Photo Club

Casio Exilim Z60 review : At the beginning of this year, just before the start of the PMA 2006, Casio introduced a series of new Exilim digital cameras, including the ultra compact Casio Exilim EX Z60 camera. This ‘credit card’ sized camera has extremely compact measurements, and the breadth of just 19.8mm (the thinnest point is even 16.2mm) will totally amaze many consumers. The Casio Exilim Z60 has a resolution of 6 Megapixels and a 3x optical zoom. The resolution is slightly better than that of its predecessor, the Casio Z50 and six Megapixels is the applicable norm nowadays. The recently introduced 10 Megapixel Casio Exilim EX Z1000 compact camera is proof that Casio has no intention of dropping out of this Megapixel race.

Casio digital compact cameras
During a press conference in Europe, the Japanese management drove the point home that Casio has been a player on the digital camera market for many years. Although many consumers connect Casio to watches and calculators, they are unaware that Casio pioneered the contemporary digital camera. The company made a digital camera for consumers back in 1995 and today Casio has sold many generations of digital cameras to consumers. The current Exilim digital camera was designed around the Exilim image processor and its emphasis is on its compact format, speed, energy saving aspects and quality – things that can always be improved.

Casio Exilim EX-Z60 – Compact format
The Casio Exilim EX Z60 compact camera has been available on the market for several months and was noticed immediately thanks to its predecessors. The Casio Z60 is a little camera that is particularly suited to photographers who want to capture a favourite moment quickly and easily. A camera like this should be no trouble to take along so that you can always have it on you. The Casio Exilim Z60 is one of Casio’s prize products and is intended to capture a greater share of the market for Casio. At the moment, Casio is very active in Germany where its 15% share of the market share puts it at the top, but looking at its share of the US market, (3%) you will see that there is a lot of custom to be won.

Casio EX Z60 – Exilim camera line
Casio knows how to surprise the camera market every time with innovative solutions and possibilities, altered versions of which often crop up later in competing models. The Casio Exilim Z60 is typical of the sort of camera that you use to take a quick snapshot and that you casually shove in your coat or trouser pocket. It is not a camera for hobby photographers and although Casio has gained a lot of knowledge in the field of digital photography, it has not yet been seduced into making a digital reflex camera. Maybe if it had a strong partner with experience in digital reflex cameras, it would wager a step in this fast growing seg-ment, but in the meantime, Casio is sticking to the compact Exilim line.

Casio Exilim Z60 review
The Casio Exilim EX Z60 leads the ultra-compact Exilim Z series of cameras. With its 6 Megapixels and 3x optical zoom, it doesn’t stand out immediately in this fiercely competitive market. In any case, the Casio Z60 has a strikingly compact design and must rely on its extensive inbuilt automatic software which gains it top marks for user friendliness and convenience. We tested the Casio Exilim Z60 thoroughly, you can read our findings in the following Casio Exilim EX-Z60 digital camera review.

Fujifilm FinePix F10 digital camera review : Fujifilm introduced a new line of digital cameras at the beginning of February 2005, amongst them the new Fujifilm FinePix F10. This new Fujifilm F10 digital camera is equipped with a 6.3 Megapixel Super CCD HR, an image sensor from the stables of Fujifilm. This newest image sensor belongs to the 5th generation. And the Super CCD image sensor proved to be a full and innovative product over the past few years with which Fujifilm distinguishes itself from competing manufacturers.

Fujifilm F10 camera – Real Photo Technology
The Fujifilm FinePix F10 features a somewhat traditional designed housing; it is compact and equipped with the latest techniques. The main new technique, the so-called Real Photo Technology on the Fujifilm FinePix F10 should guarantee efficiency of energy consumption, faster operation and improved image recording. Features that will certainly appeal to the user. LetsGoDigital laid hands on a pre-production model a while back for a short period, and our first experiences with the camera were positive. Now we have used the final production camera in practice, the same model you’ll find on the shelves of your local photo dealer. Coming back to the Real Photo Technology; Fujifilm didn’t really disclose a lot about it, apart from publishing a press release and an announcement at the introduction of the new line of digital cameras. The first tidings of the results obtained with this new innovative technology are splendid. In fact, this technique is a merge of power coming from the features of a high quality Fujinon zoom lens, a 5th generation Super CCD sensor and the new RP processor. The Real Photo Technology will most likely be used in future Fujifilm models as well, let’s say the Fujifilm F11 or F20? We don’t know yet, so for now, let’s focuss on the Fujifilm F10.

Fujifilm F10 digital camera – LCD Monitor
The huge LCD monitor on the back of the camera is a valuable feature of the Fujifilm FinePix F10 digital camera. The images are rendered beautifully thanks to the large size of the monitor. During rendition, you can digitally zoom in through the zoom button. The more zoomed in on the subject, the more room it leaves to decide the position of the zooming in. Beside this possibility the Fuji F10 contains the function to sort images on date. A useful way to create an overview of images taken on the same date.

Fujifilm FinePix F10 – Digital camera review
The specifications of the Fujifilm F10 are very interesting and make digital photography enthusiasts curious about the possibilities of this digital camera. We took the camera with us on a trip and our experiences can be read in our Fujifilm FinePix F10 digital camera review.

Fujifilm FinePix S9000 digital camera review : At the time Fujifilm proved with the FinePix F10 that it was well possible to create noise-free images above ISO 400 with compact cameras, and that it was only a matter of time until a top model with the same technique would be introduced. The Fuji FinePix S9000 digital camera has become this top model. A very special digital camera, not just because of the Super CCD HR with Real Photo Technology, but also because of the resolution of no less than 9 Megapixels and a large optical zoom range running from 28-300mm (equivalent of a 35mm camera).

Fuji S9000 – Fujifilm Real Photo Technology
The combination of the Super CCD HR sensor, lens and image processor decides the image quality to a great extend and Fujifilm has done its utmost to optimize this trinity. The technique used is called the Real Photo Technology. The first digital camera containing this new technique was the Fujifilm FinePix F10. The Real Photo Technology consists of a Fujinon lens, a 5th generation Super CCD HR and the real Photo Processor. The lens is precisely developed to have the light falling on the sensor with great precision. Fujifilm is able to accomplish this because the company itself develops these lenses. As for a sensor the Super CCD HR V is used that has reached the 5th generation by now. The image sensor is characterized by the deviated pixel shape; the pixels are multi-angular and as a matter of fact they appear slanted on the sensor. The HR technique enables higher sensitivity than the standard sensitivity that is usually found on a compact camera. The final image gets processed by the Real Photo Processor, the heart of Real Photo Technology. The image processor features two cycles to reduce noise, which makes noise disappear at high sensitivities. The image is analyzed inside the processor and depending on the subject color rendition is decided. The enormous processing power enables fast data processing which allows a speedy response time. Finally Fujifilm has succeeded in making this processor low-energy, which is beneficial to the battery life.

Fujifilm FinePix S9000 – High resolution
Besides the new technique the Fuji FinePix S9000 also stands out for its high resolution. The amount of 9,0 million effective pixels make the Fujifilm S9000 the leading digital camera in its segment. How long the S9000 camera is able to keep its pole position is unknown because we don’t know what will happen from one day to the next and new developments appear as quick as lightning. A few problems are encountered with this many pixels on a tiny surface, like a high noise rate and a limited dynamic range. But Fujifilm weren’t Fujifilm if they didn’t come up with something very special. The Super CCD HR is famous for its larger dynamic range, which is why the HR is added to the name. Specifically the Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro sensor reached an impressive dynamic range. The Japanese brand has also eliminated noise, or at least decreased it tremendously, by the Real Photo Technology. We may expect a lot from the Fujifilm S9000!

Fuji FinePix S9000 – Lens and zoom range
Fujifilm has been active on the photography market for a long time now. Many people will still remember the green film box! But not generally known is the fact that Fujifilm has also been very active with professional cameras and the lenses that come with them. The Fujifilm FinePix S9000 therefore is equipped with an in-house created lens. One that features a superb zoom range of 28-300mm. In particular the wide angle is a fine addition. Most certainly compared to its closest competitors. The fact that the range starts at 28mm is worthy of a compliment.

Fujifilm S9000 digital camera – xD Picture memory card
Naturally xD Picture memory cards fit in the Fujifilm S9000 camera. Fujifilm is one of the founders of this ultra compact memory card, isn’t it? Besides xD Picture cards the FinePix S9000 is also able to work with CompactFlash cards and the Microdrive. Remarkably enough Fujifilm never mentions the CompactFlash but only the Microdrive that is used a lot less. Anyway, that is a totally different discussion. Like many other Fujifilm models, amongst them the FinePix S3 Pro D-SLR camera, the FinePix S9000 uses common AA batteries for energy. A power source that can be purchased on every street corner.

Fujifilm FinePix S9000 review
As far as specifications and innovations are concerned, the FinePix S9000 is a really interesting camera. We were able to use the Fuji S9000 for a longer time span and had the chance to thoroughly examine this hybrid digital camera. The results are taken down in the Fujifilm FinePix S9000 digital camera review.

Kodak EasyShare Z650 digital camera review : The Kodak EasyShare Z650, a new super zoom digital camera was launched at the beginning of the year. The camera is a new model in the EasyShare Z series of digital camera. The Kodak Z650 is equipped with a Schneider Kreuznach optical zoom lens. The zoom lens has a 10x zoom range with an optical range of 38 – 380 mm (comparable to a 35 mm format camera). In practice it is great to work with: a fantastic wide-angle and generous tele range. An all round optical range, in fact.

Kodak Z650 – 6,1 Megapixel CCD sensor
De Kodak Z650 is equipped with a 1/2.5 inch 6.1 Megapixel CCD image sensor. Although Kodak has more or less provided a description of pixel formats in the manual, in fact it just means that the X factor has been neatly rounded off and might come in handy. Kodak has also left out the lowest resolution that is still common in other brands – this producer is going for quality rather than quality. Of course, it is still nice to be able to save more than 400 shots in a decent resolution with a 256MB memory card. It’s fun to compare this to the equivalent miniature film format: 11.5 x 36 exposure films!

Kodak EasyShare Z650 – 2″ LCD display
The Kodak Z650 digital camera is equipped with a 2 inch LCD display that gives a fresh, clear picture. The viewfinder is a so-called EFV (electronic viewfinder) that is actually a miniature LCD display. Users must choose between the LCD display at the rear of the Kodak Z650 camera, or the EVF on top because it is not possible to use them both simultaneously.

Kodak Z650 digital camera – Built-in flash
The Kodak Z650′s built in flash is certainly not large, and it can generally not be seen when closed. The flash routinely works in the A Setting, but can be set however you choose: auto, auxiliary, red-eye, and of course, off. The flash’s range is more than enough for normal use: the wide-angle setting is 60 cm to almost 5 meters and the tele setting runs from 2 meters to almost 4 metres. It gives very good results.

Kodak EasyShare Z650 – Focus modes & Aperture
The focussing system has various modes. Of course there are the different auto modes as well as multi-zone and centre-spot modes. The shutter speed varies from 1/8 to 1/1700. The ISO settings are set automatically at 80 – 160. There is also a choice of settings from 60 to 800 ISO, the latter only in the 1.7MP (1496 x 1122 pixels) resolution. The aperture runs from f/2.8 to f/8 in seven steps and allows many possible combinations. Once more, you can set everything yourself. Via the P/A/S/M mode you can adjust the Program, Aperture priority, Shutter speed and Manual mode.

Kodak Z650 – Fixed program & Scene modes
As well as the fixed program modes like Auto, Portrait, Sport, etc, there are 14 other Scene modes to choose from. This in addition to the previously mentioned Manual mode is clear proof that the Kodak EasyShare Z650 offers its users a host of possibilities. The self timer can be set in 2 or 10 seconds and you can choose to take 2 pictures in this setting.

Kodak EasyShare Z650 – Internal memory
Internally, the Kodak Z650 has a storage capacity of 32MB, 28MB of which is available for saving pictures. It is advisable to buy an extra memory card. For communication with the computer you use a USB 2.0 connection. For the Video output you can choose between NTSC or PAL, and the Kodak EasyShare Z650 is also equipped with PictBridge support, a global standard in printing and exchanging recorded information between compatible cameras, printers etc. Naturally, this is in addition to the Share Program for sharing and processing recordings.

Kodak EasyShare Z650 review
We tried out the Kodak EasyShare Z650 for a while. The camera’s specifications promise a lot; a 10x optical zoom lens with a range of 38 – 380 mm (equivalent to a 35 mm camera) and a resolution of 6 Megapixels. The review of the Kodak EasyShare Z650 gives a picture of its possibilities and how it works in practice. Just how our judgement turned out can be read in the following Kodak EasyShare Z650 digital camera review.

Nikon D2X review : When Nikon introduced the D2H reflex camera for the enhanced action/photojournalist; the world expected the camera to be followed by a D2X very promptly. This was the case with the D1 series and the Internet rumours made us expect the new flagship any minute. But while Canon reacted quickly with a fast camera equipped with high resolution, the Nikon users had to be patient and wait a bit longer until Nikon finally put the Nikon D2X on the market. The camera features some highly interesting functions just like we are used to from Nikon.

Nikon D2X D-SLR – High-speed crop
The Nikon D2X holds a higher resolution than the D2H, mainly meant for speedy photography. In order to enable fast shooting the engineers came up with a trick; High-speed crop. This is quite simple; only part of the sensor gets used and because of this fewer pixels are generated which means processing less data, so it offers a higher shooting speed. Standard the Nikon D2X has 12.2 Megapixels, in High-speed crop 6.8 Megapixels remain, which still suffices to print an A4 quality print. The image speed rises from 5 to 8 frames per second with High-speed, so the photojournalist or action photographer benefits from this speed.

Nikon D2X digital SLR camera – CMOS sensor
Striking is the fact that Nikon made the choice to use a Sony sensor for the D2X and not one of their own JFET-LBCAST sensors. Officially Nikon chose the Sony sensor because Nikon couldn’t meet the demand for JFET-LBCAST. Other than the D1X, the D2X does feature a CMOS sensor. Of course the focal length multiplier remains 1.5. Nikon sticks to a certain factor and that really has its advantages. The specially designed DX lenses form a perfect combination and there are no mutual differences as far as crop factor is concerned within the assortment of Nikon digital reflex bodies.

Nikon D2X SLR – I-TTL wireless flash system
Besides an extensive lens assortment, the user also has, what might be considered as the best flash system ever, at his disposal. I-TTL gets the best out of it. Wireless flash lets you create ingenious flash exposures. You’re able to rebuild a studio installation as it were, which additionally makes things get a lot compacter on the whole.

Nikon D2X – Professional SLR camera
The Nikon D2X is mainly targeting at the professional user working under the most extreme circumstances. The appearance of the D2X exposes this by its built. The D2X is solidly built and provided with the necessary protection. Dust and moist don’t get a chance to break into the internal part of the camera. Of course the sensor remains sensitive to dust but this can eventually be removed using a pair of bellows or special sensor brushes.

Nikon D2X digital reflex camera review
With the D2X D-SLR Nikon has made it again for professional photographers and you will often spot the D2x working in the field! We were able to test the D2X extensively and our experiences with this camera can be read in the following Nikon d2X digital camera review.

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Olympus E-1 digital camera review : This year Olympus faced a great challenge. De market for digital reflex cameras seemed to have already been divided amongst brands like Canon and Nikon. The one goes on telling about his vision and the other one sticks to a different view of how to produce a digital reflex camera. The two leading brands seem to have shared the market between them. Until Sigma appeared on the “battlefield” with the introduction of the Sigma SD9 and recently with the SD10 combined with the Foveon X3 sensor. Beginning of this year Pentax finally found the courage to introduce her digital reflex camera. However, it shook the digital reflex camera market a bit but not worth mentioning really. Or could it be the one introduction, from the old trustworthy brand Olympus with their Four Thirds standard introduced at the beginning of this year?

Olympus E-1 – Four Thirds system
The first introductions about a new standard already appeared at the end of last year; during the Photokina a sample was showed that was still far from being a production model. Beginning of 2003 during the PMA they finally showed us behind glass and for us behind closed doors, the first version of the pre-production model. In august this year we were given the opportunity to put the Olympus E-1 into practice. Olympus got a large amount of press members of the European press to come to Mallorca to present the Olympus E-1 for a few days. I myself was able to test the Olympus E-1 at the spot, under various weather circumstances, inside a studio as well as under the bright Spanish sun. The final results were based on a pre-production model, so these results are not used by us for publication.

Olympus E-1 – New standard
The Four Thirds system is rapidly moving to become a fully fledged standard. The camera will be shipped to the dealers in November/December (The Netherlands), so we still have to wait for the reactions of the final users. Will the professional user accept this new standard or will it be simply a professional product living up to the expectations? My experiences with the E-1 in practice are based on taking the pictures on different locations, under sunny circumstances when the sun was too bright sometimes to guarantee a rich contrast image and during drizzly weather on a weekend trip to Amsterdam. The next review shows my experiences and describes the all-round usability of the Olympus E-1, the first product containing the new Four Thirds System.

Panasonic Lumix DMC L1 DSLR review : Panasonic have been making digital compact cameras for years. Remarkable features include MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilisation) and lenses that sport the Leica name. However, it seems that Panasonic are eager for more. The Japanese brand wants to be regarded as a full-fledged camera manufacturer. To achieve this, they need a DSLR, which is still considered the showpiece in the world of photography. Panasonic decided to join forces with Olympus. Olympus possess many years of SLR experience, whilst Panasonic know more than a thing or two about electronics. The result of this cooperation is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1. An interesting camera, which clearly shows Panasonic intend to take things seriously.

Panasonic Lumix L1 – FourThrids system
With the announcement of the Panasonic L1 early this year, the FourThirds System finally has a fellow manufacturer that works according to this system. At the Photokina, Leica introduced a virtually identical camera, so now there are even three brands. One of the advantages of the FourThirds System is the standardisation. Lenses can be interchanged regardless of the actual brand. This makes it significantly easier for the user to decide on a system. Moreover, the FourThirds System enables you to choose exceptionally compact housings and equally compact lenses.

Panasonic L1 – Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50mm lens
Besides Olympus, Panasonic have also cooperated with Leica. Therefore, it does not come as a surprise that the lens sports the Leica name. However, this does not necessarily mean Leica have actually designed or built the lens. In this case, it means the lens meets the design requirements set by Leica, which are very high indeed. The lens, a Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5, is thus quite large and solid as a rock. All in all, this gives the Panasonic Lumix L1 plenty of allure. You are clearly not dealing with a plain or simple camera, the photographer knows exactly what he’s doing. That is the impression given by both the camera and the lens. Simply wonderful!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 SLR – Live View
One of the remarkable features of the Panasonic L1 is of course Live View, which we have already seen on the Olympus E-330 digital SLR. Both cameras use the LiveMOS designed by Panasonic. Live View enables you to capture your images via the LCD screen instead of through the viewfinder. This certainly has its advantages, especially if you are a keen macro photographer. The Live View can be used both with and without auto focus. Contrary to the Olympus camera, however, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 features only one Live View mode, and lacks the adjustable screen. The LiveMOS sensor offers a total of 7.5 million pixels. A very decent number, although it may seem somewhat outdated from a psychological point of view, especially considering the ongoing “pixel war”. Don’t let this distract you, however, because pixel quality far outweighs the actual number. The sensor is based on CMOS technology, which is becoming an increasingly common feature in cameras. A major advantage of this is, among other things, the lower power consumption.

Panasonic L1 LiveMOS – Venus Engine III
The signals from the LiveMOS are converted to visible images by a new Venus Engine III. The processor plays a main role when it comes to deciding the actual colour rendition and the signal/noise ratio of the photos, and should thus be seen as an important part of the photographic chain. In fact, you can compare it to the film developer. In addition to this, the Venus Engine III is responsible for rapidly transporting the photos to the memory card. The new processor is a significantly improved version of the Venus Engine II. Panasonic have succeeded in lowering the processor’s power consumption to 80%, compared to the previous version. All in all, you will thus get more for less.

Panasonic L1 DSLR – SuperSonic Wave Filter
One of the main obstacles that users of DSLR cameras encounter is the presence of dust on the sensor, which causes annoying black spots in the photo. More and more manufacturers are developing systems to deal with this irksome issue. Panasonic apply a vibrating filter in front of the sensor. This SuperSonic Wave Filter literally shakes the dust from the sensor. The dust is then caught by a form of adhesive strip located below, which ensures it will no longer be roaming free inside the camera. This system is in fact identical to that of Olympus, which doesn’t come as a surprise, considering their close cooperation. And why break your brain over something that has already been invented?

Panasonic DMC L1 SLR camera review
The Panasonic Lumix L1 is a very interesting camera indeed, especially as it clearly indicates the path Panasonic intend to take. Moreover, it is only the first DSLR by the brand, and we will undoubtedly see more in the future. We received a so-called full-production model to test extensively over a considerable period of time. Our findings of this remarkable camera can be read in the following Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 review.   Read More..>>

Pentax K10D digital SLR camera review : After having produced several models in the cheaper classes of digital SLR cameras, Pentax is now aiming at (semi) professional photographers. It’s not a completely new market for Pentax, as they used to be one of the leading brands of camera manufacturers. Pentax has a lot of catching up to do with the digital market. They have come up with the Pentax K10D, a compact ten Megapixel DSLR camera with inbuilt image stabilisation and several interesting features.

Pentax K10D waterproof housing & moving sensor
The Pentax K10D digital SLR camera has to compete with cameras like the Canon EOS 30D and the Nikon D200, no easy task. One of their weapons in the battle is to make the Pentax K10D so sealed that rainwater and dust cannot penetrate it. The Nikon D200, however, is also water resistant. What Nikon and Canon don’t have is a moving sensor. The 10 Megapixel sensor has been hung so that it can eliminate camera vibrations, allowing you to stabilise any lens. This is cheaper than having to buy lenses with image stabilisation. The vibrating sensor also shakes dust off from the lens. Dust is definitely the biggest irritant in DSLR cameras.

Pentax K10D SLR camera – Focus points
To focus, the Pentax K10D uses eleven points, nine of which are super sensitive cross sensors. Thanks to the SAVOX VIII, the Pentax K10D is suitable for use with lenses with inbuilt ultrasonic motors. Unlike Canon and Nikon, Pentax does not yet have lenses like this in their program, but they will not be long coming. It will probably allow the speed of the auto focus to match that of its closest competitors.

Pentax K10D d-SLR – Exposure programs
The Pentax K10D DSLR’s exposure programs are truly unique. As well as the familiar program setting, manual exposure and aperture and shutter priority, Pentax has two more options that make use of the sensitivity, the third variable in exposure. The first is the shutter speed/aperture priority, whereby you choose the shutter speed and aperture and the camera chooses the sensitivity. The other option is the sensitivity priority. Of course the unique Hyper program is also present. You can use it to vary shutter speed or aperture quickly without having to work in the manual setting.

Pentax K10D – 2.5 inch LCD preview screen
Another clever feature in the Pentax K10D is that it not only uses the 2.5-inch screen on the rear to view pictures that have been taken, but to show previews. You can check depth of field, white balance and exposure before taking the photo for real. All this doesn’t require an expensive construction. It is not quite live-view, as we know it from the Olympus E-330, but has its biggest advantages.

Pentax K10D DSLR – PRIME processor
The information is processed by the new PRIME. Following in Canon and Sony’s footsteps, Pentax has also given its processor a name. Rightly so, as the sensor is a very important part of the digital photo chain. The digital signal is converted with a 22 bit A/D converter. The more bits, the more nuances can be shown. Of course, the pictures can be saved as (12 bits) RAW or (8 bits) JPEG. With RAW, you can also choose between Pentax’s own PEF (Pentax Electronic File) or the more universal DNG (Digital NeGative) from Adobe.

Pentax K10D digital SLR review
Pentax clearly doesn’t like to do things by halves and has produced a digital SLR camera that will be seen as a serious competitor for the Canon EOS 30D and the Nikon D200. These two currently set the standard in this camera segment. To see if Pentax had succeeded in setting a new standard, we tried the K10D out for an extended period. You can read our findings in the following Pentax K10D digital SLR camera review.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-C1 digital camera review : The Sanyo Xacti VPC-C1 EX digital camera was presented last year October in a tГЄte-Г -tГЄte with the Dutch press in Scheveningen. As we have experienced before, it takes a long time before the product is actually available on the market. We were given the opportunity to test this contemporary Sanyo camera in practice. The Xacti VPC-C1 EX, it is about time to do something about the product names that Sanyo uses, is a stylish developed digital camera with its own face.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-C1 – Unique appearance
At the time of the press conference last year, an instant comparison was made with a mobile phone or electric shaver. Personally I find the comparison with a shaver, without pulling the camera down, the most appropriate one. The camera is very compact and has a unique appearance, also because of its design. The new Sanyo Xacti VPC-C1 EX is an advanced combination of video and camera in one. By the way, the name Xacti is a combination of Exact & Active. Introducing this new model Sanyo wants to create a segment for a new target group. The Sanyo C1 EX is most likely to be a token of what is still to come this year.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-C1 – Movie function
Beside the possibility of taking 3.2 Megapixel images, the Sanyo Xacti C1 EX is equipped with a Movie function. Someone whose heart longs for the possibility of making videos, but doesn’t want to be burdened with a video camera, will really be attracted to this camera. The movies are recorded in MPEG4 quality.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-C1 – Docking station
The camera is compact and light-weighted and fits perfectly in ones trousers or breast pocket. The camera is standard delivered with a beautiful docking station and Sanyo is one of the very few manufacturers that was thoughtful enough to supply the camera standard with a 128MB Secure Digital memory card. Whether this is found back in the price tag can be read further down in this review. I have used the Sanyo Xacti VPC-C1 EX thoroughly in practice and my experiences are found in the following review.

Sony Cybershot DSC-P32 digital camera review : Sony has introduced a new line of digital consumer’s cameras at the beginning of this year, and also applied a standard support for the new Memory Stick Pro Memory card. Beside that Sony said goodbye to the whole series of 2 megapixels digital cameras. And the aim for 2003 is a minimum of 3 Megapixels. This is also the case on the Sony Cybershot DSC-P32 camera. The camera is meant for the starting photographer but it is also handy as an extra camera. On the 9th of February of this year the complete new line P32, P52, P72 and P92 cameras have been taken into the assortment of Sony. With these new models a new period has started of user’s friendliness and high print quality.

Sony Cybershot DSC-P32 – Image quailty
The Cybershot DSC-P32 digital camera is the entry level model of the new line of camera’s. However it doesn’t mean that concessions have been made concerning the functionality of the camera. Sony takes the view to produce a camera where the minimum should be excellent print quality in the simplest way. The image quality is guaranteed by the 3.3 effective megapixels. The comparison with a traditional print on 10x15cm size is striking, so we can say that this digital camera can possibly replace the traditional 35mm camera. And one who also has his own photo printer at home should be able to print the spontaneous picture taken during a birthday party, a family gathering or a week-end outdoors, on glossy photo paper.

Sony Cybershot DSC-P32 – Technical details
The Sony DSC-P32 offers, beside the good image resolution, also technical details that were only found on the more expensive Sony digital camera’s until shortly. For example the 14bit DXP system combined with the Super HAD CCD sensor, a combination that guarantees high details reproduction and real to live colours. I have had the Sony camera in my hands to try it out with taking some common pictures, in and around the house.