Dirt Cheap Cameras Reviews

Canon LEGRIA FS306 Review

Creating and sharing quality videos is effortless fun with the incredibly lightweight and compact LEGRIA FS306. Not only does it shoot great looking Standard Definition (SD) movies but its tiny size means you can take it with you wherever you go; plus it records straight to memory card so you can quickly and easily share your movies with friends and family. A versatile 41x Advanced Zoom with dynamic image stabilisation enhances your creative options as well as ensuring smooth professional looking movies. Add in features like Video Snapshot, Pre REC and Quick Start modes, Canon’s DIGIC DV II Image Processor and a 2.7-inch Widescreen LCD and you’ve got a LEGRIA camcorder that’s a joy to use, very affordable and still unmistakably Canon.

Stylish and compact
Weighing in at just 225g the stylish LEGRIA FS306 is not only extremely lightweight but also small enough to fit in your pocket, so you can carry it with you wherever you go.

41x Advanced Zoom
You can get up close and personal, even with far away subjects with the LEGRIA FS306’s 41x advanced zoom lens. Its versatility means you can really explore your creative options and its perfect for capturing the action at sporting events or concerts – plus zooming is smooth and steady throughout the range so you always be able to get the shot you need and with the quality you expect from Canon.

The LEGRIA FS306 also offers you additional flexibility to get just the shot you need by giving you the choice of Advanced Zoom in default mode or you can select a 37x Optical Zoom or 2000x Digital Zoom.

Smooth professional looking movies
Canon’s Dynamic Image Stabiliser compensates for almost every kind of movement from the gentle murmurs of your breathing to the vibrations of a car ride, so your movies will always have a smooth professional look. You can switch easily from Standard Mode to Dynamic Range when you want to stabilise heavy hand shake on the move, for example when walking or climbing up and down stairs, or when shooting at maximum telephoto range.

Fun short movies made easy
Using Video Snapshot mode it is fun and easy to create great video montages. Simply press the record button to capture 4-second clips, the average length of one ‘cut’ in a TV show. To make and playback a simple multi-shot movie is quick and easy and you don’t need a PC. All you have to do is select a series of clips and create a ‘playlist’. This can then be set to music, chosen from the pre-loaded rights-free tracks on the camcorder or the selection supplied on the accompanying CD. Alternatively you can upload your own WAV format tracks using the Music Transfer Utility supplied.

Power efficient with quick recharge
The LEGRIA FS306’s intelligent battery lets you shoot for up to 3.5 hours on a single charge. Plus all it takes is 20 minutes to recharge for a further hour’s recording. Shooting to removable flash memory cards is also incredibly power efficient, letting you shoot for longer.

Never miss a shot
In Pre REC mode, the camcorder starts recording three seconds before you even press the Record button. Three seconds of footage are continuously stored and automatically added to the beginning of your clip from whenever you start videoing – so you need never miss that crucial moment again. With Quick Start standby mode you can also power up the camcorder in less than a second by simply flipping open the LCD screen.

Canon LEGRIA FS306

Canon PowerShot SX210 IS Review

The Canon IXUS 210 IS Touch is the next generation IXUS and the definition of elegance. The IXUS 210 IS promises fun and easy shooting with a huge 3.5-inch interactive touch LCD screen. Featuring a 24mm wide angle lens, 5x Optical Zoom and HD movie recording giving you the flexibility to capture wide and close up shots or video.

Canon IXUS 210 delivers outstanding pictures
The Canon Digital IXUS 210 offers stunning image quality to accompany its stand-out design. Featuring a 24mm ultra-wide angle, genuine Canon lens – it’s ideal for landscapes and large group shots which require a wider field of view to capture the entire scene. The Canon IXUS 210 digital camera also features a 5x optical zoom which allows users to get even closer to the action. An optical Image Stabilizer (IS) and Motion Detection technology work together to reduce image blur by effectively reducing camera shake and detecting the presence of motion in the scene. In addition, the IXUS 210’s high speed DIGIC 4 processor delivers outstanding responsiveness, rapid auto focus and natural-looking skin tones and colour in the final result.

14 megapixel Canon IXUS 210 camera
Touch AF allows the user to focus on their subject by simply ‘touching’ it on the screen. If the subject is moving, the camera’s integrated Servo AF/AE will automatically track it, maintaining both focus and exposure for the perfect shot. Browsing images is also made easy and natural by enabling users to simply drag their finger across the screen and the camera will match the speed of image review with the speed of the gesture made on-screen. “Touch Actions” allow users to match gestures made on-screen to commonly used functions, such as tagging images as favourites or erasing, rotating, or protecting images in their collection. The colour theme and on-screen icon layout can be customised on the Canon Digital IXUS 210 – allowing users to tailor the interface to suit their preference and style. On-screen Hints and Tips also guide users through the camera’s functions, helping them to understand how and when to use each one to capture the perfect image.

Canon IXUS 210 equipped with 3.5″ LCD screen
A large, high-resolution, 8.8cm (3.5”) PureColor II Touch LCD screen  offers plenty of space for users to easily navigate the finger-friendly touch interface. With wide colour reproduction and high contrast, users can also enjoy their images in rich colour from almost any angle. Active Display now allows users to browse through their images by simply tapping the sides of the camera, introducing a new dimension to sharing content on the camera with friends and family.

Main features:

• Stylish, 14.1 Megapixel, metal body IXUS in four colour options
• Genuine Canon 24mm ultra wide-angle 5x zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer
• Wide 8.8cm (3.5″) PureColor II Touch LCD with touch control
• Touch AF, custom icon layout and tap control
• Easy to use with Smart Auto, Face Detection and on-screen Hints & Tips
• HD Movies (720p) and HDMI connection
• Smart Shutter with Smile, Wink Self-Timer and FaceSelf-Timer
• Smart Flash Exposure and i-Contrast for best results in all situations
• DIGIC 4 and Servo AF/AE for ultra-fast response and high image quality
• Shooting modes including Low Light, Fish-eye, Miniature and Creative Light Effect

Canon Digital IXUS 210 camera technologies
The new Canon IXUS camera features a range of technologies and functions to enable users to capture the perfect picture, every time. Smart Auto with Scene Detection Technology can identify up to 22 different shooting scenes, intelligently analysing shooting conditions and automatically applying the optimum picture settings to capture the image. So whether taking a picture of a loved one in sunny conditions, or a group of friends at night, users can relax in the knowledge that the camera is taking care of the complicated settings, all they need to do is point and shoot.

Smart Flash Exposure on the Canon IXUS 210
Smart Flash Exposure has also been introduced to the IXUS 210 – allowing the camera to effectively control the flash in a range of shooting conditions. For example, when taking portraits in sunny conditions, Smart Flash Exposure will identify shadows on the subject’s face and use just enough flash to eliminate them. To prevent over-exposure when photographing at close distances, Smart Flash Exposure will detect how reflective the subject is, its distance from the lens, and set the flash power accordingly.

Canon IXUS 210 features Face detection
With Face Detection Technology, the IXUS 210 can identify up to 35 faces in a single frame before adjusting focus, exposure, flash and white balance to achieve the best possible result. A new Smart Shutter mode also provides inventive ways to control the shutter using Face Detection Technology. In Smart Shutter mode, the user can trigger the shutter using a smile or – with Wink Self-Timer – a simple wink of an eye. FaceSelf-Timer also triggers the shutter two seconds after a new face joins the frame. With these innovative functions, IXUS 210 users can take great people shots, including self-portraits, without the need for another person to be behind the camera.

Canon IXUS 210 shooting modes
A range of new and creative shooting modes make taking exciting and unique shots easy and fun. Fish-eye Effect allows users to achieve the effect of a fish-eye lens with three levels of distortion to choose from, whilst Miniature Effect mimics the effects possible with a ‘Tilt-Shift’ lens – making buildings within a wider landscape appear of model-scale for dramatic results. The IXUS 210 also offers a Low Light mode, providing the ability to shoot in very low light at reduced resolution, expanding the range of conditions in which the camera can be used. Making it easier to browse through large numbers of images, a new Smart Shuffle playback mode selects and displays four suggested images based on the one currently being viewed. This allows users to see images captured in similar situations or with similar settings, providing a new way to review images stored.

Capture and share HD videos with the Canon IXUS 210
Users of the IXUS 210 can also capture special moments in High Definition (HD) video at 720p resolution. Thanks to a YouTube upload function, integrated into the bundled CameraWindow software, users who have already registered with YouTube can login and upload video clips from their PC at the touch of a button. The IXUS 210 also features an integrated HDMI port, allowing video and images to be viewed on any HDMI-compatible output device without loss of quality. Allowing users to store more video and photos than the standard SDHC memory cards  that are currently supported, the IXUS 210 is among Canon’s first products to support SDXC storage cards, offering up to 2TB of storage capacity.

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Panasonic Lumix TZ10 Review

The Panasonic Lumix TZ10 is a photo/movie hybrid compact camera that features intelligent resolution technology, 16x intelligent zoom and built-in GPS. The GPS function makes the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10 an ideal travel companion for all!

Panasonic Lumix TZ10 camera features
The new image processing technology “Intelligent Resolution” is incorporated in the Venus Engine HD II for Panasonic TZ10. By detecting the signals whether they are at edges of the subjects, they compose detailed texture or just a soft gradation first and give appropriate enhancement to the edges and textured areas respectively. Unlike the uniform enhancement of sharpness, it is possible to perform the optimum signal processing to give a whole image outstandingly natural clearness with fine details. Panasonic’s iA mode – a hallmark of Lumix cameras – includes POWER O.I.S. which features double the repression power compared to the conventional image stabilization system, MEGA O.I.S. The hand-shake, which is physically generated when pressing the shutter button or when shooting at night with a slow shutter speed, is effectively compensated by the new POWER O.I.S. to enjoy blur-free photography. The iA mode is also available in movie recording mode. It automatically selects the most suitable Scene mode and helps to correct handshake, focus and brightness problems – making iA mode your one-stop solution to capture beautiful still and motion images.

Panasonic DMC-TZ10 equipped with Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens
The Panasonic TZ10 features a high-quality LEICA DC VARIO ELMAR 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens with a 12x optical zoom. A lens like this, with a range from 25mm to 300mm, is almost inconceivable in such a small, lightweight camera. Comprising 10 elements in 8 groups, including 2 ED lenses and 2 aspherical lenses with 3 aspherical surfaces, and utilizing new lens material in its design, this advanced lens unit realizes the outstandingly slim and compact body while passing Leica’s stringent standards to deliver exceptional optical performance. Thanks to the newly incorporated Intelligent Resolution technology, the Intelligent Zoom is available with the Lumix DMC-TZ10 which extends the zoom ratio by approx.1.3x maintaining the picture quality even combining a digital zoom. This means the 12x optical can virtually extend to 16x equivalent. Furthermore, the Extra Optical Zoom function that extends zoom power to 23.4x (at 3-megapixel resolution) by using the center part of the large CCD to bring subjects even closer.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10 GPS camera
On the other hand, manual control of shutter speed and aperture is available with A/S/M mode for advanced users to choose to enjoy the creativeness of photography. Now the GPS is finally built-in the world-renowned travel companion Panasonic DMC-TZ10 not only just to record the latitude and longitude but also to display the location information real-time while shooting or playing back the images with the information to increase the fun of travel photography. The Panasonic Lumix TZ10 features a 3-inch, high resolution 460,000-dot Intelligent LCD with a wide viewing angle and AR (Anti-Reflection) coating, boasting excellent visibility during recording and playing back the photos and movies. Despite of the pocket-sized compact body, the truly “hybrid”, versatile digital camera Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10 will surely satisfy every user at any level of photography with its ultimate performance and offer a rich experience like never before.

12.1 megapixel Panasonic Lumix TZ10 camera
The Panasonic Lumix TZ10 has a 14.5-megapixel CCD and shoots with up to 12.1-megapixel resolution. This is because the CCD on the TZ10 is multi-aspect that can reproduce images shot with the lens set from 25mm to 300mm in any of three aspect ratios – 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 – so you can always capture dynamic, richly expressive shots with a wide perspective. The Multi Aspect mode lets you take an image in all three aspect ratios simultaneously then choose the one that best suits your scene after shooting.

Panasonic Lumix TZ10 incorporates the Venus Engine HD
The high-speed, high-performance Venus Engine HD has been re-engineered to compile the new image processing technology “Intelligent Resolution”. It enables the recording of beautiful photo and high-definition movie with higher quality signal processing. With the Intelligent Resolution technology, 3 areas – outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation areas are automatically detected. The outline parts are enhanced effectively to give edges more clearness while giving a moderate accentuation to the texture areas to look more finely detailed. To the soft gradation part, superior noise reduction system of the Venus Engine HD II is applied to make it smoother. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the innovative technology Intelligent Resolution precisely performs signal processing pixel by pixel in the most effective way for it. As a result, images are naturally clear and crisp in both photo and movie recording.

Panasonic Lumix TZ10 features Intelligent Resolution technology
The Intelligent Resolution technology also realizes the Intelligent Zoom, which virtually extends the optical zoom ratio to its 1.3x equivalent maintaining the picture quality even combining the digital zoom. Details of an image in high sensitivity recording tends to be lost in the noise reduction process, however, the Intelligent Resolution works to keep them. At the same time, the multi-task image-processing engine Venus Engine HD II supports a super-fast response time. The shutter release time lag is as short as approx. 0.006 second and the camera’s quick response makes it easier to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities together with the Sonic Speed AF (Auto Focus) that lets you lock on the subject minimum in approx. 0.35 (wide-end) / 0.41 (tele-end) second and the short startup time of approx. 1.1 second. The high performance Venus Engine HD II is also energy efficient to feature an extended the battery life up to 300 shots (CIPA) per a single charge.

Panasonic TZ10 records motion pictures in AVCHD Lite
In addition to Motion JPEG images, the Panasonic DMC-TZ10 can record high-definition motion picture in AVCHD Lite. It features almost doubling the recording time in HD quality compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format. The picture quality is greatly enhanced thanks to the newly added Intelligent Resolution technology. The Panasonic Lumix TZ10 also features Dolby Digital Stereo Creator to record high quality audio, so you can match the beautiful motion images with outstanding stereo sound.

Panasonic TZ10 digital camera offers movie recording function
The hand-shake component, which is physically generated when pressing the shutter button or when shooting at night with a slow shutter speed, is recognized as a low-frequency vibration, for which the new POWER O.I.S. is particularly effective. This greatly improves the quality of shots taken at night or indoors where a flash cannot be used, or where the photographer doesn’t want to use a flash because it would spoil the mood. It captures beautiful photos in situations that previously resulted in blurring. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10 features the Face Recognition, a function that is popular in the previous TZ7, with several upgrades.

Intelligent auto mode on the Panasonic DMC-TZ10
Panasonic incorporated the iA(Intelligent Auto) mode in pursuit of the ultimate ease of operation and the reduction of misshots. In the iA mode the camera does all the work, leaving you free to compose shots and capture moments. Just press, aim and shoot.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10 scene modes
Lumix functions continue to evolve. Scene modes, which are optimized for a variety of still-image shooting situations, are now available for motion images as well. Thanks to a rich variety of 28 scene modes for still image and 18 for motion image (Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self portrait, Scenery, Low light, Food, Party, Candle light, Sunset, Beach, Snow, Aerial, High Sensitivity, Pin hole, Film grain, High Dynamic and Underwater), capturing beautiful videos is effortless.

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Note:
*1
Recording conditions by CIPA standard
· CIPA is an abbreviation of [Camera & Imaging Products Association].
· Temperature: 23 °C (73.4 °F) / Humidity: 50% when LCD monitor is on.
· Using a Panasonic SD Memory Card (32 MB).
· Using the supplied battery.
· Starting recording 30 seconds after the camera is turned on. (When the optical image stabilizer function is set to [AUTO].)
· Recording once every 30 seconds with full flash every second recording.
· Rotating the zoom lever from Tele to Wide or vice versa in every recording.
· Turning the camera off every 10 recordings and leaving it until the temperature of the battery decreases.
· The number of recordable pictures decreases in Auto Power LCD Mode and Power LCD Mode.
*2
· These are standard times taken at a temperature of 23 °C (73.4 °F) and a humidity of 50%.
· The time available for recording varies depending on the environment, the interval between recordings, and the manner of use.
· Actual recordable time is the time available for recording when repeating actions such as switching the power supply [ON] / [OFF], starting/stopping recording, zoom operation etc.
· Motion picture recorded continuously in [MOTION JPEG] is up to 2 GB. Only the maximum recordable time for 2 GB is displayed on the screen.
· Motion pictures can be recorded continuously for up to 29 minutes 59 seconds in European PAL area (ZS7/TZ10).

Canon EOS 550D Review

Canon announces a groundbreaking new addition to its expanding, world-famous EOS range of Digital SLR  cameras – the EOS 550D. The Canon EOS 550D redefines the boundaries of Canon’s consumer DSLR range, incorporating technologies and features more commonly found in semi-professional DSLRs into the compact, lightweight body favoured by consumers. With a newly-developed 18 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, coupled with Canon’s advanced DIGIC 4 image processor and the ability to shoot Full HD  movies, photography enthusiasts are empowered to explore new levels of creativity. The Canon EOS 550D makes Canon’s powerful imaging technology more accessible to consumers.

18 megapixel Canon EOS 550D SLR camera
Canon’s advanced DIGIC 4 image processor and 18MP sensor support standard ISO settings of 100 – 6400 (expandable to 12800), while enhanced in-camera noise reduction technology boosts performance in low light conditions. The system’s 14-bit image processing  also produces smoother tonal gradation and natural looking colours for high quality prints and on-screen display. For swift and accurate focusing, the Canon EOS 550D features a 9-point AF system with one extra-sensitive cross-type point at the centre for f/2.8 or faster lenses. The Canon 550D also supports high-speed, continuous shooting at 3.7 frames per second (fps). These features provide users with the opportunity to exert greater control over their images, allowing them to capture split-second moments with ease and accuracy.

Creative photography with the Canon EOS 550D
“Digital SLR photography has captured the imagination of consumers globally,” said Kieran Magee, Director of Product Planning, Consumer Products, Canon Europe. “Every year, more and more individuals are looking to record key life events with unrivalled quality or to test and explore their creativity. The Canon EOS 550D redefines the entry level DSLR category, putting technologies and features previously the preserve of the professional into the hands of the consumer – allowing them to achieve outstanding results. With the Canon 550D, consumers are free to explore the limits of their own creative vision.”

Creative photography with the Canon EOS 550D
“Digital SLR photography has captured the imagination of consumers globally,” said Kieran Magee, Director of Product Planning, Consumer Products, Canon Europe. “Every year, more and more individuals are looking to record key life events with unrivalled quality or to test and explore their creativity. The Canon EOS 550D redefines the entry level DSLR category, putting technologies and features previously the preserve of the professional into the hands of the consumer – allowing them to achieve outstanding results. With the Canon 550D, consumers are free to explore the limits of their own creative vision.”

Record HD videos with the Canon 550D DSLR
As the ability to record Full HD video becomes increasingly important, Canon continues to deliver DSLR technology that sets the industry benchmark for multimedia functionality. The Canon EOS 550D records video in full 1920×1080p HD resolution, allowing photographers to select the frame rate preferred from 30, 25 and 24fps, as well as offering 720p video at 60 and 50fps. The Canon EOS 550D SLR also includes a 3.5mm stereo microphone socket, enabling the use of an external microphone when capturing video.

Canon EOS 550D manual control
Photographers can also take manual control over exposure settings, changing the depth of field and degree of motion blur to shoot more creatively. To provide the best possible video quality, highlight tone priority (HTP) can be set independently for movie capture, without changing any still image capture settings. In situations where the subject is further away, the Canon EOS 550D Movie Crop function records with the central 640×480 pixel area of the sensor, creating an effective magnification of approximately seven times. The Canon 550D DSLR is the first in the EOS range to feature Movie Crop and gives consumers more flexibility to capture important moments which would otherwise be too far away.

Canon EOS 550D SLR accessories
The Canon EOS 550D is fully compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX series Speedlite flash units, including the compact Speedlite 270EX. The Canon EOS 550D is also compatible with the new RC-6 Remote Control, allowing photographers to capture high quality stills and Full HD video without touching the camera body. The slimline infrared controller can trigger the shutter release from up to five metres away, with users able to select either immediate release or a two second delay for greater flexibility when shooting. As well as supporting EOS 550D, the RC-6 is also compatible with the EOS 450D, 500D, 7D and 5D Mark II.

Canon 550D includes a free membership of iMAGE Gateway
Owners of the new Canon EOS 550D can join the Canon iMAGE Gateway, a free online facility for Canon users that makes it easy to share their photos and video. Users can take advantage of up to 2GB of personal storage space, creating enough room for hundreds of high-quality images. Mobile browsing is also supported, making it easy for friends and family to view photos on the move.

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