Spring Fashion Show for Digital Cameras

Usually cameras are on the shooting side of the fashion runway, but today in Las Vegas, as the Photo Marketers Association Conference begins, the cameras are taking center stage.

What are the standouts? DSLR cameras that give camera buyers who want to go beyond just point-and-shoot are practically raining on the show. But here's a secret, it's the mid-priced cameras that are getting more professional without the bulk. Features like with HD-quality images and the ability to shoot in low light with long zooms are becoming under-$300 items. Even the entry-level cameras are packed with new features like high-speed burst mode.

New features that make the camera hyper-aware of its surroundings include face and smile detection, and get this… blink detection. Another breakthrough is geocoding—the camera's ability to know, not just when (date), but where (GPS coordinates) you took the shot. This is one of the most innovative years in camera features sets since automatic scene selection.

Meet the DSLRs and their little cousins

There's a blurring line between high-end point-and-shoot cameras and DSLRs, but typically DSLRs look much more like traditional film cameras and have interchangeable lenses. They are faster at starting up and focusing, and much better at taking pictures in low-light conditions. They're also larger, heavier, and more expensive.

Pentax and Sony both have new DSLR cameras. The top of the line Pentax K20D offers 14.6 megapixels and uses a CMOS sensor, which is said to be more sensitive to light than the alternative CCD sensor. Sony announced its DSLR-a200, an easier to use entry-level DSLR with a 10-megapixel sensor and compatibility with the full line of Minolta accessories. Canon's Rebel, one of the best-selling DSLRs, has a new generation called the 450D Digital Rebel XSi, featuring a 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3-inch LCD, and great wide-angle shooting.

The Fujifilm FinePix S100FS is shaping up as a great alternative for those who want telephoto capabilities. It's got an 11-megapixel Super CCD sensor and a new lens that goes from 28mm to 400mm (based on a 35mm equivalent).  In keeping with that theme, Olympus is unveiling what it claims is the world's first digital compact camera with whopping 20x optical zoom. The Olympus 10-megapixel SP-570 UZ is compact, but has DSLR-like features. Kodak also announced its compact high-zoom camera with image stabilization. The Z1012 IS, a 10 megapixel camera with a 12x optical zoom, claims the fastest click to capture of any camera, plus it automatically adjusts for scene detection so you don't have to futz with adjusting for backlighting and other hazards of getting the shot. The camera will sell for $299.

Compact Cameras

For those who don't want to drop $700 plus on a DSLR or tote around a bulky camera, the choices are plentiful and fun. One of my favorites (at least in specs) is the Pentax Optio S12. According to the company it's one of the smallest 12-megapixel cameras yet, but with features like high ISO sensitivity and anti-blur included. Expected price is $280. Sony's new W-series Cyber-shot® digital cameras incorporate Sony's "smile shutter" mode. Olympus' slim Mju 1010 includes smile detection as well. It fires off a three-shot sequence when a smile is detected. It's the new GE's E1050 that has blink detection. You'll get an alert if your subject had his eyes closed. The E1050 tosses in just about every feature on a checklist, from HDTV playback of videos and stills (meaning that the 16:9 aspect ratio is used), touch-screen controls, and a GPS to keep track of where you shot your photos. It's expected to cost $250.

Fujifilm is setting the pace for face detection. The FinePix F100fd ($399) will come with Fuji's Face Detection 3.0 technology, which not only detects human faces more quickly (as little as 0.35 seconds), but detects as many as 10 faces:  even if they're moving or at extreme camera angles.

For Bargain Hunters

Bargain hunters won't be left out either. One of the best buys of the season will be Panasonic's 8.1-megapixel Lumix DMC-LS80 with a 3x optical zoom. It can run on two AA batteries. Cost? $150. Canon's PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital ELPH ($249) has similar specs to the Lumix and adds image stabilization and a variety of colors to last year's ELPHs. Fujipix's new J-Series cameras are extraordinarily thin. The J10 and J12, both with 8.2-megapixel sensors and a nice sized LCD, cost $150.

No fashion show would be complete without the diva. The Fuji Z100fd ($269) commands your attention. It's gorgeously flat and compact, but has a 2.5 inch LCD. It's available in a choice of three colors, and  includes a nifty blog mode to automatically resize an image for uploading to the web. That, plus an infrared wireless transfer, makes this the camera for photo bloggers ($199).

Remember, new cameras are just a fraction of what PMA attendees will be seeing. And these are just a handful of them. Be on the lookout for news of camcorders, cell phone cameras, printers, and a world of scrapblogging news.