The PowerShot SX210 IS is Canon’s most compact superzoom camera to date, offering some powerful features in a slim and stylish body.

While it’s slightly larger than the IXUS range of compact digital cameras, the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS is also significantly more powerful and versatile, thanks to the 14-megapixel resolution and 28mm-equivalent wide-angle lens with 14x zoom. What all that means is that you can get closer to whatever you’re shooting without needing a large professional lens - much better if portability is an issue.

And then there is the versatility factor. If you need the PowerShot SX210 IS to function as a fully automatic point-and-shoot camera, it can do that in the camera’s smart auto mode. But if you want full manual control, there is plenty of options for you, too - including control of shutter speed, apertures and focus. You can also set sharpness and contrast, as well as colour saturation and flash strength.

Image quality is very, very good - particularly when you consider the sub-$600 price tag. The main performance issue for this camera is speed. If you’re planning on shooting a lot of fast-paced action such as sports, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.

Rounding out the package is high-definition (HD) movie recording at 1280×720 resolution. Even better, Canon has equipped the PowerShot SX210 IS with a mini-HDMI port, so you can connect it straight to a high-def TV to play back your footage.

The Canon PowerShot SX210 IS is available in Australia with an RRP of $599.

Buy a cheap Canon digital camera on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

The new Olympus E-PL1 offers good value as a sub-$1000 Micro Four Thirds digital camera.

For $999, the Olympus E-PL1 attempts to offer the handling of a compact digital camera with the image quality and lens interchangeability of an SLR. This is thanks to the 4/3 LiveMOS image sensor chip, a specification that the Micro Four Thirds system shares with the Four Thirds system. The main difference between Micro Four Thirds (used exclusively by Olympus and Panasonic) and Four Thirds is the more compact size of the former.

Micro Four Thirds cameras are generally lighter than dSLR cameras but heavier and bulkier than your standard compact digital camera, and the E-PL1 is no exception. It weighs in at just under 350g when no lenses are attached. The camera is available in a variety of lens configurations, the most basic of which is a 14-42mm lens.

The good news is that the Olympus E-PL1’s image quality is excellent - definitely on a par with what you’d expect from a more expensive dSLR camera. The bad news is that performance is on the slow side, so if you’re planning on doing a lot of continuous or burst shooting, you will encounter issues.

Other specifications are fairly standard for any digital camera around the $1000 mark - there’s a 2.7-inch 230,000-dot LCD and HD video recording at 720p. Another nice feature is the flash, which can be popped up by pressing a slider underneath.

Buy a cheap Olympus digital camera in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

Digital cameras: we all want one, but many of us aren’t sure what to look for when buying one. Our buyers guide for digital compact cameras is here to help.

Digital cameras: compact v dSLR

Once you hit the shops to find a new camera, it isn’t as straight forward as asking someone what the best digital camera is then handing over your cash. There are different types that will suit different users depending on their experience, skill level and what they are intending to use the camera for.

This buying guide looks at compact digital cameras, also known as “point-and-shoot” models. As the name suggests, these cameras are best suited for beginners and also for casual users. They tend to be small and easy to use with lots of automatic settings and minimal manual settings. On the other hand, digital SLR (dSLR) cameras are bigger but feature more manual settings and also tend to produce better images than compacts. However, you’ll pay more for a dSLR and they can be tricky to use for a beginner.

Megapixels

First and foremost, the one term you hear used in association with any digital camera, compact or dSLR, is resolution. Without getting too technical, this figure is measured in megapixels (sometimes called MP) and refers to the number of pixels (described in millions) the camera can record per image. Obviously, the higher the resolution, the clearer and more details the image will be. These days you don’t really see digital cameras below 7- or 8- megapixels, both of which still produce decent images.

If you are planning on printing your pictures out to large sizes then you will need a camera with a higher resolution.

Zoom

Another term you will hear frequently is zoom. All compact digital cameras have optical zoom, which is considered “real” zoom – the kind you’d see on a film camera. In other words, you can zoom in on something without the quality of the image deteriorating. Some compacts also feature digital zoom, which zooms in on the image by cropping and enlarging the target area. This type of zoom may result in some loss in image quality.

Features

What features can you expect to find on today’s digital compact cameras? Once again, it all depends on the camera and how much you’ve spent on it. At the most basic, a point-and-shoot model should feature the likes of face detection and image stabilisation as well as automatic scene modes, red-eye reduction and the ability to record movies in standard definition. The more advanced digital cameras may feature anything from high-definition movie recording (which is becoming more and more common) to blink detection. Some compact digital cameras can even be taken into extreme weather situations like the snow or rain, or can be dropped from a distance and still survive.

Best digital camera

Some of the most popular brands of compacts today include Canon Ixus and PowerShot, Nikon Coolpix (pictured here is the Nikon Coolpix S8000) and Olympus Mju and Mju Tough digital cameras.

Buy a cheap digital camera on sale

Guide originally published June 4, 2009; updated April 4, 2010.

By Caroline Warnes

The new Pentax K-x is a decent entry level dSLR camera that won’t break the bank.

Despite the fact that it slots into the sub-$800 price range, the Pentax K-x comes with some specs and features you’d expect in more expensive dSLRs, including video capture at 24fps. Unfortunately, this particular feature isn’t the best, but at least it’s there - something you won’t see in other similarly priced dSLR cameras.

One highlight of the K-x is its viewfinder, which is slightly bigger than other comparable cameras, offering better coverage. It’s also very easy to use and relatively fast in most aspects of its performance. Also weighing in on the positive side is excellent image quality, especially when shooting at lowers ISOs.

However, there are some negatives to mention too - most notably image stabilisation and the sub-par LCD screen. But considering the Pentax K-x’s price tag, you have to expect some misses along the way.

The new Pentax K-x digital camera is available in Australia now with a recommended retail price of $799.

Buy a cheap Pentax digital camera on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

Canon produces some slim and stylish compact digital cameras, and the IXUS 130 IS is no exception.

The Canon IXUS 130 IS is particularly small, even for a compact digital camera. It weighs in at just under 115g and is under 2cm thick (or thin), so if you’re looking for a digital camera you can slip into your pocket, this could well be it.

Because this is such a small camera, the various buttons placed around the chassis can feel somewhat cramped at time. If you have big fingers, you may have some difficulty pressing the smallish buttons accurately.

The specifications of the 130 IS aren’t too different from that of its predecessor, the 120 IS, including 14.1-megapixels of resolution, a 28mm wide-angle lens with 4x optical zoom and HD video recording (720p). Canon has thrown in a few (somewhat) handy features to make it worth upgrading to the newer model, such as effect filters. Three detection modes are also included - Smart Shutter, Face Self Timer and Wink Detection.

Image quality for the Canon IXUS 130 IS is good, but unfortunately not great. Colour is handled well, but unfortunately images show traces of noise when blown up to full size. Overall, it’s a camera that will appeal to casual photographers looking for a portable and stylish digicam for under $400.

The Canon IXUS 130 IS digital camera is available now and sells for $399 in Australia. It’s available in black, silver and pink.

Buy a cheap Canon digital camera on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

The Nikon Coolpix S8000 is a slim and stylish compact digital camera with HD video recording capability and 10x optical zoom.

The S8000 is one of Nikon’s first compact digicams to offer high-definition recording. It can record in HD at 720p, which strictly isn’t “Full HD”, but should prove adequate for most users.

Another plus of the Nikon Coolpix S8000 is its slim and compact size. It weighs in at well under 200g, which is very light for a camera with 10x optical zoom.

Nikon has equipped the S8000 with a good range of auto and scene modes, plus a smart portrait mode and subject tracking mode. There’s also a mode called Creative Slider, which allows you to adjust the colour and brightness or an image whilst you’re viewing it on the 3-inch LCD screen.

In terms of image quality, the S8000 handles low-resolution images well - that is, those intended for use on the web or as general snapshots. But if you’re planning on making a lot of high-resolution or photo-quality prints, you may be disappointed.

The Nikon Coolpix S8000 is available locally for $499.

Buy a cheap Nikon digital camera on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

The new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W350 is a reliable point-and-shoot compact digital camera that is available for well under the $300 mark.

The W350’s standout feature is its 26mm-equivalent wide-angle lens, complete with 4x optical zoom and offering 14.1-megapixel resolution. However, as the sub-$300 price tag would suggest, this is not a camera intended for advanced users. However taken in context as a basic point-and-shoot camera for happy snaps and the likes, the Sony W350 performs very well.

Camera settings are generally automatic, although Sony has equipped the W350 with some manual controls - if you want to use them. Shoot in Easy mode and pretty much everything is preset for you, but switch to Intelligent Auto, for example, and you can adjust some of the settings such as exposure.

The W350’s performance is more than adequate for a budget digital camera. However if you want to make really large prints of your shots, you’ll notice some loss of quality. But if you’re intending to use this camera for smaller prints or online images, there shouldn’t be too many issues.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W350 digital camera is available now in Australia for $279. It comes in four colours - pink, blue, silver and black.

Buy a cheap Sony digital camera on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

The ST550 is Samsung’s much-hyped compact digital camera featuring two LCD screens so you can easily take self-portraits.

With its front and rear LCD screens, the Samsung ST550 is obviously expected to appeal to the Facebook generation - anyone who wants to snap photos of themselves to share with family and friends. As well as a very impressive 3.5-inch screen on the back of the camera (noteworthy in its own right), the ST550 also features a hidden 1.5-inch screen on the front, which reveals itself when you tap it. All of this makes taking self-portraits less of a hit-and-miss affair.

Samsung has obviously taken some inspiration from Apple with the ST550, thanks to features such as the ability to swipe the screen to scroll through your photos when you’re reviewing them. The design is also slightly reminiscent of the iPhone or iPod Touch - this camera is black, shiny and sleek, with orange highlights around the chassis.

The ST550 features a 4.6x optical zoom lens with 12.2-megapixel CCD sensor. Samsung has included a range of manual settings, including focus, white balance, sharpness and so on. You’ll also find the usual suspects such as face detection. The camera produces some pretty decent snaps, fairly standard for a camera that sits just below the $500 mark.

The Samsung ST550 retails in Australia for $449.

Buy a cheap Samsung digital cameras on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

The upcoming Samsung EX1 will be the manufacturer’s flagship model in the advanced compact digital camera category.

Advanced compact digicams are aimed primarily at high-end users, with the ever-popular Panasonic Lumix LX3 perhaps being the best known of the bunch.

Samsung is putting a lot of stock in the EX1’s impressive 24mm ultra-wide angle Schneider Kreuznach lens with fast f/1.8 aperture and 3x optical zoom. The ultra-wide lens is perfect for anyone planning on shooting landscapes or large groups of people. The wide aperture also offers shallow depth-of-field and allows the photographer to blur the background whilst still focusing on the subject, which is especially handy for shooting in portrait mode.

The EX1 also features a high-performance 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor, which is larger than what you’d find in a standard digital camera. This produces better photos in low-light situations. When combined with Samsung’s DRIMeIII imaging processor, you can expect image quality to be high.

Then there is the 3-inch swivelling AMOLED screen, which allows you to shoot from just about any angle you can imagine. The use of AMOLED technology also reduces power consumption, meaning your battery will last longer.

As you’d expect, the EX1 comes with a range of shooting options, including aperture priority, shutter priority and manual shooting modes. You can also use the camera to record VGA quality video (unfortunately, not HD).

The Samsung EX1 digital camera will be released in parts of Asia in Q2 2010, with Australia expected to follow soon after that. Local pricing will be confirmed closer to that time.

Buy a cheap Samsung digital camera on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 is the manufacturer’s first waterproof point-and-shoot compact digital camera, and it’s one of the most stylish we’ve seen to date.

In fact, when it’s released it will be the slimmest waterproof digital camera available in Australia, and just by glancing at it you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a regular compact digicam. Waterproof digital cameras tend to be somewhat lacking in the slim and stylish department, so the Sony TX5 makes for a pleasant change.

Fortunately, the TX5 isn’t all looks and no substance. It’s waterproof to 3 metres, shockproof to 1.5 metres and can withstand temperatures as cold as -10 degrees Celsius (so it will be released just in time for the 2010 ski season). It features a 10.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, 3-inch LCD screen and 4x optical zoom, plus a 25mm wide-angle lens.

Sony has also equipped the TX5 with 720p HD recording and a panorama shooting mode.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5 digital camera will be available in Australia in April with a recommended retail price of $599. It will be available in silver, black, pink and red.

Buy a cheap Sony digital camera on sale in Australia

By Caroline Warnes