Expert Reviews

Sony A550 Reviews

DCR reviews the Sony A550 and writes;
“All things considered, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 is a competent but not spectacular digital SLR. It takes nice-looking photos (especially if you shoot RAW), performs well, and offers features that will be familiar to point-and-shoot users.”
Rating: N/A

RegHardware reviews the Sony A550 and writes;
“There is much to like with the Sony Alpha A550. It has great autofocus, image stabilisation, quirky but effective HDR and a nice big sensor… Overall, it’s an extremely capable point and shoot camera with appeal for advanced users who want the functions that set it apart and for people setting off on the DSLR route, who don’t want anything too daunting.”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

DCR reviews the Sony A550 and writes;
“Image and color quality is good, and if shooting in the manual or semi-automatic modes there are substantial user established settings available to tailor output to virtually any taste. Noise performance is about par for the class, the plastic on the body might look a bit cheap for the price point and the battery charging cycle is odd, but these are really minor gripes for a camera that goes about its business in a very capable manner.”
Rating: N/A

CameraLabs reviews the Sony A550 and writes;
“So long as you’re happy to trade video and the features mentioned above for speed and fuss-free operation, the A550 easily comes Recommended. But like the A380 before it, the cheaper sibling – in this case the A500 – could end up being the preferred choice.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

PhotographyBay reviews the Sony A550 and writes;
“The A550 covers ISO 200-12800, which is pretty impressive for a consumer-oriented camera. I never expected the A550 to really do that great with noise control at higher ISOs, and I wasn’t really surprised. “
Rating: N/A

AlphaMountWorld reviews the Sony A550 and writes;
“In every day usage the difference is basically invisible. Make no mistake about it, the A5xx cameras are terrific high ISO cameras. If some one is coming from a Sony A2xx or A3xx the improvement in high ISO results will be very gratifying.”
Rating: N/A

DCI reviews the Sony A550 and writes;
“The A550 has a very comfortable, rubberized grip and thumb rest, making it easy to hold securely even when moving quickly. The buttons and dials are well positioned, though the four-way controller is a bit too compact for our tastes. “
Rating: N/A

PhotoclubAlpha reviews the Sony A550 and writes;
“ISO 6400 is great. Fantastic colour saturation – not like most recent super-6400 DSLRs – and it matches even a Nikon D300S for noise and detail at this setting..”
Rating: N/A

AlphaMountWorld reviews the Sony A550 and writes;
“In short ,I have a pass/fail (love/hate) relationship with the A550, with very little inbetween. On one hand the Alpha A550 totally impressed me with its ability to create very good quality images overall, its superior AUTO HDR feature, excellent live view tools and options, comfortable grip, and its spirited performance.”
Rating: N/A

PhotoReview.au reviews the Sony A550 and writes;
“Image noise was negligible up to ISO 400, although by ISO 3200, pattern and colour noise had become obvious in long exposures with the in-camera noise-reduction processing turned off. “
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

PhotoCracti reviews the Sony A550 and writes;
“Low ISO quality is excellent; after a bit of sharpening, I made 13×19-inch (33×48cm) prints suitable for framing. Some digital noise is visible at ISO 400, but this level is still fine for all-purpose use. At high ISO levels, it is important to avoid underexposure. My best ISO 800 images are suitable for making nice letter size prints while my ISO 3200 photos made for decent 5×7-inch (13×18cm) glossies.”
Rating: N/A

Sony A550 preview video by WDC;

Expert Reviews

Nikon Coolpix S570 Reviews

PocketLint reviews the Nikon Coolpix S570 and writes;
“Nikon’s Coolpix S570 looks very nice and is simple to use but it lacks that “certain something” when it comes to focusing and overall performance. The S570 is a camera best used for static subjects such as landscapes, subjects that will allow you to get the most from this new Nikon”
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

PCAdvisor reviews the Nikon Coolpix S570 and writes;
“The Nikon CoolPix S570 is a 12.1-megapixel, point-and-shoot digital camera with some nifty features. It’s ideal for people who wouldn’t be comfortable with a more complex model, and for £139 you get a camera that’s also stylish.”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

TrustedReviews reviews the Nikon Coolpix S570 and writes;
“…it is very well made, easy and fun to use, and handles extremely well. It has above average performance, works well in low light, and the image quality is also better than most others in its class. All in all, the S570 is excellent value for money.”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

GoodGearGuide reviews the Nikon Coolpix S570 and writes;
“We were impressed with the Nikon CoolPix S570. It has a lot of great features and is an ideal camera for a novice happy snapper on a budget; and because it’s incredibly simple to use, it’s a great digital camera for a technophobe.”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

CameraLabs reviews the Nikon Coolpix S570 and writes;
“The most oustanding thing about the COOLPIX S570 is its picture quality which in our outdoor real-life tests and gallery shots proved to be every bit as good as the more expensive cameras it was up against.”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

CNET reviews the Nikon Coolpix S570 and writes;
“The good: Good lens specifications; Smart Portrait System works well; nice design, feature set. The bad: Middle-of-the-road performance; ISO 1,600, 3,200 not worth using. The bottom line: The Nikon Coolpix S570 is a respectable ultracompact camera, despite average point-and-shoot performance and some high-ISO overpromising.”

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Steve’sDigicams reviews the Nikon Coolpix S570 and writes;
“TIt has a great price at $180.00 and you get really good images for that price. It’s also very easy to operate. If you want a camera that you do not have to fiddle with, something to just pull out, turn on and start taking static pictures (like landscapes, etc.), the Coolpix S570 fits the bill.”
Rating: N/A

Expert Reviews

Panasonic DMC-FX580 Reviews

TrustedReviews reviews the Panasonic DMC-FX580/FX550 and writes;
“The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX550 is and upgrade of the FX500, but only just. The extra two megapixels don’t make much difference. However build quality, design and performance are all well up to scratch, and image quality is comfortably better than average. If you want an ultra-compact with manual controls it’s probably your best option.”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

CNET.uk reviews the Panasonic DMC-FX580/FX550 and writes;
“We have to ask what the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX550’s hybrid touchscreen interface actually achieves. It doesn’t replace the usual set of buttons because you get these too. The 25-125mm zoom doesn’t perform brilliantly, either. While the DMC-FX550 sounds exciting and different, it proves something of a letdown”
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

DCR reviews the Panasonic DMC-FX580/FX550 and writes;
“This camera hasn’t improved on the noise performance of its predecessor and so must be judged average at best in this regard. AF acquisition times are not class leading but not extremely slow, and shutter lag is good.”
Rating: N/A

DCRP reviews the Panasonic DMC-FX580/FX550 and writes;
“the FX580’s mediocre image and video quality, sluggish performance (in some areas), and poor low light focusing are leading us to part ways. The FX580 is worth considering if you really want the manual controls and don’t plan on making too many large prints. If you’re more of a point-of-shoot person, then I’d recommend looking at something else”
Rating: N/A

DCI reviews the Panasonic DMC-FX580/FX550 and writes;
” If you want a camera that you can just pick up and use, that will take amazing photos, then this isn’t for you. It’s too expensive, and requires too much tweaking. However, if you want a compact camera that has amazing manual settings, and don’t mind doing some retouching in Photoshop, then have a look at the FX580. The manual controls are fantastic, and with a little editing, the images should be fine.”
Rating: N/A

PhotographyBlog reviews the Panasonic DMC-FX580/FX550 and writes;
“..noise makes an appearance at ISO 400, but again at a level that would not be noticeable unless zooming in to look for it in shadow areas – as we did. By ISO 800, such noise is starting to erode detail but the image remains usable.”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Pocket-Lint reviews the Panasonic DMC-FX580/FX550 and writes;
“If you’ve fancied trying out a touchscreen compact but been put off by the lack of buttons to fall back on, Panasonic’s FX550 offers a successful marriage of old and new in a fittingly traditional styling”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Cameras.uk reviews the Panasonic DMC-FX580/FX550 and writes;
“This is a feature packed smaller compact. It offers a manual exposure mode, High Definition movies, touch control for key features through the 3 inch LCD screen and a wide angle lens. Picture quality is very good and it is a well thought out camera.”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Reviews

Canon EOS 7D Reviews

PhotoCrati reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“Buy the Canon EOS 7D for its awesome still capture capabilities. This DSLR is hard to beat in an APS-C camera. But, aside from the Canon 10-22 and 60 macro, you might want to look elsewhere for APS-C lenses. I was not blown away by the 17-55 IS and 18-200 IS lenses that I tested—lens creep being a chief concern, especially in the longer lens.”
Rating: N/A

MacWorld reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“We love the feel of the EOS 7D, and despite its power it’s an easy camera to use, even if you’re not used to Canon’s digital SLR control schemes. The EOS 7D was able to capture some great images, especially in dim lighting with a high ISO, and it produced vibrant results in bright conditions. .”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Steve’sDigicams reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“This is a well rounded camera that offers class leading results in almost all categories tested, especially when it comes to burst capture. If you are a serious photographer looking for a rugged work horse for a wide range of photography (from sports, nature, or weddings), I highly recommend you take a look at this model.”
Rating: N/A

ImagingResource reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“The range from ISO 100 to 800 can produce a 20×30-inch print with ease. Yes, I said ISO 800. Most cameras have results that are limited to 11×14 at that setting. By ISO 1,600 we need a slight reduction to 16×20 inches. That’s really crazy, and by that I mean good. ISO 3,200 shots are great at 13×19-inches. ISO 6,400 shots increase in contrast and noise, but are still usable at 11×14 inches, and with the same comments, the ISO 12,800 shots are quite usable at 8×10.”
Rating: N/A

PhotographyBay reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“the 7D produces solid high-resolution images that will satisfy most pixel peepers, budding amateurs and many pro photographers. If you’re a pro on a budget, you could do a lot worse than add a 7D to your kit. While the 7D is not the best thing since sliced bread and it’s image quality doesn’t challenge the 5D Mark II, it’s a big step in the right direction. The Canon 7D gets an easy recommendation from me.”
Rating: N/A

PCmag reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“The Canon EOS 7D is one of the best midrange D-SLRs money can buy. But if you don’t need comprehensive video recording features or ultra-high-resolution images, there are a handful of competing D-SLRs that produce comparable image quality for half the price.”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

DCI reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“This is a big camera, but it’s well-balanced and the grip is nicely sculpted, with a rubberized, textured coating the feels good and make it easy to hang on tight when moving fast. There are plenty of buttons for immediate access to key shooting settings plus an effective quick menu system..”
Rating: N/A

DigitalTrends reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“Toting around this camera is like holding a wild beast in your hands – this sucker could handle a NASCAR race with ease…We have no reservations about giving the Canon EOS 7D an Editor’s Choice designation..”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

CNET reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“The good: Very fast; excellent photo quality; flexible autofocus system; big, bright viewfinder; streamlined interface; adds wireless flash control. The bad: Single card slot; some annoying small and hard-to-feel buttons; limited to three shots for bracketing; Live View focusing still slow.The bottom line: An excellent midrange dSLR, the Canon EOS 7D delivers for the money. “

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

DCR reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“The autofocus is pretty good, image quality is very good, and ISO noise is good considering the resolution. The camera zings along at 8 fps when it needs to and will do that all day before the buffer fills if you’re shooting JPEGS. There’s true 1080p HD video if you’re into that sort of thing and the whole package is well built and designed to resist the elements.”
Rating: N/A

PDNGearGuide reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“the HD video capabilities of the 7D are the best we’ve ever seen for a digital SLR. (The only things missing are a built-in stereo microphone and Continuous Autofocus.”
Rating: N/A

BobAtkins reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“The new EOS 7D would be an excellent choice for any serious photographer and will certainly appeal to sports and action photographers who can benefit from the 8fps continuous shooting rate and totally new AF system. It provides a very cost effective alternative to the new EOS 1D MkIV for sports shooters”
Rating: N/A

WDC reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“Overall, the 7D will be an aspiration for all amateur photographers, and those who purchase will not be disappointed.”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Gizmodo compares the Canon EOS 7D to Nikon D300 and writes;
“Really, both the D300s and 7D deliver for the money, though I think the 7D delivers more, since it’s packed full of newer technology and for the people who want it, the video component is truly killer..”
Rating: N/A

TheDigitalPicture reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“The bottom line is that the 7D is Canon’s new king-of-the-APS-C DSLRs – clearly the best yet. Though I would like to see sharper results at lower sharpness settings, the Canon EOS 7D turns in great performance and great image quality in a great package.”
Rating: N/A

NeutralDay reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“I think the EOS 7D easily offers the best value in its class, and doing any better would mean spending much more money on a full frame camera. Because of this, I can’t recommend the EOS 7D enough to would-be consumers looking for a top-of-the-line APS-C DSLR camera. Therefore, I’m giving the EOS 7D a rare “Essential” rating. It’s simply as good as it gets for a crop sensor camera.”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Canon EOS 7D video review by WDC;
ePhotozine reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“Overall, performance is of a very high order and the pictures I got in my short time with the camera I was perfectly happy with, so it is undoubtedly worthy of recommendation.”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

CNET.uk reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“The Canon EOS 7D offers awesome continuous-shooting speeds, an excellent HD movie mode with full manual controls, class-leading resolution, excellent high-ISO performance, and an all-metal, weather-sealed body. It’s got a couple of glitches, but it’s a corking camera”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

CameraLabs reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“It may not boast the full-frame sensor and the ultimate image quality of the 5D Mark II, but in every other respect it excels. Taking everything into consideration, the EOS 7D is arguably Canon’s most successful and satisfying overall DSLR to date.”

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

TrustedReviews reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“The Canon EOS 7D is without doubt one of the best cameras currently available, offering fantastic build quality, lightning fast performance and superb image quality in virtually any conditions. It is more expensive than its main rivals, but it’s worth the extra for a camera this good..”
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

BHP has published a preview the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“From 8fps burst shooting with Zone Autofocus to HD frame rate selection and dedicated video controls, the 7D is the very first camera of its kind. In both handling and capability, the camera directly addresses the needs of creative image makers and professionals.”
Rating: N/A

PhotoReview.au reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“Long exposures were almost noise-free up to ISO 6400, after which noise became visible. However, image noise in a six-second exposure at ISO 12800 was less intrusive than we’ve seen in shots taken at ISO 3200 with most of the DSLRs we’ve tested.”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Video review by SimplyElectronics;

GoodGearGuide reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“We love the feel of the EOS 7D — even its relatively heavy weight — and we think it’s an easy camera to use, even if you’re not used to Canon’s D-SLR control schemes. It was able to capture some stunning images, especially in dim lighting with a high ISO, and it produced vibrant results in bright conditions.”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Pocket-Lint reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“A series of ISO test images show the amount of detail retained up to ISO 2000 is good, above ISO 3200 details starts to drop away but noise is still well controlled. Above ISO 6400 and detail is stripped away making images seem rather fuzzy, which is a shame.”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

NeoCamera reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“Image quality when it comes to noise is awesome. This 18 megapixels camera produces clear results up to ISO 1600, perfectly usable for large prints and even remains usable to ISO 12,800 for smaller prints. While-balance is very good except under artificial light. This is typical and not much of a problem because custom white-balance is right on..”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

HardwareZone reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“we would recommend that whoever owns an xxD series to upgrade, because this is as good as it gets for a 1.6x crop camera. You can either choose to get current technology and enjoy it while you can, or you can wait a year to see what else Canon can deliver. In short, go get the 7D. You won’t regret it.”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

TechRadar compares the Canon EOS 7D to EOS 5D Mark II and writes;
“For the most fine-grained image quality, and particularly for professional photographers who cover tricky events such as weddings, the 5D MKII is the one to go for. The full frame sensor and massive resolution give you control over your pictures that the 7D just doesn’t match.”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

PhotographyBlog reviews the Canon EOS 7D and writes;
“The new 18 megapixel CMOS sensor and expanded ISO range produce virtually no visible noise at all from ISO 100 all the way up to ISO 1600, with even the three faster settings of 3200-12800 producing perfectly usable images. All other image quality aspects are up to Canon’s usual high standards, so top marks go to the 7D in this department.”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

CameraTown compares the EOS 7D to EOS 5D Mark II and writes;
“The EOS 5D Mark II clearly has a shallow DOF due to the larger sensor, but both cameras produced nearly identical sharpness at the focal point..”
Rating: N/A

Canon EOS 7D Preview Video by WDC;

Canon EOS 7D Preview Video by WhichUK;

Canon EOS 7D Preview Video by EOSNetwork;

Canon EOS 7D 8.0 fps continuous shooting demo by ImagingResource;

Expert Reviews

Samsung HZ25W/WB5000 Reviews

PhotographyBlog reviews the Samsung HZ25W/WB5000 and writes;
“fairly stylish and light super-zoom camera that unfortunately can’t match its main rivals in several fundamental areas… you should avoid the WB5000 and take a look at our Main Rivals page for a selection of better alternatives.”
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

CNET.uk reviews the Samsung HZ25W/WB5000 and writes;
“Chasing a bigger slice of the digital-camera market, Samsung’s added a long-range superzoom to its range. But the WB5000 doesn’t really add anything to this sector that other makers haven’t done already, and it’s not the cheapest device of its type, either”
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

ePhotozine reviews the Samsung HZ25W/WB5000 and writes;
“It’s a good all-round camera that will get you decent results from most scenarios. My main concern was with continuous shooting, but the burst mode solves that although you can’t use it for 30 seconds afterwards. The £284 price tag is slightly lower than the older Olympus SP-590 UZ and Pentax X70 which makes it great value for money.”
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Expert Reviews

Samsung NX10 Reviews

Samsung NX10 Hands-on Preview by CNET;

Phototrend.hu reviews the Samsung NX10 and writes;
“ISO 1600, the same problem, only more pronounced.. The dark surfaces dominate the weevil, and the light areas remain completely clean.”
Rating: N/A

Samsung NX10 Hands-on Preview by WDC;

Expert Reviews

Nikon D3s Reviews

LetsGoDigital reviews the Nikon D3s and writes;
“I even dare to say that this is the best digital SLR camera at this moment. In any case, the best that Nikon has ever built. Thanks to the D3, many photographers made the switch to Nikon, either having stepped over to Canon before or not. And I actually think that the Nikon D3s will make more photographers want to make the switch. People are lining up for”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Nikon D3s VS Canon EOS 1D Mark IV comparison review video by DigitalRev;

PhotographyBlog reviews the Nikon D3s and writes;
“Pictures taken between ISO 100 and 800 are practically indistinguishable from each other upon a visual inspection, and even at ISO 1600, you really need to know what to look for to find a trace of luminance noise. Between ISO 3200 and 12,800 the amount of luminance noise increases, but chroma noise remains very well controlled without any readily apparent loss of colour saturation. Suffice to say that I would not hesitate to print an ISO 12,800 shot at 300ppi…. ISO 51,200 and ISO 102,400 are for on-screen viewing only”
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Pocket-Lint reviews the Nikon D3s and writes;
“This evolution of Nikon’s D3 full “FX” frame professional digital SLR brings new features such as HD movies into the frame. A new 12.1-megapixel sensor with improved circuitry allows superb image quality at very high ISO settings makes the D3s a stunning pro model”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

NeutralDay reviews the Nikon D3s and writes;
“For photographers not needing the absolute best in high ISO performance, and/or those uninterested in shooting HD video, the D3s may not be the most dire of purchases. But for photographers just now moving up to a professional level camera and invested in Nikon glass, or for professionals desiring even higher levels of performance, the Nikon D3s definitely comes “Highly Recommended“.”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

CNET.au reviews the Nikon D3s and writes;
“# Good: Incredible low light performance • Inclusion of D-Movie • Quiet shutter • Stunning pictures
# Bad: Unless you value the increased ISO and video, it’s an expensive upgrade from the D3″
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

PopPhoto reviews the Nikon D3s and writes;
“Noise didn’t reach Unacceptable until ISO 12,800. Even more impressive: It scored our top rating of Extremely Low all the way up to ISO 400.”

ePhotozine reviews the Nikon D3s and writes;
“Its high ISO sensitivity means you can carry on shooting in the poorest ambient light and without using a tripod. That would count for nothing if the results from using the high ISOs were poor and unusable, but they are not. Yes, there is noise and detail loss at the equivalent of ISO 102,400, but you still get an image – and try getting that sort of speed from film!”
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars