Camera manufacturers are desperate to attract attention because purchases of standalone cameras are declining. Eastman Kodak, the inventor of the digital camera, plans to get out of that business in the first half of this year. That's a pity because in January 2001, Arab News shot its first published digital photographs with a Kodak camera.
Consumers want to use a camera within a mobile phone rather than purchasing a standalone device. InfoTrends Videography End-user Survey found that consumers now even prefer to shoot video with a smartphone rather than a camcorder. However, a June 2011 comparison from Consumer Reports noted that expensive digital SLR cameras take much better shots than compact cameras or smartphones. It's the wide-angle lens, zoom and flash that make the biggest difference, especially when photographing groups or in difficult lighting situations. Specialized cameras can also take great photos in places where no smartphone can go, such as underwater.
Which brings us to the Pentax Optio WG-2, the 13th generation of Pentax's adventure cameras. It features six LED lights, a backlit 16 MP sensor and shoots underwater to 40 feet with 1080p video. The GPS version of the camera offers a newly designed GPS module that delivers a shorter time lag before GPS start-up and longer battery life during GPS activation. There's also an optional SportMount Chest Harness for hands-free HD movie capture anywhere. These cameras are great because they're designed to shoot in any environment, including dusty conditions. Software features include Pixel Track, Digital and Movie Shake Reduction, Fast Face Detection technology and a Handheld Night Snap mode that produces a single blur-free, composite image from four images of the same scene. The WG-2 models come to market in March priced between $350 and $400.
Before moving away from Pentax, let's take a quick look at the new Pentax K-01 designed by Mark Newson, one of the most successful industrial designers of our time. This camera sports the world's thinnest interchangeable lens, which means it's compatible with previously produced Pentax K-mount lenses. That’s great if you've been a Pentax fan for a long time, because you can purchase this new camera and still use all your expensive lenses. The K-01 offers a flexible ISO range of 100-25600 ensuring excellent noise-free imaging in any lighting condition. It also becomes available in March for $750 for the body alone or $900 with a lens kit.
As mentioned previously, it seems that every camera vendor has new products coming to the market. Canon has announced six new PowerShot A-series digital cameras with improved operability and budget-friendly pricing. Panasonic has expanded its ZS-Series of digital cameras and has introduced the Panasonic LUMIX ZS20, which the company claims is the world's slimmest digital camera with a 20x optical zoom lens. The camera also features full-HD video recording and built-in GPS capabilities. Nikon is touting its four new S-Series COOLPIX Cameras which offer consumers either "super-zoom or super chic" options.
And then there's Mattel, the company that's all about play. Combining play, fashion and photos with a simple click, Mattel's Barbie Photo Fashion Doll is actually a digital camera and Barbie's T-shirt is the canvas. The T-shirt has a small LCD screen on which the photos are displayed and which also serves as the viewfinder. The 5-megapixel camera is hidden on Barbie's back and up to 100 photos can be stored within the doll. There are 15 built-in frames and effects to use to customize the photos. In order to download the photos or upload other images, Barbie connects to a PC through a mini USB port hidden in her belt. The mini USB cable comes with the doll. Barbie Photo Fashion won't be available till August when it will retail for $50.
