'the Canon PowerShot S3 IS's combination of features, performance, and relatively compact design certainly gives megazoomers a compelling alternative.'
'S3 shooters have a fast, accurate, and very quiet ultra-zoom digital camera that's capable of capturing reasonably sharp handheld shots at shutter speeds that are beyond the ability of other (non IS) long zoom digital cameras.'
'It offers just about everything you want in a camera, from a big zoom lens to optical image stabilization to manual controls to a fancy movie mode.'
'The S3 IS fit well in my hand and felt sturdy, though it's light and fairly compact.'
'The Samsung's electronics don't do justice to its high resolution either, scattering jagged edges, colour casts and exposure problems through your images.'
'Certain outdoors shots were accompanied with massive bars of blue or purple, millimetres in width.'
'Though it uses a lens made by Schneider Optics, which makes some of the world's best magnifying loupes and enlarger lenses, the V700's pictures lack uniform sharpness and are plagued by distracting light artifacts such as fringing and blooming, as well as geometric distortion, which makes straight lines look curved despite its relatively narrow angle of view.'
'This is a huge flaw—we took five controlled test shots in auto mode with the second unit, and all five had radically different exposures; one image was properly exposed, but the other four became progressively darker.'
'The A95 does not support the TIFF or RAW file formats'
'finally, the plastic CompactFlash slot cover is a bit flimsy and clumsy to open.'
'The main of the A95's body is composed of a solid magnesium-alloy (with silver plastic doors and covers) so it lacks the cheapish feel of the Kodak which is plastic all-over.'
'In spite of its compact dimensions and shape,front allow you to hold the camera securely enough.'
'There is also the Video Mail option--160 x 112 at 8.3fps--which is adequate for its intended purpose of email but the video is too jumpy and low in quality to use for anything else.'