Creative Silence Blog

Archive for the ‘Digital Cameras’ Category

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This digital can be found wherever cameras and electronics are sold. It retails for about $850 US.

Subcompact digital cameras are a good idea in theory, but they can lead to diminished photo quality. Some people are willing to trade a little bit of quality for the ability to tuck the camera into their shirt pocket and take it with them wherever they go. Small cameras definitely appeal to many customers because of their style and convenience.

With the Canon PowerShot SD2200 IS, quality is no longer compromised by small, slim body. This digital camera packs a lot of punch into a tiny package. And with its loads of features aimed at improving photo quality, this camera is perfect for new photographers who want good pictures with minimum hassle.

The Canon PowerShot SD2200 IS is an 8 megapixel digital camera with a 1.25 inch CCD imager. It comes with a 3x optical zoom lens with image stabilization. Other useful features include onboard red-eye elimination and face detection technology for like-like facial details. If you often take pictures of children and other fast-moving objects, the blur reduction in the Canon PowerShot SD2000 will come in handy. The camera’s face detection technology seeks out human faces and sharpens them, balances the color, and makes them appear true to life. Image stabilization will keep action shots crisp and minimize blurring due to hand or camera shaking.

The Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS also has the following specifications:

* 13 Scene Modes
* Exposure Times as long as 15 seconds
* 2.5″ LCD
* ISO Sensitivity Range from 80 to 1600
* Shutter Speed – 15-1/1500 seconds
* White Balance Control – Auto, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H)
* Custom Built-in Flash
* Auto Red-eye Correction
* Shooting Modes – Auto, Camera M, Portrait, Special Scene (Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, Indoor, Kids & Pets) Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Stitch Assist, and Movie
* Self-Timer – 2-second or 10-second delay
* Custom Dimensions – 3.42 x 2.16 x 0.87 (86.8×54.8×22.0mm)
* Weight – 4.41 ounces (125 grams)
* Colors Available: Metallic blue, pink, gold, silver, and brown

Users consider this camera a resounding success. They do, however, point out that the camera’s color names (which include “Bohemian Brown” and “Pink Melody”) sound a little too much like cosmetic products. But, silly names aside, this camera delivers tons of features that aren’t found in the average affordable point-and-shoot.

The Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS can be found wherever digital cameras are sold. It retails for about $250 US.

The FujiFilm FinePix A610 was announced in early 2007. Much ado was made about this camera, because it combined for the first time Fuji’s proprietary Super CCD HR sensor and Real Photo Processor. This dual technology means cleaner pictures with more detail – something digital camera enthusiasts are always looking for. And the camera’s affordable price tag is another major selling point. It exceeds most people’s performance expectations for a $130 digital camera.

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

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

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

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

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

This digital camera retails for about $130 US, and can be found online or at any major electronics store.