There are about 2 weeks now since I have the Nikon D40x and I am extremely pleased with it. The main reasons are: fast shooting and crystal clear images with natural colors, very low noise and plenty of sharpness. There are 2 more things I like about it: the fact that I can immediately delete a picture if I want without entering the playback mode (The length of time the image remains on the monitor is determined by option.) and the outstanding battery life (I believe I reached around 600 shots before recharging – and recharging time is a little bit less than 2 hours). It’s not heavy (this is important for me) and maintains the design of the previous 6MP Nikon D40, having a good grip and well placed buttons. Becoming familiar with the operation of the D40x will take little time even if the controls are well placed and logical.

There are few Vari-Programs shooting options compared to my old Canon, but, who really needs them? The display shows all the informations needed for adjustments before pressing the shutter and, besides aperture and shutter time, everything can be set up using the “info” button in combination with the “set” button. Shutter and aperture are modified using the wheel below the dial. The help button is very useful for anyone who never worked with a SLR before and whenever it is pressed it gives tips about what adjustment you should do to obtain a technical correctly image. You can view a histogram of the image, but there is no composition grid. In the little viewfinder you have a focus preview which I find very accurate when using manual focus.

The focus screen of the D40x provides three AF areas – I wish there could be more but at this price range it’s OK. The camera definitely worths the money. When using the playback effects, it saves the applied effect as a new file and it won’t allow me to make a second effect on the new image. Also, when shooting in RAW+JPEG, the jpeg version can only be low and not at full quality, but, it takes allot of memory anyway so why wishing for even more memory consumption. The Noise Reduction, if turned on, decides whether or not photos captured at high sensitivity or with long exposures (more than 1 second) are processed to reduce noise – another useful in-camera feature. If you are passioned about HDR, Image Overlay option in playback serves to combine two RAW images to create one – exposure of the shots can vary between 0.1 and 2 EV in increments of 0.1 EV while the effect can be seen in a preview (maybe later Nikon will allow more than 2 shots to be combined).

I received the camera with the standard Nikkor AF-S DX 18-55mm lens (as in kit) but later on I intend to get a telephoto lens. For this, it’s important to know about compatibility on the camera: AF-S DX lenses have a solid build and are compatible with Nikon D40x. D40x is only fully compatible with AF-S or AF-I lenses that have their own built-in AF motors. The Nikon D40x is also equipped with a flash shoe dedicated to Speedlights SB-400, SB-600, SB-800 and SB-R200 external flashes.
I love this camera and I recommend you to buy it (body only, kit and accessories) from my amazon links below.

Nikon D40x SLR Specifications

Tags: Nikon, Nikon digital camera, slr digital camera, Nikon d40x, raw, 10mp, Nikon d40x kit, d-lighting, digital camera

The 8-megapixel DiMAGE X1 is one of the most compact and slim cameras made by Konica Minolta. Despites for being so small, it has a large 2.5 inch LCD with bright backlight function making it confortable to use. For the first time in the DiMAGE X series, the DiMAGE X1 offers Anti-Shake Mode for steady shots in low light conditions. Another new thing on this camera is an improvent of the movie mode which now offers recording of smooth, high-resolution VGA (640×480 dots) movie clips with sound and the possibility of using the 3x optical zoom during recording. The DiMAGE X1 multifunction cradle is an useful tool that provides quick and easy connectivity for uploading and viewing images directly on a Computer or TV, as well as battery charging.

It has a very reflective gray or silver surface and quite few very intuitive buttons (4-way selector at the back and The shutter release, power button and mode selector switch on top). The lens is not located in the center of the front size, but in the upper right corner. The battery is capable to capture up to 200 shots before it needs to be recharged. However, even if it looks good and it is easy to use, shooting performance is below average for a camera in this class – it’s a slow camera and the lack of AF-assist lamp leads to focusing problems). The image quality is good, but not great (colors, balance and exposure are great, but some noise is visible).

Konica Minolta DiMAGE X1 Specifications

Tags: Konica minolta, Konica minolta digital camera, digital camera, dimage camera, Minolta dimage camera, konica minolta dimage

Casio Exilim EX-V8 is the successor of V7 – the world’s slimmest 7x optical zoom ultra compact digital camera. The Casio Exilim EX-V8 has an interesting front design – very elegant and stylish, specific to the latest casio cameras: there is a protective, sliding lens cover that activates the camera automatically. The basic features of V8 are, the same 7x optical zoom lens like in V7 but higher 8.1-megapixel resolution. Along with the increased resolution comes the addition of a YouTube Capture mode, making this camera a heavily-marketed point-and-shoot video recorder for easy sharing. Movie mode looks better than average for a digital camera. It also features image stabilization, face detection, and world time.
Casio Elixim V8 has enough virtues that make it respectably easy to use: a thorough menu system, intuitive buttons and portability.
Because of being so small and because Casio didn’t wanted to give up the traditional dial, there is one at the back of the camera, just above the OK button surrounded by the 4 arrows for menu selections, both round dials hawing the same size. However, the shutter remains the only button on the top of the camera. The Exilim camera just like 90% of all cameras, holds the battery and memory card under a plastic compartment door, but, as for a tripod mount, it’s made of metal. The colors reproduced by V8 are not very close to reality, but also not oversaturate like on many other cameras in this range. Even if acceptable sharpness is present at low ISO, at high ISO settings images become too soft and thinking about the noise that also get very visible, this is a camera you’ll want to keep at low ISO whenever possible. Auto, flash and fluorescent white balance are accurate, yet under outdoor shade and tungsten light it becomes inaccurate. A good thing about V8 is the high speed of reaction whenever focusing, powering up or continuously shooting.
Casio V8 Specifications

Casio V8

Casio V8

Tags: Casio Exilim EX-V8, Casio Exilim, Casio, ultra compact, digital camera, camera, compact digital camera, slim camera, 8MP, 7x optical zoom, anti shake, Image Stabilizer, world time, face detection, youtube capture

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 has pretty much everything that a high zoom SLR-like camera(it’s still not a SLR, it comes with an integrated lens) should have: full manual controls, RAW mode, pop-up flash, histogram display, features like face detection and image stabilization, but, it lacks a viewfinder (nor electronic or optical). 10x optical zoom and 8 megapixels are satisfying for anyone who goes deeply into photography when combined with the manual functions, but, the image quality is not as good as the one provided by similar cameras: noisy shots starting from ISO 400. The camera took 1.8 seconds to start up and capture its first JPEG, 1.3 seconds between JPEGs with the flash disabled and 2.6 seconds between shots with the flash turned on. Shutter lag is between 0.4 second and 1 second while continuous shooting mode speed is 2fps regardless of the image size.

An advantage of this camera is it’s small size and lightweight besides the robust design – available in both black and silver. As for the buttons and menus, it’s OK in therms of usability but there are better ones on the market too.
In case the built-in lens isn’t wide or long enough for you, Sony offers both a 0.7x-wide angle converter (VCL-DH0758) and a 1.7x telephoto converter (VCL-DH1758). The necessary adapter comes with the camera and can also accept 58mm filters. The camera also has a lens hood which unfortunately, it’s so large that it obscures a large portion of the flash. However, the adapter itself can likely provide enough shade from the sun when the lens is zoomed to its widest, which means that the hood is only really necessary when shooting telephoto shots.
Sony Cybershot DSC-H3 Specifications

Sony Cybershot DSC-H3

Tags: Sony digital camera, slr digital camera, sony cybershot, sony cybershot dsc-h3, cybershot dsc-h3, 10x optical zoom, 8MP

The E720, which was lasts year most “pocketable” camera, manages to achieve a chic look, which is build from an anti-oxidized, moisture resistant aluminum. Like the most of the ultra compact cameras, the BenQ E720 includes a whole bunch of features like a shake-free mode, 13-scene modes for quick setting adjustments, and continuous movie recording with optical zoom. Also, the High ISO Portrait Mode supports high sensitivity (ISO) up to 1200 to ensure clear photos in dark environment. It is easy for you to capture well-exposed photos when there exist many bight and dark objects in the scene.
BenQ 720 captures photos in two modes, 3:2 resolution mode or 16:9 wide mode. The 3:2 standard mode is convenient for easy printing without trimming the edges of the composition. The wide 16:9 mode is the perfect mode for direct display on a 16:0 television set. The Pentax lens with super multi coating offers crisp clear images.
BenQ E720 Specifications

BenQ E720

Tags: benq, benq digital camera, compact digital camera, benq dc e720, benq e720, dc e720, manual mode, 7 MP, 3x optical zoom

The sleek E820, successor to the BenQ E720, arrives with a 8.0 megapixel CCD image sensor, 3x optical zoom, Pentax lens and a bright 2.5-inch LTPS display. Furthermore, the camera is equipped with direct printing mode, continuous movie recording with optical zoom, 13 scene modes and 3:2 and 16:9 special output sizes; 3:2 resolution mode for easy printing without trimming edges; 16:9 resolution mode for direct display on a 16:9 TV making the E820 an all-round, highly versatile high-performance camera.

The E820 also features a face-tracking function and comes embedded with creative photo frames for photo decoration.
Compared to E720, it has a new movie size: 720 x 400 (16:9) at 30 fps, higher ISO settings: 800 and 1000, the rest of the settings remaining the same for the new 8MP camera. What I like most about both of them is the manual shooting mode. It’s hard to find such a slim and stylish compact camera equipped with manual shooting options.
BenQ E820 digital compact camera is bundled with 6MB built-in memory and is Secure Digital card compatible, which is the cheapest and most reliable memory storage, easy to replace any time. Also, it supports PictBridge function which provides direct printing via any PictBridge-enabled printer.
Benq DC E820 Specifications

Tags: benq, benq digital camera, compact digital camera, benq dc e820, benq e820, dc e820, manual mode, 8 MP, 3x optical zoom

The S series from Sony is offering compact affordable cameras different from the ultra-compact stylish ones not just because of the design but also because these have less shooting options. The S700 in particular is a 7.2 megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom and a 2.4 inch LCD. In program auto, you can change color settings, metering modes, white balance, ISO, JPEG compression level, flash level, and sharpness. The mode dial and shutter release on the top are easy to operate and the zoom button is a bit tiny.
Shutter lag, when you’ve already achieved a focus and exposure lock, is around 0.2-0.3 seconds and, in well-lit conditions, focus is achieved in under 0.5 seconds (low light condition under 1 sec.). LCD is fairly visible in bright sun; if you purchase high power AA rechargeable batteries, you’ll be able to take allot of pictures (over 400) due to the camera’s low power consumption.
Colors are bright and saturated, details are soft and shooting against the natural light might result in chromatic aberrations. Noisiness is not a problem. The flash in the S700 is not strong at all, I might consider it a real issue of the camera performance, and, concluding with the rest of the facts, I say Sony DSC-S700 is a good camera for outdoor and lowlight family photos.
Sony Cybershot DSC-S700 Specifications

Sony Cybershot DSC-S700

Tags: Sony digital camera, compact digital camera, sony cybershot, sony cybershot dsc-s700, cybershot dsc-s700, 3x optical zoom, 7MP

The W55 is an ultra-compact, point-and-shoot camera with a 3X zoom lens, 2.5″ LCD display and the usual 3x optical zoom. Compared to the previous DSC-W50, it boots 1MB up, has nearly twice as much built-in memory and a little more battery power. Compared to DSC-W35 it has the same lens, same megapixels but a larger LCD.
The look and feel of this camera is pleasant: a metal design (except the plastic door for memory card and battery), available in silver, black, light blue, and pink. It’s easy to hold and operate, a bit lighter than the above mentioned cameras, and fits in pockets. It’s a funny thing that this camera does have an optical viewfinder and a ton of accessories considering its compact size, but doesn’t have Shutter Priority and Aperture Priority (100% point-and-shoot camera, with no manual controls) so I really don’t understand who’s the target here.
Sony Cybershot DSC-W55 accessories:
Wide-angle lens (VCL-DH0730)
Telephoto lens (VCL-DH1730)
Super telephoto lens (VCL-DH2630)
Conversion lens adapter (VAD-WB)
External slave flash (HVL-FSL1B)
Macro ring light (HVL-RLS)
AC adapter (AC-LS5K)
Carrying cases (LCS-WF and S-CSG)
Performance:
At high ISO Sony DSC-W55 is using a lot more noise reduction here, which gets rid of the grain, but smudges out details, otherwise the pictures are well exposed, with saturated colors, with very little noise, and minimal purple fringing. Overall the camera does very well that it’s supposed to do, but it lacks at least a custom white balance and a longer shutter speed mode to be able to cross some limits with the camera.
Sony Cybershot DSC-W55 Specifications

Sony Cybershot DSC-W55

Sony Cybershot DSC-W55

Tags: Sony digital camera, compact digital camera, sony cybershot, sony cybershot dsc-w55, cybershot dsc-w55, 3x optical zoom, 7MP

With the 7.2-megapixel Carl Zeiss Lens, DSC-W35 is one of latests compact digital cameras of Sony’s W-series. This series means that the camera is not as slim as an ultra-compact, but not as big as a high-end camera; it features some manual functions (adjustable flash level, contrast and sharpness), life histogram and a viewfinder for those who make photography more than just for the sake of vacation photos. Sony’s ultra-fast Real Imaging Processor circuit delivers quick start-up, fast shot-to-shot times, and long battery life (up to 380 shots).

With Sony’s Clear RAW imaging technology, you can push the camera’s sensitivity up to ISO1000 without dramatically increasing picture noise. Further more, with the VAD-WB lens adapter, you can add 30mm diameter filters and make more creative shots. There are only 7 scene modes, but the minimum macro distance is 2cm.
The colours look natural and the contrast between lighter and darker areas works well, while focusing is better than many cameras manage to produce plus the fact that the photos stay sharp towards the edges.Sony DSC W35 is a simple, yet effective digital camera that provides colours and sharpness above average, handles sun glare well and all in all produces a pretty good picture.
Sony Cybershot DSC-W35 Specifications

Sony Cybershot DSC-W35

Sony Cybershot DSC-W35

Tags: Sony digital camera, compact digital camera, sony cybershot, sony cybershot dsc-w35, cybershotmdsc-w35, x optical zoom, 7MP

Available in silver, black and gold, (each colour is metallic), Panasonic Lumix DMC-F100 comes in a stylish design of the a sleek, slim elegant body. As for the size, it’s not the smallest camera out there, but it fits into your smallest pockets. It has a few small buttons and a small covered dial, all intuitive.
The Leica Lens on which it’s based can capture up to 12 MP and 3.6 optical zoom, meaning that the camera is having a strong position in the costumers list of desires. At the heart of the FX100‘s super-easy operation is Intelligent Image Stabilization (Optical Image Stabilizer combined with ISO Control), a Panasonic system offered in all new Lumix cameras.
Equipped with Venus Engine III processor, Panasonic FX100 renders images with minimal noise. This processor is also responsible for the High-Speed Burst shooting mode that lets you snap off a lightning-fast eight shots per second.
Another interesting thing about this camera is the fact that the built-in flash reaches as far as 16 m – an impressive range. The battery life is also above the expectations: more than 300 shots. By lowering the resolution, you can use digital zoom without reducing the image quality, “white set” option lets you manually set the white balance, images are quite sharp and vivid. Before you this camera is perfect, note that Unfortunately, it lacks any on-board redeye removal tool. Besides that, calendar and category view, enhanced date stamp, multi-photo delete are a few functions added in playback mode that make the use of this camera playful.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX100 Specifications

Tags: panasonic lumix dmc-fx100, lumix dmc-fx100, panasonic dmc-fx100, panasonic fx100, 12MP, compact digital camera, panasonic, 3x optical zoom