Digital Camera Review: Canon EOS 550D

The Canon EOS 550D is a tempting proposition if you are looking to move on from an entry-level DSLR to bigger things.

IF YOU are an amateur photographer who’s grown tired of the limitations of your entry level DSLR camera, you may consider upgrading to a mid-range DSLR.

The Canon EOS 550D fits that description nicely and it comes with a slew of drool worthy features such as the 18-megapixel resolution that it inherits from the higher-end EOS 7D.

It also boasts improved full 1080p HD video recording, which is now capable of recording smoother 30 frames per second (fps) videos.

Design

From the outset, the 550D looks and feels like its predecessor the EOS 500D. It’s a very lightweight camera even with its supplied 18-55mm kit lens mounted. This makes it great for travel. Certainly, it’s better than lugging a bigger DSLR camera around on your travels.

The 550D feels great in the hand with a nice rubber grip providing ample room to hold the camera firmly. On the downside though, the grip may be too small for users with large hands.

The 3in LCD screen serves well for framing shots in Live View mode as well when recording videos. The screen’s refresh rate is very smooth so it looks almost as good as you would see it on the viewfinder.

Control-wise, the the 550D is similar to the 500D. The button layout remains the same but gone are the small rounded buttons, which are now replaced by larger square buttons that are easier to press.

SIMPLE LAYOUT: On the back of the 550D you'll find a nice large
3in LCD display and well spaced buttons that are within easy reach.

Another subtle change is the placement of a dedicated Live View/Movie record button to the right of the viewfinder for recording videos and engaging the Live View mode.

The 550D still operates on a single rotating dial so it still depends on using a “quick select” button to change camera settings when shooting in manual mode.

As to be expected, the 550D’s mode dial comes with all kinds of modes to choose from. However, the movie record mode is located on the opposite end of the dial from the creative shooting modes. This makes it very inconvenient to quickly switch between shooting still photos to recording videos.

A handful of basic automatic shooting modes like the full Auto mode helps less experienced users. A semi automatic mode called Creative Auto also serves as a beginner-friendly aperture priority mode that basically simplifies things.

Instead of turning the dial to change the f-number, it presents an on-screen slider to adjust the depth-of-field. Also present is another slider to adjust for exposure compensation.

Of course, the 550D comes with the regular creative shooting modes that you’d come to expect. Mainstays like Aperture and Shutter Priority, Program plus Manual shooting modes are all present here.

Performance

In use, the 550D has a quick to startup time of under a second, making it handy for those spontaneous situations when you need the camera to snap to action.

Combining the camera’s quick autofocus and 3.7 shots per second continuous shooting speed, the 550D is just the camera to have around when you’ve need to capture fast moving action scenes.

Aside from automatic and manual autofocus point selection, the 550D also gives you face detection under the Live View mode, which works fine when you need to take pictures of people.

The camera by default uses contrast dectection autofocus in Live View mode to lock in on subjects. However its really slow as it takes three to five seconds to fix a focus.

There’s however a faster focusing mode called Quick mode, which flips the mirror up and uses the camera’s normal autofocus, briefly taking a one to two seconds to focus. Most surprisingly it is almost as quick as using the optical viewfinder so there’s no issue when shooting fast subjects.

The standard 18-55mm kit lens provided in the bundle served us well for day-to-day usage. It is a decent all around lens that gets the job done for situations when you need to go from wide to tele at a moment’s notice. It isn’t the sharpest lens in the drawer but it gets the job done.

Variety: The 550D has lots of different
shooting modes to choose from

There’s noticeable barrel distortion when shooting at the widest angle though it is easily corrected in post editting. Built-in image stabilisation comes in handy when shooting in low light conditions but a good steady hand is still needed.

I have to say I came away pretty pleased with the pictures taken on the 550D. The image quality is simply fantastic — most came off crisp, sharp and full of detail.

The 550D handled high dynamic range scenes reasonably well, keeping a balance in details from getting too underexposed or blown out.

Even more impressive is the 550D’s ISO performance, which allowed us to take pictures very well under low light conditions. The 550D has a very diverse ISO range running from 100 all the way up to 6400.

An ISO test I did showed that the camera was very competent in shooting from ISO 100 to ISO 400 as it showed little signs of noise or degradation interms of sharpness. At ISO 800 there’s visible loss in detail and softness in an image though the camera does output impressively well-lit pictures at ISO 3200. Pictures were only too grainy and unusable at ISO 6400.

Overall, the 550D takes decent quality photos even at ISO 3200 that I didn’t need a fast prime lens to take pictures under poor lighting conditions.

Granted there’s still a high degree of noise reduction in the photos. The bottom line is the 550D is an amazing performer in low light situations and the overall results are stunning for a mid-range DSLR camera.

The battery performance is also pretty decent as it can last through a whole day of heavy shooting.

Smooth videos

Canon has impressed users in the past with the 7D’s video recording capabilities. The 550D inherits much of the same features from its higher-end cousin as it offers the option to record videos in full 1080p high definition or at a lower 720p resolution.

Switching to the video mode engages Live View mode automatically where you can begin to record videos as well as shoot photos. The autofocus during video recording is still slow so you’re better off using manual focus to quickly focus on something. This also lets you get creative with out-of-focus into focus shots.

The 550D benefits from a few marked improvements that enhance its overall video quality. 1080p videos now run smoother at up to 30fps over the previous 24fps on the 500D. In the same way, 720p videos have received a big boost with a doubling of the frame rate to 60fps as compared to 30fps on the previous model.

Whichever resolution you choose, there’s no denying that the 550D takes some great-looking videos. The higher resolution 1080p videos definitely pack more detail but I personally prefer to shoot in 720p because it takes up less storage space and looks much better when it comes to motion.

Under good sunny conditions, videos show lots of detail and the silky smooth captures of moving subjects look amazing during playback. Judging from the quality of the videos, I have to say that the 550D shoots some of the best videos that I’ve seen recorded on a DSLR.

Even in dark conditions the camera holds up very well with subjects still very visible under low light. The trade-off, however, is there’s more grain and noise present due to the higher ISO level.

Conclusion

Overall, the Canon EOS 550D is a great camera that’s chock full of features. Its lightweight and compact design make it a great camera for travel.

The increase to 18-megapixels gives an added advantage to 550D as it can capture highly detailed pictures. Image quality overall is great and shows accurate, rich colours in photos.

There are other notable enhancements on the 550D too — it’s got a faster continuous shooting for capturing sporting events and above-average ISO performance for better pictures in low light situations.

The single most impressive improvement in the 550D, however, is its superb HD video recording capabilities. This really makes the camera an all-in-one package for holidays when you need a camera that both shoots great looking photos and terrific videos.

Still the video recording mode could’ve been much improved if there was a dedicated video record button instead of cycling to an entirely different mode to start recording.

All in all, the 550D has a lot going for it and it is a great camera to consider for both pros as a secondary camera or beginners who want to upgrade from their entry-level DSLR camera.

Pros: Good image quality; great looking videos; terrific ISO performance.

Cons: Slow video autofocus speeds; no quick way to begin video recording.

Canon EOS 550DDigital SLR
LENS: 18-55mm f/3.5-f/5.6 IS
SENSOR: 18-megapixels (5,184 x 3,456-pixels)
ISO RANGE: 100 - 6400
EXPOSURE MODES: Auto, Program, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, Manual, Creative Auto, Auto Depth of Field, Scene Modes
VIDEO CAPTURE: 1080p (up to 30fps), 720p (up to 60fps), VGA (up to 60fps) in .MOV format
VIEWFINDER: 3in LCD
BATTERY: Battery pack LP-E8
STORAGE: SD, SDHC, SDXC card
INTERFACE: USB 2.0
OTHER FEATURES: Built-in flash
DIMENSIONS (W x H x D): 128.8 x 97.5 x 75.3mm
WEIGHT: 475g

Read more...

Digital Camera Review: Canon PowerShot G11

The PowerShot G11 is an impressive prosumer camera that leaves other compacts in the dust.

WITH the growing popularity of entry-level DSLR cameras, prosumer cameras are becoming less attractive.

However, there are still some prosumer grade cameras that get photo enthusiasts excited. The Canon Powershot G series is one of the few cameras series that is known to deliver images that are a class above the rest.

The latest Powershot G11 carries on that legacy in delivering great quality pictures from a compact camera.

But don’t let its looks fool you. The G11 is built like a tank — it is a tough little camera that marries sophisticated features with full manual controls of a DSLR camera.

The camera has an unmistakeably retro charm as it looks like a classic rangefinder camera.

The G11 is a little on the bulky side. It was way too fat to fit in my pockets easily, so I still needed to carry a bag around to stow the camera.

Size issues aside, it still is a reasonably portable camera considering that you don’t need to carry a bag full of lenses as with a DSLR.

There are a few big changes to the G11 from its predecessor, the G10. Firstly, it has a 10-megapixel sensor which produces images at up to 3,648 x 2,736-pixels.

The notable drop in megapixel may be a cause of concern for some, but honestly 10-megapixels is more than sufficient for capturing detail and good enough for large prints.

The second big change is the return of the rotating LCD screen, a feature sorely missed since the G7.

The rotating screen is definitely a big plus as it lets you get creative with your shots. You can take shots from all kinds of different angles be they high or low.

TAKE A PICTURE: The G11's rotating LCD screen gives you
great flexibility in your shots, especially for low angle shots.

If you’re feeling particularly narcissistic or just want a plain old self portrait, the LCD screen also swivels around to the front to help you frame your shots.

Admittedly, the 2.8in LCD screen is smaller than the G10’s but it still has the same 461,000-pixel resolution, so it still displays very sharp images of photos you’ve just taken.

Located just above the LCD screen is a small optical viewfinder that you can use to frame your shots.

The viewfinder is far too small for practical use — given a choice I would stick to using the LCD screen for composing shots.

Features

The G11 has a 28-140mm lens, a pretty useful range especially if you are travelling and need both wide-angle and ability to zoom.

The camera also has optical image stabilisation, so that should help reduce blurry photos and videos from unsteady hands.

Interestingly, the G11 supports all sorts of accessories and conversion lenses that can be attached to expand its telephoto and wide-angle photo taking abilities.

You can also attach an external flash to the G11 if you fancy using bounce flash though this makes it bulky and slightly off balance.

The G11 has a new HDMI output port for hooking it up to a HDTV for displaying photos and videos. Other input/output ports along the side of the camera include the regular A/V output and a USB port.

The G11 interface is designed with the enthusiast in mind. While it may look slightly complicated with its many dials and buttons, they are all thoughtfully laid out and are within easy reach.

A dedicated mode dial gives you easy access to the camera’s different modes such as Advanced Program, Aperture and Shutter Priority as well as full Manual control.

There are even dedicated dials for ISO and exposure compensation located at the top of the camera.

There’s also a Smart Auto mode designed for those not familiar with cameras which handles most other settings.

NEAT: The G11 has lots of nifty dials and controls
 to give you full control when taking the shot.

Additionally, there’s a miniature control wheel on the back that is handy for making adjustments to the aperture and shutter speed as well as for browsing through the in-camera menu.

Aside from the regular scene modes found on most compact cameras there are two new modes introduced on the G11.

The first is a high sensitive low-light mode that is basically for shooting pictures in dimly lit areas.

Like most high sensitivity modes there is a trade off — the camera lowers the resolution all the way to 2.5-megapixel and boosts ISO up to insane levels of 12,800!

While it sounds impressive, I was less than impressed with the pictures — the low resolution photos looked smudgy due to the massive amount of noise reduction.

Quick Shot mode makes the G11 handle like an average DSLR and makes it shoot faster using continuous autofocus.

This mode turns the LCD to a big info screen where you can view essential details and make changes to settings.

You will, however, have be forced to use the tiny optical viewfinder. The mode wasn’t particularly useful especially since it wasn’t any faster at shooting pictures.

Performance

The G11 is quick to start up and can begin taking pictures in less than two seconds upon hitting the power switch. The camera’s autofocus is decently fast, snapping to focus as soon as you press the shutter button.

It still isn’t as fast as a DSLR so there is a chance you’ll still miss a shot if a subject moves too fast.

The only time the autofocus truly suffers is when shooting in telephoto range.

The G11’s face tracking feature is useful especially when shooting photos of people as it focuses very quickly on multiple faces and selects the correct exposure for them.

There’s still the issue of shutter lag between shots and it comes off as a bit sluggish when shooting continuously. Naturally, this means it can’t keep up with scenes where there’s a lot going on at once.

We tested the camera out in a variety of situations and were quite impressed by the rich detail it manages to capture especially in macro mode.

It is worth noting that the camera has a very close minimum focusing distance of 1cm which is great for macro photography.

Picture quality is generally good and the camera handles chromatic aberrations extremely well when shooting outdoors on sunny days. Also, the colours turned out pleasing as they were deep and vibrant.

Make no mistake though, the G11 is a great camera for the outdoors but it certainly isn’t going to replace a DSLR when it comes to noise performance.

Images taken at ISO 80-200 were similar in quality and exhibited very little to no noise.

Noise starts to show up at ISO 400 though it doesn’t get really bad until ISO 800 where there’s significant loss in detail as the picture starts to look grainy and muddy.

Not surprising, anything captured above ISO 800 is not usable.

It is increasingly difficult to ignore HD video recording as it’s starting to be a common feature in most consumer cameras.

Disappointingly, the G11 lacks that feature and only records videos in 640 x 480-pixel resolution at 30fps (frames per second).

The recording quality while not too bad, it still isn’t anything to write home about. There’s also no option to zoom while video recording.

Conclusion

The Canon Powershot G11 is a dependable secondary camera to have especially for travelling when a DSLR is to bulky to lug around.

It will not replace a DSLR entirely, but the G11 has a bevy of features that will give photographers a nice alternative to the average compact camera.

The G11 is, however, quite pricey even for a prosumer camera as it’s almost in the price range of entry-level DSLRs.

For instance, for an extra RM300 you can get a Canon EOS 1000D. So it’s a matter of choosing portability and flexibility over the better image performance of a DSLR.

The camera’s performance is good as it has a speedy autofocus and it’s quick to start up.

It has modes that are accessible to beginners as well as manual modes and dials that advanced users will prefer.

Image quality is the camera’s main strong point though the ISO performance isn’t very good especially when shooting above ISO 400.

Another disappointment is the lack of HD video recording which will hopefully be rectified in the next model.

For all its ups and downs, give the PowerShot G11 a shot if you want a flexible compact prosumer camera and aren’t prepared to get a DSLR yet.

Pros: Solid build quality; good image quality, makes good use of external controls.

Cons: ISO performance isn’t great; no HD video recording; pricey.

Canon PowerShot G11

Prosumer compact camera 

Sensor: 10-megapixels, 1/1.7in type CCD (3,648 x 2,736-pixels) 

Lens: 5x optical zoom (28-140mm 35mm film equivalent) 

ISO range: 80-3,200 

Exposure modes: Auto, Scene, Program, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, Manual, Low Light, Quick Shot, Movie, 2 custom modes 

Video capture: 640 x 480-pixels at 30fps, 320 x 240-pixels at 30fps, MOV format 

Viewfinder: 2.8in LCD 

Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery NB-7L 

Storage: SD, SDHC 

Interface: USB 2.0, HDMI mini connector, AV out (PAL/NTSC switchable) 

Other features: Face Detection, AiAF, Optical image stabilization 

Dimensions (W x D x H): 112 x 76 x 48mm 

Weight: 355g

Read more...

Digital Camera: Canon Powershot SX120 IS Review

The Canon Powershot SX120 IS is an all round digital camera that helps you to take that winning shot.

Cameras are almost the in-thing these days. No, that’s not right. Cameras are a necessity these days. The need to “capture that moment” is almost inevitably in-grained into our system.

I find myself soul-searching for that inner photographer that I believe exists within us, the one who can create award winning photographs on the whim and with technology it is almost within reach.

Maybe this is why camera companies create DSLRs for consumers too now as well as for professionals.

However, not all of us want to lug around cameras with detachable lenses and not all of us want to stand there and fiddle with the buttons on a DSLR just to take a shot.

For most of us, I just want to take great photos and that is where the Canon Powershot SX120 IS comes in.

High-end hybrid

So, the SX120 is a cross between a compact digital camera and DSLR although it leans more towards the light-weight and pocket-sized category.

It is slim enough for a girl to pack it in her mid-sized handbag and for a guy to put it into his pants pocket.

For the kind of features it offers, it is a sleek camera. It comes with enough dials and switches to make the amateur feel like a pro and for the pro to feel adequately equipped to take decent and quality shots.

Power zoom

This Canon prosumer camera comes with a hefty 10x optical zoom which is perfect for those lazy moments when moving closer to the object is out of the question or when the object is just too far away for you to reach. Yes, the SX120 brings you closer.

It seems like 10 is the number for this Powershot because aside from the 10x optical zoom, the SX120 comes with a 10-megapixel sensor which is pretty standard fare for cameras these days so it comes with a winning optical zoom and the right amount of megapixels.

AA Advantage

One of the advantages of this camera is the fact that it uses two AA batteries. Although some may not agree on this point, it is always handy that you can purchase batteries for your camera from convenience stores around town.

So, if you are out with your camera and forget to bring a charger with you or if you are really taking a lot of pictures and your battery runs out you can always just buy batteries.

From what I have tested, the battery life is suitable enough for a few hours of heavy use which is equivalent to roughly 100 shots.

The pop-up flash is quite cute on the SX120. Although the flash was loose and would pop up intermittently, overall it was powerful enough for our shots, providing an even amount of light when needed whether it was for portraits or objects.

Features plus

If you have used Canon cameras before then you know that the menu is pretty easy to use and straightforward. There are many scene modes to automate the photo taking process.

It is not any different with this SX120. Imagine the simple menus you were used to with the small compact Canons except now you get better zoom and a slightly larger camera body.

A real good upgrade if you are looking to get a pimped out compact camera. The SX120 comes with neat extra features like face detection and optical image stabilisation.

This means you will get more stability when you fully extend your lens and use the maximum 10x optical zoom.

You will truly appreciate optical image stabilisation then but if you have shaky hands like the reviewer, then you will be pleased with optical image stabilisation any way.

You must be wondering where the extra features are on this camera. So what makes this camera semi-professional? It comes with Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual and Program modes which can be found on standard DSLRs.

On top of that, the SX120 has video recording features and although it is not HD, it is sufficient enough for the everyday consumer.

Sometimes it is not ideal to have everything in high definition or resolution because storage becomes a large problem.

Conclusion

To some it may seem like the Canon got a little confused with designing the Powershot SX120 IS but that's not the case.

It really is an attractive camera for its range of features and price. It is still a compact digital camera but with the feel of the manual modes and pimped out.

A good travelling camera, more portable than a DSLR and is a versatile camera for indoors and outdoors.

Undoubtedly it cannot get more multipurpose than this.

Pros: 10x optical zoom; 10-megapixels; handy face detection and optical image stabilisation features.

Cons: Uses AA batteries.

Consumer compact camera
Manufacturer: Canon

Sensor: 10-megapixels, 1/2.5in type CCD
Lens: 10x optical zoom (36 - 360mm film equivalent)
ISO range: 80 - 1600 
Exposure modes: Auto, Scene modes, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, Night Snapshot, Kids and Pets
Video capture: 640 x 480-pixels at 30fps, 320 x 240-pixels at 30fps, AVI format
Viewfinder: 3.0in LCD
Battery: Two AA Alkaline or NiMH batteries
Storage: SD, SDHC, 36MB internal memory Interface: USB 2.0
Other features: Face Detection AiAF, optical image stabilisation
Dimensions (w x h x d): 111 x 71 x 45mm
Weight: 245g 




Buy from your local amazon:

Read more...