TechWire

Panoramic shots with Sony's NEX-5N

I'm getting very fond of the latest cameras. I've impressed with the capabilities, ease of use and extra features that Micro SLR (or 'four thirds') cameras bring. 

For the last week, I've had Sony's NEX-5N, an upgrade in Sony's NEX-5. The lens I've had is an 18-55mm (3.5-5.6) model from Sony.

I won't go into a long review here (that's what the paper is for, folks!). But what I've tried so far, I like a lot. In particular, I've enjoyed one 'gimmicky' feature very much: the panormaic sweep shot. Earlier this evening, I went out to take a few panoramic shots of a rather nice sunset in Elly Bay, Mayo, where I'm hanging out for the weekend.

More Lumix GF3 messing around

A little more on the GF3, as described in my last post. This time, a few video clips.

I'm pretty impressed. (I'd be even more impressed if it had stereo recording.) Turn the resolution up to either 720p or 1080p (bottom right of YouTube frame) for true reflection of quality.

 

Panasonic Lumix GF3

Today I picked up a review unit of Panasonic's latest Lumix GF3.

It's one of those nice hybrid 'Micro SLR' (micro four-thirds) cameras with the body of a compact and a choice of interchangeable lenses.

The 12 megapixel review model itself came with a 14mm lens (no zoom). It has a nice one-touch video button, too (full HD). It's light and has a full array of manual controls. The touchscreen is a little clunky to use, but you can get around using the clickwheel.

Even though I find a prime 14mm lens a little limiting, there's no doubting the quality of the glass. Like other Micro-SLRs (Sony's Nex-5, Olympus's EP series) this is a gorgeous piece of kit.

The model I got -- with 14mm lens -- costs €500. A cheaper variant -- with a 14-42mm lens -- costs €450.

Here are a couple of test shots in the local park earlier this evening.

Christmas gifts on a budget: Canon's A3000

Two years ago, a 10-megapixel digital camera would have cost you €200. Today, you can get it for as cheap as €50.

For €72, Canon is offering a good entry-level camera (the A3000) that takes really decent shots. The A3000 is noteworthy because it doesn't rely on a clatter of disposable AA batteries, like similar entry-level devices.

Instead, the 10-megapixel model has a rechargeable battery. It can also shoot videos (in standard definition) and sports a nice 2.7 inch colour screen viewer, anti-shake technology and face-detection (up to nine people per shot). As entry-level digital cameras go, this is a great buy.

It's available in Argos (and probably one or two other places).

Playing with Nikon's d3100

Just a few random shots taken over the weekend (spent in coastal Mayo) with Nikon's new entry-level d3100 (which costs €690 in Irish shops, but is cheaper online). These shots are just point-and-shoot on automatic, no adjustments before or after.

Here's the camera (comes with an 18-55 lens kit):

Review roundup: best digital cameras for under €100

Look into any Argos or Xtravision shop window and you'll see digital cameras starting from as little as €40.

For €100, you can now get what would have been considered a mid-to-high-end camera as recently as three years ago: the prices have come down THAT much.

Here are the best models you can get on the Irish market at this price level.

Pentax Optio M85
Pentax has made a big comeback in the past year, mainly due to its 'retro chic' models. But this entry-level device is probably the best camera you can currently get for around e100. With 12 megapixels, the camera has a three inch screen and a 3x zoom. Its big advantage over its rivals, though, is the inclusion of HD video recording, rare for a camera at this price point. It also has a rechargeable lithium battery, instead of having to rely on disposable AA batteries.
Price: €100 (including delivery) from Pixmania.ie

Nikon Coolpix L22
In a bid not to be left out of the budget market, Nikon has come in with a strong line-up of entry-level models with pretty advanced features for the price-bracket. The 12 megapixel L22 has a three-inch screen and an excellent 1cm macro-focus lens. Its video shooting mode is quite decent, too. It takes SD memory cards and AA batteries.
Price: €100 in shops nationwide

Samsung ES15
Samsung is a bit of a 'me too' camera maker, assembling components together rather than specialising in any one element of the camera-making process. The 10 megapixel ES15 is a run-of-the-mill entry-level compact model, with nothing that makes it stand out from its main rivals. It has a 2.5 inch viewing screen and a basic video mode. It's a little plasticky, too, compared to its rivals.
Price: €90

Kodak Easyshare C180
Boasting the ability to shoot videos in HD (720p) mode, Kodak's C180 is a step ahead of most of its rivals. What detracts a little from the 10 megapixel camera is its slightly smaller than normal screen (2.4 inches). It is also powered by disposable AA batteries. The HD vide gives it an edge, but it's shame about the screen.
Price: €95 (including delivery) from Expansys.ie

Fuji Finepix A180
This camera is as basic as they come, if you can regard anything with 10 megapixels as basic. It has a 2.7 inch screen and a 3x optical zoom. Thankfully, Fuji switched over from its niche (and pricey) XD memory card format some time ago. So you'll be safe using the SD cards you already have.
Price: €78 from Argos

Canon Powershot A480
Canon's sub-e100 camera is a basic affair, though it does have an unusually design feature for an entry-level snapper: a metallic case. Aside from this, it's the usual 10 megapixels, AA battery power and 3x zoom. The screen is a little on the small side, at 2.5 inches. Canon camera being, generally, of a pretty high standard, this model is compatible with most computers, without installing any software.
Price: €84 from Argos

The main sacrifice made with compact cameras for under €100 is that they are mostly powered by disposable batteries instead of a single rechargeable one. They also are unlikely to shoot decent video and will be limited to a normal USB-out connection.
They will also have limited optical zooms (normally no higher than 3X), smaller screen viewers and no advanced software features, such as panoramic focus or 'smile-detection'.

Review: Panasonic Lumix GF1

Decent compact digital cameras are commonplace. For €150, you can get a 12 megapixel model with most of the software bells and whistles thrown in.

Triple that price and you’re into the basic SLR models, with their interchangeable lenses.

Panasonic’s Lumix GF1 is a different beast. It has a solid, hard body, roughly the size of a small SLR. It has a choice of a few interchangeable lenses, but it is still considered a compact camera.

Where it differs from the typical compact camera is in the images it produces. Almost alone among compacts, it offers the option of shooting pictures in a raw format. Raw images usually give better quality and can be adapted for more purposes, including posters or larger format printing.

The GF1 is something of a breakthrough for raw images in a non-SLR device. The quality is stunning. Several hundred shots, taken on a weekend in Mayo, produced images that just can’t be obtained on a normal compact camera (for some examples, see this page’s blog at yourtech.ie).

The resolution of the images was also top-notch, with shots up to ISO level of 1600 coming out beautifully. The camera also shoots HD video (720p) very well, a big bonus given the rise in bandwidth and photo sites that are available.

So what are the GF1’s downsides? The camera is a little clunky and heavy, compared to most compact models. There are also some counter-intuitive issues with it: I had to consult the manual to figure out whether or not I had a zoom. (I didn’t, as it came with a pancake lens instead of a zoom one.)

Unlike many of its rivals, it also requires the loading of the CD software for images to be uploaded to most computers. This is surprising, especially when using a Mac.

Also note that, for a device that carries the price tag of an SLR, it does not have anything like the speed of an SLR. I found that it took up to two seconds for the camera to refresh itself before being ready to take another shot.

Despite these niggles, the camera is a superb device and one that comes highly, highly recommended.

Price: €680 for body only; RRP is €990 to include the 20mm lens and €870 with the 45mm lens.

What Panasonic plans for Ireland

Walk into any big Irish electronics store: chances are it'll be dominated by Samsung, Sony, Canon or LG.

Panasonic doesn't seem to be on the radar with the punters of Power City. Perhaps this is because its stuff is pretty high-end.

Nevertheless, I've had a good root through the stuff Panasonic will be launching on the Irish market this year, thanks to a big tech conference I'm at in Munich. It's impressive.

What's on offer is three things: 3D HD televisions, 3D Blu-Ray players and some new camera equipment.

The 3D tellies aren't especially unique, with Sony, Toshiba, LG and Samsung all doing them too. Its Blu-Ray 3D players are interesting, though. Firstly, because there are 31 3D titles coming out in 2010, most of them blockbusters. Secondly, because Panasonic has gotten the start-up time of its Blu-Ray payers down to seven seconds. (My current Sony model -- which is two years old -- takes about 35 seconds to start up.)

The best of the rest is the HDV cam that will shoot in 3D and a couple of Lumix compact digital cameras.

There's also a range of iPod/iPhone docks, which I didn't know Panasonic was into. Here are two of them that I had a short play with: the SC-HC3 (€200)

and the quite lovely SP100 (€140).

Canon's Eos 5D: first impressions

Last Thursday, I got Canon's latest Eos 5D digital SLR on trial.
For a complicated bit of machinery, it's idiot-proof. I switched it on, pointed and started to shoot, just like a compact digital.
So far, I'm impressed (see one of the first shots I took on it below). It's noticeable the extra difference a bit of heavy camera architecture and a serious lens can make. (The Eos 5D also has 21 megapixels and full HD recording capability, which doesn't hurt.)
Now the bummer: it costs over €3,000, outside most people's price range. But it may well come down in price soon. Here's hoping.

What next?

What should I be doing on this blog?

Best high definition camcorder?

Of the ones I've reviewed, it's Canon's HG10. But at €1,000, that's really a bit steep. In which case the prize goes to Samsung's HMX10, an absolute bargain at €300.

New online photo-sharing services

I see that there's a new Dublin-based photo sharing website, pix.ie. It's clearly modelled on Flickr and the rest of them. So far, it seems to have few users but good luck to them anyway. Meanwhile, Fuji Ireland has launched fujipix.ie, a sort of shutterfly service.

Why Irish camera shops are so defensive about online webstores

Any time I write about buying digital cameras, I always include online purchasing options, too.
To me, this seems normal, as it's a mainstream method of purchasing equipment these days. But camera shops bristle at the inclusion of online prices and they're not shy about letting me know.
Chief among their complaints is that it's unfair to simply show a price comparison (the online cost is almost always significantly cheaper). They say that people like advice and a face-to-face experience. They also charge that popular sites such as Pixmania often offer instruction manuals in foreign languages.
They are right on both of these points. But just as there are arguments against buying online, there are other unacknowledged points in favour of it.
Aside from the occasionally astonishing discounts (a Sony Cybershot T50 costs €500 in most Irish shops but just €365, including delivery, on Pixmania), you're often far better covered in terms of consumer protection when you shop online. This is because the Distance Selling Directive offers a no-strings-attached 7 day period for consumers to change their mind for any reason and send the item back for a full refund.
Beats the hell out of a 'credit note'.

PS3 pre-orders at "record" levels: Sony Ireland boss

According to this article in today's Guardian, PS3 pre-orders are "suspicious", with no figures to back them up. The journalist is suggesting that the console's higher spec and high price might be putting punters off. Not so, says Niall O'Hanrahan, head of Sony's Playstation business in Ireland. Speaking to this blog, he said: "that's totally inaccurate. According to Play.com, pre-order levels are at 6 times that of the Xbox 360 and 15 times that of the Wii at the same time in the cycle. The feedback from our retailers is that it’ll be the biggest launch ever in

Ireland." The PS3 goes on sale on March 23rd.

Casio's new 10 megapixel digital camera

Who says film is superior to digital? Casio Ireland is about to launch its EXZ1000 compact digital camera with a staggering 10 megapixels on board. Its 2.8 inch screen is just shy of the best LCD screens around, too. No Irish price has been confirmed, but it's €380 on pixmania.com (including delivery), so we're thinking about €475 to €500 in Irish shops.

Update: the confirmed Irish price is €500. It's available from The Camera Centre (Grafton Street), Conns Cameras, the Galway Camera Shop, the Digital Camera Centre (Cork) and other, mostly independent, outlets.