10 BEST DIGITAL CAMERAS - The Independent, 8 March 2004
Mark Harris snaps up the best pixel-packing cameras for virtual shutterbugs
Minolta Dimage E323
£130
Digital newcomers can forget about buying and processing film forever, with the
simple E323. Its three megapixel images are fine for printing at sizes almost
up to A4, and you don’t need a masters in electronics to operate it.
Minolta (0870 0104107; www.minolta.co.uk)
Canon EOS 300D with 18-55mm
lens £800 --- BEST LUXURY BUY
This superb value digital SLR provides an ideal upgrade for film photographers,
as it uses standard Canon EF lenses. It’s surprisingly easy to use, quick
on the shutter and produces breath-taking pictures from a six megapixel chip.
Canon (0800 616417) www.canon.co.uk
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828
£750
If this flagship Sony camera had any more bells and whistles, it could join the
circus. It’s not the easiest camera to get to grips with, but enthusiasts
will love the 7x Carl Zeiss zoom lens and vibrant eight megapixel images.
Sony (0870 511 1999; www.sony.co.uk)
Minolta Dimage A1
£600
Long zoom lenses get you closer to the action, but are prone to blurry camera
shake. The five megapixel A1’s 7x zoom has an optical stabiliser to cope
with the unsteadiest of hands, and a tough magnesium alloy housing just in case
you drop it.
Minolta (0870 0104107; www.minolta.co.uk)
Fujifilm Finepix F610 Zoom
£440 ---- BEST BUY
The higher a camera’s resolution, the larger you can print out your photos.
The six megapixel chip in the upright F610 is impressive enough, but clever built-in
technology can double that to an enormous 12 megapixel file for poster-sized output.
(020 7586 1477; www.fujifilm.co.uk)
Olympus Camedia mju-400
Digital £230
A camera that can cope with the British weather is worth in weight in wellies,
making the splash-proof mju-400 an essential addition to any landscape snapper’s
camera bag. It has a four megapixel sensor and a 3x zoom lens.
Olympus (020 7253 2772; www.olympus.co.uk)
Sharp GX20 £100
with contract, £400 pay as you go
While most camera phones produce muddy, out of focus snaps, the 0.3 megapixel
images from this mobile are small but perfectly clear. It has a crisp, 65,000-colour
screen and a digital zoom, but it won’t replace your main camera.
Available only on Vodafone (0800 101112; www.vodafone.co.uk)
Pentax Optio S4
£270 --- BEST BUDGET BUY
This tiny ultra-compact four megapixel camera has to be touched to be believed.
Its tactile metallic housing and innovative folding lens make it perfectly for
party photography, although it’s perhaps a little too pocketable for sharing.
Pentax (01753 792731; www.pentax.co.uk)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-V1
£350
Here’s a camera that shoots as good as it looks, boasting a high quality
five megapixel sensor and enough manual features to keep the keenest amateur busy.
Advanced features include an infrared Night Shot function for pitch-black snapping.
Sony (0870 511 1999; www.sony.co.uk)
Olympus Camedia E1 with
14-54mm lens £1700
The five megapixel E1 is the first camera to use all-digital Four Thirds SLR technology,
giving it a compact, lightweight design. This new standard is only just gaining
support but should mean cheaper bodies and lenses in the future.
Olympus (020 7253 2772; www.olympus.co.uk)
Return to The Independent 10 best page