technology

These high-tech devices offer features and capabilities that will capture the imagination of photography enthusiasts.

As each new digital-camera model piles on the megapixels, and few distinguish themselves from the crowd, there’s some good news: A renaissance of sorts is under way, with new digicams packing all sorts of extra features designed to let you do more (like shoot high-definition video) or free you from your PC (for instance, by editing photos right in the camera). The result? Some of the most impressive cameras we’ve seen are hitting the market as we speak. Here are six of the most intriguing.


Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS
$250, usa.canon.com



If you have shaky fingers—or are trying to photograph shaky subjects—blur reduction is an absolute must. Luckily, Canon’s PowerShot SD1100 IS features one of the most rock-solid image stabilization systems on the market, regularly turning out crisp images of running children and from-the-hip shots snapped at a moment’s notice. The eight megapixel lens and 3x optical zoom are about average for the industry, but more than enough for the casual shooter. As a bonus, the camera’s available in five handsome yet muted, pastel-like colors.







Nikon D60
$750 (with lens), nikonusa.com

Don’t be intimidated by larger, professional-grade cameras. Nikon’s entry-level D-SLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera makes taking high-quality shots simple. With a bigger body comes a world of extra photographic opportunity, including a burst-shot mode that nabs three shots per second (for up to 100 images total), a
blazing fast shutter response, a dust-reduction system inside the camera, and an onboard help menu that makes the 10.2-megapixel D60 accessible even to users who’ve only fiddled with disposable cams in the past. Did you mess up the perfect shot? The D60 lets you edit photos in the camera to reduce red-eye and fix colors.




Casio Exilim EX-S10 -- Editor's Pick
$250, exilim.casio.com




If portability is the critical selling point for you, look no further than the Casio Exilim EX-S10, the slimmest 10-megapixel camera (just 17 millimeters) on the market. But not everything in the camera is tiny: a colossal, ultra-bright 2.7-inch LCD fills the back panel, so eyeballing your shot is a snap. Videophiles will also love the “prerecord” mode that’s part of the video shooting system. Just aim the camera, and prerecord constantly captures video, letting you “back up” to record what happened up to five seconds in the past once you hit the shutter button. This way, you won’t have to waste hours of footage in the hopes of catching your kid making a basket, while never worrying that you’ll miss the shot.



Olympus Stylus 850 SW
$250, olympusamerica.com

Kick it, drop it, submerge it, freeze it. Whatever you put it through, the Olympus 850 SW survives, offering detractors visual proof of your icy underwater exploits. Available in five colors, this eight-megapixel camera is ultra-durable without being overly bulky—and, well, ugly—the way rugged, waterproof cameras tend to be. This camera is freezeproof to 14ºF, shockproof to five feet, and waterproof to 10 feet: Not good enough for swimming with sharks, but perfect for a waterlogged trip to see Shamu. Another handy feature: A soft LED illuminates subjects when you’re not allowed to use a flash, or when you want to get up close and personal without blowing out the image.



Fujifilm FinePix Z20fd
$200, fujifi lmusa.com


Fuji Film has a long history of offering cameras with solid features at rock-bottom prices. The FinePix Z20fd is the latest in that line, a svelte, streamlined and colorful camera that bargain hunters will love. Aside from the color options, the 10-megapixel lens is the centerpiece here, but some interesting additional features also impress. Want to find a specific picture out of the dozens you took last week? Check out the Micro Thumbnail View, which wallpapers the LCD with thumbnails of the last 100 shots you took, letting you pick out just the one you want.




Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5K
$350, panasonic.com

The Lumix is more than a still camera; it’s a moviemaking powerhouse that just might replace your camcorder. The DMC-TZ5K captures high-definition video
(1280x720 pixels) at 30 frames per second, virtually unheard-of in the world of pocket cameras. A full three-inch-diagonal LCD makes seeing what’s happening easy, and the 9.1-megapixel still camera is nothing to sneeze at either. But perhaps best of all is the Lumix’s incredible 10x zoom lens (most other digicams muster just 3x), which will let you capture Junior’s expression from across the room.




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Kodak ESP3 Photo Printer
$130, kodak.com


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CHRISTOPHER NULL is a freelance technology writer in San Francisco.