Digital cameras: Snap judgements

Panasonic FZ50

Specifications
The ISO range is a high 80-3200, enabling you to take photos in a range of lighting conditions, from sunny days to dark interiors. It has an impressive zoom range of 12x, higher than all the other models, and a high 10.1 effective megapixels. A range of exposure modes allows for different types of photography, such as recording a moving image. At 734g, and measuring 141x86x142mm, it is a less portable option than other models, but offers better features. The FZ50 starts at around £399, including photo manipulation software, charger and battery pack, memory card, lens cap and hood, A/V cable, USB cable, A/C cable, strap and software. A one-year warranty comes as standard.

Professional's verdict
The FZ50 has an impressive ISO range and 12x zoom. The main advantage of this model is the long focal length, at a higher aperture, which means it's good for shooting at a distance. It would be suitable for someone wanting to photograph moving images, such as animals on a safari. It's not, however, an instrument for professional use, and I wouldn't use it for work, as it's too mid-range. It doesn't take the necessary quality of picture to be the main camera I'd use, nor does it suit filming on the move, as it's too big to fit in a pocket. That said, it is a good camera, it takes a high-quality photo and it operates well.

Tested by Toby Madden

Olympus E-500

Specifications
A classic design, with a pop-up flash, the E-500 has a built-in anti-dust mechanism which helps you keep the camera clean inside when you change lenses. It weighs 580g, so is lightweight and a good size, at 147x85x64mm. With eight effective megapixels, it is not too far off professional models (the highest number being 12), and the E-500 comes with a twin lens kit. The focal length depends on which you use, and both options have a good zoom range. The camera comes with rechargeable batteries and charger, an eyepiece cover, strap, USB and video cables, software and warranty. The E-500 is priced at roughly £599.

Professional's verdict
This is a neat model and gives a nice quality picture for use in an amateur capacity, but it isn't sturdy enough to last long as a professional's tool, although the number of pixels is satisfactory. It took me a while to work out how to use it and find the settings. It takes rechargeable batteries, which charge quickly and hold their power well. It's good value for money, but you can tell it's made of plastic, and it feels insubstantial.

Tested by Tom Pilston

Nikon D50

Specifications
It is advertised as an easy-to-use and affordable semi-professional model, which gives clear and bright shots at a fraction of the price of its professional equivalents. With a choice of automatic or manual operation, the D50 may be a model below the D80, but at roughly £200 cheaper, it is a more affordable option. The lens is an adequate 18-55mm, and weighing in at 540g and 102x76x133mm in size, it is sturdier than the E-500. To its detriment, it has a relatively low 6.1 effective megapixels. Complete with rechargeable batteries, USB cable, strap, body cover, lens cap, rubber eye-cup, accessory cover and software, this camera does not come with a memory card and it does not have a video mode. With a fitted lens the camera costs from £399. The body alone starts from £325, and Nikkor lenses can be bought separately.

Professional's verdict
This is pretty much the same camera as the Olympus I tested, except the buttons are in different places, and it has a fewer pixels. The number of pixels won't affect regular images too much, but the more pixels the better if an image is enlarged or cropped. It's quite sturdy and it felt more serious than the E-500. Annoyingly, I had to search around for a suitable memory card, as it takes a smaller one than many I am used to. I liked this model; it feels like a real camera and is a reasonable quality, although the main drawback would be the relatively low number of pixels.

Tested by Tom Pilston

Fujifilm S9500

Specifications
The heaviest of the models, at 646g, it is 129x128x93mm in dimension, and has nine megapixels. It doesn't have single lens reflex, which means pictures are viewed on a digital screen, rather than through a traditional viewfinder and the S9500 does not contain an image stabiliser, so shaky hands will interfere with image clarity. It has a choice of auto, manual, aperture or shutter and is not complicated to use, and a large optical zoom of 10.7x, equivalent to a 28-300mm lens. It takes four AA batteries, although does not come with a charger, and offers full movie mode. The box set contains four batteries, a 16MB picture card, shoulder strap, USB cable, A/V cable, lens cap plus holder and hood, manual and software. Prices start at around £299 with kit.

Professional's verdict
This is a fine camera for amateur pictures, but because of the delay between pressing the button and the picture being taken, it could never be used at a professional shoot. As a photographer you have to be confident that the camera you use will react quickly enough when you press the button, in order to capture an exact moment. It's relatively straightforward to operate and it's well built, with lots of functions, such as different shutter speeds. These options are useful in theory, but the trouble is learning to use them properly. This one is suitable for an amateur who wants a reasonable digital camera with a versatile lens.

Tested by Toby Madden

Sony A100

Specifications
With a notable 10 effective megapixels, the A100 takes quality images and because the individual pictures are bigger, they take up more memory. It has a high shutter speed which allows for precise action photos, and comes with an 18-70mm lens. It weighs 546g, and is 95x71x133mm in size, with automatic and manual options and has a movie mode and video output. The kit includes lithium battery, charger, video and USB cables, shoulder and lens cap, data converter and software. The body costs £549, while the kit starts around £599.

Professional's verdict
This is effectively the same camera as the Canon, in a different shell. It's a newer model and the screen is bigger and brighter, so it's better for viewing the pictures and seeing the image you are capturing. It also has a larger file size, which is useful but not essential. The lens is good, although it has lots of gimmicks and it feels a bit like plastic.

Tested by David Sandison

Canon 350D

Specifications
The 350D offers a wide range of automatic settings, including those suitable for night shooting, landscape, portrait and sports photography, and a full manual option. It has an adequate eight effective megapixels and a long-exposure range of 0.25 to 30 seconds, with bulb. It weighs 485g and is 126x94x64mm. It has a compact flash, and kit includes an 18-55mm lens, rechargeable batteries and charger, eye cup, USB and video cables and software. Price for body starts at £430. Kit costs around £499.

Professional's verdict
This camera has more than enough pixels for an amateur photographer and the range of exposure modes is equal to a professional model. Picture quality is impressive. The problem with this model is that it has too many features. Most of its options are useless and over-complicated.

Tested by David Sandison

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