It’s that time of year when camera types the world over get all het up about the latest killer kit, with the annual PMA trade shindig just round the corner. But with so many new snappers to choose from, which ones truly stand out? Here’s our pick of the very best peepers coming to a gadget emporium near you.
Ricoh CX3
Superpower: Backlit CMOS Sensor
Out: “Shortly”, £299.99
Forget Ricoh’s vague release date for a minute. Because the CX3 promises to be an absolute winner. Its big selling point is its backlit CMOS sensor and improved noise reduction, meaning this effort should work a treat in low light conditions. And of course it has Ricoh’s retro charm, plus 10MP, 10x optical zoom and 720p video.
Olympus E-PL1
Superpower: “Live Guide” filters
Out: TBC, £TBC
The plastic take on the stunning Olympus E-P1 and E-P2, the Olympus E-PL1 has plenty to get childishly excited about. For us, the “Live Guide” feature is the biggest draw, adding filters to your snaps on the 2.7-inch LCD so you can see your handiwork take on a new light on the go. It also has a pop-up flash, HDMI and face detection. Just pray it’s cheap.
Fujifilm Finepix HS10
Superpower: 30x zoom
Out: April, £399
RAW shooting, 1080p video and super slow-mo 1,000 frames per second clips are enough to get us stoked. But the Fujifilm Finepix HS10’s is what’s drawn us in. Sure other snappers have the same feature, but not with all the added cajones. Hefty and chock full of all you can possibly need in a bridge, we’re gagging to give one a go.
Pentax Optio H90
Superpower: Eye-Fi on board
Out: February, £129.99
Ok, it’s a compact. But the Pentaz Optio H90 is not just your regular point and shoot. It crams in Eye-Fi, so you can send your snaps straight into The Cloud and share your 12MP shots with your pals in real time. The 1980s design is awesome, the 720p video a bonus and the £129.99 price tag a winner. We’ll take three.
Nikon Coolpix P100
Superpower: 26x zoom
Out: March, £349.99
Ok, it’s not quite the 30x zoom on the aforementioned Fujifilm Finepix HS10. But it is made by Nikon, so you can expect ace optics and stunning shots. Plus it has Full HD video shooting at 30 frames per second and a NIKKOR lens to make your pics look the part to boot.
