optical

image stabilisation (optical, electronic)

Reviews Optical, or hardware, image stabilisation produces the best results, and consists of either a gyro mechanism that detects small movements of the lens and compensates for them or, for digital camcorders, a liquid- or gel-based prism mounted in...

21 December 2006, 10:54

Sony Vaio VGC-RC204 review

Reviews The front section of the PC is rounded off by a pair of optical drive bays, again concealed behind flaps, and the attractive but understated Blu-ray Disc badge at the top of the unit. The long-awaited optical format allows dozens of gigabytes of...

Editor's rating   8.7

Tags: sony, section, cpu, logo

15 June 2006, 16:58

Asus DRW-1608P review

Reviews If it's time to update your ageing optical drive with something flashier but you don't have the budget for bells and whistles, consider the Asus DRW-1608P. The drive's faceplate looks just like those of countless other optical drives, offering a...

Editor's rating   6.3

Tags: asus, burning, discs, optical

18 August 2005, 1:30

Pentax Optio SV review

Reviews A 5x optical zoom lens, excellent macro capabilities, and a burst mode that doesn't know when to stop differentiate the otherwise average Pentax Optio SV from the proliferation of 5-megapixel snapshot cameras.

Editor's rating   6.4

Tags: pentax, optical, compress, assist

1 March 2005, 22:03

Disc-based camcorders

Reviews Optical media, like CDs and DVDs, allow for random access, so we can skip instantly to the desired track or chapter without tedious winding of the tape. The disadvantages of optical media include a susceptibility to scratches and physical damage...

26 March 2008, 13:58

Nokia N93i review

Reviews When Nokia launched the N93 last summer, it was little short of revolutionary: a 3G, 3-megapixel handset with a 3x optical zoom, camcorder styling and Wi-Fi to boot. The N93i's selling point -- and the feature that accounts for a large proportion...

Editor's rating   7.3

Tags: nokia, body, optical, ericsson

3 April 2007, 18:18

Canon PowerShot A570 IS review

Reviews As the least expensive Canon camera to include optical image stabilisation, the PowerShot A570 IS will no doubt receive a lot of attention this year. Its 7.1-megapixel CCD sensor and 64mm (2.5-inch) LCD aren't remarkable among the current crop of...

Editor's rating   7.6

Tags: canon, detection, conditions, pixels

28 March 2007, 18:12

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7 review

Reviews With a Leica lens that lives up to its name and optical image stabilisation that dampens the effect of the shakiest hands, this 5-megapixel ultracompact is an alluring camera for the snapshot photographer who wants a sharp, clear digicam.

Editor's rating   7.2

Tags: panasonic, high speed, spot, angle

28 June 2005, 16:00

Olympus SP-550 UZ review

Reviews With one or two exceptions, superzoom cameras have only gone up to 12x optical zoom lenses in recent years. Olympus is pushing that boundary, however, with its new 7.1-megapixel SP-550 UZ, which sports an 18x optical zoom lens.

Editor's rating   6.3

Tags: olympus, conditions, pixel, optical

27 March 2007, 17:46

Canon PowerShot S5 IS review

Reviews At around £230 the Canon PowerShot S5 IS ('IS' signifying optical image stabilisation) has positioned itself as either a direct alternative to a budget dSLR or a back up camera for someone who already owns a higher end device.

Editor's rating   8

Tags: canon, compact, lens, body

10 October 2007, 15:37

Kodak EasyShare C643 review

Reviews The step-up model from the EasyShare C533, the equally basic Kodak EasyShare C643 sports a 3x optical zoom lens, a 61mm (2.4-inch) LCD screen and a 6-megapixel CCD. There's still room for an optical viewfinder, however, which is useful for framing...

Editor's rating   6.2

Tags: kodak, canon, lens, shot

3 July 2006, 13:11

HP Photosmart M23 review

Reviews With the plethora of affordable digital cameras available now, we have to wonder why HP is offering one without an optical zoom. You can save only about nine high-quality photos on the internal 16MB memory, so plan to pick up an SD or MMC card to...

Editor's rating   5

Tags: hp, length, optical, physical

15 August 2005, 18:52

Olympus C-770 Ultra Zoom review

Reviews Full manual controls, a 10x optical zoom lens that's perfect for sports photography, a big, bright electronic viewfinder, and the ability to focus down to 30mm make the 4-megapixel Olympus C-770 Ultra Zoom a camera that enthusiasts can use for...

Editor's rating   7.9

Tags: olympus, conditions, ultra, scale

25 October 2004, 9:00

Sony Handycam DCR-HC32 review

Reviews A minor but decidedly worthwhile update of the DCR-HC30, the Sony Handycam DCR-HC32 offers a much more powerful optical zoom, a killer docking station, an accessory shoe and a lower price tag. In an effort to make the camcorder more competitive in...

Editor's rating   6.8

Tags: sony, camcorders, environments, removable

11 July 2005, 19:05

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 review

Reviews Compact cameras with long-reaching optical zoom lenses are all the rage right now. Panasonic's 5-megapixel DMC-TZ1 is its latest entry, with a 35mm-to-350mm (35mm equivalent), f/2.8-to-f/4.2 10x Leica optical zoom lens in a body that measures 112...

Editor's rating   6.6

Tags: panasonic, colours, optical, shots

22 June 2006, 13:07