Features: (Digital Camera + Movie Recorder + Voice Recorder + Web-Cam) Digital camera, can also produce movies, can connect to your computer for web cam use and can record voice memos
3.1 Mega Pixels (2048 x 1536 Image Resolution) 2048x1536=3,145,728 pixels, which indicates that this is a genuine 3.1MP camera - however this is misleading, the true pixel count is only 1.92 Mega Pixels - see Still Image Res below
Built-in 8MB Memory with External SD/MMC Card Support Has built in memory of 8 Mb, can also be connected to an external memory card
1.5" TFT LCD Display Has a standard LCD viewfinder display
4x Digital Zoom This is not a true zoom, the pixels are enlarged digitally, resulting in low quality
Movie Recording Function (Video with Audio) Can be used to produce short video clips
Built-in TV Out Function Camera can be connected to a TV, which then becomes a giant viewfinder
Built-in Microphone for Audio Recording and Movie Recording
PC Camera Mode for Video Conferencing Can be connected to a computer and used as a webcam
Specifications:
Image Sensor: 1/2" Color 2.1M CMOS Has a tiny sensor measuring just 3mm x 4mm
Lens Module: Genius 5 Glass (5G)
Built-in View Finder: 3 Elements Has a basic optical viewfinder
Aperture Range: F2.8 Lens only operates at f2.8, because of the tiny sensor size. The aperture cannot be adjusted
Focus: Auto Focus (1 m to infinity), Macro Focus: 20 cm Lens will focus automatically from 1 metre, can also be used for close-ups
DSC Video Image Res: 352 x 288 with Audio Recording up to 15 FPS
Built-in Flash with Auto Exposure and Auto White Balance
10 sec Self-Timer Mode
Still Image Res: 800 x 600, 1600 x 1200, 2048 x 1536(interpolated) The magic word 'interpolated' gives the game away - the true resolution is only 1600x1200
Internal Memory: 8MB NAND Gate Flash Memory
External Memory: SD/MMC Card Support
Built-in Microphone for Audio Recording and Video Recording
Sound Feedback: Speaker
Power Source: 4 x AAA Alkaline Batteries Does not indicate that it can take rechargeable batteries - the size AAA alkaline batteries are tiny and will last only a short time
Dimension: 97(W) x 28(D) x 63(H)mm
USB Interface: Mini Type (4 pin connector - 2 metres) Connects to computer via a normal USB connection
Image out: Video on PC via USB-TV-out
System Requirements:
Pentium-II 500 or faster processor
One free USB Port
32MB RAM
50MB Hard Disk Drive Space Available
CD-ROM (For Driver Installation)
Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
Example 2 Function Type Digital Still Camera / Web Cam / Digital Video Camera / TV Out
Sensor Type Panasonic 3.3 Mega CCD Sensor This is the true sensor size
Image Resolution 5.0 Mega Pixels (2496 x 2016) by software interpolation See above - true sensor size is 3.3MP
Lens Focus range: Normal:0.6m ~ infinity / Macro: 0.08m ~ 0.6m Can be used for close ups
Focal Length: 39~117 mm (35mm camera equivalent) / 6.2 ~ 18.6 mm (actual) You can work out the approximate sensor size from these figures - divide the actual focal length of the lens (6.2mm) into the '35mm equivalent (39mm) 6.2/39=6.29.
F/no: F2.8/F8 / View angle: 53° This lens can be adjusted from f2.8 to f8, which is a good range of adjustment
Optical ZOOM 3x Ricoh Optical Zoom Lens 'Optical' means that this is a true zoom lens
Digital ZOOM 2x ADZTM for Video Clip capture / 4x ADZTM for Still Image capture It also has digital zoom, which is of very little value (but makes the specification look better)
Still Image Capture 5.0M , 2496 x 2016 (Interpolation) , Normal / 3.0M , 2048 x 1472 , Fine / 3.0M , 2048 x 1472, Normal / 2.8M , 2048 x 1376 ( 6 : 4 ) , Fine /
2.8M , 2048 x 1376 ( 6 : 4 ) , Normal / 0.7M , 1024 x 736, Normal
Video Clip Movie mode 320x240: 15 fps, AVI format, Max. 60 seconds per file Can record movies for up to 60 seconds, picture size is slightly smaller than the above example
PC camera mode 160x120: 30 fps / 320x240: 15 fps
Color LCD resolution 280 X 220, 61K pixel Also has a LCD screen viewfinder
ISO speed 100 / 200 This is the equivalent of film speed
Auto-exposure Compensation: ±2EV in 1/3 increment
White-balance Auto / Daylight / Shade / Tungsten / Fluorescence The white balance can be adjusted for different types of light
Flash mode Auto/Fill-in/Red-eye reduction/OFF Various flash modes for different situations. Can be used outdoors in bright sunlight if required, to reduce shadows.
Shutter speed 1 ~ 1/1000 sec. (Mechanical) & 1/30 ~ 1/4000 sec. (Electrical) This camera has a very good range of shutter speeds
Self-timer / Auto power off 10 seconds / 3 minutes
File format JPEG compression / EXIF 2.1, DCF 1.0, PDOF 1.1 file format
PC Interface / TV Output USB 1.1 / NTSC & PAL, user selectable
Software Driver MSD, TWAIN, WDM for Microsoft Windows 98/98se/ME/2000/XP compatibleWIA for Microsoft Windows ME/XP compatible,
MSD for MAC OS 9.0 and above
Power source Two AA, Alkaline, Ni-MH re-chargeable or one CR-V3 / DC in: 3.3V,2.5A Can be used with rechargeable batteries
Storage interface Internal 16 Mbytes Flash memory & SD/MMC card socket support Has built in memory, can also be used with a memory card
Included Accessories Digital Camera / User's Manual / Quick Reference Guide / USB Cable / Two AA Alkaline / Installation CD-ROM / Video cable
Soft Carrying Case / SD Memory Card* / Multi Media Card*
This article was written by Garry Edwards. Garry has written a number of informative guides to photography. They are available from www.photolearn.co.uk.
