There are a lot of superzoom cameras around, but this beauty certainly is the smallest. Portable enough to take wherever you go. It’s predecessor was already unique, but the S10 improved quite a bit on quality.

This is the kind of camera I like: very compact, very usable and a huge zoom to get everything close. There are a few drawbacks: it does not have many manual options for the technical photographer and it’s powered by a small, but proprietary battery.

So yes: there are better options for people who want to use all possible options on a digicam, but always at the cost of weight and portability.

For the rest of the world, this wonderful piece of technology is about the best thing you can get. Prices are dropping nicely, it’s available for less than $ 340 .

Besides amazing pictures, it will yield amazing faces, too…

Now Nikon has introduced it’s entry level D40 SLR camera many potential buyers are tempted to get one instead of a high end compact camera. At the same time, Canon is not the cheapest supplier anymore, so also on the manufacturer’s front a lot of things are moving.

Just now, Canon made their move: US prices for the Digital Rebel XTi will be dropped by $ 100, by means of a refund . For us, that’s very good news: even Canon fans will love Nikon’s move!

When these camera giant are preparing for the battle and start to equalize prices, we can concentrate on specifications, options, features… Which one tastes better?

The ultimate answer used to be: buy a camera that fits the lenses you already have. But now, that’s getting complicated. The Nikon D40, for instance, is unable to use autofocus on lenses that don’t have a motor themselves, so do you really want to use these nice old optics???

Starting from scratch with a first DSLR seems easier… with the present season ahead there is another argument: availability. The D40 is not yet available in stores, but the XTi is. You can’t go wrong with this wonderful piece of technology. Check it out here for a nice offer.

There have been rumours for some time about a new Nikon D40 digital SLR camera.
With Nikon being one of the top suppliers this was important news… and now it’s confirmed: the D40 is available for… anyone? You?

With many new compact cameras in the same price-range (around $ 600) the D40 seems to be targeted mainly at people wanting to step up from a compact camera. A number of reasons to prevent this step up are removed by giving this new baby many advantages of compacts:

• reasonable weight end relative small size
• easy to use with comprehensive menus
• a big, hi-res display
• standard Secure Digital storage

In fact, most of of the complaints about missing features are from people already owning an SLR camera - people that are unlikely to step down.

So, if you are looking for a new high end compact; is this a good alternative?
Yes, no doubt… if you’re looking for better “classic” image quality and speed.
No… if you’re going to miss affordable Image Stabilization and Superzoom. And no, if you like to make movies now and then.

Anyway, read a lot about all new options available with this camera. A very good way to start is the excellent review at dpreview.

Some weeks after Canon released the Powershot G7 I still wonder what the best reasons would be to actually buy one. After all, some of the things that made the previous G series cameras great are missing: G’s were the perfect synthesis of high-end compacts with high resolution, top image quality, flip-out display and remote control with some DSLR gotchas like RAW support and a shoe for an external flash.

And some of these great specs have survived - but not all. Gone are the flip-out display, remote control and RAW support. Is this still the high-end cam you would want, or is the Powershot S3 IS a better option? Or even an entry level DSLR for about the same price?

I don’t know… and was surprised to hear that two of my friends decided to buy one. Suddenly I remembered that cameraland is big and has so many different inhabitants…
And, let’s face it, after all it comes down to the resulting image quality. And the Powershot G7 yields absolute quality.
Read more about this technical wonder at DCresource.