Choosing a super-zoom camera (part 7)
Nikon Coolpix S9100
5 stars
$284 including VAT
www..co.uk
So far, the S9100 is our best
choice of super zoom pocket digital camera. Canon SX230 HS is being honored,
but S9100 is another excellent choice, especially for the price.
The neat cover contains 12MP
illuminated sensor, 18x zoom and 3 inches screen, 910,000 pixels. It's faster
to use, with only 1.5 seconds between shots in normal use, and pad get more
roles of wheel to make adjustments. We prefer direct access to ISO, white
balance settings and manual exposure controls, but the camera has some useful
features, including focus point options that can be anywhere in frames.
10fps continuous mode only lasts
5 images, but other modes run continuously at 1.7fps for 12 photos, along with
the faster mode up to 120fps with reduced resolution. It records video in slow
motion.
Extend 1080p video up to 29
minutes along with the remaining time countdown. Excellent image quality and
little noise from zoom and autofocus motor, although hand-held remote videos
are rather vibrated.
Illuminated Sensor design reduces
background noise level, but not as good as Canon SX230 HS. Slowest ISO speed of
S9100 is 160, while of the SX230 HS is 100, but the image of Canon's better at
ISO equivalent speed.
The lens creates sharp details
throughout its zoom range, except the loss of small strokes in the corner in
the medium to long focal length. Again Canon overshadows the Nikon about lens
sharpness. Nevertheless, Nikon larger zoom offset it, especially with a minimum
focal length 25mm wider.
Canon SX230 HS won the Best Buy
with excellent image quality, but nothing more. Nikon’s 25mm wide angle zoom position,
faster continuous performance (but shorter lasting), video operating time
longer, moving focus point option and sharper screen and turn it into another
excellent alternative choices, and it’s a real bargain with only 180 pounds.
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Summary
Identify. Canon
SX230 HS has a bit better image quality, but Coolpix S9100 camera is still
excellent with its own strengths attractive.
Super zoom
digital camera. 12MP (4.000x3.000), 18x optical zoom (25-450mm), 3 inch LCD
(921,000 pixels), SDXC slots (74MB internal), Li-ion battery, 62x105x35mm,
214g, 2 year RTB warranty.
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Olympus SZ-30MR
4 stars
$350 inc VAT
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The 24x Zoom SZ-30MR is big for such a thin
camera. Body is deeper than the competition but still consistent with jeans
pocket, and contoured handgrip makes it the most comfortable pocket-sized
ultra-zoom camera to hold.
Navigation Pad is also a wheel to provide
quick access to the main settings. Dial mode lacks of manual exposure options,
but has the assortment of scene modes, panorama stitching, creative filters and
3D image will prove popular with casual users.
Shot-to-shot performance is quite fast with
1.8 seconds. Taking telephoto shot is slower because the focus sometimes takes
1 or 2 seconds before locking on to its target. Continuous mode runs at 5.8fps
for 5 photos, but the digital lens-distortion editing which is applied in other
occasions has been disabled. Another continuous mode avoids this problem and
runs at 1.5fps for 12 photos.
1080p video recording lasts 29 minutes;
sharp detail, but the stability has struggled to combat vibration when we
zoomed in. Clear stereo soundtrack, but the zoom motor makes more noise than
other cameras. You can also capture 16MP images while recording video.
The focus was quite good, the camera based
on digital sharpening and sharp optics to provide 16MP images. Other cameras
have managed sharpness for each pixel better, but the huge zoom and resolution
of the SX-30MR made it the best type to take telephotos. Super Macro mode was
OK, focusing on subjects in a few centimeters away to provide stunning
close-ups. The clear illuminated pictures have exposed grain and blur shadow of
the delicate structures. The noise reduction is applied in low light, but while
these images are not prominent when viewed carefully, they are nice to resize
for computer screens.
SX-30MR can not compete with the Canon
SX230 HS on image quality, but large zoom, stunning macro function and
capability to take photography and video simultaneously make it attractive the
people who just view them on screen.
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Summary
Verdict.
SX30MR doesn’t have the best quality picture but it has many interesting
features and incredible lens for such a small camera.
Ultra zoom
camera. 16MP (4.608x3.456), optical zoom 24x (25-600mm), 3-inch LCD (460.000
pixels), SDXC slot (60MB internal), Li-ion battery, 69x106x39mm, 226g, 1 year
RTB warranty.
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