Best Buys: our top camera recommendations - all reviewed and rated
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Compacts |
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Super-zooms |
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Budget DSLRs |
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Semi-pro DSLRs |
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Lenses |
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1st October 2008: Nikon D90 - full review / NEW: video tour
Nikon's D90 is the long-awaited successor to the popular D80 and like that model is aimed at a higher level than many rivals. The resolution has been increased to 12.3 Megapixels, continuous shooting to 4.5fps, the maximum sensitivity to 6400 ISO, and the screen enlarged to 3in with VGA resolution. Like most new DSLRs, the D90 offers Live View, but the big new feature, and a first for any DSLR, is video recording including a high definition 720p mode with sound. It's another impressive specification from Nikon, but up against some very tough rivals. Find out how it measures-up, and of course whether the movie mode delivers the goods in our Nikon D90 review. NEW: Check out the camera's highlights in our Nikon D90 video tour.
1st October 2008: 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 August's Assignment, Zorro, is 'Self-portraiture'. To enter, visit the October Assignment Submissions page. This also means submissions for last month's Assignment are now closed so you can vote for your favourite entry of Orsan Kart's 'Urbanism' theme. So to vote, register or sign-into our forums and head on over to our September submissions section.
23rd September 2008: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 - full review / video tour
The Lumix DMC-LX3 is Panasonic's flagship compact for enthusiasts. Coming two years after its predecessor, the new LX3 features 10.1 Megapixel resolution, full manual control, HD movie recording, a flash hotshoe, RAW recording and a 2.5x optical zoom with optical stabilisation, a bright focal ratio of f2.0 and an unusually wide angle lens with coverage equivalent to 24mm. It ticks all the right boxes for enthusiasts on the lookout for a high-end compact, but does it deliver the goods in practice along with banishing the demons of its predecessor? Find out in our Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 review and as always check out the highlights in our video tour.
17th September 2008: Canon EOS 5D Mark II preview
Today Canon made the EOS 5D Mark II official. The successor to the first 'affordable' full-frame DSLR now features a considerable boost in resolution from 12.8 to 21.1 Megapixels. This matches Canon's current flagship EOS 1Ds Mark III, but it's a brand new sensor which Canon claims delivers its best quality yet. The sensor supports 14-bit files, continuous shooting at 3.9fps and extended sensitivity up to 25,600 ISO. The viewfinder's been improved to 98% coverage, there's a 3in VGA screen, the 9-point AF system is complemented by 6 assist points, and there's even HD movie recording with sound at 1920x1080 pixels, all for an expected body-only price of $2699 USD. Unlike the original EOS 5D though the new model faces tough competition from Nikon and Sony. Find out all about the new features and how it compares to these rivals in our Canon EOS 5D Mark II preview.
12th September 2008: Panasonic Lumix G1 Micro Four Thirds preview
Today Panasonic announced the first camera based on the new Micro Four Thirds Standard: the Lumix DMC-G1. Micro Four Thirds bodies take the sensor from traditional Four Thirds bodies, but dispense with the mirror and optical viewfinder for smaller bodies which are also silent in operation. The new G1 features a new 12.1 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, a 3in screen which fully flips out for unusual angles, a highly detailed electronic viewfinder, HDMI output and Panasonic's Intelligent Auto. Panasonic has also announced two new Micro Four Thirds zooms with optical stabilisation. Find out how this exciting new hybrid compares to both DSLRs and compacts in our Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 preview.
10th September 2008: Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 preview
Sony's A900 is the new flagship DSLR in the Alpha range and the company's first with a full-frame sensor. The new Alpha A900 boasts nothing less than 24.6 Megapixels to become the highest resolution DSLR to date, and is also the world's first full-frame DSLR with built-in anti-shake capabilities. Handling the huge amount of image data are twin Bionz processors, which allow the A900 to shoot at 5fps, and like the A700 before it, there's a detailed VGA screen and HDMI connectivity to HDTVs. Find out more about it in our Sony Alpha DSLR A900 preview, where you'll also see how its features and pricing compares against key rivals.
7th September 2008: Canon EOS 50D preview
Canon's EOS 50D is the company's latest semi-professional DSLR. It comes one year after the popular EOS 40D, but doesn't replace it - as yet anyway. Both models appear almost identical externally, but the new 50D features a 15.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor backed-up by the latest DIGIC 4 processor. In reaction to Nikon's D300, the sensitivity has been boosted to 12800 ISO, the screen resolution increased to VGA / 920k dots, and an HDMI port fitted for HD slideshows; Live View now also includes contrast-based AF and face detection options. The 50D is due in the shops later this month, but ahead of our full review we have a preview detailing its new features and comparing its capabilities against key rivals. Find out how it measures-up in our Canon EOS 50D preview.
3rd September 2008: Olympus Zuiko Digital 12-60mm - full review / video tour
The Olympus Zuiko Digital 12-60mm 1:2.8-4 SWD is a general-purpose zoom lens for the Four Thirds standard. Announced alongside the flagship E-3 body, it delivers a 5x optical range that’s equivalent to 24-120mm, providing decent wide angle to respectable telephoto coverage. The lens also features a brighter than average focal ratio, dust and splash-proof construction, along with fast and quiet SWD focusing. Is this the ultimate general-purpose zoom for Four Thirds owners? Find out in our Olympus 12-60mm review and as always check out the highlights in our video tour.
17th August 2008: Canon EOS 1000D / Rebel XS - full review / video tour
Canon's EOS 1000D, or Rebel XS as it's known in North America, is the company's latest entry-level DSLR, and successor to the best-selling EOS 400D / Rebel XTi. The new 1000D / XS shares the same 10 Megapixel CMOS sensor as its predecessor and also the same sized 2.5in screen, but now adds Live View and comes bundled with an Image Stabilised kit lens. Interestingly some specifications have actually been downgraded a little: the AF system now has 7-points to the 400D / XTi's 9-points, and the 3fps continuous shooting rate now only applies to JPEG files. But the core specification of 10 Megapixels, Live View and a lens with anti-shake at an affordable price will greatly appeal to anyone in the market for a budget DSLR. Find out how Canon's latest DSLR compares against others in the range and key rivals in our EOS 1000D / XS review, and as always you can see the highlights in our EOS 1000D / XS video tour.
11th August 2008: Nikon D700 - full review / video tour
The D700 is Nikon's second full-frame DSLR, taking the 12.1 Megapixel 'FX' sensor from the flagship D3 and squeezing it into a D300-sized body. This allows the D700 to share the same excellent high ISO performance as the D3 in a smaller, lighter and more affordable form factor. The D700 also features a 51-point AF system, high resolution 3in VGA monitor with Live View, an HDMI port for connection to HDTVs and superb build-quality with resistance to dust and moisture. It's one of the most feature-packed DSLRs to date, but with so many features matching the D300, the big question is how the quality compares - and whether it's worth spending the extra for the full-frame sensor. Find out in our Nikon D700 review where you'll see it directly compared against the D300 and Canon's EOS 5D. And as always, you can see the highlights in our Nikon D700 video tour.
Camera Labs Digital Camera and Lens Reviews - all products fully tested and rated
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