Picture Perfect: Digital Cameras
Industry trend: Coveted 5-megapixel digital cameras, such as the Canon PowerShot S50, just dipped under $400--something most of us thought was impossible a year ago. See PC World's review of the Canon PowerShot S50.
Expect falling prices to continue in 2004, especially on 3.2-megapixel (and lower) models. Concord Camera will be introducing new 3- and 4-megapixel digital cameras for under $200 at Winter CES 2004.
Manufacturers seem to be focused on packing more features into a smaller and lighter casing, and making camera-to-computer interfaces, smart menus, and controls easier to use. Look for more powerful optical zooms and scads of automatic features and on-camera manual controls to make snapping sophisticated pictures easier.
The HP Photosmart 935 ($350) is another example of an affordable 5-megapixel camera. Check out PC World's review.
If you're willing to trade megapixels for style, you'll pay about the same for the ultracompact Minolta Dimage Xt ($225 and up), a 3.2-megapixel cutie, because of its radical thin, square design and built-in zoom that eliminates waiting for the lens to telescope out. See PC World's review of the Minolta Dimage Xt.
For the best bang for your digital bucks, Gateway is offering a 2-megapixel camera, the DC-T20 Digital Camera, for $99, and a new price-busting 4.1-megapixel DC-M42 and (larger-size) 5-megapixel DC-M50 camera--both cameras recently dropped in price from $250 to $200. If you don't mind sending back an arsenal of mail-in rebates, Gateway is currently tossing in a free Epson Stylus CX3200 multifunction printer (along with 100 sheets of Epson's high-gloss photo paper).
Check out PC World's Top 10 Digital Cameras.
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