Sun
1) EPSON PICTUREMATE PAL, PERSONAL PHOTO LAB, $179.
Apparently most digital photographers are afraid of their computers, or you would think so by the number of printers out there that allow users to print directly from their cards. This offering from Epson has a fast print speed of 60 seconds for a 4×6 along with auto correction for poor backlighting, washed out photos, and nasty skin tones. It also sharpens. It also offers a number of layout options including borderless prints. Oh, and it can print in black and white and sepia as well as colour.
2) HP PHOTOSMART R967 10 MEGAPIXEL DIGITAL CAMERA, $500.
HP may not be the first name that leaps to your mind when you think about digital cameras, but there are a lot of people who swear by the brand and now HP has moved into the 10 megapixel market with the 3x optical zoom R967 which sports an eye-easing three-inch LCD monitor. Built-in anti-shake helps with blur prevention while automatic red-eye removal means that your children don’t have to look like the devil’s spawn, should you choose to print straight from the camera or card. Adaptive lighting means that dark areas become much more visible in high-contrast shots.
3) LG 8500, CHOCOLATE PHONE, $130 WITH THREE-YEAR TELUS CONTRACT, $330 WITH NO CONTRACT.
If you want to wait until later in November, other models of the stylish phone with all the built in MP3/WMA-format music player and dedicated music key with the easy listening to playlists will be available from other wireless companies. But right now, the jump has been given to Telus. With it’s recent launch elsewhere, the buzz has been building among those who want to look stylish as well as get those calls, text messages and listen to their music on the go.
4) NIKON D2XS, 12.4 MEGAPIXEL DIGITAL SLR, $5,540, BODY ONLY.
Oh, we know this is really for the professional photographer but you owe it to yourself to have the best equipment you can’t afford, right? And as we can tell you from personal experience if you want to shoot great photos — with a $2,000 lens and have people stare at you with jaws dropped — then this is your baby. Great shutter release time of 37 milliseconds and a viewfinder blockout time of a mere 105 milliseconds, along with an 11-area autofocus systems make this almost irresistible. Get the spouse to get it for you for Christmas.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
