Last update (Jul 10, 2009): Panasonic TS1 / FT1 Review at InfoSyncWorld.

This post is a compilation of Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 / DMC-FT1 professional and user reviews, owner opinions, reports and experiences, tests, conclusions, ratings and feedback.

Hopefully, you'll be able to conclude whether the TS1 / FT1 image quality, and the camera itself as a whole, meets your standards.

Full attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author's homepage or photo gallery.

Recently added

Panasonic TS1 / FT1 Review at InfoSyncWorld - Mike Perlman, the reviewer, rates the camera 69% (GOOD), and notes:

Aside from the ability to capture impressive HD video, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1's Intelligent Auto mode performed adequately in most shooting environments, leading to improved contrasts and a better overall exposure. However, we had to watch Intelligent Auto mode's tendency to boost ISO, which made our pictures pretty darn noisy after 800 ISO. The Lumix DMC-TS1 included a slew of Scene modes for beginners and included a Starry Sky mode for shooting at low shutter speeds with a tripod.

Toughcam Battle: Canon PowerShot D10 vs. Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 at Gizmodo

The Panasonic TS1 / FT1 came out the overall winner in this comparison review.

If you frequently need a camera that can go really deep when you're underwater though, it's probably a better idea to spring for the Canon D10 as its depth rating is 10 meters (32 feet), as opposed to three meters (10 feet) for the Panny.

Johan Mahoney, the reviewer, has the following conclusion:

Which is why for me, the balance shifts heavily toward the Panasonic TS1. Its form factor makes using it on land a lot more convenient, and the added HD video option is a huge plus. And my ears hurt if I go down much further than three meters underwater anyway. At a premium of only $70 ($400 list vs. $330 for the D10), I'd say it's well worth spending up for.

Related posts:

1. Panasonic DMC-TS1 Price Watch and Availability This post tracks Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 (DMC-FT1) prices and availability...

Last update (Jul 09, 2009): Fourth of July Photos.

This post is a personal compilation of links to Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor lens professional reviews, user opinions and experiences, tests, ratings and conclusions.

I also link up to images, sample photos and galleries of pictures taken with this lens.

Full attribution is given by linking to the source.

The Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (vibration reduction) Nikkor lens was introduced on 27-August-2008 as a kit lens for the Nikon D90, which was also announced on the same day.

Recently added

Fourth of July Photos - Very nice carnival and fireworks images by abdoozy, who used the 18-105 VR, Nikon D90 and a Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor lens to shoot the pictures.

Official sites, key features and specifications and included accessories

The official websites for the 18-105mm Nikkor lens are at:

1. Nikon Imaging Products
2. Nikon USA

Key specs:

1. Weight: 14.8oz. (420g)
2. Dimensions: 3.0x3.5in. / 76x89mm (Diameter x Length)

Go to the bottom of this DC Watch page for some photos of this lens.

Reviews and opinions

Thom Hogan's rating of the 18-105mm AF-S VR

Thom Hogan assigned an overall rating of four stars for the Nikkor 18-105, and states the following as reasons to buy the lens:

Very good all around; no significant optical faults.

Review at SLRGear.com

The conclusion is positive:

The Nikon 18-105mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 definitely raises the bar for Nikon's current lineup of kit lenses; consistently sharp, even at large apertures, with good resistance to chromatic aberration. Corner shading is prevalent, but it's not a noticeable problem. Distortion is evident and irregular, but again, you're probably only going to notice it if you need your straight lines to be absolutely straight.

Compared with the Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens:

The VR employed in the 18-105mm isn't as robust as that seen in the 18-200mm, offering only one setting for VR (on and off). The VR2 system allows for ''active'' and ''normal'' VR usage, allowing for panning shots which compensate for vertical shake only.

On Amazon

Amazon has more owner and user reviews on the 18-70 AF-S lens.

Sample photos and examples, image galleries

Recently added

Nikkor 18-105mm VR Pictures by Neutralday - This Flickr set has full-resolution images taken with a Nikon D90, which were used in their D90 review.

Most of the photos were shot with the 18-105 VR (while the others were photographed with a Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Nikkor - see this post for the relevant links).

Four Nikon D5000 flower photos, and an ISO6400 full-resolution image

Jeff Klofft shared four flower macros / close-ups, and one ISO 6400 image in this forum post.

The 18-105 VR lens was mounted on Jeff's brand new Nikon D5000 for the shoot.

This is the link to the full-sized version of the ISO 6400 test photo.

Miscellaneous 18-105 photos at DC Watch

Here are the links to images shot with the Nikon 18-105 lens. You'll need to scroll down a bit to see the pictures.

1. Test samples shot with a Nikon D90.
2. Photos with a variety of lenses. The lens used is mentioned under each thumbnail - keep a look out for the 18-105.

Full-sized image samples at Photo-cafe.jp

They have tons of full-sized photos here, all shot with the Nikon D90.

Lizard Close-up

This 100% crop of the reptile was photographed by cmvsm with the Nikon D90. Focal length was 105mm, and the aperture used was f/5.6.

No related posts.

Last update (Jul 09, 2009): Fourth of July Photos.

This post is a compilation of annotated links to Nikon 70-300mm VR reviews and samples.

The all-new Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor lens from Nikon has been receiving nothing but rave reviews from users and reviewers alike.

The Nikon 70-300mm VR replaces two of the older 70-300 lenses from Nikon - the G and more expensive and optically superior (compared to the G lens) ED versions.

Among the welcome features in the new lens is the incorporation of vibration reduction technology (version II (VR II), AF-S (Nikon's Silent Wave Motor lens autofocus technology designation), a non-rotating front element and internal focusing (IF).

All of this is bundled in a reasonably priced package of approximately USD500.

Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras (view a larger photo)

Download the 1.5MB 70-300 VR user manual, Nikon's official online PDF instruction guide.

To see what it's like to take the 70-300 VR lens out of its box, visit this post on Photofocus.

Recently added

Fourth of July Photos - Very nice carnival and fireworks images by abdoozy, who used the 70-300 VR, Nikon D90 and a Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor lens to shoot the pictures.

Bob Foringer's photos at the zoo

Bob mounted the 70-300 VR on his brand new Nikon D5000, and shared 4 images from his trip to the zoo.

Click on the "O" link found on each pic to access the full-sized, unedited JPG.

I have to say that the quality of the pictures is remarkable.

My Impressions

I like this lens ... A LOT. Allow me to share three Nikon D300 photos as an introduction to the kind of photos you can get with it (click the thumbnail to see a larger version):

1. Indian Gaur at 195mm
   
   
2. Subject isolation at 210mm - you get very nicely-blurred backgrounds at this focal length and longer
   
   
3. Blue-tailed Bee Eater at 300mm (full-sized photo)
   

Nikon 70-300mm VR Reviews and User Opinions

Thom used the 70-300mm VR at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

As usual, Thom's writing is interesting and educational, and he spends a lot of time explaining that for birding photography, pre-visualization and setting up everything for the shot counts for much more than merely having expensive equipment. He shot most of the images using the Nikon D90, Nikon 200-400mm VR lens, and of course, the 70-300mm VR.

Discussion thread on DPReview.com

Read through every post in this thread, where actual owners of the 70-300 VR give balanced comments, giving the lens its deserved high praise. Enjoy also the nice samples posted in the replies - I like: photo of a lighthouse, bird, jet fighter, landscape (Telluride, Colorado) and animals.

70-300mm VR review by Dr Kramer

This is an excellent review, with numerous photographs and crops to illustrate lens sharpness, and the 70-300 VR's resistance to flare and chromatic aberration. He also evaluates bokeh, something that is missing in most lens reviews. A must read!

Thom Hogan's 70-300mm VR Review

In contrast to Dr Kramer's review, Thom goes deeper into the other technical aspects of the lens, and throws light on the drawbacks to expect in a lens of this price range. He concludes:

70-200mm excellence. In this range there's almost nothing to fault the lens on optically, especially on an APS DSLR.

SLRGear.com

Click here to read the review. Below that is feedback from satisfied owners, some who even own much more expensive Nikon lenses such as the Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR.

From their conclusion, the plus points were:

1. Build quality.
2. Accuracy and speed of AF (auto focus).
3. Overall handling.
4. The filter size is 67mm, meaning you get to share attachments with your 18-70mm Nikkor.

One minus point is the slight image softness and CA (chromatic aberration) in the 200 to 300mm zoom range.

They were pretty pleased that Nikon didn't seem to cut significant corners in the design of this relatively low-priced, but high-featured zoom lens.

More Nikon 70-300 VR Sample Photos, Image Galleries and Test Pictures

Sample bird photo with a Nikon D3X

HK Low has posted a brilliant image taken with the 70-300 VR mounted on the Nikon D3X.

View the entire image, as well as a 100% crop.

I find the bokeh very pleasing.

Lee Rothman's Nikon D700 plus Nikon 70-300mm VR test photo

Details are here.

He commented that the lens gives sharp pictures with the D700.

Zoo photos with the Nikon D40 plus 70-300 VR

Seriously, this series has the best animal pics I've seen taken with this combo. Scott shot these photographs handheld in JPEG mode, and shared EXIF data for the photos.

On a Waterski Boat; Bird-In-Flight

Kim shot these images (on a moving boat, no less!) with the 70-300 VR mounted on a Nikon D50 camera. She's been sharing lots of pictures taken with this VR lens and I always look forward to viewing them.

Here's some additional info:

1. The VR was left in Active mode and worked great, even while on a bumpy boat.
2. The D50 was set on Aperture mode at f/5.6

Indoor Portraits

Hades took these indoor portraits without the use of flash - the only illumination came from the kitchen lights. He finds that the 70-30mm VR focuses quickly and produces great results. The bokeh is soft and excellent all-round. The 70-300 VR was purchased to augment his Nikon D40 kit.

Late Afternoon Sun and Some Birds

A warm light lends magic to these bird photographs by LukeP.

LukeP used the Nikon D200 and had to use ISO 400 to 800 for some of the shots to keep shutter speeds up.

While not in the same class as the Nikon 70-200mm VR, the 70-300mm VR is lighter and can reach 300mm. Image quality is also good.

Miscellaneous Photos

1. Here's my Super GT motorsport race samples.
2. Evening Skies - Fantastic colors and composition in these photos shot by Aleksander with the Nikon D40.
3. Vertical panorama of the Empire State Building at sunset, by LeungPhotos
4. Osprey feeding on a fish, by Larry Lowry. Further down in the thread, Larry reports that the VR mechanism gives him more flexibility to get better shots, and he is impressed with the images he gets from this lens vs the older Nikkor 70-300mm ED version.
5. A blue jay.

Accessories

Choose your camera bag carefully if you plan to put in the Nikon 70-300mm VR while attached to the camera. I've put up a summary of a related discussion.

Resources

Official site at NikonUSA.com - read about Nikon 70-300mm VR key features, technical specifications, acessories, product registration and tech support.

Official site at NikonImaging.com - there's an MTF chart and a lens construction diagram.

Related posts:

1. Nikon 70-300mm samples from the Super GT race Some photos I took with the Nikon D300 plus Nikkor...

Last update (Jul 09, 2009): Fourth of July Photos.

This page is a collection of noteworthy photo samples taken with the Nikon D90 DSLR (digital SLR), image galleries and user pictures that I've come across in forums, online communities, blogs and related websites.

Bear in mind that the majority of these photos have been re-sized, and may have gone through post-processing, retouching or other edits. I just thought that it would be interesting to see, at a glance, what Nikon D90- owners and users are shooting with their camera.

Full attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author's homepage or photo gallery.

Recently added

Fourth of July Photos - Very nice carnival and fireworks images by abdoozy, who used a Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor and Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor lenses to shoot the pictures.

Wedding photos (DPReview forum) - Westgate shared a nice set of images photographed with a Nikon D90 / Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor zoom lens combination, and said this of the lens: "Unbelievably happy with the results. Rented the 70-200, now I want to buy it. I've rented other gold label nikkors before, but I've never gotten the kinds of results the 70-200 gave. Razor sharp, fastest focusing I've ever used, most accurate focusing I've ever used, the color and the contrast is amazing."

Nikon D90 Review Pictures by Neutralday - This Flickr set has full-resolution images taken with the Nikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR ED Nikkor and Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Nikkor lenses, which were used in their D90 review.

See this post for the relevant links to some of my favorite 35/1.8G shots from the set.

Indoor sports photo with a D90 plus Nikon 70-200mm VR, by PerL

To a question on whether to get a Nikon D90 or Canon T1i / 500D, PerL suggested that the D90, being slightly larger with a faster fps (frames per second) in continuous burst mode and a slightly shorter shutter lag (and I might add, shorter viewfinder / mirror blackout times) makes it a more suitable camera for sports and action photography.

In his post, he shared an example of photo taken indoors of a team handball sport in progress. A Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR Nikkor lens was mounted on the D90 for that shot.

Robber fly macro

Sir Mart Outdoorgraphy™ shot this scary bug photo with a Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di SP A/M 1:1 Macro Lens mounted on the D90. Aperture was stopped down to f/16. Follow this link for the full-sized image.

Lizard Close-up

This excellent 100% crop of the reptile was photographed by cmvsm with the Nikon 18-105mm lens mounted on the D90.

Sample RAW / NEF files

Imaging Resource has a pretty good selection of Nikon D90 RAW files - when you're there, just do a browser search for NEF.

Gallery of full-sized Nikon D90 pictures at Photo-cafe.jp

They've generously included quite a number of samples in the Japanese-language article (here's a Google English translation), all shot with the new Nikon 18-105mm lens. Most of the interesting photos are shot in JPEG mode at higher ISO values, and they have an ISO test series of a bug on a flower from ISO 200 to ISO 6400. These should prove useful for evaluating the amount and nature of noise in D90 images.

This ISO 200 photo of a building being framed by trees and plants was shot with the Nikon 18-105mm at 18mm and f/8 shows excellent corner-to-corner sharpness. The D90 was put into Landscape mode for this shot.

ISO 6400, D90 vs D300

Imaging Resource was one of the first sites to post full-sized test photos from the D90 that you can download. Here's your chance to compare ISO 6400 output from the D90 vs the Nikon D300:

1. D90 ISO 6400
2. D300 ISO 6400

Related posts:

1. Nikon D90 References A compilation of Nikon D90 resources, updates, information and other...
2. Nikon D90 Reviews, User Opinions and Tests Last update (Jun 24, 2009): The Nikon D90: Everything the...
3. Nikon D90 Movie / Video Mode Reviews This page is a compilation of annotated links to professional...

This post is a compilation of links to the following Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 / DMC-FX550 (as it's known in Europe) compact digital camera resources:

1. Introduction.
2. Professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, ratings, conclusions and feedback.
3. Sample photos and examples, image galleries and user pictures, movie / video clips and footage.
4. References and other resources.

Panasonic has made the Lumix 580 / 550 available in the following two colors:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 (Black)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 (Silver)

Introduction, and basic specs

The Panasonic 580 / 550 was introduced on 27-January-2009 (read the press release), and has a 5x zoom lens that has a range of 25 - 125mm (in 35mm equivalent terms).

Extracts from the press release reads:

When a familiar face is recorded several times, the camera will prompt you to register the face. Once complete, if the familiar face appears into your frame again, the camera will display the name you specified for that person and prioritize focus and exposure so that the registered face is bright and in sharp focus. Perfect for group shots for example – this new feature will give auto focus and auto exposure priority to a single person, ensuring their loved ones face will be captured beautifully.

... and ...

The DMC-FX550 incorporates a large 3.0-inch touch-screen interface to achieve amazing ease in both shooting and playing back the images. Effortlessly easy to navigate thanks to the responsive interface, the FX550’s touch screen is streets ahead of its competitors.

Resolution is 12.1 MP, and the size of the CCD sensor is a 1/2.33 " (6.13 x 4.6 mm, 0.28 cm²). This gives a pixel density of 43 MP/cm².

Basic specifications:

1. Storage: Built-in Memory, SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard (Still image only).
2. Power: Panasonic DMW-BCF10 ID-Security Li-ion Battery Pack (3.6V, 940mAh) (Included), AC Adaptor (Input: 110-240V AC) (Optional)
3. Battery Life: Approx. 330 pictures (CIPA Standard).
4. Weight: Approx. 145g (0.32 lb), Approx. 167g with Battery and SD Memory Card (0.37 lb).
5. Dimensions (W x H x D): 94.9 x 57.1 x 21.9 mm (3.74 x 2.25 x 0.86 in).

Visit DPReview for the complete specs on the Lumix FX580 / FX550.

Professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, ratings, conclusions and feedback

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX550 review at Pocket-Lint - Gavin Stoker, the reviewer, gave the camera an overall rating score of 8 /10, and has this to say for those curious to know how the operational speed of the FX580 stacks up:

Action fans meanwhile can take advantage of up to 10 frames per second continuous stills capture mode thanks to a 2.4x faster Venus Engine V processor, though with the compromise of resolution dropping to just 3 megapixels. Otherwise it’s a respectable 2.3fps at top resolution, 4:3 image ratio. Response times are likewise pretty good. With a flick of the on/off switch on the top plate the camera powers up for action in 2 seconds, the rear LCD blinking into life a fraction later.

Review examples of photos taken with the FX580 / FX550 at InfoSyncWorld - Mike Perlman, the reviewer, commented on the FX580's image quality:

For a compact sporting a standard consumer sensor, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 acted like one. In fact, we could barely tell the difference between the Lumix DMC-FX580 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500 when it came time to review our samples. Noise was the main theme of this party, and we didn't want to get down with it. Highlights were also an issue in bright light, but the Lumix DMC-FX580 exhibited a better tolerance for contrasts than the mid-level Canon PowerShot compacts such as the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS.

Customer reviews on Amazon - At the time of writing, Jul 03, 2009, the FX580 / FX550 has an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars based on 1 review.

Sample photos and examples, image galleries and user pictures, movie / video clips and footage

Official Gallery of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 / DMC-FX550 Sample Photos - There are two portraits and one flower macro / close-up.

Review examples of photos taken with the FX580 / FX550 at InfoSyncWorld - Do check out the night long exposures (Low Light Test – Frontloader and Low Light Test – Back to the Bridges). Mike Perlman, the reviewer, commented:

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580 was one of the most formidable low light machines because of its 60-second shutter speed cap. We used a tripod with both of these images and the results were highly impressive.

References and other resources

Official websites for the FX580 / FX550 - There's Panasonic Global, where you can obtain the full list of features, specifications and accessories.

There is an Acrobat PDF Operating Instructions Manual for the camera - right-click and download the English version (18.4 MB), or the Spanish version (4.0 MB). If the links didn't work for you, go here and search for the model number: DMCFX580.

A customer support site is also available for the camera.

No related posts.

The price of most digital cameras tend to trend downwards over time, and the same price drop should occur in the case of the Nikon D5000 digital SLR camera.

I'm not planning for any scheduled updates, but do check back here from time to time for the latest and best prices on the Nikon D5000 DSLR and related accessories.

Officially, the D5000 is available as a body only, or as a kit (outfit) with the AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens, but vendors might provide additional bundle options.

Remember to check the price for the kit and compare that to the individual prices for the body only and lens. Most of the time, buying the kit saves you money, but it's sometimes cheaper to buy the body and lens separately.

Click on the links to access in-stock and availability information.

Friday, July 03, 2009

Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD (Body Only): $662.84.

Nikon D5000 with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens: $774.00.

Nikon D5000 with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and 55-200mm f/4-5.6G VR lenses: $949.99.

Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Nikkor lens only: $194.95 ($50.05 price reduction since the last update).

$245.00.

Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G VR Nikkor lens only: $206.74 ($18.01 reduction).
$224.75.

Battery options and accessories for the D5000

Nikon EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery for D5000: $50.00. It's a good idea to purchase a spare battery as a backup so that the camera doesn't run out of power during extended shooting sessions.

Nikon MC-DC2 Remote Release Cord: $26.95. Third-party remote shutter releases are also available.

Nikon ML-L3 IR (Infrared) Wireless Remote Control: $14.76

Price history archive

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

The D5000 and various kit options are available for pre-order now.

According to the Nikon D5000 press release at Nikon USA:

The D5000 outfit, which includes the AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens, will be available at Nikon Authorized dealers beginning in late April 2009 at an estimated selling price of $849.95.** For consumers who want to configure their D5000 system or for photographers who need an additional D-SLR body for an existing system, the D5000 will also be offered as a body only for an estimated selling price of $729.95.**

**Estimated selling price listed is only an estimate. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Nikkor lens only: $245.00.

Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G VR Nikkor lens only: $224.75.

Related posts:

1. Nikon D5000 Reviews Last update (Jun 26, 2009): Terry White on the Nikon...
2. Nikon D5000 Tips Last update (Jun 24, 2009): Nikon D5000 RAW / NEF...
3. Nikon D5000 Samples Last update (Jun 18, 2009): Sample galleries at DCResource and...

Last update (Jul 02, 2009): Canon EOS Rebel T1i / 500D review by Ben Long, Macworld.com.

This post is a compilation of Canon EOS Rebel T1i / 500D / Kiss X3 digital SLR camera professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, conclusions, ratings and feedback.

Full attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author's homepage or photo gallery.

Recently added

Canon EOS Rebel T1i / 500D review by Ben Long, Macworld.com - Ben Long wrote:

Canon’s Rebel line has been very strong for a while now, so the most astonishing thing about the T1i is that Canon has managed to dramatically improve the image quality. Overall image quality is great, and the camera does a startlingly good job of shooting in low light at high ISOs. While the previous Rebels began to suffer above ISO 800, the T1i delivers fantastic results at ISO 1600, and even produces usable images at ISO 3200. This supposedly lower-end camera delivers high ISO results that are better than you’d have seen with the pro cameras of just a couple of years ago.

Ben awarded an overall rating score of 4 out of 5 "mice" (stars) to the camera.

Canon EOS 500D (Digital Rebel T1i / Kiss X3 Digital) Review at DPReview

Richard Butler, the reviewer, made several interesting comparisons, pitting the T1i against the Nikon D5000, Olympus E-620 and the older Canon XSi / 450D:

1. Studio scene comparison (JPEG), Canon EOS T1i vs. Nikon D5000.
2. Studio scene comparison (JPEG), Canon EOS T1i vs. Olympus E-620.
3. Studio scene comparison (JPEG), Canon EOS T1i vs. Canon XSi.
4. Studio scene comparison (RAW), Canon EOS T1i vs. Nikon D5000.
5. Studio scene comparison (RAW), Canon EOS T1i vs. Canon XSi.
6. Studio scene comparison (higher sensitivities, JPG). ISO 800, ISO1600, ISO3200, ISO6400 and ISO12800 are compared. Nikon D5000 takes the high ISO performance crown.
7. Resolution Chart Comparison (JPEG).
8. Resolution Chart Comparison (RAW).

Richard Butler assigns a "Highly Recommended" rating to the T1i, and concludes:

If you currently own an EOS 450D or another fairly recent entry-level DSLR from an image quality point of view there is not necessarily a need to upgrade to the EOS 500D. However, the HD video mode, new high-resolution screen or extended ISO range make it easier to justify the expense if you're likely to use these features. For anybody buying their first DSLR the 500D is an easy recommendation but you might want to have a look at the Nikon D5000 as well. It comes with a similar feature set to the 500D ('only' 720P video though) and performs slightly better in low light.

Canon EOS Rebel T1i at PCMag.com

PJ Jacobowitz, the reviewer, has assigned 4 / 5 stars (VERY GOOD) to the T1i.

PJ makes comparisons with the Nikon D5000, and concludes:

A very close contender, the Nikon D5000, gives you a lot of the same features and comparable still images for about the same price, but it has a lower-resolution sensor, is less flexible in video mode, and is missing the T1i's excellent screen. That razor-sharp Live View LCD is the clincher, and what makes the T1i our latest Editors' Choice for budget D-SLRs.

There is also a related video review of the T1i, which you can view in HD on YouTube.

First impressions by Naim Choudhury

Read all about Naim's first days with the T1i / 500D, and his comparison of the new camera vs his sold-off XSi.

Here's a summary of his findings:

1. He finds the T1i more than adequate for his freelance design and creative work.
AF (autofocusing) on the T1i feels snappier and more confident than what he managed with the Canon XSi / 450D / Kiss X2.
2. The new, 920,000-dot LCD screen on the T1i is a huge difference to the 230,000-dot version on the XSi.
3. Image noise seems finer and better-controlled.

Ongoing T1i / 500D review blog at Juza Nature photography

Expect to get a better idea of how well T1i / 500D performs in this review.

I look forward to regular updates over the long-term, but here are some interesting nuggets so far:

1. Nothing beats using a fast lens for low-light videography, and the Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX DG RF Aspherical Wide Angle Lens (Canon mount) was the lens used in the low-light samples.
2. The video quality isn't too impressive especially in low light conditions. Additionally, the presence of jaggies (stair-step artifacts) means that the overall video quality isn't nearly as good as what you'd get from the Canon 5D Mark II.

T1i User reviews on Canon USA

Read feedback and opinions from owners of the T1i / 500D / Kiss X3 on Canon's official web site.

The user reviews section features a useful, automatic summary of customer ratings with a count assigned to each review aspect.

First user impressions by Vittorio Zumpano

Lucky guy is one of the first owners of the T1i / Kiss X3, and this is what he has to say about the high ISO performance of the camera:

I also really wanted to test the high ISO performance and see how much they improved it. I can say without any doubt at all, the ISO 1600+ is great. I took some shots at 1600, 3200, 6400 and 12800 and I was very impressed. 3200 ISO Kiss X3 shots look BETTER than 1600 ISO shots from the Kiss X2. Thats with all noise reduction turned off in camera even. Then after I ran the images through noise ninja in Photoshop I was blown away. Im very happy with this camera. I cant wait to start using it tomorrow.

References:

1. Adobe Photoshop.
2. Kiss X2 is also known as the Canon XSi / 450D.

Canon T1i / 500D First Look by Lori Grunin, Senior Editor at CNet TV

The video clip has a good overview of how the T1i would fit in your hands, and can be viewed here.

Alternatively, if you prefer, download the MPEG-4 m4v movie file (8.1 MB, right-click and save to your hard-drive).

First Take at CNet Asia

Leonard Goh of CNet Asia has the following opinions on the Canon T1i / 500D in his preview:

1. Video:
   

   Following in the footsteps of the EOS 5D Mark II, the EOS 500D is able to record full-HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixel)-quality video clips. This was made possible with the onboard APS-C-sized CMOS sensor which generates less heat when activated and hence is able to produce cleaner-looking videos. We gave it a quick hands-on session and found the clip recorded under fluorescent lighting to be extremely satisfactory. There is also an HDMI output port for viewing videos on a compatible HDTV. Kudos to Canon for delivering a once premium feature to an entry-level shooter.

2. High ISO capability:
   

   Canon has given the EOS 500D a big bump in ISO sensitivity from the EOS 450D's ISO 1,600 to ISO 12,800. While skeptics may argue that images taken at that sensitivity will be noisy, we believe it is a handy feature for shooting in low-light environments without using a flashlight. We took a sample shot at ISO 3,200 and found it to be very much usable and definitely printable up to 8R size.

   Note that 8R in this context refers to a standard photographic print size of 8" × 10" (203 × 254 mm), or 2398 x 3000 pixels at 300 dpi.

On Amazon

Amazon has more owner and user reviews on the Canon EOS Digital Rebel T1i / 500D / Kiss X3.

Related posts:

1. Canon T1i / 500D / Kiss X3 Tips Last update (Jun 24, 2009): Canon T1i / 500D RAW...
2. Canon T1i / 500D vs Nikon D5000 Movie / Video Quality CameraLabs.com has a good set of clips comparing footage quality...
3. Canon T1i / 500D Samples Last update (Jun 10, 2009): T1i / 500D review samples...

Last update (Jul 01, 2009): Stunning photos from a European cruise.

This page is a collection of photo samples taken with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 / DMC-TZ7 digital compact point-and-shoot camera, plus related image galleries, user pictures and other examples that I've come across in forums, online communities, blogs and related websites.

This should help in determining if the image quality of the ZS3 / TZ7 meets your expectations.

Bear in mind that the majority of these photos are re-sized, and may have gone through post-processing, retouching or other edits. I just thought that it would be interesting to see, at a glance, what Panasonic ZS3 / TZ7 owners and users are shooting with their camera.

Full-sized images, where available, will assist with judging the image quality.

Attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author's homepage or photo gallery.

Recently added

Photos from a European cruise - What a stunning set of images shared by cubsfan61 on DPReview. Two of my favorites are this Santorini picture and this Rome photo.

A gallery of ZS3 / TZ7 photos by syftang

This is a pretty good variety of photos shot by Steven at Central Park.

You might like to read a related post where Steven shares some of the shortcomings of the ZS3 / TZ7, which depending on how you look at it, aren't that serious.

Four large close-ups / macro images

This set is an excellent example of the ZS3 / TZ7's macro capabilities.

Really nice, sharp photos, with pleasant colors and tonality, and lots of detail.

First user photos by Alfred Lo

Alfred Lo has shared some ZS3 / TZ7 images, together with 100% crops, in this forum post.

He's also listed some pros and cons of the camera:

1. Advantages: Huge zoom range, sharp lens, good image quality, usable LCD outdoors, and great video and audio quality (Alfred says: "The stereo audio is just awesome!").
2. Disadvantages: Noise is present at ISO 80, although this can be seen only if the image is zoomed-in on-screen, but not in prints. Battery life isn't as good as with a Casio EX-Z750.

I personally think his test images speak well for the camera. Colors and skin tones look natural despite the fact that most of the pictures were taken in overcast and gloomy weather conditions.

Panasonic ZS3 / TZ7 Samples Photo Gallery at DCResource.com

Jeff Keller has posted up 20 high-resolution TZ7 / ZS3 photos at his site, taken at Chinatown, Stanford University, Crissy Field, and on a ferry ride from San Francisco to Oakland.

I think the ZS3 / TZ7 images show excellent resolution resolution and sharpness.

Related posts:

1. Panasonic ZS3 / TZ7 Reviews Last update (Jun 24, 2009): Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 review (Margaret...
2. Panasonic ZS3 / TZ7 IS footage, movie and video clip samples This page is a compilation of annotated links to sample...
3. Panasonic ZS3 / TZ7 Price Watch and Availability This post tracks Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 / DMC-TZ7 prices and...

Last update (Jun 30, 2009): Canon 50D plus 18-200 IS moon shot.

This page is a collection of photo samples taken with the Canon EOS 50D, plus related image galleries, user pictures and other examples that I've come across in forums, online communities, blogs and related websites.

This should help in determining if the image quality of the 50D meets your expectations.

Bear in mind that the majority of these photos are re-sized, and may have gone through post-processing, retouching or other edits. I just thought that it would be interesting to see, at a glance, what Canon 50D DSLR owners and users are shooting with their camera.

Full-sized images, where available, will assist with judging the image quality.

Attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author's homepage or photo gallery.

Recently added

Moon shot - Nice'n sharp 100% crop of a Canon 50D plus EF-S 18-200mm IS photo shared by VTS on DPReview.

Birds, in flight and otherwise, by Abby with the 400/5.6L

Abby used the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L IS USM for this series of bird photos.

The finch image shows off the nice bokeh on this lens, while this photo of a flying night heron highlights the tracking capabilities of the 50D.

Central Park birds by Charles Chessler

Charles Chessler used the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM for this series of bird photos.

Reach was enhanced using a 1.4X TC, possibly the Canon EF 1.4X II Extender.

The following birds were featured in the post:

1. Pine Warbler.
2. Black Crowned Night Heron.
3. American Robin.
4. Downy Woodpecker.

More birds by Ben Egbert

Ben Egbert shared some bird photos in a forum post.

All the images were shot with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM Super Telephoto plus 1.4X tele-converter combo which was mounted on the 50D.

The following birds were featured:

1. Great Blue Heron.
2. Red-winged Blackbird.
3. Sandhill Crane.

The 500/4L's magnificent bokeh is evident on this image of a sandhill crane in flight.

EOS 50D Samples by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen

There are some nice photos in this gallery, and Vidar has also penned extensive notes comparing the 50D to the 40D in the gallery description.

Official Canon 50D Gallery: Four full-sized image samples

The ISO 1600 image has had a Level 4 noise reduction applied to it, according to the EXIF. I have to say, looking at the photo at 100%, that the image looks extremely clean, and don't forget this is coming from a 15 MP APS-C sensor!

Resized official samples on cweb.canon.jp

The following were taken with the co-announced Canon 18-200mm IS lens.

1. Palm tree.
2. At the beach - shot wide-open at 18mm.
3. Flower closeup at 200mm.
4. 4WD vehicle on a dirt road.
5. Interior shot at 18mm.
6. Palm fruits.
7. Air balloon.
8. Black and white sample.

The following were taken with the Canon 10-22mm lens.

1. Aquarium tunnel, taken at ISO 1600, 10mm focal length.
2. Spinning Funfair Merry-Go-Round at 10mm.

The following were taken with the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens.

1. Coconut on the beach
2. A bride in wedding gown.

Night portrait, photographed with a Canon 17-55mm lens.

A man and a boy - taken with the EF 200mm f/2L lens.

Related posts:

1. Canon 50D Manual – Now Available For Download The English Language Canon 50D user manual / operating instructions...
2. Canon 50D Price Watch This post tracks the downward trend of Canon 50D prices...
3. Canon 50D Tips This page is a collection of Canon EOS 50D tips,...

Last update (Jun 30, 2009): Canon 50D plus 18-200 IS moon shot.

This page of links to Canon 18-200mm reviews, sample photos and other references is continually updated as I come across interesting and useful information. Please use the Contact link in the Navigation menu to submit your suggestions for additions to the site.

The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens was introduced on 26-August-2008.

The Canon 18-200mm takes 72mm filters. Recommended filter brands are B+W and Hoya.

Click here to view the MTF charts for this lens.

Professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, ratings, conclusions and feedback

Owner ratings and review on Canon USA - At the time of writing, Jun 30, 2009, the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens has an overall rating score of 4.3 out of 5 stars, based on 14 owner opinions.

Customer reviews at Amazon - At the time of writing, Jun 30, 2009, the EF-S 18-200mm IS lens has an overall rating score of 4.5 out of 5 stars, based on 29 customer reviews.

Canon 18-200mm image samples, photo galleries and test pictures

Recently added

Moon shot - Nice'n sharp 100% crop of a Canon 50D plus 18-200 IS photo shared by VTS on DPReview.

DPReview's pre-production Canon T1i / 500D photos taken with the EF-S 18-200mm lens

The following full-resolution images were photographed at Zoo Atlanta with a Canon EOS Rebel T1i / 500D / Kiss X3 digital SLR camera:

1. Image 1, 32mm, f/10
2. Image 2, 200mm, f/8
3. Image 3, 70mm, f/5

Pre-production Canon T1i / 500D / Kiss X3 plus EF-S 18-200mm zoo photos at ImagingResource.com

Here are the direct links to the image pages, and related key EXIF data:

1. Zebra - ISO 100, 200mm focal length, f/5.6
2. Meerkat - ISO 100, 175mm focal length, f/7.1
3. Meerkat - ISO 100, 175mm focal length, f/7.1
4. Meerkat - ISO 100, 200mm focal length, f/7.1

Official image gallery

These resized photos were taken with the co-announced Canon 50D.

1. Palm tree.
2. At the beach.
3. Flower closeup at 200mm.
4. 4WD vehicle on a dirt road.
5. Interior shot at 18mm.
6. Palm fruits.
7. Air balloon.
8. Black and white sample.

No related posts.

This post is a compilation of links to the following Sony Cybershot DSC-W230 compact digital camera resources:

1. Introduction.
2. Professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, ratings, conclusions and feedback.
3. Sample photos and examples, image galleries and user pictures, movie / video clips and footage.
4. References and other resources.

Sony has made the W230 available in the following four colors:

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 (Black)	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 (Silver)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 (Dark Blue)	Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 (Dark Red)

Introduction, and basic specs

The Sony DSC-W230 was introduced on 17-February-2009 (read the press release), and has a 4x zoom lens that has a range of 30 - 120mm (in 35mm equivalent terms).

An extract of the press release reads:

The W230 model has iSCN that detects up to five scene conditions, face detection with child and adult priority, and the Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilization feature. You can turn on these features in auto mode to make the W230 camera intelligent.

Resolution is 12.1 MP, and the size of the CCD sensor is a 1/2.3 " (6.16 x 4.62 mm, 0.28 cm²). This gives a pixel density of 43 MP/cm².

Basic specifications:

1. Storage: Memory Stick Duo media, Internal.
2. Power: Sony NP-BG1 or NP-FG1 Lithium-ion battery pack.
3. Weight: Approx. 156g (5.5oz) (including NP-BG1 battery pack, “Memory Stick Duo” media).
4. Dimensions: 95.2 × 56.5 × 21.8mm (3 3/4 × 2 1/4 × 7/8inches) (W/H/D, excluding protrusions).

Visit DPReview for the complete specs on the Cyber-Shot DSC-W230.

Professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, ratings, conclusions and feedback

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230 review by Tim Moynihan, Macworld.com - Tim writes:

In our lab jury evaluations, the DSC-W230 earned an overall image quality score of Good. Color accuracy and low levels of distortion were strong suits, but the W230’s flash didn’t do a great job of lighting entire scenes evenly. Flash exposure quality was a weak spot.

Sony Cyber-shot W230 Review at Steve's Digicams - Steve concludes:

Image quality is only average for a 12-megapixel consumer model, and not quite what I would have expected from a Sony camera. While the camera does capture excellent exposure and pleasing colors, there is a good amount of softness to the photos, and I saw above average amount of noise and CA (aka purple fringing) throughout our outdoor photos. While most of this has to be seen when viewing an image at 75 - 100%, it is possible that you would see traces in larger prints. However, while the W230 didn't impress me outdoors, the camera did well when shooting indoor people photos. I did see a good amount of Red-eye, which is typical for cameras in this category, however like other Sony models, the W230 offers an effective Red-eye Correction feature in the Playback menu.

Summary of Customer Ratings and Reviews on Sony Style USA - Click the Reviews tab to see owner feedback on the W230. At the time of writing, Jun 30, 2009, the overall rating score for the camera is 4.5 out of 5 stars, based on two opinions.

Customer reviews on Amazon - At the time of writing, Jun 30, 2009, the W230 has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars based on 12 reviews.

Sample photos and examples, image galleries and user pictures, movie / video clips and footage

Sony Cyber-shot W230 hands on review samples at Steve's Digicams - There are 18 full-resolution image examples and three movie capture / video clip / footage files that you can download.

References and other resources

Official websites for the W230 - There's Sony Style USA, where you can obtain the full list of features, specifications and accessories.

For technical and support matters on the W230, visit Sony eSupport. There is an Acrobat PDF Instruction Manual (3.1 MB) for the W230, which you can download from this page (or try right-clicking this link to download directly to your hard disk).

No related posts.

Last update (Jun 29, 2009): Video clips and full-sized test sample photos at DigitalCameraInfo.com.

This page is a collection of photo samples, footage and video / movie clips taken with the Casio Exilim EX-FC100 digital point and shoot compact camera, plus related image galleries, user pictures and other examples that I've come across in forums, online communities, blogs and related websites.

This should help in determining if the image quality of the FC100 meets your expectations.

Bear in mind that the majority of these photos are re-sized, and may have gone through post-processing, retouching or other edits. I just thought that it would be interesting to see, at a glance, what Casio FC100 owners and users are shooting, and examples of usage and applications this camera is put to.

Full-sized images, where available, will assist with judging the image quality.

Attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author's homepage or photo gallery.

Recently added

Video clips and full-sized test sample photos at DigitalCameraInfo.com - Real-world samples posted in this review, but what is even more interesting is the ISO test series further down the page, where there is an image noise comparison of the FC100 vs. Canon Powershot SD970 IS, Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T900.

High-speed FC100 samples by bguff

bguff posted up links to two high-speed samples shot with the EX-FC100.

The YouTube clip (view in HD) which has side-by-side 210 fps (frames per second) captures from the FC100 and Casio EX-FH20 does not seem all that useful for evaluation as the FC100 didn't follow the rocket's flight path at all.

The link to the 10 fps gallery of FC100 photos, on the other hand is great. There are full-resolution versions of the images (this is one example) there.

Official FC100 samples at Casio Japan

Only two full-sized, JPEG sample photos are provided in this Japanese-language FC100 gallery.

Here are direct links to the portraiture and still life / product shot images.

Click here for Google's English translation of that page.

Unfortunately, no high ISO examples are provided.

Video and audio quality in the sample video clip (download the 1280 x 720, 7-second, 25.2 MB file) of falling dominos is also pretty good. The data rate of the clip is reported to be at 29.95 mbits/s.

CrunchGear's "Testing out the Exilim FC-100's slow-mo modes"

View this hilarious clip of guys jumping around and water spouting into the air on YouTube.

Casio FC100 slow motion clip of a dog jumping into a river

Here's a nice way of capturing high-speed footage your dog doing tricks.

Slow motion Casio FC100 movie clip of a Canadian goose flapping its wings

A beautiful bird doing its beautiful thing.

Related posts:

1. Casio FC100 Reviews Last update (Jun 29, 2009): Casio Exilim EX-FC100 Digital Camera...

Last update (Jun 29, 2009): Casio Exilim EX-FC100 Digital Camera Review by Tim Barribeau at DigitalCameraInfo.com.

This post is a compilation of Casio Exilim EX-FC100 digital point-and-shoot compact camera professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, conclusions, ratings and feedback.

Hopefully, you'll be able to conclude whether the FC100 image quality, and the camera itself as a whole, meets your standards.

Full attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author's homepage or photo gallery.

Recently added

Casio Exilim EX-FC100 Digital Camera Review by Tim Barribeau at DigitalCameraInfo.com - Tim:

Its resolution performance was underwhelming, mostly due to low sharpness, and it doesn't have very good color accuracy (on the plus side, image noise was quite low). The controls aren't laid out well, given the size of the camera, and the menu system is frustrating. However, if you want the speed this camera can provide, at a relatively low price and slim form-factor, then you can probably look past those flaws.

Casio Exilim EX-FC100 Review at Laptop Magazine

Dana Wollman, the reviewer, was pleased with the image quality, accurate and pleasing colors, and sharp and vibrant close-up images.

The verdict?

At $349, Casio’s Exilim EX-FC100 is a solid high-end point-and-shoot but with a couple of drawbacks. Macro mode is a pain to access, and this camera is on the heavy side, even though it has a generous 5X zoom. What makes the EX-FC100 a gem is its fast speeds, slow-motion video, and HD shooting, a unique combination of features you’ll get only from Casio.

Casio Exilim EX-FC100 review at PC World

Ben Long, the reviewer, assigned a 70 /100 (Good) rating to the the FC100, and had the following conclusion:

For photographing sports and other fast-moving activities, the EX-FC100's features will definitely allow you to capture very specific moments, assuming that you can get close enough to frame a good shot. (Bear in mind that the camera does not have a superlong zoom lens.) The slow-motion video is fun, and a great way to jazz up your movie projects, especially when you're shooting action--be warned, though, that the camera does have some troublesome issues when shooting regular-speed video. For users who regularly shoot fast action, the EX-FC100 presents a great solution to difficult issues.

Casio Exilim EX-FC100 review at TrustedReviews

The FC100 received an overall rating of 8/10, with 7/10 for Image Quality, and 10/10 for Features.

Cliff Smith concludes the review with the following verdict:

The Exilim EX-FC100 is a unique camera, combining a well-made and nicely designed high-performance ultra-compact with HD video capability and some entertaining and potentially useful high-speed shooting and video recording functions. There's no doubt that the 30fps continuous mode could be useful for action photography, but the HS video is a bit of a novelty gimmick with resolution too low to be genuinely useful. It's also a very expensive camera.

HS video refers to the high-speed video mode on the FC100, a feature that David Pogue (below) raves about.

FC100 "Time Machine" Review by David Pogue, NYTimes

For the first half of the review, David copied and posted text from his old review of the Casio EX-F1, because the FC100 gives more or less the same capabilities found on the much more expensive EX-F1, but this time, in a much smaller package, and minus the weight.

David does nothing to try and hide his enthusiasm for this small, fun camera that lets you explore photographic possibilities not possible in other digicams and DSLR cameras which lack the high-speed option found on the FC100.

What's most impressive is the ability to capture 6 MP still images at the rate of 30 frames per second.

Slow-motion movies are a cinch with the camera, as you are not limited to only shooting in 30 fps, 1280 x 720 (720p) HD (high-definition) video mode, but can also capture 224 x 64 footage at an amazing 1,000 frames per second, or 480 x 360 footage at 210 fps.

David Pogue summarizes his experience with the FC100:

Even so, it’s been a long time since any gadget produced the sense of awe that you feel the first time you see this camera’s time-bending ability. I love that Casio invented something truly new. It has left its much bigger rivals in the dust, stranded in real time.

Related posts:

1. Casio FC100 Samples Last update (Jun 29, 2009): Video clips and full-sized test...

Last update (Jun 29, 2009): Nikon Coolpix S230 review by PJ Jacobowitz, PCMag.com.

This post is a compilation of Nikon Coolpix S230 digital point-and-shoot compact camera professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, conclusions, ratings and feedback.

Hopefully, you'll be able to conclude whether the S230 image quality, and the camera itself as a whole, meets your standards.

Full attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author's homepage or photo gallery.

The Nikon S230 was announced on 3-February-2009 - read the press release.

The main attraction on the S230 is the large, 3.0-inch touch screen LCD on the back. It only has minimal buttons, so making your settings and operating the camera will be done via the touchscreen.

Main specs:

1. Weight (inc. batteries): 115 g (4.1 oz)
2. Dimensions: 57 x 91 x 20 mm (2.2 x 3.6 x 0.8 in)

Recently added

Nikon Coolpix S230 review by PJ Jacobowitz, PCMag.com - PJ:

Nikon Coolpix S230In our photography lab, I use the Imatest hardware-and-software suite to objectively analyze image quality - and the S230's results were far from good. Images were very soft, had highly visible amounts of color fringing, and were warped by heavy amounts of distortion.

The S230 was awarded an overall rating score of 2 out of 5 stars (FAIR), and in the conclusion, PJ recommends that you consider the buying the better (and cheaper, based on Amazon prices for both cameras) Canon PowerShot A1000 IS instead.

Nikon Coolpix S230 Review at DigitalCameraReview

Allison J, the reviewer, is of the opinion that the S230 delivers decent image quality with a little flair while offering a fun experience.

She points out that there are only a total of four buttons on the camera since most of the camera's functions are accessed via the touch screen. Her video clip demonstrates this is more detail.

The touchscreen seems pretty responsive in the video. One feature I liked is that you can touch any part of the screen to let the S230 know which object you want to focus on before taking the picture.

Allison also compared shooting performance on the S230 with four other compact cameras in the same class:

1. Canon PowerShot SD960 IS
2. Casio Exilim EX-Z150
3. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX37
4. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T700

Allison ends the review with the following conclusion:

Did the S230 deliver the basic image quality and fun-factor we were looking for? With a few reservations, I'd say it did. In good light, it captured some nice images. Colors are slightly saturated, but not to an extreme.

Nikon Coolpix S230 Review at infoSync

Mike Perlman, the reviewer, has the following conclusions for the S230:

Pros: Great touch-screen LCD. Cool design.
Cons: Poor image quality in bright and low light. Short on features. Testy zoom toggle.

Mike finds the S230 to have extremely poor image quality, saying:

We don't know what mind-altering substance the Nikon Coolpix S230 was on, but it produced one of the most unimpressive image performances we've seen to date. Aside from chronic fringing, we found most images to be plagued by wretched color splotches in certain areas and the surrounding borders to be out of focus. Colors in general failed to excite us and the Coolpix S230 offered minimal control in that regard, other than White Balance, which choked significantly at night, staining most of our low light shots yellow. Detail was minimal, edges exhibited a fair amount of stepping and the flash was highly inadequate.

Related posts:

1. Nikon S230 Samples This page is a collection of photo samples taken with...

This post is a compilation of links to the following Sony Cybershot DSC-G3 ultra-compact digital camera resources:

1. Introduction.
2. Professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, ratings, conclusions and feedback.
3. Sample photos and examples, image galleries and user pictures, movie / video clips and footage.
4. References and other resources.

Full attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author's homepage or photo gallery.

Introduction, and basic specs

The Sony DSC-G3 was introduced on 8-January-2009 (read the press release), and has a 4x zoom lens that has a range of 35 - 140mm (in 35mm equivalent terms).

The first paragraph of the press release reads:

With a focus on making photo sharing easier and more convenient, Sony today introduced the world’s first Wi-Fi enabled digital camera that uploads photos and videos to Web sites through any public hotspot due to its built-in Web browser.

Resolution is 10.1 MP, and the size of the CCD sensor is a 1/2.3 " (6.16 x 4.62 mm, 0.28 cm²). This gives a pixel density of 35 MP/cm².

Basic specifications:

1. Storage: Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal.
2. Power: Sony NPFD1 Rechargeable Battery Pack.
3. Weight (without batteries): 185 g (6.5 oz).
4. Dimensions: 97 x 59 x 22 mm (3.8 x 2.3 x 0.9 in).

Visit DPReview for the complete specs on the Cyber-Shot DSC-G3.

Professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, ratings, conclusions and feedback

Sony G3 User Report by Mike Pasini, Imaging Resource - Mike on how well photos from the DSC-G3 prints:

ISO 80 Printed results look good at 11x14 with good color and detail. If you look really closely you can see some chroma noise in the shadows, but it's not too bad. Printed at 13x19 inches, detail is a little too soft, and both luminance and chroma noise are noticeable. ISO 100 images are a little softer if you look very closely, but are still just fine at 11x14, despite our concerns when viewed at 100% onscreen. At ISO 200, detail gets softer, especially low contrast detail, but most prints will look fine at 11x14. ISO 400 shots look a little too smudged at 11x14, though. High contrast detail is fine, but large areas of limited contrast start to smear together. Printed results look better at 8x10. ISO 800 shots are too soft at 8x10, and color begins to fade. Usable detail improves at 5x7. ISO 1,600 shots are usable at 4x6, but large areas of low contrast will be softer than is acceptable to most, and ISO 3,200 is also somewhat usable, but grainy. Overall, not a bad performance from the Sony G3, better than most small folded-optic pocket cameras.

Mike also provides a complete berakdown on how well the G3 connects to networks and browse familiar web sites such as Google.

First take on the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 by Leonard Goh, CNET Asia - Leonard:

The Cyber-shot DSC-G3 is probably the epitome of Wi-Fi-enabled shooters with the built-in Web browser. We can already imagine ourselves sending images to our Picasa account at while Starbucks. But we need to fully test out the G3 before we can conclusively access the browser's functionality.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 review by Lori Grunin, CNET - Lori on how the G3 performs in the image quality department:

As long as you stick with ISO 200 and below, which unfortunately rules out full auto operation, the photos look relatively sharp, with low noise, consistent and correct exposures, and nicely saturated colors. At ISO 400 you start to see softness and color noise, though how obtrusive it is depends upon the content of your shot. The G3 supports sensitivities up to ISO 3,200, but the highest usable setting is probably ISO 800. Though the G3 only shoots 640x480 30fps movies--they're good as long as you remember to bump quality up to Fine--it does support optical zoom during capture.

Lori has also recorded a video review of the camera:

User reviews on Sony Style USA (click on the reviews tab) - At the time of writing, Jun 29, 2009, the G3 has an overall rating score of 5 out of 5 stars based on 5 customer reviews.

Customer reviews on Amazon - At the time of writing, Jun 29, 2009, the G3 has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars based on 2 reviews.

Sample photos and examples, image galleries and user pictures, movie / video clips and footage

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 Test Images at Imaging Resource - That's the test photos - head here for the gallery of real-world photos.

They've also provided a 10.5 MB, 8-second VGA-quality MPEG file for you to download.

Full resolution Sony DSC-G3 ISO test samples at dc.watch (Japanese) (Google's English translation) - ISO 80, ISO100, ISO200, ISO400, ISO800, ISO1600 and ISO3200 are tested, and you get to download some real-world snapshot photos.

Additionally, you can see how a web page looks like on the G3's screen (source: dc.watch | Google's English translation).

More real-world photos, studio tests and operation of the G3's rear LCD for connecting to a LAN or Wi-Fi, launching a web browser and typing on the on-screen keyboard on this page (Google's English translation).

Sony CyberShot G3 Test photos by digitalbear on Flickr - Nice set of full-sized, unedited images photographed with the DSC-G3.

References and other resources

Official websites for the G3 - There's Sony Style USA, where you can obtain the full list of features, specifications and accessories.

For technical and support matters on the G3, visit Sony eSupport. There is an Acrobat PDF Instruction Manual (Large File - 15.82 MB) for the G3, which you can download from this page (or try right-clicking this link to download directly to your hard disk).

Related posts:

1. Sony G3 Price Watch This post tracks the downward trend of Sony Cybershot DSC-G3...

This post is a compilation of links to the following Canon PowerShot A480 10MP digital compact camera resources:

1. Introduction.
2. Professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, ratings, conclusions and feedback.
3. Sample photos and examples, image galleries and user pictures.
4. References and other resources.

Full attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author's homepage or photo gallery.

Introduction, and basic specs

The Canon Powershot A480 was introduced on 15-January-2009 (read the press release), and has a 3.3x optical zoom that has a range of 37 - 122mm (in 35mm equivalent terms).

Resolution is 10.0 MP, and the size of the CCD sensor is a 1/2.3".

Basic specifications:

1. Storage: SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus.
2. Power: 2x Size-AA Alkaline or NiMH Batteries. For additional batteries, IMEDION or Sanyo Eneloop NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries are your best bet, as they retain the charge for a very long period of time.
3. Weight (without batteries): 140 g (4.9 oz).
4. Dimensions: 92 x 62 x 31 mm (3.6 x 2.4 x 1.2 in).

Visit DPReview for the complete specs on the A480.

Canon has made the A480 available in the following four colors:

Canon PowerShot A480 (Deep Red)	Canon PowerShot A480 (Black)
Canon PowerShot A480 (Navy Blue)	Canon PowerShot A480 (Silver)

Professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, ratings, conclusions and feedback

Canon PowerShot A480 Customer Ratings & Reviews on Canon USA - At the time of writing, Jun 28, 2009, the average customer rating for the A480 was 4.7 out of 5 stars, with 9 customer reviews.

Canon A480 review by Joshua Goldman, CNET - Joshua:

It's tough getting overly critical about a camera as inexpensive as the Canon PowerShot A480. It really is enough, at least to me, that it's small, attractive, and produces decent photos at this price point, and without any real skill or effort required on the part of the photographer. However, if you're expecting more than just snapshot photos, I'd save up for something else.

The A480 earned an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars (GOOD).

Canon PowerShot A480 review by Mike Perlman, InfoSyncWorld - Mike:

This is an underdog rags to riches story, for the Canon PowerShot A480 performed exceptionally well given its basic framework and small imager. In most cases, the PowerShot A480 performed tantamount to the PowerShot A1100 IS, and we shot side-by-side with both. The PowerShot A480 produced sharp, vibrant images with minimal noise and it even surprised us in low light. Of course stabilizing the camera in low light was always a task due to its lack of Image Stabilization, but exposure was great. The PowerShot A480's image quality trumped many contenders in its class, including more advanced models.

Mike gave the A480 an overall rating score of 63% (GOOD).

Canon PowerShot A480 review at MacWorld - Roman Loyola, the reviewer, notes that the camera "works best as a casual snapshooter".

He assigned a rating of 3.5 / 5 stars to the camera, and "Very Good" for image quality.

Roman concludes:

If you’re a tripod-shooter, a steady-handed photographer, or just want a bargain-bin camera with good image quality, the PowerShot A480 is worth a look. Its lack of image stabilization and some modes, however, may cause action photographers to pass it up.

Customer reviews at Amazon - Amazon tallies customer feedback and ratings across all four models (Deep Red, Black, Navy Blue and Silver). At the time of writing, Jun 28, 2009, the average rating score was 4 out of 5 stars from 24 customer reviews.

Sample photos and examples, image galleries and user pictures

Canon PowerShot A480 review samples at InfoSyncWorld - There are a total of nine test images, the links to which are located towards the end of the review.

All the photos were snapped at ISO 80.

References and other resources

Official website for the Canon A480 - You can find more information on the camera on this Canon USA page, such as what's supplied in the box, and compatible supplies and accessories.

Related posts:

1. Canon A480 Price Watch and Availability This post tracks Canon Powershot A480 prices and availability information....

Last update (Jun 29, 2009): Re-sized ISO 3200 comparison: K-7 vs Nikon D90.

This page is a collection of photo samples taken with the Pentax K-7 digital SLR camera, plus related image galleries, user pictures and other examples that I've come across in forums, online communities, blogs and related websites.

This should help in determining if the image quality of the K-7 meets your expectations.

Bear in mind that the majority of these photos are re-sized, and may have gone through post-processing, retouching or other edits. I just thought that it would be interesting to see, at a glance, what Pentax K7 owners and users are shooting with their camera.

Full-sized images, where available, will assist with judging the image quality.

Attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author's homepage or photo gallery.

Re-sized ISO 3200 comparison on DPReview forum: K-7 vs D90 - This is not a controlled test by a long shot, but the K-7's higher-resolution sensor seems to perform better than the sensor on the Nikon D90 in terms of detail, color and resolution at ISO3200.

Pentax K7 DSLR review sample photos at What Digital Camera - What Digital Camera is one of the first review sites to post full-resolution images taken with a Pentax K-7 running production-level firmware.

K-7 final firmware and tungsten high iso noise - Falk Lumo provides some sample DNG RAW files from a Pentax K-7 running final firmware v1.00. The images were "... shot at ISO 400-6400 in tungsten light (2900/2950 K, using Auto WB)."

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This post is a compilation of links to the following Sony 55-200mm f/4-5.6 SAM DT SAL55200/2 telephoto zoom lens resources:

1. Introduction and basic specs.
2. Accessories.
3. References and other resources.

Introduction and basic specifications

The SAL-55200-2 lens was introduced on 18-May-2009 (read the press release), and replaces the older Sony SAL55200 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DT ED lens.

The new DT 55-200 is optimized for use with APS-C sized image sensors found in Sony Alpha Digital SLR cameras such as the Sony A380, and features a Smooth Autofocus Motor (SAM) that enables in-lens auto focus (AF) drive for smooth, quiet operation, and high optical performance in a compact size.

Basic specs:

• Weight: 10.76 oz (305 g).
• Dimensions (measurements): 2.82"x 3.35" (71.5 x 85mm).
• Minimum (close) focusing distance: 3.2ft (0.95m).
• Maximum magnification: 0.29x.
• Filter thread size (diameter): 55mm.

Accessories

The filter thread size on the SAL 55-200mm SAM is 55mm, which means you'll want to be looking at 55mm filters.

References and other resources

Official SAL 55-200 SAM websites - More information on the lens can be found at Sony Style USA and Sony eSupport.

The operating instructions for the DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM (SAL55200-2) (direct link) can be downloaded from Sony eSupport.

dyxum.com - Expect to find user reviews for this lens in the months to come.

mhohner.de - Lens tech data for Sony Alpha DT 55-200/4-5.6 SAM.

No related posts.

Last update (Mar 27, 2009): Official portrait sample taken with a Canon T1i / 500D / Kiss X3.

This post is a compilation of links to Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM reviews, sample photos, references and comparisons.

The Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 lens was announced on 21-February-2006.

One item Canon deliberately left out from the package is the EW-83J lens hood which is absolutely necessary to prevent flare from appearing in photos when shooting with the lens facing in the general direction of the sun.

The weight of the lens is 645g (22.75oz.) while dimensions (diameter x length) are 83.5mm x 110.6mm (3.3 in. x 4.4 in.).

Refer to Canon USA for the official specifications, full description, MTF charts, technical details and other data.

Bear in mind that the 17-55mm, being an EF-S optic, can only be used on the newer 1.6x crop Canon digital SLR bodies such as the Canon T1i / 500D and Canon 50D.

Professional reviews, user opinions, tests, ratings, conclusions and feedback

Since the 17-55 is not an L lens, how's the build quality?

Granted, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens does not have the metal exterior that the L-designated Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM has.

But David Tomic is of the opinion that the overall build quality is VERY good.

Having a metal barrel will make the 17-55 even heavier, and it already weighs in the same as the 24-105 lens.

Additionally, what percentage of Canon shooters actually need the weight and durability of a metal construction?

Therefore, it can be concluded that the 17-55 is more than adequately built to be put through the rigors of normal lens use.

David also shares a portrait taken with the 17-55 at 24mm, f/2.8, 1/13sec, flash used, handheld, and says that optically, the 17-55mm easily meets, and often exceeds the output of any L lens in the same range.

Canon 17-55mm sample photos

1. Official portrait sample taken with a Canon EOS Rebel T1i / 500D / Kiss X3 digital SLR camera.
2. Night portrait, photographed with a Canon 50D.
3. Random images from user galleries on PBase.com.
   Don't forget to hit the refresh button on your browser to serve up another set of random pictures. You'll also find user reviews there. Just one example, this interior photo (shot with a Canon 30D) is a great example of the kind of wide-angle, indoor image you can get at 17mm with this lens.
4. Check out the link in this forum post to a very impressive, full-sized, ISO3200 night scene image taken * hand-held * at 1/4 sec (the image stabilization seems to have been effective here), f/2.8, with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens mounted on a Canon 20D digital SLR camera.

Accessories

The filter thread size on the 17-55 IS is 77mm, which means you'll want to be looking at 77mm filters.

Related posts:

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The Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM SLR Lens is an ultra-wide angle autofocus zoom designed for Canon DSLRs which have the APS-C 1.6x crop sensor such as the Canon T1i / 500D and Canon 50D.

The weight of the lens is 510g (13.6 oz.), while dimensions (diameter x length) are 83.5 x 89.8mm (3.3" x 3.5").

Refer to Canon USA for the official specifications, and other data.

Check for customer reviews, in-stock availability, accessories and kits, and lowest prices.

Sample photos, image galleries and user-submitted images

Lens discussion at Clubsnap.org - This thread started with a question about comparing the EF-S 10-22mm against Sigma's 10-20mm. The response overwhelmingly favors the Canon product, but what's even more interesting are the links to image samples. I highly recommend you follow the links and view some great photography with the EF-S 10-22 lens.

Aquarium tunnel, taken at ISO 1600 and Spinning Funfair Merry-Go-Round - Photographed with the Canon 50D. Focal length used was 10mm (full wide-angle zoom end) for both photos.

Random images from user galleries on PBase.com - Don't forget to hit the refresh button on your browser to serve up another set of random pictures. You'll also find user reviews there. Here is a fun shot at 16mm, a pretty good indication of how an unusually wide perspective can give normal photos a boost in interest levels.

Accessories

The filter thread size on the 10-22 is 77mm, which means you'll want to be looking at 77mm filters.

Related posts:

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