Olympus further expanded their Stylus line today with the introduction of the Stylus 760. The all-weather, 7.2-megapixel, digital compact camera has Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization to reduce blurring due to camera shake, Bright Capture Technology to take advantage of a wide variety of lighting conditions, and a 2.5-inch Wide-View LCD with a Backlight Boost Button. "The new Stylus 760 digital camera demonstrates Olympus' commitment to style, innovation and quality photography," said Tomoko Matsunaga, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. "It appeals to stylish, sophisticated consumers who are looking for a compact digital camera with advanced technologies, such as Dual Image Stabilization, for superior image quality and an All-Weather metal body for durability and convenience."

Canon today introduced two new Powershot digital compact cameras, the 7.1-megapixel A550 and the 5.0-megapixel PowerShot A460. The two cameras share a 4x optical zoom lens, a 2-inch LCD screen, and a DIGIC II image processor. The A550 also has 11 preset shooting modes and 30 fps VGA video recording capability. “The new PowerShot A550 and A460 digital cameras deliver an exceptional value to the consumer,” says Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager of the Consumer Imaging Group at Canon U.S.A., Inc. The cameras will retail in mid-February for $199.99 and $149.99, respectively.

Sony announced today the addition of four new models, the DSC-W55, DSC-W35, DSC-S700 and DSC-S650, to their popular Cyber-shot® line of digital cameras. The highly compact DSC-W55 and DSC-W35 models will have a 7.2-megapixel image sensor and a Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar lens. The W55 will come in a variety of colors, including Caribbean blue, pale pink, elegant black and sleek silver, and have a 2.5-inch LCD screen. The W35 camera will have a metal body and 2.0-inch LCD screen. The DSC-S700 and DSC-S650 cameras will also have a metal body, 7.2-megapixel image sensor, and 2.4/2.0-inch LCD screen. All four cameras will 3x optical zoom capability, blur-reduction technologies (ISO), and plenty of internal memory. Prices range from $150 (S650) to $200 (W55). Should be in stores by February.

Sigma's new DP1 high-end compact digital camera shares the same Foveon 14-megapixel X3 sensor (2652×1768×3 layers) as it's DSLR cousin, the SD14. The Foveon sensor is rather unique, with three layers of photo sensors designed to absorb red, green and blue light at the appropriate depths. As with the SD14, the camera should be capable of outstanding color reproduction.

Canon's flagship Powershot G7 is one of those new compact cameras that thinks it's a digital SLR. With a 10-megapixel resolution, brand new DIGIC III image processor, compatibility with auxiliary lenses and EOS speedlites, and an ISO up to 1600, it is easy to see why. Of course, as a compact, it also offers some features you might expect, such as a high resolution movie mode (1024 x 768), 2.5-inch LCD display, 6x optical zoom, and a relatively light-weight 11 ounce body.

The Samsung NV10 compact digital camera, with a 10.1-megapixel CCD sensor, 2.5-inch LCD display, built-in pop-up flash, lens starting at f2.8, and an ISO up to 1000, is one of an entire generation of new super-compacts offering much higher resolution and photo quality than ever before.

On the back of the camera, along side the 2.5-inch LCD color display, is the new Smart Touch feature, which allows users to interact with the camera's menu system simply by touching (not pushing) a series of buttons. The NV10 uses a Schneider-KREUZNACH lens for superior quality images. To provide natural-looking photos, the lens has multiple coatings to minimize ghost or flare effects. The NV10 is also equipped with an advanced shake reduction (ASR) system that helps produce sharper images under low-light conditions.