Digicams

Digicams

Two Compact Cameras with WiFi:

We review two compact cameras with wireless capabilities so you can transmit photos from them to any WiFi enabled device.

Canon IXUS 255 HS:

This is the latest WiFi enabled pocket camera that makes it easy to instantly share your pictures via wireless network, printer and mobile devices. Stylish and compact, the camera supports 12.1 MP CMOS sensor with a DIGIC 5 processor and 10x optical zoom, which is a 35mm equivalent of 24-240mm, that can be extended to 20x using ZoomPlus.

The IXUS 255HS has a very slim body with a 3-inch LCD screen, and 1080p video capability. With 3 inches LCD display, the back side of the camera has a menu button for navigation. All buttons are well placed which helps in easy operation. On the camera's rear, there's a sliding switch so all you have to is just push it up and you are ready to shoot in Hybrid Auto mode.

How it performs

This camera is very user-friendly and all the menus can be easily operated. As IXUS cameras are not known for their manual controls as compared to the Power-shot range this camera is perfect for those who want good pictures without getting into the technical nitty-gritty. The 3.0 inch screen is bright and clear, with a decent 460k dot resolution. The Smart Auto mode automatically selects from 58 scenes and adjusts the camera settings. With Hybrid Auto, the camera captures a 4 second movie clip before each shot and combines it into a 720p HD movie. There are interesting creative modes, such as toy camera effect and miniature, and 2.4 fps continuous shooting in full resolution that work really well.

With this camera you can shoot up to 6.2 fps at 3 megapixels. Face ID lets you register 12 faces so that they are focused as priority in each shot. In video mode the camera shoots HD video at 1,920x1,080 pixels, 24 fps, or 1,280x720 at 30 fps. You may also downsize the capture mode to 640x480 for direct Web use. It's very easy to use the Wi-Fi in this camera. All you need to do is enter the playback and press the Wi-Fi button so it can connect to wireless networks, printers and PCs, smart phones and tablets, which let you view and manage your photos on the remote device. Moreover, the Canon app is easy to use in order to download images and videos from the camera.

Nikon COOLPIX S6500:

The latest addition to Nikon's extensive line of COOLPIX cameras. It comes equipped with 12x optical zoom and 16-megapixel backside illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor. The COOLPIX S6500 offers many user-friendly shooting features and controls. Like previous COOLPIX models, the S6500 includes Glamour Retouch effects for portraits, but also features five new effects that users can take advantage of during their photo taking experience. The COOLPIX S6500 features built-in Wi-Fi connectivity that allows users to transfer images and HD movies from their camera directly to a compatible smart device through the Wireless Mobile Utility1 application, for easy sharing with others.

How it performs

Coolpix S6500 captures high-quality images and full HD videos with ease. With high-performance 12x optical zoom lens, which covers a long focal range from a wide angle 25mm to 300mm, with lens-shift Vibration Reduction (VR), you get blur free images. All new unique shooting controls are very exciting in this camera. Not only the Glamour Retouch effects but the other five new special effects are also very interesting, as you can now lighten skin tones, Hide Eye Bags, whiten teeth and eyes, and also Redden Cheeks, so no more editing/post production on your images. The Target Finding AF system is precise and gives you sharp and crisp pictures. And as this is a Wi-Fi enabled camera, you can easily transfer images to smart devices such as smartphones and tablets.This camera performed quite well in all types of scenes, from wide-angle landscape shots to close-ups. In the Video mode the Nikon S6500 lets you record high-definition video clips. This includes stereo audio, and at the maximum quality setting are captured at 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, with a rate of 30 progressive-scan frames per second.

Another good thing about this camera is that you can now pause capture during recording, and then resume, so its easy for you to avoid unwanted clips from your final clip.