Reviews on Digital Cameras and accessories - Part 2

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The reviews below are provided courtesy of www.dslrtips.com

Sony's Alpha NEX 3 and NEX 5 are the company's first cameras to squeeze large sensors and interchangeable lens mounts into compact bodies. Like Micro Four Thirds before them, the NEX claim deliver the quality and flexibility of a DSLR in a much more portable package, but how do they measure-up in practice? Ahead of our upcoming full review, we thought you'd enjoy a preview of our High ISO Noise results page taken with a NEX 5 running firmware version 2. See how it performs against the Olympus E-P2 and Nikon D90 in our Sony NEX High ISO Noise results - and check back soon for our full review!

One of Nature's Great Events is the annual salmon run, where millions of fish return to the streams where they were born to spawn and die. It's a fishing bonanza for the brown bears of Alaska and the best place to witness the action is at Brooks Falls. Camera Labs Editor Gordon Laing visited Brooks at the height of the 2010 run with the goal of photographing and filming the event with a Canon EOS 7D DSLR. Find out how the camera, lenses and tripod system performed under demanding conditions in our Canon 7D Alaska field test!

Sigma offers a huge range of lenses including many which are either cheaper or simply not available from the major camera manufacturers. From exotic fisheyes to telephoto zooms, all the way to the whopping and totally unique 200-500mm f2.8, Sigma offers a lens for every situation and budget. Explore the complete Sigma range for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax and Four Thirds mounts in our latest lens catalogue, with full specifications and updated pricing. See our Sigma lens catalogue for full details!

Panasonic's Lumix DMC-TZ8, or ZS5 as it's known in North America, is a 12 Megapixel pocket super-zoom with a 12x optical range, taking you from decent wide-angle coverage equivalent to 25mm, all the way to powerful telephoto at 300mm. The TZ8 / ZS5 also features 720p HD video and complete manual exposure control in addition to Panasonic's Intelligent Auto with Scene Detection and Face Recognition. It's a more affordable version of the best-selling TZ10 / ZS7 with the same lens and sensor. See how it measures-up in our Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ8 / ZS5 review!

Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-H55 is a 14 Megapixel super-zoom compact with a 10x optical range, which starts at a wider-than-average equivalent of 25mm. The H55 also features a 3in screen, 720p HD movie recording and Sony's cunning Sweep Panorama which automatically stitches multiple images in-camera to create spectacular panoramic photos. The H55 may be the more affordable sibling to the HX5, but remains a powerful super-zoom compact at a keen price. See how it compares against Nikon's S8000 and Panasonic's TZ8 / ZS5 in our Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 review.

Nikon's COOLPIX S8000 is a stylish 14 Megapixel super-zoom compact with a 10x optical range; Nikon claims it's the slimmest model with a 10x zoom, and the S8000 also features a large and detailed 3in / 920k screen, 720p HD movies, an HDMI port and the ability to recharge its battery when connected to the USB port on your computer. It represents a compelling combination of features at a good price, but faces tough competition from Sony's Cyber-shot H55 and Panasonic's TZ8 / ZS5. See how all three compare in our Nikon COOLPIX S8000 review.

Panasonic's Lumix FS30, or FH20 as it's known in North America, is an affordable super-zoom camera with an 8x optical range and 14 Megapixels. The lens zooms out to a useful wide-angle equivalent of 28mm, and zooms-into 224mm for serious close-ups, while effective stabilisation irons-out any wobbles. On top of that the FS30 / FH20 features 720p HD movies and Panasonic's latest Intelligent Auto mode for ease of use. It represents great value for money but is up against Fujifilm's JZ300. See how they compare in our Panasonic Lumix FS30 / FH20 review.

Fujifilm's FinePix JZ300 is a budget pocket super-zoom camera with a 10x optical range and 12 Megapixels. The lens range starts at 28mm equivalent wide-angle, before extending to 280mm for serious reach, made all the more usable by effective stabilisation. The camera also features a raft of automatic modes along with a 720p HD movie mode. It's a solid specification for the money, but up against the equally compelling Panasonic Lumix FS30 / FH20 for much the same price. We've compared them both in our Fujifilm FinePix JZ300 review.

Manfrotto's range of M-Y tripods is designed for first-time photographers using budget DSLRs or larger point-and-shoot cameras, such as super-zoom models. Compared to higher-end professional tripods, the M-Y models are relatively small, light and affordable, while delivering a big step-up in stability and performance over budget options. In this review we've tested the best-selling Manfrotto M-Y 7301YB model, but will compare the features and capabilities of the entire range, not to mention the next step-up, allowing you to make the right choice. Shopping for your first decent tripod? Check out our Manfrotto M-Y 7301YB review!

The Nikkor DX 18-200mm VR II is an 11.1x super-zoom lens designed for Nikon's range of DX format DSLRs. It's the update to one of the most popular lenses for the Nikon system and is now better-equipped to deal with the problem of zoom-creep. As before though, the key selling point is a 27-300mm equivalent range taking you from wide-angle to serious telephoto without the inconvenience of swapping lenses. In our review we've compared this new version against the latest Nikkor general-purpose zooms and filmed a demonstration of its major features in HD. Is this the ideal lens for owners of DX format bodies? Find out in our Nikkor DX 18-200mm VR II review.

Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W310 is an affordable compact camera with 12 Megapixels, a 2.7in screen and 4x zoom. Aimed squarely at the point-and-shoot photographer it has an Intelligent Auto mode with scene, face and smile detection, along with basic control over sensitivity, white balance and metering in Program mode. Impressively for the money, it also offers 28mm wide-angle coverage. It's a step-up in style, features and quality from a bargain basement model, but up against compelling rivals from Canon and Nikon. Find out how it measures-up in our Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W310 review.

The Nikkor DX 35mm f/1.8G is a prime lens designed for Nikon's DX format DSLRs. Mounted on a DX body, it delivers standard coverage, avoiding the distortion of wide angle lenses and the flattened perspective of telephoto models. The DX 35mm f/1.8G is a great complement to an existing kit zoom, boasting sharper images and much greater light-gathering power. It's also small, light and best of all, very affordable. Find out why this deserves to become the standard lens for all DX body owners, and see how the quality compares against several zooms in our Nikkor DX 35mm f/1.8G review.

Nikon's COOLPIX S3000 is an affordable compact camera which offers a step-up from the real bargain-basement models. You get 12 Megapixels, a 2.7in screen and a 4x optical zoom which usefully includes wide-angle coverage. It's designed as a point-and-shoot camera with capable automatic operation and the minimum of manual fuss, but is up against two key rivals in the form of Canon's IXUS 105 / SD1300 IS and Sony's Cyber-shot W310. All three share very similar specifications, so we've pitched them head-to-head in our Nikon COOLPIX S3000 review.

Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W350 is an ultra-compact point-and-shoot camera with 14 Megapixels, a 4x zoom with wide coverage and 720p HD movies. At just 16.7mm thick and weighing only 117g with battery and card, this is a seriously small camera you'd be happy to take everywhere. The W350 also features a foolproof Auto mode with scene detection and Sony's excellent Sweep Panorama which automatically stitches multiple images into spectacular wide photos. Best of all, Sony's hit an affordable price point considering the specification, but it's up against Canon's classy IXUS 130 / SD1400 IS. See how they compare in our Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W350 review.

The Lumix DMC-TZ10, or ZS7 as it's known in North America, is the latest model in Panasonic's enormously popular travel-zoom series. The successor to the best-selling Lumix TZ7 / ZS3, the new model inherits the same 12x zoom packed into a compact body with a great screen and HD video, but now adds full manual controls, improved stabilisation and even squeezes-in a GPS receiver to pinpoint the locations of your shots and ensure the clock's always telling the right time. In our brand new HD video tour we'll demonstrate the zoom range, stabilisation, manual control, HD video and of course the GPS receiver in action!

The PowerShot SD1400 IS / IXUS 130 is an ultra-slim and very stylish 14 Megapixel compact. Successor to the popular SD780 IS / IXUS 100 IS, the new model becomes the slimmest model in Canon's current range at just 17.8mm thick, which combined with rounded corners allows it to slip discreetly and comfortably into any pocket. Canon's kept the 720p HD movies and HDMI output of its predecessor, but broadened the zoom range to 4x with true wide-angle coverage and enlarged the screen to 2.7in. One of 2009's most desirable compacts has just got better, but there's tough competition from Sony. See how they compare in our Canon SD1400 IS / IXUS 130 review.

Canon's IXUS 105 / PowerShot SD1300 IS is the successor to the best-selling IXUS 95 IS / SD1200 IS. The new model features a boost in resolution and screen size, but the big new upgrade is a switch from the basic 3x range of its predecessor to a broader 4x, complete with wide-angle coverage. Canon's latest compact certainly ticks the right boxes, but for around two thirds the price you could alternatively buy Nikon's COOLPIX S3000 or Sony's Cyber-shot W310 which share very similar specs. We've compared all three side-by-side, so if you're shopping for a classy but affordable compact, check out our Canon IXUS 105 / SD1300 IS review!

As promised earlier this week, our reviews of the Manfrotto 190XPROB and 190CXPRO3 tripods are now ready to go! The 190XPROB is one of the best-selling tripods around, delivering an unbeatable combination of price and performance – it's one of the best options if you want a decent tripod but don't want to spend a fortune. Alternatively if you're after a lighter version and have a bigger budget, consider the carbon fiber 190CXPRO3 version. In our reviews we'll compare their build, features and stability, along with seeing how their larger 055 counterparts measure-up. See our Manfrotto 190XPROB and 190CXPRO3 reviews for full details!

A decent tripod is the number one accessory for any photographer, but it's critical not to skimp. Manfrotto is one of the most respected names around and its hugely popular X-series dominate the sales charts. The best-selling models are the 190XPROB and the larger 055XPROB, with their lightweight carbon-fiber siblings, the 190CXPRO3 and 055CXPRO3 coming close behind. We've compared all four side-by-side and tested them for stability, so if you're shopping for a decent tripod, look no further! First up, the larger models with our 055XPROB review and 055CXPRO3 review. Check back later this week for our reviews of the more compact 190 versions!

Canon's PowerShot A495 is one of the most affordable point-and-shoot models in the company's 2010 range. It features 10 Megapixels, a 3.3x optical zoom and 2.5in screen. Successor to the popular A480, the new model adds scene recognition, improved face detection and some new scene presets. It's a budget model designed for care-free operation, but one which delivers surprisingly good results. Find out how it measures-up against Canon's pricier A3100 IS, along with Nikon's cheaper COOLPIX L22 in our Canon PowerShot A495 review. If you're shopping for an affordable compact, you've come to the right place!

Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 is one of the most exciting compacts around right now, sporting a 10x zoom, Full HD video, quick 10fps burst shooting, and a built-in GPS. But what's really got enthusiasts going are the Handheld Twilight and Anti Motion Blur modes which quickly capture six images and combine them into one to reduce noise or camera-shake. By popular demand we've retested the HX5 to show what these modes are really capable of. In a major update to our original review we've added new dedicated results pages for each mode, seen how they compare in our low-light tests, and for good measure also taken a second look at the in-camera HDR features. Find out more in our Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 review!

Nikon's COOLPIX L22 is the successor to one of the most affordable and best-selling compacts of 2009. The new model features 12 Megapixel resolution, a 3in screen and 3.6x optical zoom - a generous specification in a smart-looking body considering the low price point. In our review we'll take a look at the quality and features you can expect from a 2010 budget point-and-shoot camera, along with comparing it against its biggest rival from Canon. So if you're after a new digital camera that doesn't break the bank, check out our Nikon COOLPIX L22 review.

Canon's EOS 550D / Rebel T2i is one of the hottest DSLRs right now, and for good reason as it packs the high-end EOS 7D's 18 Megapixel resolution and wide choice of HD video modes into a lighter and more affordable body. Our full review has been published for several weeks now, but today we're pleased to add our in-depth video tour, in High Definition! To reflect the popularity of the camera, it's our longest and most detailed yet at 20 minutes, so settle down with a refreshment of your choice and see Canon's latest DSLR in action!

Canon's PowerShot SX210 IS is the company's second pocket super-zoom camera. The new model boosts the resolution to 14 Megapixels and the zoom range to 14x, giving it the longest reach and joint highest resolution of all compact super-zooms. Further differentiating it from the crowd, the SX210 IS also features a widescreen display, ideal for framing its 720p HD movie mode, along with full manual control over exposures and a very capable auto mode with scene detection for an easy life. It's another compelling big-zoom compact, but how does it compare against Panasonic's TZ10 / ZS7 and Sony's HX5? Find out in our Canon PowerShot SX210 IS review!

Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-TX7 is a slim touch-screen camera that's packed with features. Along with a 4x zoom and large 3.5in touch-screen display, the TX7 features Full HD video and supremely quick 10fps continuous shooting, the latter exploited in a variety of cunning modes including one which self-assembles Panoramas and another which stacks multiple images for better results in dim conditions. With looks to match the impressive feature-set, the TX7 is sure to turn heads, but does it deliver the goods in practice? Find out in our Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX7 review where we'll compare it against Canon's latest touch-screen compact.

Canon's IXUS 210, or PowerShot SD3500 IS as it's known in North America, is the company's second touch-screen camera, following last year's IXUS 200 IS / SD980 IS. The new model features 14 Megapixels, 720p HD video, and a large, wide, touch-sensitive screen which occupies virtually the entire rear surface. Unlike its predecessor, the IXUS 210 / SD3500 IS dispenses with the usual menu buttons to become almost exclusively controlled by its touch-screen. Find out whether this was a good idea and see how it compares against Sony's touch-sensitive Cyber-shot TX7 in our Canon IXUS 210 / PowerShot SD3500 IS review!

The Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 is Sony's first truly pocketable super-zoom, and it's hit the ground running with a feature-set which genuinely stands out from the competition. Along with a 10x optical zoom packed into a compact body, the HX5 features Full HD 1080i video, blisteringly quick 10fps continuous shooting, some of the cleverest auto modes around and a built-in GPS to pinpoint your location on images. Phew! That's quite a spec, but then it's up against Panasonic's TZ10 / ZS7, one of the most feature-packed compacts to date. Find out how they measure-up in our Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 review!

The Lumix DMC-TZ10, or ZS7 as it's known in North America, is the latest model in Panasonic's enormously popular travel-zoom series. The successor to the best-selling Lumix TZ7 / ZS3, the new model inherits the same 12x zoom packed into a compact body with a great screen and HD video, but now adds full manual controls, improved stabilisation and even squeezes-in a GPS receiver to pinpoint the locations of your shots and ensure the clock's always telling the right time. Find out if Panasonic is still king of the pocket super-zoom market in our Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10 / ZS7 review!

Canon's EOS 550D / Rebel T2i is the company's latest upper entry-level DSLR, and by inheriting a number of key aspects of the higher-end EOS 7D at half the price, it's understandably generated a lot of interest. The EOS 550D / T2i features exactly the same 18 Megapixel resolution as the 7D, along with all of its HD movie modes, not to mention a microphone input, sophisticated metering and a brand new 3:2 shaped screen which perfectly matches the shape of your photos. It's another impressive specification for the money and in our review we've fully tested the still and video capabilities, along with handling speed and AF performance. Check out our Canon EOS 550D / Rebel T2i review for the full run-down! PS - our video tour will follow.

Canon's PowerShot A3100 IS is the first of the 2010 compacts! It's an affordable model with 12.1 Megapixels, a 4x stabilized zoom and 2.7in LCD screen. The successor to the best-selling PowerShot A1100 IS, it becomes the first PowerShot A-series to run from a Lithium Ion battery which greatly improves flash-recycling times. It's also the first Canon compact to support the latest SDXC memory, for cards bigger than 32GB. In our full review we've compared it against two other brand new compacts to see if it's destined to become another best-seller. Find out how it measures-up in our Canon PowerShot A3100 IS review!