Digital Camera Fiend - A Camera Review

It’s difficult to find a “classic” in an industry that evolves as rapidly as that of digital cameras. But Fuji may have found its gold standard in the Fujifilm FinePix F30.

This 6.3-megapixel compact digital camera garnered several awards after its release last year, with one reviewer saying it will be, “one of the rare few that are remembered after they have gone.”

What makes this little camera so good? Its image quality, pure and simple, and that quality is achieved largely through a superior ISO performance. Battery life and speed also factor in, but its the F30’s performance in all different types of light (ISO) that makes it unique.

Fuji cameras has recently announced an upgrade to their F30–the Fujifilm FinePix F31fd. There really isn’t much of a change between the two cameras: an updated processor, Fuji’s Face Detection technology, and a slightly modified grip. The F31 performs as beautifully as its predecessor, particularly in low light.

Why can’t they make all compact digital cameras with such class-leading ISO technology? Since most casual shooters will be using the camera in low light social functions, this is a great camera for the average user to get. Check prices and buy one here.

The Mitsubishi PK20 Pocket Projector will allow a whole new generation of travelers to annoy their friends and family with vacation slide shows.

I would recommend buying your own portable projector here.

Weighing just one pound, there’s no excuse not to bring this very cool camera gadget with you everywhere you go. Connect it to your best digital camera, camcorder, laptop, or even a camera phone. The projector will display images at a maximum size of 40-50 inches diagonally.

There’s also an SD memory card slot, so you don’t have to tie up your camera to present your pictures.

The Pocket Projector is a DLP projector that uses eight LEDs as well as a Texas Instruments Digital Light Processing technology, considered to be the best image-display technology available. Projected images have a maximum resolution of 1024 x 768.

This is a great product, with only a few drawbacks: one, there’s no room on the PK20 for zoom capabilities due to its compact size, and two, it won’t perform well in a large convention hall setting.

But it’s perfect for small events, classrooms or parties. And a note to gamers: you can also hook it up to your favorite gaming system for a big-time gaming experience.

Its stubby (read: ugly) design isn’t the only reason I dislike the Olympus E-300 EVOLT.

This camera, 8-megapixels, was released in 2004 and is a decent piece of equipment for the price, with a few significant drawbacks.
You can check prices and review an Olympus E-300 here.

Reviewers generally praise its resolution (comparing it to the Canon EOS 20D), good automatic white balance and lightning fast image write time. It also priced itself very competitively against other cameras.

But the E-300 has shortcomings that cannot be overlooked, most importantly with its ISO (light sensitivity). You won’t be able to go into a dark church in Rome and confidently shoot–the E-300 begins to falter at ISO 1600.

Stick to ISO 100-400. You’ll start noticing significant “image noise” when you push it to higher sensitivities because its Kodak sensor simply can’t handle it.

Others don’t care for the camera’s design. It was made with a horizontal viewfinder, causing the camera to be shorter and appear wide. The viewfinder is also unusual in that it uses four mirrors instead of a prism, but you won’t know the difference.

For its price, the Olympus E-300 is definitely a good buy, but it might be wiser to spend a little more and get a superior DSLR camera.

Here’s some serious camera equipment for the scubadiving photographer.

Ikelite has created a heavy-duty underwater housing system for the new Sony A100, Popular Photography magazine’s 2006 Camera of the Year.

The waterproof DSLR housing system operates safely to 200 feet. It’s simple to install the camera and use, with controls right at the diver’s fingertips. A magnifier on the back of the housing enhances the diver’s view while wearing a diving mask.

The removable handle and tray allow for superb handling. The ports accommodate most macro, wide angle and zoom lenses. Creative control over strobe and flash light is easy too–just rotate a dial on the housing back and choose one of seven manual power settings in half-stop increments.

Quite a contraption–and an investment too. This underwater housing system costs $1,500, which is $650 more than the Sony A100 itself.

Canon promises you can “go anywhere” with its line of Digital ELPH cameras, like the SD600. Of course, you’ll need a little help if you plan to test that promise.

This Canon waterproof casing is a great buy for any underwater afficionados. The WP-DC4 will allow you to take your SD600 or SD630 camera up to 130 feet underwater. Like all good waterproof systems, the WP-DC4 has large buttons that are easy for the gloved hands of a scubadiver to use.

Priced at less than $200, the Canon waterproof housing is a great buy for anyone serious about underwater camera work.