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Pick the Perfect Holiday Gift
Not long ago your digital camera choices were limited to either an automated point-and-shoot model or a complicated, manually controlled camera. Today the boundaries have blurred, but the sharper images from the newer hybrid cameras haven't. Now, easy-to-use point-and-shoot cameras let you manually adjust exposure and shutter speeds for full creative control.
Take, for example, the Fujifilm FinePix A700.This camera is simple to use, yet it offers enough sophisticated features to keep advanced photographers happy--and it comes at a bargain price, to boot ($199 list). The A700's foremost feature is its surprisingly high-end 7.3-megapixel Super CCD sensor, something previously available only in cameras aimed at advanced and professional photographers. Seven megapixels provide more than enough resolution for startlingly crisp 4-by-6-inch pictures; and with the extra resolution that Fujifilm's proprietary Super CCD sensor produces, you can push the same photos up to poster size without any loss in visual quality.
The 2.4-inch LCD screen has an antiglare coating for better viewing in bright light. The camera also carries 12MB of internal secondary storage in case the removable, wafer-thin xD-Picture Card (sold separately, alas) is full or missing. Textured rubber coating, a comfortable handgrip, and well-placed shutter and zoom controls make one-handed picture taking a snap. To power the A700, you need two readily available alkaline AA batteries (though you can also use rechargeable batteries).
If you're looking for something a tad more high-end, the Canon PowerShot A640 offers an amazing 10-megapixel resolution. It may produce professional-quality shots, but you won't pay a pro-level price: The A640 is available for $337. Canon packed 21 shooting modes into the camera--and all of them are visible on its 2.5-inch LCD, which is on a revolving hinge that lets the photographer swing it out for easier viewing. Various overlays show the printable areas for standard photo prints. Full manual modes for exposure control and 30-frames-per-second videos with sound are included, as well.
With its sleek form and single-hand operation, Canon's new DC22 camcorder is one of the smallest and lightest available, the company says. Weighing just under a pound without the battery pack, the DC22 isn't the lightest camcorder we've encountered (see below). What distinguishes the DC22, however, is its higher recording capacity: You can capture up to 60 minutes of video on 3-inch single-layer DVDs--and twice that much on dual-layer DVDs.
The camcorder offers some nice features, including a visual index that lets you quickly review the footage you just shot without the hassle of fast-forwarding or rewinding. You can also select shots and arrange them in a playlist, which basically allows you to edit video right in the camera. A button lets you switch from the standard 4:3 format to the 16:9 wide-screen format. Since the camcorder also includes a TV-out port, you can show wide-screen footage that way, sending it directly from the camera to a TV.
The DC22, at 2.0 by 3.6 by 5.0 inches, is indeed small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and its focus buttons and 10X zoom control are comfortably positioned for one-hand use. The 2.7-inch LCD screen offers more than ample space for composing videos and reviewing images. And the DC22 is reasonably priced at $699 (list).
But for the lightest camcorder around--and for one that records in HD, to boot--there's the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1. Weighing just half a pound, the VPC-HD1 records video at 1280 by 720 resolution and stores still or video images on SD Card media. Though the $550 street price is a good deal, remember that a 2GB SD Card, which affords 42 minutes of video storage, is not included in the camera's price. A built-in image stabilizer prevents shaky results; 16-bit, two-channel stereo provides digital sound recording.
Portable Audio/Video Players at a Palatable Price
Archos has packed an impressive array of features into its superbly constructed 604 portable video player (PVP). The handsome, brushed-metal device (priced at $350) houses a stunning 4.3-inch, 480-by-272-pixel display. The intuitive navigational buttons work expertly in tandem with context-sensitive menus--for accessing video, music, photos, a browser, and a TV scheduler--that appear on the screen.
With an optional $100 kit (which includes a remote control), you can record TV shows, video, and audio. But video playback is this device's main calling card. It handles a range of video and image formats, and even PDF files. A kickstand on the back of the 9-ounce, 5-by-3-inch unit is a nice touch that makes for easy tabletop viewing. Battery life is estimated at 14 hours for music playback only and at 4 to 5 hours for video. The device includes 30GB of storage, and though it may seem a bit wimpy, it's enough space for storing 30 movies, 130 hours of TV shows, 300,000 photos, or 15,000 songs--not that shabby after all.
Of course, for the same price you can get the 80GB iPod, which holds up to 20,000 songs, 25,000 photos, or 100 hours of video--and, according to the company, runs nearly 20 hours before needing a recharge. Primarily an audio player, the 5-ounce video-capable iPod has just a 2.5-inch, 320-by-240-pixel screen. It's fine for viewing digital photos, but somewhat limited for watching movies and TV shows. However, its ease of use and pocket-size shape still make the iPod a coveted &#252; ber-gadget.
