BenQ G1
Price: $ 273
Specs: 14
MP1 /2.3-inch CMOS; f 24-11 Omm; f 1.8,1/2000-2 sec; ISO 6400; Full HD
1080p/30fps; SD cards (up to 32GB).
The BenQ G1 is the world’s slimmest swivel
camera. So what, you might ask. Swivel screens are nothing new, both DSLRs and
compacts have them now. But not on bodies this thin. And yet, this isn’t the
USP of this camera. That has to be the f1.8 aperture.
Firstly, the 3-inch swivel screen is very
flexible and folds back on to the body with the screen facing you. While the
swivel screen is good for taking shots at tricky angles, it is also a great way
to protect the LED. The 920K LED screen has good clarity. It’s only when we
kept poking icons on it that we realized it had no touch. But with Benq
indicating which dial controls each value on the screen, life is not so tough.
Now for the f1.8, a setting that will
naturally give you better results in low light. But at this point, the lens is
too wide for a point and shoot and you have to zoom in to frame a good shot.
The 4.6x zoom is decent (it also has a so-so digital 6x that has to be
activated]. The G1 has everything you would expect of a 14-MP camera of this
price range, even an ugly retro-looking cover. And when you see the crisp and
vibrant results, it is hard to make out that all this was created by a camera
that cost half as much as a smartphone.
The
BenQ G1 is the world’s slimmest swivel camera
Continuous shooting is fast though it takes
a while afterwards to save the pictures. The Filter mode, in which you can
click some kiosk-like, sketch finish and oil painting pictures, is good as it
the HDR. We also thought that the background defocus mode was a good addition.
However, the wait time to get such images processed was a dampener.
The video quality is good too, with FullHD
at 30 fps. There is so video mode though and you just have to click the
separate record button to start/stop filming. No, you cannot click photos as
you are recording a movie, but the zoom is one of the smoothest we have seen in
a camera like this.
Benq has tried to bring a lot of premium
features to a very affordable camera, the latter being the forte of this
company With all the features, this camera has the potential to become a
one-stop imaging solution for the family, combining fun and quality. Seems Benq
has a winner here.
Classy Compact
Fujifilm XF1
Price: $619
Specs: 12MP
2/3-inch EXR CMOS; f 6.4-25.6 mm, FI .8 to F4.9 / 30 sec. to 1/2000 sec; ISO
12800; / FullHD 1080p; SD card.
With compact mirror-less cameras gaining
popularity across the world, camera manufacturers are trying their hand at
premium point-and-shoot cameras. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 was the first of
the type to enter the Indian market. Now, Fujifilm is trying its luck with the
XF1, a stylish camera which, without a doubt, is aimed at a niche consumer
base.
Control options
The control ring on top gives you all
possible options auto, manual, shutter and aperture priority, two custom
settings and even Fujifilm's very own EXR settings. What you will miss is a
movie mode, for which you just have to push the record button. While you have
to use the lens ring to zoom in, the mode dial and control ring can be used to
shift to numerous other settings. There is also the Fn key in case you want to
tweak more settings.
What is different
At first sight the leather-bound body of
the XFl gives it a retro look. The pancake lens only adds to this effect. But
the lens can be rotated to switch on the camera and then reveal a 25-100mm
equivalent, FI .8-4.9 lens. The zoom is mechanical and the lens can collapse
back into barrel to shut the camera. This makes the camera very compact despite
the impressive lens range. On the flip side, you have to open the lens even
when all you want to do is playback pictures you have shot.
At
first sight the leather-bound body of the XFl gives it a retro look
Performance
The XF1 has a 12MP 2/3-inch EXR-CMOS sensor
which is good enough for most uses. Maybe, they could have packed in a bit more
pixels, but this isn't inadequate either. The results are good, especially in
natural light. At FI .8, the macro is stunningly good. But at 12MP, the maximum
ISO range is 3200. At 12800, the pixel quality is jut 3MP and the picture is
extremely grainy. This was a bit of a disappointment. But then these high ISO
ranges are not usually used by enthusiasts, at whom the camera is aimed. The
EXR mode, on the other hand, has very good low-light results. The camera is
superfast in the burst modes and the unique sound of the shutter will have any
photographer excited. The video quality is impressive too, and being a
mechanical zoom, everything depends on how steady your hands are. The AF is up
to the task, whatever you are up to. And, yes, like the RX100, this one shoots
in RAW as default.
Overall
The XF1 is a good option if you want a
camera that is stylish to look at and has loads of advanced features. But be
prepared to pay a decent premium for the style and functions.
