This is one of the cheaper digital camera. To keep the price low Samsung included a smaller than standard LCD screen (2.5 inches), 10 cms macro mode, a standard movie mode and no image stabilization into the camera.

The camera offers a choice of preset scene modes as well as several functions to help you with portrait shots. These include face detection an automatic red eye reduction. There is also a Beauty mode that helps to reduce blemishes and softens skin. In addition the camera lets you adjust such settings as sharpness, contrast and saturation.

The ES17 is very straightforward and easy to use even for beginners. Samsung has also included help text that describe the various camera functions for those who is new to photography. This can help you select the correct controls and take better photos.

As to its physical size, it is not tiny enough to slip into a pocket. Also, there available black and silver body versions.

Camera Reviews:

Cameras.co.uk:
This is a cheap and cheerful digital camera. Its greatest attractions are its price and the fact it is easy to use. Picture quality is a struggle and you can find better for a similar price.

Sample Photo Galleries: cameras.co.uk.

Alternatives/Rivals: Canon Powershot A480.

Samsung ES17 – Specifications:

• 12 Megapixels
• 1/2.33 inch Sensor size
• Aspect Ratios: 4:3, 16:9, 3:2
• 3x Optical Zoom
• Focal Length Equivalent : 35 - 105mm
• Aperture range: F3.2 (W) - F5.8 (T)
• 2.5 inch LCD screen with 230,000 pixels
• Shutter Speed: 8 - 1/1500 seconds
• Sensitivity: ISO 80 - 1600
• Metering: Multi, Spot, Center Weighted, Face Detection
• Macro Focus: 10cms
• No Manual Controls Scene Modes: Beauty Shot, Potrait, Night scene, Children, Landscape, Text, Close-up, Sunset, Dawn, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow
• Face Detection
• Photo Styles: Soft, Vivid, Forest, Retro, Cool, Calm, Classic, Negative, Custom RGB
• Movie Mode: 640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps
• 11MB Internal Memory
• Dimensions: 94.1 x 62.7 x 25.2mm
• Weight: 121g

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The Sony DT 55-200mm F4.5-5.6 SAM is a new versatile 3.6x telephoto zoom lens which delivers 82.5-300mm focal length on a 35mm-format camera. It is housed in a light, compact and easy-to-carry package, which makes it perfect all-round lens. It is ideal for shooting portraits, sports, wildlife and more.

It is designed exclusively for use with APS- C sized digital SLRs. Also please note that DT lenses - this one as well - are not recommended for use with the DSLR-A900.

The lens delivers 29-degree angle of view and closest focus distance of 0.95m. Its circular aperture at the wide gives a pleasing defocused effect.

The 55-200mm’s optical construction includes ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements to minimize chromatic aberration at telephoto end, and also to correct certain wavelengths of light. It results in sharp, clear images with well defined colors.

There’s a built-in Smooth Autofocus Motor (SAM) in the lens that’s why there’ no need of a mechanical coupling system in the camera body to transfer auto focus (AF) drive power to the lens. The lens-mounted SAM unit receives AF control signals from the camera body and drives the focusing lens group. This helps to achieve smooth AF response as well.

The lens benefits from SteadyShot INSIDE in-camera image stabilization which is built into every a (alpha) DSLR camera. It enables it to eliminate the extra weight at the expense of in-lens stabilization mechanisms.

Alternatives/Rivals: Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom Lens.

Sony DT 55-200mm F4.5-5.6 SAM – Specifications:

• Lens Type: Telephoto
• Focal Length: 55mm-200mm
• Focal Range: 3 feet
• Focal Length Equivalent: 82.5-300mm
• Aperture Range: F/4.0-5.6
• Circular Aperture
• Maximum Magnification Ratio: 0.29x
• Closest focus distance: 0.95m
• Focus: Auto, Manual
• Angle of View: 29 Degrees
• Built-in SAM motor
• Weight: 0.68 pounds
• Display Diameter: 2.8 inches
• Length: 3.4 inches
• Mounting Type: Minolta A-type

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Casio continues to focus on the mega zoom compact segment and announces a successor to their high-speed FH20 model that was introduced during the Photokina 2008 show, the Casio EX-FH25. This digital megazoom camera is supposed to appear in the Japanese market only.

But it is likely that it will emerge in the European and U.S. markets after the CES 2010 that will be hekd next January when Casio generally introduces one or more cameras.

The EX-FH25 features a new CMOS sensor with 10 megapixels of resolution and a 20x optical zoom lens with built-in stabilization. It means that you can zoom in as close as you need and you will get still bright and sharp pictures.

The camera also offers the extremely fast Burst photography mode that makes it faster than a DSLR camera. Burst mode is further enhanced by the advanced night mode feature that ensures bright pictures taken without a tripod.

The HD Movie function of the FH25 makes it possible to take 30 frames per second at 1280×720 pixels. Also you can capture videos with motion images faster than the human eye can actually see and playback the captured images and videos in slow motion. The camera gives you the ability to choose from speeds of 1000 fps, 420 fps, 240 fps and 120 fps.

And a one-touch button that provides a quick switch from the standard rate of 30 fps to high speed recording at 240 fps makes shooting action easier than ever before.

The pictures and videos are stored on an SDHC memory card of up to 32GB of storage capacity.

Casio Exilim EX-FH25 - Specifications:

• 10 Megapixels of Resolution
• CMOS Image Sensor
• 20x Optical Zoom
• Advanced Night Mode
• Movie Mode: 1280×720 pixels at 30 fps
• Slow Motion Function: 1000 fps, 420 fps, 240 fps, 120 fps
• Supports SDHC memory cards up to 32GB
• Average price: $400

According to letsgodigital.org.

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The new Sigma 18-50mm ƒ/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM is a large aperture standard zoom lens with Sigma’s original Optical Stabilization function. It is specifically designed for reduced-frame sensor-based cameras, providing an effective field of view of 30-80mm on Canon bodies (1.6x crop), and 27-75mm on Nikon and others (1.5x crop).

As to its optical construction, the lens consists of 16 Elements in 12 Groups and incorporates two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements and three aspherical lenses to correct for all types of aberrations. The Super Multi-Layer Coating, in its turn, reduces flare and ghosting.

The 18-50mm offers the Optical Image Stabilization function that coupled with a large aperture is ideal for indoor photography and in low lighting condition. As compensation for camera shake is visible in the view finder for easy checking of focus so you can always make sure that there is no subject movement.

Moreover, the built-in OS function of this lens can be used even if the camera body is equipped with its own anti-shake function (Sony and Pentax cameras, e.g.)

The lens also features HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) for quiet and high speed AF. Its inner focusing design and inner zooming systems mean that overall length of the lens does not change during focusing and zooming, so it is convenient to use as well.

Lens Reviews:

Slrgear.com:
The Sigma showed good results for sharpness wide open, and even better when stopped down. CA is a bit high at 18mm and distortion is a complicated mix of barrel and pincushion, but nothing overly objectionable.

Alternatives/Rivals: Canon EF-S 18-55mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 IS, Nikon 18-55mm ƒ/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR, Pentax 18-55mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 AL II SMC DA, Sony 18-55mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 DT.

Sigma 18-50mm ƒ/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM – Specifications:

• Image Circle: APS-C
• Focal Length: 18 - 50mm
• Focal Length APS Equivalent:
  • 1.5x: 27 - 75mm
  • 1.6x: 28.8 - 80mm
• Maximum Aperture: ƒ/2.8 - 4.5
• Minimum Aperture: ƒ/22
• 7 Diaphragm Blades
• Lens Construction: 16 Elements in 12 Groups
• 2 SLD and 3 aspherical lenses
• Diagonal Angle of View (Based on image circle): 69.3 to 27.9 degrees
• Internal Focus with HSM
• No Front Element Rotation
• Rotary Zoom System
• Closest Focus: 30cm / 11.8 in.
• Magnification Ratio: 0.24x / 1:4.1
• Filter Size: 67mm
• Optical Stabilization
• Dimensions (Length x Diameter): 88.6mm x 74mm / 3.4 in. x 2.9 in.
• Weight 395g / 13.9 oz
• Included Accessories: Case, Lens Hood
• Available AF Mounts: Sigma, Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax.
• Typical Online Price: US$400

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What’s New: Photographyblog have reviewed this camera!

Canon Powershot SD940 also known as Digital IXUS 120 IS in Europe is a 12.1-megapixel digital camera with 4x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD Screen and HD video capabilities – all housed in a credit-card sized body.

The camera succeeds the popular SD780 aka IXUS 100, from which it borrows most of its features. At its heart lies DIGIC 4, Canon’s fast, intelligent image processor that is capable of delivering superb image quality and natural color reproduction.

Being a point-and-shoot one, it has a wide choice of pre-set scene modes as well as fully automatic Smart Auto mode with Scene Detection Technology. The ease of use is further enhanced by the camera’s ‘Hints & Tips’ interface - camera settings are clearly explained within the menu.

The SD940 also offers Face Detection, automatic in-camera red-eye correction and Blink Detection within its Smart Portrait System.

Post-capture features include such a handy one as the ‘Enhanced Intelligent Contrast Correction’ (i-Contrast), an intelligent technology that automatically deals with tricky lighting situations by preventing highlight blowout, while retaining shadow detail. It is particularly useful in difficult shooting situations, for example when subjects are backlit on a sunny day.

Camera Reviews:

Digitalcamerareview.com:
It takes very good pictures in good light and has a small but effective flash. Its only significant downsides are that it takes soft photos at high ISOs and exhibits some chromatic aberration.

Photoreview.com.au:
This is a slim, pocketable digicam with a point-and-press ‘intelligent’ shooting mode and effective image stabilisation. But it can’t show high performance levels in dim lighting, particularly for long exposures.

Photographyblog.com:
It is a portable, well-built, eye-catching snapshot model for weekend breaks or social events. It’s not so much a photographic tool as a lifestyle accessory as it doesn’t offer many creative features, big lens or broad focal range.

Sample Photo Galleries: photographyblog.com.

Canon Powershot SD940 aka IXUS 120 IS – Specifications:

• CCD Image Sensor
• 12.1 Megapixels
• Maximum Image Size: 4000 x 3000
• Aperture Range: f/2.8-f/5.9
• Focal Length Equivalent: 28-112mm
• 4x Optical Zoom
• Lens-shift type Image Stabilization
• 2.7-inch LCD Monitor with 230,000 dots
• Sensitivity: ISO80 – 1600
• Shutter Speed: 15 to 1/1500 sec
• Macro Focus: 3 cms
• Metering: Evaluative, Centre-weighted, Spot
• 17 Shooting Modes
• Face Detection
• Sequence Shooting: 0.8 fps
• Movie Mode: 1280 x 720 pixels at 30 fps

Official Information: canon-europe.com.

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