| Don't overbuy when selecting a digital camera is good | | | | the lens itself as this gives higher resolution.The |
| advice, and here is a good little camera that can do | | | | image sensor has 3.2 megapixels, which does not |
| very well so long as you don't need superfine | | | | sound much. Nevertheless, my tests showed that it |
| resolution. By that I mean that if you are happy to | | | | produces excellent pictures of all sorts of things, |
| view your pictures on the computer screen and print | | | | including close-ups of flowers. In macro mode, the |
| them to about 8 x 10 inches - that's quite big enough | | | | DMC-LC50 focuses right down to 3.9 inches (100 |
| for me - then this will do very well.Yet, if you read | | | | mm) which is very close indeed.Of course, there is a |
| camera magazines or look for a camera on the | | | | built-in flash, which is not very powerful, but does |
| Internet you will probably end up with a much more | | | | work as long as you are not trying to capture a big |
| expensive camera. Why? Well, you see these days | | | | scene in the dark. Of course, as this is a digital |
| cameras are defined by the number of pixels in the | | | | camera, you can enhance the image if it is a bit too |
| image sensor, which is usually a CCD (charge-couple | | | | dark.Bracketing and plenty of shutter speedsYou can |
| device). And if you read the reviews the chances are | | | | also take movie clips of 5 frames in fine resolution, |
| you will be recommended to buy a camera with 5 or | | | | and 8 frames in medium resolution - this is more for |
| 6 megapixels. There is nothing wrong with having | | | | fun than anything. Other features include the ability to |
| that many pixels to capture the image, but you just | | | | change the nominal film speed and to bracket your |
| don't need it unless you want to print out pictures | | | | shots. With bracketing, the camera automatically |
| bigger than 8 x 10 inches.A compact camera with | | | | takes three images, one at the normal aperture, and |
| good all-round performanceThe Panasonic Lumx | | | | one each side - this is something that the pros do all |
| DMC-LC50 is a good example of a compact camera | | | | the time.For fast-moving objects like cars, you can |
| with adequate all-round performance for most people. | | | | use a fast shutter speed - the camera has a range |
| It has the added advantage that it is compact and | | | | from 1/2000th to 8 seconds.Panasonic uses the SD |
| light, so you usually find you have it with you. It is | | | | memory cards in its cameras, which is another plus |
| also easy to store it out of sight in your car.But what | | | | point as these are smaller than most other memory |
| makes it stand out? Well, to start with, Panasonic is | | | | cards. As they are widely used, SD cards are not |
| one of the top makers of consumer electronic | | | | expensive.Any problems with the camera? Yes, |
| products - like Sony, which also makes great digital | | | | although there is a good LCD viewer, it has low |
| cameras - and makes its own semiconductors. | | | | contrast so is pretty useless in bright light - this is a |
| Therefore, it knows how to package electronics | | | | common problem with digital cameras. Of course, |
| circuits and chips inside a small camera.Leica Elmarit | | | | there is a normal viewfinder as well, but that will not |
| lensOn the other hand, Panasonic is not a top maker | | | | help if you want to review your images and delete |
| of lenses, so chose Leica, probably the best-known | | | | the ones that are not good.Nevertheless, a good little |
| name in the camera business, to supply its lenses, | | | | camera, all in a package 3.5 x 2.5 x 1.5 inches (89 x |
| despite the fact that there are many good Japanese | | | | 65 x 38 mm) for about $200. Other good cameras |
| lens makers. Leica has more credibility than most | | | | for this price? Try the Canon Powershot A610, Nikon |
| companies and in any case most of the best lens | | | | Coolpix P2 or the Olympus C-315. They are all |
| makers in Japan also happen to make digital cameras | | | | good.John Hartley, who runs the digital camera site, |
| which would compete with Panasonic!So, here we | | | | has followed developments in digital cameras since he |
| have a neat little camera with a Leica | | | | attended the first demonstration of the Sony Mavica |
| DC-Vario-Elmarit lens with a focal length of f2.8 to | | | | in Tokyo. He was one of the first to forecast that |
| f4.9, and a 3x aspherical zoom lens. Panasonic then | | | | digital cameras would replace film cameras |
| added its own 3x digital zoom, to give a total zoom | | | | completely, and his site has the latest information. |
| of 9 x. In practice, it is best to use the 3x zoom of | | | | |