Click to Enlarge TERRIFIC TENNER
WHO? The family record-keeper on a squeaky tight budget. WHAT? Samsung Digimax L210. WHY? It's the sort of camera that makes you ask, How did they do it? An aluminum-bodied 10.2MP camera with 3X zoom (34-102mm equivalent f/2.8-5.2), 2.5-inch LCD with auto brightness adjustment, lens-based image stabilization, face detection -- it's all there. And it has extras like self-portrait mode (keeps you from cutting your own head off), color filter effects, auto contrast balance to keep the dynamic range under control, and basic in-camera image editing. NOW! $170, STREET.
CHEAPER BY THE DUO
WHO? DSLR buyers who want humongous focal-length range, right out of the box. WHAT? The Sony Alpha 200 kit with 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 and 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Sony DT lenses. WHY? Given the 1.5X lens factor of the Alpha 200, these lenses work out to a combined range of 27-450mm in 35mm terms. And remember that you get image stabilization with both, as the A200 has sensor-based stabilization that works with any optic you can put on the camera. The camera itself can produce resolution of over 2000 lines, and the noise control -- wait a minute, you can read the whole test in this issue. If this isn't a deal, nothing is. NOW! $700, STREET.
HD IN THE HAND
WHO? HDTV owners who want a small camcorder to make high-def home movies. WHAT? The Sony Handycam HDR-CX12. WHY? Since this high-definition Handycam stores its video to little Memory Stick PRO Duo flash memory cards, Sony was able to make it much smaller than the MiniDV models you remember from the last time you bought a camcorder. Sony also has a reputation for better-than-average still images from its HD camcorders, so this model's 10MP stills should be better than the ones you get from most camcorders. The CX12 also sports a 12X optical zoom lens with Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization, a 2.7-inch Clear Photo Plus touch screeen LCD, and a 5MP ClearVid CMOS sensor with Sony's Exmor technology. NOW! $900, STREET.
FAST FROM THE PAST
WHO? Pentax and Samsung DSLR shooters who want a super-speed portrait and available-light lens. WHAT? 50mm f/1.4 Pentax SMCP-FA lens. WHY? You know how we keep telling you that the classic fast 50mm lens is a great accessory for digital SLRs? Given the 1.5X lens factor of cameras like the Pentax K20D and Samsung GX-20, the 50mm becomes effectively a 75mm short tele. In our Lab tests, this optic scored Excellent sharpness and produced almost no distortion. Just how bright is f/1.4? Going from an f/2.8 lens to an f/1.4 is like going from ISO 400 to ISO 1600 -- but without the noise. NOW! $200, STREET.
SHAKE YER SIGMA
WHO? You want a wide-to-tele zoom with image stabilization, at a price that won't give you the shakes. WHAT? Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS AF lens. WHY? Nikon shooters save nearly $200 over the Nikon VR lens of the same focal length. Canon shooters save nearly $2,000 (!) over Canon's own 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L EF IS. About 29-300mm in 35mm terms, the Sigma alternative has image stabilization that's good for an extra 2 to 3 stops handholding (tested), and has a sensor that detects panning motion and autoswitches to single-axis stabilization. Our tests in the Pop Photo Lab found Excellent sharpness and contrast throughout the focal-length range -- better than most of the competition. That f/6.3 aperture at full tele is a little dim for our tastes, but that's what the OS is for. NOW! $500, STREET.
FOR CLOSER ENCOUNTERS
WHO? Close-up enthusiasts who have been keeping their distance from pricey macro teles. WHAT? Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro D Macro AF. WHY? The most useful macro lenses are those in the short telephoto range, as they give you extra working distance, important if you're photographing a small and skittish creature. But these optics can carry a heavy price tag. The Tokina, while hardly a giveaway, comes in around $90 to $360 less than comparable lenses from camera makers. What do you give up? Exactly nothing -- in our Lab tests, the Tokina put up Excellent performance at all magnifications, plus distortion control among the best we've ever seen in this class. And it's a full-framer, not digital-only. NOW! $400, STREET.
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