A Galaxy of Shooting Stars: Cameras for All Budgets
Grace Aquino
DIGITAL CAMERASHere comes a new constellation of digital cameras from Canon, Kodak, Nikon, and Olympus, ranging from a reasonably priced, virtually mistake-proof product for novices to a $900 wonder that packs considerable power. Whether you're a first-time user or a seasoned shutterbug, zoom in for a closer look.
Star Power
Canon made a big impact in the digital camera market last year with its first Digital Elph, the sexy PowerShot S100. The new $699 Canon PowerShot S300 Digital Elph closely matches the svelte design and metallic casing of its predecessor. Although the S300's measurements are only a bit larger, I did notice the difference.
This 2-megapixel Digital Elph lets you capture mini-movies (with audio) on the included 8MB CompactFlash card; you can take longer movie clips if you use a higher-capacity memory card (64MB, for example). The S300 also has a 3X optical zoom lens--slightly more powerful than the S100's 2X optical zoom--so you can close in on a subject from farther away. After downloading video clips to a computer, you can edit them using the bundled ArcSoft VideoImpression program.
A less impressive new feature is the S300's direct-to-printer connection. Use an included cable to link the camera to the optional $400 Canon Card Photo Printer CP-10, and you can print your digital photos instantly. The downside: The credit card-size prints from the dye-sublimation CP-10 printer are of so-so quality. For sharper, 4-by-6-inch prints, I would recommend a better printer--say, Sony's DPP-SV55, which costs about $300.
The Digital Elph S300 produces vibrant photographs at a maximum resolution of 1600 by 1200. My shipping unit's test shots looked sharp, with accurate color. The camera features two other resolution modes: 1024 by 768 (which the S100 doesn't offer) and 640 by 480. But the S300 is pricier than most 2-megapixel cameras on the market. I would wait until the price drops to around $550.
Practical Radiance
If ease of use and a reasonable price are your top priorities, consider the $300 Kodak DX3500 Digital Camera. It's a member of Kodak's new EasyShare System line of cameras that can use an optional $80 docking station to transfer pictures to a PC and recharge the camera's batteries.
Kodak's docking station behaves similarly to the syncing cradle on some PDAs. But instead of syncing data between the portable device and your PC, it lets you download pictures--hassle-free. Connect the dock to your system using the included USB cable, install the driver, place the camera in the dock, and then press a button on the dock to transfer photos swiftly to your PC. You can use Kodak's included Picture Software to view, sort, enhance, and e-mail your snapshots.
The DX3500 is as easy to use as the dock, thanks to its simple on-screen menus and on-camera buttons. Unfortunately, the camera's silver-and-gray plastic case feels a bit flimsy. And my shipping unit took a couple of seconds to sharply focus an image on the LCD for viewing.
This is the only camera in the group that comes with 8MB of internal memory. If you need more storage, buy an optional CompactFlash card to insert in the camera's memory slot (I'd recommend getting at least a 16MB card, which costs about $40). As for image quality, the DX3500 produced accurate colors, but it also cast a murky haze over most of my test shots. You can brighten up your pictures, however, by using the included software.
Cosmic Features
Known for their advanced features, Nikon's impressive Coolpix digital cameras appeal to seasoned photographers. At $900, the new Nikon Coolpix 995 is the most expensive camera in this roundup, but it's also the most powerful.
The 995 has comprehensive--albeit sometimes confusing--manual controls for adjusting such settings as aperture, shutter speed, and white balance. Like its predecessors (the 950 and the 990), the 995 sports a swivel lens for taking pictures at varying angles or for discreetly photographing your subjects. If you want to use the flash, you must press a button to flip it up. And this time around, Nikon supplies rechargeable batteries and a charger--accessories that the older Coolpix models didn't have.
When shooting a photograph, you must first press the shutter button halfway so the camera can focus on the subject, a step that takes a couple of seconds. The camera then stores the image in the included 16MB CompactFlash card; although this card has a greater capacity than the others in this roundup, it has room to store only a single uncompressed TIFF image.
The 995's 3.3-megapixel CCD allows it to capture compressed, JPEG-formatted photos at a high resolution of 2048 by 1536. At that resolution, you can produce sharp 8-by-10-inch prints. Most of the test shots I took with a preproduction model appeared vibrant on screen, though a couple of them looked gloomy. Still, the Coolpix 995's plethora of advanced features more than make up for a few dusky images and a steep price.
Stellar Buy
The $249 Olympus Camedia Brio D-100 is a terrific choice for budget-minded shoppers. Light, compact, and a little stylish, this point-and-shoot unit sports a sleek, black design with gold trim and simple control buttons. Its basic features include a 1.3-megapixel CCD that can produce colorful 1280-by-960-resolution digital photos. Some test shots from a shipping unit appeared quite vivid on screen--especially close-ups that were taken in macro mode--but others looked a bit dark.
Like Kodak's DX3500, the Brio D-100 lacks an optical zoom lens. Instead, it comes with a less impressive 2X digital zoom (the Kodak comes with a 3X digital zoom). Still, the D-100 provides a number of basic features for users with modest photography needs. If you are on a budget and want a pocket-size, low-frills camera, then the Brio D-100 is well worth looking into.
| Buying Information |
Canon PowerShot S300 Digital Elph Small; impressive photos. A bit heavy, pricey. An attractive camera, but you pay a premium to use it. List price: $699 Canon USA 800/652-2666 http://www.usa.canon.com |
| Buying Information |
Kodak DX3500 Digital Camera Easy to use, inexpensive. Some snapshots were murky. Great, low-priced camera. List price: $300 Eastman Kodak 800/235-6325 http://www.kodak.com |
| Buying Information |
Nikon Coolpix 995 Lots of advanced features. Slow auto-focus, expensive. For serious shutterbugs. List price: $900 Nikon 800/645-6689 http://www.nikonusa.com |
| Buying Information |
Olympus Camedia Brio D-100 Affordable; color-rich photos. Bare-bones; doesn't have an optical zoom lens. Basic, stylish point-and-shoot camera is easy on your wallet. Street price: $249 Olympus America 888/553-4448 http://www.olympusamerica.com |