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Fujifilm has emphasized an ability to smoothly handle HD images and video with its FinePix S2550HD fixed lens digital camera. Look for the S2550HD camera to be available later in March at an MSRP of $249.95 in black only.

The S2550HD (also called the S2500HD and S2600HD in some parts of the world) will shoot HD video at 720p. It also includes a mini HDMI port to easily pass your video and images to an HDTV.

In addition, Fujifilm has included an 18X optical zoom lens (28mm-504mm equivalent), a 3.0-inch LCD, dual image stabilization, and 12 megapixels of resolution. At just under $250, the S2550HD is a strong contender for beginning photographers looking for power beyond the typical point and shoot camera.

The Camera & Photo Imaging Show -- CP+ for short -- will hold its first event March 11-14 in Yokohama, Japan.

The show, sponsored by the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) of Japan, will highlight products related to photo imaging entertainment, photo shooting, photo viewing, and photo sharing. CIPA includes companies such as Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, Nikon, Casio, and Canon.

Even though there have been dozens of camera announcements already in 2010, it's possible we'll see some additional announcements at the CP+ event. If so, I'll keep you updated in my blog during the next few days.

Japanese Camera Show Begins Soon originally appeared on About.com Digital Cameras on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 12:31:17.

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Panasonic has announced two new cameras aimed at DSLR users that make use of the Micro Four Thirds system of interchangeable lenses.

The Lumix DMC-G2 DSLR camera (pictured here) includes a touch screen, 3.0-inch LCD that allows you to shoot a photo simply by touching the screen. The touch screen also is important in managing the camera's auto-focus system.

The Lumix DMC-G10 DSLR model is a compact camera aimed at those looking to make the move from a point and shoot camera to a DSLR model. The G10 includes many automatic modes (aimed at making photography as easy as possible) as well as manual modes.

Pricing and availability will be announced at a later date for the G2 and G10. Once these cameras are closer to being sold, I'd guess they'll make my list of the best new Panasonic cameras, so check back. Panasonic announced last year plans to increase the market share of its digital cameras in the United States, and these models have enough great features that the company is clearly moving toward that goal.

If you like the style of Harley-Davidson motorcycle brand products, you now can bring that look to your digital camera, thanks to a partnership between Harley-Davidson and Olympus.

Olympus has just begun offering the limited-edition leather camera cases, which feature the silver studs, buckles, and chains common with Harley-Davidson brand items. Harley-Davidson themed leather cases that also fit PDAs, GPS devices, MP3 players, and cell phones also are available from Olympus.

In addition, Olympus has made a few other announcements recently:

• A new beginner-level camera, the Olympus T-100, has been announced, and it will carry an MSRP of $99.99. It's available directly from Olympus and a few other companies. (Compare Prices)
• Another recently announced Olympus point and shoot camera, the FE 4030, is similar to the FE 4020. They differ slightly in the type of image sensors they use and in their lists of scene modes. Both cameras even carry the same MSRP of $149.99. (Compare Prices)
• Japanese group Olympus Corp. president Tsuyoshi Kikukawa told Reuters this week that his company is hoping to expand its market share in DSLR cameras from 5% to 20% in three years, thanks in part to its Micro Four Thirds System lenses and cameras like the PEN E-PL1.
• Fast Company magazine has named Olympus a "most innovative company" in the consumer electronics division.

Photo courtesy Olympus

As most major camera manufacturers have done, Panasonic has released more than a dozen new digital cameras in the past 12 months, both point and shoot cameras and DSLR cameras.

In my list of the best new Panasonic cameras, I've selected the best of the new Panasonic cameras, all at a variety of price points, such as the Lumix FP1, pictured here. Hopefully, this list will help you when you're shopping for a new Panasonic camera.

I also previously created a list of the best new Nikon cameras, and I'll have "best of" lists for each manufacturer coming in the next several weeks. Just click the links above to see the lists.

Finally, as a bit of a "housekeeping" note, when I published my "best of" Nikon list, I also introduced you to a new About.com feature: "Show and tell," where readers can share their experiences on various topics. You gave a great response to the "show and tell" for discussing the story behind your first digital camera. There's still plenty of time for you to add your story to the list. Just click the link above to read the stories and add your own.

Most of my recent blog posts have dealt with introducing you to newly announced and released cameras, but I thought I'd take a break from new product posts to share an interesting story about some enterprising students in Beaufort, S.C.

The Beaufort Gazette Web site reports that the high school students attempted to take photographs of space using a digital camera hauled about 110,000 feet above the earth by a weather balloon. They packed the point and shoot camera in Styrofoam with a radio transmitter and a satellite GPS unit, attaching the entire package to a parachute. Once the camera reached its maximum altitude and the weather balloon deflated, the students hoped the camera would float back to earth with the parachute.

Unfortunately, soon after launch, the radio and GPS signals were lost, and the students could not find the camera after it returned to earth to recover it.

The students are hoping to raise enough money to make another try at the experiment.

As part of the recently completed PMA 2010 trade show, the Worldwide Community of Imaging Associations has released its U.S. Photo Industry 2010 forecast report, and it contains some interesting information regarding the American photography market for the upcoming year. The forecast says:

• 22.7 million point and shoot cameras and 2.1 million DSLR cameras are expected to be sold in the United States in 2010.
• About 80% of U.S. households own digital cameras.
• The average digital camera replacement period in the United States is 3-4 years.
• U.S. digital camera sales in 2010 should be slightly less than in 2009, but a percentage increase in sales is expected in 2011, thanks in part to more replacement cameras being sold.
• Americans will make 13.9 billion photo prints in 2010, about one-third of which will be made at home.
• The number of photos taken with an average camera phone in 2009 was 12 times less than the number of photos taken with an average digital camera.
• The overall market value of cameras, printing, and photo publishing in the U.S. will be more than $10 billion.

Report: 25 Million Digital Cameras to Be Sold in U.S. in 2010 originally appeared on About.com Digital Cameras on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 12:48:17.

Although I haven't had a chance yet to try any of the PEN DSLR models of cameras from Olympus for a review, I'm expecting to have a chance soon ... and, with the way things are going, I'll have a lot of different options.

Olympus recently announced the third camera in the PEN family, called the E-PL1. The E-PL1 is the least expensive of the PEN models to date, as Olympus will offer it for sale in March at an MSRP of $599.99 (Compare Prices) with a starter lens (14-42 mm equivalent). It'll differ from the PEN E-P1 and PEN E-P2 in camera body color, too, as the E-PL1 is available in black, champagne gold, and slate blue. In addition, the E-PL1 offers a built-in, pop-up flash unit, which was not available on the other PEN models.

Samsung's DualView TL225 camera was one of the most interesting models introduced during 2009, thanks to its dual LCD screens. Samsung is hoping to continue the success of the TL225 with its recently announced DualView TL210 camera.

The TL210 includes a 3.0-inch LCD on the back of the camera and a 1.5-inch LCD on the front. The smaller LCD can be used to frame self-portraits or to improve the results of self-timer photos.

The TL210 includes a 5X optical zoom lens, which offers limited wide angle capabilities, along with 12.4 megapixels of resolution.

I'm anxious to see how the TL210 works compared to the TL225, which was an impressive camera. Look for the TL210 model in March. Official pricing will be set later.

Photo courtesy Samsung

DualView TL210 Available in March originally appeared on About.com Digital Cameras on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 12:14:28.

Among its recently announced cameras, the Exilim EX-Z550 from Casio appears to be positioned as a bargain-priced model. When you can find 14.1 megapixels of resolution in a bargain-priced camera, as you can with the Z550, it's a good time to be shopping for a camera.

You'll find Casio's Premium Auto technology with the Z550, through which the camera automatically analyzes many aspects of the photo -- such as background, scene, faces, subject movement, and tripod use -- to select the best settings for proper exposure.

The Z550 will include a 4X optical zoom lens with limited wide angle capabilities. It has only a 2.7-inch LCD, which is smaller than many new cameras. Casio has not yet announced a release date for the Z550, which should be available in black, pink, red, silver, and blue (pictured here). Pre-order pricing places the Z550 at around $170. (Compare Prices) With all of the cool features on the Z550, that seems to be a nice starting price.