An all-round decent camera (Agfa ePhoto CL50)

Member Name: PWilliams

Product:	Agfa ePhoto CL50
Date:	12/11/00 (119 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great image quality. No need for film.

Disadvantages: A bit overpriced

Before I got this camera, I regarded digital cameras as being large, cumbersome, expensive and hard to use. Although this camera is not perfect, it has shown me how far this technology has developed from its infancy a few years ago - progress demands that prices drop and quality improves.

A satisfactory user guide is provided with the camera - perhaps I should use the phrase "quality not quantity" to describe it. There are plenty of informative diagrams and the language used is non technical. All the necessary cables are supplied and there is even a camera case included.

Fortunately, there are only a few buttons on the camera, so the user shouldn't be too overwhelmed. There are different resolutions at which pictures can be taken and so different amounts can be stored on the supplied 8MB Smartmedia card; ranging from 12 pictures at the highest resolution (1680 x 1200), to 96 pictures at the lowest resolution (640 x 480). Taking pictures is simplicity itself, with or without using the 2" LCD screen, although the processing takes a few seconds (as with all digital cameras). After the picture is taken, it is possible to view both the photograph, and information about it. The photographer can even record some sound which is stored along with the picture. The camera is extremely easy to configure because, as I previously mentioned, it is done using the on screen menus.

I think it's safe to say that image quality is pretty much the most important feature of any camera and I'm glad to say that the quality of the pictures is quite outstanding. I was amazed by the clarity and colour balance. The camera consistently reproduces the subjects of its pictures with great accuracy and precision.

There are a number of minor flaws however. Firstly, it is impossible to take action shots as it takes the camera a relatively long time to focus and prepare for the picture (depending on the resolution of the picture an
d remaining battery life). Rechargeable batteries should be added to the top of the photographer’s shopping list. An interesting feature of this camera is that there is a way to save battery life while outdoors by using sunlight to light the screen. Features like this make the camera stand out from the rest.

In conclusion, I would heartily recommend this camera to novices and enthusiasts alike. It is so much more than just a toy. the quality of the output, when used in combination with a high quality photo-printer is comparable to that of conventional cameras and it has all of the advantages associated with digital cameras.

Summary: