Archive for October, 2007
Digital Camera News Bits for 10/18/2007
Digital Camera Reviews, OH
Sandisk 8 GB Extreme III SDHC Card Announced
Sandisk has announced a new Extreme III SDHC card with an 8GB capacity. The card will be bundled with a SanDisk MicroMate USB 2.0 Reader. The card and reader are expected to ship to retailers within 30 days to be sold at a suggested price of $180.
The Extreme III line of SDHC cards from Sandisk comply with the Class 6 speed rating from the SDHC specifications which guarantees a minimum transfer rate of 6MB/sec. Sandisk reports that their new card has a read/write speed of 20MB/sec.
All SanDisk Extreme III cards offer ESP Technology to streamline data transfer, and Sandisk includes RescuePRO software to recover accidentally deleted files and images. The cards can handle extreme temperatures (-13 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit or -25 to 85 degrees Celsius).
Canon Showing Off Prototype Telephoto L Lenses
During PhotoPlus this week, Canon will be showing off prototypes of two lenses that they have still in development. If you’re at the show, you can check out the EF200mm f/2L IS USM and the EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM.
Both lenses are in Canon’s coveted “L” line, have image stabilization and USM motors. Since both lenses are still under development, there is no pricing or availability information available yet.
Nikon Digital SLRs Highest In Customer Satisfaction
In the latest J.D. Power and Associate 2007 Digital Camera Satisfaction Study, Nikon D series cameras scored 822 points (out of 1000). The study probed customers in four areas: picture quality, performance, operation, and appearance and styling. The study included 7000 response from people who have purchased a camera within the last 12 months.
October 19th, 2007
Canon Point and Shoot and Non-DSLR
Canon PowerShot A720 IS Digital Camera Review
DigitalCameraInfo, MO
Canon launched the PowerShot A720 IS with optical image stabilization in August 2007 as a full-featured camera at an economic price. As the sophomore version to Canon’s first entry-level A-series camera with image stabilization, the PowerShot A710 IS, the A720 IS continues to include a blur-reduction feature normally reserved for pricier cameras. In addition to increasing the resolution to 8-megapixels, the camera features a 6x optical zoom and an updated Digic III processor with upgraded face detection technology. The Canon PowerShot A720 IS retails for $249.99.
Physical Tour
Front (7.5)
The 6x optical zoom lens takes up most of the front face. Separated from the rest of the plastic body, the extending lens is surrounded by silver metal rings with the inscribed text: “Canon Zoom Lens 6x IS” and the focal length and aperture specifications “5.8-34.8mm 1:2.8-4.8.”
A variety of features are crowded above the lens. From left to right, they are the autofocus-assist beam lamp with embossed Canon logo underneath, optical viewfinder window, and rectangular flash with the text “6x Optical Zoom” lining the curved edge of the camera. Underneath the self-timer lamp are three small microphone holes to record audio from the subject or atmosphere. To either side of bottom of the lens are the “8.0 Mega Pixel” text and ring release button. The ring release button allows users to add optional lens converter accessories to the lens.
To the left is a hand grip for the right hand. It is designed with two-toned colors and the camera’s model name – “PowerShot A720″ in white text and “IS,” or Image Stabilization, in red font. Also visible from the front is the shutter button, encircled by the zoom lever.
Back (7.5)
Most of the backside is taken up by the 2.5-inch LCD screen. The screen has a black border and silver Canon tagline. Above the LCD is the rare point-and-shoot optical viewfinder, which is surrounded by a slightly raised surface. To the right of the viewfinder are two operation lamps, one to indicate when the camera is ready to shoot and the other when the lens is properly focused.
To the right of the monitor is a seam that divides the LCD from the control panel. The controls include the strangely-placed Record/Playback mode switch, situated where the right thumb naturally rests. Below the mode switch is a central four-way controller which controls flash and focus. The multi-selector is surrounded by four equally-sized circular functions for EV compensation, Print, Display, and Menu.
Right Side (7.5)
The right side of the Canon point-and-shoot is a smooth, flat surface with rounded edges. Near the edge of the camera is the plate seam, the wrist strap eyelet, and two tiny screws.
Left Side (7.5)
The left side of the Canon PowerShot A720 IS houses three ports: DC in, USB, and A/V out, hidden safely under a labeled rubber cover. The port cover overlays the dual silver colors, accented by two screws and a silver highlight band that wraps to the top of the camera.
Top (7.5)
On the front edge of the right hand grip is the shutter button, encapsulated by the circular zoom lever. The zoom lever is labeled with icons that indicate its multiple functions. Below the shutter button are 13 tiny audio ports.
Located off the center axis is the giant mode dial, labeled with gray icons except for the green Auto setting label. The power on/off button and power lamp, which turns on when the camera is in operation, are located at the top center of the camera.
The left side is labeled with the important specifications, including “AiAF” in small text, indicating the camera’s updated face detection algorithm, “Image Stabilizer,” and the model name “PowerShot A720 IS.”
Bottom (3.0)
The bottom of the Canon PowerShot A720 IS is standard. On the left is the plastic tripod socket, set off axis from the lens. In the center is the serial number plate, and to the right is the sturdy battery/memory card compartment door with a textured release button.
October 18th, 2007
Digital camera packs a lot into small frame
Computerworld, MA
October 17, 2007 (Macworld) — A new contender in the bantamweight division of the digicam market, Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FX100 packs a lot of power into a compact package that’s easy to carry and use. Its resolution of 12.2 megapixels seemed like overkill at first, yet the camera produced clear, well-exposed images at every setting. Image stabilization was consistently effective, and those who love to shoot landscapes will appreciate that the 3.6x zoom Leica lens starts at a wide-angle 28mm.
Serious shutterbugs may be disappointed at the lack of manual exposure controls, but in our Macworld Lab tests, there was little reason to second-guess the camera’s calculations. The DMC-FX100 achieved Good scores for image and flash quality, and Very Good marks for color quality.
The camera’s menus and controls are well thought out, with most important settings just a click or two away. Travelers will also appreciate the compact battery recharger, which they’ll be using given the decidedly average battery life of 530 shots per charge. (Out of the point-and-shoot cameras we’ve tested, the Nikon S50c holds the lowest score in this category, with 347 shots per charge; Samsung’s NV11 performed best, achieving 1,233.)
Macworld’s buying advice
The Panasonic DMC-FX100 is streamlined enough not to baffle novice users, but even seasoned shutterbugs ought to consider this as a backup to their SLR or DSLR. Especially as a vacation take-along, this lightweight camera will produce consistently pleasing images.
David Becker is a writer and photographer based in San Francisco who regularly writes about personal technology, gadgets and travel.
October 18th, 2007
Olympus unveils powerful new SLR camera
Steve Makris , edmontonjournal.com
Published: Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Canada.com, Canada
New York — Digital cameras are getting so good, they are doing away with tripods, good light and don’t even care how wet or dusty it is.
The new Olympus E-3 digital SLR, unveiled at the American Museum of Natural History in New York on Tuesday was able to boast that and more.
Ice sculptors, ballerinas and the museum’s lush courtyard became the subjects of photography as the Japanese camera maker showed off its new flagship camera in a private North American showing.
At 10 megapixels, the camera is competing in a crowded field of consumer enthusiast digital SLRs ranging in price between $800 and $2,000.
But its professional features, matching that of cameras costing thousands more, make it a right fit for second and third generation photographers.
Like competitors, the E-3 looks and works like traditional 35 mm cameras with interchangeable lenses.
Digital technology makes it possible to shoot in ways not even dreamed about in film cameras.
The Live-MOS view sensor chip for example, not only shows how a picture will look before you take it on a swivel LCD screen, but instantly shows what exposure or colour-balance changes look like too.
The built-in image stabilization is extended to five f-stops for taking shake-free photos in dark places or with long telephoto lenses. This means you can shoot five times slower and still get sharp pictures. And because its included in the body, all Olympus lenses work with it.
“I don’t think about using a tripod or monopod anymore,” said world renowned wildlife and nature photographer John Isaac,” who was the United Nations’ official photographer for 30 years.
The E-3 currently boasts the fastest auto-focus technology of any production camera of any level. I tried it at a private showing and can attest to its quickness as well as overall solid engineering.
The optical viewfinder is exceptional with large magnification making it easier to compose photos under any might conditions.
“It’s as fast as the blink of an eye,” said Canadian professional travel photographer Bary Cralle who tried the camera a week before its release. “I took pictures in very low light and was amazed at the quality of image,” he said.
Olympus camera engineers stressed the importance of smart technology removing obstacles between photographer and picture, making the art of photography more accessible to users.
“It’s like an extension of your heart and mind,” said Pulitzer prize-winner and National Geographic photographer Jay Dickman.
Olympus has several generations of digital SLR models using its own four-thirds digital chip technology, about half the size of a 35 mm frame. Unlike competitors, its cameras where built from the ground up as digital taking up less space and running efficiently on batteries.
German lens maker Leica and electronics giant Panasonic are using the same technology making lenses and camera bodies interchangeable from one brand to another.
When connected to the Internet via USB cable, camera, lens and flash can be upgraded with improvements and new features from the Olympus site.
Will the E-3 foray into professional cameras take a bite out of established Canon and Nikon digital SLR sales?
“The buzz word in digital SLRs is image stabilization and quality pictures in dark situations,” said Michael Williams, digital sales manager for Edmonton-based camera specialty story McBain Camera. “If the E-3 has those it should do well.”
The E-3 will be available in Canadian outlets in late November, for under $2,000 with two separate new lenses, the e ED 12-60mm f2.8-4.0 SWD (24-120mm equivalent); ED 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 SWD. Older Olympus lenses have full functionality with the E-3 but the new pricier models, feature faster focusing.
For more information go to: www.olympusamerica.com, www.myfourthirds.com
smakris@thejournal.canwest.com
October 18th, 2007
Best buy: Fuji FinePix S5700 digital camera
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom
Price: £105.40
From: www.pixmania.co.uk
Fuji’s FinePix S5700 feels reassuringly solid and substantial and takes brilliant pictures.
It’s a 7-megapixel camera with 10x optical zoom and 4.8x digital zoom, a 2in LCD screen for composing and reviewing pictures, and an optical viewfinder.
The S5700 uses xD and SD memory cards of up to 2GB, and has a built-in flash with a range of just over 6m.
It’s compatible with PCs and Macs and also uses PictBridge technology, so you can print straight from the camera to a compatible printer without the need for a computer.
It goes up to ISO 1600, which denotes the camera’s sensitivity, meaning it can still take crisp, sharp pictures in poor lighting conditions and without a flash.
It has a shutter speed that ranges from 1/1000th of a second up to 4 seconds, making it perfect for taking action shots.
An excellent purchase for those looking to take a step up from digital compact cameras but who don’t want the added complication of changing lenses on a digital SLR camera.
October 18th, 2007
Samsung S85 eight-megapixel digital camera
Reg Hardware, UK
Review Remember the days when even an entry-level digital camera cost the proverbial arm and a leg? Nowadays, low-price doesn’t have to mean low performance or even low in features. If you’re looking for a decent digital camera today, you can pick up a fairly well-specified model for a little over £100.
Let’s face it: not everyone wants, needs or can afford a megapixel monster with the processing power of a Cray supercomputer and a zoom lens the length of a basketball player’s arm.
Many people are simply looking for a camera with the PPS factor – Pick-up, Point and Shoot. So hats off to Samsung for launching such a product at a highly affordable price. At just a penny under £120, this is indeed a product for the masses. In fact, we’ve decided to dub the S85 The Peoples’ Camera.
So what do you get for your hard-earned? You get a pretty impressive camera considering the price, with an 8.2-megapixel image sensor; a 5x optical zoom that’s roughly equivalent to a 38-190mm lens on a 35mm camera; an ISO rating from 50 to 1600; and a top shutter speed of 1/2000s. There’s 20MB of built-in Flash memory, although you’d be wise to invest in an SD card if you want to take more than a few high-res shots – the S85 supports SDHC cards up to 4GB in size. You also get face-detection technology and ASR shake-reduction thrown in. And there are lots more goodies, which we’ll talk about later.
Bundled in the box are a few accessories, including two AA-sized rechargeable NiMH batteries – although, funnily enough, the instruction book claims these are an optional extra – a USB cable, AV cable with RCA audio and composite-video jacks, battery charger, a CD-Rom containing photo editing software, and a strap. There’s also a small instruction book – the full version is available as a PDF file on the disc.
The S85 is not a bad looker: it’s finished in two-tone aluminium and feels quite classy in your mitts. However, there’s a price to be paid for affordability and in this case it’s the size of the camera. After using super-sleek models that vanish in the palm of your hand, it’s a bit of shock to go back to a camera of this chunkiness. Don’t get us wrong: the S85 isn’t a massive beast by any means – it measures just 10cm across and is around 2.4cm deep, but at some 6.3cm in height, it towers over many models. However, the S85 only weighs around 154g, excluding battery and memory card, so at least you won’t get a hernia carrying it around.
Around the back is a decent-sized, 2.5in LCD screen, which functions as a viewfinder, playback screen and menu display, and a few control buttons: E for effects, FN for Function and a multi-function menu control which also selects the macro mode and timer. A small rocker switch operates the zoom.
On the top of the camera is the power button – which needed a good hard press to get going – shutter trigger and mode dial. The latter lets you select various screen shooting styles, including auto, manual and 13 pre-programmed modes. Now, we said this was a camera for the masses, but we have to confess that Samsung seems to have gone overboard on the number of options available.
For instance, we suspect that few people using this camera will bother to use most of the program settings, which bizarrely include a Food mode and a Café mode. Why Samsung didn’t plump for, say, a Supermarket mode too is beyond us. There’s also a Child mode, which actually isn’t specifically designed for the taking snaps of the little darlings, but is for taking pictures of fast-moving objects – obviously the kids in Korea are much more energetic than the many British children who seem to spend half the day pigging out in front the box…
The same goes for the number of on-board effects. These use digital processing to add effects to images, such as changing the colour of the image – take your picl from sepia, red, and black and white, among others. You can also add cartoon captions to images; rotate them; put just part of an image in sharp focus; combine up to four different images; and even add a heart-shaped effect around an image of your beloved – aahhh. These effects are good fun on a night out with friends and after a few drinks, but we can’t see them getting that much use.
And we’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to options, because you can also change the image size from a one-megapixel setting (1024 x 768 resolution) to eight megapixels (3264 x 2248). Then there’s a sub-menu for selecting Super Fine, Fine or Normal modes – essentially the amount of JPEG compression applied to each pic. There are also options for setting the colour, saturation, exposure, white balance, shutter speed, ISO, an more. To be honest, you could spend weeks going through the various permutations.
And we haven’t even talked about the S85 also offering movie recording: ten-second clips in AVI file format, and there are two frame rates and file size settings to choose from. Voice recordings can be added to images or movies, and you can also tape up to ten hours’ of WAV-format voice memos. The sound quality isn’t bad either. Oh, and there’s a choice of several music clips to accompany your images too.
As you can see from the samples above, the S85′s pictures are sharp, clear and crisp. That said, we felt that colours looked a little washed out at times. Close-up shots were rather hit and miss, although when they worked, they looked impressively sharp. The zoom really pulls in the action and the auto-focus works well, even through glass. The S85 also takes low-light conditions in its stride and the face-detection technology does what it says on the tin.
Despite the overwhelming amount of features and settings, the S85 is a nice camera to use. Samsung claims the rechargeable batteries last up to five hours, and our results more or less confirmed this. Plus it’s nice to know that you can always revert to AA alkalines in an emergency.
Verdict
All in all, we liked this camera. Yes, it’s a little on the large side and Samsung seems to have thrown everything but the kitchen sink under the bonnet. But at this price, you can’t complain. It’s a camera for the masses and it’s well worth considering if you’re on a tight budget or simply don’t want to take out a second mortgage to buy your next digital camera.
October 10th, 2007
Calling The Shots: New Technique Links Digital Images to Exact Camera
Forensic, NH
By: Douglas Page, Issue: February/March, 2007
Just as ballistic experts can trace bullet casings back to the gun that fired the shell, university researchers have devised a way to trace specific digital photographs back to the exact digital camera that took the photo.
Every original digital picture is overlaid by a weak noiselike pattern of pixel-to-pixel nonuniformity, according to Jessica Fridrich, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Binghamton University, State University of New York.
Although these patterns are invisible to the human eye, the unique reference pattern or “fingerprint†of any camera can be electronically extracted by analyzing a number of images taken by a single camera.
“This technique can provide a proof that a given digital image came from a specific digital still or video camera,†Fridrich said. Thus, whenever a digital image is associated with a crime – such as child pornography or movie piracy –investigators can now provide crucial evidence linking those images to specific cameras.
Fridrich said that means that as long as examiners have either the camera that took the image or multiple images they know were taken by the same camera, an algorithm she developed can extract and define the camera’s unique pattern of pixel-to-pixel nonuniformity.
“The defense in these kind of cases has often been that the images were not taken by this person’s camera or that the images are not of real children,†Fridrich said. Sometimes child pornographers will even cut and paste an image of an adult’s head on the image of a child to try to avoid prosecution, she said.
“But if it can be shown that the original images were taken by the person’s cell phone or camera, it becomes a much stronger case than if you just have a bunch of digital images that we all know are notoriously easy to manipulate.â€
Like actual fingerprints, the digital “noise†in original digital images is stochastic in nature – that is, it contains random variables – which are inevitably created during the manufacturing process of the camera and its sensors.
“This characteristic virtually ensures that the noise imposed on the digital images from any particular camera will be consistent from one image to the next, even while it is distinctly different,†Fridrich said.
In preliminary tests, Fridrich’s lab analyzed nearly 3000 pictures taken by nine distinct digital cameras. She was able to link every individual image to the exact camera that took the picture with 100 percent accuracy.
Fridrich said law enforcement is aware of her work, but before it can be used in the field, more testing is indicated.
“Right now we are focusing on analyzing the reliability and mathematically describing the algorithm,†she said.
The main limitation of the technique is that it currently requires either the camera or multiple images taken by the same camera, and isn’t informative if only a single image is available for analysis.
The technology, however, is still in the development stage and is constantly being improved.
“We would like to make the method as reliable as possible and make it work for all types of sensors, including low-end cameras, such as cell-phone cameras,†Fridrich said. “Already, we have expanded it to video. Scanners remain to be done.â€
Fridrich and two members of her team – Jan Lukas and Miroslav Goljan – are co-inventors of the new technique, which is also useful in detecting forged images.
Fridrich said the absence of expected digital fingerprint in any portion of an image provides the most conclusive evidence of image tampering.
Douglas Page writes about forensic science and medicine from Pine Mountain, California. He can be reached at douglaspage@earthlink.net
October 9th, 2007
Sound Advice: Extension tubes have limitations
Minneapolis Star Tribune (subscription), MN
By Don Lindich, Special To The Star Tribune
Last update: October 07, 2007 – 4:06 PM
Q I was wondering how you felt about extension tubes. I bought one that does not seem to work. I have a Canon 20D camera and was using the extension tube with my Canon zoom lens EF 75-300mm. I know you can’t use the auto focus, so I did change to manual mode. When I use it, nothing far away comes in focus at all. Am I doing something wrong?
LISA POLIDORA, WILDWOOD CREST, N.J.
A Extension tubes, hollow tubes that fit between the lens and camera body, are used for close-ups so your lens can get closer than it can without them. They don’t help when photographing distant objects, as you have found out.
If you want to bring distant objects closer, the accessory you are looking for is a teleconverter. It has lens elements that double the magnification without changing the focusing characteristics of the lens. Because you are inserting extra glass elements in the optical path, some sharpness is lost. The amount lost depends on the quality of the teleconverter. They work best with telephoto lenses such as the one you are using now. They don’t work well with wide-angle lenses or wide-angle zooms.
The most common teleconverter, a 2x, would turn your 75-300 lens into a 150-600mm lens. The f-stop changes as well, by a factor of a stop per magnification factor, so a 2x would take your lens from f/4.0-5.6 to f/8.0-11. This is dark for a starting f-stop and pretty much useless in anything but bright light or with a tripod. Since you will have a long focal length if you decide to get a teleconverter, a tripod is best used anyway.
Teleconverters have a lot of limitations. It is for this reason that I rarely recommend them. It is better to buy an inexpensive long telephoto lens than modify an existing one, unless it starts at a bright f-stop such as a constant f/2.8.
She likes her TV setup
Q I am completely content with my TV setup, which is four TV sets with VCR/DVD combo units and extended basic cable. I record everything I like to watch at my convenience. Will I still be able to do this when the analog-to-digital switch occurs in 2009, or will I have to buy new TV sets? I don’t really care about receiving HD-quality material. I just want to watch what I like taped on demand.
SARAH MCDOWELL, SAN JOSE, CALIF.
A You will be able to do it, but you might need a converter box from the cable company. It will connect to the VCR/DVD combo units, then to the TV. Check with your cable provider.
Out of memory cards
Q I have a Fuji Finepix 2-megapixel digital camera purchased several years ago. The camera uses SmartMedia memory cards. Apparently, these memory cards are no longer made. Is there any substitute that would work with this camera?
ELIOT ROTHENBERG, MINNEAPOLIS
A There are no substitutes, sorry. If you want to find a SmartMedia card, I’d suggest trying eBay, where a 128-megabyte SmartMedia card sells for $50 or so. That’s incredibly expensive, and your camera is obsolete. I’d recommend upgrading to a new camera. Even an inexpensive $150 camera is likely to be much better than your 2-megapixel model.
Submit questions and read past columns at www.soundadviceblog.com.
October 8th, 2007
Digital SLRs for Travel: What to Look For, What to Buy
About – News & Issues, NY
James Martin’s Europe for Visitors Blog
Got a nose for taking great travel pictures? Thinking of moving up to a modern Digital SLR? Well, I can tell you, the number of new Digital SLRs I see weighing on the necks of tourists in Europe has increased tremendously in the last couple of years. Manufacturers have released some new models (just in time to get them in stores before Christmas, wouldn’t you know). I take a look at the cameras and lenses that I’d buy if I didn’t already own them in Top Digital SLR Cameras for Travel .
Need more assistance in choosing a camera? Need to get that incessant traveler in your family a great camera and lens this holiday season? Help is a click away: Before You Buy Digital SLR Cameras and Lenses for Travel.
October 8th, 2007
Casio Watches Free Ship
infoSync World, Norway
Casio’s super slim EX-S880 looks like it could fit in our wallet, so we know we can take it anywhere, but could they pack enough features in the miniscule frame?
Design – Very Good
We’ve voiced our affinity for the metal casing on Casio’s cameras before, and the S880 continues the positive trend. The thinnest Casio we’ve tested yet, we could slip it in our front or rear pants pocket or shirt pocket, and though it was a bit thicker than others we have tested, but it was still small enough for a pants pocket. Yet just like the others, it’s solid, feels very well-made, and the metal body resisted minor falls and scrapes. All the buttons were responsive, and most were labeled well enough to understand without too much difficulty. The lens retracts into the body when the camera is turned off or in photo review mode, providing reasonable protection.
The 2.8″ LCD is as big and bright as any we’ve seen. A dedicated display menu allowed us to select one of 5 presets, including night and power save modes.
Ergonomically, we liked the way the camera sat in our hand, and the buttons lined up with our fingers. However, the large screen crammed most of the buttons off to the far right side, making it awkward to operate single-handedly.
Interface and Features – Very Good
The deep menus–required because of the litany of included features–were easier to navigate than expected. We liked both Best Shot and the YouTube capture mode. Best Shot is essentially a group of presets that is supposed to optimize conditions for picture-taking in certain scenarios. We found the two “Layout” modes to be the most interesting, allowing us to see up to three images in succession as we took them.
The YouTube capture mode and YouTube Uploader software remains unchanged from previous versions we’ve tested. They serve to simplify the process of uploading content to the viral video Web site. The uploader program pops up as soon as a camera or card is connected to the computer, and every video is listed. A few short steps later and you’re ready to be an internet superstar. However, the pre-formatted YouTube settings don’t make for very crisp video, and the camera is certainly capable of much better.
One trend we are noticing to be more and more common is the ability to zoom during video recording. Once considered a rare luxury, we’ve come to expect it on high-end point-and-shoots, and the S880 delivers. The 3x zoom is nothing to write home about, and with no continuous autofocus during video capture, zooming can cause some focus issues, but, nevertheless, it is a welcome addition.
But the zoom feature was overshadowed by something we can’t believe isn’t on every camera that shoots video – a dedicated video record button. Most cameras use the photo shutter as the start/stop button for video recording, which requires the user to change modes from still photography to video before being able to capture the shot they want. With the dedicated video button, there is only one capture mode: if you want to take a picture, use the shutter, if you want to take a video, click the button with the red circle on it. Brilliantly simple.
Our jones for widescreen video was soothed by the UHQ wide mode, but unfortunately there is no widescreen option in the YouTube capture mode. We generally don’t penalize cameras for this. Users who requires higher quality video most can handle uploads without the bundled software.
Image Transfer – Very Good
The included software bundle is relatively weak. The few options include burn to disk, send by email, print, slideshow and order prints. However, the largest resolution possible for e-mailing photos through the program is 800×600, and you can’t order prints online, but rather need a blank memory card to store photos for your local photo developer to print for you. We’ve voiced our displeasure with Casio’s software in the past; nothing significant has been changed with this model.
The internal memory only holds a few pictures, but the fact that it had any was nice enough. We also liked that it was easy to transfer images saved on the camera’s internal memory to an SD card– the most common and inexpensive format—and we also liked the compatibility with SDHC cards.
Camera Quality – Very Good
The EX-S880’s 3x zoom is average. We would have liked to see more, but the camera’s extremely slim design makes 3x excusable. ISO settings should have offered a little higher than ISO 800, but at least it was easy to adjust manually. The auto-focus was quick and relatively quiet, especially when compared with its bulkier cousin, the V8. Anti-shake worked well on both video and still shots, and like the ISO settings was easy to adjust.
Startup on the S880 was quick, and we were able to go from the off position to a focused, finished photo in under 3 seconds. Successive shots took about two seconds. We liked the in-camera editing functions, which included rotation, resizing and cropping, but we thought the LCD’s resolution was too low to see if our editing improved the photos.
Image Quality – Very Good
We were very pleased with the quality of images the EX-S880 produced. We experienced minimal noise, proper focus and, in instances like our full auto sample, incredible detail. Some of the Best Shot modes, like Layout and Silent (we can only infer a reference to the silent film era) were more of a novelty than anything else, but still produced quality images.
Shot taken with fully automatic settings
Taken with fully automatic settings and about 1.5x zoom, we were impressed with the level of detail acheived with this shot. Every scratch and groove on the metal street signs and pole is visible; the focus even extends to the closest bricks on the wall in the background.
Shot taken in Layout mode
These three images are stacked to reach maximum size within the frame. The default background color (white) can be changed when the picture is taken.
Shot taken in Silent mode
We’re not sure what this mode did other than make the image black and white, but it remained crisp so we don’t really care.
Accessories – Very Good
We generally like camera docks (well, functional ones, at least), and the S880’s included dock is no exception. We hate having to take out the battery and charge it with a battery charger. We’re still waiting for Casio to let us to charge via USB (the included AC adapter was just yet another wire to get tangled in), and bypass the dock if we wanted. We also disliked the thought of having to buy a new dock just to see our pictures (in case we lost the original one), and no USB ports on the camera meant we couldn’t sync with another computer (like one at a friend’s house). Inconveniences aside, the camera comes with most everything needed to take pictures and videos and put them on your computer or play them on your TV, and the battery life (220 still images) was adequate. We still lament for the days when companies would include necessary accessories like an SD card, but at this point it’s a pipe dream. Bundled accessories included a Lithium Ion Battery, the dock, an AC power cord, camera strap, USB cable, AV cable and a CD-ROM with software.
Pros:
Slim metal case, dedicated video record button, included dock
Cons:
One-handed shooting awkward, included dock is required to transfer and charge
Conclusion:
A thin card-styled camera, the EX-S880 is both good-looking and functional. The metal case is attractive yet durable, but the standout feature is the dedicated video record button, and what it means for the interface. By having only one shooting mode but two separate buttons for video and still photos, Casio has churned out the most convenient camera for shooting both stills and videos that we’ve tested.
October 5th, 2007
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