No longer a convenient compromise, todya’s compact cameras can offer hi-def movie recording, a dozen megapixels and impressive zooms. Here are the five world’s sexiest digicams:
Canon IXUS 100 IS (www.canon.com):- Canon’s IXUS is a design classic. It’s the sort of camera you just love holding and using – which is impressive considering small products often disappoint on a practical level. This soapbar-sized shooter produces 12.1 MP images via an f/3.2 lens and Canon’s new DIGIC 4 processor. The IXUS 100 must fancy itself as a private eye because there’s plenty of detection going on: motion detection is an anti-blur technology – great if you’re a fan of street photography – while face and blink detection are used to capture more pleasing portraits.
In this company, the canon’s 3x optical zoom looks weedy and the 2.5 inch LCD is the smallest here – but that’s needless nitpicking, as the breadth of features is a match for its rivals. The i-Contrast function improves contrast and detail in lo-light shots and there are plenty of exposure and focus adjustments. The camera’s guilty of overcooking some red subjects, while elsewhere shots don’t quite “sing” the way you’d like them to, but it’s still a very competent performer and one blessed with a solid autofocus. In a nod of to Apple’s iPod and its accelerometer, when you tilt the IXUS 100 in playback mode your photo will rotate to match the angle of the display.
Its a thing of pocketable beauty and versatility that’s great whether you’re partying or stalking the streets.
Pros: Slim, stylish and desirable design; great for sharp portrait shots
Cons: Tends towards over-exposure, reds are overcooked
Resolution: 12.1 MP
Zoom: 3x optical zoom
Display: 2.5 inch
Extras: Scene and motion detection
Movie Mode: HD 1280×720 @ 3ofps
Size: 87×55x18mm, 115g
Casio Exilim EX-FC100 (www.casio.com):- Casio’s new snapper is part of a streamline range that majors in high-speed burst shooting. The FC100’s party trick involves grabbing up to 30 shots per seconds, from which can then pick the best. Resolution is limited to 6MP in this mode, but that’s fine for most instances. If you don’t mind flicking through and deleting shots as you go, or filling up your memory card at a much higher rate than usual, it’s one way to avoid blinking subjects.
That high-speed ability can also be used to store up to 25 frames in a continually refreshing buffer before you press the shutter, which can help compensate for both the camera’s slight lag and your own reactions. Plus there’s a slo-mo video mode on hand, which can capture up to 1000 frames per second, but that sees the resolution drop to just 223×56 pixels. There’s a standard-issue f/3.6 lens and a rather slow 5x optical zoom. images are framed and reviewed using conventional 2.7 inch LCD screen, via a 9.1 MP sensor. Ergonomics could be better, but there’s nothing too out of the ordinary to get to grips with. Performance is fairly impressive, especially when it comes to colour reproduction. Some results appear washed out but edge definition is among the best. Continue reading…
