As I wander around this week's PMA show, the digital camera mecca put on by the Photo Marketing Association, two trends emerge right away. First, camera vendors are finally busting out of their collective my-megapixels-are-more-than-yours rut and promoting features that actually improve the quality of your picture-taking, not just the size of your files. And second, people must love blue, fuschia and pink-hued cameras -- the aluminum rainbows many new models come in remind me of my grandmother's juice glasses.

Separated at birth? Fuji FinePix cameras on the left, Target Retro Aluminum Tumblers on the right.
So what new features should you be looking for in this year's digital camera crop? Canon, Panasonic and others were showing off cool facial-recognition technology that ensures your subjects will always be in focus and properly exposed, no matter what the surroundings. And motion detection and image stabilization (IS), formerly the province of high-end pro cameras and lenses, have gone mainstream. These can help compensate for the motion blur caused by shaky hands and squirmy kids. To see the difference image stabilization can make, check out this sample image from Canon:

Other common new features include bigger and brighter LCDs for framing and reviewing photos, fast sequential shooting (great for shooting sports and children), and quicker response times. The absolute best thing you can do for your candid photography is buy a camera that takes the picture when you press the button, not 1 or 2 seconds later...
For beach and snow vacations, I also like Olympus' Stylus SW line of shockproof, freezeproof and waterproof cameras. Olympus has them in the booth frozen in ice, swimming in aquariums, and bouncing down a pegboard into a puddle. Tuck one of these babies in your shorts pocket and they'll go anywhere. And yes, they come in plenty of colors too!
I'm headed back to the show now to find more goodies. Next time, we'll discuss why 8 to 10 megapixels is enough!


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Comments (5)
Any comments on buying an SLR i.e. Nikon D80?
Posted by Yvonne | February 25, 2008 6:42 AM
Posted on February 25, 2008 06:42
For general advice on features to look for in a good digicam, check out our guide to Choosing a Digital Camera.
For reviews of specific cameras, try sites like Digital Photography Review (DPReview.com) and Steve's Digicams (Steves-Digicams.com).
Posted by Becky Waring | February 25, 2008 6:51 AM
Posted on February 25, 2008 06:51
any comments on a Nikkon coolpix s50 camera?
Posted by David | February 26, 2008 12:11 PM
Posted on February 26, 2008 12:11
While we haven't tried this camera, see my comment above on the best camera review sites on the Web, as well as our guide to Choosing a Digital Camera, which talks about the most important features to look for.
Posted by Becky Waring | February 26, 2008 12:16 PM
Posted on February 26, 2008 12:16
Looking for a reliable compact camera with SD memory card,any suggestions?
Posted by David D | February 29, 2008 9:55 AM
Posted on February 29, 2008 09:55