Camera Makers Use CES To Unveil Key 2010 Products

By Greg Tarr On Jan 7 2010 - 8:00am

International CES will take on a more important role as a number of camera manufacturers use the venue as their primary winter showcase.

Following a difficult 2009 in most areas, camera makers are lowering prices and building more value into their products than before.

Some of the cameras slated to debut this year include the following:

Canon USA will unveil four new models positioned at the entry level as part of its PowerShot A series. Models include the 10.1-megapixel A490 ($109 suggested retail) and A495 ($129, the company's lowest priced camera to date).

Both have 3.3x zooms (37-122mm 35mm equivalent) and 2.5-inch LCDs rated at 115,000 pixels. The more expensive A495 is available in three colors (silver, red, blue) while the A490 is silver only.

The A495 also has additional Smart Auto modes (18 vs. 13), Auto Rotation for vertical images during playback and a face-detection self-timer. Of note is the fact that all the new models are compatible with SDXC cards, which have the potential to reach 2TB of storage, compared with the 32GB maximum of SDHC media.

The new PowerShot A3000 ($149) and A3100 ($179) feature lithium-ion batteries instead of the AAs used by all previous A-series cameras. The smaller batteries result in thinner form factors, according to the company.

The A3000 is 10 megapizels while the A3100 is 12 megapixels. The pair has 4x zooms (37-150mm 35mm equivalent), higher-quality 230K-pixel 2.7-inch LCD screens and optical image stabilization. The A3000 is only available in silver while the A3100 will be offered in three colors. All four take 640 by 480-pixel VGA clips at 30 fps and ship at the end of February.

Kodak is unveiling four new digital cameras, including an ultra-thin digital camera with a touchscreen viewfinder.

Kodak's Slice Touchscreen ($349 suggested retail) digital camera features a 3.5-inch widescreen LCD, 720p/30 fps HD video capture, 14-megapixel resolution, 2GB of internal flash memory, Optical Image Stabilization, Smart Capture that instantly detects and adjusts the correct scene mode, and Kodak Perfect Touch technology that ensures more vibrant color and richer detail automatically.

Olympus will present new FE- and Stylus-series models, including the Stylus Tough 3000 all-weather model.

Shipping in February at a $230 suggested retail, the camera will offer 720p high-definition video capture, creative features including Magic Filter, and AF tracking to keep subjects in focus.

It is said to be the first of several Stylus Tough cameras planned for 2010.

Features include AF Tracking that keeps fast-moving subjects in focus, while continuously adjusting brightness; a 3.6x wide-angle optical zoom (28-102mm equivalent in 35mm photography, f3.5-5.0); and Tap Control, which enables making settings while wearing gloves.

It will be available in red, pink, blue and green, and is said to be shock-resistant, waterproof and cold resistant.

Also on tap is the Olympus Stylus-7030 ($200 estimated street retail) and Olympus Stylus-5010 ($200) point-and-shoot digicams. Each will ship in February at $200 estimated street retail, and will offer 720p HD video capture, 14-megapixel still resolution, creative features including Magic Filter, AF tracking, Dual-Image tracking and in-camera panorama.

The Stylus-7030 offers a 7x (28mm–260mm equivalent) lens, and color options of titanium, blue and purple.

The Stylus-5010 has a wide-angle 5x (26mm–130mm equivalent) zoom lens, and titanium, light blue and pink color options.

The company will also unveil two FE-series models in the FE-4020 ($150 estimated retail) FE-47 ($120), which were said to be designed for all ages and skill levels.

Both offer 14-megapixel resolution, a 5x optical zoom lens, tracking technology that locks subjects in focus and continuously adjusts focus and brightness, Magic Filter, Pop Art, Pin Hole, Fish-Eye, Drawing and Intelligent Auto.

The FE-4020 is available in warm gray, pearl white, light pink and light blue; the FE-47 is available in silver, black, red and blue.

Samsung will unveil its first hybrid mirrorless camera with the functionality of an SLR and form factor of a point-and-shoot.

The Samsung NX10 camera body measures 4.84 by 3.43 by 1.53 inches and weighs 0.75 pounds without lens.

Features include: a 14.6-megapixel APS C-sized sensor (CMOS type), which is said to be 40 percent larger than sensors used in competitive Micro Four Thirds models, for greater resolution.

Video is recorded in 720p/30 fps HD resolution using the H.264 codec. Video playback includes a built-in HDMI port.

The camera includes an advanced video AF system with up to 200ms speed, and a Supersonic dust-reduction system that cleans the view by shaking the image sensor up to 60,000 times.

The NX10 will be equipped with a 3-inch AMOLED screen, and will have access to an array of K-mount interchangeable lenses, including a 50-200mm zoom, an 18-55mm zoom and a 30mm fixed focal length.

Other features include an electronic viewfinder (EVF) and built-in pop-up flash.

Sony is unveiling seven digital still cameras in the Cyber-shot line.

All cameras in the 2010 line will have a core feature set including: iAuto, which detects eight scenes and optimizes camera settings; Smile Shutter face detection technology that remembers specified faces and captures them naturally; and Easy Mode, which simplifies the camera menu.

For the first time, all new cameras will include dual memory card slots supporting both MemoryStick and the SD/SDHC memory card formats.

Highlights include the DSC-TX7 (shipping in February at a $400 estimated retail), which features a 10-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor with improved low-noise night shooting, 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD, 4x zoom lens with 25mm wide-angle capability, AVCHD 1,920 by 1,080/60i FullHD video capture, HDMI output and Optical Steady Shot image stabilization. It is available in silver, blue and red.

The DSC-HX5V (March, $350) offers a 10-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor, 3-inch LCD, 10x zoom lens with wide-angle 25mm capability, 1,080/60i FullHD video, Active Steady Shot and HDMI output.

The Exmor R CMOS sensor technology enables advanced features: Intelligent Sweep Panorama, Backlight Correction (High Dynamic Range (HDR) and low-light performance. Other features include GPS + compass capabilities, Transfer Jet wireless connecting, Optical SteadyShot, iAuto and Easy Mode.

Other new Cyber-shot models include:

The S2100 ($119) will add to the core feature set: AA battery power, 12 megapixels, 3x zoom, 3-inch LCD, standard-definition video capture and digital SteadyShot image stabilization.

The camera will be available in a choice of silver and black.

The W310 ($149) will target repeat camera purchasers by offering a slim form factor, ease of use and a wide-angle lens. It features 12-megapixel resolution, SD video capture, 2.7-inch LCD, digital SteadyShot and a 4x zoom lens with 28mm lens. It will be offered in three colors: silver, black and pink.

The W330 ($169) features a slim form factor, 14-megapixel resolution, 4x Carl Zeiss lens with 26mm wide-angle lens, SD video capture, digital SteadyShot and is available with a loop-track design in a choice of silver, black, red and pink.

The W350 ($199) offers the smallest form factor in both width and height It features 14-megapixel resolution, a 2.7-inch LCD, 4x Carl Zeiss lens with 26mm wide-angle lens, Sweep Panorama, 720 HD video capture, and optical SteadyShot image stabilization. It is available in a metal silver and black two tone color.

The W370 ($229) offers a compact form factor and features 14-megapixel resolution, a 3-inch LCD, 7x Carl Zeiss lens with 34mm wide-angle lens, Sweep Panorama, 720 HD video capture, HDMI connectivity and optical SteadyShot image stabilization. It is available in silver, black, green and red.