Best Buys: our top camera recommendations - all reviewed and rated!
 |
Compacts |
|
|
 |
Premium compacts |
|
|
 |
Budget DSLRs |
|
|
 |
Mid-range DSLRs |
|
|
 |
Semi-pro DSLRs |
|
|
1st July 2009: Camera Labs Assignment: vote for your favourite!
It's the first day of a new month, which means a new Assignment in the Camera Labs forums.
The theme, as suggested by the winner of May's Assignment, Laurel, is 'Extremes'; to enter, visit the July Assignment Submissions page. This also means submissions for last month's Assignment are now closed so you can vote for your favourite entry of Mikeroch's 'Alien' theme. So to vote, register or sign-into our forums then head on over to our June polling section.
28th June 2009: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 - full review
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 is the company's latest super-zoom, featuring 9 Megapixels, a tilting 3in screen and a 20x optical range. It's also only the second-ever non-DSLR to feature a CMOS sensor, which allows the HX1 to boast HD video and fast continuous shooting. If you thought the Canon SX1 IS was quick at 4fps though, think again: the Sony HX1 boasts nothing less than 10fps. The HX1 also offers cunning modes including one which assembles a panoramic image from a single sweep of the camera. It's another gadget-packed camera from Sony, but can it live up to its promise? Find out in our Sony Cyber-shot HX1 review where we'll show you how it performs as an action-camera, demonstrate its HD movies and directly compare the image quality against its arch rival, Canon's SX1 IS.
25th June 2009: Olympus E-620 - Video Tour in HD / full review
The Olympus E-620 is the company's latest upper-entry-level DSLR and the successor to the hugely popular E-520. Following on from our earlier full review is our latest video tour in High Definition! In the video you'll see a demonstration of the E-620's Live View, continuous shooting, art filters and articulated screen in action, along with a look around the camera's design and controls. So if you're after a step-up from an entry-level DSLR, check out our Olympus E-620 video tour! And don't forget our full review also includes detailed results comparing the real-life performance of the E-620 against the Canon 500D / T1i and Nikon D5000; our HD videos of those models will follow soon.
21st June 2009: GH1 vs 5D Mark II vs SX1 IS vs HX1 - 1080p HD video shoot-out!
An increasing number of DSLRs and compacts boast HD Movie recording, and many of them deliver pretty respectable results. But how do they really compare side-by-side? To find out we shot the same sequence moments apart with four cameras, each one quite different from the others, but all having one thing in common: the ability to record 1080p video at a smooth frame rate. We wanted to see how they performed under typical conditions, so filmed the sequences handheld in their auto modes with stabilisation enabled and a zoom of the lens at the end. It's an informal comparison, but still reveals some interesting aspects about each camera. So to find out how the Panasonic GH1, Canon 5D Mark II, PowerShot SX1 IS and Sony HX1’s HD movies measure-up, check out our HD shoot-out!
18th June 2009: Canon EOS 5D Mark II - updated review
Canon's EOS 5D Mark II has become one of the most popular higher-end DSLRs of recent times, boasting high resolution 21 Megapixel images and Full HD video recording. It's not been without problems though: video enthusiasts lamented the lack of manual control over exposures, while the black dot issue plagued certain photographers. Canon claims to have addressed both with updates though, so we've taken the opportunity to retest the Mark II with the latest 1.1.0 firmware released in June. So to find out how well the manual controls for video work in practice and whether the black dot issue really has been banished for good, check out our Canon EOS 5D Mark II updated review.
16th June 2009: Olympus E-P1 - official return of the Pen camera!
After much teasing and several leaks, Olympus has officially unveiled its first Micro Four Thirds camera today, the E-P1. Fifty years on from the best-selling Pen camera, the new E-P1 may be compact and retro-styled, but features a relatively large 12 Megapixel sensor, built-in stabilisation, full manual control and HD movie recording in the 720p format. As a standard Micro Four Thirds camera, it also supports removable lenses and will be launched with a 14-42mm zoom and a 17mm pancake. A big sensor in a small package? Could this be the ideal partner to your DSLR? Tell us what you think in the Cameralabs forums!
15th June 2009: Panasonic Lumix GH1 - High ISO Noise vs D90 and SX1 IS
Panasonic's Lumix GH1 is the second Micro Four Thirds model, and externally almost identical to its stable-mate, the Lumix G1. Both cameras pack 12 Megapixels, detailed flip-out screens and full-time Live View into relatively compact bodies. The big difference is the GH1 now sports Full HD video recording thanks to a new sensor, but has this capability compromised noise levels? Find out in our Lumix GH1 High ISO Noise preview where we directly compare its image quality against two very different leaders in their fields: the Nikon D90 and Canon PowerShot SX1 IS. Check back soon for our full review!
11th June 2009: Canon PowerShot SX1 IS - review update with RAW results
Canon's PowerShot SX1 IS is one of the most compelling hybrid cameras to date, combining decent stills and Full HD video in a compact package that also includes a 20x zoom, flip-out screen and 4fps shooting. About the only thing it didn't offer upon first release was RAW recording, and Canon recently fixed that with a firmware update. To see how this capability works in practice, we got hold of an SX1 IS, updated its firmware and repeated our real-life and studio resolution tests. See how it measures-up in our updated review.
2nd June 2009: Nikon D5000 - full review
Nikon's D5000 is the company's latest 'upper-entry-level' DSLR aimed at beginners. It's officially the successor to the D60 and continues its helpful approach to photography, although inherits much of the higher-end D90, including its sensor with Live View and HD movie recording. The D5000 also becomes the first Nikon DSLR to feature a fully articulated screen, allowing you to comfortably shoot movies or stills at unusual angles. It's another compelling proposition, but up against two key rivals in the form of Canon's EOS 500D / Rebel T1i and the Olympus E-620. To find out how they compare in every respect, from build to image quality, check out our Nikon D5000 review. PS - video tour coming soon!
24th May 2009: Canon EOS 500D / Rebel T1i - full review
Canon's EOS 500D - or Rebel T1i as it's known in North America - is the company's latest 'step-up-from-a-budget' DSLR and the successor to the popular EOS 450D / Rebel XSi. It may look essentially the same from the outside, but features a 15.1 Megapixel sensor, 12,800 ISO max sensitivity, and a detailed 3in VGA screen, while also becoming Canon’s second DSLR to boast HD movie recording facilities. It's a compelling specification for the money, but up against two key rivals in the form of Nikon's D5000 and the Olympus E-620. We've been testing all three side-by-side, so to find out how they compare, check out our Canon EOS 500D / Rebel T1i review. PS - an HD video tour is in the pipeline!
6th May 2009: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 / ZS3 - full review / video tour in HD
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-TZ7 (or ZS3 as it's known in North America), has already become a hot seller, packing 10.1 Megapixel resolution, a detailed 3in screen, HD video recording and a 12x optically-stabilised zoom packed into a pocket-sized body. Our full review of it published three weeks ago is currently the most popular article at Cameralabs, so we're enhancing it today with a brand new video tour of the camera in High Definition! This demonstrates the TZ7 / ZS3's optical range, its new face recognition technology and includes a number of clips filmed in its AVCHD Lite mode. See how the camera performs in the flesh in our Panasonic TZ7 / ZS3 video tour.
27th April 2009: Canon PowerShot SX200 IS - review
Canon's PowerShot SX200 IS is a 12.1 Megapixel compact with a 12x optically stabilised zoom and a 3in screen. It's Canon's first attempt at a pocket super-zoom and directly targets Panasonic's enormously popular travel-zoom series. Indeed, like Panasonic's latest Lumix TZ7 / ZS3, the PowerShot SX200 IS also features HD video, an HDMI port and auto scene detection. They're even roughly the same size, weight and price, but dig a little deeper and you'll discover considerable differences. Find out which comes out on top in our Canon PowerShot SX200 IS review where we'll pitch their quality and features head-to-head, while also seeing how they measure-up against Canon's best-selling SX10 IS.
Camera Labs Digital Camera and Lens Reviews - all products fully tested and rated
|
