A great-looking camera to help you capture the world from a new perspective

There’s no doubt about it, Samsung’s sleek new camera oozes sophistication. Its slim, high-quality build is minimalist yet striking with its flip-out LCD screen. Clearly its standout feature, this unique three-inch screen is fantastic for low or high-angle shots and self-portraits, as well as acting as its own stand for displaying photos in a slide show. Because of its touch-screen controls, on the body we are just left with a Play and a ‘Home’ button to access the menu. With an external zoom dial built around the shutter release button, it has just the right balance of touch screen versus physical control. The touch controls themselves, including touch shooting if activated, are responsive and user-friendly.
Underneath the excellent exterior is a camera packed full of fantastic features. As well as Smart Auto, Program and a variety of shooting modes such as Close-up and Night Shot, the MV800 comes with a large range of extras such as 3D Photo and Live Panorama. Intelligent Portrait is a great feature that will take a shot and automatically give you two alternative crops. During our testing the camera sometimes had trouble detecting faces in order to complete these crops, however.
Notably absent is a dedicated sports mode, but there are some clever editing options, such as in-camera cropping, saturation and contrast tweaks, as well as effects filters. All of these will suit beginners but there are more advanced features that let you take more control. While there’s no Manual mode, you can select your own ISO, white balance, focus area and metering system, tweak the exposure value and control the flash.
The images on screen are bright and sharp, and the final printed results are fantastic. For all it comes packed with, the MV800 is a great value compact that will get you taking photos from creative angles and achieving amazing effects. A triumph of compact camera design.

An all-round, flexible camera that will get you shooting high and low with ease. A perfect option for beginners wanting to see the world from different angles

Overall Rating 5 / 5

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A superzoom camera that can really do it all, while still being great for all abilities

The Panasonic FZ150 is the latest Lumix camera that could be considered a superzoom. It boasts some impressive features, many of which you’d expect to find on CSCs and beginner DSLRs.
These include a wealth of full manual options, and although they aren’t as intuitive as a DSLR’s, once you’re used to the camera they are very simple to adjust. If you still aren’t confident with the more advanced functions, there are plenty of automatic scene modes to use, as well as a selection of creative art modes that each overlay a different filter onto your photo.
Another key selling point is the FZ150’s ability to record video at full HD resolution. There is a dedicated record button placed next to the shutter release, making it quick to jump straight into video recording mode.
The three-inch LCD can be flipped and rotated to help when shooting at awkward angles. However, the FZ150 comes with an electronic viewfinder that enables you to hold the camera still when taking advantage of the great 12 frames per second maximum shooting speed.
One of the FZ150’s party tricks that we particularly love is its close focusing ability, which Panasonic
claims can focus on subjects as close as one centimetre away. However, we were hitting the subject on the edge of the lens barrel and still getting focus. It’s a truly impressive feature that makes macro photography a joy with this camera.
Images taken with the FZ150 are very good, with drops in quality only noticeable when using high ISOs, which is what you would expect from a camera with this size of sensor. The creative filters produce excellent photos that will help beginners add a new dimension to their photography without the need for a PC, making the FZ150 an excellent choice for anyone looking to develop their artistic and shooting skills at the same time.
 

The Panasonic Lumix FZ150 is the camera that can do it all. It has all the features you’d want, along with some extra party tricks to keep you interested for a long time

Overall Rating 5 / 5

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The stylish CSC gets tried and tested to see how it stands up in this booming marketplace

The Sony NEX-5N is a nippy shooter. It’s lightweight, portable, and when set to the Speed Priority mode the camera is capable of firing off images at ten frames per second. The fast shooting capabilities make the NEX-5N a first-choice model for capturing sports and action.
Once you get used to the menu system the NEX-5N is an easy camera to control, as most of the shooting options are intuitive to source. The only query we had was where the ISO control had been placed. We found it under the Brightness/Color menu, which doesn’t appear to be a natural place for the ISO to fit.
The touch screen or back buttons can be used to control the camera, and having the option to use either is handy. The LCD has been placed on hinges so the screen can be pulled away from the camera body and can be angled up or down for creative shooting.
Results are crisp, sharp, and the quality is excellent. The NEX-5N is capable of recording images from ISO 100 all the way to a massive 25600. This is well beyond what most CSCs can stretch to, but even in tricky indoor conditions the images remain detailed. Noise is evident at the high end of the range, but the flexibility to push the camera up to this number when it’s needed is handy.  
Another plus was the accuracy of the metering results. Highlights and shadows remained correctly exposed, and only very occasionally did the highlights blow when there was a vast difference between lights and darks.
The only slight issue we had was with the white balance results on the Auto setting. They were not always completely accurate, and a slight magenta cast was noticeable in some of the daylight shots. You can easily adjust the WB manually in camera if this problem bothers you, and the NEX-5N has the option to shoot in the Sony RAW format (ARW). This made it much easier to correct this issue in post-production.

By providing excellent value for money, the Sony NEX-5N makes itself a worthy investment for anyone wanting to move into the compact system camera market

Overall Rating 5 / 5

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The new Sigma SD1 may look like your average DSLR but beneath it basic exterior it packs a big megapixel punch

Its early announcement back at Photokina in 2010 meant Sigma’s new flagship model, the SD1, generated quite a buzz in the camera world from the beginning. However, its actual release back in June 2011 was considerably more subdued than we had anticipated. Keen to see if it lived up to the initial hype and find out whether it’s worth the heavy financial investment, we put the SD1 to the test.

Essentially this camera is all about image quality and size. Offering up a staggering 46 effective megapixels, this wouldn’t come so much as a surprise if the SD1 were a medium format, however, for a DSLR it’s unheard of. So how does a seemingly regular DSLR provide so many megapixels? The answer lies in the featured Foveon sensor and here’s how it works.

Each pixel in a regular DSLR sensor is responsive to a select primary colour of red, blue or green (RGB) in one layer. Generally these pixels, which are laid out in rows, will alternate between blue and green in one row and then red and green in another, this pattern will then repeat through the rest of the sensor. Green is the most dominant colour and appears on every row due to the fact that the human is more responsive to green light than it is to red or blue.

What the SD1’s sensor does differently is make each pixel responsive to all three RGB colours. This works through using three layers of light sensitive photodiodes, meaning that a direct image sensor, which has 155,000,000 pixel locations, can receive and capture full RGB colour information in every pixel.  This layering system enables the image resolution to be multiplied by three, as each pixel potentially encompasses three pixels when comparing a regular DSLR sensor to the SD1’s.

This concept, on the surface, is a little confusing and has left many photographers’ arguing over the accuracy of the technology, but really the image results speak for themselves. We put the camera to the test out on location and in the studio. Shooting in both RAW and JPEG file formats, we were keen to see how the SD1’s image quality and performance faired.

Under controlled studio light conditions the camera surpassed our expectations and is clearly built for this kind of shooting environment. With a built-in flash sync terminal, it’s ideal for pro studio users and features all the necessary shooting controls on the body. On review of our studio captures, images appeared well exposed and the camera’s auto white balance setting, which we also tested, did well to neutralise any colour casts from the flash light.  Given that the camera can produce large image sizes of a professional quality, the SD1 proved ideal for shooting commercial projects where images may be required for billboard size.

Although great in the studio, the camera wasn’t as versatile as we had hoped out on location. The SD1 struggled when working in direct sunlight and could be quick to blow out highlights, particularly in the sky when exposing correctly for the foreground. We were also a little disappointed by the camera’s ISO performance when shooting under low lighting conditions. Fairing well up to around 800 ISO, noise became present and image quality began to noticeably decline in settings upwards of 1600 ISO. However, when the SD1 wasn’t contending with low light or bright sunlit conditions, it did well to manage colours. Tones appeared realistic as apposed to being overly saturated or soft and we were pleased to see that when zooming in, detail was exceptional and sharp even for JPEG files.

Easy to use, the camera is built with a professional user in mind, and features all of the essential adjustment settings on the body. With two dials on the top plate, you adjust your drive mode and exposure settings quickly, and the additional quick set (QS) button on the back of the camera enables you to preview all of the camera and exposure settings before you shoot. There is even a depth of field preview button on the front of the camera that is fantastic for assessing the DOF effect via the optical viewfinder.

Unfortunately there is no live view mode available which is most likely down to the fact the SD1 doesn’t feature a built-in movie mode. This can of course be forgiven, as although video capture is a feature many photographers have come to expect from a high-end DSLR, the SD1’s technology has been focused towards the fantastic still imaging sensor. You can however still shoot in continuous burst mode, capturing up to 5fps in RAW format. Provided you are using the correct memory card, writing speeds are relatively quick in camera, which is thanks to the featured two TRUE II image processors.

Surprisingly lightweight, the camera’s magnesium alloy body made it easy to work with particularly during long studio shoots. The pronounced grip and deep finger groove on the front also means it fits comfortably in hand. Being weather sealed, the SD1 can also brave the elements on location and has a noticeable feel of durability and strength.

However one of the SD1’s biggest letdowns was the back LCD. The featured three inch screen doesn’t do captures justice when previewed in playback. Although 460,000dot, colours appear muted and almost entirely unsaturated on the screen, with noise appearing much sooner in ISO shots than it does realistically. Although a fairly good resolution screen for any other DSLR model, featuring in the SD1 it struggles and doesn’t match the quality of the images, sensor or camera build.  That being said, we anticipate the SD1 is most likely to be used in a studio setting, meaning you can slightly overlook the LCD quality by opting instead to shoot tethered, which will enable you to preview your captures more clearly out of the camera.

Overall we enjoyed testing the SD1 and were impressed by the camera’s incredible image quality and performance. With a recommended retail price of around £6200, it is an extravagant spend and we would have liked to have seen fewer flaws with improvements made to the LCD and ISO performance in particular. Still relatively new to the market, it will be interesting to see how the SD1 fairs amongst other pro camera choices and we are looking forward to seeing what Sigma do next with their incredible sensor technology.

The SD1’s impressive sensor technology puts this camera up in the big leagues with other pro camera kits. Although image quality and size is incredible there are still a few areas that could be improved.

Overall Rating 4 / 5

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The travel zoom compact that uses GPS to get you where you need to be

The FinePix F600EXR is a wholly tempting offer. It packs a huge 15x optical zoom, lots of scene modes and built-in GPS at a low price. All of these features are crammed into a compact body that comes in red, black, or white.
It’s the perfect travelling companion, with the Landmark Navigator that automatically locates places of interest from a database of 1 million locations and shows you where they are in relation to your current position. Once you’ve found your destination it’s easy to capture the shot by turning the mode dial to any one of the automatic or scene modes, or opt for manual settings. It’s rare for a compact to boast this much control that’s ready to be unlocked.
The all-important image quality doesn’t disappoint either, with crisp, punchy pictures that are full of detail. Its performance in low light is one of the best we’ve seen in recent years, with a new EXR Auto mode that detects whether the subject is moving and boosts the ISO sensitivity to ensure blur-free shots. There’s no fiddling when it comes to turning the flash on and off, as it won’t fire unless you press the button at the side of the camera to release the pop-up flash. Photos can then be reviewed on the three-inch LCD screen that is bright enough to use in sunny conditions.
We tested the attractive red model, which comes with a glossy finish and black trim. It’s a stylish design with a rubber grip on the front for your fingers and a ridged thumb grip around the back for comfort while shooting. Each button is clearly labelled and logically laid out and the menu is split into ‘set-up’ and ‘photo’ sections. There are more advanced modes available too, including the option to shoot in RAW format for increased editing options. It seems there is no end to the features on board this impressive model. For less than £300, the Fujifilm F600 represents great value for money.

A pocketable camera with a larger-than-life feature set. With GPS, manual modes and a scene mode for every situation, the FinePix F600EXR is the one to beat

Overall Rating 5 / 5

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The small and stylish PEN E-PM1 is packed with great features that belie its price point

The PEN E-PM1, also known as the Mini, is the latest addition to Olympus’s line of PEN cameras, and it hopes to conquer a growing market. It is the smallest and cheapest PEN, and is looking to capture those who want to move on from their simple compact camera. However, don’t let this fool you into thinking it’s not up to the challenge of its more expensive rivals in the CSC market.
Coming from a long line of successful PENs, the Mini essentially packs all of the punch, but in a compact and stylish body. However, with new rivals from lots of the other big brand names looking to take the crown, the E-PM1 has to prove its worth.
One of the first things you’ll notice with the Mini is that it doesn’t feature many external controls. There is no command dial and only a few buttons on the rear of the camera. Most of the advanced settings have been kept from the pricier cameras in the range, but in order to get to them you will need to dive into the menu. This is not necessarily an issue as this camera is designed as a step up from the point-and-shoot cameras, meaning many of these functions will not be used as much. But it isn’t a cumbersome task to access them, and once you’re used to the process, changing settings is easy.
As the baby of the range, the E-PM1 doesn’t have some of the functions of its older brothers. However, it does inherit the same 12.3-megapixel sensor, giving excellent still images as well as 1080i HD video. The image quality is on par with the more expensive E-P3, and it also comes equipped with the same impressive autofocus system.
The Mini is essentially a more compact version of the entire PEN system, with an attractive metal body that’s available in a choice of six colours. As it’s designed for the more casual user, the E-PM1 is the perfect step up into the interchangeable-lens world.

The E-PM1 is an excellent CSC, coupling stylish looks with great features. It’s the perfect step up from a compact, offering every feature you could want

Overall Rating 5 / 5

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We take a tour of Nikon’s first foray into the compact system camera market

It’s taken four years from concept to completion and now the Nikon V1 has finally hit the shelves. The V1 enters the stage alongside a cheaper, slightly lesser spec model, the J1. Aimed at the ambitious, tech-savvy family user disillusioned with their compact camera’s abilities, the V1 endeavours to impress with speed, ease of use and a robust magnesium alloy reinforced body. It serves as a tool for photographers to capture pin-sharp memories of their children, pets and holidays, while leaving room to improve their skills along the way.
One of the key points that makes this stand out from its CSC rivals is a fantastic set of movie recording options. Movie buffs will also appreciate the option to shoot 1080p at 30fps or 1080i at 60fps.
The V1 really shows off its processing power by enabling you to take full resolution stills at the same time as shooting video. It works the other way around too, enabling you to record HD video clips while in the still shooting mode. There is a separate movie and shutter button, so this is an easy action to perform.
Another great function is the Smart Photo Selector, which fires off 20 full resolution shots and keeps the best five (in terms of facial expression, focus and composition) for you to make your choice from. This is perfect for photographing pets and children, helping to ensure you capture the perfect smile or pose. If you use this option frequently then remember to invest in a large memory card, as all five options are stored.
The Nikon V1 is a really innovative camera that’s ideal for the family user. The manual controls are buried within the menu, so experienced photographers will find this frustrating, but for the intended consumer the shooting and video options provide ample opportunity to capture superb portraits and action shots. The quality proves you don’t need a massive sensor to produce a great photo.

The new Nikon V1 produces superb images, but the hidden Manual mode and the excessive price somewhat tarnish an otherwise excellent product

Overall Rating 4 / 5

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A premium, stylish shooter with touch-screen technology and some fun filters too

Canon’s IXUS range is synonymous with style and creativity, and this latest model is no different. It’s a sleek piece of technology entirely made from metal and there are only four buttons to contend with: on/off, shutter release, playback, and a switch for auto or manual shooting.
Slide the switch to manual shooting, tap the left-hand corner and an extensive menu of illustrated icons appears with every kind of shooting mode you can think of. Toy Camera effect, Miniature mode and Canon’s famous Colour Swap are all on board, as well as practical offerings such as Smart Shutter mode. This enables the shutter to be triggered by a smile, a blink, or even when a new face enters the frame, which is especially useful for group portraits. The touch screen may be an acquired taste and it inevitably slows the shooting process down, but it’s one of the most responsive we’ve used.
Fun filters aside, it’s disappointing to see there are no Shutter or Aperture Priority modes at this price point. This may hamper those who wish to enhance their skills and seize more control over their image making. The good news is that image quality is ahead of most of its competitors, as the IXUS 1100 HS produces punchy, sharp shots. It performs well in Movie mode too, recording in full HD with stereo sound.
Canon’s IXUS cameras don’t come cheap and rarely fall far below their retail price, which is a testament to the quality of the design and the feature set. The touch screen will be a deciding factor, but as a point-and-shooter and semi-manual compact, it ranks highly.

The IXUS 1100 HS is a stunning compact with advanced shooting features and great point-and-shoot functionality. It’s perfect for those who love touch-screen technology

Overall Rating 4 / 5

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A sleek camera with a host of features to help beginners achieve astounding shots

Thin, minimalistic and stylish, the Nikon S100 is an attractive piece of hardware. With no external controls other than the shutter and an internal zoom, this camera slides snugly into a pocket. Everything’s controlled via a very responsive touch screen that enables you to swipe through pictures and pinch to zoom in, and you can touch the screen to take a shot, focus or track subjects. This did result in us taking photos of walls or our feet every time we slid across the lens cover (which acts as the power switch), and this got very annoying quickly.
In terms of features, the S100 is packed with 20 scene modes which will help beginners take fantastic shots of a variety of subjects, including snow, fireworks and food alongside the usual landscape, portrait and sports modes. One unusual feature is the 3D shooting capability, which allows you to create composite images to be played back on 3D TVs and computers.
Perhaps the S100’s most useful feature is the Smart Portrait mode, which includes a Smile Timer that automatically releases the shutter when it recognises the person is smiling. This works well alongside the Face-Priority AF to detect and focus on faces.
There are a variety of in-camera editing options such as quick retouching, rotating and filters such as fish-eye and miniature that allow you to achieve some creative results. For more advanced users there is exposure compensation and you can set your own ISO and white balance, which can really help improve your shots.
The image quality is good, but during our testing it sometimes overexposed, especially when a bright sky was involved. A few of our test shots had blown-out highlights, but on the whole the quality was fine. At a reasonable price point, the Nikon Coolpix S100 is a great option for beginners, with a wide range of helpful presets to help you take some fantastic shots.

A comprehensive, affordable package with plenty of features for beginners to utilise and the inclusion of a full HD movie mode means it’s a camera for all occasions

Overall Rating 4 / 5

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Also known as the PEN Lite, this is the latest retro-style compact system camera to hit the shelves

Boasting a new 12.3-megapixel sensor, the Olympus PEN E-PL3 is capable of producing high-res JPEG and RAW images. With a 1080p HD movie mode too, the E-PL3 is a fantastic all-in-one camera for families and enthusiasts looking to step up from a beginner level.
The new lightweight design makes the E-PL3 smaller and more streamlined than its predecessor, the E-PL2, but it’s more robust than it looks. It’s ideal for travel as it can slim down in size thanks to a detachable flash head and handy locking feature on the lens.
We found that all of the on-body buttons were easily accessible thanks to the E-PL3’s layout. The video record button has also been conveniently placed above the thumb grip, enabling you to switch seamlessly from stills to video in any shooting mode. Alternatively you can rotate the mode dial on the camera’s top plate and change between manual and automatic stills, HD video recording and even art filters.
The six on-board art filter effects can be used in both stills and video modes. You can select and switch between popular novelty filters including fisheye, pinhole and miniature.
We found the iAuto mode performed well when shooting snapshots, and there is also an extensive range of scene modes for hands-on auto users that covers every realistic shooting scenario.
Our first impression when reviewing test shots was how good the quality appeared. Colours emerged full and well saturated in every image. There was plenty of detail present in the shadows and it was only on a few occasions that we noted highlights had blown slightly.
The competitively priced E-PL3 matches and on some occasions performs better than its competitors. It’s crammed with great features that encompass all of the practical and creative needs of a CSC user.

The Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 is a great, easy-to-use compact system camera that provides quality images – perfect for anyone looking to step up their photography

Overall Rating 5 / 5

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