reviews Tes Ted. Reviewed. veRdic Tized
96 MAXIMUMPC november 2007
T
he point-and-shoot pocket camera
continues to evolve, with prices drop-
ping and midrange devices including
more and more features. We review offer-
ings from Sony, FujiFilm, and Olympus that
include the latest “must-have” digicam fea-
ture—face-recognition technology—which
detects faces and adjusts focus and expo-
sure to ensure that all the people in a group
portrait look sharp. But is this new tech for
real or just a bunch of bunk?
—Steve KlettSony Cyber-Shot DSC-W80
Sony’s 7.2 megapixel DSC-W80 boots quick-
ly, and its 3x zoom lens focuses with minimal
shutter delay. Plus, this cam includes a tradi-
tional, if tiny, optical viewfinder!
The W80’s optical image stabilization—at
low shutter speeds the camera will move a
lens element slightly to compensate for hand
shake—performed well in our tests. To further
combat hand shake, Sony pairs this feature
with increased ISO speeds, depending on
shooting conditions, which served up mixed
results due to high noise.The W80 also sports the latest buzz in
digicams—face-detection technology. This
may sound like bunk, but it actually works.
Enable face detection, and the camera will
seek out and frame up to eight faces in a
shot, ensuring they are in sharp focus. We did
notice a significant improvement in group-
portrait shots when using this feature.
Image quality was decent—shots were
well exposed with good color saturation.However, noise arti-
facts became quite
obvious at 400 ISO
and above, render-
ing the higher ISO
settings all but useless.olympuS StyluS 780
Olympus’s Stylus 780 packs a 7.1 megapixel
sensor, a 5x optical zoom, a crisp 2.5-inch
LCD, and face-detection technology into a
weatherproof camera body that is slightly larg-
er but more stylish than the Sony DSC-W80’s.
Like the W80, the Stylus sports dual image-
stabilization, pairing mechanical optic adjust-
ments with optional faster ISO speeds when
excessive hand shake is detected or lighting
conditions are poor. Results were excellent in
good lighting situations, but unlike the W80,
this cam also performed well when lighting
was less than ideal.
The 780 also includes shadow adjustment
and panorama scene modes, which aren’t
offered on either the W80 or the FujiFilm F40fd
(reviewed below). Shadow adjustment can be
activated with a simple button press and will
automatically change exposures to compen-
sate for areas of high contrast or backlighting.
The 780’s noise reduction also performed
acceptably, delivering occasionally service-
able results up to ISO 1600 and reliably
usable images at sub-800 ISO. The macro
modes were also noteworthy for delivering
nice, sharp images. Color saturation was
good, as well; outdoor images, particularly,
were bright and vivid.
Overall, however, image quality was not
quite up to the standards set by Fuji’s F40fd,
but if you live in harsh climates or like to
shoot pictures in the rain, the Stylus 780 is a
rock-solid choice.FujiFilm F40FD
If you are all about achieving the highest pos-
sible image quality (even at the expense ofother features), Fuji’s F40fd is the camera in
this roundup for you.
Images were noticeably sharper and
slightly more vivid—with less noise at high
ISO speeds—than those produced by the
other cameras reviewed here. You can
expect to get nice 5x7 prints at 800 ISO.
This quality comes with a bit of a perfor-
mance trade-off, as the F40 was more slug-
gish in shot-to-shot performance, and the 3-
second startup time is nearly twice as slow
as that of the other cameras reviewed here.
And unfortunately, the F40 does not offer
optical image-stabilization.
Like the 780 and W80, the F40 has
effective face-detection. However, unlike
those two cameras, the F40’s may be used
in playback mode as well—you can use it
to take a quick look at up to 10 faces in a
picture to make sure no one has their eyes
closed or is sticking out their tongue.
Of the three cameras tested here, the
F40 has the most solid-feeling construction.
And the 2.5-inch LCD was the nicest, too.
And, the F40 also lets you use both SD and
xD memory cards.
Unfortunately, slow performance and the
lack of image stabilization mar what is other-
wise a very solid camera.Point-and-Shoot
Shoot-out!
Good things come in small packages
the olympus Stylus 780 has a cool built-in help system that
camera newbs will appreciate.FujiFilm’s F40fd takes very nice pics, but
where’s the image stabilization?Sony’s DSC-W80 allows picture play-
back at 1080i resolution on your tv
(with optional accessories).3.9"6
SONY DSC-W80
$250, http://www.sonystyle.com8
OlYmpuS StYluS 780
$350, http://www.olympus.com7
fujifilm f40fD
$300, http://www.fujifilm.com3.6"2.3"2.2"3.8"2.3"