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If you ever had an inkling to start a brawl amongst a bunch of photographers, simply ask them which is the best camera brand to buy, an then leave the room. Nikon fan boys, the Canon fan boys, the Sony fan boys and the rest of the pack will never get to a single decision.

Because everyone knows that regular (film) cameras are far superior to digital cameras. Hang on a sec, or was that the other way around? Who can keep track these days? Now before I digress too far from the topic, lets take a look at that age old battle, and see if we can determine which brand is best.

While it's true, that there are certain photographers in the crowd, that swear by a particular brand of camera, I'm not one of them. While I do have more Canons than any other, I also have a Kodak, Olympus, and Fuji floating around the house somewhere. Just getting my personal biases out in the open.

If digital camera sales were any indication of what the best brand was, then according to Amazon.com Canon would be a clear winner. As I write this, Canon manufactures 18 of the top 25 bestselling cameras on their best seller list. In addition, Canon holds 9 of the top 10 spots, with the top 3 being the PowerShot A570 IS, the PowerShot SD1000 Digital Elph, and the PowerShot SD850.

The other strange thing I've noticed about some of the broader lists, is the inclusion of video cameras. Specifically the Flip Video brand of cameras. I find that a little strange, since they really only do video semi-decently, and most other still cameras do video at least as well. Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, and even Kodak seem to make a few top spots, but not like Canon does.

Sure, sure, sure, Canon seems to sell more cameras than anyone else. But, are they really that much better? And so what if they are, maybe I don't want to follow the crowd. I like following my own drummer afterall ;) But hey, while were analyzing things, lets take a look at what a few other analysts have to say. There may be some consensus amongst that group.

Ok, so I took a little gander at the top camera review sites,to see what they had to say. And, I afraid I must admit, that it doesn't look too good for the anti-Canon crowd. Canon seems to once again have garnered much praise from the critics. After aggregating a number of five star - top 100 camera choices, Canon seem to occupy about 50% of the top spots, with Sony and Nikon both achieving around 25% each. There were a few other nice camera models, but none statistically significant.

If your new to the world of digital cameras, that should at least give you an idea of who the big dogs are in this business. Canon is tough to beat, but it's worth mentioning, that all the cameras I own have been good performers for me. That includes the non-Canon cameras. It really comes down to getting the right camera for you, at a price you can afford.

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Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel SLR Camera Review

Since the Canon EOS 300D has been introduced, the price for the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel has dropped significantly.
 
When Canon introduced the EOS 10D, we were impressed at how much camera was available for the price. Now Canon has introduced the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel - at a MUCH lower price. I couldn't resist taking a look at what may be the best digital SLR camera value going.
 
This review will primarily focus on comparing the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel to the Canon EOS10D and what the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel most closely relates to.
 
The most obvious differences are the size, weight, price and color.
 
The Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel is significantly smaller and lighter than the 10D. It seems (to me) to balance best with the lighter lenses. With the 18-55mm kit lens installed, this is a very small DSLR. One benefit is that it requires less effort to take with you. The downside to the weight issue is that the body is plastic. Plastic (vs. magnesium) results in a less rugged design and a cheaper feel.
 
I think everyone would agree that the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel wins in the price category - by a wide margin! The silver vs. black color issue is simply a personal preference - I have always prefered black even with the older canon film cameras such as the FTB,A1 etc...
A slightly less noticeable difference is the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel's lack of FEC (Flash Exposure Control). The 300D does not allow the built-in flash or theCanon420EX to be exposure compensated. TheCanon550EX has its own FEC control - but at a higher purchase price. The relatively large 550EX does not balance well on the light Digital Rebel. Also, because the Digital Rebel is missing a PC Synch Terminal, workarounds are required to use studio lighting.
 
The Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel's built-in flash raises higher than the 10D's. This helps the flash fire over/above a greater list of EF lenses - fewer black half moons in your shots. Moving the flash farther from the camera usually results in less red-eye and generally better pictures.
 
The Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel has an infra-red remote available for it. I prefer the infra-red remote to the standard tethered RS-80N3. It is much more convenient for me.
 
The Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel's status LCD is located on the back - the Canon 10D's is on the top. I don't know which I prefer - they both work fine. The mode dial on the 300D is on the top right vs. top left for the 10D. I like the 10D's round back dial much better than the 300D's buttons.
 
The 1.6x field of view crop factor means that the outer 40% (approx) of a standard EF lens is not used. Starting with the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel, Canon is making an EF-S lens available. The EF-S lens basically omits the unsed portion of an EF lens - and is currently only compatible with the Digital Rebel.
 
The Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel is missing some of the 10D's autofocus and exposure control in the creative modes. These (in my opinion) are some of the biggest disadvantages of the 300D. Also missing are the Canon 10D's custom functions.
 
The EOS 300D uses a pentamirror instead of a pentaprism. The advantage of a pentamirror is lighter weight and lower cost. The disadvantage is slightly more light loss in the viewfinder.
 
The Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel's shutter is somewhat louder than the Canon 10D. Also, the Digital Rebel can shoot 2.5 frames per second for 4 frames in continuous shooting mode compared to the EOS 10D's 3 fps for 9 frames.
 
The Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel's significant similarities to the Canon EOS10D include the image sensor, the image processor and Canon EF lens compatibility.
 
The two cameras share some significant similarities.
 
You get the same incredible DiGiC processor handling the same incredible 6.3 megapixel image sensor. All other things being equal, the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel should yield the SAME great pictures as theCanon EOS 10D. Keep in mind that some of the default parameters such as sharpness are turned up higher on the 300D.
 
Canon is renowned for its lenses. The Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel can take advantage of a huge selection of lenses from wide angle to extreme telephoto.
 
The Digital Rebel and 10D also share the same 1.8" LCD review display.
 
The 300D and 10D share the same 1.6x field of view crop factor. Wildlife photographers rejoice, landscape photographers keep waiting.
 
If you are looking for the basics in a DSLR - or your budget can only be stretched far enough for the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel - I highly recommend this camera.


Canon Powershot SX10 IS Details

Editors' Comments

With the SX10 IS, Canon is introducing a powerful extended zoom camera aimed at dethroning Olympus as king of the hill in that category. The SX10 IS features a long, 20x optical zoom and a wide angle lens, meaning you'll get maximum scope and coverage, no matter how close or far your subject is. It's an exceptional camera for travel and vacations, nicely balancing between point-and-shoot comfort and advanced features.

Canon SX10 IS Specifications

  • 10 megpaixels
  • 20x optical zoom
  • 28-56mm wide-angle lens
  • Image stabilization
  • 2.5-inch swivel-screen LCD
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Product Description Nikon D60

Manufacturer Description

Are you looking for a real digital SLR that’s easy to use? Do you want mobility without sacrificing capability? Would you like simple operation and enough features to step forward creatively? If so, then get to know the Nikon D60. Now you can experience the best of both worlds: enjoy one-button simplicity with Auto, or try many exciting levels of creative control. There is room for everyone to explore the thrill and magic of photography. Have fun, and don’t worry -- it’s a Nikon.

Built on 90 years of optical expertise and decades of award-winning camera designs, the Nikon family of cameras covers every type of picture-taker -- from seasoned professionals to travelers on vacation. The D60 is the latest example of Nikon innovation, transforming complex technology into a fun, powerful and easy-to-use camera. Nikon delivers the cutting-edge technologies you would expect from a digital SLR -- fast response, creative versatility, and breathtaking image quality -- while eliminating complications and frustrations so that taking pictures is enjoyable and stress-free. With 10.2 megapixels, the D60’s image sensor delivers high-resolution pictures with rich, faithful color and detail that are ready for stunning enlargements. It also gives you the freedom to crop pictures exactly as you want them. And with Nikon’s 3D Color Matrix Metering II, you can expect beautifully exposed pictures under almost any lighting condition, with Nikon’s original digital image processing concept, EXPEED, comprehensively optimizing your pictures, shot after shot.

Nikon D60 Digital SLR Highlights

Nikon Integrated Dust Reduction System Dust in front of your camera sensor can mean distracting spots on your pictures. That’s why Nikon does everything to ensure clear pictures, including minimizing the build-up and appearance of dust. Nikon’s exclusive Airflow Control System is one of the two main protections against dust. It leads air within the mirror box towards small ducts near the base, preventing internal dust from settling in front of the image sensor. The D60’s second form of defense is the Imaging Sensor Cleaning function, which was originally built for the D300. Every time you turn the camera on or off, this function uses vibrations to steer dust away from the optical low-pass filter in front of the sensor (deactivation and manual activation are also possible). Nikon engineers have also dealt with dust and other tiny particles in many other ways to prevent such image degrading material from attaching to the filter or being seen by the sensor when you are taking pictures. With all these measures in place, you can concentrate on getting the shot while exploring the wide array of Nikkor interchangeable lenses that a Nikon digital SLR opens up to you.

Rich, Smooth Detail with Active D-Lighting Sometimes, even a perfectly exposed scene will not render an ideal photograph. With difficult lighting conditions, important details can be lost in the highlights and shadows. But with Nikon’s Active D-Lighting, the D60 can correct these exposure issues instantly and automatically, while you shoot. Simply set Active D-Lighting before you start shooting. Active D-Lighting is available when "Matrix" is selected for metering.

Eye Sensor The Eye Sensor activates every time you look through the viewfinder, turning off the information display on the LCD for comfortable shooting.

Compact, Light and Comfortable The D60 is compact, light and ready to go wherever life takes you. The D60’s size is not the only factor to consider; its shape is ergonomically designed to fit in your hand naturally and comfortably. Nikon’s experienced engineers know that operating a camera shouldn’t distract you. That’s why each button and texture on the camera’s exterior has been carefully considered for the most efficient and fluid operation possible.

The D60’s bright, clear optical viewfinder is also designed with the user in mind, its helpful indicators and intuitive icons helping you achieve ideal composition with the optimal settings.

Nikon’s Intelligent Built-in Flash -- Simply Brilliant Proper flash lighting used to require skill, time and patience. With the D60, however, flash photography is simple, instant and accurate. Thanks to Nikon’s cutting-edge i-TTL flash technology, all the complicated calculations happen automatically, giving you balanced flash illumination under almost any conditions, even difficult lighting situations such as backlit subjects. With Auto mode, you just point, shoot and let the camera do the rest. It’s that simple.

Display Format Options The information display in the 2.5-inch LCD monitor lets you check essential camera information quickly and easily. Choose whatever display format fits your taste best: each of the Graphic and Classic formats have three color variations to suit your preferences, while Wallpaper uses one of your own pictures as the background. Graphic format uses visual displays to show shutter speed and aperture, as well as the mode dial every time you turn it to a new setting. The D60 even recognizes whether you are holding the camera horizontally or vertically, and then automatically displays camera information on the LCD monitor accordingly.

Intuitive Menu Navigation The D60 lets you alter settings and functions in many ways. For all the choices it offers, the menu is still amazingly simple and intuitive, with navigation made easy thanks to a carefully considered design. If you are ever unsure about a specific feature or function, simply press the O button for detailed information. It’s like having an onboard instructor to answer your questions. The D60’s convenient assist images help you select appropriate camera settings. These useful reference images help explain the effect that each function has on your photos -- very helpful for exploring new features and making the most of the camera.

Creative shooting is just a quick turn away With the D60, you will always be prepared to shoot a wide variety of subject matter. Just turn the mode dial to fit your shooting situation and beautiful results are yours instantly.

Quick responses, captured moments Amazing moments can pass by quickly, but the D60’s fast 0.19-second startup, split-second shooting time lag and fast, accurate autofocus capture more of these moments with precision. The camera’s high-speed continuous shooting also helps capture fast-moving action at up to 3 pictures per second for as many as 100 (JPEG) pictures.

A wide variety of in-camera Retouch Menus Even after a picture is taken, the D60 offers ways to explore your creativity further. With a wide range of options to choose from, the quick, simple and extensive Retouch Menu allows you to create a duplicate image with amazing photo effects, leaving the original picture intact. And it’s all done in-camera -- without the need for a computer.

The right touch -- Quick Retouch Sometimes you want to make sure that your picture has the best balance of contrast and saturation. For this, choose the Quick Retouch feature. It creates an automatically retouched copy that has been optimized for better-looking pictures.

Original animation -- Stop-motion Movie Want more fun out of digital photography? Try making a stop-motion movie from a series of consecutive pictures. Simply select the first and last frames from a sequence of shots. You can easily re-edit before saving it as a movie by changing the starting image or removing specific images. There are also several size and frame rates to choose from.

Expect much more from your pictures -- In-camera NEF (RAW) Processing Nikon’s NEF (RAW) format lets you enjoy an incredible amount of creative freedom and control over camera settings -- even after the actual shot is taken. If time is tight or you are unsure of which setting to use, it’s even possible to shoot first with NEF (RAW) and make adjustments later. That’s right: you can take pictures, and then change the image quality, image size, white balance or even exposure compensation. All operations are quick, simple and do not require a computer.

Explore further -- Filter Effects The D60’s Filter Effects let you experiment with color and light. Each of the Red/Green/Blue Intensifier effects let you enhance the color of your choice. Try the Cross Screen feature to create starbursts radiating from scene highlights. For other options, use Color Balance to modify the entire image, or experiment with Skylight and Warm Filters.

Supplied Accessories Strap, Body Cap, Eyepiece Cap, USB Cable, Quick Charger (MH-23)w/ AC adapter, Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (EN-EL9), Accessory shoe cover, Lens cap, Software CD-Rom, Quick Start Guide, Instruction Manual, Warranty and Registration card



Product Description
18-55mm AFS DX Nikkor / Fast Start-up / Active Dust Reduction / 2.5" LCD / Up to 3 Frames per second / SD and SDHC Memory Slot Up to 36 characters of alphanumeric text input available / Date imprint - Date, Date and Time, Date Counter, or None (selectable) Eye-level penta-Dach mirror single-lens reflex viewfinder File system - DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif 2.21 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras), PictBridge Focusing screen - Type B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark V Compatible lenses - AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR - All functions supported; Type G or D AF NIKKOR not equipped with an autofocus motor - All functions supported except autofocus; Non-Type G or D AF NIKKOR not equipped with an autofocus motor - All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II and autofocus; IX-NIKKOR and AF-NIKKOR for F3AF - Not supported; Type D PC NIKKOR - All functions supported except some shooting modes; AI-P NIKKOR - All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II; Non-CPU - Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function; Lens with maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster - Electronic rangefinder can be used Frame advance up to 3 fps Self-timer - Can be selected from 2, 5, 10 and 20 second duration Metering method - Matrix - 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); Center-weighted - Weight of 75 percent given to 8mm circle in center of frame; Spot - Meters 3.5mm circle (about 2.5 percent of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used) Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20 degrees C/68 degrees F); Matrix, Center-weighted, and Spot metering Dimensions (W x H x D) - 126 x 94 x 64mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 inch)/ 1.1 lb