The current crop of new digital point-and-shoot cameras offer improved designs for more convenience and better picture taking. Among the features are larger LCD monitor screens, longer zoom lenses, and more compact designs.
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Larger Screens: A couple years ago, most LCD camera screens were 1.5 to 1.8 inches (size is measured diagonally, just like TV screens). Today more and more digital camera LCD screens range from 2.5 to 3 inches, with a lot of different 2-inch-plus models in between. The improvement makes it more convenient to show snapshots to your companions, while the photos are still in the camera. Take a look at 3-inch screen point-and-shoot cameras such as the Canon PowerShot SD630, Fujifilm FinePix V10, HP Photosmart R927, Nikon CoolPix S6, Pentax Optio T10, and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N1. (Sadly, on some models, viewfinders were eliminated, requiring photographers to employ oversize LCD screen to frame pictures. This can draw extra battery power.)
Clockwise from top left - Canon Powershot SD630, Fujifilm FinePix V10, Nikon Coolpix S6, Pentax Optio T10, Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-N1, HP Photosmart R927.
Ultra-Compact Models: Although most point-and-shoot digital cameras are slightly smaller than their film-shooting brothers, a new ultra-compact breed is on the market. These cameras fit comfortably flat in a shirt pocket without making a bulge. Their zoom lenses are internal and a lens barrel does not project from the front of the camera. These bodies offer slim-line profiles with thicknesses of less than 1 inch. Take a look at the Kodak EasyShare V570 and V610, Nikon CoolPix S3 and S5, Casio Exilim Zoom series, and Sony Cyber-shot DCS-T9.
Clockwise from top left - Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T9, Nikon CoolPix S3, Nikon Coolpix S5, Kodak EasyShare V570, Casio Exilim EX-Z600
Pixel Power: Over the past two years, the megapixel (MP) race seems to have quieted down. Most point-and-shoot cameras are available with 5 and 6 MP sensors, which are completely adequate to make prints as large as 8-by-10 inches. Some advance models have 8 to 9 MP sensors, which provide, at top resolutions, the ability to create visually sharp poster-size prints or crop small sections of a picture to enlarge up to 8-by-10 inches.
Longer Zoom Lens Range: Most point-and-shoot digital cameras offer 3X zoom lenses, which are often in the 35-105mm normal to moderate telephoto range. (Digital camera lens focal lengths refer to the picture view equivalent of a 35mm-format film camera lens; since sensor chip sizes are not uniform, actual lens focal lengths are not comparable.) Today several cameras offer 10X zooms (usually with a 38-380mm range), which provide an ultra-long telephoto view. Remember, it is difficult to shoot steady handheld photos with extreme telephoto lenses; they usually require a tripod for sharp picture taking. Take a look at the zoom-lens reflex (ZLR) Fujifilm FinePix S5200 and the pocketsize, dual-lens Kodak EasyShare V610; both have 38-380mm zooms. Also, don’t pay attention to advertising statements about “digital zoom” ranges. Only optical zoom lenses produce good, detailed photos. Digital zooms just crop the picture in the camera through software and produce less sharp images.
Wide-Angle Lenses: Wide-angle lenses are hard to find on digital cameras, particularly point-and-shoot models. There are exceptions, such as the 28-100mm zoom lens Canon PowerShot S80 and the dual-lens Kodak EasyShare V570, which combines a 23mm ultra-wide with a standard 39-117mm optical zoom lens. Other cameras employ bulky screw-in supplementary lenses over the normal lens to obtain a greater than 35mm wide-angle view.
Anti-Shake Technology: Konica Minolta was a leader in anti-shake technology, but the company no longer manufactures digital cameras. Sony obtained the rights to the technology and employs it on several Sony Cyber-shot models, which are identified as Super SteadyShot Optical Image Stabilization models. Several manufacturers use other schemes to reduce camera shake. For example, the Canon PowerShot SD700 IS Digital ELPH has its own image stabilizer technology; Casio Exilim EX-Z600 employs an Anti Shake Digital Signal Processor (DSP); and Pentax Optio A10 offers a “shake reduction” feature. Panasonic Lumix series cameras also have optical image stabilization.
Clockwise from top left - Canon PowerShot SD700 IS Digital ELPH, Casio Exilim EX-Z600, Pentax Optio A10, Panasonic Lumix FZ30
Built-In Software: Most cameras can be used to produce black-and-white images, as well as sepia photos, through internal software. The Kodak EasyShare V570 and V610 provide panorama pictures by knitting together up to three separate shots in the cameras. The model’s LCD monitor indicates where the images must overlap for a smooth transition. The resulting print is 6 inches by 20 inches long.
Built-In Wireless Connectivity: New cameras are appearing with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology that, when used with an enabled computer, printer or other peripheral device, can transmit images without being physically tethered to the device. Among the cameras with this capability are the Nikon Coolpix P1 and P2 cameras, Canon PowerShot SD430 Digital ELPH and Kodak EasyShare V610.
Underwater Cameras: Although electronic cameras and water don’t usually mix, Pentax offers the Optio W10, an underwater model that is guaranteed to operate up to 30 minutes at depths down to 5 feet for snorkeling photography. The Olympus Stylus 720SW is 7-megapixel camera that can be submerged for up to an hour. For deep diving, the Sealife DC500 Digital Camera SL150 can operate safely at depths down to 200 feet.
Top: Sealife DC500 Digital Camera SL150, Bottom: Olympus Stylus 720SW
No one camera is entirely perfect, but many of today’s models have a feature set to create exciting pictures at nearly every price point.
