ISO

Gionee Marathon M5 [year] review

Gionee Marathon M5 2023 review

February 16, 2017 PTdrivers 0

Battery life was never a problem back in the pre-smartphone era, but ever since we became slaves to touchscreens, it has been a major concern. Until new technology is developed, we are stuck with Lithium Ion batteries and there's only so much it can deliver. The most obvious way to get more battery life is increase size and capacity, which is exactly what Gionee has been doing with its Marathon series.
We reviewed the Marathon M4 (Review | Pictures) quite recently, which shattered our internal battery life record in a test of continuous video playback. We're expecting the Marathon M5 to do even better, as this time, Gionee has squeezed in two 3010mAh batteries for good measure. But is the Marathon M5 a phone you can actually live with or is it merely a power bank masquerading as a phone? Has Gionee fixed all the issues with its predecessor to make it more likable? Let's find out.
Look and feel
The Marathon M5 features a combination of metal and plastic which feels stu..

Sigma dp2 Quattro Review: Captures Images Brimming With Colour

Sigma dp2 Quattro Review: Captures Images Brimming With Colour

February 8, 2016 PTdrivers 6

Home | Cameras | Cameras Reviews Sigma dp2 Quattro Review: Captures Images Brimming With Colour by Ershad Kaleebullah , 9 February 2015 Sigma is a Japanese family-owned business that makes lenses for DSLRs and micro four-thirds cameras, proprietary sensor technology that is starkly different from what the industry uses, and of course, cameras. It operates in a niche segment that caters to imaging experts who want to go beyond established ideas of photography and capture images that look incredibly lifelike. Whether Sigma's strategy works or not is a debate for another day, but it is definitely making some headway in this niche space.
Sigma's latest compact camera in India is the dp2 Quattro, which has a design that is whacky and unusual when compared to the dp2 Merrill. It also improves upon its predecessor in the specifications department by using an upgraded version of Sigma's proprietary Foveon X3 sensor.
There are three cameras in the dp Quattro series, each with a ..

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS Review [year]

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS Review 2023

February 8, 2016 PTdrivers 5

Home | Cameras | Cameras Reviews Canon PowerShot SX60 HS Review: Big Zoom, Average Performance by Ershad Kaleebullah , 14 February 2015 For those who don't want to deal with the learning curve generally associated with DSLR cameras, a high-end compact makes the most sense. While these cameras cannot actually capture DSLR-quality images, they pack in a ton of features for a price that is more pocket-friendly.
Some of these cameras have SLR-like designs and amazing zooming capabilities. We have with us the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS, which is the world's first compact camera with a 65x optical zoom lens. Canon also adds the latest Digic 6 processor into the mix. Let's find out if the SX60 HS can wow us with its image quality.
Design and screen
Thanks to the really long optical zoom lens, the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS feels heavier and chunkier than most other super-zoom cameras in the market today, including its predecessor the SX50 HS. It has dimensions of 127.6×92.6×14.3mm ..

Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Review: A Worthy Purchase

Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Review: A Worthy Purchase

April 13, 2016 PTdrivers 0

Home | Cameras | Cameras Reviews Canon PowerShot SX520 HS Review: A Worthy Purchase by Ershad Kaleebullah , 15 November 2014 Say what you want about smartphones eating into the sales of compact cameras, but manufacturers are still launching dozens of models each year. The sheer difference in quality of the sensors inside digital cameras is enough to justify the purchase, especially if you intend to print pictures for memories' sake.

Bridge cameras are more advanced versions of compact cameras, quite literally trying to 'bridge' the gap between compact cameras and chunky DSLRs. These provide a nice balance between size and functionality, at affordable prices.
We have with us one such bridge camera – the newly launched Canon PowerShot SX520 HS, which for some odd reason is not even listed on Canon's India website at the time of writing this review. It is the successor to the PowerShot SX510 HS. Canon has bumped the optical zoom up to 42x on this model compared to t..

Nikon Coolpix P340 Review: Slim, Fast and Powerful

Nikon Coolpix P340 Review: Slim, Fast and Powerful

March 9, 2016 PTdrivers 0

Home | Cameras | Cameras Reviews Nikon Coolpix P340 Review: Slim, Fast and Powerful by Ershad Kaleebullah , 28 August 2014 The 'P' in Nikon's Coolpix P-series of cameras stands for 'performance' and true to their name they are really powerful. Last year's Coolpix P330 had a compact body and a fast f/1.8 lens and this year, the company has introduced a slightly faster f/1.7 lens and a new control ring with the upgraded Coolpix P340. The P340 has the same slim chassis and 1/1.8-inch CMOS sensor as its predecessor. Also, it seems as though Nikon has got the price right. Let's see if the Coolpix stands up to our initial positive impression.
Look and Feel
Nikon hasn't strayed too much from the tried-and-tested design of its predecessor. The only physical addition to the body is in the form of a control ring around the lens. Otherwise, it still features the same sleek matte black body with dimensions of 103.0×58.3×32.0mm (minus the bits that stick out)..

Sony RX100 III Review [year]

Sony RX100 III Review 2023

February 9, 2016 PTdrivers 8

Home | Cameras | Cameras Reviews Sony RX100 III Review: Improving the Best by Ershad Kaleebullah , 2 August 2014 Sony's RX100 was one of the most loved compact cameras and has universally been praised by critics; so much so that was the 'editor's pick' of many coveted tech publications in 2012. The company followed it up with the RX100 II with new features like a tiltable LCD and hotshoe. Building on this legacy even further now, Sony recently announced the RX100 III (more formally known as the DSC-RX100M3).
In this third iteration, Sony has tweaked the winning formula a bit by adding an electronic viewfinder (EVF) within the body, using a wider 24mm lens, shaving 30mm from the telephoto end, and removing the hotshoe. Let's see if the pros outweigh the cons, and if Sony can continue to reign supreme in this category.
Design
Sony doesn't veer much from the tried-and-tested design of the earlier RX100 models. The RX100 III continues to look classy with its..

Nikon Coolpix L830 Review: Swivel and Zoom

Nikon Coolpix L830 Review: Swivel and Zoom

May 23, 2016 PTdrivers 0

Nikon recently updated its Coolpix range of cameras including the Life (L) series. At the high end of the L series is the Nikon Coolpix L830 which is an update to the Coolpix L820. This is a bridge camera with a 34x optical zoom lens, which is slightly lower than Sony DSC-H300's 35x optical zoom.
While the Coolpix L830 seems to have a lot going for it, we find out if this camera has the actual chops to capture great images.
Design
Truly bridging the gap between DSLRs and compact digital cameras, the Coolpix L830 is a super-zoom digital camera trapped in a DSLR frame, only much smaller. While it is available in plain black as well as red, the plum colour variant which we got for review is very striking. The body is made entirely of plastic with a glossy coat of paint on top, but it does feel sturdy. On the whole, for the amount it costs, the camera looks premium.
The most striking feature of the camera is the variangle LCD monitor which can be tilted and lowered to an angle of a..

Canon PowerShot SX600 HS Review: Petite And Powerful [year]

Canon PowerShot SX600 HS Review: Petite And Powerful 2023

December 25, 2018 PTdrivers 0

It is not uncommon for us humans to ask for a little more. Buying coriander? Ask the grocer to put some more in the bunch. At a bargain store picking up something cheap? Ask the shopkeeper to give you a bigger discount. Bargaining is not just an Indian phenomenon but something seems to come naturally to all humans.
Canon might have developed the PowerShot SX600 HS with this attitude in mind, since it gives a little more of everything compared to other point-and-shoot cameras: greater optical zoom and compactness.
The PowerShot SX600 HS, which we have with us for review, comes with an 18x optical zoom lens in a pretty small body. We put it through its paces to figure out if it the photos it takes look as good as the camera itself does.
Design
Encased in a glossy plastic body, the Canon PowerShot SX600 HS is pleasing to the eye. It is almost unnatural that Canon managed to cram an 18x optical zoom lens into such a small camera, considering its dimensions of 103.8 x 61.0 x 26.0mm. The S..