I was a little surprised when I saw the latest from Consumer Reports. I expected the biggest advances in digital photography come from high-end gear. Instead, point-and-shoot cameras are catching up where it counts:
Some point-and-shoots excelled at producing much less grainy images in
low light conditions -- traditionally an SLR strength -- while a few SLRs faltered. Many of the new point-and-shoots responded fairly quickly when their shutters were pressed, though none have the near instantaneous response of SLRs.
That last part refers to a phenomena known as shutter lag. It's the part of using a point-and-shoot camera that's most likely to make you cry. Shutter lag is why that perfectly framed bellyflop has to be snapped before the diver is off the board! If you have kids, it's why you waste so many shots.
For point-and-shoot cameras in general, size makes less difference than it once did. Subcompacts are now producing nearly as much dynamic range (shades of dark to light) as their larger "compact" cousins. That means a better camera is now small enough to carry in a pocket or purse. It means point-and-shoot cameras are beginning to rival the quality you used to get from 35 mm film. That's quite an achievement.
Among others, Consumer Reports recommends Sony's 12.1 megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-W200, $300, "well-suited for shooting in low-light without a flash and performed above-average in Consumer Reports' battery life tests." For DSLRs, "The Nikon D80, $900, is a basic SLR camera that stood out in Consumer Reports' tests and was noted for its all-round performance. Almost as impressive and far less expensive was the Olympus Evolt E-410, $450, which almost maintained image quality up to ISO 1600."
There's more, including details of Consumer Reports new methods of testing digital cameras in July's edition.
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June 3, 2008 3:33 PM
you said, "It means point-and-shoot cameras are beginning to rival the quality you used to get from 35 mm film" right after talking about dynamic range. while overall quality might be improving, no digital sensor comes close to the dynamic range of negative film.
I've been shooting digital for years and my biggest wish for sensors is they would stop increasing MP density and start increasing dynamic range.
June 4, 2008 3:18 AM
In paraphrasing Consumer Reports work, I left out a word they used: inexpensive. Judging by your comment, that word is important and the error is mine.
Here are CR's actual words: "Consumer Reports, which has been testing digital cameras for more than 10 years, notes that the latest crop of cameras include affordable point-and-shoot cameras that function and produce photos similar to what was taken for granted from inexpensive 35mm film cameras."
Geoff Fox