Affordable digital cameras - reviews of six under-$550 cameras - Hardware Review - Evaluation

Home Office Computing, May, 2000 by Eileen Bien Calabro

Six under-$550 cameras offer home workers the latest in digital imaging

PHOTOGRAPHY'S DIGITAL REVOLUTION has taken some time to reach the home office. Finally, users who once wouldn't consider PC photography are lining up to buy digital cameras--and no wonder.

Digital cameras boast features no film camera can match, ranging from picture previewing to panoramic stitching, slide show viewing, and of course, the ability to download images to a PC in seconds. More important, you can buy a low-resolution (640 by 480-pixel or 0.3-megapixel) camera suitable for capturing Web images, for $100, while 1-megapixel (1,152 by 864-pixel) cameras suitable for modest desktop publishing and presentation work can be found for as little as $299--and $500 will get you image quality that just a year ago would have cost twice that.

Don't believe us? For this buyer's guide, we chose six digital cameras priced under $550. We looked for the same features business users should seek, including at least 1-megapixel resolution, 24-bit color depth, a 1.8-inch or larger LCD display, an optical viewfinder, 8MB of removable image storage, at least four flash modes, a video-out port, several file format and compression choices, a self-timer, date and time stamps, and a one-year warranty.

Four of our six cameras boast optical zoom, which we recommend for close-up work. Three had the desirable bonus of a faster USB as well as serial port for transferring images to your computer. All but one supported both PCs and Macs.

We used the cameras to photograph subjects indoors and out, in several flash modes, at multiple resolutions and image-quality settings (our comments on image quality are based on each camera's highest-quality, lowest-compression mode). We were surprised to find that the most feature-rich cameras didn't always supply the sharpest, most colorful pictures--and, conversely, that the lowest-priced, most consumer-oriented cameras weren't always the easiest to use.

Agfa ePhoto CL50

HOC RATING 5

In most respects, the $549 Agfa ePhoto CL50 is similar to the $499 models tested here: It offers 1.3-megapixel resolution (1,280 by 960 pixels); a 3x optical zoom lens; an 8MB SmartMedia storage card; a continuous shooting mode; and automatic and manual focus, exposure, and white balance controls. But its $50 higher price buys gadgets like the SunCatcher--a flip-top above the LCD that can be used outdoors to light the LCD without electronics, reducing the screen's notorious battery drain--and the ability to record 10 seconds of sound.

Using the CL50 was a mixed experience. The camera is heavier than most and bulges in the middle, making it hard to hold. It also lacks a lens cover, making it vulnerable to scratches. On the other hand, Agfa's PhotoWise PC and Mac software was easy to use and enabled us to download images in a variety of formats, including Windows BMP, FlashPix, JPEG, PCX, and TIFF. The CL50 also supports the DPOF standard for direct connection to compatible printers.

Given the CL50's price premium, however, we were disappointed by its images. Even the best indoor flash pictures were dark and grainy compared to the competition, while nonflash shots were washed out with "ghosts" around individual objects. Outdoor images were a bit brighter and crisper, but then all six cameras were almost equally capable outdoors.

If your business demands multimedia presentations with audio, the ePhoto CL50 may be worth a look. Otherwise, we'd vote against investing the extra $50.

[up arrow] Nifty SunCatcher saves battery life

[down arrow] Image quality not up to par; pricey; no lens cover

Epson PhotoPC 650

HOC RATING 8

At first, we didn't expect much from the Epson PhotoPC 650. The camera has a $349 price tag, 1-megapixel image resolution, weighs a hefty 11.5 ounces, and has no zoom at all. Then we used it.

Aside from its bulk, the PhotoPC proved one of the easiest cameras to use, and its included 8MB CompactFlash card, JumpShot USB CompactFlash card reader, and PC and Mac software made transferring those images to our computer fast and effortless.

The affordable PhotoPC doesn't have a lot in the way of professional features--all its focus and exposure controls are automatic, and it only supports JPEG formats--but it does accept optional lenses as 35mm SLR cameras do, and it has a slide show function for presentations.

The PhotoPC produced decent images, too. Indoor flash pictures were a bit washed out, but sharp; indoor nonflash pictures were a bit fuzzy. Like its rivals, the Epson's outdoor shots were adequately color-saturated and in focus. All the photos we took with the PhotoPC had a bluish cast, something that can be corrected in software.

Our only issues with the PhotoPC are that it doesn't support DPOF and that it lacks any standard zoom. Since at least the latter problem can be solved with an extra purchase, we think the PhotoPC 650 is a good choice for users who have light photographic demands, but want a camera that can grow with their business.

[up arrow] Inexpensive and flexible