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Canon EOS 100D (18-55mm kit)
PRICE 53,995
SPECIFICATIONS 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor, 9-point AF system, ISO 100 to
12,800, 3-inch touchscreen, built in flash, hotshoe, SD card slot, 1080p
video, 4fps continuous shooting, 407 grams Unbelievably tiny for a digital
SLR, optical viewfinder, touchscreen, various effects Small battery, does
not provide a secure grip for people with large hands
One of the major reasons that people don’t want to buy DSLRs is the
added bulk/weight. If you’re one of them, the EOS 100D might convince you —
it’s the world’s smallest and lightest full function (with mirror) digital
SLR with an APS-C size sensor.
With the included 18-55mm kit lens, the camera weighs just over 400 grams
and is about the size of a small prosumer or Micro Four Thirds camera.
Canon has managed to shrink all the components down without really omitting
anything. In fact, it has an optical (through the lens) viewfinder, a
3-inch touchscreen and a full array of properly-sized buttons (so that you
don’t have to use the touchscreen if you don’t want to).
For all intents and purposes, this small DSLR can do anything that a larger
one can do — you have support for external flashguns, remotes &
microphones, HDMI out for connecting to TVs, built in creative filters
(fish eye, toy camera, miniature etc), speaker, RAW support and custom
modes. You can also use the touchscreen for things like tap-to-focus and
tap-to-shoot.
Image quality is at par with any mid-range DSLR and you get excellent
results all the way up to ISO 1600. Possibly the only real compromise made
here is the battery — the smaller Li-ion battery is good for about 200 to
300 photos. Another point to note is that it may be too small for people
with medium to large sized hands — if you have large hands, you may find
that you can only grip the camera with three fingers instead of five.
You should buy this camera if you want the smallest ‘proper’ DSLR around.
If you need something even smaller, you can get excellent results from
Sony’s NEX-6L. The NEX also has an APS-C size CMOS sensor and comes bundled
with a 16-50mm lens.
HITESH RAJ BHAGAT TNN
ALSO SEE Sony NEX-6L (16-50mm
kit)
16.1 MP APS-C CMOS sensor, hybrid AF system, OLED viewfinder, 3-inch LCD,
WiFi, built in flash, 1080p video, multi interface shoe, 10fps continuous
shooting, 345 grams 49,990
LG Google Nexus 4 PRICE 25,999
SPECIFICATIONS 4.7-inch IPS LCD (1280 x 720 pixels), 1.5Ghz quad
core, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 8MP/1.3MP cam, Android 4.2, NFC, 2,100mAh
battery, 139 grams Great design & performance, high-quality screen,
gets the latest Android updates first Glass design attracts smudges and
fingerprints, storage limited to 16GB, no FM, no TV-out
All Nexus devices are pure Android — the way Google wants it. They are
devoid of any manufacturer customisations (no custom interface or
bloatware) and are always the first to get the latest Android updates,
directly from Google. In fact, the Nexus 4 was the first device with
Android 4.2. Right up front, there are very few reasons ‘not’ to buy the
Nexus 4 — it has a beautiful design, gorgeous screen, is priced very well
and offers blistering performance. Some reports suggest that like the Nexus
7 tablet (made by Asus), the Nexus 4 is sold almost at cost price,
essentially to promote the Nexus line of devices and make it
ultra-competitive in the market. It’s a win-win situation and consumers
should lap up the device. Looking at the design, LG has come up aces. Front
and back is all-glass. The screen is the centrepiece — it offers deep
blacks, has no air gap, a very narrow bezel and lightly curves towards the edges.
It feels great to hold and is not too large — comfortable for most users.
The subtle mosaic pattern under the rear glass panel is a nice design
touch.
We found no problems with call quality and battery life was surprisingly
good — over a day (possibly thanks to the complete absence of bloatware).
The camera is one area where the Nexus 4 needs improvement. It’s good with
adequate lighting but struggles at night. At least the cool new Photo
Sphere and panorama features of Android are standard.
Thanks to the recent drop in price, you should also consider Samsung’s
Galaxy S3. It’s not a Nexus but it offers similar levels of performance, a
better camera, more features (FM, TV-out), removable battery, expandable
memory and has the advantage of a huge accessory ecosystem.
HITESH RAJ BHAGAT
Samsung Galaxy S3
4.8-inch Super Amoled (1280 x
720 pixels), 1.4Ghz quad core, 1GB RAM, 16GB + microSD, Android 4.1, 8MP
rear/1.9MP front cam, TV-out, FM, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, 2,100mAh battery, 133
grams
28,050
Zen Ultrafone 701HD PRICE 11,999
SPECIFICATIONS 5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels), 1.2Ghz quad-core, 1GB
RAM, 4GB + microSD slot, 8MP/3.2MP camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, Android 4.2, 130
grams, 2,000mAh Great performance, matte finish provides good grip,
fantastic display, impressive camera Could have done with a larger battery
and better quality video recording
Zen Mobile has entered the growing mid-range, quad core Android
smartphone segment with their new Ultrafone series. The 701HD combines
features like HD display, great hardware and the latest Android OS (4.2) at
a surprisingly low price.
You are bound to be impressed with the build quality. It has a matte finish
rear panel that feels good to hold and does not show up fingerprints like
many other expensive devices. The 5-inch display has a resolution of 1280 x
720 pixels. It offers great viewing angles along with crisp details and
vivid colours. Additionally, the touch response is top-notch and the bright
screen is easy to view under direct sunlight.
As expected from the hardware, the smartphone offers buttersmooth
performance. There was no visible sluggishness while playing graphics
intensive games or full HD videos.
Battery life was as expected — a full day of backup on a full charge —
similar to other smartphones that have similar hardware and 2,000mAH
battery.
In terms of still camera performance, the 701HD takes good pictures in
daylight. It had the least visible noise in pictures taken indoors amongst
other similar priced smartphones. Video recording is average quality but it
records in the 3gp format — a slight disappointment. Audio output is loud
and clear from both the external speaker and the earpiece.
Thanks to the low price, the 701HD gets two thumbs up from us. It scores
high in terms of looks, build quality, performance & features. Overall,
it's just such great value for money.
KARAN BAJAJ
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