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Digital Camera Reviews
Home > Digital Camera Reviews
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HOLIDAY BUYER'S GUIDEby DigitalCameraInfo.com Editorial StaffPublished on November 30, 2004
As the holiday season approaches and consumers look to the latest electronic gadgetry available, many will gravitate to digital cameras, perhaps more this year then ever before. For those potential buyers, it is important to have a basic understanding of the categories and models available to help make an informed purchase and get the most value for your money. Currently there are many categories and subsets of digital cameras that help to narrow down the selection and determine the type of camera you are shopping for. Below, we have compiled a listing of our favorite cameras within each category and indicate our recommendations at various price ranges. The cameras below all come highly regarded by our staff and are all strong imagers. The descriptions highlight key attractions and features for each model and should help you sort through the pack to find the specific camera you are looking for.
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Fujifilm FinePix E510 - Announced in July 2004, the Fuji FinePix E510 comes with a 5.36-megapixel CCD. Perhaps the cheapest 5.2 effective megapixels on the market, this camera can be found online for about $200. This compact digital camera has a 28-91mm equivalent zoom lens with apertures ranging from f/2.9-f/5.5. The ergonomic design and non-slip grips on the E510 provide the basis for a no-nonsense point-and-shoot. This Fuji model has four basic scene modes: portrait, landscape, sports and night scene. These scene modes, plus the other automatic and manual modes, are located on the jog dial, so there is no need to fish around in menus to switch modes. A movie mode captures short clips, and a macro mode can focus as close as an inch away. The FinePix E510 has both automatic and manual focus, which is unheard of in this price range. This camera also has an oversized 2-inch LCD screen with 154,000 pixels for easy viewing that cannot be rivaled for under $300. 
Kodak EasyShare LS753 - The Kodak EasyShare LS753 comes with a 1/2.5-inch 5-megapixel CCD that renders accurate, naturalistic color tones. The LS753 was built with the point-and-shoot user in mind; it features basic, simplified functionality in a trendy form. The camera has lots of automatic control with its 13 scene modes and several auto and semi-automatic features, but also provides additional flexibility with some manual controls. This camera has both 13 and 20 frame-per-second shooting settings within its movie mode for capturing those moments when a still shot is insufficient. In a market where portability is becoming more of a priority, the LS753 makes itself a winner with its slim body. The camera has a suggested retail price of $349.95, but can be found for almost a hundred dollars less online. The LS753 comes with 32MB of internal memory, as well as a SD/MMC card slot. Like all Kodak EasyShare cameras, the LS753 connects to a printer dock and can print photographs with the push of one button. This has become a hallmark of the EasyShare series and clearly distinguishes it as the leader in home printing ease. In the past, some Kodak cameras have had sub-par shutter-to-exposure lag time, but the LS753 improves on this flaw, recording images in just 0.27 seconds. A burst mode allows the camera to take up to four pictures with 0.36 seconds between shots. The 2.8x optical zoom lens and 1.8-inch LCD make the Kodak EasyShare LS753 a good option for point-and-shoot buyers. 
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W1 - A massive 2.5-inch 230,000-pixel LCD screen takes up the entire back of the compact Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W1. The W1 packs a 1/1.8-inch CCD with 5.1 megapixels in a portable and easily controlled body. With good color accuracy and minimal noise in manual ISO modes, the W1 is a smart and affordable choice for the budget consumer. With six scene modes, this Sony digital camera attracts the point-and-shoot crowd. However, the W1 has enough manual controls to allow those beginners to grow into intermediate photographers. With a 3x optical zoom Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, this Cyber-Shot can capture tiny details from afar and will provide enhanced image quality for every shot. The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W1 comes in either black or silver and weighs 8.8 ounces with the batteries. The camera comes with a 32MB Memory Stick and offers long lists of optional accessories, such as a lens adaptor and several lens and flash attachments. The DSC-W1 is easily the strongest performing portable camera in this price range and offers superior visibility from its 2.5” LCD. 
Fuji FinePix E550 - Released at the same time as the E510, the Fuji FinePix E550 raises the bar with 6.3 megapixels at a reasonable sub-$300 price. This camera adds to the basic features of the E510. The movie mode shoots 30 frames per second at either 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 resolution. With five image size settings and an abundance of automatic and manual features, this digital camera gives the user plenty of options. Most cameras in this price range do not include a manual white balance feature, but the FinePix E550 does. It also includes a 16MB xD-Picture card and a 4x optical zoom lens that retracts into the camera body and snaps shut. A 2-inch 154,000-pixel LCD screen allows the user to see images and menus clearly. The E550 captures vibrant colors, especially skin tones, which can sometimes look drab on other point-and-shoot cameras. 
Olympus Stylus Verve - This new release from Olympus combines the classic features of a digital camera with an award-winning modernist design. The camera has been marketed heavily; it’s been featured with everything from television ads with Fatboy Slim music to promotions at New York Fashion Week and the World Series. The Stylus Verve has 4 effective megapixels and a 2x optical zoom lens. The movie mode captures clips at 15 frames per second. The LCD is 1.8 inches diagonally measured with 134,000 pixels. The Olympus Stylus Verve has decent features, but its best selling point lies in its size and design. Smaller than the palm of a hand, the 3.7 x 2.1 x 1 Verve comes in 6 colors, offering both portability and style. 
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-P150 - The 7.2-megapixel Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-P150 comes with a 3x optical Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar zoom lens. The lens retracts into the camera body which, at about an inch wide, easily fits into a pocket. Announced in August 2004, the P150 provides manual flash and exposure settings, but also enough automatic settings to accommodate beginning users. There are nine preset scene modes available through the mode dial and the menus on the back of the digital camera. The movie mode shoots 30 frames a second at 640 x 480 resolution. The P150 displays histograms with each captured image, so photographers can perceive the tonal values in the exposure. With excellent color reproduction capabilities and minimal noise levels, the Sony P150 records crisp images with naturalistic color representation. The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-P150 contains a 1.8-inch LCD screen and comes packaged with a 32MB memory stick. 
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T1 - The fashionable 5.1-megapixel Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T1 was built as a high-end point-and-shoot digital camera. The T1 has a sleek and very compact body, measuring only 0.83 inches wide. The silver housing has an attractive design, with a 3x optical zoom lens that protrudes from the T1 when turned on. In this price range, a good movie mode becomes necessary, and the Sony T1 has it: thirty frames per second at 640 x 480. This camera depicts colors naturally and accurately, especially for its size. The T1’s refined design doesn’t include a viewfinder; it has a massive 2.5-inch LCD screen instead. With 211,000 pixels, the LCD screen is certainly adequate enough to serve as a viewfinder and surpasses the size and resolution of any compact camera in the price range. At 6.3 ounces, the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T1 packs plenty of features into a small stylish package for under $400. 
Fuji FinePix S7000 - This camera has the look of a digital SLR and can record images with advanced quality. The FinePix S7000 simplifies its menus to the level of a intuitive point-and-shoot. The Fuji FinePix S7000 packs 6.3 megapixels in a 4.8 x 3.8 x 3.2-inch body that weighs 17.6 ounces. This camera was made for shooters who are serious about photography, but not dedicated enough to invest in a thousand-dollar SLR model. The S7000 has an electronic viewfinder with 230,000 pixels. The 1.8-inch LCD screen has 118,000 pixels. The camera has a Fujinon 6x optical zoom lens that produces quality images. There is also a unique multiple exposure setting that lets users get creative and superimpose subsequent images on top of one another. 
Pentax Optio 750Z - This camera goes for the retro look, combining a black finish with a silver-colored aluminum alloy body. The 7.4-megapixel Pentax Optio 750Z has 10 shooting modes and 12 additional scene modes. There are plenty of automatic and manual functions, including a manual white balance feature that lets the user adjust to the degree of the lighting temperature. This digital camera supports JPEG and TIFF files, a feature found in some cameras at this price range. At 7.4 ounces, the 750Z packs some interesting and unique features for its price. It has a 62-city world time clock with an alarm clock feature. The camera has a 1.8-inch 134,000-pixel LCD screen that flips out as a camcorder monitor does. 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ3 - For photographers who want excellent shots, but don’t feel the need to make them poster-sized, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ3 provides a fabulous 3.34-megapixel point-and-shoot for about $300. The most prominent feature on this camera is its lens: a Leica 12x optical zoom Vario-Elmarit lens. Not only can shooters capture excellent close-ups from afar, but they can capture videos, too. The 320 x 240 movie mode has an image stabilization feature that eliminates natural camera shake. The FZ3 comes with a lens shade too, protecting your pictures from sunspots. The 0.64-ound camera has a 1.5-inch LCD screen with 114,000 pixels. 
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-V3 - This digital camera was released in August 2004 and is poised for high sales this holiday season. The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-V3 retails for $699, but can be found for under $600 currently. The 7.4-megapixel camera has an optical viewfinder, but a much bigger and better LCD screen. The 2.5-inch screen touts 123,000 pixels. This Sony model comes with a 34-136mm lens that can focus as close as 3.9 inches in macro mode. The V3 has an ISO range from 100-800, a shutter speed range from 15-1/2000th of a second, and seven white balance modes including a manual setting. The camera supports JPEG, TIFF and RAW image files. It also has a movie mode that shoots 30 frames per second at 640 x 480 resolution and supports additional lenses and flashes. 
Canon EOS Digital Rebel - The Rebel began a trend of affordable sub-$1,000 SLR cameras when it was released earlier this year. The 6.3-megapixel Canon EOS Digital Rebel has all the automatic and manual functions to please users of all levels. Perhaps one of the best digital cameras tested at DigitalCameraInfo.com, the Rebel performed exceptionally well in color accuracy and true resolution. It produced quality images with very low noise in them. This Canon has the typical function dial on top near the shutter release button, which gives user’s fingers easy access. There is no movie mode available on this model, as is common with digital SLR models. However, the Digital Rebel sports a quick shot-to-shot time, 30-1/4000th shutter speed range, and ISO ratings from 100-1600. The camera supports both JPEG and RAW image files. The Rebel can be found for under $800 with an included 18-55mm lens, although other lenses can be purchased and used interchangeably, including Canon’s digital EF-S line. 
Nikon Coolpix 8800 - This SLR-shaped Coolpix was released in September and can be found for under $800. Although lenses cannot be changed, extra attachments can be added to create more zoom. However, extras may not be needed. The Nikon Coolpix 8800 comes stocked with a 35-350mm 10x optical zoom lens. The 8-megapixel digital camera supports RAW, TIFF and JPEG image files. The 8800 uses a 256-point focusing system and its matrix, spot and center-weighted metering to accurately expose photographs. This camera comes with a movie mode that records video in two image sizes: 640 x 480 and 320 x 240. A 1.8-inch 134,000-pixel LCD screen flips out of the camera body. Besides the LCD, Nikon sticks to its traditional form, including the typical mode dial with automatic, manual, shutter-priority and aperture-priority modes, among others. 
Olympus EVOLT E-300 - The Olympus E-300, also known as the EVOLT, was announced in September and will be available in December for a retail price of $999. The camera ships with a 14-45mm lens, which is equivalent to a 28-90mm lens in 35mm format. The 8-megapixel E-300 will provide strong competition in the compact digital SLR market with its support of JPEG, RAW, TIFF and RAW + JPEG image files. Shutter speeds range from 2-1/4000th of a second. ISO speeds can be adjusted from 100-1600. The exposure can be adjusted +/- 5 in ½ or 1/3 steps, providing a larger compensation range than most cameras. The EVOLT also has an innovative dust protection system that uses ultrasonic vibrations to keep dust off the image sensor and out of photographs. The EVOLT offers advanced durability, formed in a sealed weatherproof shell. 
Pentax *istDS - This 6.1-megapixel digital SLR comes with a Pentax 18-55mm lens and sells for just under $1,000. At 17.8 ounces, it is lighter than most digital SLRs, but touts similar features to its competition. It has the standard direct printing capabilities and connectivity. The *istDS has a decent range of shutter speeds from 30 seconds to 1/4000th of a second. The Pentax *istDS really excels in its white balance options and the size of its LCD. The LCD measures 2 inches, which is slightly larger than most digital SLR screens. The white balance can be set to TTL auto, pre-set, custom, daylight, shade, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, flash and manual, providing the user opportunity for advanced color precision. The *istDS comes in a lightweight compact frame that sports slim dimensions yet retains a stable feel. This gives the camera a unique blend of stability and portability, which is ideal for advanced point-and-shooters looking to make the jump into the SLR realms. 
Canon EOS 20D - Color casts will never again be recorded with the Canon EOS 20D. The 8.2 effective megapixel camera sports one of the vastest white balance features on a digital camera. Starting with the basics, the 20D has automatic, daylight, cloudy, shade, tungsten, fluorescent and flash settings. It also has a custom setting and Kelvin temperature settings for fine tuning. Perhaps the best aspect of this camera is its speed. With minimal startup time and a 5 frame-per-second burst mode, the Canon EOS 20D is perfect for everything from sports to portraits. The optical viewfinder has 95 percent frame coverage, which is quite good for a digital camera. There is also a 1.8-inch LCD with 118,000 pixels. The guts of the camera are just as fancy as its features. A wide 30-1/8000th of a second shutter speed range and 100-3200 ISO range gives shooters versatility to capture images in whatever environment they find themselves in. The 20D comes with an 18-55mm lens, but accepts Canon’s EF and EF-S series lenses. The Canon EOS 20D can be found for around $1,400. 
Nikon D70 - Although the body retails for $999, we placed it in this category to include an 18-70mm lens for around $1,300. The D70 combines form and function to create an affordable choice for amateur photographers who don’t make a living off their cameras. The D70 has a stable body and secure feel in front of its 1.8-inch 130,000-pixel LCD screen. The major draw here is the camera’s speed, offering 0.2-second startup time and 3 frame-per-second shooting speed. The D70 contains plenty of white balance options, with fine tuning available in each mode. There are 10 manual ISO settings ranging from 200-1600. Also impressive is the 30-1/8000th shutter speed range. The built-in flash can be set to measure through the lens, manually, or through a commander mode. The exposure can be adjusted +/- 5 in 1/3 increments, which is significantly wider range than the usual +/- 2 EV. There are five shooting drive modes: single frame, continuous, self-timer, delayed remote and quick response remote. 
Olympus E-1 - No need to fear the weather with the digital SLR any longer. The Olympus E-1 is a weatherproof 5.5-megapixel camera made to shoot through the most adverse conditions. Like the recently released EVOLT, the E-1 has a Supersonic Wave Filter that repels dust from the image sensor. This Olympus supports Zuiko lenses made specifically for digital cameras. It can shoot 3 frames a second and packs plenty of options in its 23-ounce body. Exposure can be adjusted +/- 5 in 1/3 or ½ increments. The ISO speeds range from 100-3200 and the shutter speeds from an entire minute to 1/4000th of a second. The E-1 can be operated with a remote control too. The Olympus E-1 has a 1.8-inch LCD screen with a fairly high resolution of 134,000 pixels. The camera can be found for under $1,100.