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whichrightchoice.com 02 I Right Choice guide
This guide is just a taste of the expert advice and
inspiring ideas Right Choice has to ofer you. Just
imagine spending thousands on a new camera,
only to fnd that its fddly to use, or just too slow to
capture the action.
With Right Choice, avoid expensive mistakes and
zoom straight in on the Right Choices not only
when choosing a camera, but every time you shop.
We submit all kinds of products to our rigorous and
unique tests to identify Right Choices.
And when youve decided which product is right
for you, well help you with advice, hints and tips to
get the most out of your purchase.
Right Choice is a completely independent
monthly magazine. We accept no advertising and
carry no commercial content from providers of
goods or services, either directly or indirectly.
Were backed by Which? in the UK and funded by
consumers and for consumers, so we can tell it
like it is and give you the facts, both good and bad.
Thats why Which?, and now Right Choice in India,
has for over 50 years helped you, the consumer,
make better choices.
Click with the
Right Choices
Dear Reader,
B
uying a digital camera can be
daunting, especially when youre
faced with an ever increasing array
of choices and lists of endless technical
specications. Digital cameras are
increasingly packed with new features,
making decisions even more challenging.
This straightforward guide will help you
make sense of nding the right model
for your needs whether you want
something durable and light for travelling,
or a high-quality model to capture a
celebration, such as a graduation day
or wedding.
And with cameras able to record video,
recognise faces or even capture 3D
images, we cut through the jargon to
clarify what these features really mean
and which are worth paying extra for.
We explain the steps to think about
when shopping, the vital extras to pick
up at the same time, and our top tips
for getting the best from your camera.
Well also give you recommendations or
Right Choices based on our extensive
independent and scientic testing, that
we hope will help you select the Right
Choice for you.
This guide also highlights and explains
some of the technical terms needed to
understand cameras and gives some
hints and tips about some of the new
ways you can share your pictures with
family and friends.
I hope you nd it useful.
Paul Antony Smith
Editor
Digital Camera Guide
whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 03
04 How to buy
Whether compact, bridge or SLR, we help you choose the best
digital camera for your needs
06 Features explained
Explore the diferent functions available on your digital camera
08 Test results: Right Choices
The top compact, bridge and digital SLR cameras reviewed. Plus,
camera specications and test performance ratings of all models
tested for easy reference
18 How we test
We explain the various aspects of our tests
19 Camera modes
Learn about common camera modes and how and when you can
make use of them
22 Composing your shots
Techniques to enhance your photographs
24 Taking videos
Read our hints and tips to take great videos with your camera
26 Budget compact cameras
These may not be loaded with features but they take good shots
and are wallet-friendly
28 Waterproof cameras
These rugged cameras are ideal on treks or at the beach
29 Jargon buster
We help you decode common camera jargon
30 Camera phones
The best camera smartphones can even rival a point-and-shoot
32 Photo-editing software
Fix red-eye or blur out unslightly spots on pictures with Right
Choice photo-editing software
04
06
19
24
Contents
22
D
igital cameras can be broadly
divided into three main categories
compact cameras, bridge cameras
and digital SLR (single-lens refex) cameras.
We explain the various features of these
cameras in the Features to look for and
Jargon buster sections (see p6 and p29) of
this guide so that you know what to look for
when you go shopping.
Check out our Right Choice compact,
bridge and digital SLR camera reviews
(p8-17) which include models that have
triumphed over the others when they were
tested to the limit. We test each model for
picture quality, ease of use, battery life and
more. We have tabulated the results for
easy reference as well, so you can select the
camera that suits your needs.
Also featured are budget compact models
(p26). These are basic models that might
be short on creative options, but are good
for simple and quick snaps. And if youre
looking for something sturdier, read our
reviews of the best waterproof, shock-
resistant and dust-proof camera models
weve tested (p28) great for an adventure
trip or a beach holiday.
Whether youre after a simple point-and-shoot or an advanced DSLR,
our expert advice can help you choose the perfect digital camera
How to buy
n How much do you want to spend?
Camera prices range from around `12,000 for
a good point-and-shoot compact camera to
more than `1 lakh for a high-end DSLR. Avoid
paying for features you wont use.
n What do you want to use your
digital camera for?
Diferent types of digital camera are more
suited to diferent types of photography.
Think about the type of photography you will
use your camera for and where you will use it.
n How much camera control do you need?
Some cameras ofer lots of manual controls.
However, budget cameras rely on automatic
settings designed to take the best possible
photo. Choose according to your preference.
To pick the right camera, consider three things
Digital cameras
Which one should you buy?
Compact camera
A compact digital camera is small and
lightweight, so its easy to carry around
in a pocket or handbag. This portability
means you never have to miss those
spur-of-the-moment shots.
These type of camera have fully
automatic and scene modes perfect for
beginners. But there are some models
that include semi-automatic and manual
controls for more advanced photography.
The smallest compact cameras are
typically 20mm thick or less, and are also
known as ultra-compact cameras. These
cameras are tiny enough be slipped into
a shirt pocket. The trade-of for their size
is usually lack of manual controls and
sometimes a viewnder. Buttons and dials
can be ddly to use, but our tests show
that ultra-compact cameras are capable of
taking good quality images.
Would suit Casual photographers or
photography beginners who want an
easy-to-use, lightweight and cheap
digital camera.
Digital single-lens refex cameras (DSLRs)
If you want advanced manual control over your photos along with the
best possible picture quality, theres no substitute for a digital SLR
known as a DSLR camera.
DSLR cameras capture better photos than slim digital compact
cameras thanks to to their large image sensors and superior lenses, as
well as the wealth of manual settings on ofer.
You can use the DSLR starter lens kit that comes with the camera
for everyday photography, and buy additional lenses for specic
situations such as a telephoto lens for capturing fast action sports.
However, DSLRs tend to be bulky, and are often very expensive.
Would suit Professionals and keen amateur photographers who
want full manual control and excellent photo quality.
Types of digital camera
Bridge camera
A bridge camera lies between a compact camera and
a digital SLR. Cameras with advanced features and big
zooms are usually referred to as bridge cameras.
These types of cameras dont allow you to change
lenses and tend to be smaller than DSLRs, but ofer manual
control and often have features such as viewnders.
In our bridge camera reviews we also included high-
end compact cameras that bridge the gap between
compact cameras and DSLRs. High-end compact bridge
cameras have better sensors than youll nd on a standard
compact camera, so you should get better shots in low-light
conditions. One downside is that zoom lengths can be
rather limited on this type of camera.
Would suit Anyone who wants more control over their
photos, without paying signicantly more for a DSLR.
whichrightchoice.com Right Choice guide I 07 6 I Right Choice guide whichrightchoice.com
Resolution
The quality of a digital photo
depends heavily on the digital
cameras resolution the amount
of detail it records. Resolution is
dened in megapixels (Mp). More
megapixels mean more detail, so
you can create bigger prints without
noticing blockiness on the picture.
The digital cameras lens quality,
sensor quality and sensor size also
play a big role in how sharp and
colour-accurate your pictures are.
Just like standard digital cameras,
DSLRs have sensors that capture
the image, before the image gets
passed onto and recorded onto the
memory card. DSLR sensors are
physically bigger than the sensors in
standard digital cameras a reason
why DSLR cameras can give better
picture quality.
Features to look for
From the huge variety of diferent features, focus on the ones you actually need
Features explained
Face-detection
Most digital cameras feature face-detection technology. This
lets the camera detect individuals within shots, focusing more
accurately on their faces.
Image stabilisation
This is a feature designed to reduce the efects of shaky hands
on pictures. A mechanical image stabiliser can be built either
into the body of the digital camera or into the lens, where
its often called an optical image stabiliser. In both cases,
the stabiliser creates a sensitive mechanical adjustment to
compensate for wobbly motions.
Viewfnder
Virtually all digital cameras have an LCD screen for composing
shots. Some (especially bigger digital cameras) have a viewnder
too, which is a useful alternative as its easier to use in bright
sunlight when the LCD screen is hard to view because of
reection. You can steady a shot more easily with a viewnder,
because you hold the digital camera up to your eye. Using the
viewnder instead of the LCD screen also saves a bit of battery
life. An optical viewnder on a digital camera other than a DSLR
isnt 100% accurate. An electronic viewnder is a miniature LCD
and is more accurate.
Zooming
Nearly all digital cameras have zoom lenses. In our digital
camera reviews, we show the zoom range as it would be on
a lm camera, for easy comparison. For example, a digital
camera might have a zoom range of 35-105mm. The rst
gure refers to the lens at its shortest setting. The lower this
number, the wider the angle of view the digital camera can
manage useful for taking landscape shots. The second
gure indicates how far the digital cameras zoom extends.
The higher this number, the closer you can zoom in on
distant objects. For close-ups of distant wildlife, aim for a
-high second number.
HD movie mode
Most digital cameras can
produce not only still shots,
but also short videos with
sound. In fact, an increasing
number of digital cameras
now ofer high-denition (HD)
movie recording. Some of
these models do manage to
ofer better video quality than
you can get from cameras with
more basic movie modes, but
dont expect videos to rival
an actual camcorders.
Anti-blur
This is diferent from image
stabilisation. Anti-blur is a digital
adjustment to the cameras
picture settings aimed at limiting
the amount of motion blur in a
shot. Digital cameras with
anti-blur increase the shutter
speed to take the shot more
quickly while raising the ISO
level to make the camera
sensitive to lower light exposure.
This can have a detrimental
efect on overall image quality.
Shutter delay
With some digital cameras, the photo is taken more than
a second after you press the shutter release making it
easy to miss the instant your child blows out the birthday
candles, for example. A tip is to half-press the shutter
button as you compose a shot. This sets of the digital
cameras autofocus system. When the camera nds the
focus, it will beep or a light will come on to show its
ready. Make sure youre happy with the composition
of the picture, using the digital cameras LCD screen or
viewnder, while keeping the button half pressed. Finally,
press it down all the way to take the picture.
Right Choices Test results
The best compact cameras
Available in pink, silver and black, this Canon is one of the best pocket cameras
you can buy. It weighs a featherweight 143 grams a good 443 grams less than
the heaviest model weve tested, the Nikon Coolpix P520.
Picture quality Overall image quality is fantastic for a pocket camera. Indoor
shots taken with the ash, in particular, are some of the best weve seen. Shots
taken in bright outdoors also look terric. Face detection and image stabilisation
work well too though images taken in low light are grainy. This slim camera
has an impressive 24mm wide-angle lens, coupled with a 10x zoom.
81% CANON IXUS 255HS, `12,995
n PROS Great picture quality, good ash, good focusing, Wi-Fi transfer
n CONS Low-light images are grainy
The Olympus Stylus XZ-10 has a full manual exposure control mode plus a
control ring around the lens for swift exposure changes. If youre a novice user,
you may nd the controls a bit confusing.
Picture quality Picture quality is impressive in a variety of situations. Outside
landscape shots look natural with balanced exposure, while indoor shots are
sharp with natural colours. Shots taken in low light are particularly impressive,
with little grain and good colour denition. Despite all the features and buttons,
the camera is still relatively lightweight.
78% Olympus stylus XZ-10, `24,990
n PROS Great picture quality, host of features, full exposure control
n CONS Video quality not very good
The Nikon Coolpix P330 comes with plenty of features that justify the price tag
and proved a good all-rounder in our tests. This Nikon comes with options for
adjusting the shutter speed and aperture priority.
Picture quality It has a good built-in ash that ensures photos are well lit. The
image stabilisation is particularly efective, so shaky hands wont result in blurry
photos. It produces top-notch images in dim conditions among the best weve
seen from a compact camera. Video quality is good, although the sound quality
is average. Its quick to start up, taking just 1.2 seconds.
76% NikON COOlpiX p330, `16,950
n PROS Great picture quality, efective ash, quick to start up
n CONS Long shutter delay
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This Nikon has a large 22x optical zoom and is reasonably priced. At 205g, its
lighter than most compacts with large zooms.
Picture quality This Nikon takes brilliant outdoor shots. The ash does a good
job at producing sharp and well-exposed images. Images taken without the
ash can show a slight shift in the colours reds look pink, for example. Images
taken in low light are decent. It takes videos in full HD, though audio is thin and
tinny. Its ready to shoot in just 1.6 seconds, and a continuous shooting speed of
6.5 frames per second means you wont miss the action.
75% NikON COOlpiX s9500, `18,950
n PROS Good image stabilisation, large zoom, great outdoor pictures
n CONS Poor audio in videos
The Nikon L820 combines a 30x optical zoom and solid image stabilisation to
give you blur-free images. It also has a 23mm wide-angle lens which means you
can take large group shots without standing too far back.
Picture quality Overall picture quality is good. Indoor shots taken without the
ash looked better than those taken with the ash on. It does a great job at
focusing even in difcult light conditions, though images in low light are only
average. Its not the most convenient to use there are four alkaline batteries
that can easily fall out and are not rechargeable.
74% NikON COOlpiX l820, `15,450
n PROS Great pictures, good image stabilisation
n CONS Batteries fall out easily, heavy for a compact
The Fujilm Finepix camera has a massive 50x optical zoom in a relatively
compact and lightweight body. It ofers good level of manual control, yet is
surprisingly easy to use.
Picture quality Picture quality is very good and face detection works well, too.
Outside landscape shots look natural and indoor shots are sharp, although
slightly pink-tinged. Shots taken in low-light conditions arent as good they
are grainier and the colours get less intense. With such an enormous telephoto
zoom, its tricky to hold the camera steady at maximum zoom.
73% FujiFilm FiNepiX sl1000, `29,999
n PROS Great picture quality, good focusing, fast to start up
n CONS Low-light shots not as good
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The Nikon Coolpix P520 ofers DSLR-like features, such as an electronic
viewnder and manual control. It delivers fantastic picture quality, though it cant
really match that of a good DSLR.
Picture quality The landscape shots taken outdoors look natural, with balanced
exposure, while indoor shots taken with ash are sharp. However, its quite
sluggish to re up and get ready for a shot, taking 2.3 seconds. This added to a
slow shutter release of 0.7 seconds, means you might miss the shot you were
hoping for. Video quality is reasonable, with good sound quality.
73% NikON COOlpiX p520, `23,950
n PROS Great picture quality, good focusing, viewnder
n CONS Slow to start up
This Nikon ofers a generous 12x optical zoom and is available at a reasonable
price in six attractive colours. You can also capture videos in full HD.
Picture quality Photos taken in dim light are slightly better than those from the
Canon IXUS 255HS, though not completely grain-free. This is a great option if
youll mostly be taking outdoor shots such as landscapes. Indoor images taken
without the ash can look overexposed and pale youd be better of turning
the ash on to get sharp photos with accurate colours. Its quick to start up
ready to shoot in just 1.5 seconds.
n PROS Full HD video, great outdoor shots, fast to start up
n CONS Slight grain in low-light shots
Although the 10x optical zoom might seem relatively small, at the same
price, the 18Mp Cybershot DSC-WX200 gives brilliant picture quality and an
impressive shooting speed.
Picture quality The low-light images taken from this Sony are better than
youll get from most compacts weve tested. It has a crisp focus, which helps
produce sharp images. The ash can be a bit inadequate at illuminating distant
objects (over 3m). At 122g, its also one of the lightest compact cameras on test.
It is quick to start up and has a fantastic continuous shooting speed of 10fps.
70% sONy CybershOt DsC-WX200, `13,990
n PROS Great overall picture quality, crisp focus
n CONS Flash could be better
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GREAT
VALUE
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SPECIFICATION TEST PERFORMANCE
TEST AND RATINGS
BRAND
1 CANON Ixus 255HS 12,995 12 24 10 143
O
81
2 OLYMPUS Stylus XZ10 24,990 12 26 5 223
O O
78
3 NIKON Coolpix P330 16,950 12 24 5 198
O
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4 NIKON Coolpix S9500 18,950 18 25 22 201

75
5 NIKON Coolpix L820 15,450 16 23 30 507
O O
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6 FUJIFILM FinePix SL1000 29,999 16 24 50 722
O O
73
7 NIKON Coolpix P520 23,950 18 24 42 586
O
73
8 NIKON Coolpix S6500 11,950 16 25 12 153
O
72
9 NIKON Coolpix AW110 16,950 16 28 5 194

71
10 SONY Cybershot DSC-WX200 13,990 18 25 10 122
O
N/A 70
11 CANON Powershot A3500 IS 9,995 16 28 5 133
O O
69
12 SAMSUNG WB250F 15,390 14 24 18 218
O
69
13 NIKON Coolpix S5200 8,950 16 26 6 143
O
68
14 NIKON Coolpix S3500 7,950 20 26 7 127
O
N/A 68
15 OLYMPUS Stylus TG-2 52,060 12 25 4 248
O
66
16 SONY Cybershot DSC-W730 7,990 16 25 8 122
O O
N/A 66
17 SONY Cybershot DSC-WX60 9,990 16 25 10 123
O O
N/A 66
18 CANON Ixus 132 7,995 16 28 8 131
O O
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19 SAMSUNG Galaxy Camera 26,000 16 23 21 300

65
20 NIKON Coolpix S2700 5,950 16 26 6 125
O O
N/A 65
21 CANON Ixus 135 10,995 16 28 8 134
O
64
22 SAMSUNG WB 30F 10,190 16 24 10 148
O
63
23 SAMSUNG WB200F 13,290 14 24 18 128
O
63
24 CANON Powershot A2600 8,995 16 28 10 129
O O
N/A 62
25 CANON Ixus 140 12,495 16 28 8 132
O
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26 SAMSUNG DV150F 9,190 16 25 5 148
O
57
27 SONY Cybershot DSC-H200 13,990 20 24 26 522
O O
N/A 56
28 PANASONIC Lumix DMC-XS1 7,830 16 24 5 101
O O
55
29 SONY Cybershot DSC-W710 5,990 16 28 5 115
O O
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30 NIKON Coolpix L27 4,990 16 26 5 159
O O
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31 NIKON Coolpix S31 5,950 10 29 3 162
O O
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Compact cameras
USING THE TABLE
More stars the better. All Right Choices are
highlighted in red.
SpEcIfIcATIoN Price Guide prices as on October 5,
2013 Resolution The measured efective resolution, in
megapixels. This sometimes difers very slightly from
the manufacturers claimed gure Maximum wide angle
(mm) The smaller the wide angle number, the more
youll be able to t into the shot - useful for landscapes
and group photos Optical zoom magnifcation The
maximum amount of magnication possible (eg 3x)
Weight With lens cap, strap, battery and memory card
Wi-Fi Whether the camera can connect to a Wi-Fi
network GPS tagging Some cameras ofer GPS-
tagging, recording the exact global location of where
you were when you took your shot
TEST RESULTS Overall picture quality Overall rating
based on our assessment of the cameras picture
quality in diferent light conditions and at diferent
zoom ranges Low-light picture quality The cameras
picture quality in challenging low light Image
stabilisation Efectiveness of the cameras image
stabiliser in trembling motion and low light scenarios
Shutter delay The time it takes for the camera to take
the picture, after you have pressed the button from a
completely un-pressed position Video quality An
overall rating for the cameras video quality in
diferent light conditions
ScoRE
Ignores price sand is based on:
Image quality ............................................................................. 40%
Ease of use (including speed) .......................................... 30%
Movie quality .............................................................................. 10%
Monitor........................................................................................... 10%
Features ........................................................................................ 10%
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The best bridge cameras
Picture quality from this camera is among the highest
youll get from a compact. The manual adjustment options
are many. Its body ofers more direct control dials than
youll nd on many entry-level DSLRs.
Picture quality It comes into its own when shooting in
daylight or articial light. In bright conditions, photos come
out sharp and detailed, but low-light photos are slightly
grainier than pictures taken with a DSLR.
Ease of use The Canon Powershot G12 is not the fastest
picture-taker. It takes nearly three seconds between
consecutive shots slower than the average two seconds.
Continuous shooting speed is also not rapid you can take
around two shots per second.
77% CaNON pOWershOt G12,
`24,995
n PROS Optical viewnder, full range of manual
controls, rotatable LCD screen
n CONS Slow continuous shooting
The Sony Cybershot RX100 combines top-notch features
in a sleek and compact body. Its impressively small ideal
for slipping into a pocket.
Picture quality The RX100 takes efective photos and
excels in terms of focus and exposure. Even images
taken in low light are impressive, with true colours and
sharp images.
Ease of use As it weighs slightly less than 300 grams,
you wont feel overburdened. Theres no traditional
viewnder, as is usually the case in smaller cameras, so
you have to compose and view your shots on the 3-inch
LCD screen on the back. This makes it tricky to use in
bright light.
76% sONy CybershOt rX100,
`34,990
n PROS Great photos even in low light, lightweight
n CONS No viewnder
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This Panasonic models strong picture quality and
well-designed features make it a great choice if youre
after a large zoom camera.
Picture quality The Lumix DMC-FZ150 takes excellent
shots, with crisp detail and colour accuracy. The manual
adjustments ensure that you capture impressive photos.
However, it performs superbly when left in its automatic
mode as well. The ash performance is somewhat
mediocre. The 24x zoom lens is one of the best features
on this camera.
Ease of use Its easy to make full use of the lens with the
electronic viewnder. However, it takes a sluggish four
seconds before its ready to shoot.
75% PANASONIC LUMIX
DmC-FZ150, `24,990
n PROS Good low-light shots, excellent picture
quality, large zoom lens, manual controls
n CONS Graininess at higher ISO settings
The massive 26x zoom and good wide-angle make
the Fujilm FinePix X-S1 a very versatile camera.
Picture quality The picture quality is good on the auto
mode you can also experiment with the full gamut of
manual settings to get the perfect shot. It ofers good
picture quality and fares impressively well in low light.
Its great for close-up super macro shots.
Ease of use At 1kg, the FinePix X-S1 is rather heavy and
it falls behind similarly-priced DSLRs in terms of speed.
In auto mode, shutter delay and shot-to-shot time at the
highest quality setting are average, which means you
could miss a crucial shot by a few seconds. We found that
the face detection is supremely efective.
75% FujiFilm FiNepiX X-s1,
`59,999
n PROS Good low-light shots, good picture quality,
large zoom
n CONS Heavy and bulky
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Test results
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TEST AND RATINGS
BRAND
1 CANON Powershot G12 24,995 10 5.00 425 12,800 3.11 2 77
2 SONY Cybershot RX100 34,990 20 3.60 241 6,400 3.27 8 NA 76
3 PANASONIC Lumix DMC-FZ150 24,990 12 24.00 557 3,200 4.27 10 75
4 FUJIFILM FinePix X-S1 59,999 12 26.00 624 12,800 2.46 4 75
5 NIKON Coolpix P7100 22,950 10 7.10 427 6,400 1.98 1 74
6 CANON Powershot SX50 HS 29,995 12 50.00 634 6,400 2.28 2 73
7 FUJIFILM FinePix X100 67,499 12 1.00 471 12,800 3.53 5 73
8 FUJIFILM FinePix X10 44,999 12 4.00 384 12,800 2.83 4 73
9 CANON Powershot S110 29,995 12 5.00 200 12,800 2.46 2 NA 71
10 CANON Powershot G1 X 47,995 14 4.00 565 12,800 3.30 2 71
11 FUJIFILM FinePix HS30 EXR 24,999 16 30.00 731 12,800 2.60 8 71
12 SONY Cybershot DSC-HX200V 24,500 18 30.00 611 3,200 2.88 9 71
13 NIKON Coolpix P510 23,950 16 41.70 582 6,400 2.18 1 70
14 PANASONIC Lumix DMC-LX5 29,090 10 3.80 284 12,800 2.42 3 NA 69
15 OLYMPUS XZ-1 25,990 10 4.00 285 6,400 3.36 3 NA 66
Bridge cameras
USING THE TABLE
The more stars the better. Right Choices are
highlighted in red.
SpEcIfIcATIoN Price Guide price as on October 5,
2013 Resolution Higher resolutions are useful if you
plan to enlarge prints greatly Optical zoom range The
range in the kit lens. The smaller number is the wide
angle the lens begins from. The large number is the
telephoto end. The larger this is the more it zooms
Start-up time Time taken by the camera to be ready to
take a shot Continuous shooting speed Least time
between shots in highest quality setting (burst mode)
TEST pERfoRmANcE Picture quality Quality of photos
of scenes using auto mode Low-light picture quality
Poorer cameras tend to show more graininess and
colour can be murky Monitor quality The brightness of
the monitor Autofocus How stable the autofocus is
and how quickly it focuses in low light Image
stabilization How well the camera compensates for
trembling motions, reducing blur
ScoRE
Ignores price sand is based on:
Picture quality ........................................................................... 40%
Ease of use ................................................................................. 30%
Viewnder & monitor quality .............................................. 15%
Video/audio ................................................................................ 10%
Flash .................................................................................................. 5%
14
15
The best DSLR cameras
This full-frame DSLR ofers superb picture quality with
added features such as twin memory card slots, external
mic and headphone sockets and weather sealing.
Picture quality Photos are incredibly detailed with natural
colours and little discernible noise in normal conditions.
Indoor portrait shots without the ash show a slight
yellowish tint, but tweaking the white balance will x that.
Convenience Theres a traditional viewnder thats easy to
see when youre framing your photos. The LCD screen is
trickier to see in sunshine, but compares well with its rivals.
Instead of the faster USB 3.0, this model only supports the
slower USB 2.0 standard, which means transfer of images
directly from the camera may take a bit longer.
84% NikON D600,
`1,25,950
n PROS Superior image quality, high-resolution
sensor, twin memory card slots
n CONS No articulated screen
This DSLR is larger, heavier and more expensive than its
little brother the EOS 100D but takes excellent photos and
scores better than many pricier model.
Picture quality Its got great overall picture quality and
comes in an easy-to-use package. It delivers excellent
photos both outdoors and in. Quality holds up well even in
murkier conditions and video footage is good too.
Convenience The controls are well laid out with several
function buttons. Its similar in spec to the EOS 100D
but includes an articulated screen, more sophisticated
autofocus, faster burst shooting, a more powerful ash
and wireless ashgun control. The shutter delay is minimal
and it ofers the exibility of interchangeable lenses.
83% CaNON eOs 700D,
`59,995
n PROS Great picture quality, budget price
n CONS Not the lightest
RIGHT
CHOICE
RIGHT
CHOICE
Test results
The Nikon D7100 is a high-spec DSLR with a 24.1Mp resolution and ofers great
picture quality and plenty of high-end features.
Picture quality The picture quality is very impressive. Outdoor shots are
sharp and detailed, and indoor portrait shots, both with and without ash, are
excellent. Low-light images show only a marginal increase in graininess.
Convenience For a complex camera with so many features, its surprisingly
easy to use. However, the mode dial has a lock button that is hard to release
its much easier on other cameras with this type of feature.
82% NikON D7100, `94,950
n PROS Superior image quality, twin memory card slots
n CONS Mode dial locking mechanism is a pain to use
This DSLR is one of the smallest and lightest models available. Its fast to start-
up, shutter delay is minimal and it ofers the exibility of interchangeable lenses.
Picture quality It delivers excellent images. Photos in bright sunlight are clear
and well exposed, while indoor shooting with the ash produces particularly
good pictures.
Convenience Its optical viewnder is good and the rear touchscreen works
well, which makes navigating menus simple using a combination of the screen
and regular controls though the screen can be tricky to use in bright light.
81% CaNON eOs 100D, `48,995
n PROS Great picture quality, compact and lightweight for a DSLR
n CONS Not as many dials and buttons as more expensive models
The 650D is an excellent DSLR that produces fantastic images and comes with
top-end features such as a maximum ISO level of 25,600 and Full HD video.
Picture quality It takes great indoor shots. If youre taking pictures in dim
lighting and dont want to use ash, we recommend you use the manual
settings to improve shots rather than trusting the automatic setting.
Convenience It features an optical viewnder and also updates quickly. The
screen is touch-sensitive and copes well in most lighting. Its speedy to start up,
though the burst rate is a mediocre ve images per second.
81% CaNON eOs 650D, `59,995
n PROS Good all-round camera
n CONS Indoor shots without the ash could be better in the auto-mode
RIGHT
CHOICE
RIGHT
CHOICE
RIGHT
CHOICE
GREAT
VALUE
Right Choices
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TEST AND RATINGS
BRAND
1 NIKON D600 1,25,950 24-85mm 0.4 2 84
2 CANON EOS 700D 59,995 EF-S 18-55 IS STM 0.4 5 83
3 NIKON D7100 94,950 18-105mm VR 0.5 6 82
4 CANON EOS 100D 48,995 EF-S 18-55 IS STM 0.5 4 81
5 CANON EOS 650D 59,995 18-55mm 0.5 2.00 81
6 SONY NEX-3N 29,990 16-50mm SELP1650 2.2 4 77
7 NIKON D5200 46,950 18-55mm 0.71 5 75
8 SONY SLT-A58 32,990 DT 3.5-5.6/ 18-55 SAM II 2.0 5 72
9 SONY NEX-5R 39,990 18-55mm 1.5 1.00 72
10 CANON EOS M 34,995 18-55mm 3.0 3.00 71
11 OLYMPUS Pen Lite E-PL5 33,999 14-42 mm 1.2 1 67
DSLR
USING THE TABLE
All Right Choices are highlighted in red. The more
stars the better.
SpEcIfIcATIoN Price Guide price as on October
5, 2013 Start-up time Time for the camera to be
ready to take a shot Continuous shooting Least
time between shots in highest quality setting
(burst mode)
TEST pERfoRmANcE Overall picture quality Quality of
photos of scenes using auto mode Low-light picture
quality Poorer cameras tend to show more graininess
and colour can be murky Overall video quality Cameras
video quality in diferent light conditions Operating
speed A total score for the cameras speed in being
ready to take a shot, its speed between shots, and
how quickly it can autofocus and take a shot.
ScoRE
Ignores price and is based on:
Overall picture quality .......................................................... 40%
Ease of use (including speed of shooting)................. 30%
Movie quality .............................................................................. 10%
Monitor........................................................................................... 10%
Viewnder ..................................................................................... 5%
Flash .................................................................................................. 5%
18
19
How we test
To help you choose the best digital
camera, we put each model through a
series of meticulous tests. Our expert
team designs the tests to be both
rigorous and repeatable, so that we
know weve really put the products
through their paces.
Ease of use
out of the box We look at using the
camera for the frst time, including the
intuitiveness of basic controls, inserting
memory cards and batteries, and
instruction manuals.
Shutter delay and auto-focusing
The speeds of these functions are
carefully measured, along with the delay
between taking successive photos and
the start up time, to check if sluggish
behaviour may lead to you missing that
perfect moment.
menus We check how easy menus are to
change common settings such as fash
options, image quality and scene modes.
If these options are difcult to fnd and
change you may be missing out on a
wealth of your cameras best features.
Screen: The quality and accuracy of the
screen and viewfnder are checked under
diferent light conditions to check for
good colour reproduction and assess how
accurately you can frame your shot.
manual focusing Manual focusing and
settings are checked for suitable scales
and how they are adjusted; lens zoom is
tested for its speed, responsiveness and
precision.
Image quality
Image quality of digital cameras is
assessed by a panel of fve experts.
When testing image quality, we measure
resolution and aberrations using a
test chart and the camera at diferent
settings (such as at wide angle setting, at
telephoto setting, and so on.)
Colour reproduction, contrast, peak
white and white balance are assessed
using a range of camera settings on a
combination of various practical pictures,
stretching the cameras abilities. These
help to distinguish those cameras that
will capture accurate images in a range of
difcult photographic environments.
Sensitivity to light
We also measure light sensitivity, picture
noise, vignetting and distortion. Automatic
focusing, including face detection, is
measured while pointing the digital
camera at a variety of objects, under
diferent light conditions, and at various
camera settings to make sure you avoid
blurry, out of focus images. Test images
reveal the cameras ability to record skin
tones and fne details accurately, while
our low light performance tests check
image noise, sharpness and resolution in
darker environments.
Image stabilisation
Our shaking hands test is used to
check the image stabilisation features
to see whether the digital camera will
capture the moment with detail and
sharpness even when youre struggling to
hold it still.
Flash
The intelligence of the cameras fash is
measured how well it automatically
adjusts its brightness according to the
scene photographed. Flash quality is also
assessed, taking a photograph at diferent
distances from close-up to far-away, along
with its strength, variation in distribution
and refections.
movie mode
We set the digital camera to take movies
at a range of quality settings, and record
movies of diferent scenes, including
scenes of movement and those where the
camera is placed on a tripod and panned
across the scene.
The audio quality produced by a
cameras built-in microphone is also rated
and our testers highlight whether using
the zoom while recording can be heard on
the audio.
How wE TEST DIGITAL cAmERAS
18
19
MANUAL FOCUS
Nearly all cameras have autofocus (AF) but
some also have manual focus (MF). MF is
useful for close-ups as it lets you focus on
exactly what you want (the centre of a fower
instead of the petals, for example).
Its also handy for special effects, such
as shooting a street light out of focus for a
dreamy, romantic effect.
MF is also useful when AF wont work.
AF sometimes struggles to work in poor
light or when shooting from behind glass,
for example.
A useful trick with MF is that when you
want to shoot lots of pictures of objects
or people at roughly the same distance
away from you, you can set the MF to that
distance and shoot away. Shutter delay
will be cut right down as you wont be
using AF, and you wont have to keep
half-pressing the shutter button to lock
the focus for every shot.
Camera modes
Camera modes
Below are some of the most common camera modes youll nd on a digital camera.
Keep in mind, compact point-and-shoot models may not feature all of these modes
Camera modes
WHITE BALANCE
Light always appears white to the naked eye.
In fact it takes different colours depending
on the source from household light bulbs
to natural daylight. So a photo taken indoors
by the light of a standard ceiling bulb may
come out with a slight yellowish cast.
Digital cameras have a feature called
auto white balance, which ensures the true
colours (as our eyes would see them) are
shown. Sometimes the camera struggles,
though, especially with close-ups or scenes
dominated by a single colour the sky,
for example. To counter this, there are
manually-selectable white balance settings,
like daylight (for sunny days), cloudy
(overcast days) and tungsten (for ordinary
household light bulbs).
You can also use custom white balance
mode to help achieve the most natural
colours. Point the camera at something pure
white, like a piece of paper, and the camera
will evaluate the light conditions and set its
white balance accordingly.
ISO SETTINGS
Digital camera ISO settings are very similar
to flm ones. The higher the number, the
more sensitive the camera is to light.
If youre in a place where fash
photography is prohibited, or you just
dont want to use fash, manually select
a high ISO number (for example, 400 or
above). This will help to ensure the image
has good levels of brightness and contrast,
without using fash.
However, a high ISO setting introduces
more noise random, small, coloured
speckles, which are visible more in even
areas of colour or when the image is
enlarged. This can detract from the quality
of your image, or on the other hand on a
few photos, it can add an interesting sense
of atmosphere.
APERTURE PRIORITY MODE
This is often found on the mode dial
look for A or Av or through your
cameras menu.
If your camera has aperture priority
mode you can get creative by changing the
f-stop yourself. The f-stop represents the
size of the aperture, the hole in the lens that
A high ISO
setting introduces
more noise
light passes through to form an image. It
controls how much of your scene is in focus.
A low f-stop of 2.8, for example,
combined with standing closer to your
subject and zooming in closer, puts a lot
of the background out of focus to create
portrait shots. The further away the
background the better. A high f-stop of 8
puts a lot of the shot in focus good for
landscapes. Settings are often available
between low and high values, giving you
precise control over focusing.
SHUTTER-SPEED PRIORITY MODE
Shutter-speed priority mode gives you
more precise control over a picture. It is
often found on the mode dial look for S
or Tv or on your cameras menu. It is
useful when photographing movement.
You adjust the shutter speed manually a
fast shutter speed of 1/500 of a second, for
example, will normally freeze the motion of
a moving cyclist.
A similar shot taken with a shutter
speed of 1/30 of a second will show the
cyclist as a bit blurry, creating a nice visual
effect of speed.
For maximum sharpness when using
a slow shutter speed, use a tripod. Not all
cameras come with this accessory.
BURST MODE
Virtually all cameras have a burst mode.
This feature, sometimes called continuous
shooting mode, allows the camera to take
several shots, one immediately after the
other, until you take your fnger off the
shutter button.
The shot rate varies widely between
different models, but most cameras take
between one and three shots a second, with
up to about 10 shots in total.
Burst mode is useful for getting still
images from fast action, when you are
shooting pictures of sport perhaps, or even
a baby or toddler subjects that fnd it
hard to keep still. All pictures taken in burst
mode are stored on the memory card you
can then choose to keep all, some or none
of them.
SCENE MODES
Most cameras have a number of scene
modes. These optimise the cameras settings
for specifc scenes and photo effects youd
like to create. Some cameras have more than
20 of them.
For example, select Portrait Mode to
take a picture of a friend. Stand close to
your friend, try to zoom in as well, and the
background will be thrown out of focus
making the friend the centre of attention.
The closer you step in, the more the
background will go out of focus. Also, the
photo might be a touch warmer than normal
in colour, making skin tones more attractive.
Sports Mode freezes movement, such as
a football fying in mid-air, and is good for
action photography.
Some other modes are a bit less common.
Beach and Snow modes, for example, help
prevent your photos becoming washed-out
in bright beach and snow scenes.
Party Mode helps with indoor photos
in dim light. These modes normally give
good results and are usually quick to select.
Sometimes, its simply a case of just turning
the mode dial on the top of the camera to the
correct position.
Scene modes dont always give the best
possible result, especially in dull or very
bright conditions, so look for cameras with
aperture priority mode and shutter-speed
priority mode as well. These give you more
precise control under all light conditions.
Burst mode helps
you get still images
from fast action
Composing shots
COMPOSING YOUR SHOTS
RULE of THIRDS
Although it is possible to adjust
images using photo-editing software,
youll get much better results if you
start of with a well-taken and well-
composed shot.
Professional photographers
compose shots using the rule of thirds
to get their pictures looking just right.
When you look through the viewfnder,
you should mentally divide up the
image into thirds, both horizontal
and vertical.
Most often youll get a better
picture if the subject isnt dead centre.
In order to attain best results, position
the main focus of the picture where
the lines intersect.
cANDID SHoTS
If you think your subjects wouldnt mind being
photographed without them knowing, try taking a
few candid, unposed shots.
These are more natural and often more
interesting than those that are posed, as they show
people going about their business normally without
nervousness making them look awkward or pulling
strange faces for the camera inadvertently.
Of course, its only fair to your subjects to show
them your pictures afterwards!
cLoSE-UpS
For close-ups, use the cameras macro mode, usually indicated by a small
fower. Or if you have a digital SLR camera, look for lenses with good
macro capabilities.
The macro mode helps you to focus on very close subjects like fowers
or insects, for example, within about 30cm of the camera. This helps you
to show great detail in the fnal photo.
COMPOSING YOUR SHOTS
pANNING
The idea of panning is to show a sharp and frozen image of a fast-moving subject like a
bike or car, with a blurry background. By using shutter-speed priority mode to blur your
subject, panning creates a sense of action in the photograph.
To try panning, set a slow shutter speed around 1/15 of a second, for example.
The idea then is to follow the bike or car as it passes across you, preferably in the
viewfnder, and continue to follow it as you press the shutter button down and for a
moment afterwards.
Keep the subject in the same position in the viewfnder as you twist your upper
body round, and press the shutter button when youre facing your subject square on.
Before the subject approaches, make sure to focus on a point about the same
distance from you, where your subject will pass to ensure it is as sharp as possible
in the fnal photo.
You can use manual focus for this, or normal autofocus. Using autofocus, press the
shutter button halfway down to focus on a point around which your subject will pass,
and keep it half pressed as you begin to pan.
wHEN THE
SUN GoES DowN
The time of day can have a great
infuence on the way your photo
will appear.
If you shoot outdoors at dawn,
your picture will have a slight bluish
colour cast. At noon, colours will
appear the most natural, though
it might be too bright. Just before
sunset, pictures will take a lovely
warm, orangey tone.
Of course, you can adjust
these colour settings to your own
preference by changing the cameras
white balance settings. For more on
this, see our advice to digital camera
modes (p19).
24
25
Taking videos
N
early all compact digital cameras
have a movie mode to let you record
quick clips. Typically, all you have
to do is switch the camera to movie mode,
press the shutter button and the camera will
start flming. Press the shutter button again
to stop recording.
HD VIDEO RECORDING
WITH DIGITAL CAMERAS
Many newer digital cameras offer HD movie
recording. This may be with a resolution
of 720p, or an even higher resolution of
1080p also known as full HD. Even at the
highest quality setting, the quality of digital
camera video falls short of what you can
expect with a full-sized HD camcorder.
The sensors inside digital cameras are
not as well-suited to video capture as the
sensors inside camcorders. Conversely, most
camcorders do not take still photos as well
as a decent camera.
You can use movie mode to record both short video and
sound. Follow our tips to get the best out of this function
Taking videos
with digital cameras
24
25
With some cameras, you can use zoom
during flming, although sometimes just
digital zoom as opposed to optical zoom.
Digital zoom, as when taking still photos,
reduces image quality.
MEMORY CARDS
Just like with still photos, whatever footage
you record is stored onto the memory card.
However, recording movies can take up a
lot of memory space.
Unless you set a lower quality setting,
if you want to take more than a minute
or two of footage youll usually need a
memory card with a large capacity to store
those fles much larger than the cameras
internal memory or the small memory card
supplied along with the product.
on an HD TV
If your camera has a video-out function,
and nearly all do, you can also view your
movie on a TV if your TV has a video-in
socket. Connect the two with the cable
supplied, and switch your camera to
playback mode to play.
Some cameras with HD video functions
ofer HDMI-out sockets. Using an HDMI
cable, you can connect the camera to
your HD TV to view your video in high-
defnition quality.
However, you may fnd that your
footage looks less impressive when
viewed on a large HD TV screen. Motion
can appear to be slightly jerky, particularly
when youre capturing panning shots or
fast-moving subjects. One of the reasons
for this is that digital cameras tend to
record videos in a format (such as Motion
Jpeg) that is not best-suited to playback
on an HD TV.
Proper HD camcorders tend to record
videos in fle formats which are tailored for
playback on an HD TV.
Watching videos
on a computer
If you connect your digital camera to a
computer or laptop, you can watch your
videos back on the computer screen.
Depending on the quality of the original
footage, this may have its drawbacks. If
your camera can only record in standard
defnition, VGA footage, then increasing
the size of the video to fll a computer
screen will emphasize the lack of detail
and quality.
HD footage may look better on a
computer screen, as the larger screen will
do justice to the detailed footage. Digital
cameras tend to record in formats that
are best suited to being played back on
computer screens, though some jerkiness
may remain in fast-moving subjects.
Watching your lm
Many cameras
ofer 1080p HD
movie recording
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Test results
The best budget cameras
The Canon PowerShot A3500 IS narrowly misses out on being a Right Choice
but its still a good camera if you want an easy-to-use, fast-to-shoot compact
model with Wi-Fi compatibility.
Picture quality Overall picture quality is good. Both indoor and outdoor shots
have natural colour tones, with balanced exposure. The Clever IS image
stabilisation system works pretty well at reducing camera shake but its actually
no better than many other manufacturers systems. Picture quality in low-light
conditions is not as good as other similarly priced cameras.
69% CaNON pOWershOt a3500 is, `9,995
n PROS Good picture quality, Wi-Fi transfer, fast to start up
n CONS Poor low-light picture quality
For the budget price, this Nikon has plenty of features on ofer. For example you
can send images via Wi-Fi, capture photos in 3D, watch photos and videos on
an HDMI screen and choose from 20 diferent scene modes.
Picture quality You can take good portrait shots with this compact camera.
Outdoor photos such as landscapes look fantastic, though indoor and low-
light photos are disappointing. Its almost impossible to take videos in low light
with pictures looking completely dark. The ash is efective for close ups, but
pictures start looking underexposed as you go farther away from the subject.
n PROS Quick to start up, good for outdoor photos
n CONS Poor low-light photos and videos
The Nikon S3500 is a low-cost compact camera with a 20Mp resolution, 7x
optical zoom and a 2.7-inch screen. If youre after a basic point-and-shoot
camera at a low price, its worth considering.
Picture quality Outdoor landscape shots have natural colours with balanced
exposure. Indoor shots are also good, both with and without ash, although
colours can appear a little pale. Like many compacts, it falls down in low-light
conditions where photos are less sharp and image noise becomes visible. Its
slow to start up and get ready to take a shot, taking a ponderous 2.6 seconds.
n PROS Good overall picture quality, simple
n CONS Poor low-light picture quality, slow to start up
Budget buys under `10,000
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Test results
The Sony W730 is slim and extremely lightweight. It ofers an impressive 8x
optical zoom and 25mm wide angle lens at a reasonable price.
Picture quality The W730 produces reasonably sharp images with accurate
colours when used outdoors. Low-light images are grainier, though no worse
than youd get from most compacts. Face detection could be better it can
struggle when there are several people in the frame. The monitor is of a good
resolution but its harder to use in dim light. Continuous shooting speed is a
disappointing 1fps so its not the best camera for sports or action scenes.
66% sONy CybershOt DsC-W730, `7,990
n PROS Good image quality, decent shutter speeds, easy to use
n CONS Slow continuous shooting speed, video quality could be better
This Sony is worth considering if youre looking for a budget model that does
the basics well.
Picture quality Overall picture quality from this camera is good, though
certainly not the best weve seen. Photos generally look sharp and face
detection works well. Low-light images could be better, but we found them
to be better than most cameras in this price range. Theres a 10x zoom and
a 25mm wide lens that should give you plenty of exibility when you shoot
landscapes and group photos.
66% sONy CybershOt DsC-WX60, `9,990
n PROS Good overall picture quality, quick to capture photos
n CONS Flash could be better
The Canon Ixus 132 is a good camera that with decent picture-taking abilities. It
didnt make it as a Right Choice because of the poor photos it takes in low light
and a sub-standard image stabilisation system.
Picture quality Picture quality is a mixed bag. Outside landscape shots are ne,
although they lack a little sharpness and indoor shots with ash are good, with
natural colours. Without the ash on, indoor shots are pale and dont impress.
This camera struggles to produce good quality photos in low light. Video image
quality is decent, and the sound quality isnt bad.
66% CANON IXUS 132, `7,995
n PROS Good picture quality, Wi-Fi connection
n CONS Poor low-light performance, poor image stabilisation system
Test report
The best waterproof digital cameras
The Nikon AW110, which can survive dunks up to 18m and drops from a height
of 2m, is good, cheap option. It ofers plenty of add-ons such as Wi-Fi support, a
barometer, display map and an electronic compass.
Picture quality Indoor shots are well exposed, but using the ash introduces
some noise to the images. Outdoor shots display plenty of detail. Low-light
images are sharper than youll get from the TG-2. It sufers from some usability
niggles. The monitor holds up well in bright light and shutter speeds are equally
quick, though video takes longer to record.
71% NikON COOlpiX aW110, `16,950
n PROS Superb shots, tough
n CONS Slow to record video
This all-weather camera can withstand drops from heights of up to 2m and
immersion in water to a depth of 15m.
Picture quality The overall picture quality is only average. Indoor shots taken
with or without ash are sharp, if a bit over-saturated. Outdoor shots have bluish
skin tones and are grainy. It has a Super Macro mode that can shoot objects
that are just 9.1mm from the lens. Face detection works well, but pictures taken
in low light contain plenty of visible noise. Its quick to start up and has a shutter
delay of just 0.3 seconds per shot, but, its not the easiest camera to use.
66% Olympus stylus tG-2, `22,990
n PROS Tough camera
n CONS Average picture quality
This Nikon is a budget option for a weather-proof camera. In our tests the
shock-proong and water-proong worked really well.
Picture quality Outdoor shots taken in our tests were decent, except for a little
oversaturation in red colours. Portrait shots look particularly good with the ash.
It works ne under water and even after it has been dropped from a height.
It struggles to take pictures in low light and its not the best video taker either.
Recorded audio was disappointing with the camera being able to capture only
high-frequency sounds.
53% NIKON COOLPIX S31, `5,950
n PROS Cheap, water, dust and shock proof
n CONS Poor video and low-light photos
RIGHT
CHOICE
GREAT
VALUE
Waterproof cameras
Megapixel count
Higher-resolution cameras ofer plenty of scope
for getting prints enlarged, or for digitally cropping.
However, in low light, having a higher megapixel
count can work against you, increasing the amount
of grainy image noise if the sensor isnt large
enough to house so many megapixels. The theory
behind dropping the resolution is to increase the
sensors sensitivity to low light, allowing you to
shoot with a higher ISO setting without introducing
a lot of noise, or graininess, into the photograph.
This can often ruin pictures taken on compacts in
low light without a fash.
Aperture priority
This changes the size of the aperture the hole in
the lens through which light passes to hit the image
sensor. With the aperture at its largest, the camera
is more sensitive in low light. With a small aperture
setting, less light hits the sensor. This can be used in
bright conditions to let you capture detail across the
whole shot the background and foreground will
both be in focus. In aperture priority mode, you can
adjust the aperture to your own preferences, while
the camera automatically changes every other
setting to get the best results.
Bridge camera
A bridge camera lies somewhere between a DSLR
and a slim point-and-shoot camera. While bridge
cameras dont allow you to change lenses and
tend to be smaller than DSLRs, they ofer superior
manual control and often have features like
viewfnders, and huge zooms of up to 35x.
Burst mode
This lets you take several pictures quickly in
succession until you take your fnger of the
cameras shutter button useful when you want to
take pictures of fast-moving action.
Compact system camera
This is a loose term to describe any camera which
allows you to change the lens, but doesnt feature
an internal mirror like a DSLR. The advantage is you
can achieve DSLR-style picture quality but with a
smaller camera body.
HD video
There are several types of HD video, and they tend
to refect the resolution captured in the footage (the
level of detail):
n 1080p This is known as Full HD video.
The camera captures 1,080 horizontal lines
which are are scanned progressively, or one
after another.
n 720p Though this is still HD, 720p footage
has a lower resolution.
Optical zoom
This is the zoom you get with the cameras lens. Its
diferent from a digital zoom (which is an electronic
enlargement that decreases picture quality).
Jargon buster
Jargon buster
30
31
The best camera phones
With mobile phone cameras becoming increasingly sophisticated and starting to rival
dedicated point-and-shoot cameras, we take a look at ve of the best camera phones
85% samsuNG GalaXy s4,
`41,500
Camera
Video camera
The Samsung Galaxy S4s
camera is a further improvement
on its predecessors already
impressive 8Mp snapper. For
starters, its camera boasts a 13Mp
sensor, LED ash and autofocus,
alongside numerous photo
modes like Drama Shot, Eraser
mode and Dual Shot. Dual Shot
is entertaining but particularly
useless, as it allows you to
superimpose an image taken with
the S4s front-facing camera onto
the one taken with its rear-facing
camera. If youre interested in
more practical tasks like shooting
video at a full HD 1080p resolution, then Samsungs latest agship
mobile caters for this too.
84% samsuNG GalaXy s4 miNi,
`27,200
Camera
Video camera
Photos from the S4 Minis 8Mp
camera were better than most,
with crisp, uncropped images and
well-represented colours across
our test images, although they
sufered from overexposure. The
camera also benets from a range
of features designed to make
the most of its potential and the
surroundings, with tools such as
face detection, anti-shake and
on-device image editing. Video
performance was also above
par, with smooth frame rates and
motion, and decent resolution.
It had a few problems staying in
focus, and images were overexposed in outdoor environments,
but indoor performance was impressive despite a slight green tint.
Test results Camera phones
RIGHT
CHOICE
RIGHT
CHOICE
30
31
74% APPLE iPHONE 4S,
`44,500
Camera
Video camera
The new 8Mp autofocus camera
is outstanding and produces
better photos than the 5Mp
version found in the iPhone 4. The
camera copes well with lower light
levels and produces good levels
of detail, and because you can
now open the camera app straight
from the lock screen youre less
likely to miss any important shots.
The camera is easy to use and
ofers a range of camera features
including touch focus, photo
editing and geo-tagging, whereby
the phones GPS records where
your photos were taken. Theres
also a front-facing camera for making video calls. Video quality
is very good.
65% NOKIA LUMIA 925, `38,529
Camera Video camera
The Nokia Lumia 925 features an
impressive 8.7Mp resolution and
Carl Zeiss lens optics, meaning
it compares favourably with the
iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy
S4. You can take cinemagraph
and panorama shots and upload
them to Instagram. Though a
small minority of the photos we
took during testing did return a
slightly yellowish tint, there was
no doubting the phones general
image quality. Most signicantly,
the well-documented ability of the
Lumia 925 to take quality shots at
low light levels means its ideal for
anyone looking avoid the use of
an often distorting ash lens.
82% APPLE iPHONE 5,
`45,500
Camera
Video camera
The camera on the iPhone 4S
was a huge improvement on
previous iPhones bumping up
the resolution to 8Mp, adding
a fth lens to improve picture
quality and increasing the size of
the aperture to help in low-light
conditions. While the iPhone 5
camera has all these features, it
didnt quite match the camera on
the 4S. We found that photos with
a bright light near the edge of the
image created a purple haze
style efect, which was missing
from equivalent photos on the 4S.
Still if youre after a great phone
with a solid camera, the iPhone 5 remains a decent choice when
compared with its competitors.
77% blaCkberry Z10,
`43,490
Camera
Video camera
The Z10 has an excellent 8Mp-
autofocus camera. While the
pixel count is low, compared with
other high-end smartphones,
picture quality is very good
especially when youre taking
snaps outdoors. The camera
is also very fast, so theres little
chance of you missing that key
photo opportunity. The camera
app also includes a unique Time
Shift feature which lets you take
a series of photos in under a
second and then choose the
best-looking one. Video quality
(1080p HD) is reasonable though
weve seen better the iPhone 5 is still the best on test. Theres a
secondary, front-facing 2Mp camera for video calls.
Worth Considering
RIGHT
CHOICE
RIGHT
CHOICE
RIGHT
CHOICE
32
33
Getting perfect pictures
Photo-editing software
P
hoto-editing software allows you to make
changes to your digital photographs. It
provides a range of tools to perform image
manipulation tasks such as adding brightness or
contrast to an overly dark photograph or returning
eyes turned red thanks to a cameras fash back
to a more natural colour.
There are more complex and creative tools
too you can remove a person from a photo, merge
images and remove blemishes from portrait shots,
for example.
As well as paid-for programs such as Adobe
Photoshop Elements, theres a ton of free software
available. For example, if your PC runs Windows 7,
you can download Microsoft Live Photo Gallery.
Right choices
91% ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
ELEMENTS 11, `6,939
Photoshop Elements 11
introduces three new
modes, Quick, Guided
and Expert. These
provide diferent levels
of help and access
to tools for beginner,
intermediate and advanced levels
making it an exceptional software package
whatever your degree of expertise. Its
not a cheap package, but we think its a
great product. It includes features such as
red-eye reduction, cropping, brightness
adjustments, colour and contrast control
plus more advanced features such as the
clone tool. This software ofers everything
you would expect and is tailored to your
level of skill, making it easy to use.
n PROS Full suite of editing tools
n CONS Pricey
83% PIXLR PHOTO
eDitiNG serviCes, Free
This online
program can be
accessed via pixlr.
com website. You
can select an image from your hard
drive, work on it, then save it back to
your hard disk or upload them to a range
of photo-sharing sites such as Flickr or
Facebook. The onscreen layout of buttons
and menus are easy to get used to. The
advantages of a web-based editor like
this are that its never necessary to update
or buy new versions of your software as
updates are made automatically online and
you also dont have to install software to
your hard drive. The downsides are that
you do need an internet connection to
work on your image.
n PROS Easy to use, good features
n CONS No direct email function
69% APPLE APERTURE 3,
`4,500
Despite being aimed
primarily at advanced
users, this is a good
choice for beginners
to get started. The
interface is easy to
use, but to get the
best performance out of it you need at
least 2GB of RAM. The red eye removal
works efectively, cropping is pretty
straightforward, sharpening and softening
functions are easy to nd and use, and
colour and brightness corrections work
well. Theres also an excellent auto-
correction feature. One feature we really
liked was the video frame grabber. It allows
you to extract a still image from a video,
and turn it into a photograph.
n PROS Good features, easy to use
n CONS Cant remove objects
With our Right Choice software, you can make sure everyones
picture perfect, no matter which camera you click from
RIGHT
CHOICE
RIGHT
CHOICE
RIGHT
CHOICE
32
33
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(
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TEST AND RATINGS
BRAND
1 ADOBE Photoshop Elements 11 6,939
O
91
2 PIXLR Photo Editing Services Free
O O
83
3 APPLE Aperture 3 4,500
O O
69
4 SAMSUNG Intelli-Studio Free
O O
68
5 APPLE iPhoto 11 Free
O O O
64
6 SERIF PhotoPlus X5 5,566 ($89.99)
O O O O
60
7 CANON Zoombrowser EX, CameraWindow Free
O O O O
56
8 SERIF PhotoPlus Essentials 2,523 (25.55)
O O O
56
9 OLYMPUS Viewer 2 Free
O O O O O
50
10 PAINT.NET V3.5.8 Free
O O O O O
50
11 MICROSOFT Live Photo Gallery 2011 Free
O
50
12 NIKON ViewNX2 Free
O O O O
49
13 GIMP V2.6.11 Free
O O O O
45
14 MICROSOFT Ofce 2010 Picture Manager Free with Microsoft Ofce 2010
O O O O O
45
15 FUJIFILM MyFinePixStudio Free
O O
43
16 GOOGLE Picasa Free
O O O O O
41
17 PANASONIC Lumix PHOTOFunStudio 6 Free
O O O
34
18 SONY Cybershot Picture Motion Browser Free
O O O O
18
Adding a caption
Adding some text to your photo can give
it some context. You can choose from
diferent fonts, font sizes and are free to
place it anywhere in your picture.
Adjust brightness, contrast,
colour balance, saturation
You this to lift details out of the shadow
and generally brighten up a photo.
Changing a background
Changing a background can take a bit of
time, but is worth doing if you like your
subject, but not your background. Not all
free software comes with this feature.
Cropping
Allows you to cut out part of the picture.
For example, an distracting background
can be cropped to focus on the subject.
filters and special efects
From turning a photo black and white to
creating all sorts of wonderful efects.
Noise reduction
Reduces the grainy efect that appears on
some photos taken in dim light.
Red-eye removal
This tool works by replacing the red pupil
with a more natural black one.
Sharpening and softening
Sharpening helps you sharpen an image
that might look too soft or be out of focus.
The opposite efect is softening.
USING THE TABLE
The more stars the better. Right Choices are
highlighted in red.
SpEcIfIcATIoN Price Guide price as of October 5,
2013 Windows PC, Mac Whether the software works on
Windows PC, Mac or both Direct emailing Whether you
can save your image directly to an email and send it
Noise flter This tool allows you to reduce unwanted
noise, the grainy efect that afects some photos Full
RAW support Whether the software can import and
edit RAW images. Additional software plug-ins may
be required; these are usually free to download
TEST RESULTS Ease of use for a beginner How easy it is
for a beginner or basic user to install, make basic and
slightly more advanced image adjustments, and
access and use help features on the software
Auto-correction Efectiveness of automatic tools
Versatility The range of editing tools and special
efects on ofer, an assessment of their usefulness,
and how nely you can make image adjustments
ScoRE
This ignores price and is based on:
Ease of use Features .............................................................. 75%
Versatility ..................................................................................... 25%
Common manual tools, lters and corrections
Our research
We sum up the numbers involved in testing for this issue
Published in Mumbai
RNI no. MAHENG/2012/42815
Registered no. L/HR/FBD/281/11-13
`11,950
The price of the cheapest Right
Choice compact camera from our test
Nikon Coolpix S6500 (72%)
`42,504
The price diference between
the top-scoring Right Choice
Canon Powershot G12
bridge camera (`24,995, 77%)
and Fujiflm FinePix X100
(`67,499, 73%)
0.4
seconds
The time taken by Right Choice
Nikon D600 Canon EOS 700D
to start up swiftest of all the
DSLRs on test
50x
The optical zoom
magnifcation
of Right Choice
Fujiflm FinePix
SL1000 the
maximum of all
compact cameras
we tested
241g
The weight of Sony Cybershot
RX100 the lightest Right Choice
bridge camera
13Mp
The resolution of
Samsung Galaxy
S4 (`41,500, 85%)
the best camera
phone according to
our tests

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