Types Of Digital Cameras

Types Of Digital Cameras

When it comes time to choose a new digital camera, there is quite a range of types to choose from. You are often trading off size versus features. Pocket sized cameras usually don't have as many features as larger cameras, but they are much more convenient. The best news is that despite their great differences, most cameras will capture very high-quality images, especially when used to create snapshot-sized prints.


With kiosks everywhere, it's easy to shoot and then just print the images you want.
Point and shoot cameras usually have fewer controls than other digital cameras but many are also small, bordering on tiny. With a camera that fits into your pocket, you're more likely to have it when you need it.

Camera phone quality is improving rapidly with 8 Megapixel models already available in some parts of the world. In time these cameras may present real competition to point and shoot cameras.
The fastest selling point and shoot digital cameras are those built into camera phones. The problem with these cameras is that their image quality is improving very slowly and doesn't yet match that of dedicated cameras.

One-time-use cameras take surprisingly good pictures and some even have a monitor on which you can review your results.
Digital photography has already matured to the point where there are onetime use point and shoot versions.

Fixed lens cameras often have great zoom lenses and capture large images
High-end fixed lens cameras usually have a zoom lens and many of the exposure and focus controls found on SLR cameras.

DIRTY SECRETRemoving the lens from an SLR lets dust enter the camera and settle on the sensor. This dust creates dark spots in your images. You can remove the dust yourself but it's risky
One of the most popular camera types among professionals and serious amateurs is the single-lens reflex, better known as a digital SLR. These cameras are expensive but have certain advantages over other camera types:
You can change lenses.
You see the scene through the lens so what you see is what you get. (Fixed lens cameras with electronic viewfinders differ from SLRs in that they don't use a movable mirror to bounce light into the viewfinder).
You can select from a large variety of accessories, including powerful flash units.

Digital Cameras: Getting the Perfect Picture

Falling prices, higher-quality cameras, and educators' increased comfort with technology have ignited a digital photography revolution in schools. Here, the latest tools for joining the ranks of the clickerati.
Unlike their pre-digital parents and teachers, today's kids have known for quite some time that 35-millimeter film is definitely "old school." It's easy to see why they find digital cameras appealing: no more dropping off rolls of film at the local photo shop, fewer wasted shots, and perhaps most important, instant feedback-snap a picture and view the image almost immediately.
In my classroom, students use digital cameras in a variety of ways. One exercise we do is take photographs of objects such as leaves, trees, and birds, then upload the images to a computer where kids label the parts using graphics software. Digital cameras make it particularly easy to chart these objects as they change over time.
Nikon Coolpix 775
For example, my students document plant growth by taking a series of photographs once a week for four weeks; then, after uploading the images to the computer and comparing them, they generate a growth chart. In a recent architecture project, students took advantage of the cameras' digital capabilities to superimpose photos of themselves standing next to famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the pyramids at Giza. Needless to say, kids loved this new twist on virtual field trips.
According to Daniel Grotta, president of Digital Benchmarks, an independent digital camera testing firm, educators can expect the recent trend of falling camera prices accompanied by higher image quality (also known as resolution) to continue. Currently, prices range from $200 for "good enough" resolution to about $600 for megapixel models that include more advanced features such as manual focus and interchangeable lenses. "How good is 'good enough' depends on the user's purpose, budget, and level of sophistication," says Grotta. With those caveats in mind, read on for a collection of resources to help you determine which camera matches your classroom needs and budget.
Camera Considerations
Several factors will influence your decision as to what type of camera is best suited for your classroom or school setting. Here are some key questions to ask before you buy.
In which medium will the photographs be displayed? If the majority of your images are going to be viewed on a computer screen (on the Web or in a PowerPoint presentation, for example), a low-resolution (640 pixels x 480 pixels) camera is fine. For desktop publishing enterprises such as the school newspaper or yearbook, however, you'll want a higher-resolution (3-4 megapixels) model.
Where will the camera spend the most time? Make sure your camera has features that support your specific photography goals. For shooting fast-paced action on the playing field, for example, several digital cameras offer high-speed capture-the ability to take several images in rapid succession. If you plan to snap photos of school plays, other factors such as manual aperture control to compensate for low lighting will be important. If you take a lot of field trips, battery life is an issue to consider-keep in mind that the newer NiMH (nickel metal hydride) batteries last longer than alkaline batteries.
What are the image storage capabilities of the camera? The latest digital cameras store images to an inserted Memory Stick, SmartMedia, or CompactFlash card and easily connect via USB cable to computers for downloading images directly to the hard drive. If you don't have USB-enabled computers at your school, you can purchase card readers that will allow you to insert the memory card into a floppy disk drive.
Several teachers I talked to prefer the Sony Mavica line because users can save images directly to a floppy disk. This is particularly convenient in schools, where one student can save his or her photos on a disk, pass the camera to another student, and then get to work right away manipulating images on the computer. What's more, some of the latest Mavicas offer the additional option to save images to CD-Rs (CD-recordable), which are inexpensive and can hold many more images (up to 650MB of data) than any other storage medium that's currently available.
Should the camera have optical zoom, digital zoom, or both? Optical zoom is a true indicator of how much you will be able to use the camera's lens to zoom in on a subject. Digital zoom uses software interpolation to achieve a close-up image and is generally inferior in quality to optical zoom capabilities. Most digital cameras offer 3X optical zoom. Several models offer up to 10X optical zoom, allowing close-up images to be taken from very far away.
10 Digital Cameras
The following is a sampling of offerings from some of the digital camera industry's major players. For detailed product information, check out the Web resources cited on the next page.
Entry-Level
Canon's Powershot A20 is a 2.1-megapixel digital camera that offers 3X optical zoom, 8MB CompactFlash memory, and a 1.7-second shooting interval (up to 2.5 frames per second in continuous mode). For printing photographs on the fly, this model works well with Canon's new Card Photo Printer CP-10, which can connect directly to the camera via a USB cable. $283.
Kodak EasyShare DX3600
Kodak's new EasyShare DX3600 features 2.2-megapixel resolution, 2X optical zoom, 3X digital zoom, 8MB internal memory, USB interface, and the ability to capture up to 30 seconds of video with audio. Similar to the DX3600, the DX3700 model offers 3.1-megapixel resolution and 3X optical zoom. Both cameras cost about $300 each.
The Olympus D-370 is a 1.2-megapixel camera that includes USB interface, 2MB internal memory (accepts optional SmartMedia memory), and a QuickTime movie mode. The D-370 also comes with Camedia Master software for "stitching" up to 10 frames into a panoramic image. $199.95.
Sony Mavica MVC-FD75
Sony's Mavica MVC-FD75 is the most affordable Mavica available, featuring 350,000-pixel resolution, 10X optical zoom with auto focus, and high-speed image capture. Users can save snapshots to a floppy disk, a useful feature for schools with older hardware. $349.95.
Intermediate
The Canon Powershot S110 is a compact, 2.1-megapixel camera that features 2X optical zoom, 2.5X digital zoom, 8MB CompactFlash memory, high-speed image capture, and the ability to shoot 20-frame-per-second movie clips with sound. $429.25.
Casio QV-2900UX
The Casio QV-2900UX 2.1-megapixel model offers 8X optical zoom, 2X/4X digital zoom, CompactFlash memory, USB interface, plus a "best shot" mode that provides automatic exposure settings for different situations such as blue sky or night. $399.
The compact 2.14-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 775 camera with 3X optical zoom features seven "scene modes" that automatically set focus, exposure, and color balance for different lighting environments. Also included: ArcSoft Panorama Maker software, USB interface, and a rechargeable lithium ion battery. $399.95.
Sony's 1.3-megapixel Mavica MVC-FD87 has 3X optical zoom, 6X digital zoom, and supports several optional accessories usually available on more expensive models, including interchangeable lenses. Users have the convenience of saving images to a floppy disk or to Memory Stick media (optional adapter required). $499.95.
Advanced
The 4-megapixel Olympus Camedia E-10 is a good choice for serious teacher and student photographers looking for high image quality and a wide range of capabilities, such as spot metering, manual focus, wide focusing range, and the ability to use either CompactFlash or SmartMedia cards. $1,019.99.
With its ability to save up to 1,000 still images and 90 minutes of MPEG video to CD-R or CD-RW disks, the 3.2-megapixel USB-compatible Sony Mavica MVC-CD300 is great for situations where many images need to be archived and accessed over time. $999.95.

good things to know about digital camera

When you first start taking photos, it sometimes seems that there is too much to learn all at once. Here are some things you may want to know right off.
The first time you use the camera, or if the batteries have been removed or dead for an extended period, you should enter the date and time. The date and time will help you organize, locate, and identify your images later.
Always check camera settings on the control panel and in the viewfinder. Notice how many pictures you can take at the current settings and the status of the battery charge. Also, learn what the icons mean because it's not at all unusual to change a setting, then forget you have done so.
If an image is being stored when you turn the camera off, the image will be completely stored before the camera powers down.
Most shutter buttons have two stages. When you press it halfway down, the camera sets focus and exposure. When you press it all the way down, you take the picture. To capture action shots, hold the button halfway down while focused on the scene. When you then press the button the rest of the way, the camera shoots immediately because focus and exposure have already been calculated. On some cameras you can also press the shutter button all the way down in one action, but there will be a delay before the photo is taken and it may be out of focus.
If the viewfinder appears blurry, see if the camera has an diopter adjustment that makes it sharper.
To take pictures, hold the camera in your right hand and support the camera or lens with your left. Don't block the flash, autofocus port, or lens.
As you take photos, they are first stored in the camera's internal memory called a "buffer". When the buffer is full you'll have to wait until one or more of the images has been transferred to the memory card before taking any more pictures.
Don't open the battery or memory card access covers while an image is being saved. Doing so can not only damage the image being saved, it can also damage the card.
Some cameras will briefly display the image you just took as it is being saved. Usually you can turn this feature on or off.
You can usually adjust the brightness of the monitor. Make it brighter in bright light and dimmer in dim light.
Many cameras have a tripod socket so you can attach it to a tripod when you want sharper pictures.
Take as many shots of a given scene as you can think of; changing positions, distances, and angles. You may be surprised later at what works and what doesn't.
When done shooting, turn the camera off.

using your digital camera

Camera Controls & Creativity
Serious digital cameras give you creative control over your images. They do so by allowing you to control the light and motion in photographs as well as what's sharp and what isn't. Although most consumer digital cameras are fully automatic, some allow you to make minor adjustments that affect your images. Many cameras, including high-end point and shoots and digital SLRs, offer a wide range of controls. However, regardless of what controls your camera has, the same basic principles are at work "under the hood". Your automatic exposure and focusing systems are having a profound effect on your images. However, even with your camera on automatic mode, you can indirectly control, or at least take advantage of the effects these systems have on your images.
In this chapter, we'll first explore how you use the camera in various automatic modes and see what effect each of the settings has on your images. In the chapters that follow, we'll explore in greater depth how you take control of these settings, and others, to get the effects that you want.
Taking Photos in Automatic Mode
All digital cameras have an automatic mode that sets focus and exposure for you. All you have to do is frame the image and push the shutter button. You'll find that this auto mode of operation is great in the vast majority of situations because it lets you focus on the subject and not on the camera. Here's a brief guide to using auto mode on almost any camera.
Getting ready. Turn the camera on and set it to automatic mode—usually spelled out or indicated by a camera icon. To conserve your batteries, turn off the monitor and compose your image through the optical viewfinder if your camera has one. (Digital SLR cameras don't let you compose the image on the monitor and some point and shoots don't have optical viewfinders). If the camera has a lens cap, be sure to remove it.
Framing the image. The viewfinder or monitor shows you the scene you are going to capture. To zoom the lens to frame your image, press the zoom-out button or lever to widen the angle of view and the zoom-in button or lever to enlarge subjects. If using an SLR, you zoom by turning a ring on the lens. If the image in the viewfinder is fuzzy, see if the camera has a diopter adjustment you can use to sharpen it.
Autofocus. Cameras have one or more focus zones or areas, each of which is often indicated in the viewfinder with cross hairs, boxes or brackets. The part of the scene that you cover with one of these focus zones will be the sharpest part of the photo. Many cameras will focus on the center of the scene but others will focus on the closest part of the scene covered by any of the focus zones. How close you can focus depends on the camera and lens.
Autoexposure. The camera's exposure system measures light reflecting from the scene and uses these readings to set the best possible exposure.
Autoflash. If the light is too dim, the autoexposure system will fire the camera's built-in flash to illuminate the scene. If the flash is going to fire, a flash lamp usually glows when you press the shutter button halfway down.
Automatic white balance. Because the color in a photograph is affected by the color of the light illuminating the scene, a camera automatically adjusts white balance so white objects in a scene are white in the photo and other colors are free of a color cast.

Professional modular digital camera systems

Professional modular digital camera systems
This category includes very high end professional equipment that can be assembled from modular components (winders, grips, lenses, etc.) to suit particular purposes. Common makes include Hasselblad and Mamiya. They were developed for medium or large format film sizes, as these captured greater detail and could be enlarged more than 35 mm.
Typically these cameras are used in studios for commercial production; being bulky and awkward to carry they are rarely used in action or nature photography. They can often be converted into either film or digital use by changing out the back part of the unit, hence the use of terms such as a "digital back" or "film back." These cameras are very expensive (up to $40,000) and are typically not seen in the hands of consumers.

Video camera

Video cameras
Video cameras are classified as devices whose main purpose is to record moving images.
professional video camera such as those used in television and movie production. These typically have multiple image sensors (one per color) to enhance resolution and colour gamut. Professional video cameras usually do not have a built-in VCR or microphone
camcorders used by amateurs. They generally include a microphone to record sound, and feature a small LCD to watch the video during taping and playback.
Webcams are digital cameras attached to computers, used for VC or other purposes. Webcams can capture full-motion video as well, and some models include microphones or zoom ability.

theory

All digital cameras work in a similar fashion. Some digital cameras may work a little differently but they all contain the basic hardware.
One similarity in all digital cameras is they all have a lens that projects an image onto a CCD (charge-coupled device). When a picture is taken software within the camera looks at the image three times-once each for red, green, and blue. Then it combines the three images as one RGB (Red, Green, Blue) image.
Another similarity in all digital cameras is they have a place to store the digital image. Although they all have a medium of storage the way the images are stored may vary. The images are not stored in the CCD. The CCD is analogous to the film in a traditional camera. The CCD is only used to capture the digital image. Pictures are usually stored in EPROM (Erasable, PROgrammable Memory) microchips. But, not all cameras store their images on EPROM. Some cameras may use PCMCIA cards to store pictures so that more memory may be added. Some cameras even use various media, like a 1.44MB diskette. For example, the Sony Digital Mavica stores its pictures on a 1.44MB diskette. One problem with cameras that store their pictures on diskettes is when a picture is taken the user must awhile for the camera to write the image file on the diskette. The user cannot take another picture until the camera is done writing the image on the diskette. All cameras have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to storage.
Some cameras have a display screen which allows you to view all the pictures you have taken. While most digital cameras have this feature some do not. The advantage to having the display screen is that you can review the pictures you have taken and the ones you do not like you can delete. Without a display screen this feature it not available. Cameras with display screens are more superior to the ones without but, the cameras without display screens carry a very low price.

All cameras take pictures and save the images to a certain resolution. The resolution size for each picture taken may vary. A better camera will save the pictures at a higher resolution. You may be wondering 'What the heck is resolution?'. Well, resolution is the degree of sharpness of an image displayed on a computer screen or quality of printed output from a laser printer or photo or laser typesetter expressed in dpi (dots per inch). Resolution can also refer to the number of bits per pixel. In printing, resolution refers to the space between dots in a halftone screen and is expressed as lines per inch (lpi).
Now that you know the basic theory of how digital cameras work you may still not what digital actually means. Digital refers to the binary representation of data as bits and bytes. The binary representation of data is basically the language computers use to create, manage, and store information, like a picture. This language that the computers use is called binary code. Binary code is made up of two things we named one of there things 0's and the other 1's. When data is transferred through a cable on a computer it sends two different electronic pulses. One of these pulses is the 0 and the other is the 1. I suppose you could say that the computer only has two letters in its alphabet: the 0 and the 1. So, when you take a picture on a digital camera the image it stored as a combination of 0's and 1's.

Canon issues A650 IS service notice

Canon issues A650 IS service notice
Monday, 8 October 2007 10:35 GMT
Canon has identified a light leak affecting a limited number of its Powershot A650 IS cameras. The affected cameras have a zero as the fifth digit of their serial numbers and Canon have pledged to repair them at no charge via their local factory service centers. More info after the jump.
Service Notice: Light Leak
PowerShot A650 IS
To owners of the PowerShot A650 IS digital camera:
October 3, 2007
Thank you for using Canon products.
We have recently discovered that, under specific shooting conditions a problem may occur in images taken with this product. The details of this problem are described below.
PhenomenonWhen shooting with the camera's variangle LCD monitor open under sunny skies, where sunlight shines directly on the exposed back of the camera, problems like the one shown in the image below may occur.

Affected CamerasPowershot A650 IS digital cameras that have a zero in the fifth digit from the left (xxxx0xxxxx) in the serial number listed on the bottom of the camera are affected.
However, even for cameras with the serial number described above, if there is a marking on the inside of the battery cover like the one in the image below, this problem has already been corrected and the camera may be used as is.
SupportCanon USA, Inc. will repair affected cameras for residents in the USA and Puerto Rico free of charge at our Factory Service Centers.
Please note that if you use an affected camera without repairing it first, you can work around this problem by shooting with the variangle LCD monitor closed, as shown below.
We offer our sincerest apologies to customers who have been inconvenienced by this problem. We will continuously strive to improve our quality management to ensure that our customers can use our products with confidence. We hope our efforts will earn your understanding.

Latest news

Latest news
Monday, 22 October 2007

Just Posted! Our review of the Canon PowerShot A570 IS, one of a whole batch of new A series compacts launched earlier this year. The A570 IS is a keenly-priced, fully featured 7MP camera with a 4x stabilized zoom and a wide range of photographic control on offer. Sounds like a bargain, but is it any good? Find out after the link... (15:20 GMT)

Having launched and then postponed availability of its AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC lens back in August, Tamron is now to re-launch the lens on October 26th. Canon user will be the first to try out the new optically stabilized superzoom with a Nikon mount following early in 2008. More details after the click. (10:15 GMT)

Datacolor has updated its Spyder monitor calibration and print profiling system, featuring the only seven detector color engine on the market and boasting 400% extra light sensitivity for increased accuracy. Other new features include a built in ambient light sensor, combined desktop cradle and tripod mount and 'before and after' SpyderProof proofing capability. Initially available as the $279 Spyder3Elite which deals with displays only or the $599 Spyder3Studio with printer profiling, the range is compatible with Mac OSX (10.3 and higher) as well as Windows 2000, XP and Vista 32/64. (11:30 GMT)
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Friday, 19 October 2007

Just Posted! Our concise review of the Canon SD870 IS (or IXUS 860 IS if you live in Europe). The replacement for the popular SD800 IS has the same versatile 28-105mm wideangle zoom but ups the resolution to 8MP and screen size to a whopping 3.0 inches - and throws in a few new features to boot. Find out if SD870 IS improves on its well-respected predecessor after the link... (15:30 GMT)
Thursday, 18 October 2007

Sony today announced its HDMS-S1D Digital Photo Album - an 80 GB storage and slideshow unit featuring HDMI output. Able to import photos from flash media CD/DVD or Ethernet and featuring powerful slideshow-creation software, photos may be shared via card or disk and a compatible printer may be hooked up to its USB port for hard copies. With viewing, sharing, printing and archiving all in one 'living-room friendly' box this looks set to be a big hit with those who love digital photography but not the computer time that goes with it. The HDMS-S1D will be available from October priced at $400. (16:25 GMT)
Wednesday, 17 October 2007

Sandisk today announced the imminent availability of its highest capacity Extreme III SDHC card to date. The 8GB media is bundled with a free Sandisk MicroMate USB 2.0 reader worth $20 and is a class 6 SDHC device guaranteeing write speeds of 6MB/s or faster. The pair are expected to ship within 30 days and will retail for around $179.99. (14:05 GMT)
Alongside the E-3 Olympus has also released four new Zuiko Digital lenses, three of which feature Olympus' Supersonic Wave Drive focus system and splashproofing. Let's kick off with the 12-60 f/2.8-4.0 which offers a 5x 24-120mm equiv. zoom range and 25cm closest focus as well as the aforementioned SWD and weathersealing. Next up is the 50-200 f/2.8-3.5 which Olympus claim is twice as fast to focus as its predecessor thanks to SWD. Splashproofing and a polarizer-friendly lens hood also boost its appeal. No other manufacturer can offer a 28-70 equiv. lens at f/2.0 but the 14-35 f/2.0 is just that - a fast, high quality 'normal' zoom with quiet and swift focus which doesn't mind the occasional soaking. The 70-300 f/4.0-5.6 is a little more humdrum but offers Four Thirds users a 140-600mm field of view in a compact and versatile package. Also announced is a new 2.0x teleconverter - the EC-20. The 12-60, 50-200, 70-300 and EC-20 should be available come November 2007 with the 14-35 following in early 2008. (10:20 GMT)
Tuesday, 16 October 2007

Back in May 2001 Olympus began to make noises about a professional five megapixel Four Thirds format digital SLR, two years after that in June 2003 they revealed the E-1. After much hinting, several 'accidental' leaks and some four and a half years, Olympus has today announced the ten megapixel E-3 professional digital SLR. We had been promised an E-3 before embargo to enable us to produce a preview but that for reasons best known to Olympus this fell through so all we can provide you with is a press release, specs and a couple of images. Body only price will be £1099 in the UK. (22:00 GMT)
If the four colors in which Olympus offers its tough little µ 790 SW don't quite float your boat, there's no need to panic. There is now a fifth option in the form of this fetching shade of lime green. Guaranteed to attract the attention of any (conscious) subject you should choose to aim it at, the camera also promises exclusivity with a mere 5000 to be distributed across Europe. The pricing should remain the same as the 'standard' edition. (12:40 GMT)

Canon has given the world a glimpse of its lens development program, unveiling two all-new super telephotos. First up we have the EF200mm f/2L IS USM - aimed at portrait and indoor sports photographers and the seeming successor to the legendary 200 f1.8L USM (discontinued in 2004). The EF800mm f/5.6L IS USM meanwhile slots above the current 600mm f/4L, whose performance it is said to surpass. Further details on the lenses are scant but they are due to be shown at the PhotoPlus Expo in New York City from October 18-20. (10:15 GMT)
Monday, 15 October 2007
Jobo today announced its latest portable storage device - The GIGA one ultra - promising doubled transfer speeds compared to the previous GIGA one. This means up to 5.47 MB per second or 1GB in around three minutes. The new device will be available in four capacities ranging from 40 GB to a whopping 200 GB with US pricing expected to be $149 - $329 depending on capacity when it arrives in stores at the end of October. Europeans can expect to pay the same figures in Euros. More after the jump. (15:05 GMT)
Thursday, 11 October 2007

Just Posted! After a longer than anticipated delay we're finally all set up to start posting reviews again, starting with one we've had sitting around for a while now, Sony's ultra compact Cyber-shot DSC-W80, an ultra-slim 7.2MP model with 3x zoom and HDTV output. And for those of you waiting for our reviews of the current 'headline' cameras - fear not; they're well under way! (21:45 GMT)
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
The Photo Marketing Association (PMA) has released an initial list of exhibitors for PMA 2008, to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada between Jan. 31 and Feb. 2 next year. With over 600 exhibitors occupying a floor area in excess of 12 acres, the show promises to be as hard on the feet as ever. Click through for the concise list with links to the full line-up. (13:30 GMT)

DIGITAL CAMERAS

E-3
HANDS-ON PREVIEW: Olympus re-enters the high-end SLR camera market with the 10-megapixel E-3, a mid-size SLR with a new autofocus system, a faster, more durable shutter, and a big, bright viewfinder. We had a some hands-on time with a prototype Olympus E-3. It had an impressive feel, good control placement, and snappy performance. The Olympus E-3's 11-point autofocus is all new, each point a double-cross type sensor for greater accuracy, and this digital camera's optical viewfinder is bigger than most of its competition, a big plus for a Four-Thirds camera. Of course, since it's an Olympus digital SLR camera, the Olympus E-3 has Live View mode, now made more versatile with the addition of a swiveling LCD to help you compose images from more angles than ever. Click here to see our Hands-On Preview of the Olympus E-3 digital SLR camera.

Res: 10.1mp
Storage: CF I, CF II, xD
Retail Price: $1,699


Kodak
EasyShare Z885
The Kodak Z885 is a bargain-priced digital camera, so you'd think it would have a long list of trade-offs and compromises. But the Kodak EasyShare Z885 has some surprising features, like a 5x optical zoom, Smart Scene modes so you don't have to tell the camera what it's looking at, and very high ISO sensitivity. And though it looks big, the Kodak Z885 is smaller than most digital cameras that use AA batteries. Interestingly enough, the staff split on the Kodak Z885. Some found it an excellent digital camera for vacation photos, others didn't approve of the Kodak Z885's idea of cooperation in Macro mode and low light. See our review of the Kodak EasyShare Z885 digital camera and decide for yourself.

Res: 8.1mp
Zoom: 5x
Storage: SD, SDHC
Compare Price: $152-215

Sony
Cyber-shot DSC-W80
The Sony W80 is a compact bargain, including the hottest digital camera technology Sony has introduced in its 2007 lineup. With its new Bionz processor the Sony Cyber-shot W80 delivers faster face detection technology, High ISO, Super SteadyShot, in-camera editing, and even adds an HD output socket. Among the Sony W80's practical features are a no-nonsense, attractive design, and an optical viewfinder. The Sony W80 camera does give away detail to hold onto color at higher ISO settings, but most users won't mind that tradeoff, particularly if 4x6 prints are all you're looking for. Click to see our review of the Sony Cyber-shot W80 for a close-up look at one of Sony's more popular digital cameras.

Res: 7.2mp
Zoom: 3x
Storage: MS Duo, MS Pro Duo
Compare Price: $205-254

Nikon
Coolpix S200
Nikon's Coolpix S200 is a very slim, very simple take-along digital camera that's modest and stylish at the same time. While you won't find manual exposure controls on the Nikon S200, you will find some Nikon digital camera specialties like Best Shot Selector, D-Lighting, and a One-Touch Portrait mode. The Nikon S200 also has an Interval Time Shooting option for time-lapse photography, and the camera can serve as a digital voice recorder, capturing up to five hours of audio. We found the Nikon S200 appealing for its size and portability, but had some issues with its images. Click to see the Nikon Coolpix S200 review for more!

Res: 7.1mp
Zoom: 3x
Storage: SD, SDHC
Compare Price: $155-200
Sony
Alpha DSLR-A700
Full test shots posted! We just received a production-level sample of the Sony A700 camera, and have been busily shooting all our standard test shots with it. These are now all uploaded and available via the thumbnail index page. Stay tuned over the next day or two for analysis of the Sony A700's test images and other test data, and for a collection of random Gallery photos shot with this exciting new digital camera. Get on over to the Sony A700 review page and check it out!

Res: 12.2mp
Zoom: 4x
Storage: CF I, CF II, MS Duo, MS Pro Duo
Compare Price: $1,399-1,400
Sony
Cyber-shot DSC-T20
The T20 is a stylish and inexpensive digital camera, featuring an 8 megapixel sensor, a powerful Bionz processor, smart face detection technology, and both high ISO sensitivity (to 3200) and image stabilization with Super SteadyShot. Though small, the Sony T20 can give you the big picture with its HD output for stills with built-in special effects and music. See the Sony T20 review for all the details on this affordable pocket digital camera.

Res: 8.0mp
Zoom: 3x
Storage: MS Duo, MS Pro Duo
Compare Price: $234-297