2008 spring preview

Cameras and camcorders

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Digital cameras and camcorders

In 2008, we expect to see Advanced Video Codec High Definition camcorders (and, most important, their supporting software) finally appear ready for prime time. We also expect to see a lot of strong competition for veterans Nikon and Canon in the entry-level and midrange digital SLR camera markets.

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Product

Type of camera or camcorder

Price and availability

The outlook

Canon EOS Rebel XSi	Consumer dSLR	$799 (body only); $899 (single lens kit) April	The update to the popular Rebel series bumps up to a 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, and includes a new AF sensor for (theoretically) improved focus performance, and a switch to SD flash media.
Canon Vixia HF10	Prosumer HD camcorder	$1,099; April	Canon's first flash-based HD camcorders--the HF10 and its less-expensive sibling, the HF100-- deliver excellent HD video quality and performance in a tiny package.
Canon FS11	Consumer camcorder	$599; April	Canon first flash-based standard-definition models--the 16GB-internal FS11 is joined by the 8GB FS10 and the SDHC - only FS100 -- incorporate Canon's new Advanced Zoom technology, which takes a 37X zoom stalker lens and turns it into an ever stalkier 48X zoom.
Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd	Budget megazoom digital camera	$249.95; April	Fujifilm's replacement for its popular S700 increases the pixel count from 7 megapixels to 10 megapixels and extends the zoom with a 12x optical, 33-396mm f/2.8-5.0 Fujinon zoom lens. It still lacks optical or mechanical image stabilization.
Kodak EasyShare Z1012 IS	Budget megazoom digital camera	$249.95; April	A 10-megapixel, 12x zoom camera with optical image stabilization; Kodak claims ultrafast shooting performance on this model.
Olympus Evolt E-420	Consumer dSLR	$499.00 (body only); $599.99 (14-42mm lens kit); $699.99 (25mm f/2.8 lens kit); May	Olympus updates its entry-level model with an even more compact body and an improved Live View shooting experience.
Pentax K20D	Midrange dSLR	$1,300 (body only); April	The K20D introduces a new 14.6-megapixel CMOS sensor from a Pentax-Samsung joint venture, along with a few tweaks over the K10D, including, according to Pentax, improved sensitivity for the image stabilization and a slightly larger LCD with improved off-angle viewing.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W300	Compact point - and - shoot camera	$349.99; May	With the W300, Sony takes the W200 up to 13.6 megapixels.
Sony Handycam HDR-SR12	Prosumer AVCHD camcorder	$1,399; May	This upgrade to Sony's top-of-the-line hard-drive camcorder will likely define the market for the year. It has a 5-megapixel ClearVid CMOS sensor with a 10.2-megapixel photo capture mode and a 120GB hard disk.

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