Digital Camera Reviews

On the 21st September 2011, Nikon launched their first range of mirror-less Interchangeable Lens Cameras (ILC), the Nikon 1 series, which include the Nikon J1 and the Nikon V1.

Proof against more things in more ways than any of its rivals – the TG-810 can be dropped from 2m, submerged to 10m, crushed by 100kg, frozen to -10oC and apparently even resists scratches. At the same time it’s crammed to the gills with outdoor extras, so now when the going gets tough the Tough knows where it’s going.

I shall start by getting straight to the point; I wanted to buy a tough camera that could accompany me on my climbing, walking and canoeing trips and I’d narrowed my choice down to one of 4 point and shoot cameras; the Panasonic FT3, the Fuji XP30, the Olympus TG-810 and the Pentax WG-1 GPS. As such, in an act of selfless generosity I offered to review of all four during a trip to Scotland to climb Ben Nevis.

These lens fetish cameras are trying harder than ever to add the SLR magic that people want – even if they don’t know an f/stop from a g-string. Of the enthusiast compacts I’ve tried recently, the XZ-1 strikes the best balance of pros and cons.

Although any camera has to stand on its own, the E-PL2 benefits from the retro vibe which the rest of the Pen line is steeped in. It’s a good looking camera from the front and sits between the ultra stylish P1 and the functional PL1.

The P7000 is Nikon’s first enthusiast bridge camera to follow the latest trend for fewer better pixels. It has a 10 Megapixel sensor – right on the current fashion and matching the G12 and Panasonic LX5 which are its main competition in a shopping list show down.

The G series has always made a great case for keeping your serious shooting compact and since Canon have decided to stay clear of competing in the micro system market, this is their middle sized enthusiast offering.

Canon’s release of the S95 has excited comment from many bloggers and review sites as to whether it is a worthy update on its predecessor, the S90, which was very well received but had a couple of niggling problems. With these in mind I took the S95 on holiday with me to Ibiza for a thorough trial run.

I think of the NEX-5 as my photographic Swiss Army knife: a small package with lots of tools, which will tackle 90% of the tasks you throw at it. Here are some aspects of the NEX which I’ve found the most useful or interesting over the past few weeks…

To call the Olympus Pen range and their Micro Four Thirds brethren a watershed in the camera market doesn’t sound quite right, even if it’s true. To call the Pen E-PL1 a watershed once housed for diving is maybe a little more understandable – though it’s not any kind of shed you’d recognise from your garden. Sharing the latest toughened up styling with the housed E-620 SLR it carries off a cute Tonka toy look with aplomb, but is it merely a plaything?