Journal of Modern Photography

The Imaging Resource has a nice review of the new 8Mp Canon PowerShot A580. Using the new DIGIC III procesor allows for some nice features on a lower priced, entry level compact, including face detection and motion detection. Although the image quality could use some improvement, its not that bad.

The Canon A580 doesn’t play the megapixel game, offering instead a solid eight megapixels of resolution rather than dabble in double digit sensors. But that brings some good news about noise….

The Canon A580 is well suited to everyone from children to grandparents, but that doesn’t mean it has no frills or firepower….

Thanks to its DIGIC III processor, its performance was nothing to sneeze at. And the same imaging engine gave it some very helpful tools like motion detection and face detection that Canon has harnessed in unique and interesting ways.

Canon PowerShot A580 Digital Camera - Review - The Imaging Resource!.

And keeping with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 theme, Jeff Keller over at DCResource has also posted his in-depth review. Another good read with additional several sample shots. He seems to like the image quality and noise reduction capabilities better than some of the other reviews out there.

Photo quality was very good. In most cases, the TZ5 took well-exposed photos with pleasing, saturated color. Photos are slightly soft, though not enough to cause concern for this reviewer. On previous TZ-series models, noise reduction was a big problem. Panasonic has addressed that here, though your photos have noise in them instead, especially in shadow details. The noise does clean up well, though, since details are left intact (even at ISO 800), and if you’re making small to midsize prints, you don’t even need to bother with that. Noise reduction is still present, though it’s not nearly as harsh as it was on the TZ3.

DCRP Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5.

See Also:
DPReview looks at the DMC-TZ5
DigitalCameraReview’s take on the DMC-TZ5

Digitalcamerareview.com now has a review up for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5. As manufacturers pack more and more pixels onto the smaller sensors found in compact cameras, noise becomes a major issue. Looks like Panasonic is trying to address this with a using a more aggressive noise reduction setting than on previous models. Very in-depth with several sample images and several comparison shots from the DMC-TZ4.

Inevitable comparisons with the TZ4 at ISO 1600 show that while there’s less visible noise, the TZ5 seems to use slightly more noise reduction (probably to mask slightly more inherent noise on the higher-res sensor), resulting in details that are a little softer.

In truth, NR on the TZ5 is more of a problem across the board than we saw with the TZ4, with its effects clearly visible from ISO 400 on up.

The latest TZ cameras definitely haven’t quite lived up to Panasonic’s bold claims about improved high ISO performance courtesy of its Venus Engine IV processing, though in fairness they show some decided improvements over the previous generation of Lumix devices and should compete fairly well with anything in this class. That said, advanced users will still likely wish for some user-selectable NR to further dial back detail smearing.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 Review.

Dpreview also has a review of the DMC-TZ5 as mentioned earlier. Read them both and draw your own conclusions.

Trustedreviews.com has a nice review of the 10Mp Canon Digital IXUS 85 IS (also known as the Canon PowerShot SD770 in North America). This represents the mid-point of Canon’s IXUS (PowerShot SD) line of digital compact cameras. Specs include a 2.5″ 230K LCD, 3x zoon lens, and optical lens stabilization. Also an optical viewfinder is present. Seems like a quite alot in a little package.

As usual with Canon cameras, the build quality of the IXUS 85 IS is beyond reproach. The camera’s body is all aluminium, with an attractive semi-matte anodised finish. It is available in two styles, with either a black lens surround or the mirror-finish chrome version shown here. It is a very compact camera, not quite in the same league as the tiny Casio EX-Z80 I reviewed last week, but certainly in the “ultra-compact” category. It measures 86.0 x 54.0 x 20.4mm and weighs 130g, so it’s small and light enough for a shirt pocket.

Canon Digital IXUS 85 IS - TrustedReviews.

Gavin Stoker over at PhotographyBlog has posted a nice review of the 8Mp Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS (known as the PowerShot SD1100 in North America). Seems to be up to the task as a “entry-level” compact, but image quality really seems to suffer in low light conditions, when using anything over about ISO200. Compare this review to the previous review Canon PowerShot SD1000 review from DCResource.com. 

“The Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS can perhaps best be summed up as an undemanding snapper for the unpretentious imagemaker – and as such is largely beyond criticism, save for some fiddly controls inherent in a camera with a height and width (if not depth) equivalent to a credit card. The build quality is very impressive, as is speed of operation and overall ease of use. … The only real shame here is in the levels of noise apparent in the mid to high ISO range. Though most of its intended audience will doubtless be using the Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS for the occasional sunny holiday snap or activating the flash for party shots, and so that won’t be an issue, it’s an area that nevertheless detracts from the positive overall picture and knocks a star off its score.”

Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS Review - PhotographyBLOG.

ThinkCamera.com has a short review of the 12Mp Samsung Digimax NV20 compact camera up now. Some sample shots, with a series showing the noise comparrison from ISO80 - ISO3200. (The noise reduction seems to be quite agressive above ISO200.) Not too in-depth.

Where the Samsung NV20 scores highest is in the value stakes. Priced around the £150 mark with a sturdy body and a lithium ion battery makes it extremely competitive. Add in the extremely easy to drive interface and a good set of in-camera tools and it reads like a bargain. And, as long as you stay below ISO200, that’s exactly what it is!

 Jeff Keller over at dcresource.com has posted an in-depth review of the 8Mp Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH. The SD1100 is the successor to the SD1000 and comes with a 8Mp CCD sensor, optical image stabilization, and advanced face detection. It includes an optical viewfinder (becoming rarer on this class of compacts) in addition to a 230,000 pixel 2.5 inch LCD. It takes the almost standard SD and SDHC cards and as a bonus, Canon includes a 32Mb SD card in the package.  Jeff’s review is quite in-depth and includes several sample shots in addition to a complete run-down of the various modes and controls. If you have the time, check it out.

I see digitalcamerareview.com has this to say about the new 10Mp Nikon Coolpix S600:

With all the emphasis in Nikon’s S600 press release about fast performance, and a good shutter lag response from its low cost sibling, the S210, I was prepared to be impressed by the S600. Unfortunately, I’m still waiting. For some reason, the S600 didn’t get the excellent shutter lag performance of the cheaper S210 (and the now-discontinued S500 remains my personal favorite compact digital for shutter lag), so it’s not like Nikon doesn’t have the means to provide a good shutter response in this class of camera. Frankly, the shutter lag takes the luster off an otherwise fairly capable camera, especially when you realize Nikon can (and has) done better.

Nikon Coolpix S600 Review

There’s a nice review of the new 8.0Mp FujiFilm FinePix Z100df up over on digitalcamerareview.com. Diagonal sliding lens cover, face detection, IS and a light-up “Z”. Ooooohhhhhh!

The FinePix Z100fd is one of the latest releases in the Z series from Fujifilm. Stylistically similar in some ways to the Z10fd and Z20fd, the 8 megapixel Z100fd has a conventional slim, flat body, diagonally sliding lens cover, face detection, mechanical image stabilization, blog mode, and IrSimple image transfer technology.

Upgrades to the Z100fd include a 5x optical zoom, dual image stabilization, and a glass-covered 2.7-inch LCD.

While it has the potential to take nice images, the most hyped feature for this camera is the style. As previously mentioned, Fuji has set up an entire website to highlight four main features that all focus on the the Z100fd’s looks: the sophisticated body colors, the admittedly cool diagonal sliding lens cover, the Z illumination lamp, and the high-resolution LCD with micro thumbnail view.

Fujifilm FinePix Z100fd Review

I see Trusted Reviews now has its review of the 10.1Mp Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS20 up.

In terms of its specification the new Lumix DMC-FS20 is fairly close to average for current compact models. It has a 10.1-megapixel 1/2.33 inch CCD sensor, a 4x zoom lens with a wider-than-average 30mm equivalent minimum focal length, and a big 3.0-inch LCD monitor. It has an all-metal body, Panasonic’s acclaimed Mega O.I.S. optical image stabilisation system and a range of easy-to-use features including Intelligent Auto and Intelligent ISO. It’s a nice looking camera too. Panasonic seems to be moving away from the vaguely deco-styled design theme that it was following a couple of years ago toward a more practical style that, while still attractive, is somewhat easier to handle. 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS20 - TrustedReviews

Available in three colors:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS20S Silver
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS20K Black
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS20P Pink