You’ll get about two minutes of recorded video on the built-in flash RAM and about 75 minutes with the SD card. The camera works in regular light and automatically switches to night mode with the sun goes down. A ring of infra-red LEDs around the lens will illuminate your subject no matter the level of darkness.

It’s got a 2-inch LCD display on its back side and is powered by four double-A batteries. You hook it up via its USB connection. It’s got a trigger-type record button and a full set of display control buttons at the rear. Downside: a fixed focus lens.

Buy for $80 from Amazon

The trouble with digital cameras today is that they want to throw everything and the kitchen sink. We want a camera that just shoots awesome pictures.

May we point your viewfinders in the direction of the Olympus Pen E-P1. Sporting the same sleek style first created in the same film camera introduced in 1959, it feels like a camera should: weighty (3.2 pounds) but not heavy, and small enough to fit in a coat pocket. The attain the smaller size, Olympus had to ditch the optical viewfinder for a 3-inch LCD display (a separate lens comes with a clip-on viewfinder).

The camera’s SLR-quality sensor produces good low-light shots, and the camera comes loaded with useful features, including image stabilization and a digital leveler.

Boasting a 12.3 megapixel sensor of SLR-quality, the E-P1 comes fully compatible with a vast range of Olympus’s lenses, but comes standard with a 17mm f2.8 lens. It also shoots HD video (1280×720 pixels) and a rate of 30 frames per second.

Buy Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 for $900 from Amazon

Like sticking a pencil in your eye, nothing is more excruciating than having to watch other people’s holiday photos. But if you’re forced into doing it, it might as well be fun and easy. That’s where the Nikon S1000pj comes in. It’s the first compact camera to come with a built-in pico projector.

Hit the button and it’ll beam the pics and hi-definition video held within onto a wall at a size as small as five inches and as large as 40 inches, and it will project from about six feet away with 10 lumens brightness. Nikon says the camera’s projector will work for an hour before its battery runs out. I can think of hundreds of situations where something like this could come in real handy like a bar where there’s a bunch of people and you’ve got a blank wall or on the back of an airplane seat to show a small crowd.

As for its basic digital camera capabilities, it can capture photos with over 12-megapixel resolution, it’s got a 5x wide-angle zoom lens, a 2.7-inch LCD screen, accepts SecureDigital (SD) memory cards, has built-in automatic scene-detecting capability, and it lets you edit images directly on the camera like brightening an image or rotating a photo.

You’re going to see a lot more of these type of cameras with built-in projection in 2010. For now, it’s the first.

Buy for $429 from Amazon

How many holidays pics do you have that you’ve commented “I’m not in this one because I was taking the photo”? Not any more with the IPT-DS1 Party-shot Automatic Photographer from Sony. It’s a newfangled camera dock that takes photos for you.

It pans 360 degrees and tilts 24 degrees, automatically detects faces and adjusts composition. Compatible with the DSC-WX1 and DSC-TX1 Cyber-shot digital cameras only, the Party-shot is mountable on nearly any tripod, so you can set it up in a convenient location in your home, especially when you are entertaining. With two AA batteries, it captures photos for up to 11 hours and is portable, so you can enjoy taking pictures outdoors.

Buy the Sony IPT-DS1 Party-shot for $150 from Amazon

Buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 for $306 from Amazon

Buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 for $327 from Amazon

No room in your carryon for a fancy and bulky SLR? This is the sexy sliver of a packet camera that has state-of-the-art features.

The Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Digital Elph is Canon’s first touchscreen pocket camera that boasts 12.1 megapixels and shoots HD video. At less than an inch thick, it’ll slip into a tiny gap in a briefcase or purse.

It has a 3-inch touchscreen (new for ELPHs) and an ultra-wide 24mm lens with a 5x optical and 4x digital zoom, shoots 720p HD video with an HDMI output connector for easy playback of video and photos on HDTV’s and Optical Image Stabilization.

It’s also known as the Digital IXUS 200 IS in Europe and as the IXY DIGITAL 930 IS in Japan. It comes in silver, blue, purple and gold.

Buy the silver model for $328 from Amazon

Buy the purple model for $330 from Amazon

Buy the blue model for $330 from Amazon

Buy the gold model for $323 from Amazon

It’s that simple.

And just like computer makers have learned they can’t market GHz forever, so to have camera makers realized that megapixels are already meaningless.

Which is great news, because it means camera makers are actually being forced to invent creative offerings and not just inflate a meaningful statistic to convince buyers to upgrade.

Case in point: the Fujistu Finepix Z33WP.

Waterproof digital cameras are nothing new, they’ve just generally been a cut below a regular camera: bulky, no zoom, sub-par sensors.

But not the Z33WP! With a 3x optical zoom, a 10 megapixel sensor, and a package not much larger than other portable point-and-shoots on the market today, the FinePix Z33WP is the obvious choice for any shooter looking to expand their reach from land to sea.

Buy for $141.94 from Amazon, in Green, Pink, or Black

The G11s resolution is 10.0 megapixels, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s a sub-standard camera compared to last year’s model at 14.7MP. Its CMOS sensor – something Canon pioneered way back in 2000 – compensates by performing better in low light conditions, meaning better overall photo quality, less noise and less blur. (You’re going to start seeing a lot more CMOS-based, low-end consumer cameras now that manufacturing costs have come down and their capability has gone up.)

But what turns me on the most about this camera is the addition of its pull-out, swivel 2.8-inch LCD display, which has been a signature of Canon’s PowerShot A series for years. Translation: While you get shots at different angles in perfect composition, the guy next to you is straining his neck like a giraffe to get the shot of Madonna over the heads of her screaming fans in front of you. Get the picture?

Other features include a 5x lens, optical image stabilization, a 28mm (equivalent to 28-140 mm) wide-angle lens, optical image stabilization, VGA video capture, SD/SDHC card slot and full manual controls with RAW support and a hotshoe.

Buy for $500 from Amazon

Its lens has actual focal lengths of 4.9 to 22.5mm, and 35mm-equivalent focal lengths of 27mm to 124mm and includes optical image stabilization for when you’re taking that shot of you and your girlfriend in a drunken stooper.

It’s got face detection capability and records standard or high definition movies with sound at 30 frames per second in H.264 format, with a maximum resolution of 720p. It stores images on a MicroSD/MicroSDHC card format, or in 55MB of built-in memory.

It hasn’t got an optical viewfinder, but it almost negates having one with its “Smart Gesture” feature. Want to delete a pic? Trace an X on the 3.5-inch display. Rotate it? Draw a circle. You’ll start seeing features like this in other cameras soon.

Buy for $350 from Amazon

Small, rugged, waterproof, shockproof, dustproof (kidproof), 12.1 megapixels, Leica lenses, blah, blah, blah. But then he said, “Aside from being a still camera, it also shoots high definition video.” Then I got interested.

It’s the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1S. It uses the AVCHD (MPEG-4/H.264) Lite format which records video in 1280 x 720 resolution at 60fps. He then showed me on his PC some video he had recorded and I was honestly impressed. It nicely fits a middle ground between compression/space and video quality using SD-SDHC cards. One of its best features is that in HD movie mode you’ve got the ability to zoom while recording. Oh, and some video he shot underwater off the Caribbean was incredible looking…sharp, vibrant, good quality.

It’s got a 28mm wide angle lens that fits nicely for most consumers and a 4.6x optical zoom. An intelligent auto mode automatically detects scenarios and loads presets so that you don’t have to sift through its collection of 27 modes.

Finally, he dared me to drop it (hard) on its dining room tiled floor. I took him up on it FOUR TIMES and this camera suffered nothing but a small scratch. I’m sold.

So, bottom line…this camera is versatile, especially if you’re an outdoorsy person and your rough on your gadgets. Great still pics and fantastic video. This is a great camera that can stand up to anything and stand up to the competition too.

Buy for $339 from Amazon

Everyone else takes a “whatever” approach, buys traditional disposable batteries, and is pleased with their low cost and plentiful power.

Seeking to bridge that divide is a new generation of rechargeable battery with super-low discharge (SLD) technology, like the Sanyo Eneloop batteries.

Traditional rechargeable batteries only hold their charge for a short period of time, meaning when you need the battery most it probably doesn’t have the charge you’re looking for.

But batteries with SLD only lose about 10 percent of their charge every 6-12 months, meaning you can store them away and not worry that they’ll be dead when you need them.

Sanyo Eneloop AAA 4-pack for less than $10

Sanyo Eneloop AA 2-pack with USB Charger for $15

Sanyo Eneloop AA 4-pack for $13

or if you want a charger than can switch-hit and more, pick up the La Crosse BC700 for around $25, which can charge AA and AAA sizes at the same time and gives you real-time charge info, too.

The brand new Nikon Coolpix P90 features a zoom equivalent of 26mm-624mm and optical VR stabilization to keep shots looking sharp. Sure, there’s probably some distortion in the corners from a zoom that size, but who cares—this thing is impressive.

Other specs include: a 12.1-megapixel CCD, a massive 3-inch tilt LCD, motion detection that automatically adjusts the cameras settings to capture action shots, and Nikon’s Smart Portrait system that detects faces, fixes red-eye, and detects blinks.

If you’re willing to knock the capture resolution down to 3-megapixels, a couple other impressive features become available, including ISO 3200 and 6400 settings and the ability to capture 45 shots over 3 seconds (that’s 15 frames per second for those who never learned long division).

Pre-order for $399.99 from Amazon, shipping in March 2009

In high school, a decade ago now (ugh), I remember buying a Casio computer watch from onsale.com, back when that site was one of the first auction houses on the Web. This wasn’t your typical dorky square digital computer watch, this one looked like a regular round analog watch—and functioned as one—until you flipped up the face James Bond style to reveal a tiny keypad and screen.

It got me some attention, but unfortunately not much from the opposite sex (I graduated a virgin—can you believe it?).

I don’t know if it’s because that watch broke just a few months later, but I’ve always been skeptical of the Casio brand. It’s like the Radio Shack of electronics companies: huge brand recognition, but you can’t really ever name anything unique that they make. And you always feel like you’re not getting a very good deal.

But damn if Casio’s Exilim digital camera line isn’t trying to prove itself worthy to stand alongside the Sonys, Canonons, and Nikons out there.

The new EX-FC100 looks like pretty standard fare:

9 megapixels
• 5x optical zoom with image stabilization
• 2.7-inch LCD
• 720p (1280×720) movie mode
• 1000 fps capture

Wait—720p movie capture? 1000fps? HD movie mode is a rarity on point and shoots, and 1000fps is downright insane. And that’s why we want the EX-FC100: it’s the only camera that can pull that trick off.

Pre-order for $399.99 from Amazon. Shipping in March.

In case you don’t speak Nikon acronyms, let me translate the above for you: this is the last SLR lens you’ll ever buy.

With a focal range of 18-200mm, this lens is perfect for photos both close and far away. Most SLR’s ship with an 18-55mm lens, and many people add a 55-200mm lens to their kit, but with this one Nikon lens you can have the best of both worlds in one lens that you never have to change.

You also get Nikon’s Vibration Reduction, which ensures those 200mm photos turn out sharp, even if your hand’s not the steadiest.

Don’t believe it’s the best out there? Read Ken Rockwell’s glowing review. We just ordered ours, so what are you waiting for? Pick one up at Amazon for just $639 (it was over $800 a year ago).

Want three free 4GB SDHC cards? Now you’re talking.

How’s this mistake of capitalism work? Easy. Pick up three of these quality memory cards for $19.95 each from Adorama (via Amazon).

Then grab this SanDisk rebate, which sends $60 back your way in the form of a Visa giftcard when you buy three memory cards.

What you’re left with is 12GB of flash memory that cost you -$0.15 once your gift card arrives (after 8 weeks or so).

Yes, this a no-brainer.

Features include:

• 15.1 MP sensor
• HDMI output (Mini) for viewing on HDTVs
• ISO speed up to 12,800 (this is huge)
• a refined 3.0-inch Clear View LCD (920,000 dots)
• new DIGIC 4 Image Processor
• uses Compact Flash Type I or II memory cards
• shoot up to 6.3 fps, in bursts of up to 90 JPEGs or 16 RAW files
• Peripheral Illumination Correction
• Updated EOS Integrated Cleaning System
• It takes movies. Yes, movies from an SLR.

I’m just salivating over this camera. Seriously.

If you’re new to DLSRs, you should only consider two cameras from Canon right now: The Rebel, and this 50D. Either go cheap, or go big. The 50D is going big… and while at $1300 – $1,600, it may feel a lot more expensive, you’ll still be using the 50D in 5 or 10 years, and you’ll outgrow your old Rebel will grow old in a year old two.

And for you true newbies to DLSRs, the new Creative Auto mode will probably help you learn how to use a SLR in manual mode, or at least get a lot of the power out of the SLR that you normally wouldn’t get, if you never learn how to shoot in manual mode, and is something I’m looking foward to playing with.

Pick up a Canon EOS 50D (Body Only) or the Canon EOS 50D kit with a 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS lens. You won’t go wrong with either.

If you have the extra cash, pick up a Battery Grip and some extra batteries too. You will want them at some point.

Out of the box, with no special accessory, the Stylus 1030 SW can endure drops of up to 6.6-feet and can go as deeps as 33-feet underwater. It’s also freeze-proof (to 14° F) and can withstand up to 220 pounds of pressure—so go ahead and eat that extra slice of pizza with the camera in your back pocket.

The Stylus 1030 SW is as much brains as it is brawn, too, with a 3.6x wide-angle zoom lens, 2.7-inch LCD, and 10-megapixel sensor.

Pick one up for as little as $316 from Amazon in black, silver, or green.

The Zi6 is sure to make a huge splash when it hits store shelves in October, for two reasons:

1. It captures video at 720p and 60 frames per second. Yes, it’s a real HD quality video camera that truly fits in your pocket (dimensions are 2.5 × 4.5 × 0.9 in.) unlike the Canon TX1 that “fits” in your pocket, but is a little bulky, to be honest (though we’re pretty sure it takes slightly better quality photos than the Zi6 will).

2. It only costs $179.99. That’s right… well under $200 for an HD quality video camera. You really can’t beat that.

PC users will get some software from Kodak that will let them edit and upload their video direct to Youtube, while Mac users will love that the video comes is captured in standard h.264 video format, meaning you can just dump it into iMovie, and away you go. It’ll also take still photos, so you don’t have to carry three camera’s with you just to capture all your shots and video.

It also supports up to 32GB SDHC memory cards, meaning you can expand it to capture hours of video, versus the lower time limits on the all-in-one Flip or Vado.

The Kodak Zi6 is powered by “AA” batteries, so you should never run out of power, and it comes with two rechargable AA’s and a wall charger. If you find yourself out of power, just grab two more Duracell AA batteries at a local store, and you’re back in business.

I can’t wait for this thing to hit the shelves.

Pre-order it on Amazon.com for $179.99 right now, and be one of the first to own it when it ships.

Oh, and pick up some big SDHC memory cards while you’re at it:

Try a 32GB SDHC memory card from PNY for around $130 or get these excellent 16GB SDHC memory cards from Transcend for around $60

(And yes, the HC part of the SDHC designation is important. It’s what makes the cards work for video at these large sizes… they’re faster than standard SD memory cards, so keep that in mind if you’re shopping at Fry’s or something and think you see a ‘good deal’.)

On balance, the design is really just a variation of SanDisk’s Ultra II SD Plus, which also sports a built-in USB connector but has what amounts to an attached cap for that connector instead of a removable one, like the A-Data Duo.

Still, we dig the design and welcome more competitors in this space, as its bound to only drive prices down (these dual-use SD cards command a premium of around 50% compared with regular SD cards).

A-Data’s site has woefully little information about the Speedy SD Duo, and lists capacities at only 1GB and 2GB. But GizFever is selling the following: 2GB for $28.99, 4GB for $42.99, and 8GB for $106.99 (prices include shipping).

Depending on where you shop, those prices are about the same as the SanDisk Ultra II SD Plus for the 2GB and 4GB, and more expensive for the 8GB.

We like the integrated USB cap design more and the SanDisk name generally stands for higher quality than A-Data, but to each their own.

We’re big fans of Canon’s PowerShot Digital Elph series, which are consistently well constructed, pack good performance, and have the best user interface among this class of cameras.

Canon’s PowerShot SD870 IS is particularly attractive, primarily because it offers something few competitors do: a built-in wide-angle lens.

The 28-105mm range means you won’t have to be as far away from your subjects to fit everything into the frame, which for most people probably happens more often than the need for an ultra long zoom. Still, the 3.8x optical zoom makes the SD870 IS plenty capable of snapping subjects from afar, and the optical image stabilization means those long-distance shots have a good chance of coming out clear.

Other great features:

• 8-megapixel CCD
• 3-inch LCD
• 15-1/1600 sec. shutter speed
• DiG!C III processor
• Face detection auto-focus

Another great thing about the SD870 IS is that it’s not part of Canon’s latest line-up of cameras, which means you can save big money without sacrificing much performance (and it’s still the best Elph with a 28mm lens). Amazon stocks the silver version for $247 and the black one for $261. Both prices are roughly $200 less than what the SD870 retailed for it when it first came out last year.

The set matches the 6-megapixel waterproof ReefMaster Mini with the SL960 external flash, an essential piece of gear to capture the true colors of the sea.

Also included is a deluxe soft case to keep everything together.

The ReefMaster Mini Pro Set sells for $449.95 from Amazon, or pick it up for the same price from LeisurePro and get a free 1GB SD card and 130 free digital prints.

Feel like you need something a little beefier? Check out SeaLife’s DC800 Pro Set (available $799.95), which includes a better 8-megapixel camera and an upgraded flash.