There is a lot to like about this camera for the casual user. Serious photography enthusiasts will find a couple of quirks off-putting, but overall it can take some nice photos, and is a great size for travel. I liked the multiple modes and special scene options. Autofocus works well and you have opt
ions for contrast focus, which is a nice feature. The optical zoom range is great for getting in close to distant objects. Color rendition is satisfactory as well. The choice to use AA cells instead of a proprietary rechargeable pack is a smart one, especially for those travelling where it's difficult to find any camera shops. You can use rechargeable AA's to save energy and the environment, while also keeping the option to use regular alkaline batteries if you need to. It's a great feature for this kind of camera. It does feature creative aids like the grid overlay and histogram. And it is small and light enough for all-day wear using the included neck strap. There is a built-in flash for low light photos, but it's going to be a straight-on flash since there is no hot shoe. If you need to take a really important portrait in lower light, use a tripod, the self-timer feature, and tell your subject to hold really still. Okay, so what are the things that experienced photographers will immediately take issue with? A lack of a continuously variable aperture. You get two aperture settings, large and small. That's it. And they are both constantly variable with focal length. The farther you zoom, the smaller the small aperture becomes (as does the large one). They included an aperture priority mode on the dial, but it's essentially a large or small mode. It's a really weird way to handle this part of the exposure triangle, and photographers that want more creative input than "auto mode" will consider it a handicap. If you're the type of photographer that likes letting the camera do all the heavy lifting and you are happy to let it make all of the exposure decisions, you'll find this camera a treat to use. The other thing that I missed was a viewfinder. Yes, it's a mirrorless sensor, but there is no electronic view finder. You compose your shots on the rear display, and that's it. It does seem adequate to do so outdoors in daylight so it's not going to stop you, but if you prefer a viewfinder, you will need to look elsewhere. The camera does include a micro-USB cable for file transfer, and you also have the option to remove the SD card and pop it in your computer. Overall, it's a great little camera at a great price as long as you understand the limitations and don't need any of the features it lacks (which most users won't need). The optical zoom and other features surpass the capability of most cell phone cameras, and the light weight and compact size make it worth it to carry along, especially for those zoomed in shots your cell phone couldn't hope to achieve.
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 11, 2022 by RoninUT
