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Gavin Stoker, Computeract!ve, Thursday 31 January 2008 at 00:00:00

High-tech camera with retro looks

Nikon's P50 high-end digital compact camera swims against the tide of wafer-thin devices. The camera's 3.6x zoom lens and the fast Expeed processor borrowed from Nikon's SLRs are encased in a traditional-looking, relatively bulky, body. Clearly, then, this is a camera for those who look for good value and appearance, with online stores offering the P50 at around £150. Power comes courtesy of two regular AA batteries, providing 140 shots. Even with batteries and an SD memory card inserted the P50 feels lightweight, despite its looks. It does boast features such as a spongy, leather-look grip, and both an optical viewfinder and a 2.4in screen. A light sensitivity range from ISO50 to ISO2000 is broader than most in its class. A downside is that the anti-shake technology uses software in the camera to disguise blur rather than the more effective and expensive physical methods used by others. The P50 is easy to use, powering up in two seconds and displaying clear and logically laid-out screen menus. A mode dial at the top provides a choice of automatic and manual shooting as well as video clips and set modes for nighttime, landscapes and portraits. There are other scene modes set up for common occasions. A press of the large and obvious shutter button and an image is captured in an instant, though it took a sluggish two or three seconds to copy a full-quality picture to the memory card. And while the action of the zoom lens is smooth and steady there is an audible and annoying mechanical buzz as it moves. The P50 wins points for its photo quality. It handled tricky shots well, colours are pleasingly vivid, images are sharp, and though high ISO settings such as ISO1600 or 2000 appeared to show noise on the camera's screen, they looked much better on the PC. In-camera image editing is also possible, courtesy of the D-Lighting mode that compensates for light-and-dark scenes, making it a good option for the undemanding snapper. Vista compatibility: Yes

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