Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera Price in the Philippines, Features and Specs: It may not be a 'true DSLR' but the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 with interchangeable-lens has features that may even outclass and put to shame some of today’s current DSLRs. The camera may even point toward where future DSLRs are headed in terms of video options and controls.

Design and construction

Measuring 3 inches deep, 4.9 inches wide, and 3.5 inches tall, the body of the GH2 is more compact by not much than that of the usual entry-level DSLR. Without a lens attached, its body weighs 13.8 ounces but is nearly 32 ounces heavy with a 14 – 140mm zoom lens attached to it.

However, despite the physical size, the GH2 doesn’t feel that heavy. In addition, the GH2 has a large right-hand grip making it comfortable to hold and use the camera. Its grooved handgrip is textured and is as comfortable as any handgrip can get.

The designers of the GH2 did a great job in placing nearly all of the controls of the camera on its top panel, all within easy reach. A nice touch is its feature where the camera is able to sense if it is being lifted to the photographer’s eyes and automatically turning off the LCD and activating the viewfinder instead. Very, intuitive, what else can I say?

The display

The GH2 packs a 3-inch vari-angle LCD screen with a resolution of 460,000 dots and 100% field of view. With the accent on ease of use, the camera has a degree of touchscreen control too where scrolling through captured images or settings can be done with the swipe of a finger.

The screen of the GH2 is very bright and sharp. It even lets you shoot photos by touching the image of the subject on the LCD. Also, when shooting extreme close-up photos, the LCD will magnify extremely precise manual focusing. Talk about making your life easier huh?

Performance and image quality

Most advanced cameras create outstanding images but the GH2 is in a class of its own. With its 16-megapixel Live MOS sensor, the GH2 can create extremely large prints and the image quality is among the best you can find in its class. There is very little to complain about in this regard.

With a 14 – 140mm lens mounted on the GH2, the camera was able to turn out crisp images with minimal noise and no apparent chromatic aberration. It also turned out decent photos taken in low-light conditions. It even lets you shoot in a variety if aspect ratios: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 and 1:1.

Videos on the other hand can be taken at up to Full HD with stereo audio and files stored in AVCHD format. As an alternative, a slightly lower option of 1280 x 720 pixel option is available with a Motion JPEG format. Again, with ease of use in mind, one press of the provided red “Record” button immediately captures video clips no matter which mode might have been previously in play.

Not only that, with the specially designed lens of the GH2, even if you adjust your framing while you are recording a video clip, the focus will automatically adjust with it.

Aside from the strong image quality turned out by the GH2, the camera demonstrated strong performance levels as well. The auto-focus works very quickly and gives you the option to switch to manual focus if and when needed. The camera also starts up very quickly and there is no noticeable shutter lag when taking pictures.

A user will also find a balanced mixture of manual and automatic controls with the GH2. In a nutshell, the camera lets you manually control as much or as little of the shot as you want. If you are not confident in taking photos in a fully manual mode, you will find that the image quality is still very good in fully automatic mode.

The GH2 also lets you shoot using several different special effects such as black and white or film mode. You can also customize a few different image-control settings as each photo is taken.

The verdict

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is an incredibly versatile camera with image quality that comes close to a DSLR but in a body that is more compact and lighter. The camera makes photography a lot of fun and its system is one of the best in terms of ease of use. Other than that, it has an unbelievably excellent HD video quality that is the best in among its class.

If you are in the market for an interchangeable lens camera that is very capable in terms of shooting Full HD video clips, the GH2 is your best bet.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Digital Camera Price in the Philippines:Approximately Php 43,000.00

Canon EOS 600D DSLR Camera

Review: Canon EOS 600D DSLR Camera Price in the Philippines, Features and Specs - Since joining the fray in the advanced entry-level DSLR market in 2003, Canon have been known to increase the overall resolution and put in more advanced processing engines with every new model that gets introduced to its range of triple-digit DSLRs.

With this “tradition” in place, the Canon EOS 600D may be the first to deviate from this trend. Though the 600D supersedes the Canon EOS 550D, it does not altogether replace its older sibling. The 600D may bring to the table new features and design tweaks along with a couple of hardware upgrades but its core specifications remain almost similar to what the 550D packs.

The 550D in its own way is an exceptionally well-rounded shooter. How much better is the 600D? Read on for the full details.

Design and construction

Measuring 13 x 10 x 8 cm and weighing in at just 570 grams including its battery pack, the 600D is compact and light for a DSLR. Its size and dimensions are perfect for somebody who has relatively small hands but somebody with bigger claws might find their pinkies hanging off the grip of the camera.

A quick look-see at the 600D will make you think of it as something almost similar to the 550D with just minimal aesthetic design changes that make the camera look fresh. This includes tweaks on the mode dial and finer grooves around it to make it look more high-end along with the addition of a rubberized grip.

Compared to its predecessor, the grip of the 600D is slightly deeper and the body of the camera has a sculpted channel at the back that serves as an anchor point for a user’s thumb. Due to these design changes, most users will find the camera more comfortable to tote around one-handed even for extended periods.

Core specifications

Looking at the specs sheet of the 600D would make you think that the specs of the 550D were mistakenly used for this shooter. Only very little has been changed from its predecessor the 600D hopes to succeed.

The similarities start with the sensor. The 600D still packs the same 18-megapixel resolution APS CMOS sensor though Canon is quick to point out that the chips are not identical to what the 550D has. The two siblings also have the same nine-point auto-focus and 63-zone metering system and are both capable of similar 3.7fps max burst speed brought about by the same DIGIC IV image processor.

With the 600D though, you can also shoot Full HD video clips with options of 30, 25 and 24fps video capture. Shooting videos and capturing stills can also be set at 4:3, 16:9 and 1:1 aspect ratio which the 550D didn’t offer aside from the native 3:2 aspect ratio making this shooter very versatile indeed.

The display

The 600D may share most of its DNA with the 550D but there were also some changes to differentiate it from its older sibling. The most obvious difference in this respect is the rear screen of the 600D.

Though the specs remain unchanged with the 600D’s display still measuring 3 inches with the same 3:2 aspect ratio and 1040k dot resolution as the 550D, the screen used by the 600D is now capable of swivel and tilt positioning just like the vari-angle screen seen in the Canon EOS 60D.

With the swivel-and-tilt feature of the 600D’s display, shooting at awkward angles, on a tripod or even when holding the camera above your head becomes a non-issue.

Shooting performance and image quality

The 18-megapixel sensor of the 600D may have the similar APS-C 1.6x crop 3:2 aspect ratio seen in the 60D and in the more exorbitantly-priced 7D but it has less power in terms of image processing which make it only able to turn out a continuous shooting rate of 3.7fps which is still pretty impressive.

Despite its being just an entry-level shooter, the 600D was able to turn out images with exceptional quality. The resolution is among the best in its class and noise handling was pretty good. No “red eye” effect was seen even when the built-in flash was used and stills shot in low-light conditions came out pretty well.

The same goes for capturing videos: video clip quality is pretty good, no significant noise was apparent and an exceptional amount of detail can be seen in the video clip even when shooting in dim lighting.

In short, the performance of the 600D is pretty impressive for a shooter that packs smaller pixels compared to its competitors in its class.

The verdict

Let’s face it: the Canon EOS 600D is basically the 550D without the vari-angle display. Don’t take it the wrong way though. The 600D brings to the table some improvements and the fact that it is a very user-friendly entry-level DSLR that is capable of consistently delivering above-average results make it worthy of your attention.

However, if you can do away with the vari-angle display, then you are better off going for the Canon EOS 550D which basically has the same features as the 600D at a much lower price-point and save some dinero in the process.

Canon EOS 600D DSLR Camera Price in the Philippines: Approximately Php 44,000.00

Sony Ericsson Xperia

Ever since the first rumors came out regarding the emergence of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, then known as the PlayStation Phone, the device has gotten immediate attention from the smartphone and gaming communities alike. It combines the versatility of an Android smartphone with the gaming capabilities of the PlayStation making it one of the most, if not the most, anticipated smartphone being released in 2011.

Is the buzz truly merited with all the hype surrounding the Xperia Play? Will it live up to the expectations of the smartphone and gaming communities? Read on for an incisive review of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play and decide for yourself if it is truly worth the attention being thrown its way.

Design and construction

Measuring 119 x 62 x 16 mm and weighing in at 175 grams, the Xperia Play is kinda thick and hefty. Its headline feature is its slide-out game pad. The game pad slips out from under the screen just like the QWERTY keyboards on numerous smartphones in the market. The spring-loaded sliding mechanism responsible of revealing the game controls is pretty flawless and movement is consistent and very smooth.

Mostly made of plastic with poor construction, squeaks and creaks are very apparent with the Play. In spite of this, the device still feels sturdy in the hand but the over-all glossy aesthetics tends to make it prone to scuffs and scratches.

Under the hood

The Play relies on a single-core 1GHz scorpion processor on a Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon chip and comes with an Adreno 205 GPU for graphics matters. This pair is enhanced by 512MB of RAM and 400MB of onboard storage which can be expanded via a microSD card slot capable of taking up to 32GB.

The display

The front panel of the Play is taken up by the massive 4-inch LED-backlit capacitive touchscreen LCD with a resolution of 480 x 854 pixels. Colors and viewing angles are so-so but is somewhat lacking in terms of brightness. The display is mediocre indoors and downright unusable outdoors at times. Under the right circumstances, pleasantly vibrant images may be obtained but the display of the Xperia Play could easily be one of the worst among “high-end” smartphones.

The gaming controls

The Xperia Play is defined by its gaming controls and prompts the most interest. Slide up the spring-loaded display and you get the D-Pad, PlayStation-style buttons (cross, circle, square and triangle), and two touch-sensitive analog controls that try to mimic a DualShock’s physical analog pads.

The physical keys are good and very responsive as to be expected but the touch-sensitive analog controls might take a little more getting used to. As for the L and R shoulder triggers, they are somewhat flappy but broad enough that they are easily found when the need for them arises.

The software

The Play runs Android 2.3.2 Gingerbread and on top of that, Sony Ericsson’s custom UI is added on for some unique Sony Ericsson user experience. However, the meat of the matter would be the two apps that make the Xperia Play THE PlayStation Phone: the Xperia Play (the software, not the device, very confusing I know) which showcases Android Market games compatible with the controls of the Play, and the PlayStation Pocket which has the PS One games that are to be enjoyed with this device.

No complaints here in terms of in-game performance with smooth frame rates all throughout. A little drawback here though is the black portion on the sides of the widescreen display since PS One games were coded for 4:3 aspect ratio. Another letdown is the Play only comes with one preloaded classic game which is Crash Bandicoot. Sony Ericsson has assured the masses though that the PS One library is already en route. Well, they better make sure about this.

The shooters

Just like most high-end Droids, the Play has two shooters: a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash that takes pictures up to 2592 x 1944 pixels and a regular front-facing VGA snapper. The rear-facing shooter is able to snap decent pictures but when used as a video recorder, well, that’s when things go downhill a bit. Instead of 720p video recording which is pretty much standard, you get WVGA resolution clips at 30fps which come out blurry and uninspiring. You wanna hear more? Nah, I didn’t think so.

Phone and battery

The Xperia Play provides decent in-call quality and the speaker phone is a little louder than most Droids owing its gratitude to the boosted speakers. In terms of juice, the battery life of the Play is far better than other Droids running Gingerbread.

It packs a 1500mAh Li-Ion battery that provides the device the needed juice to keep it running for 24 hours with moderate use. On a single charge, the Play should be good for 8.5 hours of talk time, 413 hours of standby time, and 5.5 hours of game play.

Final thoughts

With the strength of its gamepad, the Xperia Play should be able to round up the usual suspects willing to participate in its gaming revolution. Add the good ergonomics and extremely durable and effective spring-loaded mechanism and the number goes up.

However, the poor quality of the screen and the less than stellar hardware specs would be sort of a deal breaker at this time. Also, Sony Ericsson failed to embrace the availability of a broad selection of affordable games that are easily accessible – the same reason why iOS devices and Android gaming is so popular.

Is the Xperia Play the right phone for you? If you are a serious gamer who doesn’t mind the shortcomings of the device, go for it. If you are the cautious type of consumer, holding off is recommended until more game titles become available and Sony Ericsson decides to use higher-quality materials.

At the end of the day, the success of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play will definitely be determined by the availability of cutting-edge games. This is what the Play was designed for in the first place, isn’t it?

Canon EOS 1100D Rebel T3 DSLR Camera Price in the Philippines, Features and Specs:

The Canon EOS 1100D (Rebel T3) is a 12-Megapixel entry-level digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera that is very affordable but is loaded with great features that photography enthusiasts would surely love. Powered by the brand-new Digic 4 processor, it can do 720p high definition movie recording without trouble. The EOS 1100D is equipped with the 9-point AF sensor that is formerly used in several expensive DSLR models and the iFCL color-sensitive metering sensor first featured in the EOS 7D. The cameraoffers a user-friendly interface that enables creative control without the need for specialist photography know-how. The Canon EOS 1100D supports up to 60 different lenses and other accessories that include Speedlite flashes giving users a lot of room for improvement. With all these wonderful features and more, the camera remains compact and lightweight making it extremely portable.

Canon EOS 1100D Rebel T3 DSLR Camera Technical Specifications and Features:

* Screen: 2.7-inch wide viewing angle LCD (230k-dot resolution)
* Sensitivity: ISO 100-6400
* Shutter speed: 30s – 1/4000 sec
* Basic+ creative point-and-shoot mode
* 63-zone iFCL exposure metering
* Supports sRGB, Adobe RGB, ColorMatch RGB, Apple RGB and Wide Gamut RGB colour spaces
* Eye-Fi wireless SD card compatible menu options
* Auto Lighting Optimizer (ALO)
* Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software

Canon EOS 1100D Rebel T3 DSLR Camera Price in the Philippines: Approximately Php 31,900.00