BenQ intros six-megapixel DC-E610 / DC-C610 shooters for Europe
Not too long after gifting its Joybooks with Vista, BenQ is unveiling a duo of ho hum six-megapixel shooters for the European market. Both compact digicams sport a classic, silver finish, ISO ratings of 80 to 400, and SD support, but the slightly thicker E610 gets a more fleshed-out set of specs than its admittedly lacking (albeit thinner) sibling. The E610 comes in with a 6.1-megapixel CCD sensor, Pentax lens, 3x optical zoom, VGA video mode at 30fps, "shake-free" operation, 2.4-inch LCD monitor, USB 2.0 connectivity, a rechargeable Li-ion cell, and PictBridge support to boot. The less-featured C610 gets a six-megapixel sensor, a fixed 42-millimeter lens, two-inch LTPS LCD screen, 320 x 240 resolution movie mode, AA-battery support, USB 1.1 connectivity, and a presumably lower pricetag to compensate. Currently, no information regarding price is available, but you can reportedly pick either of these uninspiring point-and-shoots up in Europe right now.[Via LetsGoDigital]
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John Commenter @ Jan 22nd 2007 2:13PM
There is nothing fundamentally wrong with these cameras
from Taiwan/China - after all, they make most of the name brand
ones anyhow. It's not that they can't make good cameras, it's that
they don't have the optics, sensor, image processor, etc. design
chops. From last year, you have a Benq platform with the same kind of
super-compact "sliding lens" and maybe aspherics-out-the-wazoo optics
that are in Pentax, Casio, Fuji, Kodak. Benq is selling this as the
best of both worlds, and that deserves some thought. The funny thing
is, if a Benq camera showed up with (so-called) Zeiss or Schneider
optics, you would cream yourselves - even though there is every
reason to believe that point-and-shoot zoom optics from experienced Japanese camera makers are far better than whatever mystery designers' lenses are being stamped with these hoary 50's German labels. I defy you to find me a German that claims to have designed a point-and-shoot zoom lens that made it to market.