Canon - DC230 review

As we all know, technology stands still for no man (or woman) and just as the early analogue camcorders gave way to the digital revolution, now the supremacy of MiniDV has been seriously challenged by the rise of the DVD and hard disk drive formats that are geared towards ease of transfer.

The DC230 camera uses DVD storage and is designed for physical comfort and instant accessibility. It's compact, lightweight and slim and its smooth contours are intended to slide effortlessly into the palm of your hand.

The central controller is an intuitive joystick that is sandwiched between the video/photo switch and the power switch. In addition, just to the left of the viewfinder is a convenient Quick Start button which is an innovation for this season and guarantees you're up and running almost instantly. Part of the same assembly is the Function button which sets up the menus that the joystick will then scroll through.

Canon has taken its DIGIC DV II processor, with advanced noise reduction technology, from its High Definition range and transplanted it into the DC230. The DIGIC DV II uses split path processing that allows you to simultaneously capture video and stills via separate signals, resulting in optimal colour reproduction for both media.

High quality images are captured via the 1-megapixel CCD, recording direct to three-inch DVD (-R/-RW/-R DL) discs with a maximum of 60 minutes video on a single layer disc and up to 108 minutes on a DVD-R Dual Layer. Digital photos can reach a resolution of 1,152 x 864 pixels and are saved to MiniSD memory cards which are unique to Canon camcorders. So make sure you stock up with plenty before you go on holiday.

The DC230 is optimised for true 16:9 recording, so your default setting for movies is cinematic widescreen. Images can be previewed in widescreen too: the camcorder features a 2.7-inch, 16:9, 123,000-pixel LCD and a wide 0.27-inch EVF (Electronic Viewfinder). The only major grumble is about the decision to have the record command (as well as the playback controls) built into the base of the LCD screen. It's fiddly and awkward, takes your mind off the subject and should have been given a more conventional, useful position near the zoom controls.

Talking of the zoom, you're provided with a more powerful 35x optical zoom lens than in the previous series and you can further activate a whopping and highly over-optimistic 1,000x digital zoom. An Electronic Image Stabilizer (EIS) significantly reduces camera shake and Canon's Smooth Zoom feature enhances this process by selecting from one of three pre-set zoom speeds. You're also aided in keeping the picture on an even keel and focused on the specific areas you want by the incorporation of a level marker and a new grid marker.

Fujifilm - Finepix F40fd review

Fujifilm's F-series is arguably the most successful line of compact cameras around, in no small part down to consistent performance and solid build quality across the range. The 8.3-megapixel F40fd is currently available at prices close to budget levels, but this certainly isn't reflected in its design. It sports a stylish black and silver casing and has a rather weighty feel about it, which we tend to like.

On firing the camera up for the first time, though, we were a little let down by the quality of the 2.5-inch LCD. While clear and sharp enough when viewing photos, we've seen better refresh rates in terms of using the screen as a viewfinder: it often takes a second for the focus and colour accuracy to kick in if you swing it around too quickly.

In terms of general operation, you'll find that Fujifilm takes a slightly different approach to environment presets over a lot of the other big name brands. Instead of a shortcut to a typical list or tiled selection, your options are defined by the mode wheel. Here you'll find the standard 'auto' setting, along with the video camera, camera stabilisation and natural light mode to remove unwanted effects of the flash. One particularly nice feature here is the 'Natural & Flash' mode, which takes two shots simultaneously, one with and one without flash, offering you an easy choice of the best picture.

When you use any of these modes you'll find that more advanced settings for fine-tuning or choosing more specific environments aren't available through the main menu. To get to these you'll either have to select manual shooting or one of two scene position presets - SP1 or SP2.

Choosing one of these allows you to pick a specific setting, such as beach, snow, underwater or night mode, and save it to this position for easy access next time you need it. We think this is a great way to narrow down an often daunting list of options to the most useful two and, in combination with the range of fine tuning available in manual mode, gives you an excellent degree of control over your photographs.

One final addition to the F40fd's arsenal is, as more knowledgeable digicam users will already have noted, the Face Detection technology signified by the 'fd' in the name. Easily accessible through a dedicated control, this optimises focus for any faces in shot.

Taking the F40 for a spin we were impressed on most fronts. If you'd rather have more control over the capable automatic mode you'll find noticeable improvement when selecting presets to cater for your environment. Photos were consistently vibrant and sharp, with rich colours and good contrast. Macro mode in particular did an excellent job of picking out the finest details of complex structures without drastic reduction of colour accuracy or depth of field.

Of particular note is the maximum 2,000 ISO, impressive for a camera of this type and offering the ability to produce noticeably better results in dimly lit environments as well as an extended range at night. You'll notice more noise at higher ISO levels, but comparatively the F40 performs well here, and even though a tripod is essential to get the best pictures at these levels, results were pretty good nonetheless.

The F40fd would be well suited to amateur photographers looking for a decent low-priced compact. The controls are well arranged and nice to use, it's easy to take good photos quickly if 'point-n-shoot' is your main concern, and yet it offers enough extra for more experienced photographers to feel at home.

Although some beginners may feel that it's initially not quite as user-friendly as some rivals in this price range, we'd happily bear that slightly steeper learning curve to take advantage of the benefits the latest in Fuji's F-series has to offer.

Olympus - Mju 770 SW review

Compact digital cameras vary a bit in design, but generally look and behave in similar ways. The Olympus μ (greek letter Mu) 770 SW is a bit different, though, as it's designed to be waterproof to a depth of 10m. This means you could drop it in a swimming pool without having to claim on insurance, or even take it snorkelling.

The camera is also claimed to be shockproof up to a height of 1.5m, though it's not clear what kind of a surface Olympus dropped it on. We'd be impressed by concrete or stone, not so much by a barrel of feathers or a bath of recently-set jelly. We take the company's word that the μ 770 SW is a sight more rugged than most digital compacts, though.

The styling fits with the rugged but smart image Olympus has set for the μ range, aiming it at the outdoor lifestyle market with a touch of extreme sports thrown in for good measure. It's cased in brushed steel with highly polished buttons and is held together by deftly-placed hex and cross-head screws.

Controls aren't that easy to use, as the buttons are small and don't project far from the surface of the case. There's a separate button for shot mode: landscape, portrait, night shot, even one for taking eBay sale items, and the usual four-way ring for menu navigation.

The 64mm LCD display is the only viewfinder and in bright sun it's not easy to see. The lens offers 3x optical zoom and focuses down to a minimum macro distance of 70mm, and the camera supports ISO ratings up to 1600, designed to give good response in low light.

This is a 7.1-megapixel device, so each full-resolution shot takes around 3.5MB and you'll only get five on the 19MB of available internal memory. The camera uses xD cards for removable storage, but none is supplied as standard. The μ 770 SW is powered by a 740mAh Lithium-ion battery, which showed notable drain after only a few shots. A charger is provided, but takes about five hours to deliver a full charge.

With all this ruggedisation, what's the image quality like? Not bad, but not the best we've seen in this price range. Set to auto, landscape shots on a bright sunny day came out slightly under-exposed and we also detected some barrelling when shooting straight edges near the sides of a frame. When we shot close up, indoors, colours tended to over-saturate.