Fwd:

Fujifilm FinePix X20 PRICE 39,999 

SPECIFICATIONS 12MP, 28-112mm (4x) optical zoom, f2 -2.8, pop-up flash, hot shoe, 1080p video, 12fps burst mode, RAW, hybrid AF, optical viewfinder, 2.8-inch LCD, 353 grams 

  Great retro design,

  High performance and low noise,

  RAW support 

  No traditional on/off button or lever, LCD resolution

  Could have been higher 

HITESH RAJ BHAGAT 

NEW DELHI 

Retro style cameras are in and Fuji is making the biggest push in this area. The recently reviewed X100s earned top honours from us for superb performance. However, the price does put it out of reach for everyone except avid enthusiasts and professionals. The new X20 is more affordable but still retains the retro charm. It's available in allblack and a (nicer looking, in our opinion) black-silver. The X20 has a 12MP sensor, 28 – 112mm manual zoom Fujinon lens, built in optical image stabilisation, 1cm macro mode, full HD video recording at 60fps, a super-fast, hybrid autofocus system, RAW shooting support, a 2.8-inch LCD (4,60,000 dots), film simulation mode, built in 360 panorama mode, electronic level, full manual control and a burst mode of 12fps (at full 12MP resolution). In a head-to-head comparison, these features put the X20 ahead of any entry or mid-level DSLR kit. It makes a very strong case for itself if you don't need to change lenses. It may not have the APS-C size CMOS sensor found in digital SLRs, but it still does have a 2/3-inch X-Trans CMOS II sensor — larger than most compact cameras. It also has an optical viewfinder with a new Digital Trans Panel — the viewfinder zooms along with the lens, but it also shows you vital information like shutter speed, aperture, mode and focus lock. Performance is excellent in any condition. The X20 delivers sharp and bright images with virtually no lag. Video quality is excellent too, with the hybrid AF taking care of focus. Finally, there are various modes and filters (toy camera, selective colour, low light, miniature, soft focus and so on) If you're considering buying a DSLR but are put off by size and heft, the X20 is a great alternative. Sony's NEX-5R offers better performance, interchangeable lenses and a larger sensor, but at the cost of the great retro design.

ALSO SEE Sony NEX-5RL 

16.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor, hybrid AF, interchangeable lenses, 3-inch LCD, 180-degree flip screen, 10fps shooting, full HD video, WiFi, 276 grams

Rs. 39,990

Nokia Lumia 520 PRICE 10,499 

SPECIFICATIONS 1Ghz dual core processor, 512MB RAM, 8GB storage (expandable), 4-inch LCD (800 x 480 pixels), 5MP rear camera,1,430mAh, 124 grams Great value, sturdy design, interchangeable covers, extra sensitive touch surface No front camera, no FM, small battery, basic LCD screen (no clear black or Amoled) 

HITESH RAJ BHAGAT 

NEW DELHI 

As smartphones become cheaper and better, it's the consumer that benefits the most. Nokia's new Lumia 520 is officially the most affordable Windows Phone device out there — it's an attempt to allow a greater number of people to enjoy the core experience of Windows Phone without stripping away too many of the usual essentials of a smartphone. 

Considering the price, the Lumia 520 is a great deal. You get a 1Ghz dual core processor, 512MB RAM and 8GB of storage (expandable by another 64GB). The tile-based interface is easy to learn for firsttime smartphone users (Nokia's primary target for this device), Obviously, a few things have been omitted to get the price down. For instance, there is no front camera and the rear camera is a basic 5MP unit without flash. The camera can do a decent enough job outdoors but struggles to record anything viewable/ watchable indoors. The battery is a 1,430mAh unit and you won't get any high-end features like NFC, TV out or 1080p video recording. Where it matters the most, you can't find fault with the Lumia 520. It may be entry-level, but it still offers a fluid interface, it includes Nokia's turn-by-turn navigation, Nokia Music, great call quality and feels sturdy to hold and use. 

As a bonus, the touchscreen can also be operated while wearing gloves. 

All said and done, if you don't have much to spend but still want a smartphone from one of the top global brands, the Lumia 520 is a bargain. However, if you're not that fussy about brands, you can get a decent Android smartphone for half as much as the Lumia 520. And 10k will get you Karbonn's S1 — a quad core Android phone with a larger 4.5inch screen and front camera.

Karbonn S1 Titanium 

4.5-inch (960 x 540 pixels), 1.2Ghz quad-core, 1GB RAM, 4GB + microSD slot, 5MP/VGA camera, Wi-Fi, FM Radio, GPS, Android 4.1,127g, 1,600mAh 

10,990

Lenovo Ideaphone S890 PRICE 20,899 KARAN BAJAJ NEW DELHI 

The S890 is Lenovo's latest Android smartphone. With a 5-inch screen & flip cover that locks and unlocks the device, it's clearly in 'phablet' territory. The build quality of the S890 is impressive — it looks and feels more premium than almost any other phablet we compared it with. One slight issue is that the phone is slightly heavier (176 grams) when compared to similar size phablets such as the Micromax Canvas HD (156 grams) or the Samsung Galaxy Grand (162 grams). 

The 5-inch IPS display has good viewing angles and shows vivid colors. The customised user interface smartly masks the low resolution (960 x540 pixels) by using a minimalist icon design for most used apps such as messages and phone calling. Hardware consists of a Mediatek dual core processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB storage with a microSD card slot. Performance is great — no visible lag or sluggishness even with multiple apps running in the background. Full HD videos and games like Shadowgun and Dead Trigger ran without issue. Pictures taken from the rear camera have sharp details and natural colors. However, noise is visible when used indoors or in low light conditions. Lenovo's Energy smart feature lets you keep a track of your battery usage and optimize it. Using that, we got a battery life of over one and half day on the device with the 2,250mAh battery — impressive. The S890 is a good phone, but the Micromax canvas HD offers a better resolution display with a quad core processor for a lower price. 

ALSO SEE Micromax Canvas HD 

Rs. 14,999 

5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels), 1.2Ghz quadcore, 1GB RAM, 4GB + microSD slot, 8MP/2MP camera, Android 4.1, 156g, 2,000mAh

Courtesy : Techtonic, Times of India, dated: 24/04/2013