NZMac.com - Supporting the New Zealand Mac community

Like the MVX10i, this model has only been on the NZ market since October 1. Chunky, the 3i is easy to use with the standard features in both manual (including focus via a dial on the lens) and automatic modes. The big LCD is sharp and clear, and the colour-adjustable viewfinder is also a treat. As with the other Canon the various controls fall easily to hand and are easy to use, with adjustable audio controls and meters.

Probably the most significant feature is the adjustable shutter speed which, used correctly, can achieve a film-type look but, as with the 10i, bright yellows were flaring into green. The Optical Image Stabiliser works in both movie and still mode.

Verdict
It's a simple camera and everything's there, with reasonable image quality thanks to Canon's own DiGiC processor, as known from many of the brand's classy still cameras. Adjustable shutter speed is great; with a better lens this would be superb.

This is a very compact, silver and black model that fits easily in the hand. It takes MiniDV tape cassette and there's provision for an SD card for still images. Like most, there's an optical viewfinder and a swing-out LCD panel. The GS50 has 10 times optical zoom, a hot shoe for a light source, a stereo mic beside the lens, and auto or manual focus.

When you press the latch to open the tape bay, you get one of those 1980s sci-fi movie moments as, servos whirring, the camera explodes in slow motion to reveal a slot for the cassette, and quite a lot of machinery and circuitry, too. I liked the look and the effect, but this could be problematic in sandy or other difficult environments.

Fitment of an SD card (it comes with one 8MB) is a cool idea, giving you access to still shots and short, emailable movies when you want them, or a nice extra, voice memo. Another great idea is that you can flip the LCD and spin it so it's facing forward in low light - and it becomes a low-intensity movie light.

Verdict
It's very compact and curvy and fits the hand very comfortably, and there are some in-camera effects and manual-auto operation. Picture quality is good for such a small unit, with excellent yellow rendition, though reds seemed a little hot.

Potentially the most exciting camera we've reviewed, the GS70 is a compact three-chip camera with an excellent Leica lens - three chips, one each for red, green and blue, means it should be approaching broadcast cameras in quality. The flip-out screen is reversible as a low-emission video light, allowing the GS70 to shoot in colour night shot mode, and there's even a pop-up flash for still camera use. Like the other two Panasonics, one of the effects is Mirror, which we had lots of fun with.

Verdict
There are manual adjustments aplenty, including manual shutter speed and a Skin Detail function which softens the hard edges of the digital video look - this works really well, and it's alongside the normal features like Sepia etc. The lens is excellent and has a manual focus ring - nice. It's generally an easy-to-use camera producing a particularly sharp and clear picture, although the zoom is a little oversensitive. It was also the nicest camera to hold.

Not quite as small as the GS50 and a little less curvy to hold, the DS65 has similar features plus a powerful front-mounted movie light and an easier-to-find backlight button, plus the stereo microphone is a little bigger. Image quality is similar to the GS50 too, as is ease of use.

Verdict
Slightly bigger and squarer and with the powerful movie light, the DS65 is otherwise very similar to the GS50, producing sharp, clear pictures although auto white balance seemed a little slow to adjust. Like the other Panasonics, we had a lot of fun with affects like Mirror.