Digital Camera Technology

Most digital cameras will need a separate accessory or housing so that it can be taken on underwater photo shoots or dive expeditions.  Housing and underwater accessories can be very expensive.  So why spend so much money on buying the accessories and camera separately when you can buy already underwater digital cameras?  It was only about two years ago that manufacturers started to realize that this was a possibility.  But only a handful has really tried to put out a product that has a very small market.  Still, there are a few options out there, and the cameras aren’t that bad either.

Pentax

One of the first and few companies to take the underwater digital cameras seriously was Pentax, a global leader in various optical equipment and products.  They developed one of the first underwater digital cameras that did not need a housing accessory in order for it to be used while submerged in water.  The camera itself is packed with a 7 mega pixel sensor and can be used underwater for up to 30 minutes and as deep as five feet.  It can even take very high quality shots with a blur reduction mode built in.  The camera also has a movie mode allowing one to record underwater movie footage.  Of course, there is no microphone or speaker and the large 2.5-inch LCD is more than enough screen for a review while snorkeling.

Sealife

An unknown digital camera company, Sealife makes digital cameras for exactly that purpose: underwater photography.  So it comes to no surprise why their underwater digital cameras are probably some of the top selling ones in the market today since it is their expertise.  The Sealife DC500 is one of their underwater digital cameras.  It has a shake elimination feature conveniently called Shark Mode.  For what this camera can do at 5 mega pixels and with two flash modes (land and sea flash), this camera is a steal for just under $500.

Casio

It wasn’t long before Casio joined in to see if they could get into a fad that just hasn’t quite picked up even until now.  Nevertheless, they were more than willing to add their input and their underwater digital cameras to the market.  The problem is that although it is marketed as a good underwater digital camera, it still needs a special housing for it to be able to be submerged in water.  The Exilim Zoom EX-Z1000 was born and is probably the most powerful of marketed underwater digital cameras to date.  Underneath its compact exterior, the camera uses a powerful 10 mega pixel sensor.  It also features a much larger LCD screen at 2.8-inches and an anti-shake feature that promises even better shots while swimming around a reef.

There aren’t so many options for one looking for underwater digital cameras that don’t need extra housing accessories.  The ones out there, however, are worth every cent and you can be assured that more underwater digital cameras will make there way to the market provided there is a lot of noise coming from underwater aficionados worldwide.

When it comes to slim design and outstanding functionality, nobody knows about it better than Casio. One of the first companies to introduce a line of compact slim cameras to the world, Casio’s line of Exilim digital cameras are as successful today as when they were first launched. One of the slimmest offerings on the market today is the Casio Exilim Z1050. The Casio Exilim Z1050 packs as much punch as some pretty well known DSLR’s on the market but is small enough to fit in any shirt pocket.

Thin Is In

Today’s market is one that is becoming more mobile and that is exactly what Casio had in mind as they developed the Casio Exilim Z1050. Its dimensions come in at a mere 90×57x24 mm and it weighs in at 125g, which makes this camera much heavier than a stack of credit cards but just as small. Able to fit in any shirt pocket and any small spaces in hand bags or attaché cases, this is the camera that will definitely be on the road more than any other model on the market.

Small Yet Powerful

If anything, the Casio Exilim Z1050 may skimp out on a lot of advanced features but this is only because of its diminutive size. However, it is not a camera that should be underestimated. The Casio Exilim Z1050 packs a monstrous 10.1 mega pixel CCD sensor, and shoots macro up to 10 cm in range. With auto and manual focusing abilities, the possible scenarios for usage are endless. The Casio Exilim Z1050 also sports a large color TFT LCD display at 2.6 inches, can record videos with sound, and a system that includes multi-pattern, center-weighted and spot metering. Given its size, the Casio Exilim Z1050 has a modest 3x optical zoom, but the size of the cameras sensor indicate that shots are virtually pain-free and should result in high-resolution pictures. A high-speed shutter system is also built into the Casio Exilim Z1050, pushing this compact camera’s features just a tad over the edge.

Simple

The one thing that most digital camera consumers look for is a hassle-free, point and shoot that can get the job done. Casio has done well to release their line of Exilim’s, especially the Casio Exilim Z1050. Not only can it do the job with an attractive 10.1 mega pixel sensor, it does all that in a stylish package that is definitely a winner for the fashion conscious. The camera has an auto tracking function that makes the sensor “follow” moving subjects while keeping them continuously in focus. The results, of course, are sharper and blur free images. The battery that comes with the purchase of a Casio Exilim Z1050 is good enough to last one 370 shots at a full charge. This is very impressive and more shots can be taken depending on the size of the SD memory card that can be purchased separately. The great thing is that if you don’t have the budget to get a memory card yet, you need not fret because the camera has built in 16MB memory therefore it can be used out of the box.

It was once believed that 5 mega pixels would be the lasting standard for all digital cameras in the world.  This is almost similar to Bill Gates saying that 64kb was all computers ever needed.  The fact is that digital camera manufacturers all over the world are pushing their own standards to their limits.  And this can’t be said more about the point and shoot variants that are available in the market today.  Let’s take a look at a few 10 mega pixel point and shoot cameras that are pushing the envelope for average photographers.

Sony Cybershot N2

It was only about a year a half ago that the 5 mega pixel craze hit the entire planet and Sony was there every inch of the way.  They promoted all sorts of products that were hopefully going to be the leaders and standard in mega pixel quality.  Today, Sony joins the race with others in making 10 mega pixel point and shoot cameras just as successful as the once famous 5 mega pixel variants.  With the Cybershot N2, Sony has proven that you can pack that much power into such a small package.  This little compact monster has an amazing touch screen interface in the form of its massive 3.0-inch LCD screen.  A free-spot focus feature is one of the gems of this product.  All one has to do is select a desired area to focus on and the camera will do as it’s told.  Stylish and powerful, this 10 mega pixel point and shoot camera is causing waves in every resellers shop.

Canon Powershot SD900

The first thing that you will notice about any Canon camera is the solid build.  It’s an unmistakable trademark that Canon is built with some kind of metal that gives off just how solid it is.  The PowerShot SD900’s body is titanium and if anything, it is nice and shiny.  A huge 10 mega pixel point and shoot sensor isn’t obvious from this tiny camera.  With the standard 3x optical zoom and movie mode that Canon offers, it’s obvious that they are playing it safe with innovation this time, providing their market with a toy that’s just like the older models, only a lot more powerful and precise.  With all the 10 mega pixel point and shoot offerings from Canon, the Powershot SD900 is not one that will be easily ignored.

Casio Exilim Z1050

Casio was one of the first companies to put out some of the highest quality slim digital cameras in the market.  The Casio Exilim Z1050 is no exception.  Still retaining many of the physical features of its predecessors, the Exilim Z1050 is probably one of the thinnesr cameras in the 10 mega pixel point and shoot category.  With 10.1 effective mega pixels, it’s a camera that will fit in any small space like pockets in bags or shirts.  It’s stylish and commands its own kind of respect; the kind that will attract the market to its fair price as well.  Expect more models of this kind from Casio and the Exilim series.

With all the stiff competition in the digital camera market, it is difficult for the consumer to choose just the one product that he or she will be using for the next couple of years. Let’s face it; all the new ads on digital cameras make you drool for the products. But you can’t purchase everything you see because not all the products are as good as they are marketed to be. Here’s a look at the top digital cameras by brand and in the market.

Sony

Sony is kicking off the year to a good start with their release of the H7 and the newly released H9. So what’s the difference? The H7 sports an 8.1 mega pixel sensor, 15x optical zoom and 30x digital zoom, HDTV output, and a 2.5 inch LCD display. The only difference is that the H9 has a 3.0-inch display. This may be something that you have to think about. If you are into larger displays the H9 will be perfect. Otherwise, you can save a few bucks and spend it on the slightly cheaper H7.

Canon

Some of the top digital cameras can be found in the guise of Canon’s steel-bodied marvels. They are known for their IXUS models, compact cameras that pack the power of some of the best professional cameras of other brands. Canon’s latest offering, the Canon Powershot S5 IS, is an 8 mega pixel monster with a DIGIC III Image Processor that helps with reducing blur in images and sharpens it while letting out colors more vividly than originally taken. With a 12x optical zoom and a 4x digital zoom, the camera will also be welcomed for its face detection auto focus which allows the camera to “know” that it needs to take a picture of a person face and not something farther off. The other advantage is that it uses standard AA batteries which are available in any department store; no more worries about looking for special batteries.

Casio

The team at Casio is also not to be outdone; the company is known for its brand of super slim cameras known as the Exilim. They recently just released one of their top digital cameras, the Exilim EX-Z75. An update to the EX-Z70, the camera still sports a 7 mega pixel sensor, a large 2.6-inch display, 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom; all packed in the slim casing that the Exilim is known for. Canon’s EX-Z75 is the perfect pocket camera to bring around on short trips. It’s easy to use and the quality of photographs is definitely something you won’t have to worry about.

These are a few of the top cameras that are available by some of the top brands in the world. Naturally, all the digital camera companies are whipping out their top digital cameras for their share of a market that’s expected to boom in 2008. If you still can’t figure out what brand you can trust, take a load off and head down to your nearest reseller. Test the cameras first and imagine how it can fit into your lifestyle.