Sony Digital Camera: Embracing Perfection

Known for producing quality electronics, Sony is also one of the pioneers and the best producers of digital camera. Truly using a Sony digital camera is embracing perfection with its many features exclusive to a Sony digital camera.

Indeed, one of the best ways to capture your memories forever is thru photos and what better to do it than with a Sony digital camera. Photos are used to remember or when we reminisce of the wonderful times of our lives. And only vivid and detailed photos can help us bring back all those memories. And quality photos are exactly what a Sony digital camera offers to its consumers.

Equipped with the best optics and imaging technology available, the Sony digital camera line ensures its consumers that a Sony digital camera will only capture more detail, more color and more brightness imaginable.

Every Sony digital camera has an exclusive Sony technology that enhances photo capturing experience. Armed with the Real Imaging Processor (RIMP), any Sony digital camera allows high digital processing that reduces picture noise and delivers smoother and more detailed images. The RIMP is an intelligent Sony digital camera technology that allows faster shooting time, swifter burst shooting and almost simultaneous processing of your images (enables immediate display of your image) for your Sony digital camera.

All Sony digital cameras are furnished with Carl Zeiss lens. Carl Zeiss lenses are world renowned for their quality brilliance, outstanding accuracy of colors and enhanced definition with almost zero distortion. With a Carl Zeiss lens, flawless imaging is truly embracing perfection with a Sony digital camera.

Sony has its own Cyber-shot line of digital camera for all photo fanatics out there. One of the lower ends of their Cyber-shot series of the Sony digital camera is the DSC-L1. The L1is a 4.1 mega pixel camera with a 3x optical zoom and plays MPEG Movie Vx. It is also supplied with a Vario Tessar lens from the Carl Zeiss line.

A higher version of the L1 is the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P200. Almost same in all respect with the L1 expect this baby is a 7.2 mega pixel Sony digital camera.

For those who are serious in their craft, the right Sony digital camera for you id the Cyber-shot DSC-F828. Designed for professional photographers, the F828 has a 28-200mm equivalent of a Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar lens, which makes it excellent for action and low-light shots. An 6 mega pixel Sony digital camera, it is outfitted with 7x optical zoom and a 1.8 inch LCD screen where you can review the pictures that you just took. The DSC F828 has a four color system that includes RGB+emrald colors and enables night shot/night framing system. The F828 even allows manual exposure, zoom and manual focus controls for your customization needs.

For the younger and trendier generation, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-M1 is the right Sony digital camera for you. The M1 is a digital camera and a camcorder in one. It can record either up to five seconds MPEG 4 playback or unlimited video recording, depending on your preferred setting. Shooting with 30 frames per second, it is 5.1 mega pixel camera with a 640 x 480 maximum pixel resolution. It has 3x optical zoom and 2x digital zoom.

Very lightweight at only 6.5 oz. the M1 is very portable and is only 2x1.1x4.5 inches (dimensions). A USB 2.0 compatible and with PictBridge support, the M1 makes file transferring from your Sony digital camera to your computer as easy as taking pictures.

Available with accessories such as wrist strap, docking station and a 32MB memory Stick Duo, the M1 comes with an expansion slot that lets you upgrade up to 512MB of memory for further picture taking or video playback. It even has a built in features such as stereo surround, built-in mic and a 2.5inch TFT active matrix LCD display.

Canon Digital Camera: Express, Shoot and Share

Canon is well known across the country as an imaging equipment and information systems. Their many products include copiers, printers, lenses, camcorders, semiconductors among others, and of course Canon digital cameras.

The latest high end canon digital camera is the PowerShot S2 IS. This is a 5.0 mega pixel Canon digital camera that features a 12x optical zoom and a 4x digital zoom. This baby is furnished with Optical Image Stabilizer (that is what the IS in S2 IS stands for) that eliminates camera shakes for people who have shaky hands or for taking camera shots. The UD lens found in this canon digital camera provide amazing color accuracy throughout the whole zoom area.

As with many digital cameras nowadays, this certain canon digital camera can record moving pictures. Now with another first, the S2 allows you to record moving pictures, and there no use for missing a perfect image incorporated with that moving picture. With the Movie Snap feature, just snap away when you see that perfect image, and it will be saved in your canon digital camera along with the recorded video.

This canon digital camera is also equipped with the DIGIC II Image processor that is designed to increase processing speed and image quality. It instantly says that with the DIGIC II, your canon digital camera has faster start-up time, playback and auto focus while giving your images the absolute brilliance.

The S2 also support USB 2.0 Hi-speed standard, so you will always have the easiest time transferring your files to and from your computer. With the USB 2.0, you can take advantage of your super hi-speed SD card.

This canon digital camera is also supplied with a 1.8 inch LCD power saving and fold out screen that’s 115,000 pixel resolution. S2 shoots at 30 frames per second; this shooting rate can be reduced when taking pictures in night display, to give you the brightness that you need when taking pictures.

On the other hand, the latest point and shoot canon digital camera is the PowerShot SD500 and the PowerShot SD400.

The SD500 is the first 7.1 mega pixel canon digital camera that gives amazing images and absolutely to die for details. It has a 3x optical zoom that enables close up shooting with a 37-111mm equivalent with a 35mm film camera. This is one of the new perpetual curve design for a canon digital camera that fits the hands perfectly.

Sporting a very slim design, you would marvel at its 2.0 inch LCD that gives easier frame and play back use.

This baby is also equipped with the same DIGIC II Image Processor found in canon digital cameras that gives you amazing features. Also USB 2.0 compatible and works with the same high-speed SD card.

Even better than most digital cameras out there, this gadget can shoot moving images to up to 60 frames per second- perfect for moving objects (especially in sports) and a 30 frames per second for shooting still images. Furnished with scene modes like portrait (blurs the background and focuses on your subject), foliage (perfect for foliage, greenery or blossoms), beach (sunny shots without the dark faces), underwater (reduced background scatter. Tip: you can always buy waterproof case for shooting underwater images), fireworks, night snapshot, kids and pets, indoor, snow and digital macro (larger than life images).

This canon digital camera even enables you to customize and correct as you shoot. With modes like lightening skin tones, positive film, darker skin tones and others, you can never go wrong with using a canon digital camera.

The Polaroid a520m Digital Camera

Designed for the first-time user, the Polaroid a520m Digital Camera has some easy-to-use features. Here are a few examples of what you can do with the Polaroid a520m camera:

• Enjoy point & shoot operation. The resolution is adjustable for print or email.
• Store video clips and pictures to an SD card or the internal memory.
• Shoot pictures or video clips, and play them back on the LCD screen or on a computer.
• Send your friends and family your pictures and video clips over the Internet.
• The camera has PictBridge capability.
  

The camera offers a splashy break from the sea of traditional black and silver cameras, being offered in a cute theme of colors: pink, light pink, and magenta—sure to appeal to young girls—in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

The list of technical specifications and additional features are as follows:

• PC and Mac compatible
• 4x digital zoom
• Standard 16 mega byte integrated flash memory
• Supports Multi Media Card and SD Card for extra memory
• 5.1 mega pixel resolution
• Built-in flash
• 2.0” bright color TFT active-matrix LCD which offers a preview of images before shooting
• Video recording in AVI format
• Built-in microphone
• Built-in tripod stand (tripod sold separately)
• Still image compression in JPEG, EXIF 2.2 and AVI format
• Settings include flash off, auto, red-eye reduction, and fill-in flash
• Automatic white balance
• Automatic exposure
• Features an electronic 10-second delay for taking pictures of yourself
• Optical sensor type: CCD
• Image sensor type: CMOS
• Minimum focus range: 38.4”
• Image resolutions: 640 x 480, 2592 x 1944, and 2048 x 1536
• Video resolution: 320 x 240 (QVGA)
• Aperture range: f2.8/f8 (w/t)
• Shutter speed: 1/8 – 1/2000 of a second
• Unit dimensions, metric: 60mm high, 94mm wide, and 21mm deep
• Unit dimensions, English: 2.4” high, 3.7” wide, and .8” deep
• Retail package dimensions, metric: 222mm high, 267mm wide, and 69mm deep
• Retail package dimensions, English: 8.74” high, 10.5” wide, and 2.7” deep
• Unit weight, metric: .13 kg
• Unit weight, English: 4.5 oz
• Retail package weight, metric: .49 kg
• Retail package weight, English: 1.1 lb
• Comes with a wrist strap, skin, USB cable, 4 “AAA” batteries, and a software CD which includes drivers and utilities.
  

People who have purchased this camera describe it as a good camera for first-time users especially young teenagers: it’s cute, it’s light, it easily fits into a pocket, it’s easy to use, and it seems to be priced with this young demographic in mind, coming in at around $65.00 US.

Many users complain about the photo quality, stating that even in moderately well-lit indoor settings photos are too dark without the flash, but that photos come out too bright with the flash or outside on a bright day—sometimes to the point of washing out people’s faces. However, this problem seems to be more pronounced when the subjects photographed are close to the camera—subjects further away photograph better.

Some users also complain that the LCD display is too dark when used indoors as well. In addition, the LCD goes black for a few seconds after a photo, which some users find frustrating. On a bright note, the LCD is considered large enough to be eye-friendly.

The lack of a view finder is aggravating to users who are used to having this functionality in their digital cameras. Users sometimes find background objects to be out of focus. However, users do find it easy to upload photos from the camera to the computer.

Bottom line: it’s a good camera for younger first-time users who will be more excited about owning a pink camera than being discerning about the quality of pictures they take.

Digital Or Print Which Is Best In The World Of Photography

In the past, you simply did not have to make a choice between any other photography methods than film. Everyone had a film camera and everyone either learned to develop their own film or took it to their local processor. Now, you do have a choice and many people who are used to film wonder, which is better. Today we have film cameras and digital cameras. Here are the pros and cons to using both digital and print photography.

The Pros of Digital
Digital cameras are great for most people. Perhaps the best thing about a digital camera is that you have instant access to the pictures you have taken. When you use a digital camera, you can immediately see the picture that you just took and determine whether or not you need to re-shoot that particular subject. In addition, when you take digital pictures, you can easily download the prints to your computer. You can store your pictures, enhance them and print them on your printer. In addition, digital prints make for easy storage. You can shoot thousands of digital pictures and store them on a couple of disk. Compare that to the boxes of printed pictures that you probably have in your home.

The Cons of Digital
There are many cons of using digital as well. For example, digital pictures are easily lost. If you are like most people, you probably download the pictures to your computer and never do anything else with them. If you do not back up your digital pictures to disk, all it takes is for your computer to crash one time and you have potentially lost hundreds of valuable pictures. Many people feel that digital pictures do not have the same look and feel as film prints. For this reason, most professional photographers still prefer to use film, instead of digital. Digital pictures can also become pricey if you print them out at home. A good quality printer paper, plus colored printer cartridges for your printer can add up quickly. .

The Pros of Film
As mentioned earlier, many professional photographers still prefer to use film to digital. If you take pictures for hobby, you can adjust your film camera to get the exact look that you want. This is not always the case with digital pictures. Some people prefer to use a film camera, so it forces them to have their pictures developed right away. Rather than leaving your memories on a disk, you have to have your print pictures printed. You will always have them in your hand to look at.

The Cons of Film
It seems that film cameras are losing popularity. Film is not as convenient as digital. He must wait to have pictures developed before you can look at them down is also expensive and having pictures processed, adds extra expense. In addition, when you use film, you must have everything on your roll of film printed out. You do not have the ability to scroll through and delete bad pictures on the spot as you do when you use digital.

When considering film over digital, one is really no better than the other. The choice has more to do with your personal preferences than anything else does. If you are considering buying a new camera, look at both film and digital to determine which ones are right for your use. I have three digital cameras, a 35mm camera and a standard film camera. If I had to choose, I would choose the digital because of the option to view pictures right away. This way you know if you are capturing the image the way you intended too. I have been caught to many times with fuzzy pictures, missing heads and so on. Another thing is with a digital camera, if you need glasses, you will still be in focus, where as with a 35 mm focus camera, you might have a surprise, fuzzy pictures, and you may never find another opportunity like that again.

How to Find The Best Digital Camera

It seems that every month, if not every week, different manufacturers are coming up with the latest digital cameras to entice potential clients. And it's just not working for us!

After spending sizeable amount of time at the mall figuring out which is the best digital camera for us, we finally have enough money to buy for that eye-popping, 7 mega pixel, 10x digital zoom, potable, candy colored, up to 512MB expandable memory of super hi-speed SD memory card and not to mention very portable, (that will be the envy of almost everyone we know). We march to the mall armed with our life savings and lotsa pride in ourselves, when we pass by a new display - an eight mega pixel, up to 1G expandable memory, with built it mic and stereo surround, video playback capable, with 22 scenic modes kind-of-camera. And we sigh because the producer of this amazing gadget claims that this is the best digital camera yet out in the market. And so as we always want to have the best, armed with our life savings and a few credit cards, we buy the "best digital camera." But then again, that doesn't last too long, after two months or so, there's another "best digital camera."

And so it confuses us. What makes a digital camera, the best digital camera?

Well, there are certain factors to consider when looking for the "best digital camera" for us.

MEGAPIXELS. One of the most important features of digital camera to make it into the best digital camera category is its mega pixel property. The higher the mega pixels the better the actual photograph will come out. A mega pixel is equivalent to one million pixels. The resolution of your image is based upon the mega pixel property of your camera. This means that as you enlarge the picture, you would get more detail and less blurry colors.

LCD SIZE. The best digital camera will always have a large LCD to help you frame your subject without having to squint to the viewfinder. This is also helpful when reviewing your images, some cameras enable touch up and editing features with its LCD. A 1.5-inch display is average, a 2-inch LCD display is good, but the best LCD size would be 2.5 inches or higher.

ZOOM. Most digital cameras have both digital and optical zoom. A higher optical zoom is always better than a higher digital zoom. Digital cameras are usually furnished with optical of between 3x to 10x. The better the optical zoom, the higher it climbs up to the best digital camera category.

MEMORY CARD. Always make sure that your memory card is the right one for your digital camera. There are different types of memory card like the xD, SD, Flash card and the likes. And these types of memory cards go with certain types of digital cameras. of course memory storage is also up there in choosing the best digital cameras. Choose the size of memory that you need, if you're a photo junkie, you might need more than 32MB. Memory cards can go up to 1G.

The key point to find the best digital camera is to find one that will best fit you and your lifestyle. Don't just buy the latest or the one that claims they are the best digital cameras out in the market. You wouldn't want to buy a DSLR and use it with your home activities or family outing and have to lug it around?! Or you don't want to buy the latest point and shoot camera when you're serious about being a professional photographer. (Of course, you can use this for starters, but if you're not a novice photographer anymore, you wouldn't want to get this kind of camera.)

Actually, the best digital camera is the one that you will enjoy and use. Not the type that you'll just leave rotting in its box or after a few weeks of usage or so, up there in the attic.

Kodak Digital Camera

Ever since, Kodak has always been associated with photographs. Kodak is primarily known for producing quality films and photograph that capture our smiles and tender moments, so it’s no big surprise that Kodak ventured with camera business. Starting out with analog or conventional cameras, they finally followed suit with their line of Kodak digital cameras.

One of the best and handiest Kodak digital cameras is the Kodak easy Share one. Only about $600 the Kodak easy Share one is one of the first new series of Kodak digital cameras supports wireless sharing of your photos. This new technology from the Kodak digital camera is a super-intelligent wireless (think Wi-Fi) snapper that allows users to instantly share and print photos without the hassle of using and putting up cable connections. This Kodak digital camera supports Kodak Wi-Fi card. The Wi-Fi card will enable the owner of the camera to instantly use basic web browser in sending images directly to Kodak’s online storage and printing service. And of course, the Wi-Fi card will also enable you to beam your images straight to a Wi-Fi printer. This amazing Kodak digital camera includes a 3x optical zoom from its C. Variogon 38-108mm equivalent lens, an extra SD card slot and a three inch fold out touch screen display.

The fold out touch screen display comes with menu buttons that helps users customize their camera settings or edit their images. This Kodak digital camera also supports Video out USB and 3volts DC in adapter, just in case you’d want to just view through your photos while your batteries are recharging.

As with all Kodak digital cameras, the easy Share one comes with a Kodak Easy Share program that further makes it easier for file transferring and editing of your images.

Personally, I would recommend the Kodak dx7590. This is my ultimate dream Kodak digital camera. This is a Kodak digital camera for those who are just starting out with photography as a hobby or those who wish to pursue one as a craft. This baby is perfect for your practice shots. It is a 5 mega pixel Kodak digital camera with 10x optical zoom of a professional quality Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon lens. The dx7590 is one of the Kodak digital cameras that have the exclusive Kodak color science Image processing chip. And to check out all those amazing photos you’ve captured, this Kodak digital camera is furnished with a 2.2 inch high resolution indoor/outdoor display.

As I’ve mentioned, if you’ve been wanting to learn the tricks of the trade, there is a manual and custom controls that you could always experiment with. It’s high speed, low light auto-focus with continuous shooting and bracketing modes, so you could always get your sister, girlfriend or just about anyone to model laughing, changing poses as you click away. The dx7590 has 22 modes and color scenes, so you could always mess the images you took using your computer, making the picture come out as older or earlier that day. This amazing Kodak digital camera lets you store pictures up to 128 MB, using an SD card (that you have to buy separately). This dx 7590 comes with the Kodak easy share camera dock 6000, for recharging your batteries or transferring your photos to and from your computer. The best thing about the Kodak dx7590, this Kodak digital camera is only around $500. Now, is that a bargain or what!? An almost professional camera for the price of a lower end digital camera.

Nikon Digital Camera

Nikon is a camera brand, best known for producing SLR camera. As with the boom of digital cameras all over the world, Nikon joined the bandwagon by producing what they make best, thus the new era of the Nikon digital camera was born - digital SLR.

One of the best in DSLR, the Nikon digital camera called Nikon D70 is 6-mega pixel Nikon digital camera. Coated with polycarbonate over its stainless steel chassis, this Nikon digital camera is furnished with a 50mm AF Nikkor lens that can combine with an 18-70mm kit lens and still be portable enough to be carried around. It has a 200-1600 ISO effective speed range, great for taking pictures both in the shade and under the sun. and why won't it be?! With its three frames per second continuous shooting rate and its 1/8000 second shutter speed, taking pictures is as easy as clicking away and having fun. this Nikon digital camera is supported with a Flash card.

Another SLR from Nikon is the Nikon Coolpix 8800. An 8-mega pixel Nikon digital camera, the Coolpix 8800 has a compact body. Furnished with a 1.8 inch flip-out and swivel LCD, this baby is surely first rate SLR. This Nikon digital camera features an image stabilizer system to reduce camera shakes particularly on long shots since this gadget can zoom up to 10x (optical zoom) and can focus to up to 3cm in macro mode with its 35-350mm lens. Key controls are very user-friendly, with modes such as sensitivity, image size/quality and white balance - found directly with the mode dial. The image output quality is the middle name of this Nikon digital camera, with great detail rendition, color fidelity and saturation. a rather exceptional feature of the 8800 is the continuous shooting modes, where users can choose 1.2 or 2.3 frames per second. A bit bulky to carry around, the 8800 is perfect for shooting action and sports shots. The 8800 works with a Compact Flash card for storing up your images.

Another digital SLR from Nikon is the Nikon D50. A 6.1 mega pixel Nikon digital camera, this gadget has 7 varied modes to shoot from using its AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm lens. These modes are Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close Up, Sports, Night Portrait and Child. To see the images that you took, this Nikon digital camera is furnished with a 2.0 inch LCD screen. How fast can this camera shoot? It has 2.5 frames per second and with uninterrupted shooting of up to 137 frames per second. This Nikon digital camera is not too bad, especially for novice photographers. This package also includes a software for touching up, editing and sharing your pictures. The software even enables you to burn your images to VCD or DVD format.

One of the first point and shoot Nikon digital cameras is the Nikon Coolpix 4800. A four mega pixel Nikon digital camera, the old school designed 4800 is equipped with a 1.8 inch LCD screen for viewing your pictures. The 4800 is an 8.3x zoom Nikon digital camera with 6-50mm Nikkor Ed lens that zooms quickly and has continuous auto focusing (a feature where your lens is always trying to keep your pictures sharp). It also allows users to shoot, record and playback short movie clips with its assist and excellent scene modes - meaning that includes providing outlines for portraits (for tweaking purposes), exposure and sensitivity settings. These features are very helpful especially for novice photographers that want to try their hands at photography. Along with that, it comes with a 13.5MB SD card and the Li-on battery pack.

The Casio EX-Z77 EXILIM Zoom

The 7.2 mega pixel EXILIM Zoom EX-Z77 joins Casio’s successful EXILIM Zoom series, which balances high functionality with compact yet stylish features. The EX-Z77 also adds enhanced movie functionality and features a new YouTube Capture mode.

The EX-Z77 also features a blur reduction function by using motion analysis technology, an auto-tracking AF system, and face detection technology. The combination of face detection technology and the auto-tracking AF system ensures that once the focus locks on to a person’s face, it will stay sharp and maintain the right exposure, even when the person moves, ensuring great shots every time.

In addition to the YouTube Capture mode, this camera features the eBay® Best Shot Mode, exclusive to the U.S. line of Casio EXILIM digital cameras. The eBay Best Shot Mode optimizes photos for display on eBay, allowing users to quickly and easily create photos for selling items on eBay. Such photos are even stored in a special eBay directory, making the process very easy and user-friendly.

The YouTube Capture mode records in next-generation MPEG-4 H.264 video format, providing an optimal compression ratio that allows users to record longer movie segments without downgrading movie quality. The YouTube Capture mode also provides sharp resolution (640 x 480) and a frame rate of up to 30 frames per second. An exclusive software application is included which provides for an easy and seamless two-step process to upload clips from the camera directly to YouTube. The software also allows users to upload multiple videos at once, making it easier than ever to share original content with your family and friends or the public at large.

Photos and movies are stored in 11.4 megabytes of internal memory and on optional SD/SDHC or MMC/MMC Plus type memory cards. The camera is powered by a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery with a charge lasting for 190 shots. The camera can be charged with either an AC charger (included) or an optional docking cradle. The camera interfaces with the computer via USB and you can print directly to any PictBridge compatible printer. Still images are ExifPrint and PRINT Image Matching III compatible.

Features include…

• 7.2-Megapixel effective CCD imager
• 3x optical zoom
• Large 2.6-inch TFT color LCD
• Onboard blur reduction function
• 39 "BEST SHOT" modes set the camera for easy to difficult situations
• Record voice-only audio, or add up to 30-second audio memos to still images, either at the time of capture or afterwards
• MPEG-4 H.264 format Movies
• Movie Resolution: 848 x 480, 640 x 480 and 320 x 240, up to 10 minutes in length
• Autofocus system with selectable AF modes: Multi or Spot AF
• Face Recognition technology for sharp portraits
• ISO sensitivity from 50 to 800
• Built-in flash with Red Eye Reduction and Flash-assist function
• USB data transfer to PC or Mac computers
• Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery and charger (included)
• 11.4 MB of internal memory and SD/SDHC/MMC/MMC Plus card slot
• ExifPrint, PRINT Image Matching III, USB Direct-Print, and PictBridge compatible
• Available colors: black, blue, pink and silver
  

Users find this camera to be easy to use and appreciate the small compact design, but some users express dissatisfaction at the quality of photographs taken, citing poor noise reduction. The proprietary USB cable (included) is also a source of dissatisfaction, and the LCD quality and photo quality sometimes do not match.

The Olympus FE-280

Want a compact digital camera with easy-to-use features, a slim go-anywhere construction, and amazing image quality? If so, the Olympus FE-280 is the camera for you. Twenty-one shooting modes and Digital Image Stabilization Mode and Edit means you'll get high-quality results in all shooting situations.

The Olympus FE-280 is available in four color options: red, silver, blue, and black.

Features include….

• Superior image quality: 8-mega pixel CCD.
• 3x zoom with a precision-crafted Olympus lens that delivers sharper, clearer images
• 2.5" High-Resolution LCD (230,000 pixels) view screen with Backlight Boost Button provides easy shooting and sharing of your images with family and friends.
• Digital Image Stabilization (DIS) permits you to freeze action shots and capture sharp, crisp images with high ISO sensitivity and faster shutter speeds. The DIS Edit feature allows you to fix blurry images right in the camera.
• The Face Detection feature tracks peoples' faces within the frame, focusing and optimizing exposure for great portrait pictures.
• Perfect Shot Preview allows you to see the effects of different settings before you shoot by providing a live, multi-frame window on the LCD, letting you pick the perfect setting for that perfect shot.
• Perfect Fix instantly corrects your photos-- lighten shadows, remove red-eye and eliminate blur all with the touch of a button, so that less-than-perfect shots can still turn out great.
• Take creative control with Program Auto Mode, allowing you to adjust settings like white balance and ISO.
• Display a clearer, brighter image on the LCD when previewing and capturing pictures or recording video in low light situations using Bright Capture Technology.
• Skip the user manual and learn as you go: at the touch of a button the In-Camera Help Guide provides a brief description of camera settings and features, conveniently displayed on the LCD.
• Use any of 21 preset Shooting Modes, including the new Smile Shot, Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, three Underwater shooting modes and more, and optimize the camera's settings for any shooting situation to ensure the capture of a great shot.
• Shoot TV-quality movies.
• Quickly and easily find your favorite images using My Favorites, an in-camera album that stores your favorite images for easy sharing with family and friends.
• The FE-280's TruePicTM III Image Processor, initially developed for the professional Digital SLR, delivers fantastic images with true-to-life color and sharp detail.
• The Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (included) provides the convenience and cost-savings of long-lasting, economical shooting power.
  

Technical Specifications Include…

• Size: 3.6” long, 2.2” high, .65” wide
• Weight: 3.8 oz
• Inputs: USB cable (included)
• Outputs: USB cable, RCA (audio/video) cable (also included)
• Display: 2.5” LCD
• Maximum Resolution: 230,000 pixels
• Self-Delay Timer: 12 seconds
• Resolution: 8 mega pixel
• Optical Sensor: CCD
• Total Pixels: 8 million pixels
• Optical Zoom: x3
• Digital Zoom: x4
• Shutter Speed: 1/1000 second – 4 seconds
• Digital Video Format: AVI JPEG
• Still Image Format: JPEG
• Video Resolutions: 640 x 480 - 30fps (SHQ), 320 x 240 - 15 fps (HQ), 160 x 120 - 15 fps (SQ)
• Nightshot: Yes
• Date/Time Insert: Yes
  

Most users love this model, and find it easy to use despite all the features. However, some find the picture quality is not as good as was expected.

The Canon PowerShot A710 IS

An upgrade to the short-lived Canon PowerShot A700, the A710 IS received a design facelift and a few feature tweaks, the biggest and most welcome of which is that the new model adds optical image stabilization. In addition, upgrading from 6 mega pixel to 7 mega pixel provides for improved image quality. Is the A710 IS a worthy successor to the popular A700?

Here are the main features:

• 7.1 Megapixels
• 6x optical zoom with optical Image Stabilizer (35-210mm equiv.)
• DIGIC II, iSAPS, 9-Point AiAF, FlexiZone AF/AE
• Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom
• 2.5” LCD with wide viewing angle and real-image optical viewfinder
• 20 shooting modes

What else has changed?

Although a better looking camera, the A710 IS is more than mere style, with the addition of the optical image stabilization system, the only downside of which is the slight decrease in battery life. Still, one can get an impressive 360 shots from a good pair of rechargeable AA NiMH batteries.

Additional changes include…

• 60fps (QVGA) movie mode
• MyColors effects in playback mode
• Playback overexposure warning
• 3:2 overlay on live view
• SDHC card support
• Underwater scene mode (for use with new optional 40m underwater case)
• Slightly reduced continuous shooting speed (1.7fps vs 2.0fps)
• 10g (0.36oz) heavier
  

Here are the full list of features and specifications:

• Sensor: 1/2.5” Type CCD, 7.1 million pixels
• Image Processor: DIGIC II with iSAPS technology
• Image Sizes: 3072 x 2304, 3072 x 1728, 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480
• Movie Clips: 640 x 480 – 15/30 fps, up to 1 GB or 1 hour. 320 x 240 – 15/30/60 fsp, up to 1 GB or 1 hour (15/30 fps) or 1 minute (60 fps). 160 x 120 – 15 pfs, up to 3 minutes. AVI motion JPEG.
• Lens: 6x optical zoom, 35-210 mm equivalent, F2.8 – F4.8
• Optical Stabilization: Yes (shift type)
• Focus: TTL auto focus, AF illuminator, 9-point AiAF or 1 point AF (any position or fixed center), 1 cm macro mode
• Metering: Evaluate, Center-weighted average, Spot (center or linked to focusing frame)
• Shooting Mode: 13 different modes, including Night Scene, Shutter Priority AE and Aperture Priority AE
• Shutter Speeds: 15 – 1/2000 second
• Apertures: F2.8 – 8 (Wide) F4.8 – 8 (Tele)
• Exposure Compensation: +/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments
• Sensitivity: Auto, High ISO Auto, ISO 80 – 800
• White Balance: 8 settings, including underwater
• Image parameters: 12 different settings, including photo-stitch
• Continuous: Continuous (1.7 fps) until memory is full
• Flash: 5 modes, including red-eye reduction. Range: 55cm – 3.5m (wide) / 2.5 m (tele)
• Storage: SD, SDHC, MMC compatible. 16 MB card included
• Viewfinder: Real-image zoom, optical viewfinder
• LCD Monitor: 2.5” P-Si TFT, 115,000 pixels
• Connectivity: USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, AV out
• Power: 2x AA batteries (alkaline included, but NiMH recommended), optional AC adapter
• Optional Accessories: 3 lenses, high-power flash, waterproof case
• Dimensions: 97.5mm x 66.5mm x 41.2mm
  

Generally, users of this camera give good reviews, citing the advantages of using 2 batteries over 4, the convenience of using SD disks, date/time feature, overall quality and ease of use. Some users find that using the zoom feature indoors lowers image quality and the limits of the 1 GB file (about 8 minutes of video) and the limited storage capacity of the provided 16MB card.

The VTech KidiZoom Digital Camera

No digital camera review would be complete without a few entries about cameras designed for kids. After all, kids are almost universally enthusiastic about taking pictures. And parents with a love of photography often pass down their passion to their children. But digital cameras are not always kid-friendly, due to fragile construction, price, or complicated menus and buttons. The newest trend in children’s electronics is a group of digital cameras made especially for small children. These cameras are easy to hold, come in bright colors that kids love, and have many of the same features as grown-up digital cameras. Kids love them.

The VTech KidiZoom Digital Camera is one of the top digital cameras for kids. This camera was made with fun in mind. Kids like the KidiZoom’s large LCD screen and the onboard photo editing options. Prepare for your young ones to take candid shots of you, then “improve” them by warping the pictures in silly ways or adding funny frames. The camera can store up to 120 photos or 5 minutes of video.

This resilient camera is sturdy enough to handle the tumbles that it will inevitably face. Designed specifically for children ages 3-6, the VTech KidiZoom Digital Camera has large buttons that are easy to manage. It also has two large grips for small hands, and a dual viewfinder. Kids can connect the camera to their television or PC and show off their work to friends and family. They can add special effects to photos and videos. Another popular feature are the games that come with the camera. Three games geared toward preschoolers are included with the VTech KidiZoom Digital Camera. The camera also comes with a set of headphones that can be plugged into the side to keep game noise to a minimum.

Some of the VTech Kidizoom’s additional features include:

• 3 megapixels with an 1.8" color screen
• Double viewer or LCD screen for easy photo taking
• Connector cables for TV or PC hook-up
• Photo editing capabilities
• SD card slot for extra memory
• Three preschool games
• Changeable faceplates
• 16MB internal memory

Parents who bought the VTech KidiZoom Digital Camera praise its solid structure. Children who received this camera as a gift were very pleased with it. Some users mentioned that the camera is too dim in low lighting, and the videos are very low resolution, but that those things were expected from a child’s camera. In all the KidiZoom is a wonderful camera for young photographers to learn with, and the games and special image effects add to the fun.

Digital cameras have become a common part of our daily lives. Since children always want to do what the grown-ups are doing, it was only a matter of time before companies started producing digital cameras with kids in mind. The VTech KidiZoom Digital Camera is a top rated camera with tons of extra features that will keep kids entertained for many hours.

The Kodak EasyShare C613

The Kodak EasyShare C613 is a low-cost digital camera designed to simplify picture sharing. It comes with special Kodak EasyShare software that makes uploading a breeze. Users like the camera’s clear pictures, large LED, and affordable price. It’s also got enough buttons to perform useful functions, but not so many that the camera becomes complicated. It can also double as a video camera, and a custom camera docking station can be purchased and affixed to the top of your printer to make photo sharing and printing easier than ever. The sturdy build of the camera and the detailed Getting Started guide included with the software make this a nice camera for teens or beginning digital photographers.

First announced at PMA 2007, the Kodak EasyShare C613 is a six megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom lens, a 2.4" generous LCD display, and 10MB of built-in memory. Attractive and compact, this is the perfect digital camera for everyday use. The camera sports a USB port for easy connectivity, and an SD/MMC card slot. It is powered by two AA batteries. A wrist strap keeps the camera from falling out of the photographer’s grip.

One thing professionals and hobbyists like about this digital camera is its selection of scene modes. There are settings for portraits, nighttime portraits, landscapes, close-up pictures, documents, action, and low lighting. The camera has a top ISO sensitivity of 1,250. Scene modes include sports, snow, beach, backlight, museum, fireworks, high ISO, self-portrait, and many more. There is a special setting for just about anything you’d want to photograph, which makes for clearer pictures with true colors.

Even more fun for kids of all ages is the camera’s video mode. You can record up to eighty minutes of movies complete with audio. The videos are recorded in Quick Time MPEG4 format, in VGA or QVGA resolutions. Kids especially like this option, since the videos can be uploaded to the computer in a ready-to-play format that they can share with relatives and friends.

User reviews are enthusiastic. Many rate this camera’s performance equal to that of cameras which cost much more. Some users didn’t have high hopes when they saw the low price tag of the Kodak EasyShare C613, but they were impressed the moment they started taking pictures. This affordable digital camera gets high marks across the board. In fact, the only common complaint is the speed with which this camera drains it batteries. Some users compensate for this by turning off the camera in between shots, but the typical life of the AA batteries seems to be about 200 photos. Rechargeable batteries are recommended.

The Kodak EasyShare C613 is available at all major electronics stores, and online. If you’re looking for a small, sturdy camera that won’t drain your wallet, check out the Kodak EasyShare C613. It outperforms its peers and gives users just what they want: sharp, colorful, high quality images and videos.

The Nikon CoolPix L14

Digital camera users are always on the lookout for cool new features. The Nikon CoolPix L14 was designed to give customers what they want. This 7.1 megapixel digital camera is packed with little extras that really set it apart from the competition. And with its low price and Easy Auto mode, the Nikon CoolPix L14 is hard to beat for affordability and convenience.

Users can start the camera in Easy Auto mode and start taking pictures immediately without having to worry about settings. For more advanced photographers, the Nikon CoolPix L14 has fifteen scene and five movie modes to work with. There is a setting for every situation. And with a maximum ISO of 1000, the Nikon CoolPix L14 accurately measures ambient light levels and adjusts itself accordingly.

The Nikon CoolPix L14 also features a selection of new functions that users are sure to rave about. First is the Face-priority AF. This feature automatically finds, then focuses on people's faces, resulting in crisp, clear pictures with life-like facial details. Gone are the days of blurry faces. Face-priority AF ensures that you can actually recognize the people you just photographed.

Another useful feature is the ability to remove the dreaded “red eye” from photos using just the camera. This onboard red-eye removal is handy for folks who don’t have photo editing software nearby, or who just want to fix the pictures without it. Additionally, the Nikon CoolPix L14 comes with D-Lighting. This special photo correction feature can be used to improve the color and contrast in underexposed photos. If you took a shot with too much backlighting, this feature can also help to correct the picture. It works by adding detail to areas where they are needed, but leaving well-exposed areas alone.

For the young at heart, the Nikon CoolPix L14 also comes with stop motion animation capability. Users can take a series of pictures of the same subject in slightly different positions, then string the pictures together to make a fun animated film.

Beyond its outstanding picture-taking ability, the Nikon CoolPix L14 also shines in the area of battery conservation. Nikon boasts that users can take up to 1,000 photos before draining the batteries. Users have been able to get 600-1,000 shots using lithium batteries. With alkaline batteries, the camera will take about 440 pictures. Still, that’s very good for a digital camera in the affordable price range.

This is also a stylish little camera with a sleek body that comes in silver, black, blue, and metallic pink. It can be used for everyday photography without cramping your style. It comes with a 3x optical zoom and a generous 23MB of onboard memory.

If you take lots of people pictures, this is the digital camera for you. The Nikon CoolPix L14 has everything you need to take life-like photos of family and friends.

The Canon PowerShot A640

The Canon PowerShot A640 10 megapixel digital camera has been described as "bursting with creative options". This sounds a bit optimistic, but it's actually true. Canon has put together a great digital camera for photo enthusiasts, and it won't even leave you with an empty wallet.

Professionals and photography teachers alike use the Canon PowerShot A640 as their "walking around" camera for everyday use. The quality of the pictures is undeniable, especially when printing. The Canon PowerShot A640 receives high marks for its 11x14 printed photos, with users often calling the quality of the pictures "incredible". If you do a lot of photo printing, this could be the digital camera for you.

As mentioned before, the Canon PowerShot A640 is a 10 megapixel digital camera. It has 4x optical and digital zoom capabilities. The camera's minimum focal length is 7.3mm, with a maximum focal length of 29.2mm. The minimum shutter speed is 15 seconds, with a maximum of 1/2500 of a second. Images are produced in JPEG format.

The Canon PowerShot A640 has automatic and manual focus modes, as well as programmed, automatic, manual, aperture priority, and shutter priority exposure settings. This guarantees great shots in any level of light. And with a 2.5 inch LCD and real-image zoom, photographers can preview their shots in great detail.

Like many of its peers, the Canon PowerShot A640 has a frame video mode and self-timer for those who want to include themselves in their pictures. The camera has 32MB onboard memory and is compatible with SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard, and SD memory cards. It comes with a wrist strap along with A/V and USB cables. At 8 ounces in weight and 2.6 in x 4.3 in x 1.9 in (HxWxD), the PowerShot A640 is about average in size.

What do PowerShot A640 owners think about their cameras? By and large, they are thrilled with their purchase. Some do point out that certain extra features are available, but only at an additional cost. For example, the A640 has no image stabilization, no information in the viewfinder, and no RAW setting. To get these extra features, customers have to spend extra money – approximately $200 more.

Some users complain that their photos lose quality when taken in low light situations. Wide angles and close-ups are subject to barrel distortion in any light. Others share their unhappiness about seemingly small things, such as the wrist strap being too near the USB port, or the battery cover seeming a little flimsy. One should note, however, that there have been no reports of customers needing to replace their A640 due to any defects or physical damage.

The Canon PowerShot A640 is about on par with similar cameras in its price range, but it stands apart because of the high recommendations it has earned from people who know digital cameras well.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX50-K

When you think of digital cameras, Panasonic is probably not the first brand that comes to mind. But Panasonic is a major contender, and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX50-K is a popular 7 megapixel digital camera. The camera's slick case and sharp images make it a favorite for point-and-shooters. A rectangular patch on the camera’s front side doubles as a grip for better control. The Lumix also comes with the standard wrist strap to keep the camera from tumbling and breaking.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX50-K has 3.6x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom. It contains a CCD image sensor, and produces images in JPEG format. The camera has a minimum shutter speed of 60 seconds, maximum 1/2000 of a second. The Lumix DMC-FX50-K has a number of focus modes, putting it right alongside its competitors. Its 18 exposure modes are more generous than average. The camera's ISO equivalencies range from 100 to 3200. Its large 3 inch LCD display is a favorite feature, and has a higher than average resolution of 230,000 pixels.

The Lumix DMC-FX50-K comes with a paltry 16 MB of internal memory that can be extended to 32MB through the use of SBHC. Still, users should plan to add a memory card fairly soon. For picture storage, the Lumix DMC-FX50-K uses SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard, or SD memory cards. Some users insist on cameras with self-timers so that they can be in their own pictures. The Lumix comes with a self-timer that can be set for a 2 second or 10 second delay.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX50-K offers a higher than average movie resolution of 848 x 480 pixels. Lower resolutions are also available. Videos are produced in the fairly standard QuickTime Motion JPEG format. The camera comes with the standard USB cables, and also with an NTSC / PAL video output system that lets users display photos on their television. The cables for this are also included in the bundle, along with Arcsoft Software. The software package includes drivers and utilities, LUMIX Simple Viewer, ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ArcSoft PhotoBase, and ArcSoft Panorama Maker. Artistic types will no doubt enjoy dabbling in these photo editors.

Despite its small amount of internal memory, this digital camera has received very few negative reviews. For its price, it gets average or above-average marks in every category. Users like the camera's streamlined style and user-friendly layout. Though they caution that you will probably not get professional-grade photos with this camera, users seem to be very happy with the quality they do get. Between the crisp photos and large LCD

The Panasonic Lumix has the following physical dimensions: 2.2 in x 3.9 in x 1 in (HxWxD). It weighs a mere 5.3 ounces, making it the perfect everyday camera to put in one’s pocket. This camera sells for about $300 US, and can be found online or anywhere digital cameras and electronics are sold.

The HP PhotoSmart M425

Similar to the HP PhotoSmart E337, the M425 is an affordable digital camera with a loyal following. Users like the high quality images it takes, plus the affordability. The M425 is a higher-end version of its E337 cousin. Even professional photographers praise the camera’s clear, vibrant pictures and the ease with which they can be taken. With its many features and adequate specifications, the HP PhotoSmart M425 is a good digital camera for beginners and intermediate users.

The HP PhotoSmart M425 has a 4.9 megapixel resolution. It offers a 3x optical zoom and a 1.7 inch LCD display, which is a bit on the small side when compared to similarly-priced digital cameras. The HP PhotoSmart M425 comes with 16MB of onboard memory. It is also compatible with Secure Digital or MultiMediaCards. Easy to use with just about any computer, the HP PhotoSmart M425 is compatible with most versions of Windows and Mac OS.

The USB transfer speed of this camera has been called into question. Images are transferred to over a USB 1.1 connection, which is slower than the speedy USB 2.0 connections offered on most modern digital cameras. This, coupled with the HP PhotoSmart M425’s small LCD, might simply be a sign of the camera’s age. Unlike most of its competitors that came out in 2007, the M425 has been with us since early 2006. (Perhaps some upgrades are in order?)

Still, even with some features that seem rather dated, this camera has retained a body of loyal fans for years. Why do so many users go crazy for this camera? The onboard editing options and red-eye removal, for starters. Users can adjust the white, black, sepia, and negative settings within the camera itself. That is incredibly useful for photographers who might not have quick access to a computer with photo editing software. The picture quality is universally praised. Customers describe the HP PhotoSmart M425’s photos as “beautiful” and “fantastic any time of day or night”. The camera has a flash that is arguably superior to others, making it a great choice for indoor or outdoor photography.

Other little extras have propelled this camera to popularity. It has a self timer, which many users enjoy. It also has easy-to-use buttons and menus. There are no complicated series of button pushes for deleting pictures; one press and a confirmation is all it takes to get rid of muddled photos. Video is also simple with the HP PhotoSmart M425’s “click to start”, “click to stop” interface. The camera also does audio recording and direct print. It works with all PictBridge certified printers, among others.

The Leica V-LUX 1 Digital Camera

Debuted in Cologne in 2006, the Leica V-LUX 1 is a sturdy, compact camera known for its high performance optics. With 10 megapixels, this camera captures images with clarity and life-like detail.

This camera was designed with the action photographer in mind. It comes with many innovative features that protect against motion blurring and camera shake. The Leica V-LUX 1 also comes with a tilting TFT display that allows photographers to get great shots from different perspectives.

The Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT 1:2.8-3.7/7.4-88.8 ASPH lens has a very wide focal range. The minimum focus length is 35mm, with a maximum of 420mm - a much larger range than most other cameras in this price range. The lens has a 12x optical zoom that produces excellent far shots and landscapes. Close-ups are also clear and vibrant. And the integral image stabilizer keeps tripods from being a necessity. Photographers can get a clear shot with just the camera and their bare hands.

The Leica V-LUX 1 comes with a 512 MB SD memory card, a battery charger, a proprietary rechargeable battery and a comprehensive software package that includes Adobe Photoshop Elements and QuickTime Movie Player. Customers can also purchase a direct power adapter, a spare rechargeable battery, and two types of camera cases. Both cases are very durable and protect the camera from damage.

Users like the flip-out, rotating LCD screen. It makes tricky shots easier to capture, especially at odd angles. Also, the Leica V-LUX 1 takes dazzling photos. When compared to other digital cameras in the same price range, the V-LUX 1 was found to have better than average photo quality. There is a slight problem with noise in the pictures at higher ISO settings. Some noise is apparent even on the lowest ISO, but it’s very slight and won’t affect print pictures. Starting at ISO 1000, the noise is probably too much to make for good prints. Stick to the lower settings and you’ll have nice pictures.

Additionally, some users have complained of insufficient white balance under tungsten lighting. There is a preset for this, but it does not balance out the tones as well as manual white balance.

Finally, the camera’s size and bulk put some people off. The Leica V-LUX 1’s dimensions are 3.3 in x 5.6 in x 5.6 in (HxWxD), and it weighs in at a hefty 1.5 pounds. This is not a camera you can keep in your pocket. The Leica V-LUX 1 is a serious camera for serious photographers, and it looks the part. The price tag, too, will probably put this camera out of the reach of casual picture-takers. For its quality, though, the Leica V-LUX 1 is well worth the expense.

The Nikon D40

Nikon is a trusted brand in the digital camera industry. Some of the high end Nikons are staples of quality digital photography. One model in particular, though a little pricey for casual picture-takers, is a favorite among professionals and industry insiders: the Nikon D40.

The Nikon D40 is a 6.1 megapixel digital camera with 3x optical zoom. Pictures are taken in JPEG or NEF (RAW) format. The camera's ISO equivalencies range from 200 to 1600. It has both programmed and automatic focus modes and exposure settings to ensure the very best photographs regardless of distance or lighting. It uses a Nikon AF-S DX 18-55mm lens.

A sturdy camera, the Nikon D40 weighs in at one and a half pounds. Its physical dimensions are 3.7 in x 5 in x 2.5 in (HxWxD), making it a hard camera to fit into tight spaces, but also a hard camera to break. Users like the Nikon D40’s natural feel. It fits right into the photographer’s hands and doesn’t feel clumsy or bulky.

The Nikon D40 uses SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard, or SecureDigital (SD) memory cards. It comes with A/V and USB cables, as well as a shoe cap, strap, eyepiece cover, dust cap, body cap, lens cap, and eyecup. All of this hardware makes the camera sound like serious business, and it is. This is no child’s toy. The Nikon D40 stands at the point where digital cameras start to get expensive. Its users would pay a higher price still for such crisp, clear photographs and easy-to-use extra features. This is one camera that’s worth the cost.

User sentiments are overwhelmingly positive. This camera is touted as the next step after mastering point-and-shoot. When the beginners get serious about taking great pictures, the Nikon D40 will be waiting for them. Customers insist that the camera is easy to use, even with all the extra features. You certainly don’t have to be a professional to take professional-quality photographs with the Nikon D40 digital camera.

User complaints are minimal. Some customers don’t like the fact that the D40 has only three auto focus points, while Nikon’s D80 digital camera has 11. There is also some concern over the way the D40 tends to wash people out in indoor photography, though this is easily remedied with the use of the camera’s “warm” photo editing tool.

True Nikon enthusiasts lament the fact that the D40 can only use auto focus lenses that have their own built-in auto focus motors, thus preventing the use of older Nikon lenses with this digital camera. These complaints are rare, though. Far more often, users say that they haven’t had any problems at all with the camera, and would pay the somewhat hefty price all over again.

The FujiFilm FinePix A610

Much ado was made about this camera, because it combined for the first time Fuji’s proprietary Super CCD HR sensor and Real Photo Processor. This dual technology means cleaner pictures with more detail – something digital camera enthusiasts are always looking for. And the camera’s affordable price tag is another major selling point. It exceeds most people’s performance expectations for a $130 digital camera.

The FujiFilm FinePix A610 is a 6.1 megapixel camera with a maximum ISO sensitivity of 400. It has a 3x optical zoom. Most impressively, the Fujifilm FinePix A610 features a dual memory card slot which accepts both Fujifilm’s xD-Picture Card and Secure Digital (SD) card format. The FujiFilm FinePix A610 is powered by two AA batteries. It comes with 10MB of internal memory, allowing photographers to take and store pictures without a memory card. Customers appreciate this camera’s ease of use. It has a highly touted intuitive button layout, as well as easy-to-navigate access menus.

In fact, this digital camera seems to have been designed with beginners in mind. Fourteen scene positions and multiple picture settings make this camera a great choice for new photographers. Its generous 2.5 inch LCD is coated with an anti-glare protector that lets users preview their pictures even in bright light. Fuji has added a “new baby” setting that captures the true color of newborns’ flesh tones. New parents, traditionally a camera-happy lot, can really appreciate this feature. Soccer moms and dads will love the sports setting which reduces the blur in action shots.

Customer reviews of the FujiFilm FinePix A610 are mixed, but mostly positive. The user-friendly design of the buttons and menus is widely praised. The picture quality, however, has been brought into question. Some users complain that pictures come out looking a bit oversaturated. Others have observed that indoor pictures come out a little too dark. The camera seems to perform best when used for outdoor photography.

Also, the camera’s video quality doesn’t seem to be on par with other cameras in the same price range. The FujiFilm FinePix A610 captures movies in QVGA at a rate of thirty frames per second, without sound. This doesn’t keep the camera from receiving high marks in other areas, but many of its peers produce higher resolution video with sound included.

The bottom line is that the FujiFilm PinePix A610 is a nice camera for beginners. It has easy-to-use buttons, menus, and settings. But for the best quality pictures and videos, you might do well to look elsewhere.

The Polaroid i531

Another contender in the low-priced digital camera arena is the small, lightweight, 5 megapixel Polaroid i531. Praised for its image quality and wide LCD, this digital camera is wonderful for beginners. Children might find the thin, lightweight body too frail for their use. But for adults who want a simple camera for daily photography, the Polaroid i531 delivers.

The Polaroid i531 has a 3x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom, and CCD image sensor. It has a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and a minimum aperture of f/5.6. The camera's focal length ranges from 6.2mm to 18.6mm. Pictures are taken in JPEG format.

Like other cameras in its price range, the Polaroid i531 has a collection of settings, both automatic and programmed. Some settings work best for outdoor action shots, while others make the most of low light situations. The camera is praised for being easy to use with intuitive buttons and settings that are easy to figure out.

Other features include ISO equivalencies of 100, 400, 200, auto, and 50. The camera comes with 16MB of internal flash memory. A good-sized LCD screen (at 2.4 inches) makes image previewing a breeze. Users can also capture motion video with this camera.

For connectivity, the Polaroid i531 comes with a USB cable. It also comes with a wrist strap to keep the camera secure – a necessity, since many users have described the Polaroid i531 as easily breakable.

A real stand-out feature of the Polaroid i531 is the camera's self-timer. These are fairly rare among the lower priced digital cameras. Users who want to take pictures of themselves can set the timer for 2 seconds or 10 seconds, pose, and enjoy. Digital camera users have long searched for low-priced cameras with timers included. This feature sets the Polaroid i531 apart from its competition.

What do users think about the Polaroid i531? They laud its user-friendly setup and picture quality. However, many do point out that this camera is rather flimsy. With dimensions of 2.4 in x 3.5 in x 0.9 in (HxWxD) and a weight of 4.9 ounces, this is not a camera you want to subject to rough treatment. Some users complain that they have had to replace the camera after only a couple of days because of physical breakage.

To summarize, the Polaroid i531 is an easy to use, low cost digital camera with a generous LCD and good picture quality. It also comes with a self timer for users who want to take photographs of themselves. But the camera is also easy to break, so should be handled with care. This digital camera would be a good choice for beginners, but not necessarily for children due to its fragility.