Nikon L77 User Manual

miliar

brand

There

are

also

under

$1,000, including two

head

competitors

names

more

that

for

less

than

digital SLRs

head-to-

cost $600.

$200.

priced

took

decent
pend
size or

pictures.Your choice

a lot on

extra

whether

photographic

you favor small

will

power

de-

and
flexibility Compact cameras, too big for a
pocket

but

small

enough

to fit easily in a

a section of the image from the
sensor, almost always resulting in a
degraded image.

grow sleeker,
dominates
resolution
LCDs
body
for

the

models

Other
large
include
to save images in
stores
been
file by
That
characteristics

and

the

back

than

that

swing

and

swivel,

traditional

now

lack.

features

models

to

manual

the

captured

processed

the

camera's

maximizes

many

have an LCD that

and

has

ever.

Some

out from

helping

viewfinders

trickling

quite

a few

controls

the

RAW

image

and

converted

built-in

your

ability to

such

as

better
models

the

to

compensate

down

small

and

the

format

before

sharpness

color balance.

Consider a high-priced
SLR-like
trol

over

you

want

camera

if you

exposure

to

shoot

and

close-ups

compact

want

lots of con-

composition

screen

have

camera

many

from
ones

ability

which

it

has

into

software.

control

and

of

distant

a

or

or

36

CONSUMER

REPORTS

0

NOVEMBER

2007

•

Expert·

Independent·

CR BEST BUY The Samsung L77,
resolution, an electronic image stabilizer, and a nonprotruding
7x optical

Nonprofit

zoom-rare

in a camera less than an inch thick.

$250,

offers 7-megapixel

east

7 megapixels.

at l

reso

If you need high

cable quality, c

lution and i

hoose one

of the

mpec-

hig

h­resolution compacts or SLRs that h ad
excellent
tests. Shooting at a high erresoluti

out usi ng a comp
JPEG
drive
ca

meras can reco

capa

olution isn' t critical,a model in
with
megapixels of

hig
generally
ha

ndheld shots

flash. Som e mode stly pric

gun

be
3200,
ably
setti
poin
p

articular
caus e of its hi
pe

rfo

s

ure

l

ight

print

or im age quality in

ressed form

can

fill yourmem ory card and h a

mor

e quickly This year;

rd

on a new; h

city card

very

kno

good

wn

as

image qua

resolution shou

Among p

hes

wor

ngs usin

t-an

oint

t ISO light-

bee

n 400, too low to

featu

ring

but

resul ts

se th

d-shoots

-and-sh
sensitivity

in d

im

settings of 1600 or ev

can

be
an those
g SLRs a

. Ifyou're

subc ompact or compact be-

gh

ISO settings, check its

rma

nce

in our

Rat ings
you can
results are

ret

urn

it at n o cost if its low-

disapp

though

SDH

C.Ifhi

lity

oot came

lig

ht

ed

models h ave

grai

ny

sho

t at

nd the

attracted

ointing.

our

on

with -

at

suc

h as

,more
ighe

gh res-

ourRatin

and 6 or

ld be fine.

ras

, t

he

setting has

make

sh

arp

without

en

and

notice-

equi

valent

priciest

to a

and make

rd

gs

These have lower resolut ion and smaller
LCO

s th an the ir high-rated siblings. th e

Canon Powershot A640

(1) and A630 (3).

And neither offers manual controls,
which those models do. But their per­formance is solid across the board, and
they have a 4x optical zoom, the highest
of the group.

than

Canon PowerShot

A460

r-

7

Competent though slower

Kodak EasyShare C653 (6 MP), $140

Nikon Coolpix

Penta

x Optio M30 (7 MP), $190

Olympus

FE-

LlO

21O

(7

(5 MP), $120

MP

), $140

These willtake decent pictures, but more

most:

slowly than the best models in the Rat-

(1'1,

ings. Shutter lag is 1 second

seconds
for the Kodak). The Nikon is the only
budget su bcompact tested, and it has

a

Kodak

EasyShare

C653

face detection, as does the Penta x. The
Olympus has a built-in help guide, but its
next-shot delay is 3 seco nds, the longest
of the budget models.

Too slow for action-packed

Polaroid T737 (7 MP), $1

This has the biggest

scenes:

80

LCD

of the group,
at 3 inches, but its image quality is fair
to middling. Next-shot delay is a full 5

ated

seco nds, longer than any r

model,

while shutter lag is also on the slow side,

1'1,

seco nds.

at

NO

VEMB

ER

2007 0 www.ConsumerR

eports

.org

C

AN

O N

The biggest model selection. Polnt-and-shoot features, from basic to sophisticated.

Compacts are known as Power­Shots. The moderately priced
PowerShot A series is less likely
than the
features such as image
stabilization. (G models use
proprietary batteries;
other
AAs.) Canon's subcompacts are
known as SD ELPHs. The Digital
Rebel series helped define
budget SLRs. Other SLRs
include a host of pro and

"prosumer" models. In

Canon announced two high-end
models, the $1,300, 10­megapixel EOSAOD, with a live
preview LCD, and the
21-megapixel
Canon also offers a wider
selection of lenses than
most brands . ..

Sand

G lines to have

most

Canon compacts use

August

$8,000,

EOS

lOs Mark III.

F

UJ1F1L

The budqet A series is the lowest priced. A step up is the F
series, which offers more advanced features. The Z series
are the subcompacts . FinePix models include face detection,
high ISO capabilities, and

ability to fire two quick shots , with and

. new models have.a slot for the expensive xD cards and

another for cheaper SD. Certain models in the SLR-like S
series are larqe, with an optical zoom range of lOx or
greater. The pricey FinePix S Pro series SLRs target pro
shooters. Fujifilm doesn't
Nikon or compatible lenses from

HP (PHOTOS

Inexpensive cameras targeted to the general consumer.

Photosmart compacts, which range from the budget E and
M series to the advanced R series, have a very narrow range
of technical specifications. Some of the more innovative
features offered in this line recently include a slimming
feature, blemish removal, and pet red-eye removal. Most
zooms are close to 3x; no model features image stabilization.
Many models
menu interface for novices. HP doesn't

t1

(FINEPIX

)

practical

offer

features such as the

lenses, but models accept

third-party

MA RT )

offer

practical guides, including tips, in

without

manufacturers.

offer

SLRs.

flash . Most

their

KOD

A K

(EASYS HA RE)

Cameras made simple.

Kodak focuses on ease of
use, as indicated by its brand
tagline and features such as
Smart Scene mode, which
automatically selects
specialty modes. The budget

Cseries includes some of

the cheapest compacts
available. Higher-end Z-,
and newer M-series
compacts have longer zooms
and more sophisticated
features. The V series of
subcompacts offers some of
the most unusual point-and­shoot features, including
Bluetooth wireless and
innovative dual-lens/dual­sensor designs. Kodak
doesn't

offer

SLRs.

po,

38

CONSUMER

REPORTS

0

NOVEM

BER

2 0

07

•

Expert·

Ind

epend

ent·

Nonprofit