High-tech product releases: cameras of all shapes and sizes

High-tech product releases announced the week ending February 8 include a luxury retro-looking compact camera for seasoned photographers, a DSLR for beginners, the world's thinnest 24mm lens camera, a camera with an exceptionally long zoom, and a pocket-sized camera that captures superb images in challenging low-light conditions.

A classic-looking camera built by photographers for photographers
The look of Fujifilm's FinePix X100 Premium Digital Camera may be influenced by retro design but inside, the company has packed in modern technology that will delight even seasoned photographers. The FinePix X100 has a 12.3 APS-C CMOS sensor (that's 10 times the sensitivity of a conventional compact), the ability to capture in RAW format, HD 720p Movie mode, a 23mm Single Focal Length Fixed F2 lens, a 2.8" LCD,  and the world's first Hybrid Viewfinder. The FinePix X100 digital camera is priced at $1,199.95 and will be available in March.

A DSLR with intuitive features and a built-in instruction guide for new photographers
Canon's new EOS Rebel T3i is a flagship camera built to help new users learn how to use the impressive features of a Digital SLR device. The camera comes with its own built-in Feature Guide that provides instructions to help recommend and explain various settings as you snap away. The camera also has a 3" Vari-Angle Clear View LCD screen, an 18MP sensor, an intelligent Automatic Mode, creative image filters and 1920x1080 full HD video capture at 3 frames per second. The Canon EOS T3i Digital SLR will arrive in March. The body-only configuration will be priced at $799.99.

A pocket camcorder that redefines camera design
Casio's TRYX pocket camcorder has a strikingly different design to other camcorders on the market. It has a variable frame design that rotates 360 degrees so users can capture images from just about any angle. it has a rotating 3" touchscreen LCD and its design means you can hang the camera on a hook, rotate it to stand on its own or record full HD 1080 video with your left or right hand. Features include a 12.1 MP CMOS sensor, HDR imaging, high-speed SR zoom and slow-motion video capture. The Casio TRYX will be available in April for $249.99.

The world's thinnest camera with 24mm lens
Canon's PowerShot ELPH 300 HS is the world's thinnest camera with a 24mm wide angle, 5X optical zoom lens. The camera measures just 19.5mm in width and comes bundled with Canon's new HS System, technology that enhances image quality in low-light settings and has the ability to record full 1080p HD video with Dynamic Image Stabilization. Extra features include Smart AUTO for hassle-free automatically selected settings, artistic image filters, a 2.7" LCD screen and a 12.1 MP High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor. The PowerShot ELPH 300 HS will be available in mid-March for $249.99.

A compact camera with a 'super-zoom'
The new Nikon Coolpix P500 has a 36x wide-angle optical zoom, the longest zoom ever used in a Coolpix camera. The camera has a Nikkor lens, a 12.1-megapixel sensor, an "exceptional image stabilization system," an in-camera HDR function and the ability to capture full HD 1080p movies with stereo sound. The Nikon Coolpix P500 will be available from March for $399.95.

A pocketable camera that excels in low-light conditions
Nikon's Coolpix P300 is the company's first compact digital camera to feature a super-fast wide-angle 4.2x Zoom Nikkor glass lens, giving users the ability to capture beautiful pictures in challenging low light conditions. The Nikkor lens is teamed with a 12.2 MP sensor, manual controls, ISO sensitivity up to 3200, a 3" LCD display, and Expeed C2 image processing. The Coolpix P300 will be available in March for $329.95.