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LAS VEGAS -- Four digital camera makers introduced higher-resolution digital cameras at the Photo Marketing Association show here. Canon, Konica Minolta, Nikon, and Olympus all announced 8-megapixel cameras aimed at advanced photographers.

The new cameras are expected to ship this spring and to be priced around $1000. At a time when image quality increasingly depends on factors beyond the number of pixels, the new cameras' claim to fame is an 8-million-pixel, 2/3-inch CCD that will yield a resolution of 3264 by 2448 and a file size of up to 23MB.

The camera manufacturers say they cannot disclose the chip maker, although Sony currently is the only vendor that makes an 8-megapixel CCD. It was used in Sony's own $1000 Cyber-shot DSC-F828 camera, which was introduced last summer.

Below is a rundown of the new entries.

Canon PowerShot Pro1

Canon unveiled its PowerShot Pro1, which has a black metal body, a rubberized right-hand grip, and a myriad of pro-level controls. It has a large 2-inch LCD and the company's L-series f/2.4 to f/3.5 lens with a 7X optical zoom (28mm to 200mm in 35mm film equivalent). Users will be able to zoom in on subjects by twisting the lens ring.

For macro mode, photographers will be able to close in at 3.9 inches, and when the camera is set to 5-megapixel resolution, they will be able to go even closer at 1.2 inches, Canon says. Users will have the option to capture photos in either RAW or JPEG formats, as well 640-by-480-resolution videos with sound at 15 frames per second for up to 30 seconds per clip. In addition, the Pro1 offers 12 shooting modes including landscape, portrait, and night scene.

The camera will come with a 64MB CompactFlash card, a rechargeable lithium ion battery and charger, a remote control, a lens hood and 58mm filter adapter, and USB and AV cables. The Pro1 will be available in April for $999.

Konica Minolta DiMage A2

Konica Minolta's new Anti-Shake technology is the key differentiating feature of its 8-megapixel DiMage A2. This new feature enables the CCD to stabilize an image if the photographer inadvertently moves the camera during a shot.

Anti-Shake keeps images steady at telephoto ranges where blurriness can be more apparent, according to Konica Minolta representatives. The feature will also benefit shots in low-lighting conditions without relying on a high ISO setting or a tripod.

Konica Minolta has developed a CCD-shift mechanism where the CCD rests on a movable mount. When the camera's motion detectors detect movement, the mount shifts accordingly.

The DiMage A2 offers 64MB of internal memory, video capture at up to 544-by-408 resolution, a 7X optical zoom lens (28mm to 200mm in 35mm film equivalent), and a 1.8-inch, tiltable LCD. It can capture both RAW, TIFF, and JPEG file formats.

The camera will include a lithium ion battery and charger, Ulead VideoStudio software, a lens shade and cap, and AV and USB cables. The A2 will be available in March for $1099.

Nikon Coolpix 8700

Nikon's 8-megapixel Coolpix 8700 will offer a set of useful photographic features including an autofocus-assist illuminator that will help the camera focus and produce sharp pictures in difficult compositions and low-light environments.

The 8700 will also allow users to capture up to five continuous shots in the highest resolution setting (3264 by 2448 pixels) at 2.5 frames per second, as well as record 640-by-480-resolution videos at 30 frames per second.

In addition, the camera will feature a new time-lapse movie mode that will enable users to take a series of still images at specified intervals (30 seconds to 60 minutes) and then stitch the photos together to create a QuickTime movie at roughly 30 frames per second. The camera will save pictures in RAW, TIFF, and JPEG formats, and macro photography can be shot as close as 1.2 inches.

The 8700 has an 8X optical zoom lens (35mm to 280mm in 35mm film equivalent), 12 scene modes, and a swiveling 1.6-inch LCD. It will come with a rechargeable lithium ion battery and charger, a lens cap, and AV and USB cables. Nikon plans to ship the camera in March at a price of $999. Nikon previewed the Coolpix 8700 in January.

Olympus C-8080

On top of the 8-megapixel CCD, the Olympus C-8080 features the company's TruePic Turbo image processing technology that promises to boost the camera's start-up and playback speeds as well as decrease shutter lag.

The camera will offer a handful of manual features as well, including and aperture range of f2.4 to f8 that will be adjustable in 1/3 or 1/2 increments. Shutter speed will range from 1/4000 of a second to 16 seconds. The C-8080 will also feature 10 shooting modes including sports, landscape, and night scene.

Olympus representatives say you will be able to take sequential shots at 1.6 frames per second. The camera will capture photos in both TIFF and JPEG formats and will be able to record videos in Motion JPEG format.

The camera will offer 5X wide-angle zoom lens (28mm to 140mm in 35mm film equivalent), a 1.8-inch LCD, an external external hot shoe for attaching optional flashes, and two types of memory card slots--one that is compatible with an xD Picture Card and another for CompactFlash.

The C-8080 will come with a 32MB xD Picture Card, rechargeable lithium ion battery and charger, remote control, lens hood and cap, and AV and USB cables. Olympus plans to ship the camera in March for an estimated price of $999.