Top 10 Digital Cameras

Point and Shoot cameras come in all shapes and sizes now, ranging from extremely skinny ones that can fit in your pocket to mini-SLR sized cameras that pack a large punch. Deciding which camera is for you can be extremely hard because of the sheer number of choices, but hopefully this list will provide enough of a choice that you can find the camera that best suites your needs.

Before I start listing the top 10 point and shoot cameras, please keep in mind that I’m not listing the cameras in any specific order and that my choices are based off the reviews of a number of different point and shoot cameras. If you’d like to see a full review of each camera please click on the name of the camera. If you feel differently please feel free to post your list. Now, without further adieu, here’s the list for the “Top 10 Point and Shoot Cameras”.

1. Canon Powershot G9

Coming in at $500, the Canon Powershot G9 is the most expensive of the list. The price is mainly due to the number of features that the G9 has, including an optical viewfinder, 12.1MP resolution, and a number of manual features. The G9 is the closest camera to a SLR and if you’re wanting to have that extra control over your pictures without having to lug around a large SLR, the G9 is for you.

2. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W90

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W90 is essentially the polar oposite of the Canon G9. It’s small size and small price make it affordable to the masses, but it still packs a good punch. Sony included what they call “double anti-blur” technology which reduces both subject shake blur and camera shake blur. With a 8.1MP resoultion and a 2.5″ LCD this camera has it all.

3. Canon PowerShot SD950 IS

The Canon PowerShot SD950IS is another great little camera. It features a very large 12.1MP resolution as well as a 2.5″ LCD screen. One of my favourite features with this camera is the optical viewfinder. Most digital cameras are now opting for a larger LCD instead of the viewfinder and I find this annoying because most LCD screens are useless in direct sunlight. The SD950IS is fairly expensive at $360 considering you can’t manually control the pictures.

4. Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 is the only Panasonic camera on the list but that doesn’t mean its not a competitor. THe DMC-LX2 has a number of great features including a variety of focus modes, all of the essential metering and semi-manual exposure options and a wide-angle lens. This is probably the ugliest camera of the group so if you’re looking for style you should continue reading. Coming in at $450, the DMC-LX2 is one of the more expensive cameras, but as they say “You get what you pay for”.

5. Nikon CoolPix P5100

The Nikon CoolPix P5100 is one of the more high-end point and shoot cameras in the list. It’ll set you back $400 but its features are more like a SLR than those of a point and shoot camera. You have pretty much total control over the pictures that you take (but theres also an automatic mode for those who want the camera to do everything for them). 12.1MP resolution, optical viewfinder and image stabilization are all pluses as well.

6. Canon PowerShot A590 IS

As you can probably tell, I like the PowerShot line of cameras. They’re solidly built and take great pictures and the A590IS is no different. This version is less expensive than its bigger brother and only costs $200, but you don’t lose too many features. While the design isn’t the greatest, it still features 8.1MP resolution, a 2.5″ LCD screen and a number of manual features that’ll let you take the picture you really want to take.

7. Fujifilm FinePix F50fd

Coming in at the middle of the pack as far as price is concerned ($250), the Fujifilm FinePix F50fd is pretty much your average point and shoot digital camera. It has an impressive 12MP resolution, different shutter speeds and a large 2.7″ LCD screen. The thing I like best about this camera is the face detection software, because it works extremely well. Most of the cameras on this list have FD software but the F50fd can find a face even when it’s in full profile (which a lot of cameras can’t).

8. Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS

The Canon PowerShot SD1100 takes one of the best selling Canon 35mm cameras, the “elph” and turns it into a digital powerhouse. This camera ($250), has one of the best menu and user interfaces in the list. All of the controls are intuitive and it didn’t take me long at all to learn a new interface. Often times cameras have very complex menus and it’s hard to navigate around them but this is not the case with the SD1100 IS. It also has 8.1MP resolution, 2.5″ LCD screen and an optical viewfinder (which I like).

9. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T300

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T300 is the second most expensive camera on the list at $450. It features a massive 3.5″ LCD screen, 10.3MP resolution, image stabilization and more. The LCD screen on the DSC-T300 is very large and very bright. You control almost every aspect of the camera via the 3.5-inch touch-screen LCD, leaving just a power button, a playback button, a shutter release, and a zoom rocker as its only physical controls. This camera is by far my favourite when it comes to design, because of its sleekness.

10. Nikon CoolPix S700

Last but certainly not least is the Nikon CoolPix S700. This camera is another mid-range digital camera with a rounded set of features. The S700 feels very sturdy when you’re taking pictures, and the pictures that it takes are of great quality. The controls have a solid feel for the most part, and the AutoFocus is amazing.

Well there you have it. My current Top 10 Digital Cameras. Now, the important thing to remember is that these cameras have different things to offer. People that don’t want all of the manual function sof a digital SLR probably aren’t going to want the Canon G9 or Nikon P5100 since they can’t justify the cost for the functions they need. On the other hand a lot of people aren’t going to want a simple point and shoot camera.

If you feel that this list is missing out on a great camera feel free to drop a comment with the camera that you feel should have been included.

Canon PowerShot SD1100

One of the best selling 35mm point and shoot cameras was the Canon Elph. It was an instant hit with its small size, numerous functions and great picture quality. I got one of the first Elph’s when it came out and have been using it ever since (yes, I still use 35mm cameras). It out performs all of my other point and shoot cameras, and that’s why I’m excited for today’s review.

The Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS is essentially the Canon Elph, but digitized. The SD1100 features a 8.1MP sensor, 3x optical and a number of features like face detection and motion detection.

Here are a few of the technical specifications for the PowerShot SD1100 IS:

• Street price: $249.99 approx.
• 8MP
• 2.5″ LCD
• ISO Sensitivity: 80 /100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600
• Shutter Speed: 15 sec to 1/1500 sec
• Image Stabilization

Things I like
Before I get into everything I like about this camera I need to say that I love Canon cameras. For some reason, most other companies are removing the optical viewfinder from their point and shoot cameras and in my opinion, this is crippling the functionality of the camera. Canon has included an optical viewfinder in the SD1100 IS and its really nice because it means I don’t have to rely on the LCD screen to view the shot I’m about to take.

There are a number of things I like about this camera. The menus and user interface is brilliant. All of the controls are intuitive and it didn’t take me long at all to learn a new interface. Often times cameras have very complex menus and it’s hard to navigate around them but this is not the case with the SD1100 IS.

I also like the image stabilization and the motion detection sensor. Basically this tries to reduce the blur that you get when you’re camera shakes or you move it to try to capture a moving subject. Its not perfect, but it does greatly reduce the blur from camera shake.

Things I don’t like
With the LCD screen on, the battery life isn’t the best. With stabilization and the LCD screen on, I only got approximately 230 shots before I needed to charge the battery. This is on the low end of most point and shoots now.

I also don’t like the flash that’s included with this camera. To me, it feels a little underpowered, but that’s probably because I’m used to my Digital Rebel flash.

The only other thing I don’t like about the SD1100 IS is the manual controls, or lack thereof. This camera really isn’t meant for the photographer who wants total control over their shots.

Pros:

• Excellent menus
• Optical Viewfinder
• Image stabilization
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• A little sluggish
• Underpowered Flash
• Lacking manual controls

Final Thoughts
The SD1100 IS is a good camera. The optical viewfinder, good picture quality and intuitive menus make up for the lack of manual controls and a lacking flash. Overall, its a great buy.

Rating: 3.8 / 5

Canon Digital Rebel XTi

There are two basic types of digital cameras. There’s the point and shoot camera for your average person and then there is the single-lens reflex ( or SLR) cameras for the people who demand more out of their cameras.

Digital SLR cameras produce far better pictures than your point and shoot camera, but cost a lot more as well. We’ve reviewed a couple SLR’s at Digit Geek like the Nikon D40 and the baby brother of todays review, the Canon Digital Rebel XT.

The Canon Digital Rebel XTi (also known as the EOS 400D) improves on its brother, the Rebel XT, by including a larger LCD screen, a higher resolution sensor and a number of smaller, less noticeable improvements. The XTi has an impressive specification list including a 10.1 MP sensor, an integrated cleaning system and a large 2.5″ LCD screen.

Here are a few of the technical specifications for the Rebel XTi:

• Street Price: $699.99
• Resolution: 10.1MP
• Continuous shooting: 27 shots @ 3 fps
• Selectable metering: Yes
• ISO range: 100-1600
• Custom functions: Yes, 9
• Interface: USB 2.0

Things I like
The Canon Digital Rebel XTi has an impressive feature list. The 10.1MP sensor will give you enough detail to blow your pictures up to basically any size you’d ever need. I think the thing I like most about the XTi is the fact that it has a self cleaning sensor unit. This low pass filter cleans itself automatically with ultrasonic vibrations, removing dust from the sensor assembly. Dust that has been missed by the Integrated Self Cleaning Sensor Unit can also be erased with software included with the XTi.

I also like the fact that the XTi can now take up to 27 continuous shots. The Rebel XT could only take 14 and this was kind of frustrating if you wanted to take more (like a sequence at a sports game). The overall design of the XTi has stayed consistent with the XT (which I liked), so that’s also a plus.

The final thing I like about the XTi is that all of the shooting information is displayed on the LCD (which seems a lot bigger than the XT’s). This information is nice to have on the LCD because it’s easier to see than before.

Things I don’t like
The only thing I don’t like about the XTi is the feel of it. For me, when I’m holding the XTi it seems that my right hand is positioned awkwardly. This may just be due to the size of my hand but I do not care for the feel of the XTi. Other than this however, the camera really has no flaws from my standpoint.

Pros:

• High resoultioin
• Self cleaning sensor unit
• Longer continuous shooting
• Large LCD with more information displayed

Cons:

• Awkward grip

Final Thoughts
The Canon Digital Rebel XTi has pretty much replaced its little brother, the XT. If you’re in the market for a new low-end Digital SLR I 100% recommend the XTi, it’s a great camera and you really can’t go wrong.

Rating: 4.8 / 5

Canon PowerShot A590

Canon is well known for their digital point and shoot cameras. They’ve had a number of extremely successful lines but I think the most popular of their cameras would have to be the PowerShot. We’ve done a number of reviews on different PowerShot models like the G9, SX100, and the SD750, among other models.

Today’s review is of another Powershot model, the PowerShot A590 IS. This point and shoot camera will astound you with its power-packed performance and impressive value. It’s got 8.0-megapixels, a 4x optical zoom, an Optical Image Stabilizer and a large 2.5-inch LCD, all for a low price.

Here are a few of the technical specifications for the PowerShot A590:

• Street price: $199.99 approx.
• 8.1MP
• 2.5″ LCD
• ISO Sensitivity: 80 / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600
• Shutter Speed: 15-1/2000 sec
• Aperture: F2.6-F5.5

Things I like
The PowerShot A590 surprised me greatly when I first started using it. I judged the book by its cover before ever giving it a chance. The A590 made me think back to the good old days when cameras were chunky, slow and the quality was rather low. This camera isn’t going to impress anyone with its looks and will certainly never win any design awards, but what it doesn’t have in looks it makes up in performance.

The picture quality was a great surprise. I was taking pictures that looked as good as my Digital Rebel XT. The pictures come out crisp and clear and the numerous on-board functions allow you to take the shot that you want. The shutter speed is another thing I like about this camera. Often times, p&s cameras can only acheive a shutter speed of 1/1000 or 1/500 and this is rather annoying if you’re taking pictures of sporting events or fast moving objects. The A590 allows you to capture the perfect moment with a maximum shutter speed of 1/2000 seconds.

I love all of the different manual functions. This camera really made me think that I was using a digital SLR. Which is great considering its low price tag.

Things I don’t like
I have one minor annoyance and one major problem with this camera. The problem that I have with it is its slow picture to picture shooting speed with the flash. The camera could capture a new picture once every 2.3 seconds with the flash disabled. With the flash turned on, that wait more than doubled to an anguishing 5.2 seconds. 5.2 seconds between pictures is absolutely ridiculous. I don’t want to wait that long for another picture.

The only minor annoyance I have with the A590 IS is its appearance. This camera is the ugly duckling of the PowerShot line. Most of the other cameras are sleek and sexy but the A590 IS just looks awkward.

Pros:

• Great picture quality
• Fast shutter speed
• Lots of manual functions
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Not the sleekest device
• Slow shooting speed

Final Thoughts
The Canon PowerShot A590 IS is an excellent sub-$200 camera. It has a lot of manual features and the picture quality is excellent. It’s shooting time between shots is rather slow if the flash is turned on and it doesn’t look the best but overall its a great camera.

Rating: 4.2/5

Canon PowerShot SD950

Here at Digit Geek we’ve reviewed a number of Canon PowerShot cameras. This may be because Canon makes really great cameras or we’re just obsessed with this line, but whatever the reason is, there is one thing we can say about the PowerShot cameras, they rock!

The Canon PowerShot SD950 IS is no different than any of the other PowerShot camera’s we’ve reviewed. It’s a solid camera with a number of great features. The SD950 features a high-resolution 12.1 megapixel CCD, an Optical Image Stabilizer and 3.7x optical zoom. There are also a number of other great features like face detection software, red-eye correction, and the software that’s included to transfer pictures is great as well.

Here are a few of the technical specifications for the PowerShot SD950:

• Street price: $360
• 2.5″ LCD screen
• 12.1 MP
• 3.7x optical zoom lens
• Face detection and Image Stabilization
• 15-1/1600 sec shutter speed
• 1.5 fps continuous shooting

Things I like
Let me start off by saying that I really like the design of the PowerShot SD950. The titanium casing looks very sleek and it also gives the camera a very sturdy feel (which I like). The SD950 has improved a number of things over it’s brother/sister, the SD750. The resolution has increased by 5MP, the optical zoom has increased by .7x and theres an optical viewfinder instead of the larger screen. All of these changes have increased the value of the PowerShot SD950.

I especially like the optical viewfinder because it means you no longer have to rely on the LCD screen, which can become useless in direct light. I also like the face detection software that’s included with the SD950. While it doesn’t work in low-light conditions and is sometimes a little buggy, in general, it works very well. Face Detection adjusts the flash to correctly illuminate the people in the picture to provide the best balance between the people and the overall scene, eliminating the common problems of over and underexposed faces.

There are a number of other great shooting modes like Color Accent, Color Swap, Stitch Assist, and Macro mode that make this camera a great buy. The image quality is also extremely good, rivaling some SLR’s.

Things I don’t like
There is really only two problems I have with the SD950. The first problem is the fact that there is no way to manually change the exposure of a photo. This can limit the type of shots that you can take and can be very frustrating at times.

The other problem I have with the Canon PowerShot SD950 is its sluggish performance. The camera took 1.3 seconds to start up and capture its first JPEG. After that, it took a slightly sluggish 2 seconds between shots with the flash turned off and 3.5 seconds between shots with the flash turned on. In continuous shooting mode, the SD950 IS fell just short of its cousin, the G9, clocking an average of 1.6 frames per second.

Pros:

• Nice design
• Great picture quality
• Large resolution
• Optical Viewfinder
• A number of great shooting modes

Cons:

• No manual exposure control
• A little sluggish at times

Final Thoughts
The Canon PowerShot SD950 IS is a great camera. It’s nice design and great image quality will leave you wanting to take more photos but you’ll have to wait longer to take those pictures. Overall the image quality and the shooting modes far surpass the sluggishness of the camera and it’s well worth the price tag. Ranking: 4.5/5

Canon PowerShot SD950

Here at Digit Geek we’ve reviewed a number of Canon PowerShot cameras. This may be because Canon makes really great cameras or we’re just obsessed with this line, but whatever the reason is, there is one thing we can say about the PowerShot cameras, they rock!

The Canon PowerShot SD950 IS is no different than any of the other PowerShot camera’s we’ve reviewed. It’s a solid camera with a number of great features. The SD950 features a high-resolution 12.1 megapixel CCD, an Optical Image Stabilizer and 3.7x optical zoom. There are also a number of other great features like face detection software, red-eye correction, and the software that’s included to transfer pictures is great as well.

Here are a few of the technical specifications for the PowerShot SD950:

• Street price: $360
• 2.5″ LCD screen
• 12.1 MP
• 3.7x optical zoom lens
• Face detection and Image Stabilization
• 15-1/1600 sec shutter speed
• 1.5 fps continuous shooting

Things I like
Let me start off by saying that I really like the design of the PowerShot SD950. The titanium casing looks very sleek and it also gives the camera a very sturdy feel (which I like). The SD950 has improved a number of things over it’s brother/sister, the SD750. The resolution has increased by 5MP, the optical zoom has increased by .7x and theres an optical viewfinder instead of the larger screen. All of these changes have increased the value of the PowerShot SD950.

I especially like the optical viewfinder because it means you no longer have to rely on the LCD screen, which can become useless in direct light. I also like the face detection software that’s included with the SD950. While it doesn’t work in low-light conditions and is sometimes a little buggy, in general, it works very well. Face Detection adjusts the flash to correctly illuminate the people in the picture to provide the best balance between the people and the overall scene, eliminating the common problems of over and underexposed faces.

There are a number of other great shooting modes like Color Accent, Color Swap, Stitch Assist, and Macro mode that make this camera a great buy. The image quality is also extremely good, rivaling some SLR’s.

Things I don’t like
There is really only two problems I have with the SD950. The first problem is the fact that there is no way to manually change the exposure of a photo. This can limit the type of shots that you can take and can be very frustrating at times.

The other problem I have with the Canon PowerShot SD950 is its sluggish performance. The camera took 1.3 seconds to start up and capture its first JPEG. After that, it took a slightly sluggish 2 seconds between shots with the flash turned off and 3.5 seconds between shots with the flash turned on. In continuous shooting mode, the SD950 IS fell just short of its cousin, the G9, clocking an average of 1.6 frames per second.

Pros:

• Nice design
• Great picture quality
• Large resolution
• Optical Viewfinder
• A number of great shooting modes

Cons:

• No manual exposure control
• A little sluggish at times

Final Thoughts
The Canon PowerShot SD950 IS is a great camera. It’s nice design and great image quality will leave you wanting to take more photos but you’ll have to wait longer to take those pictures. Overall the image quality and the shooting modes far surpass the sluggishness of the camera and it’s well worth the price tag. Ranking: 4.5/5

Canon Powershot G9

Before the advent of affordable digital SLRs, high-end point and shoot digital cameras were the driving force behind the exponential expansion of the digital imaging revolution. Canon digital cameras have been at the forefront of that high tech surge since the introduction of the Powershot G1 in 2000. Canon’s “G” models have always been aimed at photographers who want a responsive and relatively compact general-use digital camera with SLR like performance but without the SLR price.

The new Canon Powershot G9 is loaded with a number of great features such as RAW + JPEG images, an optical view finder, face detection, 6x optical zoom and image stabilization. It also has a number of shooting modes which make it feel more like a digital SLR instead of a point and shoot camera.

Here are a few of the technical specifications for the Powershot G9:

• Street Price: $499.99
• Resolution: 12.1MP
• Shutter Speed:15 - 1/2500 sec
• ISO range: 80/100/200/400/800/1600
• 1.5 Frames per second
• Optical Viewfinder and 3″ LCD monitor

Things I like
The PowerShot G9 is built like a tank. A lot of point and shoot cameras feel very flimsy when you’re taking pictures with them but that is definitely not the case with the G9. The extra weight doesn’t make it too heavy however, it just makes it feel sturdy enough. I also like the fact that this camera has 12.1MP resolution. You’ll be able to take your pictures and blow them up to whatever size you want without having to worry about pixelation or distortion.

I also like the fact that Canon included an optical viewfinder with the PowerShot G9. Nowadays it seems that smaller cameras leave out the viewfinder and put in a larger LCD screen but this is very annoying if you’re shooting in daylight because the screen becomes virtually useless. While the viewfinder isn’t the best, it’s better than nothing. The G9 also allows you to take movies with the camera so it’s very versatile.

Things I don’t like
The PowerShot G9 is rather expensive when you compare it to other point and shoot cameras like the Kodak Z712 or the Sony W80. I also don’t like the fact that this camera only has a 6x optical zoom. If you’re wanting to shoot anything thats far away you won’t be able to get that close without having to use digital zoom.

I also don’t like that you can’t use optical zoom while taking a movie. You’re limited to digital zoom and this can be frustrating because you do lose picture quality.

Pros:

• Very sturdy
• A number of great features
• High resolution pictures
• Can shoot RAW + JPEG formats
• Optical viewfinder

Cons:

• Expensive
• Only 6x optical zoom
• No optical zoom while taking videos

Final Thoughts
The Canon PowerShot G9 is a solid point and shoot digital camera for those who want something compact to complement a digital SLR. If you don’t have enough money another option would be the Nikon Coolpix P5100, but the Canon PowerShot G9 is a very well built camera.

Canon PowerShot SX100 IS

Canon has made a number of high quality digital cameras such as the Digital Rebel XT and Canon PowerShot SD750. Canon cameras generally feature high resolution sensors, great optical zoom lenses and in general a high quality to their design. Today’s review is no different.

The PowerShot SX100 IS is the first model in Canon’s new SX series of budget compact cameras. The SX100 comes with a 8.0MP sensor, a 10x zoom, optical image stabilization and a comprehensive range of manual photographic controls, all nicely wrapped up in a compact silver or black plastic body. Canon says the SX series offers exceptional performance in the hands of any member of the family and I’ve found this to be true.

Here are a few of the technical specifications for the SX100:

• Street Price: $300
• Resolution: 8.0MP
• 10x optical zoom with optical Image Stabilizer
• DIGIC III imaging processor
• Face Detection
• 2.5” LCD with 100% coverage
• 19 shooting modes

Things I like
The SX100 is a brilliant camera. It features a number of professional shooting settings for an amateurs price. I would have to say the thing I like the most about the SX100 is it’s excellent optical zoom. Most personal digital cameras come with a 3x or 4x optical zoom. This is good if you’re shooting people that aren’t too far away but as soon as you want to take real pictures at any distance 3x zoom just doesn’t work. With the SX100’s 10x optical zoom you’ll be able take pictures from a longer distance without having to worry about using digital zoom (and sacrificing photo quality).

The other thing I like about the SX100 is it’s focus speed. In some cameras, their automatic focus is almost useless. This is not the case however, with the SX100. The automatic focus is really quick and usually very accurate. The SX100 also has a very large LCD screen to view your pictures after you’ve taken them.

Things I don’t like
The two main things that I don’t like about the SX100. The first is its battery life. The battery life for the SX100 is fairly poor. If you’re planning on going out for a full day of shooting make sure you’re carrying backup battery packs because it won’t last I guarantee it.

The other thing I don’t like is the camera’s slow flash. In most cameras the you can take a number of pictures in a row. Because of the SX100’s slow flash this just isn’t feasible. If you want to take a number of pictures in a row I would think about getting a different camera because this PowerShot won’t be able to handle it. Other than these problems the SX100 is a great phone.

Pros:

• Good resolution
• Fast, reliable focus (except in low light at longer focal lengths)
• Big, fairly bright screen
• Useful zoom range (although no real wide angle)
• Good value for money

Cons:

• Very slow flash times (especially when batteries are weak)
• The battery life isn’t the best
• No wide-angle

Final Thoughts
The SX100 IS offers reliable image quality, a big zoom range and a good variety of photographic controls in a relatively compact body at a very competitive price. If you don’t mind the slow flash times (which can hinder the camera’s usefulness as a social snapshot tool) the SX100 IS is a perfect piece of equipment for anyone wanting to cover a large variety of photographic situations without breaking the bank or carrying a backpack full of lenses. It offers a well balanced package, value for money and is simply fun. If you’re in need of a new camera I totally recommend the Canon PowerShot SX100 IS.

Canon PowerShot SD750

In the world of digital cameras, Canon is the king. Their cameras have been getting smaller in size and larger in the picture size. Canon has a number of different lines of digital cameras, ranging from their Digital SLR’s to their affordable PowerShot series.

The Canon PowerShot SD750 is one of their more high-end cameras in the PowerShot line. The SD750 has an enormous 3-inch LCD screen. The features are otherwise fairly basic: 7.1 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom lens, and automatic exposure modes that make the SD750 very easy to use.

There is more to the Canon SD750 than its LCD. For being such a small camera, the SD750 performs very well. It creates realistic and accurately-colored pictures whether in bright light or the dark night. Face detection is one of its highlighted features: this automatically detects and focuses on faces in view, so all you have to do is push the button and capture the moment.

Here are a few of the technical specifications for the PowerShot SD750:

• Street price: $259
• 3″ LCD screen
• 7.1 MP
• 3x optical zoom lens
• Face detection software

Things I like
The PowerShot SD750 is an extremely compact camera. When I first took it out of the box I couldn’t believe my eyes (and hands) when I held it. The first thing that caught my eyes was the size of the LCD screen compared to the size of the camera. The 3″ screen takes up almost the entire back of the camera. Don’t let the small size fool you though, the SD750 packs a very large punch. The pictures that it takes are crystal clear and there are a number of excellent features that come with this camera. I like the fact that it has automatic exposure and face detection software. These things will come in very handy because they make shooting a lot easier, because you don’t have to worry about changing the camera settings in different lighting conditions.

The other thing I like about the SD750 is its quick shutter speed. One of the problems I have with most digital cameras is that it takes them a long time to take a picture. The SD750 takes the picture extremely fast so you don’t miss a single moment in your life. This comes in very handy if you’re taking pictures of young kids.

Things I don’t like
I can’t stand the fact that the SD750 doesn’t have an optical viewfinder. While this isn’t a huge deal for most people I don’t like it because the LCD screen (which needs to be used for taking pictures) will drain the battery quickly. On most cameras you have the option to turn the LCD screen off and save the battery but on the SD750 you must use it. This is my only problem with the SD750.

Pros:

• Not very expensive compared to some other cameras
• Great picture quality
• Excellent included software
• Pictures are taken quickly

Cons:

• No optical viewfinder

Final Thoughts
The Canon PowerShot SD750 is a great camera. The pictures that it takes are excellent, the software included works and the LCD screen on the back is massive. With its fairly low price tag most people will be able to afford it. If anyone is in need of a new digital camera I strongly recommend the PowerShot SD750.

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT

One of the most popular digital single single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras out there is the Canon Digital Rebel XT. Without a doubt, the Canon Digital Rebel is one of the biggest advancements in consumer digital photography. For the first time, regular consumers could own a digital SLR for under $1000. The XT features a higher resolution sensor, more shooting features and better performance, all in a more compact body.

For an entry level SLR camera, the capability of Canons cheapest SLR body is more then good enough for the non-professional photographer. The Canon Digital Rebel XT digital SLR also accepts more than 50 of the Canon EF lenses.

Here are a few of the technical specifications for the Rebel XT:

• Street Price: $549.99
• Resolution: 8.0MP
• Continuous shooting: 14 shots @ 3 fps
• Selectable metering: Yes
• ISO range: 100-1600
• Custom functions: Yes, 9
• Interface: USB 2.0

Things I like
All of the above specifications make for a really nice camera but what’s it like in real life? From the moment I took this camera out of its box I was in love. The Rebel XT has a really quick startup time (less than three seconds) and gives you a lot of choices when it comes to taking photos. You can use manual focus or automatic focus and theres 9 different functions that you would expect to see on a pro model. The best thing about the Rebel XT is that you can use it right out of the box.

Things I don’t like
There aren’t many things I dislike about the Rebel XT but my biggest pet peeve is definitely it’s weight. The Rebel just doesn’t feel like a true Digital SLR. Canon decided to make the Rebel’s case from a lightweight plastic to appease to the larger point-and-shoot camera market, but to me it just feels cheap.

My only other problem is that the size of the CMOS digital sensor is smaller than the 24×36mm size of 35mm film, and this means the effective focal length of a lens increases. This characteristic increases the power of telephoto lenses, but reduces the effectiveness of wide-angle lenses. Very short focal length wide-angle lenses are needed with digital SLRs to compensate for the conversion factor and these lenses can be very expensive.

Overall I’ve been very impressed with the Canon Digital Rebel XT. I’ve been shooting with it for over a year and it’s never let me down and it’s taken quite a few really good pictures.

Pros:

• The Canon Digital Rebel XT’s image quality leads its class
• Competitive price
• Ultrafast start-up time
• Very responsive

Cons:

• The Canon Rebel XT’s lightweight plastic body just doesn’t sit right in your hands
• The battery life isn’t the best
• 1.6X lens-conversion factor

Final Thoughts
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT is an exceptionally small and lightweight camera designed for beginner digital SLR photographers, but it has the functions and delivers the image quality you’d expect from a semipro model. If you’re just getting into the Digital SLR market I would say you should get the Digital Rebel XT as your first camera.