PMA Has A Few Surprises

What else is Hot?

While the sizzle, growth, and profits have been in the Digital SLR segment for the past couple of years, the Point-and Shoot cameras still account for the greatest sales volume. The hot topic everywhere in PS is Face Detection, where the small sensor cameras can find and lock-in on faces in shapshots.

New models with variations on the face detection theme were everywhere. Several new models from Sony can use face detection to distinguish between children and adult faces, or they can carry it even further by refusing to take a picture unless the child in the scene is smiling. Sony calls this selectable feature “smile shutter”.

Panasonic pushes the face detection to new heights, with the ability to recognize up to a combined 15 faces anywhere in the frame. The face-detection system can then insure that shooting parameters are selected to keep all 15 faces in focus.

All of these new P&S cameras seem to be featuring some form of anti-shake to help keep pictures sharp and Auto ISO and everything else to improve shooting in lower light. The PS models are not challenging Digital SLR cameras for speed, low-light capabilities, or high image resolution. However, manufacturers are adding everything they can think of to make the P&S models as easy as possible to just point, click and come away with decent snapshots.