Grace is a casual team member of our Inverell store and a full time school student. Grace’s article demonstrates the ease with which a novice photographer can pick up a modern Digital SLR and take great photos. It is easy to forget that we all start somewhere and through this review by Grace you can see her hesitation at first turn into surprise and confidence to get great photos with ease. Happy reading, Warren Wilson – Editor!

I enjoy photography and I was asked if I would write a review for a Digital SLR camera.

To start with I was very nervous as I had never used a camera of this size or with these features before.  My first impressions of a Digital SLR was that they were not very modern and that it would be complicated, But the Olympus E620 I chose was lighter and easier than I had expected.

Macro mode using 14-42mm Lens

Features

I started taking photos on the automatic settings, experimenting with Portrait, Landscape and Macro modes.  I found them quite easy as the camera did everything for me all I had to do was zoom in.

I experimented with the manual settings and even though I did not fully understand what I was doing it was a lot easier than I expected. I could set the aperture ( this allowed me to decide what I wanted in focus and create depth of field ). The camera then set its own shutter speed. This also works the opposite way around if you want to set the shutter speed, for sports action shots0o, it will select the aperture for you. I had a lot of fun experimenting with these settings.

The Olympus 620 has an exciting range of filters for special effects, including pop art, soft focus, light tone, grainy film (my favourite) and pin hole.

Who is it Suitable For?

The Olympus 620 is suitable for anyone that has a keen interest in photography. Whether you would like learn more about photography and take more ‘professional’ photos, or just be more creative with your pictures, this is the camera for you. Because of its light weight, it is ideal for travelers who want to take postcard style photos or giant enlargements with ease.

Art Filter - Grainy Black & White

Conclusion

This camera is very easy to use and learn. Its guide makes it possible for first time users to follow step by step instructions to help you take fantastic photos and develop your skills as a photographer.
The features on this camera really make it possible to vary your own style of photography and creativity in your photos. I loved using this camera in the end and was reluctant to give it back.

Grace is a full time student and  currently completing yr10 at Inverell High School. Grace works Saturday mornings and some school holidays at the Inverell Eastmon Store.

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2. Olympus Pen EP-1 Pre Release
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After reviewing the Canon A480 I had really high hopes for the Canon IXUS 95is still camera, and after reviewing this beastie little unit I was not left disappointed. Its ease of use and high functionality made taking every photo a joy. This camera is a powerhouse amongst compact cameras but is still cost effective and fantastically easy.

First Impression.

Lets talk looks! This camera comes from a long line of very popular and very attractive cameras. The IXUS 95is really hasn’t changed all that much from the IXUS 85is but has added a couple of interesting colours and nice curves to the collection. I tested the grey-blue model and really liked it. It was different to all the black and silver models on the market but not as far out as some of the bright, pastel, or fluro colours we are seeing now. This camera comes in a selection of colours; pink to green and grey to blue. All colours can be seen in the picture above.

The front of the camera is true to the traditional IXUS format. The first thing I noticed about the IXUS 95is was the addition of the plastic front panel. The past models have all had metal front panels. I don’t think this is a disadvantage, the camera has lost a lot of chunk and weight, now tipping the scales at only 120grams. From this we then focus on the chrome lens that is topped off by the viewfinder and flash. The shining silver “Canon” logo sits vertically to the side. There is absolutely no doubting this cameras origin as a Canon IXUS as not a whole lot has changed from past models, but then again, why should it?

The back of the camera features the same-old set of Canon controls. We have the directional pad that doubles up as quick keys for the most used controls such as the function button, macro – landscape, flash and the self timer. Towards the top of the camera we notice a slider bar that changes the camera from auto to program to video and the review button sitting high and mighty next to the slider.

Shot using Sunset mode

The screen is not large at only 2.5” and many will see this as a drawback. I see the smaller screen size as an advantage as it has given Canon space to include a much-needed viewfinder, something necessary when photographing the rugby with that irritating sun glare shining on the screen.

Features.

The camera boasts many usable features for the amateur and enthusiast photographer. It has the ability to be a great throw-in-your-bag type camera but is still able to take photos that could make an SLR user green with envy. The sensor is a 10mega pixel CCD sensor that allows the user to print their photos up to an A3 size. The large sensor also allows the user to showcase their holiday snaps on their large family television without losing definition and clarity.

The lens is great but not much has changed from the previous models. With 3x optical zoom and an aperture range starting at F2.8 this camera is able to take brilliant photos with ease. Auto focus and image stabilization are also included in the lens, but that is to be expected with a Canon IXUS.

The IXUS 95is’ most notable change is the addition of the DiGIC IV processor to the camera, something that the IXUS 85is missed out on. The DiGIC IV processor produces better images faster according to the Canon paraphernalia; I found this to be very true when comparing the IXUS 95is camera to its competitors.

Canon cameras are traditionally feature packed for their price and the 95is is no exception to this. It has all sorts of modes and functions to make every picture perfect. We have a series of pre-programmed semi-automatic modes for specific shots, ISO adjustment, white balance controls, colour controls, light metering control and resolution change. The “My Colours” feature is great but why Canon decided to not include colour swap and colour accent I do not know. It is such a likable little feature, and yes, Photoshop will usually do a better job, but it makes the camera just that little bit more fun.

Auto mode with stunning colour

Intelligent Auto ensures shooting with the IXUS 95is is incredibly easy and is a fairly self-explanatory feature. While the intelligent auto is good it still has the same problems as the Panasonic iA settings. Occasionally the colours will blow out and the images over or under expose, but for the 9 out of 10 shots that come out great it is still a worthy feature. In saying that, at $399 the intelligent auto is an exciting and unexpected addition to the camera and definitely outperforms most of the competition.

Using The Camera

I first used the Canon IXUS 95 when doing a demo on the model. The camera performed so well in a very limited amount of time that I decided to explore it a little more. To say I was impressed is a massive understatement. Lets put it this way; I am now the proud owner of an IXUS 95is in the tested colour.

The camera delivers vibrant colours and sharp edges. Sometimes the edges appear too sharp but a quick fiddle with the settings will change that. In respect to the colour saturation, the IXUS 95is held its own against larger and more expensive cameras and excelled at reproducing rich greens and deep blues.

The DiGIC IV processor was quick and consistent, performing burst shots at about 1 frame per second. The processor was wonderfully effective at reducing noise, which is one thing I really hate creeping into my photos. At zoom, with ISO1600 it was noticeable, but not enough to concern this particularly fussy photographer.

Taken at widest angle - no zoom

12x zoom - 3x optical & 4x digital

Video mode was impressive but not as good as the IXUS 100is’ high definition mode. The IXUS 95is performed well delivering 30 frames per second at 640×480 resolution. Not quite DVD quality, but getting close.

The camera seemed to love taking portraits and photos of family and friends. Movement shots blurred a little at the tail end of the moving object but the overall performance was good. In door shots often over exposed in the foreground but a quick tweak of the controls fixed that. Blame the user on this occasion not the camera.

Portrait mode

Conclusion

The Canon IXUS 95is is a very powerful little camera. Built like a cat with the power of a tiger this camera is sure to impress every user. The features are full and there is not a lot about the camera I would change. The addition of colour swap and colour accent would have been nice, high definition video would have been nicer but at $399 I will certainly recommend this camera to anyone looking for a digital still in the sub $400 mark. After all, I liked it so much I now own it.

Thomas Lacey is the senior sales consultant at Eastmon Dubbo store.

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1. Canon SX200IS Digital Camera Review
2. Canon Powershot A480 Digital Camera Review
3. Pentax Optio M60 Digital Camera Review

A few years ago I thought if someone would just bring out a digital camera with a lens that gives a 5x optical zoom range that starts at 28mm (in 35mm film terms) that it would be so popular you’d have to stand in line to get one. I realised as I looked at the options available now that not only have we seen a few cameras with these features but some of the newer models are offering lots, lots more than I had been hoping for.

Last Christmas My wife and I gave our daughter a Pentax Optio W60, we based our purchase on photos that our friends and family had taken with the older models of this camera, the W10 and W20 Pentax. The W60 has a 5 times optical zoom that starts at 28mm but even more than that it’s waterproof so it’s safe to take to the beach, the snow or just to take fun shots in the pool.

We are really happy with the Pentax Optio W60 but this story is about the Panasonic Lumix TZ6. I recently attended the photographic trade show PMA, in Sydney, I wanted to take a camera with me to record things at the show that I could use in my business but also to take photos of the city if I had any free time.

At only 33mm thick the TZ-6 is not much bigger than many of the compact digital still cameras on the market today and fitted in a normal compact camera case that attached to my belt. I didn’t have time to read the instructions before I went so all I can comment on is how it went in auto mode and how versatile the lens is.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ-6 has a 12x optical zoom starting at a very wide 25mm. The camera also features optical image stabilisation that made it possible to shoot in very low light and still get reasonably sharp images.

I did end up having a few hours to see the sights of Sydney and headed straight for the Opera House, the Panasonic TZ6 really was fun to use as I wandered around one of our great iconic structures. The versatility of the lens meant I could take some shots from just a few feet from the building and using the amazing structural lines to show individual faces of the structure and then get a completely different look as I used the telephoto end of the zoom as I sipped a cappuccino from a few hundred metres away at a coffee shop by the harbour.

I was also fortunate enough to see the State of Origin rugby league game at ANZ stadium. The 12x zoom is OK for sport if you have kids playing football or hockey and you can get really close to the action but for an event like State of Origin 12x is not really enough.

In summary, I think the Panasonic Lumix TZ-6 is almost the perfect travel camera and if you want great holiday images but only want to carry a small camera you should definitely consider the TZ-6.

Geoff Porter is the product manager for the Eastmon group and is an associate of the Tamworth store

Related posts:

1. Canon IXUS 95is Digital Camera Review
2. Pentax Optio M60 Digital Camera Review
3. Canon SX200IS Digital Camera Review

Great camera except for the pop up flash

When you know you are heading off to a country like New Zealand one of your firsts thoughts are beautiful scenery, don’t forget the camera. And there is the conundrum! Should I pack the SLR or try out one of the ever growing array of compact big zoom travel cameras? Then I spotted the new Canon SX200IS and my mind was made up.

First Impression

The Canon SX200IS is Canon’s real first attempt to produce a compact camera with a 12x big zoom with 28mm wide angle lens that you may carry in your pocket. Cameras of this type our becoming increasingly popular with travellers because they are slim with a large zoom range.

When you first hold the camera the slighly curved body and rounded edges feel very comfortable to hold onto. The large mode dial on the top is easy to rotate and select different modes, while the buttons on the back are few and easily understood.

Smooth curved body and slightly thicker at handgrip for easy holding

Camera Controls and Features

Pushing the power on button at the top of the camera and the 12 megapixel camera springs to life. The 12x zoom lens pops out the front and the giant 3″ wide viewing angle LCD is so bright and clear that it fills you with confidence that the pictures you take will be brilliant as well.

Most people will shoot on Auto which all seems fairly simple, but underneath the hood there is quite a lot happening to help you take better photographs. When you press the button the camera will automatically be analysing the scene you are shooting and choosing the best mode from macro to portrait, scenery right through to sunset. As well as that it will be detecting faces, incorporating image stabilisation, correcting red eye and checking to see if anyone blinked when taking the photo.

You can still select any mode you want though if you feel you want to control your result rather than be dictated to by the camera, which I must admit I did a fair bit of.

Face detection self timer, a really handy tool

The SX200IS also shoots HD movie and has a HDMI output so you can watch your stills and movies directly from the camera in High Definition.

Using the camera

One of the first mistakes I made was holding the camera in my left hand while turning the camera on with my right. I found that I was always holding the pop up flash down when I was taking my shots and sometimes wondering why the flash didn’t work.

Once I mastered the art of letting the flash pop up when I turned it on we had the opportunity to use the self timer with face detection. There are the usual choices of 10sec self timer etc but the new option allows you to activate the self timer, however the camera will not fire the shutter until it detects faces, then it shoots off 3 images in quick succession. This was quite successful and we used it several times.

Sometimes a big zoom is handy to get back from the danger

The Intelligent Auto mode works extremely well under most conditions, although there were several times when manually choosing the mode from the mode dial did provide a better picture.

Other modes and functions that are not on the mode dial are found by pressing the function button and rotating the selection wheel on the back. This can be a little bit fiddly until you get used to, but it does have some fun functions hidden away there such as the colour selection mode which lets you isolate one colour and turn the remaining parts of the scene to black & white.

The optical image stabilisation was exceptional, which resulted in lots of sharp, tremor free images.

Conclusion

Canon's unique colour selection tool isolates one colour

I enjoyed using the Canon SX200IS while we were away. The compact size and big zoom made it a delight to carry and use. I certainly didn’t miss carrying a DSLR around, although I suspect I would have got better images from it.

How did the camera perform?

I was very impressed with the image quality. The lens performs very well with crisp sharp images. Colour rendition and image resolution from the images was very pleasing and performed in the way I would have expected a Canon to perform.

The 3″LCD is a standout for me as it was easy to use under all light conditions and the 28mm Wide Angle lens is just fantastic for travel images.

The face detection and red eye correction did not fail once, and the face detection self timer is a useful tool that works well.

Who is it suitable for?

Zoomed up 12x, Beautiful colour and sharp clear images

It is the ideal travellers camera, small enough to go out with you for a night out, yet the big zoom is ideal for those distant scenes or animals. While it is happy enough to be used as a point and shoot camera, it would appeal to anyone who like to experiment with their photography to get unique photographs

How would I rate it?

I must admit compact digital cameras are not my preferred choice of camera, but on this occasion the Canon Powershot SX200IS filled our requirements. My only complaint is the pop up built in flash so I have to knock a point off for that. I Loved the images but hated the flash design.

My Rating, 7 stars out of 10

Handheld in low light

Great snapshots, really easily

Related posts:

1. Canon IXUS 95is Digital Camera Review
2. Canon Powershot A480 Digital Camera Review
3. Panasonic Lumix TZ-6 Digital Camera Review

First Impression

The Nikon D60 fits nicely in your hand, a smaller and lighter body then its big brothers which is a welcome relief. My first thought was at least I will not get a headache from hanging a brick around my neck or tire from just holding the camera up. It is possibly just the right weight and size to take travelling with you and the grip size feels very comfortable and secure to hold the camera

Switching the camera on and the 170° viewing angle LCD bursts into life and the camera goes automatically through a sensor clean, then displays the current setup of the camera in the mode you have selected. Place the camera against your eye and a sensor turns the LCD off to conserve battery power until you take it away from your face. A quick look over the camera and it looks very clutter free and easy understand with a large easy to rotate mode dial.

When using the 'info' & 'help' buttons picture and text descriptions give visual prompts so you can understand the application of a chosen setting

If your new to Digital SLR’s and you feel like you will need to carry the manual around with you everywhere you go then fear not. To the left of the LCD panel there is the ‘info’ button and ‘help’ button. Both of these buttons make life very easy for the beginner to become familiar with the camera and understand what happens when they make selections from the menu. The menu is realy well laid out and easy to navigate, but the ‘help’ and ‘info’ buttons are worth their weight in gold.

As I played with the controls I was to learn that the camera will not release the shutter without the SD memory card installed this is a great feature. You may think ‘who would take photos with out a memory card in their camera’, let me assure you there are many, they just don’t tell everyone.

A quick review of the manual and I find I can get approx 500 shots from a battery charge, so charge the battery, install the memory card and I am ready for a weekend shooting with the D60.

Camera Controls and Features

Easy access mode dial, and between the mode dial and shutter button is the active D-Lighting button

The mode dial on the top of the camera shows the usual array of modes from the simplest auto mode, creative scene modes, right through to the advanced PASM shooting modes. Within any of the modes you can override or customise various functions using the menu and four way controller on the back of the camera.

A nifty little function I found useful the more I used the camera was that as you rotate the camera from landscape to portrait the text and image rotate to the correct orientation making menu selection very easy.

Active D-Lighting features on the D60 and is easily activated by pressing the D-Lighting button near the shutter button and rotating the command dial. This feature adjusts the tonal range in high contrast shooting to preserve detail in the shadows and highlights, giving a more natural rendition of your images.

Beautiful detail and colour saturation

The greatest benefit for this may be in shooting portraits, however it could be applied equally well in many other situations. A word of caution, it does slow down your photography as the camera processes the image, once you use it though you may never turn it off as it really does produce a better result.

One thing to note about lens compatibility is that while the D60 will accept older Nikon lens, those people hoping to use their old film AF lens will be disappointed as the autofocusing is driven by a motor in the lens, unlike the older body driven lenses and are marked as AF-S lenses.

The D60 introduces ‘Stop Motion Movies’ to Digital SLR’s. This mode allows budding animators to capture a number of stills, up to 100 in one go and create a movie from it.

Using the camera

Shot during the golden hours with the 55-200VR Lens

Well my expectations were high and I was using the 18-55 non VR and 55-200VR lens kit. I was impressed by the very quick startup, but if the start up was quick so is the autofocusing and shutter release. You can feel your confidence grow the more you use this camera and it’s speed and the assurance that you won’t miss a shot makes it even more enjoyable.

My first shot was a scene that was heavily shadowed and I must admit I was not that impressed. However using the D-Light function in the retouch menu really salvaged a shot I was about to discard. After that I made sure I had active D-Lighting set for my subsequent pictures

As we travelled along and the sun got lower there were a number of opportunities to capture some great images with difficult lighting using various different modes. That night as I sat down and looked over the images I was over the moon with the colour and detail of the images.

Sunrise, you can see minor lens flaring in the foreground

The next day opened with a brilliant sunrise captured beautifully with the 55-200VR lens with just a little bit of lens flare.  As I was shooting mainly scenery I had the colour tone set to vivid to get a little more punch to the images. Waterfalls always present an opportunity and challenge. Using Vari Program or aperture priority you can reduce your shutter speed to capture the effect of moving water. It was the only time I wished the 18-55 lens was a VR as I did not have a tripod with me.

Over the course of the weekend I had the opportunity to use the continuous shooting mode that can capture up to 3 frames per second for up to 100 images in jpg as well as various scene modes and mixes of flash and available light. There is a myriad of different functions and customisable features that require a lot more time and exploration, but what is enjoyable is that it takes brilliant photos without needing the knowledge of the professional.

Conclusion

Taken with the 18-55 non VR lens. When you forget your tripod and you don't have a VR lens, handheld is the only option

Great! The Nikon D60 is a delightful DSLR to use. The camera was just very comfortable to hold and use. The menu is well laid out and the help and info buttons make the choice of how to set your camera a dream to use.

How did the camera perform?

Crisp, clear high resolution images with great tonal range and saturation! The focusing was always accurate and fast, just the sort of thing you need for photographing kids on the move or playing sport.
If I have any criticism it is that I wish Nikon would adopt an antishake mechanism in the camera body like some of its competitors, that said the VR lens perform admirably.

Who is it suitable for?

Nikon have aimed this camera squarely at the beginner. I think it would be the ideal camera for anyone stepping up to their first Digital SLR. It would be a great choice for a family camera as it would have the convenience of no fuss auto for the person that just wants to take nice pictures, but would also give plenty of scope to the member of the family that is passionate about their photography and wants to grow and learn more.

D60 with 18-55 non VR lens on Landscape mode

How would I rate it?

This is the third incarnation of this camera body that started with the D40. The Nikon D60 continues the Nikon tradition of making a great camera that takes brilliant images. The 10 megapixel sensor captures images capable of being enlarged to poster size with superb detail and tonal range.

My Rating, 8 stars out of 10

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When confronted with the task of learning the more advanced side of photography it can be a little daunting and it is hard to know where to start.

This photo was a complete fluke. When I took it and reviewed it on the camera I could hardly see the image because it was so overexposed, but when I got it on the computer I managed to get it like this by adjusting the contrast and brightness. I really like the way it came out and it just goes to show that you can not write photos off until you play with them a little bit.

I went down to the local library and hired out a few photography books but I found that none of what I was reading was sinking in. My head just wasn’t grasping the terms and techniques in the book as I didn’t know how to apply them or why they were necessary. The more I tried to work them out the more confused I was getting. Eventually I gave up and decided to try a different approach. I went on the Internet and googled photography and just began getting ideas, putting some of my favourites on a word document. You will eventually realise that certain types and styles attract your eye more than others.

Next I decided it was time just to pick up my camera, grab a willing subject, who happened to be my younger sister, find a nice location and just start shooting away. At this stage I still had my camera set on automatic modes as I just wanted to get used to the feel of the camera and see where I was up to. I took along a few pages of ideas from google and just tried a few different poses. It got interesting trying to dodge cars and avoid the harsh, late afternoon sun but I think I got some pretty good shots.

I got the idea for this photo off google. Initially it was a girl lying beside a lake, but I put my own spin on it and this is how it came out. I got right down level with her and got her to look straight down the camera lens. The problem with this photo however is that the camera has focused on the crown of her head rather than her eyes which are supposed to draw you in. This would have been easily overcome if I had used focus lock or manual focus.

When I got back home and had them up on the computer I actually surprised myself. I fiddled around a little bit with the contrast and brightness setting on my very basic photo editing software and came up with some pretty interesting effects. So they weren’t quite magazine type, picture photos but I found them very inspiring. If these were the photos I could take without using manual settings then I was a bit excited about the possibilities ahead.

As much as I was excited about my photos I sat there and looked over them with a very critical eye. I needed to be sceptical so that I could know what I need to improve on and what to watch out for next time. It was also good showing the photos to other people and getting them to give you productive criticism. By doing this I now knew what I was capable of, what I needed to work on and it also helped me to begin to understand some of the jargon in the books. But most of all it was a bit of fun for both me and my subject.

Amy is one of the team members in the Ballina store. You can see her profile here or drop in and see her and the rest of the team for advice or help.

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