Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Digital Camera Reviews - Sony DSC N2, DSC T100 and Canon EOS 400D

Sony Cyber-shot DSC N2
The Sony DSC N2 is a stylish digital camera with ten mega pixels and a three times optical zoom. The feature that sets the DSC N2 apart from just about all other digital cameras is its large 3" touch LCD screen. This cuts the number of dials and buttons the camera has to an absolute minimum, helping to accentuate its looks and style.

Another feature that adds to the attraction of the camera is the fact it has a manual exposure mode. This allows you to set the shutter speed and aperture you shoot at. This model is probably aimed at the more casual user who still wants the premium picture quality to boast at cocktail parties. There is some debate on whether the CPU, or ‘brain’, of the DSC is any better than the DSC N1, so that the extra megapixels may not be processed in a manner that makes the pictures any better. I would recommend trying one out in the shop before committing yourself to a purchase.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Sony DSC-T100
The DSC-T100 fits an amazing combination of high-tech features into super-slim dimensions. It has high-resolution 8.1 MP imaging, a powerful 5x optical zoom lens and a huge 3.0" Clear Photo LCD Plus screen that lets you snap and share photos easily. This means that it can zoom in closer to distant objects with better clarity than the majority of the other brands that fit into a pocket. The optical zoom is the best feature of this camera, and would be very useful for images at concerts, wildlife photography or impressive holiday snaps. The size makes it very portable and I would recommend this one over the DSC N2.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Canon EOS 400D
The Canon EOS 400D is the latest member of Canon's extensive range of SLR digital cameras. It is now over three years since Canon released their first entry-level DSLR, the 6 megapixel EOS 300D, which kick-started the whole budget DSLR boom. An entry-level camera, the new Canon 400D has a hard act to follow as it attempts to build on the success of the 300D and 350D models. The 400D closely follows the general design of the 350D, having similar compact proportions to the older model, but it adds some new features to try and remain competitive in what has become a rapidly expanding sector of the photography market. This model is more for the budget professional, perhaps as a useful backup for the main shooter. That said, you can always rely on Canon to bring a functional and competent camera, and the styling of this model would feel at home in any paparazzi’s man-bag.