Review of Canon Powershot A495 Digital Camera

GH Institute

Cameras

Features

10 megapixels, 3.3 x optical zoom, 2.5in screen, No internal memory, 174.3g (including battery). Automated scene modes include: long shutter, portrait, face self timer, indoor, kids and pets, night snap shot, low light, super vivid, poster effect, beach, foliage, snow, fireworks. Minimum focussing distance: 1cm. Dimensions: H6cm x W9cm x D2.5cm.

Comments

Good points: Takes close-ups from only 1cm away. Earned high scores for picture quality despite having a small megapixel count. Easy to use. Drawbacks: No internal memory, quite large and bulky, unlike most other digital cameras which are supplied with a rechargeable battery, this camera requires AA batteries which are supplied.

Rating: 69/100

Price: £119

Stockist: http://www.canon.co.uk

GHI Test Report - November 2010

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Review of GE J1455 Digital Camera

Good Housekeeping Top Scorer
Features
14.1 megapixels, 5x optical zoom, 3in screen, 18Mb internal memory, 153g (including battery). Automated scene modes include: landscape, night portrait, sport, indoor, snow, fireworks, museum, night landscape, children, leaf, sunset, glass. Minimum focussing distance: 5cm. Dimensions: H6cm x W9.5cm x D2cm.
Comments
Good points: An impressive 14 megapixel resolution, producing high quality images. Powerful and smooth zoom. Scored highly for ease of use, helped by simple menu navigation. Drawbacks: Only 18Mb of internal memory, so an additional memory card would be required.

Rating: 69/100

Price: £99.99

Stockist: 01603 486 413 - http://www.warehouseexpress.com

GHI Test Report - November 2010
Review of Canon Powershot A495 Digital Camera

Features
10 megapixels, 3.3 x optical zoom, 2.5in screen, No internal memory, 174.3g (including battery). Automated scene modes include: long shutter, portrait, face self timer, indoor, kids and pets, night snap shot, low light, super vivid, poster effect, beach, foliage, snow, fireworks. Minimum focussing distance: 1cm. Dimensions: H6cm x W9cm x D2.5cm.
Comments
Good points: Takes close-ups from only 1cm away. Earned high scores for picture quality despite having a small megapixel count. Easy to use. Drawbacks: No internal memory, quite large and bulky, unlike most other digital cameras which are supplied with a rechargeable battery, this camera requires AA batteries which are supplied.

Rating: 69/100

Price: £119

Stockist: http://www.canon.co.uk

GHI Test Report - November 2010
Review of Samsung PL80 Digital Camera

Features
12.2 megapixels, 5x optical zoom, 2.7in screen, 86Mb internal memory, 137.1g (including battery). Automated scene modes include: Beauty shot, landscape, portrait, frame guide, close up, text, sunset, dawn, backlight, fireworks, beach, snow. Minimum focussing distance: 5cm. Dimensions: H5.5cm x W9.5cm x D2.2cm.
Comments
Good points: Takes high quality pictures with good definition. High internal memory of all camera's on test. Smooth zoom. Drawbacks: When zooming, pictures appear blurred on screen until an image is captured. Little confusing menu setup.

Rating: 68/100

Price: £129.99

Stockist: 0845 726 7864 - http://www.samsungcamera.co.uk

GHI Test Report - November 2010
Review of Fujifilm Finepix JX200 Digital Camera

Features
12 megapixels, 5x optical zoom, 2.7in screen, 24Mb internal memory, 127g (including battery). Automated scene modes include: Auto, natural light, movie, natural light, SR normal, programme, Minimum focussing distance: 10cm. Dimensions: H5.5cm x W9.5cm x D1.5cm.
Comments
Good points: lightweight and small. Scored very highly on zoom test, adjusting smoothly, keeping focus well. Good instructions. Drawbacks: Poor picture quality let this camera down.

Rating: 67/100

Price: £109

Stockist: 0844 553 2322 - http://www.fujifilm.co.uk

GHI Test Report - November 2010
Review of Nikon Coolpix S3000 Digital Camera

Features
12 megapixels, 4x digital zoom, 2.7in screen, 47Mb internal memory, 113.2g (including battery). Automated scene modes include: Auto selector, night portrait, party/indoor, beach/snow, sunset, dusk/dawn, night landscape, close-up, food, museum, firework show, Minimum focussing distance: 8cm. Dimensions: H5.5cm x W9cm x D1.5cm.

Comments
Good points; Lightweight. Large internal memory. Drawbacks: Some difficulty in focusing on close up objects. Zoom jumpy on digital mode.

Rating: 67/100

Price: £99.99

Stockist: 0800 230 220 - http://www.nikon.co.uk/wheretobuy

GHI Test Report - November 2010
Review of Kodak Easyshare M550 Digital Camera

Features
12 megapixels, 5x digital zoom, 2.7in screen, 32Mb internal memory, 139.9g (including battery). Automated scene modes include: portrait, landscape, close-up, night portrait, night landscape, snow, beach, text, fireworks, flower, museum/manner, self portrait, high-ISO, children, candlelight, sunset, sport, blur reduction.: 9cm. Dimensions: H5.7cm x W9.5cm x D2cm.

Comments
Good points: Substantial internal memory. Easy to use. Smooth zoom. Drawbacks: Scored poorly on the high-contrast test, resulting in the main subject item being noticeably faded out.

Rating: 62/100

Price: £109.99

Stockist: 01442 261 112 - http://www.kodak.co.uk

GHI Test Report - November 2010
Review of Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W300 digital camera

Features
13.6 megapixels, 3x optical zoom, 2.7in screen, 15Mb internal memory, 184g (including battery, memory card and strap). Special modes include: face detection, smile shutter, intelligent scene recognition and extra high-speed burst. Minimum focussing distance: 5cm. Maximum video clip length: 10min. Dimensions: H59mm x W92mm x D22mm.
Comments
Good points: 13.6 megapixel resolution, highest of all cameras tested, producing very high quality images. Powerful and smooth zoom. Highest score for ease of use, helped by useful on-screen instructions. Drawbacks: Only 15Mb of internal memory, so an additional memory stick would be required.

Rating: 85/100

Price Range: £179 - 248.99

Stockist: 0870 511 1999 - http://www.sonystyle.co.uk

GHI Test Report - November 2008
Review of Polaroid PoGo portable printer

Good Housekeeping Top Scorer
Features
Dimensions: 2.4 x 7.2 x 12cm. Bluetooth or USB connection. Inkless printing. 7.5 x 5cm adhesive backed print. Includes one pack of 10 sheets. Additional paper costs £2.99 per pack or £6.99 for a 30 sheet pack.
Comments
A pocket sized printer which is designed to print out photographs straight from a Bluetooth mobile phone or a digital camera. Once the units have recognised each other, pick out the images you wish to print and wait about 60 seconds. Each print appears on sticky backed paper. There is no ink, the paper is embedded with colour crystals that develop when exposed to heat within the printer. Ideal if you have snaps trapped on your phone or camera or take it to a party or wedding and share your shots with other guests. The paper loads easily into the unit and there is one simple on and off control. The photo quality is clear enough for fun and amazing when you consider how small and convenient this unit is.

Price Range: £99 - 100

Stockist: 01727 792250 - http://www.polaroid.co.uk

GHI Test Report - November 2008
Review of Canon IXUS85 IS digital camera

Features
10 megapixels, 3x optical zoom, 2.5in screen, 32Mb SD memory card, 150g (including battery, memory card and strap). Special modes include: face and motion detection. Minimum focussing distance: 3cm. Maximum video clip length: 60min. Dimensions: H56mm x W86mm x D17mm. Available in black or silver.
Comments
Good points: Takes close-ups from only 3cm away. Earned highest score for image quality despite having a smaller megapixel count than the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W300. Easy to use. Drawbacks: No internal memory but comes with a 32Mb card.

Rating: 82/100

Price Range: £159.98 - 199

Stockist: 0844 369 0100 - http://www.canon.co.uk

GHI Test Report - November 2008