for a final crop in-camera. Then I moved to digital and learned the creative advantage of shooting wider and doing final cropping in processing. Hence the 77% viewfinder coverage is not an issue for me, I just shoot very tight.

The camera has a sharp 2.8", 461Kp fully articulated LCD monitor hinged on the side (so that it is never in the way of the tripod head). There are specific shooting conditions where a monitor like this is useful. This includes shooting over people's heads, at ground level and wherever your arms can reach but your head can't. I do macro in the field where this feature is invaluable. A few days ago I photographed the always crowded New York Botanical Garden train show and used the LCD monitor for most of my pictures. With the camera in P mode and forced flash I got many publication-quality pics.

I like the camera's external controls a lot, especially the top and front dials. I am less enthused with the back dial which is a little awkward to operate. I have to be careful with my right hand because sometimes I touch the four-way controller, especially the manual focus button. The menu system is more modern and fancier than my Pentax and Olympus cameras but it is a bit slower. The same holds true for the autofocus which is however quite fast and accurate in low light due to the focus assist lamp. In the end, the G12 is overall much faster than the "mythical" EVF cameras I owned in the past, including the Olympus C8080 and the Fuji S9100 which took ten seconds or more to write a Raw pic to memory (the G12 does it in two seconds). Continuous shooting is up to 2fps in best possible conditions (jpeg and fixed focus and exposure) and drops to 0.8fps with continuous focus.

All the manual controls are there. The camera can shoot Raw and, my favorite, Raw + jpeg. I do all my main work in Raw but having jpegs readily available for the web and for portability is a real treat (you can check or show your jpegs with every computer). The flash is quite powerful reaching 21' at wide angle in P mode.

Using the camera in automatic is as simple as it gets but learning its functions serves two purposes: it allows you to get out of trouble if you press the wrong button, and to use all that the camera can offer to the creative photographer. If all you want is a point-and-shoot, there is plenty of smaller, simpler and/or less expensive models out there.

The camera offers a cornucopia of operating functions. I particularly value the live histogram before and after shooting, enlarged playback for checking focus, auto exposure bracketing up to +-2 f/stops (for out-of-camera HDR applications), spot autofocus and custom white balance. In jpeg format, I appreciate the Shadow Correct more than the Dynamic Range Correction because it does not crank up the ISO setting (= more noise). I prefer to process my Raw HDR pictures in Photoshop but I am impressed with the effectiveness of the in-camera HDR function (jpeg only). It requires the use of a tripod because the G12 cannot fine-align the three pictures it takes but with this camera you can use the lightest carbon fiber tripod on the market.

Macro photography is all right with the usual limitations: the maximum magnification happens at wide angle which puts the front of the lens very close to the subject (= lighting problems). Focus bracketing is limited by the fact that is does not work in macro. It would be a killer macro feature when paired with Photoshop's extended focus function. The G12 has an exhaustive set of accessories including an AC adapter, remote release and a ring flash (there are compatible ring flash units that cost a fraction of the Canon's). The lack of a printed manual is disappointing. I immediately printed my own from the enclosed CD.

I almost always work in Av mode with the autofocus set on center spot and locking, and unlocked exposure. With static subjects I like to pick my focus where I want it by pressing the shutter button half way, recompose (with the exposure continuously updating) and take the picture. With the G12 I have to pick the exposure first and lock it with the star button (top right in the back), then half press the shutter button to pick the focus point, recompose again and shoot (it takes much longer to explain it than do it). Please correct me if there is a better way to do this.

In jpeg and Quick Shot mode the camera is at its fastest. The LCD monitor turns into an info screen similar to a DSLR camera, autofocus is set to continuous and you compose with the optical viewfinder.

The G12 takes movies at 720p at 24fps or lower resolutions at 30fps with stereo sound but without manual controls or optical zoom. I tried and it works as intended (but I use a camcorder for video).

As for the competition, the Nikon 7000 is a great camera but independent testing indicates that it is unresponsive and can be frustrating to operate. The Panasonic LX5 is also very good but has no optical viewfinder. I would have to buy and use the external electronic viewfinder which I don't like and makes the whole setup somewhat awkward.

In conclusion, I find working with this camera in all the situations that do not require high speed or low light performance to be truly enjoyable. With all the limitations inherent in a compact camera, the G12 is a truly remarkable piece of photographic equipment. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to professional photographers as a go-everywhere camera as well as to serious amateurs who really want to learn the art and don't mind reading the manual.

011011 update:

Yesterday my wife and I drove North along the Hudson River looking for eagles (we did see a few). We stopped at Croton Point and I took some landscape pics with the G12. It was sunny with the temperature around 25F and a very stiff wind from the North. I was able to operate the camera with fleece gloves on and the pictures came out great, including continuous shooting sequences (to capture the best white caps on the river's 3~4' waves). In these harsh light conditions the camera showed a surprisingly wide dynamic range too. The optical viewfinder was essential with all that sunlight and I had no trouble using it with my glasses on. The sliver of lens visible at the bottom does not bother me (I am actually not aware of it when I am shooting).

012811 update:

In the last several days I had the chance to photograph the latest snow storm at night and do some macro of jewelry in the studio with custom WB, all on a tripod. The pics are very suggestive and remarkably good.

022411 update: evaluating the Canon G12

The main "qualities" of a digital camera include the sensor, the lens(es), viewfinder and monitor(s), metering, focusing, responsiveness, function set, portability, ergonomics, durability, and price. A true pocketable camera excels in portability and price but leaves a lot to be desired in all other aspects. An advanced non-DSLR such as the Canon G12 maintains the portability and price advantage with increased overall quality and function set but cannot compete with any entry-level mirrorless or regular 4/3", APS-C or full format DSLR camera in any other aspect. Professional DSLR's offer the best overall quality and function sets with heavy penalties in terms of portability and price. The purpose of the G12 and few other competitors is to offer true portability (and discretion) with the least sacrifice in terms of overall quality and function set. Like every other camera the G12 is not perfect but within these design goals and at the current state of technology it remains an exceptional photographic tool deserving of the highest marks. Comparing it with cameras in other categories does not make any sense. My light and most fun to use DSLR system is an Olympus E620 three-lens set (the two kit zooms and the 35mm macro) which is now worth only about $400 more than the G12. It is vastly superior and I use it often but it is the G12 that goes with me everywhere.

61 people were helped by this review.

return home



Just what I ws looking for

by: Anant Dabholkar (Aurora, IL United States)
on: November 21, 2010



I have had this Camera for a few weeks and want to share my findings in this review.

I shoot with Canon DSLR's like the 50D and 5D MkII and needed something pocketable with enough manual control plus a lot of electronic wizardy when I didn't have time to set up a shot.

This camera fills all those needs.

1. Easy to carry in a coat pocket and very light compared to any interchangeable lens camera

2. Excellent Image Quality (IQ)at ISO 80, 100 and 200, reasonable upto even 800 for small prints

3. Seems quite well built, and has reasonable control through 5 dials (total) on the outside.

4. Much more depth of field (DOF)than an APS-C of Full Frame sensor, this helps tremendously for just about everything other than artsy portraits where shallow DOF may be desirable. Great for Macros, Landscape etc. where it is a struggle with larger sensors to get the right DOF.

5. Fast startup time, and response to inputs.

6. JPegs are very very good compared to the time and effort to process RAW files and get just a little more of anything, at all, as compared to high end DSLR's where the opposite is true.

7. 720p HD movies. You can't change focus during recording, but this isn't a movie camera, get a dedicated one if you are really wanting to shoot movies, but in a pinch, this works for landscapes and anything else where you aren't focussing a moving objects and looking for a shallow DOF. Even DSLR's like Sony's A55 etc make compromises in order to get focussing when shooting movies.

8. Someone here critized the frame rate/speed of this camera. Well, it is only 1 frame per second slower than a 5D MKII that costs 5 times as much without a lens! I would never use this to shoot sports or birds in flight, no kidding.

9. The movable LCD screen is a real plus, lots and lots of uses for this, and flipping it over protects the screen, a big plus.

10. F2.8 lens, instead of a faster lens. I would take a better quality F2.8, (still a fast lens, fast enough for Pros) than a much larger F2.0 lens, if it lowers Image Quality in any way. At ISO 100, the portrait detail is almost as good as a DSLR and lens costing atleast twice as much, if not much, much more.

11. The Hybrid IS is great, have not had a single Out of Focus shot, even a slow as 1/15th of a second, and I'm old!

12. I'm adding a 270EX flash for more range and to save the camers batteries. Very cute pair.

13. I'm getting the FA(?) lens filter attachment, so I can use a polarizer filter, and so I can put on a lens cap to protect the filter. This moves in and out with the lens and avoids vignetting, and will be great in protecting the lens with a replaceable filter and keeping the lens free of dust.

Very few negatives, since you really should not be comparing this to a DSLR. If you must have a DSLR, get a Canon XS for about the same money, which then has its own limitations.

Is this a pro camera? NO. Its a great back up camera for a pro, who wants to travel light and stealthy, and get 80% of the shots.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Update after 4 weeks of extensive use:

Like:

1. Very fast response and great handling

2. Shot about 8 GB (~600 pics +25 short video clips), and only less than 10 pictures and 1 video were out of focus.

3. The Canon FA-DC58B filter adapter held up well,and kept dust away from the lens. Used polarizers effectively with no vignetting.

4. The Lowepro 100 AW soft case worked well with the camera + lens adapter, and I was able to keep an 8GB card, spare battery and filter in a small, weather tight unobtrusive package that didn't invite unwanted attention, like a SLR would when travelling and with customs.

5. Once I got used to switching modes, flash on-off, video to pictures, low-light mode, all in a jiffy, I was really getting a lot of great shots and videos. I doubt if I would have been able to do all this with my DSLR without an assistant!

6. The low light mode with IS is incredible. The noise is easily removed with software like Topaz Denoise, and the end results are good enough for the web and small prints.

Dislike:

1. Not much, other than keep your fingers away from the flash, and thats user error!

All in all, unless I needed the highest quality for landscapes of studio work, this camera does the trick, with a lot less stress!

49 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great Camera (I've never given anything 5 stars)

by: R. Cole "areohbeeceeohelee" (San Francisco, CA USA)
on: November 10, 2010



I compared the G12 endlessly to other similar cameras, especially Nikon P7000, Canon S95, Lumix LX5.

I troubled about the 2.8 vs. 2.0 lens, and the shorter zoom range, and lack of zoom during video.

Two things finally swayed me:

1. Confidence in Canon G-line - they've been the most popular compact among pro photographers for a long time.

2. The articulating display.

So far, I am happy with my decision.

I assume Canon went with the 2.8 because they'd rather clip the aperture than suffer any quality loss. I know they are aware that everything else being equal, we'd all prefer 2.0 over 2.8. I'm guessing they wouldn't have been able to make everything else be equal while pushing the max aperture to 2.0. The quality at 2.8 is excellent.

Likewise, I assume they drew the limit zoom-wise to maximize performance in the range that is supported. The quality at 95mm max zoom (35mm equivalent) is excellent.

I consider the articulating display a must have feature. I know some people think its gimmicky, but for me it just changes everything about the usability of the camera. I could go on and on, but I'll try and be brief: you can take pictures of the underside of mushrooms on a muddy forest floor without getting muddy; you can take pictures discreetly without holding a camera to your face; you can hold the camera high in the air or around a corner and snap; you can take pictures of yourself...

Yes, its bulkier than the S95, but thats a tradeoff that seems worthwhile to me - I have a small lumix if I need to put a camera in my pant pocket with less bulge...

Anyway, I just found out the Lumix shoots AVCHD video which Lightroom does not support, so I would have been out in the cold there, since I have a Lightroom-centric workflow.

The biggest downside compared to the Lumix is you can't zoom while shooting video on the G12 like you can with the Lumix. - Big bummer if you shoot much video with it. Luckily for me I have an older Canon S5 that zooms whilst video-ing, granted its standard def, but thats not a big deal to me.

Another peeve is the on/off push-button is easily pressed and whenever pressed tries to extend the lens. Thus if you carry in a pocket or small bag you run the risk of having it turn on and damage the lens extension mechanism - drives me crazy.

Another thing I wish the flash could extend more - you can't take macros very close with popup flash supplementation without the lens blocking the light from the flash.

I will say I had fairly low expectations image-quality-wise due to the small sensor of all compacts, but I was very pleasantly surprised! The image quality at ISO 80-100 rivals my Nikon D300 at ISO200, and the image quality at ISO800 is very usable (with noise reduction provided by Lightroom), unlike my Canon S5 that looks atrocious at ISO800.

The lens is very sharp with surprisingly little chromatic aberration, most of which is nicely corrected by Lightroom. Likewise, wide angle distortion is nicely corrected by Lightroom.

The exposure compensation and ISO dials right on body are a godsend. In my opinion, no camera manufacture has invented a really slick UI yet, and Canon is no exception. But, if you're a manual-ISO-a-holic like me its really cool having that adjustment so handy. Ditto for exposure comp.

Other downside: There are three little LEDs forever lit up, that don't really help enough to be able to make adjustments in the dark, but make the camera forever visible. I wish there was a stealth mode that would not only silence the camera, but deep-6 the leds too.

37 people were helped by this review.

return home



Excellent compact camera with lots of manual controls

by: Lihkin (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
on: October 11, 2010



I had a tough time deciding between the Panasonic LX5, Nikon P7000 and the Canon G12. I did not like the colors that the Panny generated and hence ruled that camera out. I tried the Nikon P7000 out, but the slow RAW write time just killed any enthusiasm I had for that camera (it definitely is a great camera and will suit one well if they choose to overlook the lack of an articulating screen and the slow RAW write times). I ended up getting the Canon G12 and have been really happy with it. The controls are all well placed and numerous. The IQ is excellent. I took the camera for a spin to a concert this past weekend (Maroon 5) and did not expect to get any good shots. I was shocked with the results. The shots at ISO 400 were excellent (mind you this is a concert at night in low light). I have included a few shots in the galleries to give an idea. If you want to see more shots, then check out my flickr page (under username shniks). I love the fact that I can use this camera with my flashes for off camera flash photography at high shutter speeds to dramatically darken the backgrounds during the day. All in all this is a great tool for a serious photographer and one that will complement a DSLR nicely. I love it!

44 people were helped by this review.

return home



Very happy with my G12 Purchase

by: Richard A. Bretschneider "RicBret" (San Jose - CA)
on: October 24, 2010



A little history: I shot a lot of SLR film back in my college days, mostly for newspaper and print publications - not pro work, but still had to produce like one. Over the years I stopped having time for such things, until digital photography raised its head in the '90's and I jumped from one technology to another. Only recently having rediscovered SLRs by way of the digital models, I've grown more and more disdainful of my various point-and-shoot models which I burned through at about one a year.

I played with a friend's G11 recently and was more than a little impressed. The quality of pictures, responsiveness of the camera, balanced with the relatively compact size and breath of features sold me at once. Reading about the G12 I bought one without even trying it.

I was not disappointed. After shooting 200 pictures last week I'm very satisfied. This is a wonderful compromise in size against my Nikon digital SLR. I'm able to hand it off to friends to take a shot and they get great results as well. The feel is sturdy, the menus and functions very straightforward, and the shots I'm getting are terrific. Time from being turned off to taking a picture is among the fastest I've dealt with.

I know there are some very negative reviews of this camera, but they're apparently from people who are upset that this wasn't more of an update from the G11, and they unfairly ding this model because they want to get a dig in on Cannon. I don't think you have to go further than reading through their "complaints" to understand they can be wholly dismissed.

This will be my camera of choice for my trip to Mexico next month. Really looking forward to shooting with this camera!

Enjoy!

42 people were helped by this review.

return home



CANON EOS REBEL T3I 18 MP CMOS DIGITAL SLR CAMERA AND DIGIC 4 IMAGING WITH EF-S 18-55MM F/3.5-5.6 IS LENS (ELECTRONICS)

return home



High Resolution Still Capture 18.0 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor and DIGIC 4 Image Processor for high image quality and speed. The EOS Rebel T3i has an 18.0 Megapixel CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor that captures images with exceptional clarity and tonal range and offers more than enough resolution for big enlargements or crops. This first-class sensor features many of the same new technologies as used by professional Canon cameras to maximize each pixel's light-gathering efficiency. Its APS-C size sensor creates an effective 1.6x field of view (compared to 35mm format). DIGIC 4 Image Processor The Canon DIGIC 4 Image Processor dramatically speeds up the entire EOS Rebel T3i DSLR's camera operations for intuitive operation and offers improvements in both fine detail and natural color reproduction. It works in concert with the EOS Rebel T3i DSLR's CMOS Image Sensor to achieve phenomenal levels of performance in nearly any situation. Amazing Results, No Matter the Light. ISO 100 - 6400 (expandable to 12800) for shooting from bright to dim light. The EOS Rebel T3i features an expanded ISO range that makes shooting possible in situations previously unthinkable without flash. With an ISO rating up to 6400 (expandable to ISO 12800), along with the DIGIC 4 Image Processor's improved noise-reduction technology, creative possibilities abound. Combine the EOS Rebel T3i with one of Canon's EF or EF-S lenses with Optical Image Stabilizer and the shooting possibilities for both movies and stills expand even further. HD Dreams Come True. Improved EOS Full HD Movie mode with manual exposure control, expanded recording [1920 x 1080 Full HD video at frame rates of 30 (29.97), 24 (23.976) and 25.0 frames per second] with new Movie Digital zoom and Video Snapshot features for enhanced video shooting options. The EOS Rebel T3i does not just shoot video clips, it offers the enhanced ease-of-use, image quality, smooth frame rates and adaptive exposure compensation necessary in a professional video-making tool by boasting the most advanced EOS video capturing features to date:
When Full HD (1920 x 1080) is set, you can use Movie Digital Zoom to magnify the center of the image by 3-10x while at the same time maintaining gorgeous Canon Full HD image quality. With the Video Snapshot feature, the EOS Rebel T3i DSLR will capture short video clips (of 2, 4 or 8 seconds) then combine them automatically into one video file as a snapshot or highlights “album.” With no editing needed after shooting, the compiled video is perfect for sharing online or displaying directly on an HDTV via the camera's HDMI port. In addition to a number of different recording size and frame rate modes, the EOS Rebel T3i enables easy manual control of exposure, focus and Live View features and even allows for in-camera editing. The large CMOS sensor and compatibility with over 60 lenses provide a wealth of depth-of-field options. And it's all as easy as the press of a button — the EOS Rebel T3i has a dedicated Live View/Movie Recording start/stop button that gets the shooting started fast. Three Recording Sizes Full HD Video is captured at 1920 x 1080 resolution at 30p (29.97), 24p (23.976) or 25p frames per second, for up to 4GB per clip. Video are saved as .MOV files and can be viewed in Full HD with HDMI output. Other recording sizes include HD at 1280 x 720 (50p/60p (59.94) fps) or SD/VGA at 640 x 480 (30p (29.97) and 25p fps). Low Angles or High, a Big Vari-angle LCD Captures All the Details. Vari-angle 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor (3:2) for shooting at high or low angles and 1,040,000-dot VGA with reflection reduction using multi coating and high-transparency materials for bright and clear viewing. The EOS Rebel T3i features a bright, high resolution, flip-out Vari-angle 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor for shooting at a variety of angles. By simply rotating the monitor, you can hold the camera directly overhead for above-the-crowd shots at concerts, or hold the camera at a low angle for kids and pets. By rotating the LCD monitor fully, the EOS Rebel T3i becomes the ideal camera for self-portraits. The EOS Rebel T3i freely enables easy angle adjustments even if the camera is mounted on a tripod or has a battery grip attached. Model used is not EOS Rebel T3i and is used to illustrate vari-angle feature only. With 1,040,000 (dots/VGA) pixels for spectacular detail, the advanced, smudge-resistant monitor includes high transparency materials plus anti-reflective and water-repellant coatings to provide clear and bright viewing. Superb for reviewing, editing and deleting photos or composing new images in Live View function, the Vari-angle Clear View LCD monitor is also the perfect means for accessing camera settings like ISO, metering modes, AF Point selection, the horizontal Electronic Level and flash options. Automatic Scene Analysis for Standout Color. New Scene Intelligent Auto mode and Picture Style Auto incorporating the new EOS Scene Detection System to capture beautiful scenes with ease. The EOS Rebel T3i DSLR's new Scene Intelligent Auto mode unites five Canon digital camera technologies - the new Picture Style Auto, plus Automatic Lighting Optimizer, Automatic White Balance, Autofocus, and Automatic Exposure -into a powerful new feature for photographers. Using the advanced EOS Scene Detection System, the camera automatically analyzes the image, taking into account faces, colors, brightness, movement and contrast. Scene Intelligent Auto then chooses the enhancing features to deliver maximum impact. Blues and greens are more vivid, “hot” colors are more fiery, and skin tones are smooth and truer to life. Intelligent Scene Analysis for Superb Exposure. Enhanced metering with a 63-zone, Dual-layer metering system for accurate metering between exposures, and 9-point AF system utilizing a high precision, f/2.8 cross-type center point. The EOS Rebel T3i features a sophisticated, 63-zone Dual-layer sensor designed to complement the 9-point AF system. By taking into account the color and luminosity surrounding chosen AF points, this system delivers an advanced level of accuracy for better results even in difficult lighting situations. Since the metering sensor has a color measurement function, exposure errors and focus errors caused by different light sources are minimized; the EOS Rebel T3i gives stable exposure from shot to shot in situations where light changes, such as in a theater or concert hall. This makes the EOS Rebel T3i ideal for scenes with extreme difference in brightness such as brightly lit scenes or backlit scenes; the camera balances exposure of the main subject at the background, and exposures are not overly influenced by bright areas in the shot. Since the EOS Rebel T3i provides high-speed X-sync (“X-sync” means the fastest shutter speed that can synchronize with a flash burst at the moment the shutter is fully released) up to 1/200 sec., the range of photographic expression is dramatically increased, allowing the EOS Rebel T3i to be used with confidence in bright scenes or dim. 63-zone Metering System Make Your Images As You See Them. Express your creativity with advanced imaging features like Basic+ function, Multi-Aspect function and Creative Filters. Basic+ is a new creative imaging feature that makes it easy to create the image effects you want. It can be set with the Quick Control screen in Basic Zone modes. Basic+ provides two options: Shoot by ambience selection Based on the Picture Style and its parameters (sharpness, contrast, saturation, and color tone), the exposure compensation and white balance correction are adjusted to attain the selected ambience. You can also can also select the strength of the ambience effect. Shoot by lighting or scene type Although the actual parameter set is the white balance, the settings are expressed in more understandable terms. The Multi-Aspect Function of the EOS Rebel T3i lets you express an image in one of three ways by matching the aspect ratio to each scene. In addition to the camera's standard 3:2 ration, the Multi-Aspect Function includes a 1:1 ratio that creates the sensation that the viewer's gaze is focusing upon the center of the image. At the 4:3 ratio, you get nearly the same aspect ratio as a regular TV or a 4:3 computer display. The 16:9 aspect ratio provides a wide look, much the same as HDTV. The EOS Rebel T3i incorporates five in-camera Creative Filters so you can artistically manipulate scenes without the aid of an outside computer. Soft Focus lends a dreamy, romantic aspect, while Grainy Black and White gives a dramatically gritty, hard-bitten look. Miniature Effect creates an illusion in which expansive subjects are seemingly reduced to doll-house-like proportions, and Toy Camera Effect recreates the colors and softness rendered by cameras with a plastic lens, an effect often sought after by art photographers. Fish Eye Effect mimics the “Fisheye” lenses that are favorites of professional photographers for their quirky, convex perspective. Never Miss a Moment. 3.7 fps continuous shooting up to approximately 34 JPEGs or approximately 6 RAW. The EOS Rebel T3i can shoot up to 3.7 frames per second (fps) for up to approximately 6 consecutive RAW files or approximately 34 full-resolution JPEGs. Shooting at speeds of up to 1/4000 sec., the EOS Rebel T3i can capture even rapidly-unfolding scenes with ease. Photography Made Truly Easy. New Feature Guide offers short descriptions of each function and Quick Control screen for easy operation. The Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR demystifies great photography by including an in-camera Feature Guide. Appearing on the camera's LCD, the Feature Guide displays a simple description or advice for the respective function. It is displayed in each shooting mode, during Mode Dial operations, and for Quick Control screen functions (during normal shooting, Live View shooting, movie shooting, and playback). The Feature Guide appears automatically during Mode Dial operations and when a function is selected on the Quick Control screen. Flexible Storage with Memory Cards. Compatibility with SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. The EOS Rebel T3i uses popular SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards. Compact, inexpensive and available in increasingly large capacities, SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards are a perfect complement to the EOS Rebel T3i DSLR's compact and lightweight body design. Additionally, the EOS Rebel T3i is compatible with Eye-Fi* SD cards, which are outfitted with a Wi-Fi transmitter (IEEE 802.11b/g) and an internal antenna for wireless, high-speed transfer of images. With an Eye-Fi card installed, the EOS Rebel EOS Rebel T3i can display the Eye-Fi's connection status and error notes with ease, for fully functional wireless uploading of images directly from the camera. *Canon cameras are not guaranteed to support Eye-Fi card functions, including wireless transfer. In case of an issue with the Eye-Fi card, please consult with the card manufacturer. The use of Eye-Fi cards may not be available outside the United States and Canada; please contact the card manufacturer for territory availability. The Best Optics for the Best Images. Compatible with the full line of Canon EF and EF-S lenses. EF Lenses The EOS Rebel T3i is compatible with all Canon lenses in the EF lineup, including compact and lightweight EF-S lenses, ranging from ultra-wide angle to super telephoto lenses. Canon lenses employ advanced optical expertise and micron-precision engineering to deliver outstanding performance and deliver beautiful results. Special technologies like the Canon Image Stabilizer technology in select lenses helps to minimize the effect of camera shake, effectively adding up to four stops of light. With a dizzying array of lenses perfect for travel, sports, still life and everything in between, photographers can truly maximize the quality and performance of their EOS Rebel T3i with superlative Canon optics. Flash Photography With a flash sync speed of 1/200 of a second, the EOS Rebel T3i also features the acclaimed E-TTL II flash metering system. With any of the flashes in the EX Speedlite line, E-TTL II provides reliable flash output whether shooting fill-in flash pictures in sunlight, or using flash in total darkness. With E-TTL II, the exact same 35-zone metering sensor used for measuring ambient light is also used for flash metering — giving even finer metering command of the image area. If you prefer a broader area for flash metering, there's a menu setting to change to “Average” flash metering — where the entire 35-zone area is measured evenly for flash exposure. Additionally, the EOS Rebel T3i has a Speedlite transmitter built-in for convenient, full-featured wireless control of EX-series Speedlite flashes set as slave units. The Canon Speedlite 430EX II is the ideal step-up accessory for powerful flash shooting with the EOS Rebel T3i. It has excellent flash power (maximum guide number of 141 ft./43m at ISO 100), and is the perfect way to get great flash pictures when you can't get right up to the subject. The 430EX II is also great for bounce flash, with its tilting and swiveling flash head.
It automatically zooms the flash head to cover lenses ranging from 16mm up to 105mm or longer with the EOS Rebel T3i. Of course, it works with the camera to provide full E-TTL II automatic flash exposure. And the 430EX II has a powerful AF-assist beam, which allows the camera to autofocus even in total darkness on subjects as far as 32 ft. from the camera. Speedlite 430EX II




Choosing between the T3i, T2i, 60D and 7D

by: dojoklo (Cambridge, MA)
on: February 27, 2011



The Canon Rebel T3i takes the consumer level dSLR a couple steps closer to the mid-level Canon 60D with the addition of the rotating rear LCD screen, remote flash firing, and in-camera processing features. The already highly competent, older Rebel T2i already shared many important features with the 60D (and even features of the semi-pro 7D) including the 18 MP sensor, 63-zone exposure metering system, high ISO performance, HD movie capabilities, and Digic 4 image processor. With these new upgrades, it might make it even more difficult to choose between them. But there are some important differences.

If you are considering the Rebel T3i vs T2i, the Rebel T3i is replacing the T2i. Since both cameras share the same 18 megapixel sensor and Digic 4 processor, both the T2i and T3i will create images with exactly the same image quality, produce the same low light/ high ISO performance, shoot at 3.7 frames per second, and have nearly the same size and build quality. They are both offered with the same 18-55mm kit lens (with some minor cosmetic differences on the new T3i kit lens). The T3i is very slightly larger and heavier due to the addition of the rotating rear LCD monitor. And that is one of the biggest differences between the two cameras. Do you want and need a vari-angle rear screen or not? The other major difference is the ability of the T3i to remotely control multiple off-camera flashes. Like the 60D and 7D, you can use the built-in flash of the T3i to trigger other Canon Speedlites. Some other minor additions to the T3i include the Scene Intelligent Auto Mode, which is a feature borrowed from point and shoot cameras. When in Auto mode, the T3i will make a determination of what type of scene you are shooting - close-up, portrait, landscape, etc. - and automatically configure the camera settings accordingly. However, if you want to use a powerful and costly digital SLR as a point and shoot, you should probably save the money and just buy a nice, high quality point and shoot like the Canon S95. Other additional but not essential upgrades include the in-camera processing Creative Filters, and the ability to choose different image size ratios and to rate your images. (Helpful hint: press the Q Button while in image playback and you can access features like rating, rotating, and Creative Filters.) There is also a marginally helpful Feature Guide which gives brief descriptions of various settings and some additional video features like Video Snapshot, which you can use to shoot short video clips that are automatically joined together into a video, with music.

Canon Rebel T3i vs. 60D vs. 7D

Sensor and Image Quality: All three cameras share a very similar sensor and 18 megapixels, and so their image quality will be virtually the same. All are capable of taking professional quality images.

Exposure Metering: The three cameras all share the latest 63-zone, dual-layer exposure metering system and 4 metering modes. That means they will all determine the exposure virtually identically and enable you to take properly exposed photos in most every situation, including difficult back-lit scenes. The size of the areas metered for Partial and Spot metering vary slightly between the cameras, but that isn't anything critical.

Autofocus: The T3i shares a similar autofocus system to the 60D, with 9 focus points and three auto focusing modes. However the 9 AF points of the 60D are more sensitive than those of the T3i: all are cross-type in the 60D, only the center is cross-type in the T3i. The 60D autofocus system is much less complex than the sophisticated AF system of the 7D with its 19 AF point system and its additional Zone, Spot, and Expansion focus modes. These various modes address how you want to deal with and group the numerous AF points. Plus the custom settings of the 7D allow one to customize how the AF system works - how it tracks subjects, how it deals with objects that come between you and your initial subject, how quickly it responds to these changes of possible subjects that are at different distances from you, etc. However, if you are not an avid sports photographer, a wildlife shooter, or someone who understands, needs, and will use the elaborate features of the 7D AF system, then this shouldn't sway you.

Construction: As you can probably figure out from the prices, each camera is not built the same. The T3i has relatively strong construction of a stainless steel frame with polycarbonate body. The 60D has a stronger and lighter aluminum frame and polycarbonate body, but not as strong as the 7D's magnesium alloy construction. The 60D also has some amount of weather sealing - more than the T3i, less than the 7D. But for most users, including even those using the camera daily or in travel situations, the construction of any of these cameras is far more than good enough, strong enough, and durable enough.

ISO: Since they all share a very similar sensor, the ISO sensitivity and performance at high ISO settings is virtually the same for these three cameras. But don't take my word for it, don't be swayed by pixel peepers on forums, instead check out the camera sensor tests at dxomark to verify this. As you can see, they all share the exact same overall score, and show very similar performance.

Controls: As with construction, the buttons and controls vary with these cameras. Unlike the T3i, the 60D and 7D have nearly every control an advanced photographer needs on the exterior of the camera and they also have the top LCD panel and rear Quick Control Dial that are not on the T3i. With all the cameras, any controls can also be easily accessed with the Q Button and Q Menu or in the other menus on the rear LCD monitor. The top buttons of the 60D set only one setting each, so this is less complicated than the multiple-setting buttons of the 7D. Canon has removed the white balance (WB) button on the 60D that the 7D has, but that isn't a big deal - use the Q Menu. Another change on the 60D is that the Multi-controller has been moved from the thumb joystick like the 7D and 50D and placed in the middle of the rear Quick-control dial. This doesn't change how it functions, and should just be a matter of getting used to the difference. If you plan on using your camera on Auto or Program most of the time, then the controls of the T3i are more than sufficient for your needs. If you work in Av, Tv, or M modes and need quicker and more direct access to your controls and the additional top LCD screen to view and change your current settings, then you need to consider the 60D or 7D over the T3i.

Menus and Custom Functions: These allow for greater control over customizing how the camera functions. The T3i has less Menu and Custom Function setting options than the 60D, and the 7D has yet a few more than the 60D. These settings enable you to customize the operation, function, and controls to work how you want them to, including things like exposure increments, peripheral illuminations correction for lenses (fixes dark corners), tweaking how the autofocus system operates, setting more precise white balance settings, and customizing which button does what. There are ebooks such as my Canon T3i Experience - The Still Photographer's Guide to Operation and Image Creation With the Canon Rebel T3i / EOS 600D and Your World 60D - The Photographer's Guide to Operation and Image Creation with the Canon 60D which walk you through all of the Menu settings and Custom Function settings so that you can set up your camera to work best for how you photograph, and also begin to learn to master all the advanced features, settings, and controls of these powerful dSLR camera.

Wireless Flash: Like the 7D and 60D, the T3i incorporates wireless flash triggering. This allows you to trigger multiple off camera flashes at different output levels. The T2i does not have this feature.

Articulating LCD Screen: The big new feature that the 60D and T3i have that the 7D and T2i do not is the articulating rear LCD screen. This may prove useful for videographers, as well as for setting up compositions while the camera is on a tripod, for macro use, or for using it from unusually low or high vantage points. Some users will be able to avoid buying an expensive angle finder because of this feature. There is also an electronic level in the 7D and 60D, visible in the viewfinder, rear LCD, or top LCD.

Viewfinder: The T3i has a pentamirror viewfinder with 95% coverage of the actual resulting image. The 60D has a large, bright pentaprism viewfinder with 96% coverage, not quite as nice as the nearly 100% view of the 7D pentaprism.

Processor: The T3i shares the same Digic 4 processor as the 60D. The 7D has dual Digic 4 processors. However, if you don't need to shoot dozens of continuous images, you probably won't notice any processing speed issues.

Continuous Shooting Speed: The T3i can shoot 3.7 frames per second. The 7D can shoot a blazing 8 frames per second, in which the photos barely change from frame to frame. The 60D can shoot a respectable 5.3 fps which is actually a more useful rate. If you need the extremely high fps for sports, wildlife, or other action shooting, get the 7D. If not, don't be swayed by this excessive feature.

Memory Card: The T3i and 60D use the SD memory card. The 7D uses the CF card.

Battery: The T3i and T2i use the smaller LP-E8 battery with less capacity than the LP-E6 battery used by the 60D and 7D.

Size and Weight: The T3i is smaller and lighter than the 60D, which in turn is smaller and lighter than the 7D. Go to a store and hold them to get a better feel for their size, weight, and feel. The 60D and 7D "feel" like the more substantial cameras that they are. A nice improvement of the T3i is that its hand grip area has been modified, and has a different feel than that of the T2i - the area where the thumb rests is contoured differently and has a nice channel for the thumb, which allows for a much more secure one-hand-grip of the camera.

AF Microadjustment: The 7D has this feature, the 60D and T3i and T2i do not. This allows you to adjust the focus of each of your lenses in case any of them are slightly front-focusing or back-focusing.

Locking Mode Dial: This is a new feature for a Canon dSLR, only on the 60D, that keeps the Mode dial from accidentally rotating. A nice touch.

Full HD video: Of course they all offer this capability. Note that this is not video for your kids' parties and soccer games. It does not have continuous autofocus while shooting, as a camcorder does. It is not designed for that kind of use, but rather for serious videographers who typically manually focus. You can adjust autofocus while shooting by pressing the shutter button or the AF button, but it may have a less than desired looking result and unless you are using an external microphone, the autofocusing sound will be picked up. The T3i has the digital zoom feature in video, which allows for nice smooth zooms while filming.

Flash Sync: the 60D and T3i do not have a PC sync flash socket to plug in PC sync cords for off camera flash use. The 7D has this. However, they all offer wireless remote flash capability with the built in flash as a commander.

Ease of operation: While beginners may find all the buttons, controls, and menus of any dSLR difficult and confusing at first, the menus and controls of the T3i and T2i are pretty basic and simple to learn for a dedicated user. The additional controls and menus of the 7D and 60D are all quite intelligently designed, intuitive, and straightforward for the more advanced user. Again, have a look at helpful guides such as my Canon T3i Experience - The Still Photographer's Guide to Operation and Image Creation With the Canon Rebel T3i / EOS 600D and Your World 60D - The Photographer's Guide to Operation and Image Creation with the Canon 60D to begin to learn to master all the advanced features, settings, and controls of these powerful dSLR cameras.

1,118 people were helped by this review.

return home



Choosing between the T3i, T2i, 60D and 7D

by: dojoklo (Cambridge, MA)
on: February 27, 2011



The Canon Rebel T3i takes the consumer level dSLR a couple steps closer to the mid-level Canon 60D with the addition of the rotating rear LCD screen, remote flash firing, and in-camera processing features. The already highly competent, older Rebel T2i already shared many important features with the 60D (and even features of the semi-pro 7D) including the 18 MP sensor, 63-zone exposure metering system, high ISO performance, HD movie capabilities, and Digic 4 image processor. With these new upgrades, it might make it even more difficult to choose between them. But there are some important differences.

If you are considering the Rebel T3i vs T2i, the Rebel T3i is replacing the T2i. Since both cameras share the same 18 megapixel sensor and Digic 4 processor, both the T2i and T3i will create images with exactly the same image quality, produce the same low light-high ISO performance, shoot at 3.7 frames per second, and have nearly the same size and build quality. They are both offered with the same 18-55mm kit lens (with some minor cosmetic differences on the new T3i kit lens). The T3i is very slightly larger and heavier due to the addition of the rotating rear LCD monitor. And that is one of the biggest differences between the two cameras. Do you want and need a vari-angle rear screen or not? The other major difference is the ability of the T3i to remotely control multiple off-camera flashes. Like the 60D and 7D, you can use the built-in flash of the T3i to trigger other Canon Speedlites. Some other minor additions to the T3i include the Scene Intelligent Auto Mode, which is a feature borrowed from point and shoot cameras. When in Auto mode, the T3i will make a determination of what type of scene you are shooting - close-up, portrait, landscape, etc. - and automatically configure the camera settings accordingly. However, if you want to use a powerful and costly digital SLR as a point and shoot, you should probably save the money and just buy a nice, high quality point and shoot like the Canon S95. Other additional but not essential upgrades include the in-camera processing Creative Filters, and the ability to choose different image size ratios and to rate your images. There is also a marginally helpful Feature Guide which gives brief descriptions of various settings and some additional video features like Video Snapshot, which you can use to shoot short video clips that are automatically joined together into a video, with music.

Canon Rebel T3i vs. 60D vs. 7D

Sensor and Image Quality: All three cameras share a very similar sensor and 18 megapixels, and so their image quality will be virtually the same. All are capable of taking professional quality images.

Exposure Metering: The three cameras all share the latest 63-zone, dual-layer exposure metering system and 4 metering modes. That means they will all determine the exposure virtually identically and enable you to take properly exposed photos in most every situation, including difficult back-lit scenes. The size of the areas metered for Partial and Spot metering vary slightly between the cameras, but that isn't anything critical.

Autofocus: The T3i shares a similar autofocus system to the 60D, with 9 focus points and three auto focusing modes. However the 9 AF points of the 60D are more sensitive than those of the T3i: all are cross-type in the 60D, only the center is cross-type in the T3i. The 60D autofocus system is much less complex than the sophisticated AF system of the 7D with its 19 AF point system and its additional Zone, Spot, and Expansion focus modes. These various modes address how you want to deal with and group these numerous AF points. Plus the custom settings of the 7D allow one to customize how the AF system works - how it tracks subjects, how it deals with objects that come between you and your initial subject, how quickly it responds to these changes of possible subjects that are at different distances from you, etc. However, if you are not an avid sports photographer, a wildlife shooter, or someone who understands, needs, and will use the elaborate features of the 7D AF system, then this shouldn't sway you.

Construction: As you can probably figure out from the prices, each camera is not built the same. The T3i has relatively strong construction of a stainless steel frame with polycarbonate body. The 60D has a stronger and lighter aluminum frame and polycarbonate body, but not as strong as the 7D's magnesium alloy construction. The 60D also has some amount of weather sealing - more than the T3i, less than the 7D. But for most users, including even those using the camera daily or in travel situations, the construction of any of these cameras is far more than good enough, strong enough, and durable enough.

ISO: Since they all share a very similar sensor, the ISO sensitivity and performance at high ISO settings is virtually the same for these three cameras. But don't take my word for it, don't be swayed by pixel peepers on forums, instead check out the camera sensor tests at dxomark to verify this. As you can see, they all share the exact same overall score, and show very similar performance.

Controls: As with construction, the buttons and controls vary with these cameras. Unlike the T3i, the 60D and 7D have nearly every control an advanced photographer needs on the exterior of the camera and they also have the top LCD panel and rear Quick Control Dial that are not on the T3i. With all the cameras, any controls can also be easily accessed with the Q button and menu or in the other menus on the rear LCD monitor. The top buttons of the 60D set only one setting each, so this is less complicated than the multiple-setting buttons of the 7D. Canon has removed the white balance (WB) button on the 60D that the 7D has, but that isn't a big deal - use the Q Menu. Another change on the 60D is that the Multi-controller has been moved from the thumb joystick like the 7D and 50D and placed in the middle of the rear Quick-control dial. This doesn't change how it functions, and should just be a matter of getting used to the difference. If you plan on using your camera on Auto or Program most of the time, then the controls of the T3i are more than sufficient for your needs. If you work in Av, Tv, or M modes and need quicker and more direct access to your controls and the additional top LCD screen to view and change your current settings, then you need to consider the 60D or 7D over the T3i.

Menus and Custom Functions: These allow for greater control over customizing how the camera functions. The T3i has less Menu and Custom Function setting options than the 60D, and the 7D has yet a few more than the 60D. These settings enable you to customize the operation, function, and controls to work how you want them to, including things like exposure increments, peripheral illuminations correction for lenses (fixes dark corners), tweeking how the autofocus system operates, setting more precise white balance settings, and customizing which button does what. There are ebooks such as Canon T3i Experience - The Still Photographer's Guide to Operation and Image Creation With the Canon Rebel T3i / EOS 600D and Your World 60D - The Photographer's Guide to Operation and Image Creation with the Canon 60D which walk you through all of the Menu settings and Custom Function settings so that you can set up your camera to work best for how you photograph, and also begin to learn to master all the advanced features, settings, and controls of these powerful dSLR camera.

Wireless Flash: Like the 7D and 60D, the T3i incorporates wireless flash triggering. This allows you to trigger multiple off camera flashes at different output levels. The T2i does not have this feature.

Articulating LCD Screen: The big new feature that the 60D and T3i have that the 7D and T2i do not is the articulating rear LCD screen. This may prove useful for videographers, as well as for setting up compositions while the camera is on a tripod, for macro use, or for using it from unusually low or high vantage points. Some users will be able to avoid buying an expensive angle finder because of this feature. There is also an electronic level in the 7D and 60D, visible in the viewfinder, rear LCD, or top LCD.

Viewfinder: The T3i has a pentamirror viewfinder with 95% coverage of the actual resulting image. The 60D has a large, bright pentaprism viewfinder with 96% coverage, not quite as nice as the nearly 100% view of the 7D pentaprism.

Processor: The T3i shares the same Digic 4 processor as the 60D. The 7D has dual Digic 4 processors. However, if you don't need to shoot dozens of continuous images, you probably won't notice any processing speed issues.

Continuous Shooting Speed: The T3i can shoot 3.7 frames per second. The 7D can shoot a blazing 8 frames per second, in which the photos barely change from frame to frame. The 60D can shoot a respectable 5.3 fps which is actually a more useful rate. If you need the extremely high fps for sports, wildlife, or other action shooting, get the 7D. If not, don't be swayed by this excessive feature.

Memory Card: The T3i and 60D use the SD memory card. The 7D uses the CF card.

Battery: The T3i and T2i use the smaller LP-E8 battery with less capacity than the LP-E6 battery used by the 60D and 7D.

Size and Weight: The T3i is smaller and lighter than the 60D, which in turn is smaller and lighter than the 7D. Go to the store and hold them to get a better feel for their size, weight, and feel. The 60D and 7D "feel" like the more substantial cameras that they are. A nice improvement of the T3i is that its hand grip area has been modified, and has a different feel than that of the T2i - the area where the thumb rests is contoured differently and has a nice channel for the thumb, which allows for a much more secure one-hand-grip of the camera.

AF Microadjustment: The 7D has this feature, the 60D and T3i and T2i do not.

Locking Mode Dial: This is a new feature for a Canon dSLR, only on the 60D, that keeps the Mode dial from accidentally rotating. A nice touch.

Full HD video: Of course they all offer this capability. Note that this is not video for your kids' parties and soccer games. It does not have continuous autofocus while shooting, as a camcorder does. It is not designed for that kind of use, but rather for serious videographers who typically manually focus. You can adjust autofocus while shooting by pressing the shutter button or the AF button, but it may have a less than desired looking result and unless you are using an external microphone, the autofocusing sound will be picked up. The T3i has the digital zoom feature in video, which allows for nice smooth zooms while filming.

Flash Sync: the 60D and T3i do not have a PC sync flash socket to plug in PC sync cords for off camera flash use. The 7D has this. However, they all offer wireless remote flash capability with the built in flash as a commander.

Ease of operation: While beginners may find all the buttons, controls, and menus of any dSLR difficult and confusing at first, the menus and controls of the T3i and T2i are pretty basic and simple to learn for a dedicated user. The additional controls and menus of the 7D and 60D are all quite intelligently designed, intuitive, and straightforward for the more advanced user. Again, have a look at helpful guides such as Canon T3i Experience - The Still Photographer's Guide to Operation and Image Creation With the Canon Rebel T3i / EOS 600D and Your World 60D - The Photographer's Guide to Operation and Image Creation with the Canon 60D to begin to learn to master all the advanced features, settings, and controls of these powerful dSLR cameras.

339 people were helped by this review.

return home



Busy Mom/The Family Photographer - T3i a great intro dSLR

by: W. Edwards "library lady" (Spokane, WA)
on: March 21, 2011



I am not a camera expert, but rather, I'm a busy mom who likes to take pictures and who adores my subjects. This, then, is a review from a busy mom/amateur's point of view.

MY GOALS/EXPECTATIONS:

I have always been a photo fiend, taking my camera everywhere and pulling it out at any opportunity. While I'd gotten to a decent level of archiving important moments with my point-and-shoot cameras over the years, I wanted to take my photography to the next level. I was inspired by my brother-in-law's photos of his kids to take the dSLR plunge. But I knew (and still know), very little about professional photography. I wanted to start taking better photos right away. But I also wanted to have room to grow as a photographer and a camera that would grow with me.

I also wanted the focus to stay firmly on my family - while I was willing to invest some time and care into the camera, I didn't want it to become like a pet I had to constantly watch over. While any dSLR takes some care and consideration, I've found the T3i has been an excellent camera for me and I've been quite pleased with it.

PROS:

* VERY USER FRIENDLY: The auto mode (or auto without flash, my favorite) is highly forgiving, taking fantastically sharp images, true to color. They look so clear that I feel I'm capturing as close to real life as I've ever seen before in a camera.

* FAST: While I sometimes go in for trying out new modes and manual settings, I often leave the camera in auto or auto-sans-flash mode and just click away so that I can at least capture a moment before it's gone. I then play with manual settings if my kids stay still long enough for me to try something new. My previous cameras always had a horrible delay for the autofocus (the only mode they usually had), meaning I nearly always lost the moment when the toddler was on the move. The t3i is so ridiculously fast that I can snap multiple pics in the time one picture took before.

* BEAUTIFUL PICTURES: This kind of goes without saying at this tier of camera, but the pictures are just amazing quality. Coming from the land of point-and-shoot, I'm pretty blown away. And I know I'm only touching the tip of the iceberg for what's possible.

* BEAUTIFUL VIDEO: This is the nice new feature of the t3i. I wasn't sure I'd want or need the HD video. But hey, when you've got it, you use it. I've gotten some amazingly clear footage of the kiddo playing in the park with daddy and I'm so glad we went for the model with that feature.

* BIG, CLEAR DISPLAY: It's really easy to see what pics you've just taken and adjust your photo-taking accordingly. Just by seeing what I've gotten, I'm able to try again and improve a shot almost immediately.

* CLEAR MENUS/ABILITY TO IMPROVE: The interface on this is so intuitive that I've been able to learn a lot without even cracking open the manual (though that manual is my new reading material). The entry point for a new user is just a step up from normal photography - the possibilities, however, are nearly endless.

* NICE KIT LENS: For all that photographers get into new and better lenses, the kit lens on this is really nice and easy to use. I think it will hold us for a good long while before I get to be more of an expert. It gives me the range of zoom and focus I need for now.

* EYE-FI COMPATIBLE: WOW. I cannot even tell you how much this busy mom loves this feature. If you get an eye-fi card, your pictures can be set up to automatically upload to your computer whenever you are within range of your synched wireless network. My husband set up a SmugMug account and the eye-fi capabilities. I take pics to my heart's content while out on walks, in the park, etc., and come home, then leave the camera on (auto-shut off after 8 minutes) to upload the pics. I can then tag and sort pictures later at my leisure. For a busy mom, this is amazingly useful. I don't have to take time out to upload the pics - the camera does that for me.

* BATTERY LIFE (for common use): So far, the battery we bought for the camera lasts very well during normal photo-taking. It's just a standard Canon battery for the rebel line and it charges quickly. Even when taking pics like a mad-woman, it lasts through a shoot. HD video eats it up more quickly, so be warned. Still, I rarely run out of juice during the day so long as I pop the battery into its charger in the evening. However, uploading is another story (See below in cons).

Those are just the first few things I love about this camera. Here, however, are the...not cons, really, just challenges for a busy mom:

CHALLENGES:

* dSLRs ARE EXPENSIVE, DELICATE, BIG AND BULKY:

And busy parents' lives have enough precious and delicate things to worry about - namely, the kids. No getting around it - you can't just toss a dSLR into a pocket and go. I'm in a quest for a good bag/carrying solution (heh, yeah, wish me luck with that.) and I'm trying to get used to having one part of my brain keeping an eye on the camera as well as keeping the majority of my focus on the kids. When I'm in photo-journalist mode, it's no problem, but switching back to mom-mode is the hard part. I've already seen the camera knocked onto the ground (a very short distance onto very soft ground, so it was okay, but still, the experience practically gave me a heart attack) and once, when bending over, I caught the toddler on the temple with the kit lens (She sobbed. I felt so awful!) This thing requires constant awareness to both the camera AND the kids when using it. I'm quickly adjusting, but if you're not totally committed to learning to use and love the dSLR, you may want to stick to really good point-and-shoot camera if you're a busy parent.

^ That's really the big one.

* BATTERY LIFE (when uploading pics via eye-fi): Uploading pictures by eye-fi seems to eat the battery alive. It appears that the camera won't autoshutoff when uploading, so this morning, after a few hours of uploading big, glorious pictures to my SmugMug account, the battery finally ran out of juice. I wish there was a plug-in mode or some sort of docking-station I could plug the camera into when I return home. If it's only a few pics, they upload and the camera shuts itself off. But if it's a bunch of pics (and when the weather's nice and the lighting's good, I take a lot of pics), the camera requires a battery recharge just to finish uploading my pictures.

* SWIVEL SCREEN WORRIES: I find that the swivel screen, while hugely useful, is something I constantly worry that I'm going to snap off. However, you can keep it closed with the screen facing in(a nice feature) or tuck it onto the camera with the screen facing out. I also find if I'm looking out of the eye-piece, I leave cheek smudges all over the screen when its facing out.

* MANUAL-MODE GOOFS: Some of my manual mode forays have been less than stellar. I've taken a shot - set up so nice, focus just perfect, subject just so... only to find out I left it in white-balance adjustment for indoors and I was outdoors so the whole picture looks like I dipped it in blue. I've learned to take pics in auto-mode first before experimenting too much. I also learned to check the screen a LOT before proceeding.

SUMMARY: While the dSLR has required me to make some adjustments for including it in my busy life, I really love this camera, am pleased with the investment, am inspired by its ease of use, and I LOVE the pictures I've gotten of my family.

5 STARS: And so I give it 5 stars - my whole point in buying a nice camera was to make and preserve FAMILY memories - and the t3i records those memories beautifully - in .jpg, raw, or HD video - with a minimum of dSLR fuss.

*** UPDATE: about 6 months later ***

STILL AWESOME: I totally stand by the above review. If anything, I've come to adore this camera even more than I did when we first got it. When baby

2 arrived, the quality of pictures that we got far surpassed the pictures from the first baby's photo shoots. I'm truly pleased with this investment, as the pictures we get are lovely, clear, true-to-light/true-to-color, and just capture the memories so well. Really, this is EXACTLY what I was hoping for as an amateur photographer/mom.

GOT BETTER:

Battery Woes: We invested in an A/C adapter for the camera and now no longer eat the battery alive when leaving the camera to upload pictures via the Eye-Fi connection. It's a little annoying to have to swap over to the A/C and then back to a battery all the time - I would rather have a charging station of sorts - but it works and it means I stick the battery in the charger so it's almost always ready to go.

Ease of Use: I adjusted to using this thing pretty quickly. I invested in a LowePro FastPack 250 and it works nicely as a diaper-bag/day bag/camera bag. Not the most attractive purse, but it works well. I'm much better at being ready for any photo situation now.

Swivel Screen: No problems to report. I just leave it screen out all the time.

SAME: Awesome camera all around. Truly, truly impressive. There might be higher tiers of quality out there, but for what I use in following the kids around, this captures amazing shots quickly. Love it.

GOT (just a little) WORSE:

Eye-Fi Annoyance: This is going to differ from person to person, but our Eye-Fi stuff has had some kinks to work out. The card we bought required several updates lately, then we had to change SmugMug account stuff, but the changed password meant Eye-Fi couldn't upload. Blah, blah, blah, I'm sure most of the problem is ME not getting the changes my hubby made. Still, Eye-Fi is usually automatic, but from time to time, it requires maintenance and understanding from all parties uploading stuff. Just be warned, it isn't so automagical as I hoped it would be.

Other than that ^ though, awesome camera. I'm truly loving it. On the whole, a Lotta camera for Low maintenance.

299 people were helped by this review.

return home



a high end for DSLR beginners!

by: Arsene Lupin "gentleman cambrioleur" (MN, USA)
on: February 28, 2011



I was so surprised how light is the T3i, (in comparison to 7D /50D or 60D) with its 18.0 mega pixel the CMOS sensor captures superb image quality with low noise and natural color

The EOS T3i, positioned between the EOS T2i and EOS 60D, features scene intelligent auto, 3-inch vari-angle clear view LCD and a selection of five creative filters including the new fish eye effect (which is awesome!!)

honestly, once you get this camera, no need for Photoshop.

I initially purchased the 7D Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch LCD (Body Only) , but then I returned it due to the more complicated usage, and the post-photo processing/ editing necessary for making pictures look better.

T3i comes with an instructional guide built in, like the Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens . The guide tells beginners (or rusty intermediates) how to set the camera to get specific types of shots. For instance, if you dial up macro mode, it says "for closeups of small objects such as flowers, shoot as close as possible."

the T3i gives me all I want, clear and hassle free pictures, ready to upload/print.

it uses normal SD cards, no need for the expensive CF flash cards.

longer battery life, and low consumption.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens comes with the camera, and it is a great lens for beginners, and gives a great opportunity to practice Manual Focus!

Do not invest in expensive lenses from the start, you might like the point and shoot, and reselling the lenses might be a great loss.

I'm not a professional photographer, nor an electronic specialist, so I reviewed the item as a myself, so if you like my review, please rate it.

Thank you

364 people were helped by this review.

return home



Works great! Amazing in low light and awesome video recording.

by: Chad B
on: March 3, 2011



I purchased this camera mainly for recording video. Its quality is amazing, and the on-board mic records great to me as well. For anyone wondering about the new HD digital movie zoom, I created a video demonstrating its quality and the microphone quality as well! Its on youtube. Just search for t3i digital zoom and onboard mic test. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments!

On a side note, I would not recommend purchasing the Patriot LX series 32gb class 10 SDHC card. I ordered one of these from newegg and when I received it, it did not work properly with the camera due to old firmware on the card. Patriot has confirmed this over the phone, as the issue started with the T2i. Apparently they fixed it in there new cards, but old ones are still out there! I did order the Transcend 32gb class 10 and it is currently working fine at the moment.

I Highly recommend getting a wireless remote. I picked up a brand called Shoot, here on amazon and works great for videos as well if you do not have anyone to operate the camera for recording.

Also the battery grip here on amazon fits perfect on the T3i and gives it a nice solid feel and increases stabilization. Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QZ6SIY

52 people were helped by this review.

return home



Canon T3i vs Nikon D5100

by: Kevin Luo
on: July 12, 2011



I am a Nikon owner for years now trying to switch to Canon. After receiving this camera for a few days, I can now give a list of the differences between this T3i and the Nikon counterpart D5100.

1. T3i has 4 buttons on the back defined to be used to control "AF", "White Balance", "Drive Mode", and "Picture Control", plus a dedicated ISO button on the shoulder, and a focus point selector on the top right corner of the back, which is great, and also the main reason I am trying to switch to Canon. For D5100, you have to go deep into the menu.

2. T3i can trigger external flash, D5100 can't.

3. T3i has White Balance Shifts with the Custom White Balance, Nikon D5100 Customer White Balance is a one shot setup.

4. T3i's image quality seems to be a little better than D5100. Especially the LCD is brighter and looks great.

5. T3i can work with any Canon lens, D5100 only works with AF-S lenses due to the lack of a body motor.

6. D5100 has Distortion Control, before and after shoot, T3i doesn't.

7. D5100 has Color Balance adjustment after shot, T3i doesn't.

8. D5100 has Straighten feature, T3i doesn't.

9. D5100 has Perspective adjustment, T3i doesn't.

10. D5100 makes smarter decision when shoot in P, A, S modes, while T3i frequently makes you shoot in weird combinations like "1/320, ISO3200, f22"...

Common issues:

1. When shoot in bright sunlight, both tend to produce yellowish images, that's more like a common issue of CMOS sensor. I have never had a problem with CCD cameras, but I have experienced the same issue with all the CMOS cameras including Nikon D7000, Nikon D90, Nikon D300s.

2. Live Mode focuses very slow on both (Nikon is slightly better).

* The 18-135 lens is a pretty sharp IS lens, the IS works as great as Nikon's VR does. However, this 18-135 is only like 20-135, compared to the Nikon 18-200 VR.

Overall, both cameras are good entry level cameras. T3i will be a better choice for a more advanced user.

Update on July 13, 2011:

11. D5100's battery lasts much longer, almost 50% longer. T3i's battery is smaller and the LCD is brighter.

12. T3i's White Balance Bracketing is both ways. D5100 is only between Amber and Blue.

13. D5100 has HDR feature which sometimes maybe useful.

14. D5100's power switch is located in a perfect position. T3i's is a little awkward.

38 people were helped by this review.

return home



First time DSLR owner

by: MacMaven234 (Los Angeles, CA)
on: March 19, 2011



I'm not worthy to be a serious reviewer of this product, as I'm just learning what all the photo jargon means. Let me just say excellent professional looking shots are pretty easy with this camera, and I highly recommend it to anyone thinking of purchasing an SLR camera. I love the 18-135mm lens, as I'm usually just taking pictures of my wife and kid with it, seems as if I don't need any other lens. Maybe just a nifty 50 and a separate flash for simple bounce/diffused shots. No regrets on spending the premium for the lens or the newest model! Woohoo, new hobby!

41 people were helped by this review.

return home



A dSLR to grow with me...

by: Madphule (PA, USA)
on: June 24, 2011



As another reviewer posted, I'm not sure of my qualifications or ability to make a detailed review of this camera, but I love it and will do my best. Having only ever used a Canon PowerShot SD610 and cell phone cameras before, this was a huge leap for me.

I use the camera primarily to take pictures of the kids and flowers/gardens.

I have read through the manual and found it a great asset (I have written techmanuals and read a lot of manuals, and find this one to be very easy to use). With its use I have tried every mode on the dial and used the Q - Quick Control to try the different functions. With the exception of the "M" -Manual Exposure, I have taken great pictures (OK - Excellent/Awesome by my standards, the people on the photo blogs may disagree with my assessment of my photos:)).

The video capability is truly amazing, but does require a fast card (class 6 and up) I have a Class 10 and noted some lag when my son was running around in a low light living room. The Grandparents will be able to watch HD movies on their big screen.

The weight is a bit hefty compared to the Point and Shoot but feels right in your hands. I have larger hands and the grips feel really nice even when holding the camera for extended time.

Battery life appears to be good, I have yet to have the battery fail on me when I need it, but I have only had the camera a short time. Time will be the judge of this. I did by a second battery (Canon clone, not OEM).

File size requires a SD card of decent size (Large .jpg High Quality = 6.4MB, RAW = 24.5MB) the camera is compatible with SDHC and SDXC cards, I have a 16 gig SDHC Class 10 ( A-Data 16 GB Class 10 SDHC Flash Memory Card 16GSDHC10 (Blue) ). Not sure what the SDXC brings to the table but if I pick one up I'll update this review.

Live Mode (like a standard point and shoot - LCD screen shows image to be captured) is great for videos and can help when composing shoots from various angles (taking pictures of the dog near floor - without kneeling). There is even a Live Mode with facial recognition and tracking, chases my sons face all over and gives me the correct focus. The Live Mode was the only mode I figured I would be able to use, but I find the standard viewfinder eyepiece to be very easy to use and has all of the information you need.

I plan to have this camera for years to come and hope to someday master all of the settings (high expectations). I feel this camera is the perfect match for my current ability (A+ Fully Automatic Shooting allows me to take excellent pictures while using the camera like a Point and Shoot) and my desire to become the photographic artist I hope to be).

Anyone thinking about make the change from Point and Shoot to dSLR should really consider this camera. May I also suggest a camera bag, and cleaning kit.

I have posted a few of my images on in the photo gallery here on Amazon.

16 people were helped by this review.

return home



Quite pleased with the Canon T3i

by: Dave K.
on: May 4, 2011



I researched several SLR's before deciding on the Canon T3i. I'm happy with my choice so far, having purchased the camera first of all to take high quality photos of fairly small works of sculpture art, using the Canon 60mm macro lens. For that use, the camera and lens seem to work very well. I find the ergonomic arrangement of controls on the camera to very very intuitive and pleasant to use. The camera feels solid and is easy to hold with the very adequate right hand grip that has a rubberized cover allowing the user to maintain a firm grip. The menu system for adjusting camera settings is also well designed and easy to use. The adjustment wheel just behind the shutter button makes changing settings very simple when in manual mode. I especially like the articulated LCD screen on the back of the camera that allows it to be positioned so that otherwise very awkward camera positions (ie, overhead, or low to the ground) are easily possible. The view finder is very clear and has all basic settings info on the bottom border. The camera comes with a comfortable, good quality neck strap and is quite light and small compared to other SLRs. Battery life seems to be very good - longer than I expected. The included corded battery charger will appeal to some, but not to those who prefer the travel type charger with a swing-out plug. This is not a professional level SLR, but it performs very well as a small, light APS-C camera.

16 people were helped by this review.

return home



Awesome Camera!!!

by: Irish mike (Buckroe Beach, VA)
on: April 21, 2011



Like many other interested purchasers I struggled making the decision to go with the T3i. I'm definitely glad I opted for this camera. The most noticeable feature, the articulating LCD, is far more than a little add-on to me, since I have an issue with positioning myself to use a fixed position live view, much less the viewfinder when the camera is in some locations. The ability to use an external mic for stereo video sound is another great feature. The available settings & options seem nearly limitless to me at this point. Among the many other highlights is the quality of the 18 MP resolution. Since I just received the camera a week ago, I plan to update this review when I have more time with it.

I went from a Canon XTi to this model and the transition has been totally AWESOME. I would strongly recommend the T3i to all of my friends.

14 people were helped by this review.

return home



NIKON COOLPIX P300 12.2 CMOS DIGITAL CAMERA WITH 4.2X F/1.8 NIKKOR WIDE-ANGLE OPTICAL ZOOM LENS AND FULL HD 1080P VIDEO (BLACK) (ELECTRONICS)

return home






Returned the LX5 & S95...kept the P300

by: Patswamp
on: March 29, 2011



Over the last couple of weeks I've bought all three, returned the Canon

and Panasonic. Here's my opinion (again this is mostly opinion, not

fact):

- P300 and S95 are almost the exact same size, LX5 was too big (i.e., too

thick for a pocket)

- P300 and LX5 both have direct video record buttons

- LX5 and S95 both shoot RAW (wasn't a factor for me, but may be for

you)

- All three have great picture quality (1. P300, 2. S95, 3. LX5)

- Two have great video quality, S95 is just OK (1. LX5, 2. P300, 3. S95)

Because I have an SLR for high-quality pictures, I just want a portable

p&s for when I don't feel like carrying an SLR. That factor hurt the

LX5, which I thought was the best camera, just not pocketable.

The LX5 had great video, really fast focusing (for pics and vid), and

strong build quality. It's JPEGs were the worst of the three, but third

best in this class is generally better than 1st place in a lesser class

of cameras. It felt solid. I liked the direct video record button. I

disliked the lens cap.

The S95 never did much for me, it's pics were good but not better than

the P300. It's video was definetly the worst of the three, but again,

solid for a point and shoot. The ring around the lens was cute, but felt

loose to me. The lack of a direct video record button was limiting and I

found the auto pop-up flash annoying (it pushes your finger out of the

way, both other cameras have mechanical flash pop-ups).

The P300 is great. Love the picture quality and video quality. Warning,

the video is jumpy on pans, this camera won't take the place of an HD

video camera, but it's great for a point and shoot. The direct video

button is great too. The lcd screen is beautiful. The camera turns on

and snaps very quickly. Shot to shot is excellent too. Picture quality

is great (again, I'm a JPEG user, if you're all about

RAW-post-processing-for-point-and-shoot-quality-pics you may have a

different experience).

You can slice this opinion a million different ways, all three are

awesome cameras. Pick what the most important factor or two is for you

and decide based on that. For me, the discriminators were size and video

quality (as they all took great pictures).

Update 1:

After using this camera extensively for a week or two I've come to appreciate it more. Some of my recent findings which may or may not be helpful to you the reader:

- Indoor video can take on a soft appearance and the colors can be off under certain lighting conditions in auto mode, however, it appears that manual tweaks in the program/manual modes carry over from photo to video. So you can set the AWB to a better lighting mode in one of the manual modes and simply switch modes as the lighting situation dictates. Outdoor video continues to be outstanding in auto mode.

- The creative modes (black and white, soft, etc.) can also be used for video, again you will need to be in a program/manual mode (P, A, S, M). Of these I do find the black and white to make interesting video depending on what you're shooting.

- The fast motion and slow motion modes for video are quite fun to use (they may not be all that useful, but they're fun).

- The panning motion panorama (easy mode?) combined with the Nikon software if pretty impressive. The stitched assist mode panorama works well too. It's particulary impressive in multiple monitor set ups, I can spread the picture across 3 screens and see an impressive panorama.

- Having no "welcome screen" is the way to go if you want a quick start up.

- The camera does not weigh much, it's a little off-putting at first, but light is good.

- I love being able to decide if the flash should be used by flipping the switch because I usually do not want a flash (fill flash is all I use pretty much) and it's apparent by looking at the camera if the flash is on or off, there's no digging into menus to find out.

- If you're reviewing your work (via HDMI for instance) on the camera or a tv you can press (and hold) the play button instead of power to avoid opening up the lens.

- The battery has provided a long life per charge, I haven't tested it but it may be better than advertised. Two drawbacks: it goes from fully charged to empty without much warning (icon is full, and then it's down a bar for a few minutes, then empty) and you plug the camera in to charge vs putting the battery into a charger (that's a draw back because you can't swap a fresh battery in and charge at the same time, if you buy the separate charger you can do this. I bought both an extra battery and charger to avoid any power outages).

- Applying after effects in the camera works well and the camera automatically copies the original.

- This is a piece of advice that will be obvious to some (ok, it's really for my mom): set the date and time accurately and don't have the date imprinted on your pictures. This info is part of the "meta data" that you can see on any computer. You want an accurate date so you can sort photos later if required and you don't want the date imprinted on the photo because it ruins the picture and is already in the meta data.

271 people were helped by this review.

return home



If video as well as stills are important to you

by: sharoninmass "sharoninmass"
on: April 5, 2011



"Should I buy this camera?" is like asking "Should I buy this car?" The answer to both questions is: It depends on what's most important to you. For me, I was looking for a point-and-shoot that takes good HD video as well as good still photos, and is reasonably small, light and affordable. I already have a DSLR, and wanted a camera to complement that -- one I could slip in a pocket and take to the beach or an evening out without having to worry about it.

I believe other commenters that there are P&S cameras out there that take better photos than the P300, but those models are either considerably larger and heavier, a good deal more expensive (one comment here compared a camera costing $500 with this one at slightly over $300), or the video quality is unacceptable. After a lot of research, the P300 turned out to be the camera that best met my needs.

I've only had this for a couple of days, but here's what I like so far:

* Nice ergonomics. I enjoy holding and using the camera, which isn't something I can say about my previous P&S.

* Large, bright, sharp LCD

* A good mix of manual controls for when I want them and auto settings for when I don't.

* Macro closeups are excellent

* Low-light performance is generally good for a P&S, especially with the fast 1.8 lens.

* I've been pleased so far with my outdoor shots, although I haven't really had a chance to do much with this outside yet because weather's been bad

* The flash only fires when you first pop it up, so it doesn't inadvertently ruin a shot

What I don't like so far:

* White balance in mixed indoor lighting seems worse than average

* As I read in another review, video can be jerky while panning

* Detail in distant objects doesn't look as crisp as in photos I've seen from competitors in its class

* (updated) You will hear motor noise when zooming in and out on video (at least I do)

* (updated) Focus in auto mode is limited to frame center

* (updated) Photos taken in portrait mode don't auto rotate

There are some interesting features such as in-camera HDR and one-shot panoramas I've yet to try. All in all, I'm looking forward to taking this with me when I'm going places where I don't want to take my considerably heavier and bulkier DSLR.

UPDATE: After reading the manual, now I know why I've been less than happy with some of my shots in Auto mode: Auto mode focuses on the center of your frame. If you don't always stick your subject dead center -- and most experienced photographers don't much of the time -- don't use Auto mode. If you have a P300 and are unhappy with its focus and metering, try using the program mode or auto scene selector instead, when you want to "point and shoot" instead of using the manual controls.

UPDATE 2: A few more tests and I'm a bit less happy with the camera. If I could drop this down to 3.5 stars, I would. I really like the ergonomics, the menus, the LCD. Using it is still fun. I've shot a number of comparisons with my old 8 MP Canon SD 850 and the results are mixed. Macros are way better, but that's not what I bought the camera for. I didn't bother comparing video since the P300 HD I'm sure will blow away the SD 850's SD. In other situations it was mixed, with the P300 not always better.

Like all point-and-shoots, this is a compromise and there is going to be a sacrifice in return for weight, size and affordability.

FINAL UPDATE: I took the P300 out for some serious shooting last weekend, including several hours with my friend and her new Canon S95. We tried shooting several of the same scenes (although P300 zooms out a bit wider and S95 has a bit more of a telephoto, so it often wasn't exact). I was happy with the vast majority of the P300 photos. There were some where the S95 versions were better, especially when it came to detail in the photos. But without comparing, I was pleased with the majority of photos I shot with the P300. The difference didn't seem all that massive except for a couple, and that might have been because I didn't select the best mode.

On the other hand, the P300 video was quite a bit better than the S95 video, if that matters to you. It does to me. I shot a video at an indoor party last night and was very happy with the way it came out. I didn't hear any motor noise when zooming in and out in what was a pretty loud room.

Ergonomics: I enjoyed using (and carrying) the P300 more than the S95. It's slightly lighter. I like the Nikon dials and menu setup more than Canon's -- that's just personal preference, but I've never particularly cared for the menu setup on my old Canon P&S either. I also found the mode selector dial somewhat hard to turn on the S95 compared with the P300.

Bottom line: I'm using this to post photos on the Web and occasionally make 4x6 prints, and also to shoot video from time to time. If I was looking for a primary camera to shoot serious still photos -- that is, if I didn't also have my DSLR -- I'd likely pay more and go with the S95. But as a casual supplement to a DSLR, I recommend the P300.

95 people were helped by this review.

return home



Excellent low-light pictures and HD video!

by: robbieY "robbieY" (Forest Hills, NY)
on: April 13, 2011



Note: this review is for the layman--who wants to eventually learn to use manual features--but ends up using only auto-mod, so all you pros please don't make too much fun of me.

I'm a father of a 2-year-old and I take lots of indoor shots and tons of video clips. My almost 3-year-old camera was a Canon SD790IS: 10 MP, 640p video (Yes, very low resolution but it never lost focus!), mono microphone.

Question: Is it too much to ask for a camera with great low-light abilities, Full HD video, a stereo microphone, and no removable lens cover? Apparently the answer was YES!

I bought a Canon SD4000IS but returned it because it couldn't hold a focus in HD video mode. Not even on stationary objects using a tripod! Ridiculous!

My online search continued with finding cameras that had good video but too many megapixels (above 12 MP is bad) for a point-and-shoot, which made the pictures worse!

I eagerly awaited the reviews for the Canon SX230 but was devastated when I noticed blurring in some posted videos by infosyncworld.

I was even ready to shell out the big bucks for the Panasonic LX5 but it has a removable lens cover! Are you kidding me? I don't have time to remove the cover before powering up.

So finally, this Nikon P300 comes along and it does everything I wanted! Finally! My 2-year search has ended!

The HD video is amazing! The focus stays sharp throughout. I don't think I'll be using the 1080p mode too often (I have a Canon VIXIA camcorder that records 1080p that I use for birthdays), 720p has made me very happy. Even the slow-motion mode can record in HD! Check out YouTube for cool slow-motion videos. A lot of new Canon models recently released can record in slow-motion but only very low quality, less than 640p.

Video mode records in 30-minute chunks, that's enough for me. When recording in 720p, the camera's LCD displays a countdown from 30 minutes going down instead of a counter going up. I find this useful, you'll know how much time you have left. I need to read up more on this though, maybe different SD cards can record for longer.

Many professional reviewers scoffed that this camera did not have RAW Tiff capabilities. I don't care that it doesn't have RAW tiff. If I want RAW tiff, I'll buy a DSLR in the future.

I like how the flash only pops up when you physically pop it up with a switch on the side. So far I don't need it. The flash design is great, it allows you to place your left index finger right behind it when it's raised. I didn't like how some new Canons have a flash that automatically pops up each time you power it up. For shots where you don't want a flash, you'd have to always fold the flash back down. Try imagine telling that a hundred times to friends: "yeah, turn it on, but push the flash back down, yeah, no, like this..." Annoying. Also, too many moving parts just seem more cumbersome and more likely to break.

Some minor complaints:

1. When importing pictures onto my Mac, I have to manually rotate the portrait shots. Canon did this automatically.

2. I have to charge the battery in the camera. I can purchase an external charger but that's another $30. Plus I hear the charger has a long cord instead of a flip-out 2-prong design like the Canon chargers.

I love the design, the dials are sturdy, the record video button is very helpful. Buy it! you'll love it!

62 people were helped by this review.

return home



makes a great carry camera.

by: J. Parkes (Winter Springs, Florida)
on: April 27, 2011



I am a Nikon fan and though Cannon has done a better job with it's P&S cameras, Nikon has finally stepped up it's game.

I use a Nikon D90 with an array of great lenses, but the truth is unless i plan a shooting day i'm just tired of having to lug around a DSLR and it's bag of essentials. I will always need the big rig, but on a daily basis the P300 is great, slips in a pocket and is very quick to start and snap pictures. I find it comes with me every day without thought or worry. The only big deal for me is the lack of a circular polarizer filter for outdoor use here in Florida, but i don't think any P&S will give you that.

The low light performance is terrific as is the vibration reduction system, there are a lot of scene modes to play with and full manual control. The auto focus is quirky and i need to pay attention, but is fairly reliable....as for all around performance i'd give it a full five stars if it weren't for the auto focus, the image quality is fine, though outdoors the camera has a tendency for light artifacts if your not careful, but that's so in all the P&S camera's i've tried.

The optics are great, the battery life is good, the flash is rarely needed but works well, Start up is under two seconds. low light performance is terrific, the video feature is fine for an occasional video shooter like me, but will never replace a good quality video camera.

In all a great little pocket camera, keep an eye on your focus and you're going to get good results.I expect the next generation of this model to have improvements in its auto focus, but then no camera is perfect, and the skill of the shooter is always going to be in overcoming some shortcoming in every camera.

I'm happy i have it, i use it daily, and i don't regret the purchase at all.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Update~May 11

I have taken thousands of shots now with the p300, and learned quite a bit about the camera's....quirks??....not a bad thing, all cameras have their quirks.

The p300 continues to impress me beyond measure with its low light/indoor/night time performance!! In fact i get better results using no flash at all for 90% of my shots!

There are those who really must have RAW files, for 95% of us we don't need RAW, and jpegs are just great out of this camera.

One of my favorite features of the p300 is the high contrast black and white mode, along with the low lighting performance it has produced fantastic salable images!! Everyone's an artist with this camera!!

Indoor work is very good, as good as a dslr if you learn this camera's functions. Bars and restaurants are usually difficult without a flash, but the p300 makes the flash almost obsolete except for certain types of shots.

I often find i can do quite well without a full dslr camera, and if your'e in the market for high qaulity, but not size and price, this would make a great camera for you.

I have not been outdoors much as the weather is not the best for outings yet. will update when i do.

18 people were helped by this review.

return home



A really good point and shoot

by: cmike2780
on: March 31, 2011



needed a point & shoot that had the manual controls of a D-SLR, compact enought to carry around everyday and had a quality lens. Very limited choices out there if you wanted to fill all three criteria's. After looking at the Nikon P7000, I decided to wait for the P300 and I'm glad I did. I liked the viewfinder on the P7000 and the hot shoe, but it was slow and still a little too bulky for everyday use. The interface is a lot faster on the P300 and the fast f1.8 lens is awesome for a point and shoot. The LCD is big and bright and the controls are very easy to learn. I like the video button, but I wish it was customizable for white balance or ISO control. This is a really great camera and the images are almost as good as my old Nikon D40. Almost.

Indoor low light shots with the f1.8 are clean and sharp. You won't believe it was possible with a point and shoot. I also really like the retro body look.

Update No.1: As an arhitect, I use this for documenting projects in the field. The fast lens is really great for those indoor shots when all the light you have is the built in flash and a flashlight. The images are clear and sharp and I couldn't have been happier with this purchase. The pano is a really great way of documenting entire facades. It won't replace my D90 any time soon, but it's really nice having a good quality camera that fits in your pocket.

14 people were helped by this review.

return home



Amazing little camera

by: G. OLAIZOLA (Bethesda, MD)
on: April 26, 2011



First of all, I am not a professional photographer and I don't care much about the possibility of getting photos in raw, but I like to get high quality and crisp images when I shoot.

In the last couple of years I've had a few digital cameras, compact and DSLR to compare with, and this little camera is amazing. I am glad that I bought it. I've had it for a week now and I have been testing it in many situations. I am very pleased with the results so far and I couldn't believe the images that I have been able to get at very low light. They are amazing! They are clear, crisp and full of details that I could barely see in the scene with my own eyes!!

HD videos are excellent too and battery life is pretty good. I recommend this camera to anyone.

8 people were helped by this review.

return home



Nikon P300

by: A. Markwell "Andy a700" (England)
on: May 11, 2011



I ordered my Nikon P300 on Tuesday evening using the free postage option, it was with me by Friday, great service by Amazon.

I'd previously owned a Canon S90 which is a superb compact, but only has a 28mm wide angle lens & VGA video. I settled on the Nikon P300 as it has a really fast 1.8 lens at wide angle, an extra wide 24mm lens (these are 35mm equivalent focal lengths), and full 1080P video so great for travels. It doesn't have RAW but then if I want to go to that level I'll use my SLR Camera.

My only initial reservation in buying this camera was it has a smaller sensor than the S90 so I was slightly concerned at a possible image quality loss & more noise. I needn't have worried. The picture quality from this compact is amazing and low light capabilities superb. I took some pictures last night to try it out when it was semi dark and the camera produced great results, it can see much more light & detail than my eyes can (& no I don't wear glasses yet!!).

There are loads of other features I'm looking forward to trying out, but the 1.8 lens has got to be the real selling point. Another good feature is that if you have a modern TV with CEC control, you can use the TVs remote control to control your photo & video playback from the camera when hooked up via HDMI lead. Clever!!

The only thing which is not a brilliant idea is that the battery charges in camera, it's great if you only ever need that one. However, chances are you'll need another when travelling or on holiday (I mean vacation to you readers, I'm English !!). The Nikon chargers are expensive so I've just purchased an alternative brand charger & spare battery off here very reasonably priced.

In summary, if you want a superb compact with a fast wide angle lens & full manual controls, forget the Canon S90 or S95, get this & it's cheaper too!.... I'm off to take photos!! (if it's not raining, I'm in England !!!)

11 people were helped by this review.

return home



Why I picked Nikon P300 over Canon S100 and Lumix LX5

by: D. Choi "Early Adopter" (New York, NY)
on: September 16, 2011



First I just want to say there is no camera that is perfect for everything. I own a Nikon D7000 DSLR with some serious lenses and love the Depth of Field type shots. Knowing that why did I pick the Nikon P300 simply because of its price and feature for it. Its the best bang for the buck. I could have pick a smaller camera but I really wanted the P/A/S/M capability even though it doesn't have RAW. If I want RAW then I pick up my D7000 and get the right pics. The whole point of this camera is the size and for what it offers. The smaller P&S cameras cant give the same performance. This camera has a f1.8 vs Canon S100 f2.0. Panasonic Lumix LX5 is too large and should be compared to the new Mirrorless cameras like the GF, NEX, Olympus PEN etc.

Here is why I still picked the P300 over the S100 even with its improvements.

1) Price $275 vs $440

2) Screen 3" 921K vs 3" 461K

3) Panoramic shots 180 and 360 degrees

4) Built in effects

5) 1.8 vs 2.0

6) 24MM vs 25MM and doesnt have f5.9 like the Canon

The advantages of the S100

1) RAW Files

2) Control Ring & User define

3) Built quality

The both have

1) rubber finger grip in front and back

2) CMOS but Canon I think is bigger

3) 1080P Video

4) P/A/S/M control

If you buy this keep your expectation real all of these cameras cannot get pictures anywhere near a real DSLR that Blur background factor you cannot achieve the same results. If you want something better invest $500 into Nikon P7100 or Canon G12 for the compact and control.

Again I picked this as a simple camera to carry around with P/A/S/M features and great video. Low-light is very good but not DSLR quality in any of these cameras. Noise level in ISO 800 and greater is high again you cannot get the same quality in even the entry level DSLR. I don't like using flash when I don't have to. AWB is average not DSLR quality.

But the price of the Nikon P300 vs all other compact manual cameras is the best and what you get for it is amazing. If you are traveling and someone steals it, it won't be that bad of a loss vs. S100. That to me is the deciding factor because the end result is the same - photo quality. But if you want the best picture just use your DSLR and don't complain lugging it around.

Again why did I pick this because it was cheap and i wanted the P/A/S/M features for when I travel and cannot bring my Nikon D7000 DSLR around. Mostly for partying at nights in clubs in NYC where having a DSLR can be a pain to carry around. My other party camera is the Nikon PJ1100 - girls go gaga over the projector and its fun to project images on people. It gets their attention and I become the attention. Enjoy life everyone....

Update... I got this case Lowepro Santiago 20 Camera Case (Black)

Fits like a glove and also holds an extra battery too

7 people were helped by this review.

return home



Really happy

by: Glen
on: June 16, 2011



I compared the G12 and the S95 Both may be a bit better camera, but the P300 cam in at $100 cheaper on Amazon. I tried the Video and Continuous shooting (Sports) the only complaint I have is that the screen goes blank during the Continuos shooting and the Zoom isn't functional during video. Pic are Fine and the screen is bright enough to see in bright sun. BAttery is rated at 240 pics. I got more than that when I didn't use a flash and about that when I used the flash all the time. Love the Wide angle. I can get ay more in view than the previous camera. Also love the 2 dial system to control and see the f-stop and Shutter speed in manual mode. Backlight feature impressed the daylights out of me. Feel free the shoot against a window. Also, It doesn't look like anything more than the average point and shoot for those who may steal a DSLR. The optical zoom is low but the optical is fine. Can always crop it afterwards.

7 people were helped by this review.

return home



NIKON COOLPIX L24 14 MP DIGITAL CAMERA WITH 3.6X NIKKOR OPTICAL ZOOM LENS AND 3-INCH LCD (RED) (ELECTRONICS)

return home






Simple operation, clear photos

by: Stephen G. Ayres (Kentucky, USA)
on: April 7, 2011



Disclaimer: This particular review isn't being written from an avid photographer's point of view.

I needed a small, inexpensive, good-quality, easy-to-use camera for my job. My main use for this camera is taking good, clear indoor before/after photos of various electronic devices and related components. My requirements are a large LCD viewer, the ability to use common AA batteries, have my settings (date/time, photo mode) retained after batteries were removed and replaced, and a quick way to transfer images to my PC's that doesn't rely solely on a USB cable.

Preferring not to have to deal with camera angle or cumbersome tricks to reduce flash reflection from shiny surfaces, I was hoping to find something that would allow effective non-flash settings where a semi steadily-held camera could take clear, acceptable indoor pictures as required by the companies that I do work for.

As much as I tried, I could not get good, consistent results with the e510 but I seem to have found that camera with the L24.

So far with the L24, I've taken pictures of HDTV televisions (displays powered both on and off), PCB boards, product labels, macro shots of venting capacitors, etc. - *all without flash*, using only ambient room lighting.

For me, time is an important factor and with these onsite job shots, I do not have the time or desire to do pre-shot adjustments or after-processing like resizing, gamma-tweaking, or cropping. The shots I take need to be ready to be attached to an email or be uploaded to technician portals. The settings that I have found that work for me is the "white balance" and "motion detect" set for auto, resolution set for 1024x768 (for email-ready small file and dimension), and flash set for "off".

As long as my subjects aren't in the shadows, the camera is held relatively steady, and the images framed properly, my pictures are clear and all I have to do once I return home is transfer to my PC, attach and send. The settings as described above allow clear pictures for my uses in both regular and macro modes.

The camera remembers my settings with its AA batteries out and its 3" LCD viewer lets me verify a good shot (they've all been pretty good so far).

Connectivity:

All of my PC's have a card slot that accommodates the SD type, so if the included UC-E6 cable isn't handy, I remove the SD card from the camera and transfer images that way. If I needed more of these cables, I can get them for $4 each on eBay.

You don't have to use a SD card (camera has 17MB built-in) but I do recommend using a card for the extra storage and image-transfer/connectivity options.

When buying a SD card, consider the card-reading compatibility with your existing equipment if you intend on using using the card to transfer images. Some card readers do not read SDHC (high-capacity) cards, I was aware of this potential compatibility issue beforehand and bought a standard SD 2GB (not a SDHC) card.

I'm sure once more people buy this camera, more features than I covered will be discussed. There are settings on the L24 that I will probably never use. In my quick tour through the menu settings (haven't read the manual yet - haha) I didn't see where you can manually adjust aperture or shutter speed independently but there is an exposure control. The lack of manual settings might be a minus for serious photographers but like I said before, photography isn't a hobby for me - I just want to take good pictures easily and quickly.

217 people were helped by this review.

return home



Good Compact Digital Camera

by: Sean Ng (Dublin, OH USA)
on: April 23, 2011



I purchased this camera for quick access during vacation and travel. Although the camera cannot zoom very far it still is a very good camera. Takes very clear pictures and can be slipped into your pockets very easily into my pocket. Transferring pictures is very easy just hook up the camera into the computer and click the you want and drag to the desktop. The only problem i have with the camera is that it has a hard time focusing on small texts. For example i want to copy a receipt and send it to the manufacturer it would come out blurry.

Overall this is a great camera and i would highly recommend this for travel or for quick takes

53 people were helped by this review.

return home



Terrific photos, easy to use

by: Scott Clines
on: April 25, 2011



Although I haven't used all its features yet, I love this camera! The photos are sharp and clear, and it is so easy to use that I just took it out and started shooting. If I could post just one of my dragonfly photos in which you can see every vein in their wings there could be no doubt as to the quality of the photos. My 75 year old father saw how easy it is to use and the quality of the photos and asked me to get one for him. QED

Four stars, though, because the auto focus when using the macro function has difficulty focusing on objects that do not take up enough of the field of vision. It could use a manual focus or an easier way to manipulate the auto-focus.

44 people were helped by this review.

return home



AWESOME camera!

by: Cheryl L. Howard "FLGACabinetsTileAndTops.com" (NE FL & SE GA)
on: April 30, 2011



Replacement camera for an HP with 5MP (old!) that I dropped in the water...this camera is used for work and personal and works so well and takes the absolute BEST pics--easy to use too!!!

13 people were helped by this review.

return home



Terrific point & shoot camera

by: Chuck
on: May 29, 2011



My wife needed a new camera and doesn't like complicated things. Her learning curve on this camera was only about 10 minutes and she loves the quality of the pictures and the fully automatic mode. A good choice for easy pictures!

11 people were helped by this review.

return home



Pictures are fine but...

by: BG "BG"
on: July 5, 2011



I bought this last week. It takes very nice pictures and very user friendly. My 70 year old dad can find his way around the camera. Trouble is dropped it while teaching him. It was only a 2 ft drop but that broke the latch on the battery door. Searching online found several remedies of how to fix it but none that would please you aesthetically.

Too flimsy is my complaint. Looks like several of Nikon s cameras have had that problem. Although couldnt find any other posts except one right on this page about the battery door problem for this model.

10 people were helped by this review.

return home



fantastic little camera!

by: Grandma Dottie (Van Wert County, OH, USA)
on: July 1, 2011



I absolutely adore this camera! I am by no means a photographer, but I get sharp clear photos from this camera. It is very easy to use, small enough to slip into my purse, and, besides that, it is a great-looking little camera. I am 82 years old now, but because of this camera, I can still take snapshots of anything and everything that intrigues me!

9 people were helped by this review.

return home



Camera

by: tj3193
on: May 30, 2011



The quality of pictures is excellent. It is very easy to use. I would recommend this to anyone.

8 people were helped by this review.

return home



CANON POWERSHOT ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP DIGITAL CAMERA (BLACK) (ELECTRONICS)

return home






Wonderful compact camera with hd video

by: J. Gebauer
on: March 19, 2011



I'm a DSLR photographer who shoots professionally and has managed a camera store in the past. I wanted something I can take with me everywhere but still produces good quality shots. I also wanted a camera that could shoot good looking videos. I researched several models and after much deliberation decided on the Canon 300 HS. I'm very happy I did.

Image Quality:

I tested cameras and lenses all the time while managing the camera store so whenever I purchase a new camera or lens I always test it. The Canon 300 HS doesn't produce the quality of images my Nikon D7000 does but I didn't expect it to. The edges get a little soft with the 300 HS when looking at the image at 100% whereas the D7000 images are almost tact sharp.

Comparing the 300 HS to the Canon Powershot SD1000 from a few years ago, the 300 HS blows it out of the water. The SD1000 is a 7 MP camera. Shooting the same shots on a tripod with the same focal length on the lens the 300 HS uses its extra MPs well. When looking at the images from each camera at 100%, at the wide angle zoom setting and normal zoom setting both cameras have about the same relative slight softness on the edges. However the 300 HS has more MP so it actually produces much more detail in the image. I think it was smart for Canon to keep the MP at 12 because last years models while being 14 MP (SD1400) didn't give any extra detail from what I could tell than the 12 MP version (SD1300). The SD1400 was basically just creating larger files. When zooming in the telephoto setting the 300 HS clearly produced a sharper image than the SD1000. Often cameras have sweet spots in the zoom range in which it will produce crisper images. The 300 HS has consistently good sharpness throughout it's zoom range.

HS system and ISO:

The image processing with the HS system truly works to reduce noise at higher ISOs enabling people to produce better quality images in low light. The improvement in image quality gets more and more visible the greater and greater the ISO. ISO 400 with the 300 HS was almost as good as ISO 200 on the SD1000. ISO 800 on the 300 HS was a tad better than ISO 400 on the SD1000. ISO 1600 on the 300 HS was between ISO 400 and 800 on the SD1000. ISO 3200 on the 300 HS produced the same quality of image (noise) as ISO 800 on the SD1000. A 2 stop in film speed improvement is big.

1080p video and slow motion:

With good light, the 300 HS produces wonderful smooth 1080 videos. If you look at a lot of HD videos from compact cameras the video often looks jumpy. From what I've seen it wasn't until you got to the Canon G12 or Panasonic LX5 that the video looked smooth. Both of those cameras only shoot 720p whereas this camera shoots 1080p. The video also very good detail. It truly looks HD.

If you are wanting zoom and continuous AF with your video this camera is the one you want compared to the 100 HS which doesn't allow you to zoom. The continuous AF with face recognition is stellar with this camera in video mode. I was videoing my wife while she was driving. It focused on her face. I switched to the scenery outside. It immediately focused on that. I then went back to my wife and it found her face and focused on it right away. I even videoed her reflection in the rear view mirror and it found her face in the mirror no problem and focused on it. AMAZING!!!!

Commenting on a complaint I've read about the zoom being slow in video mode. If you like getting motion sickness whenever someone rapidly zooms in or out during their video this is not your camera. As smooth looking as the video is, the zoom is also. The smooth zoom creates nice looking transitions instead of warp speed ahead looks.

The slow motion is a fun feature that works well. You need to have good lighting though. In low light even with high ISO's it produced very dark videos. In a review someone commented that it should have sound with the slow motion video. I honestly don't know how that could work unless you want to listen to everything at 1/5 it's normal speed. I think it's a good thing that it doesn't have sound with the slow motion videos.

AF:

I commented on AF partially in the video portion of the review. It does have several AF modes for various situations. The face detection works great. If you have a person in the picture but want something other than the person to be in focus you will need to change AF modes from face detection. The reviewer that had the problem with the 300 HS focusing on things he didn't want the camera to focus on likely didn't have the correct AF mode for the shooting situations. The 300 HS does have a center AF if you prefer that.

Areas for Canon to improve on with the 300 HS:

The camera is so well thought out that I'm surprised Canon let this slip. I love having a wide angle zoom go down to 24mm. It's great for scenery and photojournalist type shots. If you shoot at the widest angle zoom and use the flash, the lens on the 300 HS blocks the flash's exposure on the bottom right corner of the image. The corner is completely black. If you zoom in a bit so you aren't at the widest angle setting when using the flash you will be fine. Still all Canon had to do is not put the flash so close to the lens.

When shooting video in lower light situations the video does start to get noisy and grainy quicker than some other cameras.

Conclusion:

All in all this is a wonderfully thought out camera with great image quality and image processing and it shoots stellar videos for it's compact size.

673 people were helped by this review.

return home



Awesome Point and Shoot

by: Keith Corbin
on: March 14, 2011



This is a point and shoot class camera, if you understand that going in, you are going to be more than impressed with it. I'm going from an SD630 and hands down, this beats it. I even had an SX210IS and these images are on par with it, if not better. I had to return my SX210IS as it had issues with dust on the image sensor and I've been waiting for a new P&S class to come out. I bit the bullet on this, well, the black version Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Black) and what can I say - I am happy!

300HS vs 500HS:

There is a 500HS version of the camera, which is approx $50 more. To this point, the only differences I can tell are the LCD on the back as well as aperture priority and shutter priority, while the 300hs does not. The touch screen on the 500hs can also be used to focus on a particular subject. The 500hs also has a wider aperture at 2.0, the 300hs has 2.7.

Form Factor/Display:

Small. Awesome. There is a texture on the camera, I really like this as it seems like it will help if you hands are wet (sweat, snow, etc). Easy to operate one hand and if using both hands, flash isn't in a horrible place. Display is very bright and button seem intuitive as with other Canon cameras. Battery and SD are on the bottom door, USB and HDMI are in a covered side port. Comes with a wrist strap if you desire a little extra security.

Boot Time/Software:

Camera is ready to take photos very fast. From the time you press the button, it's pretty much set to catch the action. Time between photos wasn't terrible (about 1.5 seconds) and if you need it, there is continuous shot mode. Had no problem with the Canon software on Windows 7. I've used the Canon Photo Window import for a while, does a good job of getting photos off the camera without duplicates. I use Picasa to then manage my photo library (I skip the Zoom Browser, but it's really not bad if you want to use it, I'm just a slave to Google/gmail)

Computer Connectivity:

I didn't find this anywhere in the specs, so if you're looking, the camera uses mini-USB, similar to all Canon's that have come out over the last few years.

Optical Zoom:

You're going to be impressed with the form factor of this camera and it's 5x OPTICAL zoom. I immediately disabled digital zoom as 12.1MP + 5x Optical will get you very close to the action. You're better off digitally enhancing the photos later on.

Battery + Memory Card:

This uses the NBL-4 (again, I found confusion on this and accessories) - so if you have some of those laying around keep them as they'll work just fine in this camera. This is nice as my SD630 uses the NBL-4 so now I have 2 chargers + 3 batteries. It took my 32GB SDHC without any issues and holds thousands of images. Images have tended to be between 2 and 3mb on the highest settings.

Image Quality:

Look, I'm no photo fanatic, I don't expect the people buying this camera are. I am looking for solid images and this camera delivers. There are a ton a feature you can delve into and I'm sure they are good. It has manual mode, so if you fancy that, you can go down that path. But I'm the type of person that knows when something looks good, OK or great. This camera consistently delivers GREAT photos. I'm happy with the low light and images aren't blurry or grainy (within reasonable expectations).

Video:

FINALLY! Optical zoom on a Canon during video! 1080p brings this camera up to par with others in its class and it does a decent job. I didn't notice any major noise when zooming in and out while recording video. I know this is the excuse Canon has used in the past as to why they never had this feature. It shoots nice clips for those quick moments. This will NOT replace a true DV cam, but hey, for a few minute clips here and there, you will simply not be dissapointed.

198 people were helped by this review.

return home



Awesome Pocket Camera

by: Jiunjr Feng "Robert" (Fremont, CA USA)
on: March 10, 2011



Got this camera from my Japanese friend as a birthday gift, which is IXY 410F. I found out that camera name in USA is ELPH 300 HS. After open the box and play couple days, the weight is super light as my old school Canon SD1000 and the indoor picture quality is not bad comparing with my current S95, so it catched my eyes right away after we received it. Even it's SD1400 replacement from canon point of view, I have to say this tiny camera with S95 quality.

ELPH 300 HS vs S95

ELPH 300 HS wins on 1080P movie, weight (70% of S95), CMOS sensor, 24mm, 5x zoom, shooting speed (2 time faster than S95), cost (62.5% of S95)

S95 is better on the sensor size (1/1.7" as G12), Aperture F/2.0, RAW.

I would say...

For sure S95 won on manual setting, but I used my Canon Rebel XS most of the time when looking for quality pictures, and S95 didn't provide more point-and-shoot advantages than ELPH 300 HS to me. CMOS sensor is more sensertive comparing with CCD, so I cannot tell huge difference between bigger size CCD and smaller size CMOS sensors even from those indoor low light pictures. End out, I traded the manual settings to small size, light weight, and fast shooting speed.

So, my S95 moved on eBay...... and IXY 410F (ELPH 300 HS) is in my wife's bag...... I have to wait for it to be available on Amazon to get another one for myself.

86 people were helped by this review.

return home



Another great Canon product!

by: sojo
on: March 29, 2011



I currently own a 5D Mark II and was looking to replace my Canon S80 which is now 6 yrs old. While I love the S80 and the quality pics it captured, the bulkiness of this point-and-shoot (P&S) became inconvenient. My wife was adamant she wanted a more compact P&S this time around.

In addition to great pics, I was looking for a P&S with 1080p video capability so I wouldn't have to get a separate camcorder. Let me say that the 300 HS is a quality camera packed into a sleek body that I can easily slip into any pocket on the run.

Most Canon cameras (I am a Canon loyalist) take great shots. But what most impresses me about this camera are its low-light capabilities. It obviously can not match the image quality of a DSLR, but for a P&S, I was impressed! Indoor night shots of my kids WITHOUT flash (incandescent lighting only) come out amazingly crisp with minimal noise. Autofocus is quite impressive as it tracks faces in the frame further enhancing ease of use. Menu functions are quite intuitive (if you've owned previous Canon models). It's got plenty of preset shooting modes. And it's quick between shots for a P&S (a couple seconds with flash photography).

I also compared the 1080p video vs Flip Ultra HD which shoots in 720p. The video quality is like night-and-day with the 300 HS finishing ahead by a mile. Low-light video is grainy but still watchable (unwatchable on Flip). In daylight, video looks beautiful. Video is easily imported into both iphoto and imovie. Just make sure you have a large memory card as 1080p takes up 16GB/hour of video. I bought a 32GB card.

I did purchase an extra battery after reading battery life can be short. I've had the camera a week and have used it for 15-30 minutes daily (including video capture) and I have not needed to recharge yet.

I'd also recommend the black body as it has a textured housing that makes holding this small camera much easier.

Also purchased a Caselogic TBC - 302 compact camera case which fits this camera perfectly. It has a small side pocket that I slip the extra battery in.

Overall, considering the excellent quality of the camera, easy portability, and great price, this camera is worth every penny.

38 people were helped by this review.

return home



Why to get the silver one instead of the black one

by: Jake Danzig (Spook City, USA)
on: July 27, 2011



I've always been a proponent of function over form, but this is one of the rare cases I've run into where there is such a huge difference in satisfaction with one over the other that I felt it my duty to share with fellow consumers almost immediately. Keep in mind that this review is only to help those of you out there who have already decided that the functionality of this camera satisfies you, but you are struggling with which color to get, as I was.

Long story short, I've had both a black one and a silver one in my hand over the course of the last week (black returned due to a manufacturing problem that Amazon, as always, handled in an A+ manner - I chose to replace with the silver). Now I'm the type of guy that always gets everything in black - clothes, furniture, and especially gadgets, so naturally I gravitated toward the black model. That being said, get the silver one - period. The black one does look cool, but the sandpaper texture, while providing good grip, absolutely detracts from the overall value of this camera. It makes it a pain to pull out of your pocket, picks up dirt and lint like a magnet, and just has an overall cheap feel to it. I couldn't even wipe the screen off with a microfiber cloth without it catching and nearly tearing on the housing. When I received the silver one, the first thing I thought when I opened it was, "You've got to be kidding me. How can a color change alone constitute such a vast difference in satisfaction?" The answer is because I now feel like I have a quality camera I can actually use instead of something I have to constantly worry about catching on things and wiping lint off of. Everything about the silver one blows the black out of the water; smooth finish feels very nice, looks nice, doesn't act like a lint brush, and the entire camera has a much sturdier, more solid feel to it in general. In fact, one of the first huge things I noticed was the quality of the battery door. I've owned many Canon P&S cameras over the years, and when I first saw the door to the black camera, it immediately struck me as something way more low budget than I'm accustomed to seeing with Canon cameras. When I received the silver one, instantly noticed the quality was back up to par.

One final consideration that always manifests apprehension in the back of my mind when considering black cameras is that black, as everyone knows, absorbs sunlight, while lighter colors reflect it. if you're going to use it mainly indoors or at night then no problem, but if you plan on using it the sun a lot like at the beach, on vacations, heavy daylight use in general, then it only makes sense to me that black cameras in these cases would be more prone to overheating and/or accelerated mechanical wear and tear. If it's really enough to make a significant difference in the life cycle of the product is questionable, but that's just one of those things that, unlike with phones, handheld video game systems, etc, keeps me from automatically defaulting to the black model.

In summary, great camera no matter what color you get, but for the price I just feel like the silver one gives me so much more value. I can't speak of the red one as I've not seen it, but I've heard the texture is the same as the silver, and with regards to the advantages over the black one, most of the above would still apply. Red is more of a girly color than silver though, so please keep that in mind if you're a guy.

37 people were helped by this review.

return home



Great camera if it's what you're looking for

by: Force2BRW
on: March 19, 2011



I've only had it for a couple days now, but I can honestly say this camera was worth every penny so far. It has a lot of interesting features, and is the only camera I have found that hits all the strong points I was looking for (120 fps @ 640x480 resolution, full 1080 hd video, optical zoom and auto focus during movie recording, strong low-light performance, good image stabilization, and small form factor [very small. much smaller than other cameras like it that I was considering])

Other things of note: I have Photoshop, and use it regularly, so I wasn't looking for a camera that can do everything by itself. This camera cannot shoot hdr pictures by itself like the Exilim ZR-10 or 100 can, nor can it take panoramic pictures all by itself. It does have a "panorama helper" kind of application, which will help you line up the shots, but you must then use software later to merge them (it comes with software, compatible with both mac and pc, that will help you merge photos, as well as sort through them and manage them, but I find that Photoshop does a much better job than the packaged software does at creating panoramas. I also use the HDR toning option on Photoshop to simulate an actual HDR picture. As long as all the details are there (not blown out or too dark to brighten), PS can create a very convincing HDR picture, and this camera does a good job at getting all the detail in pictures.

It also doesn't take the fastest pictures (around 3 per second) on continuous mode, but I rarely (if ever) take more than 1 picture at a time. I may take pictures in succession, but I generally set each one up, rather than just shotgunning a bunch of pictures.

The pictures are very sharp. I haven't had much time with video or sound yet, but the little that I have played around with it produced pretty good results. (altho sound can get very distorted with windy sound in a windy environment, as many camera's microphones can. still thinking about/searching for a remedy...)

Also, just a little side note, the finish on the camera is left a bit rough. This is a good thing, as it gives the camera more grip, and makes it less likely to slip out of your hand. I have used cameras that were shiny and slippery before, and it make taking pictures with one hand much more difficult and risky. The rough texture keep this camera more firm in your hand. This also makes the camera less prone to finger prints, altho the screen will collect plenty of those (but that has never really bothered me much)

Just a couple knocks against it that I have found so far, but they are not deal breakers for me. It says that it can take pictures with shutter speeds between 1/2000s and 15s. This may be true, but it is not user choosable. You cannot set the shutter speed of the camera. It has options for "Longer Exposure" (or something named like that), but does not let you choose the speed. I have not gotten it to hit a 15 second exposure yet. I was thinking of trying a city scene on a tripod where you set the exposure long so that the car lights look like streaks, but it doesn't seem to stay open long enough.

Also, the zoom doesn't seem to be variable, it goes at one speed, and it's pretty fast, so sometimes it can be hard to hit that sweet spot if you are trying to get a shot somewhere in the middle (5x zoom, which I think is very reasonable for it's size), and optical zoom is pretty slow while recording video, but still an option, which is more than many cameras of this type can say. The battery may also be a tad short (especially if doing a lot of video and/or zooming in and out, but that will shorten the life all camera batteries), but they are pretty small, and you can get extra, generic batteries for very cheap.

There is no way to plug in the camera to a wall for continuous shooting/video, so you need to replace the battery when it dies. However, I have seen the option of having a battery stand-in that sits in the battery slot and runs a line down to an adapter that plugs into the wall, but this will require you to leave the battery door open while using it)

For everything your getting, I think this camera is well worth $250. It takes sharp, accurately colored pictures look great on their own, as well as with Photoshop. If you do not own any imaging editing software, this camera still produces great pictures, has a ton of very cool, very interesting modes (some of which I've never seen on any camera before), and comes with some simple editing software (mainly for merging panorama shots. there is also other, free image editing software out there on the internet if you are so inclined)

Edit:

You CAN choose the shutter speed, it's just not as simple to find as some of the other options. You have to go into program mode, choose the Long Shutter option. Exit program mode. When you're back to the normal screen, press the up button (+/-). From there, you can choose the shutter speed by pressing right and left. Glad to find the option!

30 people were helped by this review.

return home



A Sweet Point And Shoot Camera

by: Albert A. Azose (Van Nuys, CA United States)
on: June 11, 2011



Based partly on the reviews here, I bought the Elph 300HS Silver, and played with it for several hours, initially shooting about 150 stills and about 10 minutes of video. I settled on the Elph 300HS because I wanted a reliable and solid point and shoot camera, where the Auto feature would do all the work. I admit I'm no photography pro, and I certainly don't have the time, patience, or inclination to fiddle with all the interminable and esoteric photographic settings, nor did I want a bulky camera to lug around.

The video looks very good, especially on a hi-def monitor but tends to blur very slightly when zooming in too fast. And I have to admit that having a zoom feature on hi-def video was a strong selling point for me. The tiny stereo microphone works fine, and like all other similar cameras, picks up the ubiquitous wind sounds. You should also be aware that these hi-def videos take up a lot more file space on your SD cards than "mere" DVD quality.

I compared one or two pics on the Elph to the same shots taken at the same time on my older Canon Powershot A710IS (12 vs. 7 megapixels) and there was a slight discernable increase in the quality of the still shots. I had hoped that the Elph photos would be much sharper and clearer because of the newer technology and the additional 5 megapixels, but the increase in quality, while noticeable, was minimal. In all fairness, however, I did not print the photos, I only viewed them on my hi-def monitor. With the price of ink cartridges these days, I'm very selective about printing color photos on my printer, but I am certain that the Elph photos, if printed, would look much better than those of my older camera.

As claimed, the Elph does indeed take great shots in lower light, but the tradeoff for this is that the resulting photos seem to be a little softer than the shots taken in normal light.

Another slight disappointment, as pointed out in another review, is that the videos are saved as .mov files rather than .avi or .wmv files. Windows Movie Player will play them, but only by expanding the file types to "any file". Fortunately, there are several programs out there which will convert these .mov files. The one I use, Prism Video File Converter, can convert these .mov files to .wmv files (among others), and the .mov file sizes are reduced by an astonishing factor of one fifth, without a noticeable decrease in quality. If you plan to edit or combine your Elph videos by using Windows Movie Maker, it will happily handle .wmv files, but not .mov files.

The really surprising thing about the Elph is its very tiny size, a worthy example of the art and science of miniaturization. Yet, it still feels quite heavy in the hand, no doubt due to all the electronic components packed into its tiny but solid metal frame which provide all its many features. Bottom line? It ain't perfect, but it's one hell of a sweet point and shoot camera.

22 people were helped by this review.

return home



Awesome Point and Shoot

by: Keith Corbin
on: March 14, 2011



This is a point and shoot class camera, if you understand that going in, you are going to be more than impressed with it. I'm going from an SD630 and hands down, this beats it. I even had an SX210IS and these images are on par with it, if not better. I had to return my SX210IS as it had issues with dust on the image sensor and I've been waiting for a new P&S class to come out. I bit the bullet on this, well, the black version Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video (Black) and what can I say - I am happy!

300HS vs 500HS:

There is a 500HS version of the camera, which is approx $50 more. To this point, the only differences I can tell are the LCD on the back as well as aperture priority and shutter priority, while the 300hs does not. The touch screen on the 500hs can also be used to focus on a particular subject. The 500hs also has a wider aperture at 2.0, the 300hs has 2.7.

Form Factor/Display:

Small. Awesome. There is a texture on the camera, I really like this as it seems like it will help if you hands are wet (sweat, snow, etc). Easy to operate one hand and if using both hands, flash isn't in a horrible place. Display is very bright and button seem intuitive as with other Canon cameras. Battery and SD are on the bottom door, USB and HDMI are in a covered side port. Comes with a wrist strap if you desire a little extra security.

Boot Time/Software:

Camera is ready to take photos very fast. From the time you press the button, it's pretty much set to catch the action. Time between photos wasn't terrible (about 1.5 seconds) and if you need it, there is continuous shot mode. Had no problem with the Canon software on Windows 7. I've used the Canon Photo Window import for a while, does a good job of getting photos off the camera without duplicates. I use Picasa to then manage my photo library (I skip the Zoom Browser, but it's really not bad if you want to use it, I'm just a slave to Google/gmail)

Computer Connectivity:

I didn't find this anywhere in the specs, so if you're looking, the camera uses mini-USB, similar to all Canon's that have come out over the last few years.

Optical Zoom:

You're going to be impressed with the form factor of this camera and it's 5x OPTICAL zoom. I immediately disabled digital zoom as 12.1MP + 5x Optical will get you very close to the action. You're better off digitally enhancing the photos later on.

Battery + Memory Card:

This uses the NBL-4 (again, I found confusion on this and accessories) - so if you have some of those laying around keep them as they'll work just fine in this camera. This is nice as my SD630 uses the NBL-4 so now I have 2 chargers + 3 batteries. It took my 32GB SDHC without any issues and holds thousands of images. Images have tended to be between 2 and 3mb on the highest settings.

Image Quality:

Look, I'm no photo fanatic, I don't expect the people buying this camera are. I am looking for solid images and this camera delivers. There are a ton a feature you can delve into and I'm sure they are good. It has manual mode, so if you fancy that, you can go down that path. But I'm the type of person that knows when something looks good, OK or great. This camera consistently delivers GREAT photos. I'm happy with the low light and images aren't blurry or grainy (within reasonable expectations).

Video:

FINALLY! Optical zoom on a Canon during video! 1080p brings this camera up to par with others in its class and it does a decent job. I didn't notice any major noise when zooming in and out while recording video. I know this is the excuse Canon has used in the past as to why they never had this feature. It shoots nice clips for those quick moments. This will NOT replace a true DV cam, but hey, for a few minute clips here and there, you will simply not be dissapointed.

21 people were helped by this review.

return home



NIKON D3100 14.2MP DIGITAL SLR CAMERA WITH 18-55MM F/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR NIKKOR ZOOM LENS (ELECTRONICS)

return home



Nikon's affordable, compact and lightweight D3100 digital SLR features a high-resolution 14-megapixel CMOS DX sensor, high-quality 3x NIKKOR 18-55mm VR image stabilization zoom lens and intuitive onboard assistance including the learn-as-you grow Guide Mode. Capture beautiful pictures and amazing Full HD 1080p movies with sound and full-time autofocus. Easily capture the action other cameras miss with a fast start up time, split-second shutter release, 3 frames per second shooting and 11-point autofocus. Capture 3 frames per second for fast action shooting. Capture pictures and make movies in near darkness with an ISO range of 100 to 3200 (expandable to 12800-Hi2). EXPEED 2, Nikon's new image processing engine, assures breathtakingly rich image quality, managing color, contrast, exposure and noise. One-touch Live View and movie recording lets you see the action on the 3-inch monitor and the Scene Recognition System automatically chooses the ideal settings. You can also select from 6 Automatic Exposure Scene Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close-up or Night Portrait for stunning results in otherwise challenging conditions. Active D-Lighting restores picture-enhancing detail in shadows and highlights. A built-in pop-up flash is ready for those times when there just isn't enough light and in-camera image editing allows creative freedom and effects, without the need for a computer. Nikon D3100 Highlights Easy-to-use Guide Mode walks you through the settings you need for the shot you want. 14.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS Image Sensor Delivers beautiful photographs and prints well beyond 20 x 30 inches. Includes 3x 18-55mm Zoom-NIKKOR VR Image Stabilization Lens Included lens offers the legendary NIKKOR optical quality and fast, accurate autofocus for vivid color, striking contrast and crisp detail and VR image stabilization to ensure the sharpest hand-held pictures and movies. Full 1080p HD Cinematic Video Features full-time autofocus and sound; record cinematic-quality movies in Full 1080p HD format (1920 x 1080 pixels). Easy-To-Use The D3100 features Nikon's Guide Mode with intuitive controls and on-board assistance helping you take better pictures every step of the way. Compact and Lightweight Design Beautifully styled--ready to go wherever life takes you. Split-second Shutter Response Eliminates the frustration of shutter delay, capturing moments that other cameras miss. Fast 11-point Autofocus System Delivers razor-sharp pictures. ISO sensitivity 100-3200, expandable to ISO 12800 equivalent Delivers exceptional results, even in the most challenging low-light situations. 3-inch monitor Features One-Touch Live View shooting and movie capture. Scene Auto Selector Lets the D3100 decide the best mode to match the shooting situation when using Live View. EXPEED 2 Nikon's new image processing engine assures breathtakingly rich image quality, managing color, contrast, exposure, noise and speed. Scene Recognition System in Live View Automatically optimizes exposure, autofocus, and white balance, allowing you to obtain beautiful photos without the hassle of making complicated camera adjustments yourself. 6 Automatic Exposure Scene Modes Just set the Mode dial to Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close-up or Night Portrait for stunning results in otherwise challenging conditions. Active D-Lighting Restores picture-enhancing detail in shadows and highlights. D-Lighting in action. Picture Control Choose from Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, or Landscape to apply a personal look and feel to your pictures. Automatic Image Sensor Cleaning Ultrasonic process and exclusive Airflow Control combats the accumulation of dust in front of the image sensor, safeguarding image quality shot after shot. Built-in pop-up flash Perfect for those times when there isn't enough light. In-camera Image Editing Allows creative freedom, without the need for a computer, offering easy editing functions. Compatible Lenses AF-S and AF-I: All functions supported Type G or D AF NIKKOR without built-in autofocus motor: All functions except autofocus supported. IX NIKKOR lenses not supported. Other AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D color matrix metering II. Lenses for F3AF not supported. Type D PC NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and some shooting modes. AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D color matrix metering II. Non-CPU: Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function. Note: Electronic rangefinder can be used if lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster. What's in the Box D3100 digital SLR camera body; AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens; EN-EL14 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, MH-24 Battery Charger, DK-5 Eyepiece Cap, DK-20 Rubber Eyecap, AN-DC3 Camera Strap, BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cover, BF-1B Body Cap, ViewNX 2 CD-ROM




Nikon D3100 VS. D300 VS. D700

by: Michael Allebach "Tattooed Bride Photographer... (Philadelphia, Pa)
on: September 23, 2010



For the cost of this camera, I don't think you can get anything better. The low light performance is off the charts. As a wedding photographer I regularly shoot with Nikon's high end professional equipment and I was amazed how close this camera is to a pro camera. Now let me get specific. In order to compare I took a look at 100% files out of each camera I own.

Which camera excels Nikon D3100($Cheap) VS. D300($1600) VS. D700 ($2,700):

* Lens = The D3100 is the only camera that comes with a lens at it's normal price

* ISO Performance = Tie between D3100 and D700! (It could be Nikon's new processing but the JPEG looks fantastic I was shooting D3100 on 6400iso with very little noise at all)

* Low Light Focusing = D700

* Focus Speed = D700

* External Buttons & Controls for Pros = D700

* Menu Navigation = D3100

* Ease of Use = D3100

* Megapixel = D3100 (14.2)

* Sensor size = D700 (Much more important than megapixels but I won't get into this)

* Can use older lenses with functionality = D700 & D300

* Video = D3100 of course! 1080P video looks amazing.

* Frame Rate = D300 at 6 photos a second

* Weight = D3100 (light as a feather)

* Ergonomics = D700 (big enough for all my finger)

Lens:

The lens is a kit lens, it will work outside but not so great in low light. The Vibration Reduction will help indoors but Vibration Reduction can't stop a child or pet in motion indoors. Consider buying a 35mm 1.8dx AFS for around $200 and you will be super happy with this camera.

Video:

I purchased the 3100 specifically to shoot video, so I put on Nikon's brand new 85mm 1.4g Nano lens and shot video with it. The lens costs more than double the camera but I wanted to see how the 1080P video looked. It has the look of a cinematic movie. After the 85mm, I put on Nikon's 50 1.2 manual focus lens and was able to take very cinematic video in manual mode. In order to make it brighter or darker you either need to use a really old lens like the 50mm 1.2 and hit the AE-L (auto exposure lock) and twist the aperture to change exposure. Or you can hit the AE-L button when you get the exposure you like. Its not a perfect system but it works well for me. Inside the menu options you can change the AE-L button to hold the setting until you reset which is helpful.

Jello Cam (What's not so great):

This camera still suffers from the "Jello Cam" look in video if it is not on a tripod and you are shaky. The video can look like jello if moved too quickly. Use a monopod or tripod when shooting to avoid this. I'm not sure if a faster video frame rate 60fps would help - but at 24 and 30 it can suffer badly.

Conclusion:

This is an amazing deal! Unless you make most of your income from photography or have a stockpile of old lenses (this camera can only autofocus with AFS lenses) then this camera is the must have camera of the year. If you have good composition skills and an eye for light you can take photos worthy of a magazine with this. Seriously, you won't regret buying this camera. When you do, do yourself a favor and buy an additional Nikon AFS lens that has a maximum aperture of 2.8, 1.8 or 1.4. These lenses will take better portraits and deal better in low light than the kit lens.

965 people were helped by this review.

return home



D70 Upgrade

by: J. Douglas (Wisconsin)
on: October 1, 2010



I recently updated my DSLR collection to the Nikon D3100 from the Nikon D70. There are good reviews out there that you should check out. However, I would like to share some of my first impressions.

Pro:

-Better image quality and lower noise at high ISO with the D3100

-MUCH MUCH lighter, which will be nice when traveling

-Larger LCD screen

-11 focus points, including 3D focus which tracks the motion of the subject or camera.

-1080p Video

-14 megapixels

-2nd Generation DSLR

-Quiet, quiet, quiet

Cons:

-No bracketing option. Not a huge deal since I only bracket once a year

-Cannot use my old 50mm 1.8 lens. I knew this before purchasing the camera.

-As of 10/1/2010, Camera RAW for the D3100 is not supported in Photoshop or Lightroom. Need to shoot .jpg + RAW or use Nikon Capture NX2 for RAW files. That should be updated soon, so not a big deal.

-Can hear the lens focusing when recording video.

-No depth of field preview.

-Can't use wireless remote

I'm an amateur photographer and this camera meets my needs. I love the fact that it's small and light, with great quality images. If I were a serious photographer and had more money to spare, I would wait and check out the D7000, which appears to have phenomenal specs. I'm happy with my purchase and I highly recommend this camera.

238 people were helped by this review.

return home



All good things come in small packages! How true for Nikon D3100!

by: VIPUL D KAPADIA
on: September 23, 2010



Hurray! The long wait is over! Nikon had us wait for such a long time for its newer models (D3100 and D7000) and it was just when we started thinking if Nikon will ever have an answer, anytime soon, to Canon's T2i, 7D and 60D) they released these two wonderful cameras - D3100 and D7000. Let's focus on D3100, shall we?

So I finally had a chance to get hold of this D-SLR at Best Buy today. I am not a pro by any means but I have used many different D-SLRs including Canon (40D, T2i, XSi) and Nikon (D90, D5000). When I picked-up the camera for the first time, my initial reaction was, "whoa - this is so small and light weight"! It wasn't that I wasn't aware of the specs - I knew them beforehand but I was still blown away by how small and light it felt when I held it in my hands. Then, I thought, the grip would not be very comfortable but I was wrong as holding and operating the camera is just fine - thanks to Nikon's well-thought-out design and grip. For the size and feel, it's very similar to D3000 but has more goodies from the higher versions. So from an initial wow factor, I quickly moved on to focusing on features and capabilities.

I have just started using this camera so more update will follow but in the meantime my initial assessment of this camera is - I am impressed! It is one heck of a camera which can certainly compete against the best in its class (Canon T1i, T2i, Nikon D5000). Check out detailed reviews at dpreview (.com) and cameralabs (.com) - they should be added soon if not already there.

I love this camera because it:

+ has enough mega pixels for my needs (14.2).

+ captures crystal clear images (thanks to EXPEED2 processor & the CMOS sensor, the sensor is slightly smaller than the one used in D7000).

+ offers 1080p (HD) recording, AF subject tracking is awesome (10 min max is fine with me; it records outstanding videos even in low light and to me that's big).

+ offers ISO from 100-3200 (D90 starts at 200), it can go higher but I really don't think why I would need anything above that.

+ is small & light weight yet has good grip, easy to carry around in hands or neck.

+ supports SDXC cards on top of SD and SDHC - now that's nice.

+ (25-Sep-2010): has buttons that are well organized especially the video recording mode with a lever so you cannot mistakenly activate recording. That video recording lever once unlocked, gets locked in 30 seconds if you do not record and the countdown begins as soon as you unlock the lever. Also you can record video while you're in any dial (imaging) mode (Auto, P, A, S, M, and so on) where as in Canon T2i, etc. you have to move the camera dial to movie mode. So this is a great convenience - you can jump between taking pictures and recording videos with a simple unlocking of the lever. Additionally, you can be in a preferred dial (imaging) mode (Auto, P, A, S, M, and so on) and change the release mode to Single, Continuous, Self-timer or Quiet mode (this is located right underneath the main dial) - another great convenient feature.

+ (04-Oct-2010): In-body photo and movie retouch menu. This is great as we don't need any special software to apply certain touches. I love it.

Could have been even better if:

- it had the bracketing option (not too much to expect at this price point level but oh well I don't use that much but for some people this could be a big plus).

- grid lines were available (I miss them in both in live view and in the view finder).

- Active D Lighting was not limited to just ON or OFF (either you have it or not at all, instead of low, medium, high, etc.). Don't get me wrong the ON just worked fine (better than Canon T2i) but I can't compare with all other modes.

Recommendations (optional accessories):

* In my personal order of importance - your preference may differ. *

1. Nikon UC-E4 USB Cable - not included. (~$6)

2. UV filter - a must for protecting your lens against accidental damage. (~10$)

3. Carrying case is a must to protect your investment. There are many cases to choose from and it's up to you to decide but I suggest getting something like Lowepro SlingShot 102 AW (all weather proof carrying case) so if it rains, you can pull out the weather guard and cover it up. ($90)

4. Additional rechargeable Lithium Ion EN-EL14 battery so you never run out the juice when you're traveling and do not want to miss capturing a moment for good. (~$35)

5. SB-600 Speedlight. Those who have used speed lights would know what difference it can make to an image with adjustments you can make to light for an image. (~$225)

6. 18-55 VR lens has its limitations so if you have extra $$$s, buy body only (if that even is an option) and get yourself a 18-105 VR lens. But at that point, you may want to consider D90 which still is a good camera and offers many more controls. (~$325 to $350)

Overall:

I give this camera 5 Stars because it takes excellent pictures in almost all conditions (bright or low-light) and that is exactly what I wanted this camera to do for me. Period.

I must commend Nikon for not getting into the mega pixel race (read marketing). They instead kept the photographer in mind and focused on delivering greater picture quality. Kudos to Nikon for having that courage.

513 people were helped by this review.

return home



Takes excellent pictures and gets out of the way while doing it

by: Macauley86 (California, United States)
on: November 14, 2010



This Nikon D3100 is a phenomenal deal for non professionals, the rest of us people that want to take family and travel shots. I've owned DSLRs since 2004, starting with a Nikon D70 and then moving to D40, D200 and Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black) and Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) . Those are all excellent cameras, but this Nikon D3100 is better than all of those in one crucial area, the area that matters: it takes excellent pictures without having to fiddle with the settings between shots. Yes, the other cameras are better in other respects: They have more buttons to change settings without delving into menus, they are bigger (is that a plus?), heavier (another plus?), and have better specs (1/500 flash sync speed for D70 and D40), but in the end I would have to fiddle with the settings to get the best results: change the white balance, fiddle with the ISO (my Canons would default to ISO 400 for flash shots, why? Who knows. That meant disabling auto ISO and choosing ISO settings manually), the exposure (+0.7 indoor, 0 outdoor), and so on. D200 was noisy at higher ISO, D70's pictures tended to be cool (i.e. not warm), 40D had cool custom buttons (C1, C2, C3, very cool), but I found its ergonomics worse than XSi or any Nikon; why place the on/off switch at the bottom of the body? Who knows. Fortunately, new Canons have fixed this).

This D3100 also makes the D3000 and D5000 obsolete. The D3000 is slow and noisy at high ISO. The D5000 only shoots 720p (not 1080p), no autofocus in movie mode, less resolution. Old technology.

What sets the D3100 apart from all the other cameras above is this: set the camera in P (program) mode, auto white balance, -0.3 exposure compensation, slow flash sync mode (for people shots), auto distortion correction on (great!), auto chromatic aberrations correction on (great!), and you are set; now you can concentrate on the only aspect of photography that matters: composition, i.e. framing your shot in the best possible way. There must be a photography mantra that says, "thou shalt buy the D3100, and the D3100 will set you free." Now this is if you shot jpeg. If you shoot raw, you can then use a program like DXO, Aperture 3 , or Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 to further play with the pictures. My workflow with the XSi was to shoot raw, then use DXO to batch process all the pics according to two settings: people (low contrast, no saturation added) and landscape (contrast, saturation, etc.). DXO would then batch-remove lens distortion, chromatic aberrations, vignetting, apply custom curves, change white balance when necessary, and apply its (almost magical) auto lighting settings to make the shots pop. For now DXO does not have a custom module for the D3100 (still too new of a camera), so I'm shooting jpeg for now. Once DXO adds the module for the D3100, I'll takes shots in both raw and jpeg fine and compare the jpegs straight out of the camera with the raw images processed with DXO. I'm curious to see the comparison.

This is great, not only for you, but also for your non-photographer spouse; my XSi took phenomenal shots, but I had to know how to set it. Can you imagine me going to my non-photographer wife and say, "okay, when you take indoor shots of our kids, set the camera on A mode (Canons expose for ambient light in A mode and adjust flash for fill, that's great), +0.7 exposure compensation, ISO 400 or 800, white balance on cloudy, and shoot." My wife was lost at "okay." Sure the custom modes on the 40D would have helped, but the 40D is old technology; can it take 1080p video? I didn't think so. Plus, what lens are you going to use with the 40D? The 17-55 IS? Great lens, but who wants to spend $1,000 for a non-weather sealed 17-55 dust collector (google Canon 17-55 and dust)? Will 17-55 be enough for your telephoto shots? Your kids' baseball games? Didn't think so. What about the Canon 18-200? Sub-par quality, noisy, overpriced.

Back to the D3100. Auto white balance (the second most important thing after composition) works great, even indoor (no cloudy setting necessary), the only changes are extreme situations (outdoor shade, or indoor fluorescent or tungsten lights at night, but that is true with every camera. Why that is is beyond me; can't they make smarter cameras that account for these situations as well?); movie mode is excellent; yes, the mic is mono, but that's okay for family use (and that's why you buy this camera; if you are pro, you landed on the wrong page); if you really want to push it, you can use this camera for video, your iphone/ipod touch for audio with an app like FourTrack, and then sync video and audio in post with the excellent Singular Software Dual Eyes program. Your choice. Matter is: DSLR video can look awesome if used the right way, but keep in mind its limitations: jerky camera horizontal panning will give you the infamous jello effect (courtesy of the CMOS sensor), so pan slowly. You'll also have to play with autofocus vs manual focus settings sometimes; I've used the camera in autofocus; it has worked great so far.

What lens(es) should you use with the D3100. You should sell the (excellent) 18-55 that ships with the camera. Quality is good, but not enough reach. You can sell it for $140 or so. Take the money and use it toward a more useful lens. What lens? The target market for this camera is moms and dads that want to take shots of their kids; even advanced amateurs like me don't want to travel with a camera bag full of primes and heavy zoom lenses that you have to swap every 10 minutes; this is 2010 (almost 2011), for crying out loud; choose a single zoom and enjoy life and photography; I would use the excellent but underrated Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras , the excellent (but expensive) Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX ED VR Nikkor Wide-Angle Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras , or my choice, the jack-of-all trades, the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VR II Nikkor Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon DX-Format Digital SLR Cameras . Yes, yes, if you check sites like Photozone, they will tell you that the optical quality of the 18-200 is not as good (or consistent) as the 18-105 or the 16-85, but it's good enough for moms and dads bitten by the photography bug. A great shot of your kid at 200mm is better than no shot with either of the other two lenses. The optical superiority of the 16-85 disappears at 135mm or 200mm, simply because it can't do it. The 16-85 and the 18-200 are about the same price. The 18-200 will set you free. It won't help you if your kids play baseball at night (too slow), but you'll have to live with it, unless you are willing to drop $2,000 on a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor Zoom Lens For Nikon Digital SLR Cameras . Sure, we'd all like a 16-300 VR VIII lens with a 20-stop VR reduction, constant 1.4 aperture, with optical perfection, weighing only 500 gr. and below $1,000, but alas our engineers are not as good as the random mutation and natural selection that gave us our eyes ;-0

My settings:

Display mode: detailed photo info > check RGB histogram and data > Done (why? You want to check if you are clipping the red, green, or blue channels)

Transition effects: OFF

Set picture control: portrait (for people shots)

Landscape: for, well, landscape shots: increase sharpness to 4 (D3100 shots are unsharpened by default)

Image quality: raw + jpeg fine (or jpeg fine, if you don't want to mess with raw)

White balance: auto (I played with the settings to A1, A2, A3, but images were to yellowish for my taste, as if my kids had jaundice). Auto works fine

Auto ISO: on

Min shutter speed: 1/30 (1/15 if you have steady hands)

Max ISO: I set 800, you can push to 1600 or even 3200 (your choice)

Standard ISO: 100

Active D-Lighting: on (it works well)

Auto distortion control: on (Great)

Movie settings: 1080 24p. You can also do 720 at 30p for less jerky movements

Info display format: i prefer classic black (your choice)

Auto info display: off

Image comment: your choice. I have my name, copyright (haha), and phone number

Beep: off (please)

AEL-AFL button: I only lock exposure, not focus.

My accessories:

67-to-77 ring adapter (if you have the 18-105 lens)

72-to-77 ring adapter (if you have the 18-200 lens)

77mm haze filter. I use the best, The B+W 77mm UVA (Ultra Violet) Haze MRC Filter

010 one. You don't want to use a cheap fIlter on top of a $350 or $650 lens.

77mm circular polarizer fliter; again I use the best, the B + W 77mm Kaesemann Circular Polarizer Coated Glass Filter . This filter is for your travel shots. It will make blue skies bluer and will remove reflections from that gorgeous Maui ocean. This is an expensive filter at $180 or so; you don't have to get it right away, unless you are going to Maui soon.

Why 77mm filters? Because you don't want to go nuts buying filters of different sizes for your lenses. If buy the 67mm filter for your 18-105 lens and later decide to upgrade your lens to the 72mm 18-200, you are screwed. It's cheaper to buy a $5 lens ring adapter to 77mm and use 77mm filters. It'll keep you sane too.

Remember why you purchase this camera: you want to enjoy photography; enjoy it then.

112 people were helped by this review.

return home



First time DSLR buyer.

by: THockensmith
on: December 11, 2010



This is my first time buying a Digital SLR. I have mainly used point and shoot cameras in the past and have always had fun taking pictures. I wanted to start digital photography as a hobby so I decided to buy a nicer camera. After reading many reviews and comparisons I decided on this camera as it is the update to the Nikon D3000 that a friend of mine has. They love their camera so I figured this was a good choice. Unfortunately I have not learned enough to take many pictures off of Auto mode, so it acts like a point and shoot. Compared to my Kodak point and shoot the pictures are great. I love this camera as it does a good job of taking pictures and is not very heavy. It looks like it should be, but does not feel like it is. It appears to be a very sturdy camera.

Nikon suggests certain memory cards that they certified to use with this camera. Most of these for an 8GB card are $50 or more. I purchased two Transcend 8GB Class 10 SDHC Card (TS8GSDHC10) from Amazon and so far these have been amazing. I have the camera saving in both RAW and JPEG until I can get familiar enough to switch completely to RAW. Saving in this format is 20MB a picture and this card has no trouble keeping up.

As a first time Digital SLR buyer and user I love this camera and would highly recommend it to others. We took about 300 pictures at a Thanksgiving get together and a few other people tried the camera out and were impressed as well.

I am not a professional so please don't take my opinion as someone acting as an authority on this subject, but as a first time user I am happy and hope my review will help any other first time digital camera fans out there. Thanks.

68 people were helped by this review.

return home



Nikon D3100 - An Excellent DSLR For The Entry-Level Photographer

by: Nick (Minnesota, USA)
on: February 23, 2011



The Nikon D3100 is an excellent entry-level DSLR. Could you pay more to get a "better" camera with "more features"? Absolutely. But why? Would you use those features? I looked long and hard at several in my research before buying - the models I considered were the Canon T2i, Canon 60D, the Nikon D90, and of course, the Nikon D3100. In the end, I decided the extra features on those other cameras were features that I likely wouldn't use. I'm interested mainly in taking lots of pictures while traveling -- pictures of clouds, landscapes, maybe some street photography. I wanted a smaller, lighter DSLR with good battery life and great image quality. The D3100 delivers on all accounts.

So what do the cameras in the next price-tier have that the D3100 doesn't? A lot of stuff that most people looking in this price range won't be concerned with. Here's a list of the "missing" things and/or "problems" with the D3100 as I found while researching my purchase:

1) Most online reviews and forums mention a problem with AutoISO and the built-in flash. When using the built-in flash in full auto, AutoISO jumps straight to the maximum ISO value, which I believe is defaulted to ISO-3200. Nikon says this is intended to get a better exposed background, fine with me. Personally, I think that ISO-3200 images out of this camera are very useable unless you're pixel peeping. If you just want to blow up an indoor portrait to an 8x10 (or even larger, I don't know!), you won't have a problem. Don't worry about it!

2) You can frequently hear the lens auto-focusing in your videos. Ok, you got me. If you're in a silent environment, yes, you will hear the autofocus motor, but if you're recording kids laughing and having a good time at the local indoor waterpark or at a parade or something, it's not loud enough where it would be a bother. If it is an annoyance, you can still shoot video with manual focus.

3) No external mic input. The D3100 is sufficient for getting a clip when you want it, you're not going to have movie quality sound. Who carries an external mic with them on vacation? If you're buying a DSLR specifically for video capabilities, you probably should be considering a dedicated camcorder anyway. For my purposes, there's nothing wrong with mono sound.

4) Lack of bracketing -- too much to explain in a review. Google it and see if you would ever use it. I can see why it would be useful, but I doubt it'd be useful for on-the-go photography.

5) Manual settings buried in menus instead of having dedicated buttons -- Most people at the entry-level probably aren't shooting full manual. The D3100 features several "scene" modes that you can use, otherwise there's always aperture or shutter priority, or even full auto. Depending on which priority you're in, the scroll wheel on the back will adjust the aperture or shutter speed. If you shoot full manual all the time, you may want dedicated buttons, meaning you should look elsewhere. If you're not in full manual, I can't see this being a problem.

6) Lack of built-in flash commander mode -- you can't trigger an off camera flash using your built-in flash. Some DSLR's have built-in flashes with this capability, the D3100 does not. For travel photography, this isn't an issue. For most at-home photography, this isn't an issue. It could be for macro photography depending how close to your subject you are, or if you have a full studio with multiple flashes setup in your basement. If you decide at a later point you want this capability, some external flashes such as the Nikon SB-700 can function as a commander. Otherwise, you can use whatever external flash you wish in conjunction with the SC-28 or SC-29 cord inthe D3100's hotshoe.

7) Perhaps the biggest potential problem with the D3100 is the lack of a built in focusing motor. This means the D3100 will not autofocus with plain AF lenses (manual still works though). Any lenses with the AF-S designation will auto-focus just fine. This can be costly though - on some of the higher-end lenses, the difference can be $600 or more between the AF and AF-S version of the same lens. Again, this comes down to "what will you use it for?" For this, I go back here: If this is a problem, you shouldn't be looking at an entry level DSLR anyway.

Nikon ships the D3100 with the 18-55mm AF-S VR lens, offers a very affordable 55-200mm AF-S VR telephoto, and my personal favorite, the 35mm f/1.8 AF-S lens. The 55-200 can be had for under $100 if you catch a sale or rebate, and the 35mm can be had for under $200. These three lenses will cover most of the needs for entry-level photographers, and all three of them auto-focus on the D3100. By the time we as amateur photographers outgrow this setup, we will know specifically what focal lengths we primarily use in order to make a more educated purchase for the expensive lenses later on. And I'm convinced, when that time comes, you'll have your eye on the latest and greatest prosumer DSLR to go with your fancy new lens anyway.

Until then, enjoy the D3100 for what it is. A great, inexpensive, entry-level DSLR, which, in my opinion, produces excellent images when in the hands of a photographer ready to learn!

42 people were helped by this review.

return home



Forget all the others

by: Dan InGold "xz38" (Boston, MA)
on: November 19, 2010



First impression:

I have tried Nikon d40, d5000, d90, canon xsi, and canon 40d. I would say d90 and d40 are the only two cameras comparable to this. when I received the camera,the kit lens is too tight to auto focus. I called up and asked a replacement. Even for this, I still give it 5 stars as it is the problem with the kit lens. before the replacement, I tried it on 55-200mm vr. I found I can easily pull out super quality pictures from this camera without tweaking settings. This gives me the d40 feeling. I did not see this from other cameras that I tried, especially the canon peers. This camera will make you shoot like a pro if you get some basic knowledge on how to compose your frame. Although it is an entry level camera, it produce as good if not better pictures from its expensive brothers. Unless you have a specific goal and purpose that you need its heavy brothers d90 or d7000, you should definitely go for this, as well as 50-200mm VRlens, then you are all set. I have a gut feeling this will become another legendary entry DSLR like d40.

Update (11/22/2010):

Color tone: Besides the super image quality, the color tone is more on the cold side while d40 is more on the warm side. The color is less saturated then d40 either. This is really personal taste. For me, I prefer warmer color and a little more saturation.

So if you want warmer and more saturated pictures, please follow Ken Rockwell's tips

Shooting menu->standard>+2 Saturation>OK (used for people)

Shooting menu->Vivid>+3 Saturation>OK (use for places and things)

Shooting menu->White balance->Auto->click right to A3->OK

Battery life: The battery life is not good. after dozens of low light shots and videos, your battery are done. So be careful with shooting videos in low light. A backup battery becomes necessary.

Focus: focus very fast

29 people were helped by this review.

return home