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Rating: 
Summary: Very Modern, Very Fast
Review: Speed is a big theme of the marketing, and sure enough you can get off a burst of shots at a startling speed. With a Lexar 32x card, I can shoot 640x480 30fps until the card fills - at 2MB/sec, this doesn't take long, but you get stunningly good output for such a small device. (320x240 is still nice, and only 500k/s, or almost 10 minutes on a 256M card.)Note also that although it doesn't have a tripod mount, you can make it very stable by shooting with it folded flat - I've gotten some excellent driving shots simply by setting it leather-side-down on my dashboard. Being able to mount real 28mm filters (with the included, unfortunately plastic, ring adaptor) is nice, and I've used that with lenses too (with some care - the manual recommends against it, the adaptor isn't really meant to support the weight of the camera or a large lens.) It also really is shirt-pocketable, a key to taking shots Right Now. Also it doesn't skimp on buttons, there's not nearly as much "menu/mode walking" as on some other cameras. Finally, the rotation feels *very* solid, with a click at +90/0/-90 degrees (though you can go past that in both directions, good for both overhead and low-angle shots.)
Rating:
Summary: Very Modern, Very Fast
Review: Speed is a big theme of the marketing, and sure enough you can get off a burst of shots at a startling speed. With a Lexar 32x card, I can shoot 640x480 30fps until the card fills - at 2MB/sec, this doesn't take long, but you get stunningly good output for such a small device. (320x240 is still nice, and only 500k/s, or almost 10 minutes on a 256M card.) Note also that although it doesn't have a tripod mount, you can make it very stable by shooting with it folded flat - I've gotten some excellent driving shots simply by setting it leather-side-down on my dashboard. Being able to mount real 28mm filters (with the included, unfortunately plastic, ring adaptor) is nice, and I've used that with lenses too (with some care - the manual recommends against it, the adaptor isn't really meant to support the weight of the camera or a large lens.) It also really is shirt-pocketable, a key to taking shots Right Now. Also it doesn't skimp on buttons, there's not nearly as much "menu/mode walking" as on some other cameras. Finally, the rotation feels *very* solid, with a click at +90/0/-90 degrees (though you can go past that in both directions, good for both overhead and low-angle shots.)
Rating: 
Summary: Contax SL300R vs. Contax U4R
Review: This is one of 2 very similar Contax models - be sure to compare before you buy! Compared to the Contax SL300R, the Contax U4R has the same body and lens, but adds: 4.2mp Sensor (instead of 3.34mp), 2 inch LCD monitor (instead of 1.5), 9 point AF, and a cradle for charging and computer/video connection with one dock. The U4R doesn't come with any SD card, but the 16mb one with the SL300R should be replaced by a bigger one right away anyway. (I won't mention prices because they might change after I post, but they are worth comparing.)
This is my favorite body design, the swivel feature is more valuable than you could know until you have used one. It's a shame there is no tripod mount screw and no lens cap, but otherwise the SL300R and U4R are both great point and shoot cameras.
Rating: 
Summary: Fine Pocket Digital Camera
Review: Those interested in obtaining in digital imaging, the same splendid image quality for which Contax 35mm and medium format film cameras have been known for, will not be disappointed in this miniature digital camera. The resolution holds up quite well for at least 4 x 6" prints, thanks due to its Carl Zeiss T* lens. I've been impressed - but shouldn't be - by the excellent images I have seen produced with this tiny camera. Most importantly for users, this is a tiny digital camera that can fit almost easily inside your coat or shirt pocket. Regrettably this is one of the last products resulting from the decades-old Zeiss/Kyocera partnership which was suspended last year, probably permanently.
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