Gift idea part 2

The Sony Alpha a290


The DSLR market is becoming increasingly crowded with low- and mid-range cameras that pack features present on professional models.

The 14.2 megapixels Sony Alpha a290 is small, light-weight body that makes it great for one-handed shooting and you wont feel weighted down if you chuck it in a bag on your way to the beach, it could be a good choice for you if you're travelling to many places in a day. The a290 is certainly an easy camera to learn with, particularly if you don't have much experience with the layout of other manufacturers' camera controls. In good shooting conditions, photographs look sharp and colours are bright and vivid, even using default settings.
The a290 does feature optical image stabilisation though, which did improve handheld shots, even at full zoom and of course it includes a handy built-in flash.

The 2.7-inch LCD screen displays bright and clear photo review opportunities.
Helpful guides are displayed on-screen as you cycle through the various available scene modes to assist novice users, as well as clearly indicating settings during shooting, allowing inexperienced photographers to capture pleasing shots in a variety of different conditions whilst understanding the ways in which different settings affect results.

If you are used to your compact digital cameras and somewhat nervous about making the leap to a DSLR, the a290 should definitely be on your mind due to its great ease of use.

While not a contender for "Best Low Light Shooter", the a290 nonetheless provides acceptable results in less than perfect conditions and pleasing results when better. Construction may well feel rather cheap, but it doesn't feel poorly constructed, and by using plastics rather than metals Sony has made a camera light enough for any bag.

And I think what makes it more alluring is the price. For just S$699, you walk home with a DSLR that is not too bad in features. Did I mention it has a image stabliliser in it's body? That is another plus point for SONY Alpha

Basic Specifications
Resolution:	14.20 Megapixels
Kit Lens:	3.00x zoom 18-55mm (27-83mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	Optical
LCD Size:	2.7 inch
ISO:	100-3200
Shutter:	30-1/4000
Max Aperture:	3.5
Mem Type:	MS Duo / MS PRO Duo / SD / SDHC
Battery:	Custom LiIon
Dimensions:	5.0 x 3.8 x 3.1 in. (128 x 97 x 80 mm)
Weight:	508 g (includes batteries)

The Fujifilm Finepix F300




If you are looking for an easy to use point and shoot camera that has the options and features of a higher end camera, then you may want to consider the Fujifilm FinePix F300 EXR. The F300 EXR includes all of the basic features you would find in a point and shoot camera plus a few more.
The F300 EXR has a comfortable design for use and easy menu navigation, the positioning of the mode selector conveniently located by the thumb that is set at a 45-degree angle for switching between modes easily.

The menu and jog wheel are efficient but with so many feature settings, it will take a bit of practice before you are comfortable with where everything is.

The autofocus is very quick and intuitive, you won't have to find it difficult getting the F300 to focus where you wanted it to, even on long distance shots.
The camera determines the focal point of the shot and tracks it as you or as the subject moves. f you take pictures of sports or fast moving small children this feature alone may make this your camera of choice.

The EXR mode improves image clarity, reduces noise, and increases dynamic range automatically or with manual adjustment. The net effect –a much better auto-shooting mode with higher quality images. The user can also adjust the aperture, speed, and lighting settings, allowing a custom image similar to what some higher end digital cameras offer.