Four 5-Megapixel Cameras In Review

TFT Monitors

Minolta Dimage 7

Presumably, Minolta was aware of the shortcomings of its electronic viewfinder and wanted to make up for it by providing a good LCD monitor. The crystals react quickly, the colors are bright and curves well-rendered, with no undue "jaggies." As with the electronic viewfinder, the image displayed is exactly the same as the area captured.

Nikon Coolpix 5000

The Canon G1 and G2 are bound to come to mind when you flip back the Coolpix 5000 monitor. This feeling of déjà vu is due to the fact that, like its Canon rivals, Nikon's Coolpix monitor is fixed to an arm which swivels 180° horizontally and 270° vertically. When not in use, the monitor can be turned to face the camera to protect it from knocks, dirt and from being rubbed by your nose if you are using the optical viewfinder. It is activated as soon as it is turned 180°, and can be used, like the G1 and G2, for unusual shots like self-portraits. Though the optical viewfinder is hard to use, it is nice to know the monitor is very good. It refreshes its pixels much faster and finer than the E-20P. The image returned is very close to the one focused. The monitor covers 98% of the area of the shot. The capture gives a little bit more image than intended at the top.