1381833616 Camera Guide

Unbiased Expert Advice. Always.

Powered by the UK’s largest consumer organisation

Take great shots with our Right Choice compact, bridge

and digital SLR cameras

Snaphappy

Most

coMprehensive

guide

over 50 models

tested

Snaphappy

whichrightchoice.com02 I right choice guide

This guide is just a taste of the expert advice and inspiring ideas Right Choice has to offer you. Just imagine spending thousands on a new camera, only to find that it’s fiddly to use, or just too slow to capture the action.

With Right Choice, avoid expensive mistakes and zoom straight in on the Right Choices – not only when choosing a camera, but every time you shop. We submit all kinds of products to our rigorous and unique tests to identify Right Choices.

And when you’ve decided which product is right for you, we’ll help you with advice, hints and tips to get the most out of your purchase.

Right Choice is a completely independent monthly magazine. We accept no advertising and carry no commercial content from providers of goods or services, either directly or indirectly. We’re backed by Which? in the UK and funded by consumers and for consumers, so we can tell it like it is and give you the facts, both good and bad. That’s why Which?, and now Right Choice in India, has for over 50 years helped you, the consumer, make better choices.

Click with the Right Choices

Dear Reader,

Buying a digital camera can be daunting, especially when you’re faced with an ever increasing array

of choices and lists of endless technical specifications. Digital cameras are increasingly packed with new features, making decisions even more challenging.

This straightforward guide will help you make sense of finding the right model for your needs – whether you want something durable and light for travelling, or a high-quality model to capture a celebration, such as a graduation day or wedding.

And with cameras able to record video, recognise faces or even capture ‘3D images’, we cut through the jargon to clarify what these features really mean and which are worth paying extra for.

We explain the steps to think about when shopping, the vital extras to pick up at the same time, and our top tips for getting the best from your camera. We’ll also give you recommendations or Right Choices based on our extensive independent and scientific testing, that we hope will help you select the Right Choice for you.

This guide also highlights and explains some of the technical terms needed to understand cameras and gives some hints and tips about some of the new ways you can share your pictures with family and friends.

I hope you find it useful.

paul Antony smitheditor

digital camera guide

whichrightchoice.com right choice guide I 03

04 How to buyWhether compact, bridge or SLR, we help you choose the best digital camera for your needs

06 Features explainedExplore the different functions available on your digital camera

08 Test results: Right ChoicesThe top compact, bridge and digital SLR cameras reviewed. Plus, camera specifications and test performance ratings of all models tested for easy reference

18 How we test We explain the various aspects of our tests

19 Camera modesLearn about common camera modes and how and when you can make use of them

22 Composing your shotsTechniques to enhance your photographs

24 Taking videos Read our hints and tips to take great videos with your camera

26 Budget compact camerasThese may not be loaded with features but they take good shots and are wallet-friendly

28 Waterproof camerasThese rugged cameras are ideal on treks or at the beach

29 Jargon busterWe help you decode common camera jargon

30 Camera phonesThe best camera smartphones can even rival a point-and-shoot

32 Photo-editing softwareFix red-eye or blur out unslightly spots on pictures with Right Choice photo-editing software

04

06

19

24

contents

22

Digital cameras can be broadly

divided into three main categories

– compact cameras, bridge cameras

and digital SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras.

We explain the various features of these

cameras in the ‘Features to look for’ and

‘Jargon buster’ sections (see p6 and p29) of

this guide so that you know what to look for

when you go shopping.

Check out our Right Choice compact,

bridge and digital SLR camera reviews

(p8-17) which include models that have

triumphed over the others when they were

tested to the limit. We test each model for

picture quality, ease of use, battery life and

more. We have tabulated the results for

easy reference as well, so you can select the

camera that suits your needs.

Also featured are budget compact models

(p26). These are basic models that might

be short on creative options, but are good

for simple and quick snaps. And if you’re

looking for something sturdier, read our

reviews of the best waterproof, shock-

resistant and dust-proof camera models

we’ve tested (p28) – great for an adventure

trip or a beach holiday.

Whether you’re after a simple point-and-shoot or an advanced DSLR, our expert advice can help you choose the perfect digital camera


how to buy

n How much do you want to spend? Camera prices range from around `12,000 for

a good point-and-shoot compact camera to more than `1 lakh for a high-end DSLR. Avoid paying for features you won’t use.

n What do you want to use your digital camera for?

Different types of digital camera are more

suited to different types of photography. Think about the type of photography you will use your camera for and where you will use it.

n How much camera control do you need? Some cameras offer lots of manual controls. However, budget cameras rely on automatic settings designed to take the best possible photo. Choose according to your preference.

To pick the right camera, consider three things

Digital camerasWhich one should you buy?

Compact camera A compact digital camera is small and lightweight, so it’s easy to carry around in a pocket or handbag. This portability means you never have to miss those spur-of-the-moment shots.

These type of camera have fully automatic and scene modes – perfect for beginners. But there are some models that include semi-automatic and manual controls for more advanced photography.

The smallest compact cameras are typically 20mm thick or less, and are also

known as ultra-compact cameras. These cameras are tiny enough be slipped into a shirt pocket. The trade-off for their size is usually lack of manual controls and sometimes a viewfinder. Buttons and dials can be fiddly to use, but our tests show that ultra-compact cameras are capable of taking good quality images.

Would suit Casual photographers or photography beginners who want an easy-to-use, lightweight and cheap digital camera.

Digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs)If you want advanced manual control over your photos along with the best possible picture quality, there’s no substitute for a digital SLR – known as a DSLR camera.

DSLR cameras capture better photos than slim digital compact cameras thanks to to their large image sensors and superior lenses, as well as the wealth of manual settings on offer.

You can use the DSLR starter lens kit that comes with the camera for everyday photography, and buy additional lenses for specific situations – such as a telephoto lens for capturing fast action sports. However, DSLRs tend to be bulky, and are often very expensive.

Would suit Professionals and keen amateur photographers who want full manual control and excellent photo quality.


Types of digital camera

Bridge cameraA bridge camera lies between a compact camera and a digital SLR. Cameras with advanced features and big zooms are usually referred to as bridge cameras.

These types of cameras don’t allow you to change lenses and tend to be smaller than DSLRs, but offer manual control and often have features such as viewfinders.

In our bridge camera reviews we also included high-end compact cameras that bridge the gap between compact cameras and DSLRs. High-end compact bridge cameras have better sensors than you’ll find on a standard compact camera, so you should get better shots in low-light conditions. One downside is that zoom lengths can be rather limited on this type of camera.

Would suit Anyone who wants more control over their photos, without paying significantly more for a DSLR.

whichrightchoice.com right choice guide I 076 I right choice guide whichrightchoice.com

ResolutionThe quality of a digital photo depends heavily on the digital camera’s resolution – the amount of detail it records. Resolution is defined in megapixels (Mp). More megapixels mean more detail, so you can create bigger prints without noticing blockiness on the picture. The digital camera’s lens quality, sensor quality and sensor size also play a big role in how sharp and colour-accurate your pictures are. Just like standard digital cameras, DSLRs have sensors that capture the image, before the image gets passed onto and recorded onto the memory card. DSLR sensors are physically bigger than the sensors in standard digital cameras – a reason why DSLR cameras can give better picture quality.

Features to look forFrom the huge variety of different features, focus on the ones you actually need

Features explained

Face-detectionMost digital cameras feature face-detection technology. This lets the camera detect individuals within shots, focusing more accurately on their faces.

Image stabilisationThis is a feature designed to reduce the effects of shaky hands on pictures. A mechanical image stabiliser can be built either into the body of the digital camera or into the lens, where it’s often called an optical image stabiliser. In both cases, the stabiliser creates a sensitive mechanical adjustment to compensate for wobbly motions.


ViewfinderVirtually all digital cameras have an LCD screen for composing shots. Some (especially bigger digital cameras) have a viewfinder too, which is a useful alternative as it’s easier to use in bright sunlight when the LCD screen is hard to view because of reflection. You can steady a shot more easily with a viewfinder, because you hold the digital camera up to your eye. Using the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen also saves a bit of battery life. An optical viewfinder on a digital camera other than a DSLR isn’t 100% accurate. An electronic viewfinder is a miniature LCD and is more accurate.

ZoomingNearly all digital cameras have zoom lenses. In our digital camera reviews, we show the zoom range as it would be on a film camera, for easy comparison. For example, a digital camera might have a zoom range of 35-105mm. The first figure refers to the lens at its shortest setting. The lower this number, the wider the angle of view the digital camera can manage – useful for taking landscape shots. The second figure indicates how far the digital camera’s zoom extends. The higher this number, the closer you can zoom in on distant objects. For close-ups of distant wildlife, aim for a -high second number.

HD movie modeMost digital cameras can produce not only still shots, but also short videos with sound. In fact, an increasing number of digital cameras now offer high-definition (HD) movie recording. Some of these models do manage to offer better video quality than you can get from cameras with more basic movie modes, but don’t expect videos to rival an actual camcorder’s.

Anti-blurThis is different from image stabilisation. Anti-blur is a digital adjustment to the camera’s picture settings aimed at limiting the amount of motion blur in a shot. Digital cameras with anti-blur increase the shutter speed to take the shot more quickly while raising the ISO level to make the camera sensitive to lower light exposure. This can have a detrimental effect on overall image quality.

Shutter delayWith some digital cameras, the photo is taken more than a second after you press the shutter release – making it easy to miss the instant your child blows out the birthday candles, for example. A tip is to half-press the shutter button as you compose a shot. This sets off the digital camera’s autofocus system. When the camera finds the focus, it will beep or a light will come on to show it’s ready. Make sure you’re happy with the composition of the picture, using the digital camera’s LCD screen or viewfinder, while keeping the button half pressed. Finally, press it down all the way to take the picture.


Right Choicestest results

The best compact cameras

Available in pink, silver and black, this Canon is one of the best pocket cameras you can buy. It weighs a featherweight 143 grams – a good 443 grams less than the heaviest model we’ve tested, the Nikon Coolpix P520.Picture quality Overall image quality is fantastic for a pocket camera. Indoor shots taken with the flash, in particular, are some of the best we’ve seen. Shots taken in bright outdoors also look terrific. Face detection and image stabilisation work well too – though images taken in low light are grainy. This slim camera has an impressive 24mm wide-angle lens, coupled with a 10x zoom.

81% Canon Ixus 255Hs, `12,995

n pros Great picture quality, good flash, good focusing, Wi-Fi transfern cons Low-light images are grainy

The Olympus Stylus XZ-10 has a full manual exposure control mode plus a control ring around the lens for swift exposure changes. If you’re a novice user, you may find the controls a bit confusing.Picture quality Picture quality is impressive in a variety of situations. Outside landscape shots look natural with balanced exposure, while indoor shots are sharp with natural colours. Shots taken in low light are particularly impressive, with little grain and good colour definition. Despite all the features and buttons, the camera is still relatively lightweight.

78% Olympus stylus XZ-10, `24,990

n pros Great picture quality, host of features, full exposure controln cons Video quality not very good

The Nikon Coolpix P330 comes with plenty of features that justify the price tag and proved a good all-rounder in our tests. This Nikon comes with options for adjusting the shutter speed and aperture priority.Picture quality It has a good built-in flash that ensures photos are well lit. The image stabilisation is particularly effective, so shaky hands won’t result in blurry photos. It produces top-notch images in dim conditions – among the best we’ve seen from a compact camera. Video quality is good, although the sound quality is average. It’s quick to start up, taking just 1.2 seconds.

76% NikON COOlpiX p330, `16,950

n pros Great picture quality, effective flash, quick to start upn cons Long shutter delay

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE



This Nikon has a large 22x optical zoom and is reasonably priced. At 205g, it’s lighter than most compacts with large zooms.Picture quality This Nikon takes brilliant outdoor shots. The flash does a good job at producing sharp and well-exposed images. Images taken without the flash can show a slight shift in the colours – reds look pink, for example. Images taken in low light are decent. It takes videos in full HD, though audio is thin and tinny. It’s ready to shoot in just 1.6 seconds, and a continuous shooting speed of 6.5 frames per second means you won’t miss the action.

75% NikON COOlpiX s9500, `18,950

n pros Good image stabilisation, large zoom, great outdoor picturesn cons Poor audio in videos

The Nikon L820 combines a 30x optical zoom and solid image stabilisation to give you blur-free images. It also has a 23mm wide-angle lens which means you can take large group shots without standing too far back.Picture quality Overall picture quality is good. Indoor shots taken without the flash looked better than those taken with the flash on. It does a great job at focusing even in difficult light conditions, though images in low light are only average. It’s not the most convenient to use – there are four alkaline batteries that can easily fall out and are not rechargeable.

74% NikON COOlpiX l820, `15,450

n pros Great pictures, good image stabilisationn cons Batteries fall out easily, heavy for a compact

The Fujifilm Finepix camera has a massive 50x optical zoom in a relatively compact and lightweight body. It offers good level of manual control, yet is surprisingly easy to use. Picture quality Picture quality is very good and face detection works well, too. Outside landscape shots look natural and indoor shots are sharp, although slightly pink-tinged. Shots taken in low-light conditions aren’t as good – they are grainier and the colours get less intense. With such an enormous telephoto zoom, it’s tricky to hold the camera steady at maximum zoom.

73% FujiFilm FiNepiX sl1000, `29,999

n pros Great picture quality, good focusing, fast to start upn cons Low-light shots not as good

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE



The Nikon Coolpix P520 offers DSLR-like features, such as an electronic viewfinder and manual control. It delivers fantastic picture quality, though it can’t really match that of a good DSLR. Picture quality The landscape shots taken outdoors look natural, with balanced exposure, while indoor shots taken with flash are sharp. However, it’s quite sluggish to fire up and get ready for a shot, taking 2.3 seconds. This added to a slow shutter release of 0.7 seconds, means you might miss the shot you were hoping for. Video quality is reasonable, with good sound quality.

73% NikON COOlpiX p520, `23,950

n pros Great picture quality, good focusing, viewfindern cons Slow to start up

This Nikon offers a generous 12x optical zoom and is available at a reasonable price in six attractive colours. You can also capture videos in full HD.Picture quality Photos taken in dim light are slightly better than those from the Canon IXUS 255HS, though not completely grain-free. This is a great option if you’ll mostly be taking outdoor shots such as landscapes. Indoor images taken without the flash can look overexposed and pale – you’d be better off turning the flash on to get sharp photos with accurate colours. It’s quick to start up – ready to shoot in just 1.5 seconds.


n pros Full HD video, great outdoor shots, fast to start upn cons Slight grain in low-light shots

Although the 10x optical zoom might seem relatively small, at the same price, the 18Mp Cybershot DSC-WX200 gives brilliant picture quality and an impressive shooting speed.Picture quality The low-light images taken from this Sony are better than you’ll get from most compacts we’ve tested. It has a crisp focus, which helps produce sharp images. The flash can be a bit inadequate at illuminating distant objects (over 3m). At 122g, it’s also one of the lightest compact cameras on test. It is quick to start up and has a fantastic continuous shooting speed of 10fps.

70% sONy CybershOt DsC-WX200, `13,990

n pros Great overall picture quality, crisp focusn cons Flash could be better

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE

GREATVALUE



test score (%)

ease of use

video quality

shutter delay

image stabilisation

Low-light

image quality

overall

picture quality

gps taggingW

i-Fi

Weight (g)

optical zoom

magnification

Maxim

um wide

angle (mm

)

resolution (Mp)

price (`)

speciFicAtion test perForMAnce

test And rAtings

BrAnd

1 cAnon Ixus 255HS 12,995 12 24 10 143 ü O «««« ««« «««« «««« «««« ««« 81

2 oLyMpus Stylus XZ10 24,990 12 26 5 223 O O «««« «««« «««« ««« ««« «««« 78

3 nikon Coolpix P330 16,950 12 24 5 198 O ü «««« «««« «««« «« «««« ««««« 76

4 nikon Coolpix S9500 18,950 18 25 22 201 ü ü «««« ««« «««« ««««« ««« «««« 75

5 nikon Coolpix L820 15,450 16 23 30 507 O O «««« ««« «««« ««««« «««« ««« 74

6 FujiFiLM FinePix SL1000 29,999 16 24 50 722 O O «««« «« ««« ««««« ««« «««« 73

7 nikon Coolpix P520 23,950 18 24 42 586 O ü «««« ««« «««« ««« ««« ««« 73

8 nikon Coolpix S6500 11,950 16 25 12 153 ü O «««« ««« «««« «««« «««« ««« 72

9 nikon Coolpix AW110 16,950 16 28 5 194 ü ü «««« ««« «««« «««« «««« ««« 71

10 sony Cybershot DSC-WX200 13,990 18 25 10 122 ü O «««« ««« N/A ««««« ««« ««« 70

11 cAnon Powershot A3500 IS 9,995 16 28 5 133 O O «««« «« ««« ««« ««« ««« 69

12 sAMsung WB250F 15,390 14 24 18 218 ü O «««« «« «««« ««« ««« ««« 69

13 nikon Coolpix S5200 8,950 16 26 6 143 ü O «««« «« «««« «««« ««« ««« 68

14 nikon Coolpix S3500 7,950 20 26 7 127 ü O «««« «« N/A ««« ««« ««« 68

15 oLyMpus Stylus TG-2 52,060 12 25 4 248 O ü «««« ««« «««« ««««« ««« ««« 66

16 sony Cybershot DSC-W730 7,990 16 25 8 122 O O «««« ««« N/A «««« ««« ««« 66

17 sony Cybershot DSC-WX60 9,990 16 25 10 123 O O «««« ««« N/A «««« ««« ««« 66

18 cAnon Ixus 132 7,995 16 28 8 131 O O «««« «« «« ««« ««« ««« 66

19 sAMsung Galaxy Camera 26,000 16 23 21 300 ü ü «««« ««« «««« ««« ««« ««« 65

20 nikon Coolpix S2700 5,950 16 26 6 125 O O «««« «« N/A ««« «««« ««« 65

21 cAnon Ixus 135 10,995 16 28 8 134 ü O «««« «« «« ««« «««« ««« 64

22 sAMsung WB 30F 10,190 16 24 10 148 ü O «««« «« ««« ««« «« ««« 63

23 sAMsung WB200F 13,290 14 24 18 128 ü O «««« «« «««« ««« «« ««« 63

24 cAnon Powershot A2600 8,995 16 28 10 129 O O «««« «« N/A ««« ««« ««« 62

25 cAnon Ixus 140 12,495 16 28 8 132 ü O «««« «« «««« ««« ««« ««« 61

26 sAMsung DV150F 9,190 16 25 5 148 ü O ««« «« ««« ««« «« ««« 57

27 sony Cybershot DSC-H200 13,990 20 24 26 522 O O «««« « N/A ««« ««« «« 56

28 pAnAsonic Lumix DMC-XS1 7,830 16 24 5 101 O O «««« «« «««« ««« ««« «« 55

29 sony Cybershot DSC-W710 5,990 16 28 5 115 O O «««« ««« « «« ««« «« 55

30 nikon Coolpix L27 4,990 16 26 5 159 O O «««« «« « «« «« «« 55

31 nikon Coolpix S31 5,950 10 29 3 162 O O ««« «« « ««« «« «« 53

Compact cameras

USING THE TABLE More stars the better. All Right Choices are highlighted in red. SpEcIfIcATIoN Price Guide prices as on October 5, 2013 Resolution The measured effective resolution, in megapixels. This sometimes differs very slightly from the manufacturer’s claimed figure Maximum wide angle (mm) The smaller the wide angle number, the more you’ll be able to fit into the shot - useful for landscapes and group photos Optical zoom magnification The maximum amount of magnification possible (eg 3x) Weight With lens cap, strap, battery and memory card Wi-Fi Whether the camera can connect to a Wi-Fi network GPS tagging Some cameras offer GPS-tagging, recording the exact global location of where you were when you took your shot

TEST RESULTS Overall picture quality Overall rating based on our assessment of the camera’s picture quality in different light conditions and at different

zoom ranges Low-light picture quality The camera’s picture quality in challenging low light Image stabilisation Effectiveness of the camera’s image stabiliser in trembling motion and low light scenarios Shutter delay The time it takes for the camera to take the picture, after you have pressed the button from a completely un-pressed position Video quality An overall rating for the camera’s video quality in different light conditionsScoRE Ignores price sand is based on:Image quality ............................................................................. 40%Ease of use (including speed) .......................................... 30%Movie quality .............................................................................. 10%Monitor........................................................................................... 10%Features ........................................................................................ 10%

12 13



The best bridge cameras

Picture quality from this camera is among the highest you’ll get from a compact. The manual adjustment options are many. Its body offers more direct control dials than you’ll find on many entry-level DSLRs.Picture quality It comes into its own when shooting in daylight or artificial light. In bright conditions, photos come out sharp and detailed, but low-light photos are slightly grainier than pictures taken with a DSLR.Ease of use The Canon Powershot G12 is not the fastest picture-taker. It takes nearly three seconds between consecutive shots – slower than the average two seconds. Continuous shooting speed is also not rapid – you can take around two shots per second.

77% CaNON pOWershOt G12, `24,995

n pros Optical viewfinder, full range of manual controls, rotatable LCD screen

n cons Slow continuous shooting

The Sony Cybershot RX100 combines top-notch features in a sleek and compact body. It’s impressively small – ideal for slipping into a pocket.Picture quality The RX100 takes effective photos and excels in terms of focus and exposure. Even images taken in low light are impressive, with true colours and sharp images. Ease of use As it weighs slightly less than 300 grams, you won’t feel overburdened. There’s no traditional viewfinder, as is usually the case in smaller cameras, so you have to compose and view your shots on the 3-inch LCD screen on the back. This makes it tricky to use in bright light.

76% sONy CybershOt rX100, `34,990

n pros Great photos even in low light, lightweightn cons No viewfinder

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE

12 13



This Panasonic model’s strong picture quality and well-designed features make it a great choice if you’re after a large zoom camera.Picture quality The Lumix DMC-FZ150 takes excellent shots, with crisp detail and colour accuracy. The manual adjustments ensure that you capture impressive photos. However, it performs superbly when left in its automatic mode as well. The flash performance is somewhat mediocre. The 24x zoom lens is one of the best features on this camera.Ease of use It’s easy to make full use of the lens with the electronic viewfinder. However, it takes a sluggish four seconds before it’s ready to shoot.

75% PanasonIC LumIx DmC-FZ150, `24,990

n pros Good low-light shots, excellent picture quality, large zoom lens, manual controls

n cons Graininess at higher ISO settings

The massive 26x zoom and good wide-angle make the Fujifilm FinePix X-S1 a very versatile camera.Picture quality The picture quality is good on the auto mode – you can also experiment with the full gamut of manual settings to get the perfect shot. It offers good picture quality and fares impressively well in low light. It’s great for close-up ‘super macro’ shots.Ease of use At 1kg, the FinePix X-S1 is rather heavy and it falls behind similarly-priced DSLRs in terms of speed. In auto mode, shutter delay and shot-to-shot time at the highest quality setting are average, which means you could miss a crucial shot by a few seconds. We found that the face detection is supremely effective.

75% FujiFilm FiNepiX X-s1, `59,999

n pros Good low-light shots, good picture quality, large zoom

n cons Heavy and bulky

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE

14 15


test results

test score (%)

image

stabilisation

Autofocus

Monitor quality

viewfinder

Low-light

picture quality

picture quality

continous

shooting speed (fps)

start-up time (s)

Maxim

um

selectable iso

Weight (g)

optical zoom range-

resolution (Mp)

price (`)


test And rAtings

BrAnd

1 cAnon Powershot G12 24,995 10 5.00 425 12,800 3.11 2 «««« «««« «« «««« «« «««« 772 sony Cybershot RX100 34,990 20 3.60 241 6,400 3.27 8 «««« «««« NA «««« ««« ««««« 763 pAnAsonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 24,990 12 24.00 557 3,200 4.27 10 «««« ««««« «««« «««« ««« «««« 75

4 FujiFiLM FinePix X-S1 59,999 12 26.00 624 12,800 2.46 4 «««« ««««« «««« «««« «««« «««« 75

5 nikon Coolpix P7100 22,950 10 7.10 427 6,400 1.98 1 «««« ««««« ««« «««« «« ««««« 74

6 cAnon Powershot SX50 HS 29,995 12 50.00 634 6,400 2.28 2 «««« «««« «««« «««« «««« ««« 73

7 FujiFiLM FinePix X100 67,499 12 1.00 471 12,800 3.53 5 «««« «««« «««« «««« «««« «««« 73

8 FujiFiLM FinePix X10 44,999 12 4.00 384 12,800 2.83 4 «««« ««««« «««« «««« ««« ««««« 73

9 cAnon Powershot S110 29,995 12 5.00 200 12,800 2.46 2 «««« ««««« NA «««« ««« ««« 71

10 cAnon Powershot G1 X 47,995 14 4.00 565 12,800 3.30 2 «««« «««« «« «««« ««« ««« 71

11 FujiFiLM FinePix HS30 EXR 24,999 16 30.00 731 12,800 2.60 8 «««« ««««« «««« «««« ««« ««««« 71

12 sony Cybershot DSC-HX200V 24,500 18 30.00 611 3,200 2.88 9 «««« «««« «««« «««« «««« ««« 71

13 nikon Coolpix P510 23,950 16 41.70 582 6,400 2.18 1 «««« «««« «««« ««« ««« ««««« 70

14 pAnAsonic Lumix DMC-LX5 29,090 10 3.80 284 12,800 2.42 3 «««« ««««« NA «««« ««« ««««« 69

15 oLyMpus XZ-1 25,990 10 4.00 285 6,400 3.36 3 «««« «««« NA «««« «« «««« 66

Bridge cameras

USING THE TABLEThe more stars the better. Right Choices are highlighted in red.SpEcIfIcATIoN Price Guide price as on October 5, 2013 Resolution Higher resolutions are useful if you plan to enlarge prints greatly Optical zoom range The range in the kit lens. The smaller number is the wide angle the lens begins from. The large number is the telephoto end. The larger this is the more it zooms

Start-up time Time taken by the camera to be ready to take a shot Continuous shooting speed Least time between shots in highest quality setting (burst mode)TEST pERfoRmANcE Picture quality Quality of photos of scenes using auto mode Low-light picture quality Poorer cameras tend to show more graininess and colour can be murky Monitor quality The brightness of the monitor Autofocus How stable the autofocus is and how quickly it focuses in low light Image

stabilization How well the camera compensates for trembling motions, reducing blurScoREIgnores price sand is based on:Picture quality ........................................................................... 40%Ease of use ................................................................................. 30%Viewfinder & monitor quality .............................................. 15%Video/audio ................................................................................ 10%Flash .................................................................................................. 5%

14 15


The best DSLR cameras

This full-frame DSLR offers superb picture quality with added features such as twin memory card slots, external mic and headphone sockets and weather sealing.picture quality Photos are incredibly detailed with natural colours and little discernible noise in normal conditions. Indoor portrait shots without the flash show a slight yellowish tint, but tweaking the white balance will fix that.convenience There’s a traditional viewfinder that’s easy to see when you’re framing your photos. The LCD screen is trickier to see in sunshine, but compares well with its rivals. Instead of the faster USB 3.0, this model only supports the slower USB 2.0 standard, which means transfer of images directly from the camera may take a bit longer.

84% NikON D600, `1,25,950

n pros Superior image quality, high-resolution sensor, twin memory card slots

n cons No articulated screen

This DSLR is larger, heavier and more expensive than its little brother the EOS 100D but takes excellent photos and scores better than many pricier model.picture quality It’s got great overall picture quality and comes in an easy-to-use package. It delivers excellent photos both outdoors and in. Quality holds up well even in murkier conditions and video footage is good too.convenience The controls are well laid out with several function buttons. It’s similar in spec to the EOS 100D but includes an articulated screen, more sophisticated autofocus, faster burst shooting, a more powerful flash and wireless flashgun control. The shutter delay is minimal and it offers the flexibility of interchangeable lenses.

83% CaNON eOs 700D, `59,995

n pros Great picture quality, budget pricen cons Not the lightest

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE


test results

The Nikon D7100 is a high-spec DSLR with a 24.1Mp resolution and offers great picture quality and plenty of high-end features.picture quality The picture quality is very impressive. Outdoor shots are sharp and detailed, and indoor portrait shots, both with and without flash, are excellent. Low-light images show only a marginal increase in graininess.convenience For a complex camera with so many features, it’s surprisingly easy to use. However, the mode dial has a lock button that is hard to release – it’s much easier on other cameras with this type of feature.

82% NikON D7100, `94,950

n pros Superior image quality, twin memory card slotsn cons Mode dial locking mechanism is a pain to use

This DSLR is one of the smallest and lightest models available. It’s fast to start-up, shutter delay is minimal and it offers the flexibility of interchangeable lenses.picture quality It delivers excellent images. Photos in bright sunlight are clear and well exposed, while indoor shooting with the flash produces particularly good pictures. convenience Its optical viewfinder is good and the rear touchscreen works well, which makes navigating menus simple using a combination of the screen and regular controls – though the screen can be tricky to use in bright light.

81% CaNON eOs 100D, `48,995

n pros Great picture quality, compact and lightweight for a DSLRn cons Not as many dials and buttons as more expensive models

The 650D is an excellent DSLR that produces fantastic images and comes with top-end features such as a maximum ISO level of 25,600 and Full HD video.picture quality It takes great indoor shots. If you’re taking pictures in dim lighting and don’t want to use flash, we recommend you use the manual settings to improve shots rather than trusting the automatic setting. convenience It features an optical viewfinder and also updates quickly. The screen is touch-sensitive and copes well in most lighting. It’s speedy to start up, though the burst rate is a mediocre five images per second.

81% CaNON eOs 650D, `59,995

n pros Good all-round cameran cons Indoor shots without the flash could be better in the auto-mode

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE

GREATVALUE

Right Choices


test score (%)

ease of use

operating

speed

overall

video quality

Monitor

Low-light

picture quality

overall

picture quality

continous

shooting (fps)

start-up time (s)

tested lens

price (`)


test And rAtings

BrAnd

1 nikon D600 1,25,950 24-85mm 0.4 2 «««« «««« ««««« ««« «««« «««« 84

2 cAnon EOS 700D 59,995 EF-S 18-55 IS STM 0.4 5 «««« «««« «««« «««« «««« «««« 83

3 nikon D7100 94,950 18-105mm VR 0.5 6 «««« ««« «««« ««««« ««« «««« 82

4 cAnon EOS 100D 48,995 EF-S 18-55 IS STM 0.5 4 «««« «««« «««« «««« «««« «««« 81

5 cAnon EOS 650D 59,995 18-55mm 0.5 2.00 «««« ««« «««« «««« «««« «««« 81

6 sony NEX-3N 29,990 16-50mm SELP1650 2.2 4 «««« «««« «««« «««« ««« «««« 77

7 nikon D5200 46,950 18-55mm 0.71 5 «««« ««« «««« ««« ««« «««« 75

8 sony SLT-A58 32,990 DT 3.5-5.6/ 18-55 SAM II 2.0 5 ««« ««« ««« ««« ««« ««««« 72

9 sony NEX-5R 39,990 18-55mm 1.5 1.00 «««« ««« «««« ««« ««« «««« 72

10 cAnon EOS M 34,995 18-55mm 3.0 3.00 «««« ««« «««« ««« «« «««« 71

11 oLyMpus Pen Lite E-PL5 33,999 14-42 mm 1.2 1 «««« ««« ««« ««« ««« «««« 67

DSLR

USING THE TABLEAll Right Choices are highlighted in red. The more stars the better. SpEcIfIcATIoN Price Guide price as on October 5, 2013 Start-up time Time for the camera to be ready to take a shot Continuous shooting Least time between shots in highest quality setting (burst mode)

TEST pERfoRmANcE Overall picture quality Quality of photos of scenes using auto mode Low-light picture quality Poorer cameras tend to show more graininess and colour can be murky Overall video quality Camera’s video quality in different light conditions Operating speed A total score for the camera’s speed in being ready to take a shot, its speed between shots, and how quickly it can autofocus and take a shot.

ScoRE Ignores price and is based on:Overall picture quality .......................................................... 40%Ease of use (including speed of shooting)................. 30%Movie quality .............................................................................. 10%Monitor........................................................................................... 10%Viewfinder ..................................................................................... 5%Flash .................................................................................................. 5%

18 19


how we test

To help you choose the best digital camera, we put each model through a series of meticulous tests. Our expert team designs the tests to be both rigorous and repeatable, so that we know we’ve really put the products through their paces.

Ease of useout of the box We look at using the camera for the first time, including the intuitiveness of basic controls, inserting memory cards and batteries, and instruction manuals. Shutter delay and auto-focusing The speeds of these functions are carefully measured, along with the delay between taking successive photos and the start up time, to check if sluggish behaviour may lead to you missing that perfect moment.menus We check how easy menus are to change common settings such as flash options, image quality and scene modes. If these options are difficult to find and change you may be missing out on a wealth of your camera’s best features.Screen: The quality and accuracy of the screen and viewfinder are checked under different light conditions to check for good colour reproduction and assess how accurately you can frame your shot. manual focusing Manual focusing and settings are checked for suitable scales and how they are adjusted; lens zoom is tested for its speed, responsiveness and precision.

Image quality Image quality of digital cameras is assessed by a panel of five experts. When testing image quality, we measure resolution and aberrations using a test chart and the camera at different settings (such as at wide angle setting, at telephoto setting, and so on.)

Colour reproduction, contrast, peak white and white balance are assessed using a range of camera settings on a combination of various practical pictures, stretching the cameras’ abilities. These help to distinguish those cameras that will capture accurate images in a range of difficult photographic environments.

Sensitivity to light We also measure light sensitivity, picture noise, vignetting and distortion. Automatic focusing, including face detection, is measured while pointing the digital camera at a variety of objects, under different light conditions, and at various camera settings to make sure you avoid blurry, out of focus images. Test images reveal the camera’s ability to record skin tones and fine details accurately, while our low light performance tests check image noise, sharpness and resolution in darker environments.

Image stabilisationOur ‘shaking hands’ test is used to check the image stabilisation features

to see whether the digital camera will capture the moment with detail and sharpness even when you’re struggling to hold it still.

FlashThe intelligence of the camera’s flash is measured – how well it automatically adjusts its brightness according to the scene photographed. Flash quality is also assessed, taking a photograph at different distances from close-up to far-away, along with its strength, variation in distribution and reflections.

movie modeWe set the digital camera to take movies at a range of quality settings, and record movies of different scenes, including scenes of movement and those where the camera is placed on a tripod and panned across the scene.

The audio quality produced by a camera’s built-in microphone is also rated and our testers highlight whether using the zoom while recording can be heard on the audio.

How wE TEST DIGITAL cAmERAS

18 19


MAnUAL FOCUSNearly all cameras have autofocus (AF) but

some also have manual focus (MF). MF is

useful for close-ups as it lets you focus on

exactly what you want (the centre of a flower

instead of the petals, for example).

It’s also handy for special effects, such

as shooting a street light out of focus for a

dreamy, romantic effect.

MF is also useful when AF won’t work.

AF sometimes struggles to work in poor

light or when shooting from behind glass,

for example.

A useful trick with MF is that when you

want to shoot lots of pictures of objects

or people at roughly the same distance

away from you, you can set the MF to that

distance and shoot away. Shutter delay

will be cut right down as you won’t be

using AF, and you won’t have to keep

half-pressing the shutter button to lock

the focus for every shot.

Camera modes

camera modes

Below are some of the most common camera modes you’ll find on a digital camera. Keep in mind, compact point-and-shoot models may not feature all of these modes


camera modes

WHITE BALAnCELight always appears white to the naked eye.

In fact it takes different colours depending

on the source – from household light bulbs

to natural daylight. So a photo taken indoors

by the light of a standard ceiling bulb may

come out with a slight yellowish cast.

Digital cameras have a feature called

auto white balance, which ensures the ‘true’

colours (as our eyes would see them) are

shown. Sometimes the camera struggles,

though, especially with close-ups or scenes

dominated by a single colour – the sky,

for example. To counter this, there are

manually-selectable white balance settings,

like daylight (for sunny days), cloudy

(overcast days) and tungsten (for ordinary

household light bulbs).

You can also use custom white balance

mode to help achieve the most natural

colours. Point the camera at something pure

white, like a piece of paper, and the camera

will evaluate the light conditions and set its

white balance accordingly.

ISO SETTInGSDigital camera ISO settings are very similar

to film ones. The higher the number, the

more sensitive the camera is to light.

If you’re in a place where flash

photography is prohibited, or you just

don’t want to use flash, manually select

a high ISO number (for example, 400 or

above). This will help to ensure the image

has good levels of brightness and contrast,

without using flash.

However, a high ISO setting introduces

more ‘noise’ – random, small, coloured

speckles, which are visible more in even

areas of colour or when the image is

enlarged. This can detract from the quality

of your image, or on the other hand on a

few photos, it can add an interesting sense

of atmosphere.

APERTURE PRIORITy MODEThis is often found on the mode dial –

look for ‘A’ or ‘Av’ – or through your

camera’s menu.

If your camera has aperture priority

mode you can get creative by changing the

f-stop yourself. The f-stop represents the

size of the aperture, the hole in the lens that

A high ISO setting introduces more ‘noise’


light passes through to form an image. It

controls how much of your scene is in focus.

A low f-stop of 2.8, for example,

combined with standing closer to your

subject and zooming in closer, puts a lot

of the background out of focus to create

portrait shots. The further away the

background the better. A high f-stop of 8

puts a lot of the shot in focus – good for

landscapes. Settings are often available

between low and high values, giving you

precise control over focusing.

SHUTTER-SPEED PRIORITy MODEShutter-speed priority mode gives you

more precise control over a picture. It is

often found on the mode dial – look for ‘S’

or ‘Tv’ or on your camera’s menu. It is

useful when photographing movement.

You adjust the shutter speed manually – a

fast shutter speed of 1/500 of a second, for

example, will normally freeze the motion of

a moving cyclist.

A similar shot taken with a shutter

speed of 1/30 of a second will show the

cyclist as a bit blurry, creating a nice visual

effect of speed.

For maximum sharpness when using

a slow shutter speed, use a tripod. Not all

cameras come with this accessory.

BURST MODEVirtually all cameras have a burst mode.

This feature, sometimes called continuous

shooting mode, allows the camera to take

several shots, one immediately after the

other, until you take your finger off the

shutter button.

The shot rate varies widely between

different models, but most cameras take

between one and three shots a second, with

up to about 10 shots in total.

Burst mode is useful for getting still

images from fast action, when you are

shooting pictures of sport perhaps, or even

a baby or toddler – subjects that find it

hard to keep still. All pictures taken in burst

mode are stored on the memory card – you

can then choose to keep all, some or none

of them.

SCEnE MODESMost cameras have a number of scene

modes. These optimise the camera’s settings

for specific scenes and photo effects you’d

like to create. Some cameras have more than

20 of them.

For example, select Portrait Mode to

take a picture of a friend. Stand close to

your friend, try to zoom in as well, and the

background will be thrown out of focus

making the friend the centre of attention.

The closer you step in, the more the

background will go out of focus. Also, the

photo might be a touch warmer than normal

in colour, making skin tones more attractive.

Sports Mode freezes movement, such as

a football flying in mid-air, and is good for

action photography.

Some other modes are a bit less common.

Beach and Snow modes, for example, help

prevent your photos becoming washed-out

in bright beach and snow scenes.

Party Mode helps with indoor photos

in dim light. These modes normally give

good results and are usually quick to select.

Sometimes, it’s simply a case of just turning

the mode dial on the top of the camera to the

correct position.

Scene modes don’t always give the best

possible result, especially in dull or very

bright conditions, so look for cameras with

aperture priority mode and shutter-speed

priority mode as well. These give you more

precise control under all light conditions.

Burst mode helps you get still images from fast action


composing shots

COMPOSING YOUR SHOTSRULE of THIRDSAlthough it is possible to adjust images using photo-editing software, you’ll get much better results if you start off with a well-taken and well-composed shot.

Professional photographers compose shots using the ‘rule of thirds’ to get their pictures looking just right. When you look through the viewfinder, you should mentally divide up the image into thirds, both horizontal and vertical.

Most often you’ll get a better picture if the subject isn’t dead centre. In order to attain best results, position the main focus of the picture where the lines intersect.

cANDID SHoTSIf you think your subjects wouldn’t mind being photographed without them knowing, try taking a few candid, unposed shots.

These are more natural and often more interesting than those that are posed, as they show people going about their business normally without nervousness making them look awkward or pulling strange faces for the camera inadvertently.

Of course, it’s only fair to your subjects to show them your pictures afterwards!

cLoSE-UpSFor close-ups, use the camera’s macro mode, usually indicated by a small flower. Or if you have a digital SLR camera, look for lenses with good macro capabilities.

The macro mode helps you to focus on very close subjects like flowers or insects, for example, within about 30cm of the camera. This helps you to show great detail in the final photo.


COMPOSING YOUR SHOTSpANNINGThe idea of panning is to show a sharp and frozen image of a fast-moving subject like a bike or car, with a blurry background. By using shutter-speed priority mode to blur your subject, panning creates a sense of action in the photograph.

To try panning, set a slow shutter speed – around 1/15 of a second, for example. The idea then is to follow the bike or car as it passes across you, preferably in the viewfinder, and continue to follow it as you press the shutter button down and for a moment afterwards.

Keep the subject in the same position in the viewfinder as you twist your upper body round, and press the shutter button when you’re facing your subject square on. Before the subject approaches, make sure to focus on a point about the same distance from you, where your subject will pass – to ensure it is as sharp as possible in the final photo.

You can use manual focus for this, or normal autofocus. Using autofocus, press the shutter button halfway down to focus on a point around which your subject will pass, and keep it half pressed as you begin to pan.

wHEN THE SUN GoES DowNThe time of day can have a great influence on the way your photo will appear.

If you shoot outdoors at dawn, your picture will have a slight bluish colour cast. At noon, colours will appear the most natural, though it might be too bright. Just before sunset, pictures will take a lovely warm, orangey tone.

Of course, you can adjust these colour settings to your own preference by changing the camera’s white balance settings. For more on this, see our advice to digital camera modes (p19).

24 25taking videos

Nearly all compact digital cameras

have a movie mode to let you record

quick clips. Typically, all you have

to do is switch the camera to movie mode,

press the shutter button and the camera will

start filming. Press the shutter button again

to stop recording.

HD VIDEO RECORDInG WITH DIGITAL CAMERASMany newer digital cameras offer HD movie

recording. This may be with a resolution

of 720p, or an even higher resolution of

1080p – also known as full HD. Even at the

highest quality setting, the quality of digital

camera video falls short of what you can

expect with a full-sized HD camcorder.

The sensors inside digital cameras are

not as well-suited to video capture as the

sensors inside camcorders. Conversely, most

camcorders do not take still photos as well

as a decent camera.

You can use movie mode to record both short video and sound. Follow our tips to get the best out of this function

Taking videos with digital cameras


24 25With some cameras, you can use zoom

during filming, although sometimes just

digital zoom as opposed to optical zoom.

Digital zoom, as when taking still photos,

reduces image quality.

MEMORy CARDSJust like with still photos, whatever footage

you record is stored onto the memory card.

However, recording movies can take up a

lot of memory space.

Unless you set a lower quality setting,

if you want to take more than a minute

or two of footage you’ll usually need a

memory card with a large capacity to store

those files – much larger than the camera’s

internal memory or the small memory card

supplied along with the product.

on an HD TVIf your camera has a video-out function, and nearly all do, you can also view your movie on a TV if your TV has a video-in socket. Connect the two with the cable supplied, and switch your camera to playback mode to play.

Some cameras with HD video functions offer HDMI-out sockets. Using an HDMI cable, you can connect the camera to your HD TV to view your video in high-definition quality.

However, you may find that your footage looks less impressive when viewed on a large HD TV screen. Motion can appear to be slightly jerky, particularly when you’re capturing panning shots or fast-moving subjects. One of the reasons for this is that digital cameras tend to

record videos in a format (such as Motion Jpeg) that is not best-suited to playback on an HD TV.

Proper HD camcorders tend to record videos in file formats which are tailored for playback on an HD TV.

Watching videos on a computerIf you connect your digital camera to a computer or laptop, you can watch your videos back on the computer screen.

Depending on the quality of the original footage, this may have its drawbacks. If your camera can only record in standard definition, VGA footage, then increasing the size of the video to fill a computer screen will emphasize the lack of detail and quality.

HD footage may look better on a computer screen, as the larger screen will do justice to the detailed footage. Digital cameras tend to record in formats that are best suited to being played back on computer screens, though some jerkiness may remain in fast-moving subjects.

Watching your film

Many cameras offer 1080p HD movie recording


26 27


test results

The best budget cameras

The Canon PowerShot A3500 IS narrowly misses out on being a Right Choice but it’s still a good camera if you want an easy-to-use, fast-to-shoot compact model with Wi-Fi compatibility.Picture quality Overall picture quality is good. Both indoor and outdoor shots have natural colour tones, with balanced exposure. The ‘Clever IS’ image stabilisation system works pretty well at reducing camera shake but it’s actually no better than many other manufacturers’ systems. Picture quality in low-light conditions is not as good as other similarly priced cameras.

69% CaNON pOWershOt a3500 is, `9,995

n pros Good picture quality, Wi-Fi transfer, fast to start upn cons Poor low-light picture quality

For the budget price, this Nikon has plenty of features on offer. For example you can send images via Wi-Fi, capture photos in 3D, watch photos and videos on an HDMI screen and choose from 20 different scene modes. Picture quality You can take good portrait shots with this compact camera. Outdoor photos such as landscapes look fantastic, though indoor and low-light photos are disappointing. It’s almost impossible to take videos in low light with pictures looking completely dark. The flash is effective for close ups, but pictures start looking underexposed as you go farther away from the subject.


n pros Quick to start up, good for outdoor photosn cons Poor low-light photos and videos

The Nikon S3500 is a low-cost compact camera with a 20Mp resolution, 7x optical zoom and a 2.7-inch screen. If you’re after a basic point-and-shoot camera at a low price, it’s worth considering.Picture quality Outdoor landscape shots have natural colours with balanced exposure. Indoor shots are also good, both with and without flash, although colours can appear a little pale. Like many compacts, it falls down in low-light conditions where photos are less sharp and image noise becomes visible. It’s slow to start up and get ready to take a shot, taking a ponderous 2.6 seconds.


n pros Good overall picture quality, simplen cons Poor low-light picture quality, slow to start up

Budget buys under `10,000

26 27


test results

The Sony W730 is slim and extremely lightweight. It offers an impressive 8x optical zoom and 25mm wide angle lens at a reasonable price. Picture quality The W730 produces reasonably sharp images with accurate colours when used outdoors. Low-light images are grainier, though no worse than you’d get from most compacts. Face detection could be better – it can struggle when there are several people in the frame. The monitor is of a good resolution but it’s harder to use in dim light. Continuous shooting speed is a disappointing 1fps – so it’s not the best camera for sports or action scenes.

66% sONy CybershOt DsC-W730, `7,990

n pros Good image quality, decent shutter speeds, easy to usen cons Slow continuous shooting speed, video quality could be better

This Sony is worth considering if you’re looking for a budget model that does the basics well. Picture quality Overall picture quality from this camera is good, though certainly not the best we’ve seen. Photos generally look sharp and face detection works well. Low-light images could be better, but we found them to be better than most cameras in this price range. There’s a 10x zoom and a 25mm wide lens that should give you plenty of flexibility when you shoot landscapes and group photos.

66% sONy CybershOt DsC-WX60, `9,990

n pros Good overall picture quality, quick to capture photosn cons Flash could be better

The Canon Ixus 132 is a good camera that with decent picture-taking abilities. It didn’t make it as a Right Choice because of the poor photos it takes in low light and a sub-standard image stabilisation system.Picture quality Picture quality is a mixed bag. Outside landscape shots are fine, although they lack a little sharpness and indoor shots with flash are good, with natural colours. Without the flash on, indoor shots are pale and don’t impress. This camera struggles to produce good quality photos in low light. Video image quality is decent, and the sound quality isn’t bad.

66% Canon Ixus 132, `7,995

n pros Good picture quality, Wi-Fi connectionn cons Poor low-light performance, poor image stabilisation system


test report

The best waterproof digital cameras

The Nikon AW110, which can survive dunks up to 18m and drops from a height of 2m, is good, cheap option. It offers plenty of add-ons such as Wi-Fi support, a barometer, display map and an electronic compass.Picture quality Indoor shots are well exposed, but using the flash introduces some noise to the images. Outdoor shots display plenty of detail. Low-light images are sharper than you’ll get from the TG-2. It suffers from some usability niggles. The monitor holds up well in bright light and shutter speeds are equally quick, though video takes longer to record.

71% NikON COOlpiX aW110, `16,950

n pros Superb shots, toughn cons Slow to record video

This all-weather camera can withstand drops from heights of up to 2m and immersion in water to a depth of 15m. Picture quality The overall picture quality is only average. Indoor shots taken with or without flash are sharp, if a bit over-saturated. Outdoor shots have bluish skin tones and are grainy. It has a Super Macro mode that can shoot objects that are just 9.1mm from the lens. Face detection works well, but pictures taken in low light contain plenty of visible noise. It’s quick to start up and has a shutter delay of just 0.3 seconds per shot, but, it’s not the easiest camera to use.

66% Olympus stylus tG-2, `22,990

n pros Tough cameran cons Average picture quality

This Nikon is a budget option for a weather-proof camera. In our tests the shock-proofing and water-proofing worked really well.Picture quality Outdoor shots taken in our tests were decent, except for a little oversaturation in red colours. Portrait shots look particularly good with the flash. It works fine under water and even after it has been dropped from a height. It struggles to take pictures in low light and it’s not the best video taker either. Recorded audio was disappointing with the camera being able to capture only high-frequency sounds.

53% nIkon CooLPIx s31, `5,950

n pros Cheap, water, dust and shock proofn cons Poor video and low-light photos

RIGHTCHOICE

GREATVALUE

Waterproof cameras


megapixel countHigher-resolution cameras offer plenty of scope for getting prints enlarged, or for digitally cropping. However, in low light, having a higher megapixel count can work against you, increasing the amount of grainy image noise if the sensor isn’t large enough to house so many megapixels. The theory behind dropping the resolution is to increase the sensor’s sensitivity to low light, allowing you to shoot with a higher ISO setting without introducing a lot of noise, or graininess, into the photograph. This can often ruin pictures taken on compacts in low light without a flash.

aperture priorityThis changes the size of the aperture – the hole in the lens through which light passes to hit the image sensor. With the aperture at its largest, the camera is more sensitive in low light. With a small aperture setting, less light hits the sensor. This can be used in bright conditions to let you capture detail across the whole shot – the background and foreground will both be in focus. In aperture priority mode, you can adjust the aperture to your own preferences, while the camera automatically changes every other setting to get the best results.

Bridge cameraA bridge camera lies somewhere between a DSLR and a slim point-and-shoot camera. While bridge cameras don’t allow you to change lenses and tend to be smaller than DSLRs, they offer superior manual control and often have features like viewfinders, and huge zooms of up to 35x.

Burst modeThis lets you take several pictures quickly in succession until you take your finger off the camera’s shutter button – useful when you want to take pictures of fast-moving action.

Compact system cameraThis is a loose term to describe any camera which allows you to change the lens, but doesn’t feature an internal mirror like a DSLR. The advantage is you can achieve DSLR-style picture quality but with a smaller camera body.

HD videoThere are several types of HD video, and they tend to reflect the resolution captured in the footage (the level of detail):

n 1080p This is known as ‘Full HD’ video. The camera captures 1,080 horizontal lines which are are scanned progressively, or one after another.

n 720p Though this is still HD, 720p footage has a lower resolution.

optical zoomThis is the zoom you get with the camera’s lens. It’s different from a digital zoom (which is an electronic enlargement that decreases picture quality).

Jargon buster

jargon buster

30 31

The best camera phones With mobile phone cameras becoming increasingly sophisticated and starting to rivaldedicated point-and-shoot cameras, we take a look at five of the best camera phones

85% samsuNG GalaXy s4, `41,500Camera «««««Video camera «««««

The Samsung Galaxy S4’s camera is a further improvement on its predecessor’s already impressive 8Mp snapper. For starters, its camera boasts a 13Mp sensor, LED flash and autofocus, alongside numerous photo modes like Drama Shot, Eraser mode and Dual Shot. Dual Shot is entertaining but particularly useless, as it allows you to superimpose an image taken with the S4’s front-facing camera onto the one taken with its rear-facing camera. If you’re interested in more practical tasks like shooting video at a full HD 1080p resolution, then Samsung’s latest flagship mobile caters for this too.

84% samsuNG GalaXy s4 miNi, `27,200Camera «««««Video camera «««««

Photos from the S4 Mini’s 8Mp camera were better than most, with crisp, uncropped images and well-represented colours across our test images, although they suffered from overexposure. The camera also benefits from a range of features designed to make the most of its potential and the surroundings, with tools such as face detection, anti-shake and on-device image editing. Video performance was also above par, with smooth frame rates and motion, and decent resolution. It had a few problems staying in focus, and images were overexposed in outdoor environments, but indoor performance was impressive despite a slight green tint.


test results Camera phones

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE

30 31


74% aPPLe iPHone 4s, `44,500Camera «««««Video camera «««««

The new 8Mp autofocus camera is outstanding and produces better photos than the 5Mp version found in the iPhone 4. The camera copes well with lower light levels and produces good levels of detail, and because you can now open the camera app straight from the lock screen you’re less likely to miss any important shots. The camera is easy to use and offers a range of camera features including touch focus, photo editing and geo-tagging, whereby the phone’s GPS records where your photos were taken. There’s also a front-facing camera for making video calls. Video quality is very good.

65% nokIa LumIa 925, `38,529Camera «««« Video camera «««

The Nokia Lumia 925 features an impressive 8.7Mp resolution and Carl Zeiss lens optics, meaning it compares favourably with the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S4. You can take cinemagraph and panorama shots and upload them to Instagram. Though a small minority of the photos we took during testing did return a slightly yellowish tint, there was no doubting the phone’s general image quality. Most significantly, the well-documented ability of the Lumia 925 to take quality shots at low light levels means it’s ideal for anyone looking avoid the use of an often distorting flash lens.

82% aPPLe iPHone 5, `45,500Camera «««««Video camera «««««

The camera on the iPhone 4S was a huge improvement on previous iPhones – bumping up the resolution to 8Mp, adding a fifth lens to improve picture quality and increasing the size of the aperture to help in low-light conditions. While the iPhone 5 camera has all these features, it didn’t quite match the camera on the 4S. We found that photos with a bright light near the edge of the image created a ‘purple haze’ style effect, which was missing from equivalent photos on the 4S. Still if you’re after a great phone with a solid camera, the iPhone 5 remains a decent choice when compared with its competitors.

77% blaCkberry Z10, `43,490Camera «««««Video camera «««

The Z10 has an excellent 8Mp-autofocus camera. While the pixel count is low, compared with other high-end smartphones, picture quality is very good – especially when you’re taking snaps outdoors. The camera is also very fast, so there’s little chance of you missing that key photo opportunity. The camera app also includes a unique ‘Time Shift’ feature which lets you take a series of photos in under a second and then choose the best-looking one. Video quality (1080p HD) is reasonable though we’ve seen better – the iPhone 5 is still the best on test. There’s a secondary, front-facing 2Mp camera for video calls.

Worth Considering

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE

32 33Getting perfect pictures


photo-editing software

Photo-editing software allows you to make

changes to your digital photographs. It

provides a range of tools to perform image

manipulation tasks such as adding brightness or

contrast to an overly dark photograph or returning

eyes – turned red thanks to a camera’s flash – back

to a more natural colour.

There are more complex and creative tools

too – you can remove a person from a photo, merge

images and remove blemishes from portrait shots,

for example.

As well as paid-for programs such as Adobe

Photoshop Elements, there’s a ton of free software

available. For example, if your PC runs Windows 7,

you can download Microsoft Live Photo Gallery.

Right choices91% aDoBe PHotosHoP eLements 11, `6,939Photoshop Elements 11 introduces three new modes, Quick, Guided and Expert. These provide different levels of help and access to tools for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels making it an exceptional software package whatever your degree of expertise. It’s not a cheap package, but we think it’s a great product. It includes features such as red-eye reduction, cropping, brightness adjustments, colour and contrast control plus more advanced features such as the clone tool. This software offers everything you would expect and is tailored to your level of skill, making it easy to use.

n pros Full suite of editing toolsn cons Pricey

83% PIxLr PHoto eDitiNG serviCes, FreeThis online program can be accessed via pixlr.com website. You can select an image from your hard drive, work on it, then save it back to your hard disk or upload them to a range of photo-sharing sites such as Flickr or Facebook. The onscreen layout of buttons and menus are easy to get used to. The advantages of a web-based editor like this are that it’s never necessary to update or buy new versions of your software as updates are made automatically online and you also don’t have to install software to your hard drive. The downsides are that you do need an internet connection to work on your image.

n pros Easy to use, good featuresn cons No direct email function

69% aPPLe aPerture 3, `4,500Despite being aimed primarily at advanced users, this is a good choice for beginners to get started. The interface is easy to use, but to get the best performance out of it you need at least 2GB of RAM. The red eye removal works effectively, cropping is pretty straightforward, sharpening and softening functions are easy to find and use, and colour and brightness corrections work well. There’s also an excellent auto-correction feature. One feature we really liked was the video frame grabber. It allows you to extract a still image from a video, and turn it into a photograph.

n pros Good features, easy to usen cons Can’t remove objects

With our Right Choice software, you can make sure everyone’s picture perfect, no matter which camera you click from

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE

RIGHTCHOICE

32 33


test score (%)

help & instructions

versatility

Automatic

correction

ease of use for a

beginner

Full rAW support

noise filter

direct emailing

twitter uploading

Facebook uploading

Flickr uploadingM

ac

Windows pc

price (`)

speciFicAtion test perForMAncetest And rAtings

BrAnd

1 AdoBe photoshop elements 11 6,939 ü ü ü ü O ü ü ü ««««« ««««« ««««« ««««« 91

2 pixLr photo editing services Free ü ü ü ü ü O ü O ««««« ««««« «««« ««« 83

3 AppLe Aperture 3 4,500 O ü ü ü O ü ü ü «««« ««««« «««« «««« 69

4 sAMsung intelli-studio Free ü O ü ü ü ü ü O «««« ««««« ««« «««« 68

5 AppLe iphoto ’11 Free O ü ü ü O ü O ü «««« «««« «««« ««««« 64

6 seriF photoplus x5 5,566 ($89.99) ü O O O O ü ü ü ««« ««« «««« «««« 60

7 cAnon Zoombrowser ex, cameraWindow Free ü O O O O ü ü ü «««« «««« ««« «««« 56

8 seriF photoplus essentials 2,523 (£25.55) ü O ü ü O ü ü O «« «««« «««« «««« 56

9 oLyMpus viewer 2 Free ü O O O O ü ü O ««« «««« ««« «««« 50

10 pAint.net v3.5.8 Free ü O O O O ü ü O ««« ««« ««« «««« 50

11 MicrosoFt Live photo gallery 2011 Free ü O ü ü ü ü ü ü ««« «««« ««« ««« 50

12 nikon viewnx2 Free ü O O O O ü ü ü ««« «« ««« «««« 49

13 giMp v2.6.11 Free ü ü O O O ü ü O «« ««« ««« ««« 45

14 MicrosoFt office 2010 picture Manager Free with Microsoft Office 2010 ü O O O O ü O ü ««« «««« ««« «««« 45

15 FujiFiLM MyFinepixstudio Free ü ü O ü O ü ü ü ««« «««« ««« «« 43

16 googLe picasa Free ü ü O O O O O ü «« ««« ««« ««« 41

17 pAnAsonic Lumix photoFunstudio 6 Free ü O O ü O ü ü ü «« ««« ««« «« 34

18 sony cybershot picture Motion Browser Free ü O ü ü O ü O O «« « «« «««« 18

Adding a captionAdding some text to your photo can give it some context. You can choose from different fonts, font sizes and are free to place it anywhere in your picture.

Adjust brightness, contrast, colour balance, saturationYou this to lift details out of the shadow and generally brighten up a photo.

Changing a backgroundChanging a background can take a bit of time, but is worth doing if you like your subject, but not your background. Not all free software comes with this feature.

CroppingAllows you to cut out part of the picture. For example, an distracting background can be cropped to focus on the subject.

filters and special effectsFrom turning a photo black and white to creating all sorts of wonderful effects.

Noise reductionReduces the grainy effect that appears on some photos taken in dim light.

Red-eye removalThis tool works by replacing the red pupil with a more natural black one.

Sharpening and softeningSharpening helps you sharpen an image that might look too soft or be out of focus. The opposite effect is softening.

USING THE TABLE The more stars the better. Right Choices are highlighted in red.SpEcIfIcATIoN Price Guide price as of October 5, 2013 Windows PC, Mac Whether the software works on Windows PC, Mac or both Direct emailing Whether you can save your image directly to an email and send it Noise filter This tool allows you to reduce unwanted

noise, the grainy effect that affects some photos Full RAW support Whether the software can import and edit RAW images. Additional software plug-ins may be required; these are usually free to downloadTEST RESULTS Ease of use for a beginner How easy it is for a beginner or basic user to install, make basic and slightly more advanced image adjustments, and access and use help features on the software

Auto-correction Effectiveness of automatic tools Versatility The range of editing tools and special effects on offer, an assessment of their usefulness, and how finely you can make image adjustmentsScoRE This ignores price and is based on:Ease of use Features .............................................................. 75%Versatility ..................................................................................... 25%

Common manual tools, filters and corrections

Our researchWe sum up the numbers involved in testing for this issue

Published in Mumbai

RNI no. MAHENG/2012/42815Registered no. L/HR/FBD/281/11-13

`11,950 The price of the cheapest Right Choice compact camera from our test – Nikon Coolpix S6500 (72%)

`42,504 The price difference between the top-scoring Right Choice Canon Powershot G12 bridge camera (`24,995, 77%) and Fujifilm FinePix X100 (`67,499, 73%)

0.4 seconds The time taken by Right Choice Nikon D600 Canon EOS 700D to start up – swiftest of all the DSLRs on test

50x The optical zoom magnification of Right Choice Fujifilm FinePix SL1000 – the maximum of all compact cameras we tested

241g

The weight of Sony Cybershot RX100 – the lightest Right Choice bridge camera

13mp

The resolution of Samsung Galaxy S4 (`41,500, 85%) – the best camera phone according to our tests

1381833616 Camera Guide

Documents

Transcript of 1381833616 Camera Guide