As 2011 beds down this year`s new camera models are launching. Take the Nikon COOLPIX P7000. It has that sleek, black style we associate with Nikon. It can do as much that a SLR camera could do, including a wide-angle 7.1x zoom lens, a generous 3 inches of LCD screen and high definition movie recording. It seems like yesterday that this was the stuff of Science fiction. That wide-angle NIKKOR lens goes from 28 mm to 200 mm with the best in optical Vibration Reduction built in. Nikon`s state of the art image processing system makes for powerful, fast and detailed pictures. This is a good buy for enthusiasts who enjoy the abilities of Nikon DSLR but want the ease of a compact with a mid range price tag.
Olympus has another medium priced compact on offer, the Olympus E-PL2. This is being marketed as `fuss free` photography with high quality imaging. Like the Nikon COOLPIX P7000 this is a mirror-less camera that offers DSLR quality. This is achieved by a chip that is way above average size for a standard compact. Users will find the model lightweight, easy to use, with excellent definition. The more expert photographer will be pleased to hear Olympus now have 16 Micro Four Thirds lenses plus another three conversion lenses. Furthermore the previous Four Thirds DSLR optics is attachable by an optional adapter ring. This has significantly increased the number of changeable lens, which may make investing in Olympus more tempting.
Meanwhile, at the inexpensive end of the market Kodak has released their EasyShare M550. This simple, brushed metal model offers 2.3 mega pixels, a 2.7-inch LCD and a button to share your pics with your online community. A handy little gimmick for the Facebook generation. The camera`s strengths must be its ease of use and automatic shooting. The `smart capture` function identifies and adapts to common shooting environments, (portrait, landscape, bright light, low light etcetera). Face-recognition is one of its major selling points and users can tag up to 20 people.
Another of the big players, Panasonic, has brought out the new Lumix FS33. This nifty little camera has a touch-screen 3 inches wide. The lens is wide-angle 8x optical zoom, backed up with a 14.1 mega pixel sensor, optical image stabilisation and high definition video capability. If the appearance of your snapper is important you might like the choice of bodies, in stylish black, red or silver.
At the top end of the market comes another Canon design, the PowerShot G12 . In a nutshell this for experienced photographers looking for DSLR mode inside a compact model. The menu of features incorporates mega pixel CCD sensor, optical viewfinder, RAW image capture, 2.8 inch LCD screen, 5x, 28-140 mm equivalent zoom lens, flash hot shoe and a full compliment of manual shooting modes. If that is not enough to wet your appetite it has HD video recording, hybrid image stabilisation system, multi-aspect shooting and High Dynamic Range mode.
One increasingly essential feature is the convenience of uploading shots onto desktop computers. These models come with USB cables and software enabling fast transfers and great post-production options.
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