Gadget Buying Guides
The internet has a wealth of information, but when you just want some independent, clear guidance on what to look for when buying a new gadget it’s hard to sort the good from the bad.
Our friends over at Gadget Heaven have put together a series of buying guides which we think our truly helpful. Let us know what you think. In fact, if you have any ideas for any more buyers guides, let us know that too.
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Digital Camera Buying Guide
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Camcorder Buying Guide
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Mobile Phone Buying Guide
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DVD Player Buying Guide
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iPod & MP3 Player Buying Guide
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Laptop Buying Guide
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GPS Sat Nav Buying Guide
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Television Buying Guide
Samsung CMOS Image Sensor Camera
Samsung CMOS Image Sensor Camera
Samsung Digital Camera have announced a new DSLR camera, the ‘GX-20′.
The Samsung GX-20 has a 14.6 megapixel sensor, Optical Image Stabilization, a de-dust function and various image correction functions. The GX-20 is an intermediate level DSLR camera which will suit keen amateurs, and even some professionals.
The 14.6 megapixel CMOS image sensor has been developed by Samsung and Pentax together, and is being used for the first time in the GX-20. The effective pixels of the GX-20 produce excellent images with better clarity, and greater enjoyment when shooting.
For customers who want clearer pictures, the GX-20 utilizes the OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) with shaking image sensor method. The OIS quickly detects minor vibrations in the hands, and minimizes camera shake by moving the image sensor in the opposite direction of the shakes.
Kodak Easyshare V1253 Digital Camera – Save £50
The Kodak Easyshare V1253 Digital Camera has been reduced in price at PC World. Follow this link to Save £50. Key Features:
- 12 megapixel camera
- 3x optical zoom lens
- face detection technology
See the full technical specification on the Kodak website.
Canon S5 IS Digital Camera
The Canon S5 isn’t a digital SLR. Yes I know it looks like one but according to Canon, it isn’t one! What it is, however, is a high quality 8 megapixel camera with a 12x optical zoom that costs less than £400. In fact, at the time of writing, Amazon were selling them for just £235.
There’s a lot made these days of the resolution, everyone seems to want more and more megapixels. But what most people seem to want is to share photos via e-mail, load them onto the internet or print 6×4 images - none of which require more than 2 megapixels, let alone the Canon S5’s 8 megapixels.
On the other hand, if you are looking to print A3 sized images or are looking to publish photos, then the Canon S5’s 8 megapixels is for you. Its excellent lens quality, fast lens, paparazzi style 12x zoom and folding screen make the S5 an excellent digital camera. Want One?
Canon S5 Product Description:
High performance optics
A powerful 12x optical zoom lens features Canon’s renowned optical Image Stabilizer technology to counteract camera shake. An Ultrasonic Motor (USM) ensures fast and near-silent operation. UD lens technology and SuperSpectra coating reduce chromatic aberrations, flare and ghosting for sharp images with superb colour accuracy.
Resolution
An 8.0 Megapixel sensor captures the fine detail in every scene, enabling you to crop or enlarge images and create large-scale prints.
Extensive movie options
Shoot 30 frames per second (fps) VGA quality movies with stereo sound, or record QVGA movies at 60fps and analyse in sharp slow motion. Make full resolution stills while recording with the Photo in Movie feature.
DIGIC III with iSAPS
Canon’s DIGIC III processor provides lightning quick responses, superb image quality and advanced noise reduction for cleaner images at high ISO speeds. iSAPS technology analyses each scene to optimise key camera settings even before a shot is taken.
Face Detection Technology
Face Detection AF/AE/FE ensures superb people shots by automatically detecting up to 9 faces in the frame and selecting the optimum focus, exposure and flash settings. In Movie mode, Face Detection AF/AE achieves accurate exposure and focus even when the subject is moving towards or away from the camera.
Red-Eye Correction
During playback Face Detection Technology allows you to quickly and accurately correct red-eye.
Sharp low light shooting
Shoot improved images in dim conditions with ISO 1600 - ideal in galleries or museums where flash photography is prohibited. Use Auto ISO Shift to avoid image blur with the touch of a button whenever camera shake is predicted.
Extra large vari-angle LCD
The 2.5″ high-resolution vari-angle LCD lets you frame from challenging angles and share playback with friends. Night Display mode enhances screen visibility after dark.
Shooting modes and My Colors
A choice of 22 shooting modes includes Manual mode for creative control and 0cm Super Macro mode for extreme close-ups. Apply in-camera colour effects to images and movies with My Colors.
Accessories
A comprehensive range of accessories including lens hood and wide/tele/close-up converter lenses. A hotshoe on the PowerShot S5 IS enables the use of selected Canon Speedlite flashes.
Canon S5 Features:
- 8.0 Megapixel resolution
- Frame movie mode
- F/2.7-3.5 lens aperture
- 32 MB flash memory
- MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card
- Automatic, manual focus adjustments
- 50 cm minimum focus range
- 6 mm - 72 mm focal length
- 12x optical zoom
- 4x digital zoom
- Optical image stabiliser
- Pop-up flash
- Built-in red eye reduction
- Stereo microphone built-in
- LCD monitor - 0.33″ - colour viewfinder
- TFT active matrix - 2.5″ - colour display
- 4 x AA alkaline battery ( included )
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 11.7 cm x 7.8 cm x 8 cm
- Weight: 450 g
Sony Cyber-Shot G1 Digital Camera
The Digital Camera market is competitive, very competitive. So to stand out from other digital cameras, manufacturers are having to develop their technology to compete or as is the case with the Sony Cyber-Shot G1, add more features. The Sony Cyber-Shot G1 is a good quality digital camera, however, I don’t know about you but I’m not sure I want my digital camera to have a MP3 Player. Clearly, Sony disagree as that’s exactly what they’ve done with the G1. They obviously want the G1 to be a serious multimedia device, they’ve added Wi-Fi and 2GB of storage (enough for 600 shots) in addition to the MP3 Player.
There’s a 3.5mm jack for you to use your own headphones but the device is possible a bit too chunky to use as your main tunes player. The Wi-Fi isn’t the best you’ll ever come across but will that matter? All things considered, this may turn out to be a good idea - at least it reduces the need to carry several devices and as this seems to be the way things are going it may be worth looking at the Cyber-Shot G1 a bit more closely. Want One?
Features:
- 6.0 effective megapixel camera
- High capacity 2GB internal memory (enough storage for 600 shots
- Extra large 3.5-inch (8.8cm) Xtra Fine LCD screen
- Double Anti-blur technology combining Super SteadShot and ISO 1000 high sensitivity (REI), plus a special twilight mode
- 3x optical zoom, 6x digital zoom
- Carl-Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens
- Picture Gift, for wireless sharing of images with another DSC-G1
- Image management, for automatic organising of images into albums
- MP3 player function
- MPEG-4 (VGA 30fps movie mode with audio)
- 1cm macro for close-up shooting
- Silver, unique compact design, with aluminium body
- Real Imaging Processor for improved picture quality and high speed operation
- Slideshow with music function
- 16:9 mode for playback on a widescreen TV
- STAMINA battery life, up to 280 shots (CIPA standard with LCD screen on)
- Album Editor software, for searching for images in unique ways, such as for faces
- PictBridge for direct connection to printer without need for PC
- Easy operation with an on-screen function guide
- On-screen menu in choice of 15 languages: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
- In-camera retouching, including red-eye correction
- Supplied with: rechargeable battery, cradle, AC power adaptor, AV & USB cables, wrist strap and software
- Compatible with a wide range of optional Sony accessories
Sony Digital Camcorder HDR-SR8
Sony’s latest digital camcorder is the HDR-SR8 and it comes with colour detail in eye popping glory thanks to x.v.Colour, x.v what? This is the new standard for HDMI 1.3 devices. It lets you transfer and display a wider range of colours to give you fantastic colour definition. The SR8 is a class act. It comes with the now to be expected 10x Carl Zeiss lens, 1080i HD footage (38 hours) and over 13 hours of top quality storage on its 100GB hard drive, yes I did say 100GB. Sound is recorded directly into Dolby Digital 5.1 to sound quality matches colour quality. Want One?
Features:
- 1080i High Definition recording (AVCHD Format)
- Carl Zeiss® Vario-Sonnar® T*
- Up to 38 hour High Definition recording on 100GB internal HDD
- ClearVid CMOS Sensor for optimum picture quality
- x.v.Colour mode for more vivid, lively and true colour
- Quick browsing with new intelligent search functions: Film Roll Index, Face Index, Highlight Index
- 6.1 Megapixel still image recording and 4.3 Megapixel Dual Rec while recording movies
- Super SteadyShot (Optical)
- 10x optical zoom | 20x digital zoom
- Assignable dial for manual functions
- STAMINA up to 5 hours 55 minutes (with optional battery using view finder)
- 2.7″ Wide, “Clear photo LCD plus” screen with touch panel
- Dolby Digital 5.1 for surround sound recording with built in microphone
- Smooth Slow Rec mode for advanced slow motion footage
- 2nd Start / Stop REC and zoom button on LCD frame
- Easy-to-use Home menu and Guide function
- HDMI output for HD ready TV
- Hi-speed USB 2.0 (input / output)
- Auto Lens Cover
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