PC Magazine - 2009 04.pdf - Libertad Zero - Blog

Panasonic Lumix
DMC-G1
$799.95 list
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Pros uses new micro
Four Thirds standard,
which allows for a
smaller body and lens
than comparable entrylevel
D-sLRs. solid image
quality at iso 100-
800. Large, articulating
3-inch LcD. HDmi-out.
Cons not much smaller
than a D-sLR. no optical
viewfinder. Excessive
noise at higher isos.
Longer shutter lag
than traditional D-sLRs.
no video-recording
capability.
Click here for more.
Given the current state of the economy, not everyone
has the budget to spring for a GPS device. Fortunately,
the 265T, one of Garmin’s entry-level nüvis,
offers an amazing amount of bang for the buck.
The 265T measures 2.8 by 3.8 by 0.8 inches
(HWD) and features a 3.5-inch, 320-by-240-pixel
screen. For an additional $50, you can opt for the
nüvi 265WT, which has a 4.3-inch, WQVGA 480-by-
272-pixel screen.
Both the 265T and 265WT feature Garmin’s
familiar “Where to” and “View Map” user interface
and have the same destination input options as on
the midrange and even the premium 800 series.
Input options include: Address; Go Home; Points of
Interest (16 categories); Recently Found; Favorites;
Intersections; Extras; Cities; Browse Map, and Coordinates.
The 200 series doesn’t have Garmin Locate, a feature
that remembers your last-known location when
you remove the device from the bracket. The series
also lacks players for MP3s and audiobooks, as well
as an FM transmitter to send voice prompts to your
car’s FM radio. Still, the 265T and its siblings do have
the “Where Am I” feature, a picture viewer, a world
first looks consumer electronics
Panasonic Lumix Dmc-G1
A Pioneer, but Not
a Game Changer
GaRmin nüvi 265T
The Garmin Experience
at a Bargain Price
Dreaming of the day when you can have the performance
of a D-SLR in the body of a compact camera?
It may be closer than you think. The 12.1-megapixel
DMC-G1 is the first camera to incorporate the Micro
Four Thirds standard, which shrinks the lens diameter
and forgoes the mirror box you’ll find in a traditional
D-SLR, making it more compact. While
the DMC-G1 delivers good image quality, the competitively
priced Canon EOS Rebel XSi ($799.99 list)
gives you sharper images with less noise for about
the same price—and the G1 isn’t that much smaller.
Panasonic says it didn’t shrink the body of the
DMC-G1—at 13.6 ounces—as much as it could have,
for fear of scaring off anyone shopping for an SLRquality
camera. As a result, there’s a great deal of
dead space inside. Still, the DMC-G1’s overall build is
quite nice. It’s available in black or blue, but our test
camera was a fiery red. It features ergonomic curves
for a solid grip, and its dials have raised bumps for
easy control. All of the camera’s controls are right at
your fingertips, which allows for quick access to the
many features.
clock, a simple calculator, and a unit converter.A free
upgrade called ecoRoute calculates your estimated
fuel cost for each trip and provides you with fuel and
mileage reports; it even adds a “Less Fuel” option to
your Route Preference choices.
Though it lacks some of the bells and whistles of
Garmin’s top-shelf products, the 265T still delivers
the Garmin navigation experience, with a complete
set of maps, text-to-speech, free lifetime traffic, picture
navigation, and ecoRoute to boot. And you just
can’t beat the price.—Craig Ellison
What D-SLR users will miss most on the DMC-
G1—and other upcoming Micro Four Thirds cameras,
for that matter—is a true optical viewfinder.
Since the new standard loses the mirror box that
reflects the image through the lens, it has to simulate
one. The DMC-G1 achieves this with a tiny LCD
where the viewfinder would normally be. It works
okay for displaying photo information like ISO and
shutter speed, but I found motion blur to be particularly
distracting.
Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-G1 is a solid first stab
at a Micro Four Thirds camera, but you’ll probably
want to wait for the second generation of products,
or simply go with a traditional entry-level SLR like
the Canon EOS Rebel XSi.—PJ Jacobowitz
Garmin nüvi 265T
$249.99 List
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Pros includes
maps for the
u.s. and canada.
Text-to-speech.
Lifetime free
traffic. ecoRoute feature
can save you money on
gasoline.
Cons no multisegment
routing or Lane assist.
Bluetooth interface
didn’t read contacts/call
history.
Click here for more.
aPRiL 2009 PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION 17