Trust 750 Powerc@m Digital Camera

Trust 750 Powerc@m Digital Camera
Price: £110 rrp at time of writing
Date: June 2003
Site: www.trust.com for information & dealers
Uses: 2.0 Mpixel and video camera and more in one unit.
Buy: Dabs | Misco | Amazon | Play | John Lewis
Compare prices: Kelkoo

Trust have been around for many years producing an ever increasing product line of various hardware from Mice to cameras. And now items such as paper shredders
You will no doubt be seeing more of the Trust name in the future, especially if you're a Formula 1 fan, as Trust are now the main sponsor of the Minardi team.

What you get:

• Camera Unit
• USB Cable
• Batteries 2x AA
• Carry Bag
• Hand Strap
• Tripod stand
• TV-out cable
• Driver CD
• User Manual

Specifications:

• Take up to 200 pictures with built-in 16MB flash memory
• 4 cm colour TFT display for live viewfinder, zoom preview, review images, review video and menu functions
• Sensor resolution 2.0 Mpix, enhanced camera resolution 3.0 Mpix (2048 x 1536), max picture resolution 4.0 Mpix (2400 x 1800)
• 10 step, 4 times digital zoom
• Memory expandable up to 512MB with optional SD or 128MB MMC card
• Built-in flash light with automatic flash, red eye reduction and off modes
• Integrated protective lens cover with power switch
• Video recording 352 x 288 at 15 fps
• Webcam function up to 25 fps at 352 x 288
• White balance control: automatic, sun, tungsten, fluorescent
• 10 seconds self timer with acoustic and display countdown notification
• JPEG memory compression for optimal memory use
• Date and time registration
• Pictures directly accesible as removable disk on computer
• Video out (PAL / NTSC)
• USB connection
• 1/2 inch CMOS photo sensor (min. 145 lux)
• Fixed focus with macro function
• Auto power off for longer battery life
• Windows software included: ArcSoft: PhotoImpression 3.0, VideoImpression 1.6, PhotoBase 3.0, FunHouse 1.0
• Product size (HxWxD in mm): 60 x 95 x 38

The Unit:

The camera unit itself is very compact and light. The design has been well thought out to make full use of the units dimensions, the cameras 2 x AA batteries fit in horizontally via the side flap.
This flap also provides access to the SD / MMC slot to expand the memory. On the other sideof the camera is a rubber flap which when lifted exposes the USB and TV out connectors.

This camera doesn't come with a viewfinder instead everything is viewed via the 4cm TFT screen on the rear of the unit.
The layout of the menus is very easy to use the bottom dial is used to select the desired mode such as:

• Setup
• Video
• Photo
• Playback

The arrow dial then allows you to navigate through the menu options which appear on the screen and you use the middle button to select / confirm the action.

Other buttons including a flash button, which allows you to easily set flash options and display on/off buttons.

The 2 x AA Batteries fit in by lifting the flap at the end of the camera and then sliding in horizontally underneath this flap is also where you can insert additional SD or MMC cards.

Using:

I was a bit apprehensive about using this camera as it is so small in size I thought either the batteries would run out quickly or the photo quality wouldn't be that great. However it is a great little camera it has several features that more expensive 'big name' brands don't give you and the value for money factor is a high scoring factor.

The camera already comes with 16MB of memory already built in so once the batteries are installed all you need to do is expose the lens by sliding back the cover and wait for the tone of the camera turning on then with the take picture mode selected you can begin to take pictures.

This camera supports SD or MMC memory so that you can expand the capacity of the camera to hold more images and videos. At the time of writing a 64MB MMC card was £24, and a 32MB SD card was £30 from Amazon

This camera doesn't come with a viewfinder. In my experience of using digital cameras I have rarely ever used the viewfinder I have always preferred to use the LCD screen, as it is easier and quicker to view and select possible images through this method.

The layout of the buttons is good although the camera unit is so small anyway you would be troubled not to be able to reach the buttons easily with you thumb.

Playback of the images is simple. Select the Play mode and then use the above menu arrows to either scroll through the images or to zoom in.

The Zoom with this camera is digital and is based on the hardware inside the camera. Optical zoom appears on more expensive versions, this digital zoom is 10 - point, which means you, can zoom in/out by 10 segments.

The image quality is very good although some images didn't perform well in half light even with the flash but that could of been to my own usage and using incorrect settings.

With this camera you can also take video clips, although this doesn't record sound it can still be a nice add on feature. The picture quality isn't too bad this is a £100 camera remember if your into video in a big way you will have to pay nearer £500 for a dedicated video camera and benefit from all the image stabilisers and zoom features that one brings.

Connecting the camera to your PC is simple via the usb connection or you may wish to buy a SD / MMC reader if you are a regular user so that you can just swap cards and then download them to your PC later. You also get a video out cable with this camera that means you can playback the images and videos through your TV. This is a handy feature if you don't want to boot your PC just to look at the photos are if a family / friend pops over etc.

Verdict:

Budget camera? Well yes it is cheap but it doesn't have the tackiness or poor quality aspect that you sometimes get with cheaper goods. The menus and ease of use will make this easy for the newbie as well as the more advanced user to grasp. The resolution output from this camera is higher than others in the same price bracket and for the money you get a small compact camera which includes a flash and well laid out options, along with accessories such as a mini tri=pod, carry pouch and PC / TV-out leads as well as some software for you to manipulate your photo creations.

Action packed camera for little more than £100, easy to use and great results.