Kodak Z990

Kodak's Easy Share Max Z990 has some promising specs: 12 MP CMOS sensor; Schneider Kreuznach 30X optical zoom, manual control and 3-inch display. The well constructed body of the Easy Share has been designed to look like a DSLR. Done in traditional black, it is big though not bulky. Most of the controls inluding zoom, modes, video capture, etc are placed on the right top panel and rear panel, making it really easy to operate. The only control placed on the left is the button to switch between the electronic view finder and the LCD.

The camera provided plenty of options to play around. Along with the auto mode, a casual shooter can select from the lot of regular scene modes. There is also an option of creative clicking, with night photography for moving objects, sports and portrait. Manual setting is available. This Easy Share produced some good images with rich colours. The noise levels were low, and the image stabiliser too did the job well. The only trouble we felt with this camera was the slow operation speed. As the camera uses four AA batteries to operate, a set of four rechargeable batteries and a charger are a part of the sales box.

Price : You can buy  Kodak Z990 in market at a cost of RS 18,000.

Canon Powershot SX230 HS

The 200 series of Canon's Powershot cameras has always impressed. The latest in the series is the Powershot SX230 HS. The looks of this camera have been worked upon but not so
much that it does not conform to the 200 family tree. The camera has become slimmer, but the pop-out flash is still in the original placing near the left index finger which makes holding the camera a bit awkward. Thankfully you can tuck it back in and turn off the flash from the settings.

The 230 HS flaunts a 3-inch screen with well-placed keys by its side. The slim form factor also hides an optical lens with a zoom power of 14X-a good option for people who like to take their shots from a distance. Clicking pictures is lot of fun. The camera gives a lot of power to the users. The images are clear and sharp with minimal digital noise. We do suggest keeping the ISO under 400 to get the best results. Instead of yanking up the ISO in the dark, just turn the flash on, that will get you better results. Like its predecessores this one also carries various effects and filters. These include fish-eye, super vivid and monochrome. It also has GPS for geo-tagging your photos. All in all another good camera from Canon.

Specs: 12.1 MP; 2-inch LCD;14X optical zoom; Full HD video recording; 3200 ISO; 16:9 aspect ratio; 223 gm.

Price: You can buy Canon Powershot SX230 HS at a cost of Rs 20,995.

Panasonic S3

First timers can look forward to a stylish camera from Panasonic. Adding to the already populated sub Rs 10,000 cameras, the S3 is a force to reckon with. Panasonic has made it well.
The upper crust is sturdy even if the keys at the back look a bit crass in front of the superior glossy frame. Unlike most in the category that sport a tiny shutter releasr button, the Panasonic S3 sports a much larger button.

At the back, you will find a bright 2.7-inch LCD. There are four primary modes in this camera. Intelligent Auto, Normal picture,video recording and Scene mode, where sub mode like portrait, scenery, night, etc are placed. With 14.1 MP on board and 3X optical zoom lens, this camera can click some good shots. A bit of noise can be seen at full optical zoom which vanishes once you zoom out. Macro shots come out really well. ISO levels of up to 1600 is supported for low light shots. The S3 also has HD movie recording. Taken as a whole, this Panasonic is a very neat entry-level camera.

Specs : 14.1 MP sensor; 3X optical zoom;2.7 inch LCD; 1600 ISO; HD movie recording; 117 gm.

Price : You can buy Panasonic S3 at a cost of Rs 7,990.

FujiFilm Finepix T200

Fujifilm has launched its new digital camera variant Finepix T200. The 14-megapixel camera has a metallic body with 10X zoom lens.It features a 2.7-inch LCD screen on the rear,and has a 28 mm wide lens that allows you to capture the maximum posible view in the landscape mode.
Though the camera looks stylish with its metallic body,it also has a drawback as the surface is a little slippery,which could be a problem while clicking on the move.The camera allows you to click pictures in seven different modes depending on the conditions.

The auto mode adjusts settings automatically according to the light conditions.Then there is a natural mode,which does not alter settings as per light conditions.T200 also has a Motion panorama mode to improve panoramic view of the click as well as a smile detection mode that automatically focuses on the smilling face. On program option, you can manually adjust the settings of the device.

The camera is best suited for those who hava had a little experience in handling the delicate devices.The Fujifilm Finepix T200 is available at a MRP of Rs 8,000.