By contributor Tom Lacey.

I have always enjoyed the beauty of nature, so taking photos of birds and sea life is one of my favourite pastimes. I needed something to compliment my existing set-up and the answer came in the form of a Sigma zoom lens. Sigma’s APO 150-500mm telephoto lens boasts huge zoom at an affordable price. For what the lens lacks on paper in the way of aperture it more than compensates for with affordability and portability and all round ease of use.

Features and Design

This lens was designed for use on both APS-C and full frame type digital cameras. Sigma’s 150-500mm lens incorporates many features which help create that perfect photo. One such feature is Sigma’s HSM drive which delivers smooth and quick movements, especially when auto focusing. This is a similar technology to Canon’s UltraSonic.

The Sigma 150-500mm is made up of 21 lens elements in 15 groups. Sigma has incorporated a top notch optical stabiliser into this lens which is designed to give an increase in speed of approximately 4 f-stops. This stabiliser came in handy and you see a clear difference between stabilised and non-stabilised photography.

The lens is with Pentax, Nikon, Canon and Sony camera mounts. I coupled this camera up with the Nikon D90 and D70s to get thorough results. Overall the lens was a great match for the D90 but I felt the D70s was out-shined by the Sigma 150-500mm and did not pair up as nicely.

The build quality is exactly to the standard we have come to expect from Sigma. Its metal mounting plate and smart black finish ensure the lens feels solid but not heavy and clunky which can happen with large zoom lenses. The rubberised zoom and focus rings guarantee a sure grip for the user.

Using the lens.

As I enjoy taking photos of nature and sea life I took the lens for a run around Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. The lens was easy to get used to and performed well during day lit shots, even when hand held and at full zoom. At night I would recommend a tripod to ensure crystal clear photographs when the lens is extended fully. There is a tripod mount that comes with the lens which really does come in handy. Weighing in at just under 2kg, I can tell you that your shoulder will get sore if you hand hold this an extended period of time – as is expected with any large zoom lens.

Because of the use of coated elements inside the lens, blemishes such as flares and ghosting are kept to a minimum. Aberration was also well controlled and the edges were very sharp at full crop. Very impressive for a lens at this price point. Vignetting did show itself in a few frames and tended to be more prominent in photos of the sky at lower focal lengths.

The HSM helped with smooth and quick auto focusing. A very small amount of photographs showed a tendency to miss the mark as far as the auto-focus was concerned resulting with the subject of the image coming out-of-focus. This happened mostly when taking a photo of a finch amongst the reeds of a pond in poor light – not exactly an easy focusing situation.  In the end I switched the camera to manual mode and got the photo I was after straight up.

Who would it suit

The sports enthusiast would love this lens. Getting right in close to the subject is what this lens was made for. Whether you want it for sports action, nature or even portrait photos the lens will be a welcome addition to your existing kit. I have used this lens in a church for holy communion photos and it performed beautifully. It would really suit a wedding photographer who is not quite ready to spend the big dollars on an F2.8 lens.

People who are into wildlife photography or bird watching will also love this lens. Set it on a monopod or tripod and you have the perfect kit to take clear, colourful images of everything nature has to offer. The Newcastle beaches were the perfect opportunity for me to test the lens out to try and get the fast moving gulls diving for my hot chips. The lens performed well with all the challenges I threw at it and the results were great. For $1399 you really cant go wrong with the Sigma 150-500mm lens.

Tom is the Store Manager of the Eastmon Glen Innes store and a photography enthusiast.

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1. Pentax K200d Digital SLR Camera Review
2. Nikon D60 Digital SLR Review
3. Pentax Optio M60 Digital Camera Review

By guest contributor Geoff Porter
Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to see a couple of games of Tennis at the Australian Open in Melbourne with some work friends. Knowing that I’d need a pretty powerful zoom to get in close to the action I chose to take the Fuji S2000HD. This series of cameras have always given me good results in the past and the S2000 was no exception.

The zoom range of the S2000HD is 15x or the equivalent of 27.6mm to 414mm in the old 35mm terms. I remember having to carry around three lenses to give me less than this range when I was starting out in photography.

The seats we had were very good, about 15 to 20 rows back and as you can see from the images I took of Jelene Jankovic, Ai Sugiyama, Amer Delic and Novak Djokovic that the 15 times zoom was quite powerful enough for this type of event. I imagine that if you were on the sidelines of a football game or a polo field that you could get some great shots with this camera.

One of the great features that help’s you take better action photos with this camera is image stabilising shooting mode. The S2000 Fuji has a dual image stabilisation system, that is two different types of stabiliser working together. The first is CCD shift were the camera senses camera movement and moves the CCD sensor to minimize the effect. The second is a high sensitivity stabiliser that increases the sensitivity of the sensor in low light so the camera can shoot at higher shutter speeds. It’s a bit like loading high ISO film in your camera in the film days. So even when taking fast action with a powerful telephoto lens like the S2000s you can still get very sharp images.

Another one of the features that’s really great to use especially with sport photos is the continuous high speed shooting option. The Fuji S2000 can shoot at 6.8 frames a second at 5mp resolution and 13.5 frames a second at about 3mp resolution. Even the 3mp images look quite OK as a postcard size print.

The Fuji S2000HD will also shoot High Definition movies in 16:9 format  so now not only can you capture some great action photos but you can also film the action and play it in HD when you get home.

I really enjoyed using the Fuji S2000HD and would highly recommend it.

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

If you are interested in taking better sports and action shots, you may like to view Sports & Action from our affiliate.
Sport and Action (World’s Top Photographers Workshops)

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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.

Related posts:

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

Why the look?

Once your surprise dies away your left looking at a camera that someone could well have pulled out of their dusty old drawer. In that respect you would be right because the look and design is based around the very popular Olympus Pen, 35mm half frame camera first launched in 1959. The Pen was designed to be a simple, high quality precision made camera to be taken with you everywhere, much the same as a writing pen in those days.

Major Changes

Trying to recreate history is a difficult task for anybody and Olympus have tried very hard to capture the essence of the old in this new camera. The major change in thought for this new DSLR is that, it is not really a DSLR. It is SLR like in many of it’s features, however the characteristics have changed. At the most basic level, gone is the viewfinder to be replaced by a LCD screen only, unless you purchase the optical viewfinder that sits on the accessory shoe. The LCD screen is quite impressive being a giant 3″ with a 176° viewing angle. The lack of a viewfinder means the physical size of the camera can be greatly reduced in size, a good thing if your travelling light, but it is not going to appeal to the purists.

Lens System

Interchangeable lens are still part of the deal with this new design although there will be a new range of M.Zuiko lenses made specifically for this camera. Coming standard with the camera will be the new M.Zuiko 14-42mm zoom (28-84 35mm equiv). You will also be able to purchase a MMF-1 Lens Adapter that enables you to use all the current Olympus E-System SLR lenses with full functionality.

New Sensor options

E-Series lens with MMF-1 adapter

The sensor is a 12.3 megapixel 4/3rds sensor similar to the sensor used in the Olympus E-620 and uses the new Trupic V image processing engine. Capable of shooting up to 6400 iso, you can also select the image format shape from 4:3 standard, 16:9 widescreen, to the unusual 6:6 square and 3:2 35mm shape.

The Olympus Pen EP-1 also comes with the usual array of Olympus DSLR features, such as creative ART filters, 14 scene modes, manual, aperture priority, shutter priority and program. Intelligent Auto (iAuto) makes its introduction into SLR photography and teamed with face detection and built in sensor image stabilisation, the Pen starts to become a formidable opponent to many big zoom compacts or introductory SLR’s.

Continuous Shooting & HD Movie

Continuous shooting at 3 frames per second as well as continuos AF for the action photographer makes it fast enough for most of us to capture those fleeting moments. HD Movie recording with stereo sound and autofocus is new to the Olympus range of SLR’s and is a welcome addition for those looking for a high quality hybrid camera you can take anywhere. Combine that with a built in HDMI interface and you can watch your movies or stills in high definition straight from the camera.

Summing up

E-Series lens range

While we all wait to get our hands on this new camera, it won’t be the professional reviewers that create the success or failure of this new camera. It will be the normal person trying to find a camera that adequately fill their needs and produce the results that let us remember those great moments and captures the expression of our talent in taking great photos.

The Olympus Pen F, introduced in 1959 went on to sell millions of cameras around the world and if you know anyone that owned one they will speak of it with great delight as it really was one of the great cameras. The new Pen EP-1 has big shoes to fill, it may just be pointing to the future of cameras, however I think it would speak louder if it looked a little more modern, after all the Olympus Pen F was very modern for its time.

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2. Olympus E-520 Digital SLR Review
3. Olympus MJU 9000 Digital Compact 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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Olympus MJU 9000

I hate going on holidays without the right camera equipment, that usually means packing my Nikon DSLR and a few lenses, this year though I also took a new camera, the Olympus Mju 9000. When I got home I realized that I had not taken one photo with my DSLR, the reason for that, the Olympus was so versatile and easy to use and had such great features that I just wanted to keep shooting my holiday shots with it.

First Impression

Let me go through the things I like about the Mju 9000, you might find that it’s the compact camera you’ve been looking for as well. Firstly I want to recommend the 10x Optical zoom lens. Most cameras this size have 3x or 5x zooms so having 10x zoom means it’s a heap more versatile so you can get in for nice tight portrait photos without being right on top of your subject but the long end of the zoom is not the bit I loved using the most it was the wide angle end that I really appreciate. The Mju 9000s zoom starts at 28mm (in 35mm film equivalent terms). 28mm wide angle is a nice size for doing scenery shots and just gives lots more versatility than most of the zoom lenses on compact cameras in the market today.

28mm Wide Angle

10x Magnification

Fill Flash

I’ve included some shots of Trial Bay Gaol near South West Rocks taken at either end of the zoom lenses range from the same position so you can get an idea of how versatile this lens is. There is also a portrait shot taken with the zoom almost fully extended with the Gaol in the background. I used fill in flash on this shot to ad some light under the brim of the hat. Fill in flash is a great feature that’s built into almost all compact cameras but is rarely used but that is another story.

Features

The Olympus Mju 9000 has a 12 megapixel sensor so heaps more than I really needed to take the shots I wanted, the 2.7″ LCD is one of the nicest I’ve seen and made reviewing my images a pleasure.

The thing that concerned me and many people about cameras with big zoom lenses is “will I get camera shake?”
Large zooms like the 10x zoom in this Olympus can mean your images could be a little blurred caused by a combination of the magnification of the lens and a shutter speed that is not high enough to freeze the action. The Olympus Mju 9000 offers dual image stabilising to give you every chance of taking sharp images, not only does it have a variable ISO that offers sensitivity up to 1600 ISO (to increase the shutter speed) but also CCD shift technology that moves the CCD to compensate for your camera movement. The combination of these two technologies gives you the best chance at getting a good shot even in tough conditions.

Shot of Australian $10.00 note using Super Macro

New Olympus cameras now come with an XD to Micro SD card adaptor so that you can buy memory cards larger than the 2GB (the current maximum size for XD picture cards). I used the adaptor and a 4gb Micro SD card, it was quite easy and a 4GB Micro SD card was cheaper than a 2GB XD and stored over 1,200 high res images taken at 12 megapixels. The only down side is that you can only use the cameras built in panorama mode when you use an Olympus XD card.

Conclusion

To wrap up, I really enjoyed using the Olympus Mju 9000, it was small and easy to carry around and had all the features that I needed to capture the scenes and portraits I wanted.
You may end up like I did leaving your SLR in it’s bag next time you travel.

About the Author

This article was contributed by Geoff Porter. Geoff is the Regional Manager of the Eastmon group of stores and shoots weddings professionally when time permits. He is a keen photographer and tests many of the cameras in the field and is an associate of the Tamworth store.

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It was therefore with a strong sense of anticipation that I held the Olympus E-520 DSLR in my hand just hoping that this would be the camera. The little outfit I had was the E-520 twin lens kit comprising the 14-42mm standard lens and 40-150mm telephoto lens.

First Impression

Holding the camera in your hand evokes images of old with a compact body that feels quite comfortable to hold onto and the small lightweight lenses make for a package that would be good to travel with. Some people may find the camera just a little too small if they have large hands, my wife however, who has never forgiven me for selling her OM-1 camera, loved the size, she in fact said it makes the perfect Digital SLR camera for every mum!

As we were going away for a few days, a quick look at the manual and I found the battery should last for approx 650 shots, so charge it up before I go and no need to take the battery charger. A quick flick of the on switch and you can feel the camera vibrate in your hand as the supersonic wave dust reduction filter is activated making sure your images remain dust free, this is a great Olympus innovation.

A quick look over the camera and all the buttons look familiar to most digital cameras, whether it’s a compact digital camera or a DSLR there tends to be a bit of uniformity amongst a lot of cameras now. This makes it easy for anyone who is thinking about the move to a DSLR. The big 2.7″ LCD screen is bright and a quick press of the info button brings up the current settings on the camera. There was a little bit of apprehension as I looked over this as some of the terms and icons were familiar and others, well…. they probably required me to get the manual out to find out exactly what they meant, but I am a man, so I don’t read manuals. I will just figure it out myself…. eventually.

The thing I really enjoyed though, was that when I pointed it and pressed the button it was quick, really quick. Zoom it in and out, change lenses, whatever it was really impressive. I remember thinking that this would be a great camera for some with young children that move around a lot and you’ve got to grab that moment instantly.

Camera Controls and Features

Mode Dial

A quick inspection of the mode dial shows the usual choice of the most commonly used modes for quick access. Advanced modes such as Program, Apeture and Shutter priority as well as Manual. The quick access scene modes available from the mode dial represent frequently used settings, however flicking it around to the Scene setting brings up another 15 modes from underwater photography to fireworks.

A feature I really enjoyed about the camera is the built in image stabilisation. As it is built into the camera body, it does not matter what lens I have on, it could be an older Olympus lens or an aftermarket lens made by another manufacturer. The benefit for Olympus owners unlike some competitors that only have image stabilisation in certain lenses, which are usually more expensive. Is that you can pick and choose what ever lens you want and you get 3 different types of image stabilisation built in to the camera for different types of photography.

Something really innovative is the way Olympus use live view on this camera and how easy it is to activate it. The E-520 unlike its direct competition does autofocus in live view mode, not only does it work like a normal compact digital camera, but if face recognition is turned on it immediately becomes active in live view and can detect up to 8 faces in the one picture and applies shadow adjustment technology which adjusts the detail in the shadows while retaining detail in the bright areas.

Using the camera

Handheld resting against the bridge 1/4 sec with Image Stabiliser 1

I really wanted to be impressed with this camera and the more I discovered, the more I liked it. Walking around Melbourne for a few days gives you plenty of opportunity to shoot fast and frequently. A casual stroll over to Southbank found a group of photographers shooting the night scenes, and everyone except me had a tripod. This was an opportunity to put the E-520′s stabiliser to the test, and I must say I was rather impressed.

The next day was an opportunity to experiment with Live View on the E-520. I have never been a great fan of live view, but I think Olympus have done a pretty good job of it on the E-520. Olympus is possibly the first to put face detection into a DSLR in live view and make it work. The other lovely aspect of Live View is Perfect Shot Preview which provides the learner photographer with a ‘four in one’ on screen preview allowing you to scroll through either exposure compensation or white balance settings and select the best picture.

Handheld 1/30sec using 40-150mm lens

I spent a bit of time taking pictures in the different scene and program modes available on the camera as well  the different colour modes or picture modes as Olympus call it.

The one thing you learn with this camera is that there is an almost endless amount of ways you customise this camera to the type of photography you want to pursue.

The other surprise was that after 3 days of walking almost everywhere we went the camera had not become cumbersome or too heavy. I imagine it would make a great DSLR to take away on a long trip.

Conclusion

handheld with image stabilisation 14-42mm lens

How did it match up to my beloved Olympus OM-1? Well it was certainly a pleasure to use and so easy as well. It has a lot of great features and is impressively compact and lightweight.

How did the camera perform?

The camera was a dream to use, the little vibration when you turn it on as the dust removal system kicks is very reassuring that you will have clean images. The autofocus appeared a little slower in live view however there are only certain types of photographs you may want to use that for. That said it’s better than the competition.

What were the results like?

Nice natural colour, clean sharp images, I guess what you would expect in a way. I was caught sitting in the hotel room looking through the photos I had taken that day with a smile on my face, which is one way of saying I was pretty happy with my results.

Who is it suitable for?

This camera would make a great step up for anyone wanting to move from a compact digital camera to a Digital SLR. It is certainly a beginners camera, but you would be hard pressed growing out of it as there are just so many ways you can customise it. As my wife says it would make a great camera for a mum or dad with a young family.

If your lost, just stop and look in your guide.

How would I rate it?

Olympus are trying really hard to grab their share of a very crowded market and this camera represents great value for money. My wife still wants her OM-1 back, but I think she would be really happy with the Olympus E-520, it is a great little camera

My Rating, 8 stars out of 10

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