Reviews
August 18th, 2009 by D-Photo
When it comes to dSLR innovation, Olympus has led the field, introducing sensor cleaning and live view functions well ahead of the opposition. Now the company has released the E-3, a professional camera that is so easy to use it’s a crime
Mandatory equipment
Sometimes when you receive a camera you ¨wish all the accessories had come with it too. ¨But when the Olympus E-3 arrived at my place it was like being an eight-year-old stepping into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. HE Perry, the New Zealand importer, sent it with the HLD-4 power battery holder and vertical grip plus the cool wireless flash FL-50R. They might look ¨like toys, but these two devices should be mandatory equipment.
This 10 million pixel 4/3 model is a handful in the true sense of a pro camera. It’s weighty and big and has buttons and dials, but it is the turning screen and image stabiliser that will woo you. ¨The motor drive will rattle off images at a slick 5fps up to 16 RAW files or the capacity of the ¨card in normal JPEG setting using a SanDisk Extreme III card.
If you aren’t happy with just one card slot then you have another reason to use the E-3: it has an xD card slot too.
Live view
Live View is easily accessible. No turning dials or searching menus, just a press of the screen button below the multi-angle LCD and you’re there. Olympus would like you to believe that its Live View is faster than the others but it is still a slow option compared with using the 100 per cent viewfinder.
Sharp
Lens quality is stunning and the 12-60mm lens (24-120mm in 35mm terms) I was supplied with was beautiful to use. Olympus uses a Supersonic wave drive that helps the lens focus quickly but I experienced hunting in low light, even when using the big FL-50R flash with infrared focus illuminator that helps the camera focus in low light.
The E-3 is a fantastic camera to use; for once a manufacturer has made a camera where the LCD screen can be swivelled back out of the way so you can use the camera in its purest form, looking through the viewfinder.
Thankfully this articulated screen can be positioned anywhere, so no more lying on the ground or poking your head round a corner when under fire in hotspots like Kosovo or Kenya.
Conclusion
Olympus has surpassed itself with technology that modern photographers crave. An innovative dust reduction system, image stabiliser that moves the sensor so all lenses are in effect stabilised, and wireless flash that transforms flash images even when you use the built-in flash in conjunction with a gun like the FL-50R.
The size is big and lumpy and you will want to buy the battery booster so you have a comfortable vertical grip. But big is beautiful, and the E-3 is a big camera in anyone’s eyes.
specs
- Effective Pixels: 11.8 million
- Lens: Zuiko Digital 14-54mm
- Viewfinder: Eye-level pentaprism-type optical viewfinder approx 100%
- LCD Monitor: Multi-angle HyperCrystal, 2.5-inch, 230,000 pixels)
- Shutter: 1/8000-60 sec (in 1/3, 1/2, ¨1 EV steps)
- ISO: ISO100 to 3200 in 1/3 and ¨1 EV ISO steps
- Exposure Metering: 49 zones multi-pattern sensing system, ESP, highlight, shadow, spot
- Focus Modes: 11 points/fully biaxial, automatic and manual selection
- Media: Dual slot for CompactFlash card (I and II), Microdrive and xD picture card
- Flash: TTL auto (pre-flash mode), auto, manual, FP TTL Auto, FP manual
- Batteries: BLM-1 Lithium-Ion
- Dimensions: 142.5 x 116.5 x 74.5mm
contact
www.olympus.co.nz
Pros
- Limitless shooting at 5fps in JPEG
Cons
- Screen is only 2.5 inches
Design 17
Performance 17
Features 18
Image Quality 18
Value for money 17
TOTAL 87/100
This review is from D-Photo issue #023
August 18th, 2009 by D-Photo
Sony may have lost the war of personal music players, ¨but the company is more than happy to jump into the battle for ¨digital SLR supremacy with both barrels pumping. Sony’s ¨latest offering is the entry-level 10 megapixel Alpha 200
First Impressions
First impressions of this model are extremely positive. The body is small but has a large grip that makes it comfortable to hold, and the controls are clearly marked and visually accessible. The large 2.7-inch LCD has 230,000 pixels and the added size makes viewing images a delight.
In true Sony style the information on the screen not only gives you exposure information and how many pictures you have left, it also gives you a battery indicator that shows the percentage of power left, not just a series of bars. The big Lithium-ion battery produces bags of power and will happily fill a card or two before it needs recharging.
Super steady
Image stabilisation can be turned on and off with a switch below the navigation control on the back of the camera. A standard function on Sony dSLRs, the Super Steady Shot stabiliser adjusts the CCD to compensate for movement you make. This means any lens you fit to the body ” no matter if you have the latest Sony lenses or one of the many Minolta AF lenses from the past ” the image is stabilised.
Sony has included an anti-dust system on this model to deter pesky particles from clinging to your sensor. You’ll feel a vibration when you turn the camera off and it performs its little cleaning chore.
Hits and misses
Sony adopted Minolta’s flash mount ” a mistake ” that requires you to buy a genuine Sony flash. It’s not a big issue as you’ll get the best results from this combination, but it is a minor handicap as you have very little choice.
If you’re a die-hard Sony user and you have Memory Stick Duo cards that you want to use then there is an adapter that will allow you to slip them into the CF card slot.
The processing motor is Sony’s Bionz unit, which offers increased speed of processing and rich colour and detail. A function that is also available is the D-Range Optimizer that gives increased dynamic range with Standard or Advanced options. The camera will shoot either JPEG or RAW files and comes with rudimentary software for processing the later.
Conclusion
The Sony A200 is a 10 megapixel entry-level dSLR camera that is offered at a price mark not that far above $1000. It takes great pictures and responds quickly for a starter camera. Thankfully, Sony has included a sensor cleaning system and the impressive Super Steady Shot image stabiliser. Those who still own Minolta lenses will appreciate the opportunity to be able to jump on the dSLR bandwagon.
Specs
- Effective Pixels: 10.1 million
- Viewfinder: Eye-level fixed pentamirror
- LCD Monitor: 2.7-inch TFT, 230,000 pixels
- Shutter: 30 to 1/4000 sec, bulb
- ISO: Auto, ISO100 to ISO3200
- Exposure Metering: Multi-segment (40 segment honeycomb pattern), centre-weighted, spot
- Focus Modes: Single-shot AF, direct manual focus, continuous AF, automatic AF, manual focus
- Media: Compact Flash Type I/II
- Flash: Built-in pop-up flash (auto release)
- Interface: USB 2.0 ¨(mass storage or PTP)
- Batteries: NP-FM500H Lithium-ion rechargeable
- Dimensions: 131 x 98.5 x 71mm
contact
ν¨www.sony.co.nz
Pros
- Image stabiliser that works with any lens.
- Battery indicator with bars ¨and percentage
Cons
- Light construction that doesn’t ¨feel reliable
Design 17
Performance 15
Features 17
Image Quality 17
Value for money 18
Total 84/100
This review is from D-Photo issue #023.
August 13th, 2009 by D-Photo
As a light modifier, the orbis ring flash punches above its weight, says professional photographer Gary Baildon
Originally designed for macro photography to push light into the small space between a macro lens and its subject, the ring flash was ˜borrowed’ by fashion and beauty shooters for the quality of its soft wrap-around light.
But these units don’t come cheap ” until now, that is.
Designed in New Zealand, the orbis ring flash is an impressive piece of kit. It offers similar functionality to a standard light ring, but this unit uses your existing flash gun for the light it emits. Hence, the price is a lot less that you might expect.
As soon as you open the box you know you have a quality product on your hands. The build is superb, the feel solid, and the bright yellow carry bag will ensure it’s not easily misplaced. A detachable neck strap and instruction booklet complete the box’s contents.
Does it work?
The orbis is intended to be handheld (or tripod mounted) independently of the camera.
The head on your flash unit is first tilted into the vertical position, then attached to your camera with a remote TTL cable or wireless trigger. The flash unit itself is then inserted into the orbis ring flash unit. While holding the flash unit and the orbis in one hand, you manhandle the camera with the other. I have to admit that prior to using the orbis I was sceptical about this, but it’s nowhere near as difficult as I’ve just made it sound. In practice it becomes natural very quickly and leaves you to concentrate on the shot.
While the obvious thing to do with a ringflash is to put the lens through the middle, it’s by no means the rule. The orbis can be held off to the side, above or anywhere you desire. Think small portable softbox.
Caveat emptor
There is one minor issue shooting handheld with the orbis and that is that you can’t manually focus or zoom the lens. In practice I’d normally use auto-focus on this kind of shoot anyway, and it’s a simple matter to set a zoom lens to a pre-determined focal length before shooting. In any case, the release of a collection of adapter rings that will attach the unit to your lenses via the filter thread will be out any day now.
Beauty light
The almost shadowless wrap-around light brings out the beauty in a way that only a ring flash can. Ideally suited to shooting close and fast, the ring flash look is instantly recognisable by circular highlights that run around the subject’s pupils.
Dig out those old fashion mags and look closely at the eyes, you’ll soon see what I mean. That said, the orbis is no slouch when it comes to getting up close with interesting small things. It is a ring flash, after all.
Conclusion
Previously the domain of pros, there really was no affordable ring flash option. That just changed. The cost of entry to this exclusive club is now within the reach of anybody who loves photography.
A few pointers can help if you have had difficulties with lighting.
Portraits in particular are often hard to get just right. Click here for some information on lighting.
The results achieved by the orbis are certainly of commercial quality and well exceeded this shooter’s expectations.
SPECS – ENLIGHT PHOTO ENL-ORB1-A
- Manufacturer: Enlight Photo
- Flash Strobe Sizes: Compatible with all commonly available flash/strobe units — see website for details
- Lens Compatibility: Internal lens aperture diameter 85mm — see website for details
- Ships With: Instruction manual, protective bag, shoulder strap
- Dimensions: 280 x 220 x 55mm (H/W/D – depth at lens 55mm)
Contact
www.orbisflash.com
NZ Distributor: Pro Gear
PROS
- Competitively priced
- Easy to use
- Excellent results
CONS
- Handholding takes a little practice
| Design |
16 |
| Performance |
18 |
| Features |
16 |
| Image Quality |
15 |
| Value for money |
17 |
|
|
| Total |
82/100 |
This review is from D-Photo issue #028.
August 13th, 2009 by D-Photo
A big zoom range, fast auto-focus and good build quality all impress Harley Ogier
Ricoh’s R10 is a mid-range digital compact camera with an impressive zoom lens, respectable image quality and a solid feature set.
The one standout feature of the R10 is its impressive 7.1x optical zoom lens, equivalent to a 28-200mm lens on a 35mm film camera.
The telephoto capability is excellent and the R10 auto-focuses well on distant subjects: the result is surprisingly good, rivalling some of the dSLR models I’ve tested on the same vista.
On the opposite end of the scale the R10 has great macro capabilities. Freehand, you can take photographs that look more suited to an episode of CSI than a photo album. The R10’s image stabilisation works well here, eliminating the need for a tripod in most circumstances.
The flash does tend to swamp the image, over-exposing when shooting up close ” a strong external light source would be useful. This is a common problem across many competing models.
Level headed
An electronic level is a nice addition to the R10, displaying a precise tilt indicator when shooting horizontally or vertically. The level can also provide audio feedback so that you can keep your eyes on the image. It’s a great help when you’re lacking any convenient elements to line up your shot, or if you’re just feeling lazy.
Light and colour
The R10’s performance is reasonable under artificial light, though like most digital compacts it does its best work in the sun. I found all colours to be beautifully rich and accurately represented in scenes with relatively constant lighting. In high-contrast conditions the results are less spectacular, with a lot of over-saturation in bright areas and lack of detail in dark areas.
A range of common shooting modes is provided, which seem to work well. You can also define two of your own custom modes, which is great if you get things ˜just perfect’ for a certain situation.
Staying focused
Auto-focus on the R10 is effective and reasonably fast. Both the multi-segment and spot focus modes work well, with spot allowing you to specify a target on-screen. Face detection doesn’t work as well as on comparable models, failing to correctly identify faces in my usual test picture. Tracking ˜real’ faces is similarly limited.
Rare for a compact, the R10 provides a manual focus mode, where the zoom control is used in place of a focus ring. The 3-inch, 460,000-dot screen gives a fair indication of whether you’ve focused correctly: most of the shots I focused manually were as crisp as those taken on auto.
Conclusion
Overall, the R10 is a high-quality digital compact with good telephoto and great macro capabilities that offers features not found on other models in its class. If you’re willing to pay up for a wide-range zoom lens and a small body, the R10 is an admirable choice.
SPECS – Ricoh R10
- Effective Pixels: 10 million
- Lens: 4.95-35.4mm (35mm equivalent 28-200mm)
- Monitor: 3-inch TFT LCD, 460,000 dots
- Shutter: 1/2,000 to 8 seconds
- Shooting Modes: Auto, Easy, Scene (Portrait/Face/Sports/Landscape/Nightscape/Night Portrait/High Sensitivity/Zoom Macro/Skew Correction/Text), My Settings, Movie
- Exposure Metering: Multiple (256 segments), centre-weighted, spot
- Focus Modes: Multi AF, spot AF, face detection, manual, snap, infinity
- Media: ~54MB internal memory, SD (2GB max), SDHC (16GB max)
- Interface: USB 2.0, composite video out
- Batteries: Rechargeable Lithium-ion, approx 350 images
- Dimensions: 102 x 58.3 x 26.1mm
- Weight: 191g with battery and strap
Contact
www.ricoh.co.nz
PROS
- 28-200mm equivalent lens
- Wide range of features
CONS
| Design |
18 |
| Performance |
17 |
| Features |
19 |
| Image Quality |
17 |
| Value for money |
16 |
|
|
| Total |
87/100 |
This review is from D-Photo issue #028.
August 6th, 2009 by D-Photo
Harley Ogier takes the Four Thirds G1 for a test spin and is impressed by its quality pictures
The Lumix G1 from Panasonic is a world first, offering interchangeable lenses in a camera with a purely electronic viewfinder: no mirror, no prism, just Live View taken to the extreme.
The camera uses the relatively new Micro Four Thirds standard for digital compact cameras that was revealed by Panasonic and Olympus last year.
The standard provides equivalent quality to a crop-sensor dSLR, only without the mirror and pentaprism ” the arrangement of reflectors that allows a single lens reflex camera to direct light from the lens to either the sensor or viewfinder as required. Removing these elements allows for much smaller designs but prohibits the optical viewfinder central to dSLR cameras.
The Lumix G1 is the first camera to use this standard and boasts a beautiful 1,440,000-dot electronic viewfinder so sharp that it’s hard to see a disadvantage over the optical viewfinder of a more traditional dSLR setup. The contrast and colours aren’t quite perfect, but they do show what the image sensor sees.
Pretty pictures
Image quality is in line with similar dSLR cameras, and far above anything I’ve seen from the digital compact class. Colours appear rich and lifelike in both indoor and outdoor shots. The G1 also displays excellent dynamic range, revealing detail in both dark and light areas of highly contrasted images.
I tested the camera with the optional Lumix 45-200mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (90-400mm in 35mm film terms). Picture quality was brilliant throughout the range and I was able to take some quite decent night shots way out at 200mm. This and the standard Lumix 14-45mm OIS zoom (28-90mm in 35mm terms) are the only lenses currently available but three more will be offered for sale this year.
Control
The G1 is as quick to autofocus as anything else on the market ” in fact, I think it’s much faster than your average high-end dSLR can manage in Live View. The lenses can also be manually focused. By default this turns on ˜Focus Assist’, which zooms-in the viewfinder so you can check the focus.
The viewfinder returns automatically to full frame once you’ve stopped turning the focus ring. This isn’t nearly as disorientating as it might sound and allows far tighter control over focus than a traditional dSLR.
Shooting
The only disadvantage I found is the G1’s low frame rate of two to three frames per second (memory card willing). On the other hand, the frame rate is constant: no long pauses after several shots.
Conclusion
Panasonic has created something revolutionary with the Lumix G1. Given the stunning quality of its pilot camera, I expect the Micro Four Thirds standard will easily make headway into the market.
SPECS – PANASONIC LUMIX G1
- Manufacturer: Panasonic
- Model: Lumix G1
- RRP: $1499 (G1 body with Lumix G-VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6 OIS zoom lens. Also available as a two-lens kit including the Lumix G-VARIO 45-200mm F4-5.6 OIS zoom lens at $1999)
- Effective Pixels: 12.1 million
- Image Sensor:
- 17.3 x 13.0mm MOS
- Lens: 14-45mm (35mm equivalent 28-90mm)
- Viewfinder: Colour LCD, 1,440,000 dots, 100% frame coverage
- Monitor: Free-angle 3-inch TFT LCD, 460,600 dots, 100% frame coverage
- Shutter: 1/4000 to 60 seconds, bulb
- Aperture: f3.5-f5.6
- ISO: 100-3200
- Shooting Modes: Auto, Scene (Sunset/Party/Baby/Pet), Portrait, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait
- Exposure Metering: Intelligent multiple, centre-weighted, spot
- Focus Modes: AF Tracking, 23-area, 1-area (selectable), face detection
- Media: SD, SDHC, MMC
- File Format: JPEG, RAW
- Flash: TTL built-in pop-up
- Interface: USB 2.0, composite video out, HDMI video out
- Batteries: Rechargeable Lithium-ion, up to 350 images
- Dimensions: 124 x 83.6 x 45.2mm
- Weight: 635g with standard lens, battery and card
Contact
www.panasonic.com
PROS
- High-resolution viewfinder
CONS
| Design |
19 |
| Performance |
18 |
| Features |
19 |
| Image Quality |
18 |
| Value for money |
18 |
|
|
| Total |
92/100 |
This review is from D-Photo issue #028.
August 6th, 2009 by D-Photo
Phil Hanson finds using a new camera from Samsung a touching experience
Samsung would like its NV100HD known as the “world’s highest 14.7 megapixel 28mm wide angle digital camera”. But I’ll remember it for the touchscreen, or Smart Touch 2.0 User Interface in Samsung-speak.
The NV100HD was the first camera I’ve encountered with touchscreen controls and, after a shaky start, absolutely loved it. Shaky only because it takes someone like me with clumsy fingers a few minutes of training to hit a particular icon accurately and with the right pressure. After all of 10 minutes it was a ball.
It was great accessing menus by touch, and you can even review the pictures you’ve taken in this manner, too. A few functions, such as zooming, still need to be done by conventional controls. Make no mistake, a touchscreen on a camera is not a gimmick; it helps make it more intuitive and faster to use.
Speaking of intuitive, how’s this: deleting a picture is as easy as just drawing an X across it with a finger.
Picture This
The Schneider Kreuznach 6-21.6mm f2.8-5.9 lens has a useful zoom range (from 28mm to 102mm in full-frame terms), backed-up by Samsung’s dual image stabilisation that integrates both optical and digital stabilisation. I didn’t notice any particular advantage over similar cameras that use only optical stabilisation but no matter, in conjunction with auto ISO, sharp photos can be taken in quite dim light without needing a support.
Top ISO setting is 3200, but there’s a lot of noise at that speed; 800 is about as fast as I’d normally want it set.
Adjusted to the highest quality JPEG setting, the NV100HD takes good pictures across its zoom range that require little post-processing to make excellent large prints.
Moving On
The 14.7 megapixel sensor means it’s possible to record high-definition videos that can be sent to a TV panel via an HDMI cable. Or watch video on the camera’s 460,000-pixel three-inch hVGA LCD screen. However, I was underwhelmed by the camera’s movie-making ability.
Mode for the Job
The Samsung seems to have a mode or scene for every occasion. For example, face detection locates a face within the frame and automatically adjusts focus and exposure for better composition and image quality; in blink detection a series of photos is taken to help ensure at least one has the subject’s eyes open; and Smile takes a shot automatically when a smile is detected.
Conclusion
The NV100HD fits easily in a shirt pocket, takes good photos, can be used as a pure point-and-shoot, under manual control or almost anywhere in between. Its touch controls are excellent. The camera is well made and easy to use.
SPECS – SAMSUNG NV100HD
- Effective Pixels: 14.7 million
- Lens: Schneider Kreuznach 6-21.6mm (28mm-102mm in 35mm terms)
- Monitor: 3-inch hVGA TFT LCD
- Shutter: 8 sec-1/2000 sec
- ISO: Auto, 80, 100, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
- Exposure Metering: Centre-weighted, spot, multi
- Focus Modes: Multi AF, centre AF, touch AF, face detection AF
- Media: 40MB internal, SD,
- File Format: JPEG Exif 2.21,
- Interface: A/V, HDMI and USB
- Battery: 1100mAh Lithium-ion rechargeable
- Dimensions: 95 x 59 x 20mm
Contact
www.samsung.co.nz
PROS
- Touch controls
- Versatile and well thought out
- Useful zoom range
CONS
- Noisy at higher ISO settings
| Design |
18 |
| Performance |
18 |
| Features |
17 |
| Image Quality |
16 |
| Value for money |
17 |
|
|
| Total |
88/100 |
This review is from D-Photo issue #028.
July 23rd, 2009 by D-Photo
Phil Hanson says that, despite feeling a little plasticy, the E-520 has plenty of grunt under the hood
Olympus became the first major manufacturer to drop film cameras in favour of digital, and as if to underline its intentions, was jointly responsible for the successful Four Thirds format.
But it is evolution rather than revolution that’s celebrated with the arrival of the 10 megapixel E-520, successor to the capable E-510 dSLR.
What’s new?
The camera has new or upgraded features to make it more usable and widen its appeal. These include contrast detection AF, a larger LCD screen, face detection, shadow adjustment, improved Live View and wireless flash.
Dynamic range has increased and is now close to the level of Olympus’s top ” and considerably more expensive ” E-3. As before, the E-520 has separate slots for Compact Flash and XD cards and these can be used simultaneously.
Getting to grips
The E-520 sits well in the hands, and while it feels a little plasticy, that’s typical of dSLRs at this price point. Buttons and dials, of which there are plenty, are smooth, precise and their location well placed. Once learnt, these allow quick on-the-run adjustments without having to peer at a screen.
Look
Having said that, a main point of the E-520 is its Live View screen. There are benefits to this feature, although the ˜view’ tends to be dull and grainy. Working without Live View, the LCD panel provides what seems like more information than the Yellow Pages ” something like 26 items. However, the more important stuff is repeated in the viewfinder, and the display can be turned off.
Performance
Once started, the E-520 responds swiftly. Autofocus is quick and accurate but can falter a bit in low light situations where contrast is poor. Fortunately, the user can focus manually without having to push a button or change a setting. It’s a convenient feature others could follow.
Weight, balance, ergonomics and adjustability all come together in the field, making the E-520 a pleasure to use.
Image quality
Testing was mainly with Olympus’s versatile 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens (28-84mm full frame equivalent). It needs stopping down to offer its best sharpness and contrast but produces pleasant, smooth images that will satisfy most users. Vignetting is modest at the wide end.
Conclusion
There’s a lot of picture-taking technology inside the E-520’s body and Olympus has made sure most of it is really accessible. Picture quality is very good, so don’t be misled by the E-520’s pixel count. It took a while to bond with the E-520, but after a day or two I could hardly put it down.
SPECS – Olympus E-520
- Effective Pixels: 10 million
- Viewfinder: Eye level, 95 per cent actual view
- Monitor: 2.7-inch TFT colour with Live View
- Shutter: 60 sec-1/4000 sec
- ISO: auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
- Exposure Metering: ESP, spot
- Focus Modes: Digital ESP, centre-weighted, 2% spot, 11-point multiple
- Flash: TTL auto, manual, auto, wireless with compatible units
- Interface: USB, video out
- Battery: 1500mAh Lithium-ion rechargeable
- Dimensions: 136 x 92 x 68mm
PROS
- A delight to use in the field
CONS
- Maybe it tries to do too much
- Plasticy feel to the lenses, body
| Design |
18 |
| Performance |
18 |
| Features |
18 |
| Image Quality |
17 |
| Value for money |
17 |
|
|
| Total |
88/100 |
This review is from D-Photo issue #028.
July 23rd, 2009 by D-Photo
Phil Hanson unboxes a multi-function printer, scanner and copier with big ideas, and finds a value-for-money, one-size-fits-all solution for people with limited desk space
I’m a little wary of all-in-one products that everything but make your morning coffee. If one part of it breaks, the whole thing has to go away for service, depriving you of all its functions. And I’m sceptical about whether a multi-function machine can do any task as well as a single-purpose device.
Others, however, love the convenience of multi-function and that they take up far less bench space than the separate devices of a printer, scanner and photocopier.
Anyway, I wasn’t expecting a lot from the Epson Stylus TX200 that prints, scans and photocopies, all at a bargain price of $129.
Readers of D-Photo will mostly know Epson for its range of high-quality inkjet printers, including the impressive new R2880. But the company is extremely active in the office and home office market, too, which is where the TX200 is clearly aimed.
First glance
At just 43cm wide and 27cm deep, the TX200 has a tiny footprint and it stands 17cm tall. The unit is finished in various hues of gloss and matte black plastic and the big, clear controls are arranged on a panel to the left, with slots for media cards directly below.
It’ll take SD, xD, CF and MemoryStick, and also has PictBridge. Build quality is on the light side and I suspect it will be better suited to home office-type use.
Plug and play
It’s easy to get the TX200 up and running, thanks to a clear and simple installation interface. If you follow this you’ll be using it within minutes. Connection to a computer is via USB. This ease of getting going is noteworthy because even now, in this digital age, some printers and similar products come with confusing instructions and are frustrating to set up.
The installation CD includes a good user manual, backing up a rather basic booklet, and a file manager. Another disc contained a copy of Abbyy FineReader OCR software to get the words on scanned documents into your favourite word processing program.
Picture this
The first things to remember are that the TX200 is not meant as a high-end photographic printer and that it also maxes out on A4 paper. It makes do with just four ink cartridges, cyan, magenta, yellow and black, whereas a top inkjet printer may have eight or more colours in its armoury.
So you’re probably not going to choose this printer for making exhibition-quality prints. But within its limitations it does a good job and the A4 prints I made on Epson’s Premium Glossy paper were more than satisfactory for even semi-critical uses. It’s also a fast printer.
Early prints showed horizontal lines running across the picture, an indication that the heads needed to be aligned. Evidently that’s fairly common for the TX200 and the manual guides you though the steps to remedy this.
Duplicate
Copying is dead easy, and can be done in colour or black and white. The results are good. Scanning is via the Epson Scan program that’s part of the package. It’s easily used and gives good results in most cases ” competitive with inexpensive flatdecks, but not a match for higher-end scanners.
Conclusion
I loved the convenience of the TX200 and could see it fitting nicely into my home office for when I needed quick copies, scans or prints. For critical work, I’d sooner have higher end dedicated equipment. But as an electronic ˜gofer’ this multi-faceted product gets a thumbs up, especially at its price.
Also, if you want to further improve your printer’s ink management ability, check out some ink-saving software like PretonSaver over here.
SPECS – EPSON STYLUS TX200
- Printing Method: Piezoelectric inkjet
- Minimum Ink Droplet Volume: 3 picolitres
- Resolution: 5760dpi with variable-sized droplet technology
- Paper Sizes: A4, letter, legal, 8×10, 5×7, 4×6, 3.5×5, 5×8, A6, A5, B5, half letter; Envelopes: No10, DL, C6
- Scanner Type: A4 flatbed colour image scanner, CIS sensor
- Pixel Depth: Input 48 bits (16 bits/colour); output 24 bits (8 bits/colour)
- Scanning Resolution: 1200 x 2400dp
- Mono Scan Speed: A4 300dpi 2.2msec/line
- Colour Scan Speed: A4 300dpi 7.2msec/line
- Copy Speed: Colour Text (A4)+ approx 30cpm (draft)
- Operating Systems/Printer Drivers: Windows 2000/XP/XP x64/Vista, Mac OS10.3.9-10.5
CONTACT
www.epson.co.nz
PROS
- Good performance for its price
CONS
| Design |
16 |
| Performance |
16 |
| Features |
18 |
| Image Quality |
14 |
| Value for money |
19 |
|
|
| Total |
83/100 |
This review is from D-Photo issue #027.
July 16th, 2009 by D-Photo
Fraser Kitt says Casio’s EX-Z9 is quick and easy to use and has a cool YouTube setting for creating videos quick as a flash
When it comes to budget cameras, I want one with style, that has a choice of colours and preferably a Lithium rechargeable battery, all for less than $200. You might think I’ve got a loose wheel but Casio has just launched the Exilim EX-Z9 with all of the above and just a touch more.
Pretty as a picture
Casio has spiced up its range with this entry-level camera by offering a selection of four colours to choose from: silver, black, pink and a superb hot orange. The aluminium body feels solid and the buttons are positive to touch.
The back of the camera has a navigation cursor with a set button in the middle. The bottom button acts as a shortcut for the flash overrides but there is no shortcut for macro. Getting to the scene modes or Best Shot (BS), as Casio calls it, requires a simple press of the button. Situated next to the menu button, it is easily accessible and may be the most used control other than the shutter release. You’ll find a series of commonly encountered shooting situations each identified by a picture so you can quickly recognise the style of image you want to shoot.
Fast mover
You can’t quibble about how fast the EX-Z9 starts; it zaps into life at a push of the start button. It is also quick to process the 8 megapixel files and lightning fast to recycle the flash when shooting at close range. Focusing, too, is swift but struggles in low light as there is no low-light illuminator.
The flash also strains to keep up with the zoom when at full telephoto, but this isn’t unusual in budget models.
Up you go
It’s not just the EX-Z9’s price that will appeal to youngsters. It has a cool movie feature for making videos suitable for uploading straight to the YouTube website. Normal video is too large for the internet and needs to be compressed first, be it to YouTube or your blog. This camera makes it simple to shoot movies specifically for the web.
For those with a widescreen TV (16:9 aspect ratio), the HQ Wide setting will fill it perfectly.
Lucky dip
My biggest disappointment was the effort required to get good skin tones on every portrait image. The little Casio sometimes hit the mark but missed out significantly under artificial lighting.
And while one of the best features is the access panel at the right of the screen that lets you quickly turn functions on and off, it also robs you of valuable screen space. Choose the 4:3 aspect ratio and two black bars also ruin what could be a fabulous monitor. The screen itself is low on pixels, so expect the images to look a lot better on your computer than they do when played back on the camera. Rely on the screen only as a rough guide to what you’ve shot.
Conclusion
The Casio Exilim EX-Z9 is a budget camera, so don’t expect miracles. But it does take good photos and it is easy to operate. The bonuses are the face detect and the scene modes with the YouTube setting.
It also comes with a Lithium-ion battery so you won’t be wasting cash on AAs. The size and shape are perfect for a handbag or jacket pocket, and the choice of colours means it will appeal to everyone.
Specs
- Effective Pixels: 8.1 million
- Lens: 6.2-18.6mm (37.5-112.5mm in 35mm terms)
- Monitor: 2.6-inch TFT LCD (114,960 pixels)
- Shutter: 4 sec to 1/2000 sec
- ISO: Auto, 64, 100, 200, 400,800, 1600.
- Shooting Modes: Green Easy, Program, Movie, Portrait, Scenery, Children, Sports, Candlelight Portrait, Party, Pet, Flower, Soft Flowing Water, Sundown, Night Scene, Night Scene Portrait, Fireworks, Food, Text, Auction, Backlight, Anti-Shake, High Sensitivity, For YouTube, Voice Recording.
- Exposure Metering: Multi-pattern, centre-weighted, spot by imaging element
- Focus Modes: Auto, macro, pan, infinity, manual
- Media: SD, SDHC, Multimedia
- File Format: JPEG, WAV, AVI
- Flash: Auto, flash off, flash on, red eye reduction
- Batteries: Lithium-ion rechargeable
- Dimensions: 92.5 x 55 x 23.2mm
Contact
www.casio.co.nz
Pros:
Cons:
- Flesh tones don’t always look fantastic
- Big screen reduced by menu
- Low pixel count for screen
| Design |
17 |
| Performance |
17 |
| Features |
14 |
| Image Quality |
15 |
| Value for money |
18 |
|
|
| Total |
81/100 |
This review is from D-Photo issue #027.
July 16th, 2009 by D-Photo
Fraser Kitt is blown away by FujiFilm’s decision to use SD cards in its latest models, and says the J110W is fun and easy to use
If all you want for Christmas is a little digital camera with a moderate zoom then you’d be hard pressed to look past the FujiFilm Finepix J110W. It has a great zoom range and is stylish enough for both mum and dad to use ” if you can get it off ¨the kids.
Big
The 5x optical lens starts at a great 28mm wide angle and zooms through to 140mm telephoto. This means you can take those intimate indoor shots of the family around the kitchen table without having to climb out the window to get everyone in the shot.
The telephoto side lets you operate like the paparazzi, sneaking shots of your teenagers without the fear of faces being pulled or them complaining you’re photographing them ” again.
The camera’s display is wonderful, a big 2.7-inch LCD with 230,000 pixels that is easy to see in most lighting situations and which makes reviewing images a breeze.
Face on
Face detection is a feature that works so well it seems a shame to turn it off. This Finepix is at home shooting anyone from babies to those playing sports, and the face detect function means you’ll never miss your target.There is even a baby mode designed to give better skin tones without using flash.
Cancelling the flash is a nice touch, as you won’t have to fumble around menus trying to find the controls. It also means you won’t be frightening any newborns. The Museum setting cleverly bumps up the film speed and cancels the flash so you won’t get into trouble with the curator.
Sensitivity¨Normally I’d be complaining about high sensitivity as a way of controlling image stability, because the increase in noise can ruin otherwise good images. Fuji has almost perfected high sensitivity and thankfully the camera will also use flash when it’s needed, reducing the ISO speed.
The higher the film speed is, the faster the shutter will fire, meaning less chance of camera shake. The down side is that when the camera uses ISO 3200 the image size is reduced from the fantastic 10 megapixels the camera is capable of to just 3MP.
Breakthrough
At last, a breakthrough! Fuji has decided to use SD card exclusively, ditching the xD card, which has a 2GB storage limit. It makes sense to use the most universal of cards and the J110W will take both ordinary SD as well as the higher capacity SDHC cards.
Conclusion
FujiFilm has produced a snappy little camera in the Finepix J110W that is not only stylish but is also practical, thanks to the 5x optical zoom range starting at 28mm. The decision to use SD card as the storage medium is a step in the right direction as this format just keeps getting bigger in capacity. And you’ll need as much storage as you can get your hands on, because the 10 million pixel files do gobble up space.
But best of all it’s an easy camera to use with a great set of scene modes to help you make images like an expert.
Specs
- Price: $350 (includes a ¨1GB SD memory card and soft carry case)
- Effective Pixels: 10 million
- Lens: 5.1-25.5mm (28-140mm in 35mm terms)
- Monitor: 2.7-inch TFT LCD (230,000 pixels)
- Shutter: 8 sec to 1/2000 sec
- ISO: Auto, 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
- Shooting Modes: Auto, Baby, Picture Stabiliser, Red Eye Reduction, Digital Zoom, Portrait, Movie, Manual, Landscape, Sport, Night, Natural Light, Beach, Snow, Fireworks, Sunset, Flower, Party, Museum, Text,
- Exposure Metering: Multi, spot, average, intelligent face detect
- Focus Modes: Face detect, ¨single AF
- Media: 24MB internal memory, SD, SDHC
- Flash: Auto, red eye removal on, red eye removal off, auto red eye reduction and forced flash, suppressed flash, red eye reduction and slow sync
- Batteries: Lithium-ion rechargeable
- Dimensions: 92 x 57.9 x 22.6mm
Contact:
www.fujifilm.co.nz
Pros:
- 5x optical zoom starting at 28mm
Cons:
- Battery life is a little short
- Flash doesn’t always keep up with zoom
- Big fingers won’t like the selection button
| Design |
18 |
| Performance |
17 |
| Features |
18 |
| Image Quality |
17 |
| Value for money |
17 |
|
|
| Total |
87/100 |
This review is from D-Photo issue #027.
