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