From the bottom up, we find ourselves starting with the L “Lifestyle” series of entry-level compacts. And one S. But we’ll let that slide for now. These are the cheaper, budget-conscious models,and they are also the ones that still use AAs for power, if you’re into that sort of thing. As usual, the marketing speak in these releases is just amazing, so, far be it for us to deprive you of the joy, we’ll introduce each model with Nikon’s promo line. Starting with:

COOLPIX L810: Zoom That Goes the Distance

And that distance is 26x (22.5mm-585mm). while 585mm isn’t the most ridiculous zoom we’ve seen on a point-and-shoot this season, it’s certainly a pretty big number to see on an entry model. Other things you can see here will be VR, 19 scene modes, 720p, a 3″ 921,000 dot LCD, and a $279.95 price tag sometime this month. You can pick it up in black, red, or blue.

COOLPIX L26: The Simple Way to Great Photos and Movies

The other true L entry is aimed squarely at the idiot-box end of the spectrum, and its focus is on letting it handle everything and letting you focus on just shooting whatever strikes your fancy. There’s a 5x (26mm-130mm) zoom, 720p, and a 3″ LCD of unspecified resolution to help you in that quest, along with a price tag of a mere $119.95. You’ll find it in red, black, or silver.

COOLPIX S30: No Muss, No Fuss – Ready for Action

The sheep in wolf’s clothing of the group, this is apparently a Stylish mid-series body day-tripping as a budget entry. But don’t worry, it came prepared for some rough encounters, and is drop proof to a toddler-friendly 2.6 feet, and waterproof to 9.8 feet, which should keep it safe from the odd stumble and spill. Otherwise, there’s 10 megapixels, a 3x zoom of indeterminate range, and some unspecified HD movie recording, which we’re guessing is 720p like the others. This model is also a mere $119.95, and will come in white, blue, or pink.

Next up the ladder is the S-series (like Capcom, the S is for Stylish). This is what most people think of when they think of point-and-shoots. Also, the use of proprietary rechargeable batteries means this line tends to be a bit trimmer than the one we just covered, for those of you who prefer pockets and purses to bags.

A Fashionable Zoom for Any Occasion

This tagline is for the entry point here, the Coolpix S3300, which answers the apparently very specific call for “a cost-efficient 16.0-megapixel camera with a 6x (26mm-156mm) optical Zoom-NIKKOR glass lens.” To which we can only say: OK. 19 scene modes, optical VR, and 720p video round out the package, which’ll set you back $139.95 in silver, black, pink, purple, or red.

The Touch Screen to Set Trends

So are we introduced to the Coolpix S4300, which is eerily similar to the S3300 there, except with a 3″ 460,000 dot touchscreen on back, and a different body design. It’ll run $169.95 in plum, black, silver, red, or white.

The Super-Zoom Goes Super Thin

And that super zoom in question is the Coolpix S6300, which has a 10x optical VR zoom mounted to a 16 megapixel backside illuminated CMOS sensor (you know, that knew sensor type that does better in low-light than the traditional compact sensors do). We finally see an upgrade to 1080p video at this point, and a 180 or 360 degree easy sweep panroama mode pops up, along with a few creative shooting modes. The S6300 will set you back all of $199.95 and come in red, silver, black, or blue.

The Ultra-Zoom That Fits in a Carry-on

The top of the S lineup is the S9300, and to earn its crown, you’ll find it’s an inch and a half thick shooter that nonetheless has an 18x optical ZR zoom (25mm-450mm), the same 16mp BSI CMOS sensor from above, 1080p, and built-in GPS. Aimed at people who like traveling, it’ll leave a little room in your vacation budget, setting you back only $349.95 in black, silver, or red.

And then,we get to the P-series (P is for Power, or Performance, or Professional). And this year’s refresh is so far two models deep: the zoomy P510, and the f1.8 graced P310.

The New COOLPIX P510: Setting a Higher Zoom Standard

Remember how the L810′s 585mm equiv wasn’t the biggest we’d seen? Well, the P510 turns out a better effort, packing a 42x optical VR zoom that ambitiously covers 24 – 1000mm equivalent. Combined with a 16.1 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, about 5fps continuous shooting, 1080p, manual controls, built-in GPS, and a 3″ 921,000 dot vari-angle LCD, and you can probably figure out where the $429.95 price tag comes from. Hey, you even get a choice of red or black.

The New COOLPIX P310: Low Light, No Problem

And, for the “but, I want a camera that fits in my pocket” crowd, the S310 goes back to a compact body, and in exchange for the much more timid 4.2x zoom (24-100mm), you get an aperture starting at f1.8 on the wide end. You also get full manual controls and built-in HDR, but no raw here. A zoom-memory button is also on board, giving you quick access to popular prime lengths in that zoom range with no guessing. Otherwise, if you guessed it probably has a 16.1 megapixel BSI CMOS and a 3″ 921,000 LCD, well, you win the prize. And since we’re out of prizes, you reward is the knowledge that this camera will run $329.95, and Henry Ford would nod approvingly at your color options: black. Or black, we suppose. And, for those of you feeling a bit wild: black.

Olympus Imaging Corp. and Panasonic Corporation jointly announced the Micro Four Thirds System standard in 2008 and have since been working together to promote the standard. Now we are pleased to announce that three more companies have recently declared their support for the standard and will be introducing products compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System standard.

ASTRODESIGN, Inc., a developer of advanced imaging-related equipment, such as the 4K camera system, that incorporates the latest technology; Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd., one of the world’s leading manufacturers and developers of interchangeable lenses for digital and film SLR cameras; and Tamron Co., Ltd., an internationally renowned manufacturer of precision optics who has been providing powerful, high-quality lenses for a wide variety of fields for more than half a century. With the addition of exciting new products from these companies, the Micro Four Thirds lineup will become much more diverse, further increasing the potential of this advanced digital imaging system.

As the originator of the Four Thirds System and Micro Four Thirds System standards, Olympus Imaging Corp. will continue to develop and enhance the product lineup for both standards to meet the diverse needs of our customers.

ASTRODESIGN, Inc.

A Japanese company established in 1977 that designs and develops professional video equipment and measurement/analysis-related equipment. Well known for developing the world’s first programmable signal generator and the Ultra HDTV image processor devices used at Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan.

ASTRODESIGN, Inc. Website
http://www.astrodesign.co.jp/english/

Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd.

A Japanese company established in 1957 that designs and develops a wide variety of photographic supplies and optical products. It is Japan’s largest manufacturer/seller of lens filters.

Kenko Tokina Co., Ltd. Website
http://www.kenkoglobal.com/

Tamron Co., Ltd.

A Japanese company established in 1950 that designs and develops interchangeable SLR camera lenses, lens units for surveillance, as well as ultra-precision optical components based on the integration of advanced optical, electronic and precision machinery engineering technologies.

Tamron Co., Ltd. Website
http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/

The outlines of the standards can be checked at the Four Thirds website

http://www.four-thirds.org/en/
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/microft/index.html

So, after seeing a used Canon EOS-1D body come in this morning, I got curious to sit down and see just how bad things have become with pricing, and what features you get for those prices. And, I came up with the following information:

Nikon

Nikon was the first of the big two out with a digital SLR. The D1 was introduced in the now-dusty year of 1999, and had a massive 2.7 megapixel sensor and a price tag of $5,500 body only (1999 currency). Because getting high-yield sensors was difficult and expensive, Nikon opted to use a lesser-known film size, the APS-C standard, for its sensor size, creating the 1.5x crop factor DX format that it still uses in many bodies to this day. If we compare specs and prices adjusted for inflation, this is how it stacks up next to its newest incarnation:

Canon

Canon was a bit later to the DSLR game, coming out near the end of 2001 with its EOS-1D camera. It launched with a then-unusual 1.3x APS-H sensor packing 4.48 megapixels, and a 2001 price tag of $6,499.

As you can see, with the prices adjusted for their relative purchasing power at the time, these new pro cameras are actually notably less than their predecessors, and feature generally dramatically improved specs at the same time. The problem with pricing perceptions has a lot more to do with an inattention to the declining value of the US dollar, and much less to do with any purported disconnects from the two big manufacturers. The relative cost of these imaging machines hasn’t changed drastically over the past decade (and the change that did happen was down in relative spending power, they cost less), but the amount of technology inside has. Which is pretty much as expected from technology (last year’s price, this year’s tech).

After a rough battle for nearly the past decade with declining marketshare, Eastman Kodak has today filed in the US for chapter 11 bankruptcy. Founded back in 1892, Kodak is one of those companies that really needs no introduction, it’s such a household name. Among many products and services, Kodak has been perhaps the most successful manufacturer of photographic films, with such popular lines as  Ektar, Portra, T-max, and Kodachrome (which even got a song). Their films were so popular that to this day particularly sentimental moments are still called “Kodak moments.”

Also of particular note, both to our current field and to Kodak’s own filing, in 1975 Kodak’s research labs created the first digital camera, with a 100x100pixel sensor, and in the 1990′s Kodak produced the first commercially available digital camera bodies by retrofitting existing Nikon and Canon ones. The modern photographic landscape owes so much to work from Kodak that it’s hard to even comprehend. Even the Bayer filter, the common means of interweaving red, greed, and blue pixels on a sensor to create accurate colors, is due to Kodak.

Those interested can read the surprisingly hopeful press release after the jump, for further details on how this will affect Kodak’s operations.

Eastman Kodak Company and Its U.S. Subsidiaries Commence Voluntary Chapter 11 Business Reorganization

Flow of Goods and Services to Customers to Continue Globally in Ordinary Course

Non-U.S. Subsidiaries Are Not Included in U.S. Filing and Are Not Subject to Court Supervision

Company Secures $950 million in Debtor-in-Possession Financing in U.S.

Kodak’s Reorganization to Facilitate Emergence as Profitable and Sustainable Enterprise

ROCHESTER, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Eastman Kodak Company (“Kodak” or the “Company”) announced today that it and its U.S. subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for chapter 11 business reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

“Kodak is taking a significant step toward enabling our enterprise to complete its transformation”

The business reorganization is intended to bolster liquidity in the U.S. and abroad, monetize non-strategic intellectual property, fairly resolve legacy liabilities, and enable the Company to focus on its most valuable business lines. The Company has made pioneering investments in digital and materials deposition technologies in recent years, generating approximately 75% of its revenue from digital businesses in 2011.

Kodak has obtained a fully-committed, $950 million debtor-in-possession credit facility with an 18-month maturity from Citigroup to enhance liquidity and working capital. The credit facility is subject to Court approval and other conditions precedent. The Company believes that it has sufficient liquidity to operate its business during chapter 11, and to continue the flow of goods and services to its customers in the ordinary course.

Kodak expects to pay employee wages and benefits and continue customer programs. Subsidiaries outside of the U.S. are not subject to proceedings and will honor all obligations to suppliers, whenever incurred. Kodak and its U.S. subsidiaries will honor all post-petition obligations to suppliers in the ordinary course.

“Kodak is taking a significant step toward enabling our enterprise to complete its transformation,” said Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “At the same time as we have created our digital business, we have also already effectively exited certain traditional operations, closing 13 manufacturing plants and 130 processing labs, and reducing our workforce by 47,000 since 2003. Now we must complete the transformation by further addressing our cost structure and effectively monetizing non-core IP assets. We look forward to working with our stakeholders to emerge a lean, world-class, digital imaging and materials science company.”

“After considering the advantages of chapter 11 at this time, the Board of Directors and the entire senior management team unanimously believe that this is a necessary step and the right thing to do for the future of Kodak,” Mr. Perez continued. “Our goal is to maximize value for stakeholders, including our employees, retirees, creditors, and pension trustees. We are also committed to working with our valued customers.

“Chapter 11 gives us the best opportunities to maximize the value in two critical parts of our technology portfolio: our digital capture patents, which are essential for a wide range of mobile and other consumer electronic devices that capture digital images and have generated over $3 billion of licensing revenues since 2003; and our breakthrough printing and deposition technologies, which give Kodak a competitive advantage in our growing digital businesses.”

Mr. Perez concluded, “The Board of Directors, the senior management team and I would like to underscore our appreciation for the hard work and loyalty of our employees. Kodak exemplifies a culture of collaboration and innovation. Our employees embody that culture and are essential to our future success.”

Kodak has taken this step after preliminary discussions with key constituencies and intends to work toward a consensual reorganization in the best interests of its stakeholders. Kodak expects to complete its U.S.-based restructuring during 2013.

The Company and its Board of Directors are being advised by Lazard, FTI Consulting Inc. and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. In addition, Dominic DiNapoli, Vice Chairman of FTI Consulting, will serve as Chief Restructuring Officer to support the management team as to restructuring matters during the chapter 11 case.

More information about Kodak’s Chapter 11 filing is available on the Internet at www.kodaktransforms.com. Information for suppliers and vendors is available at (800) 544-7009 or (585) 724-6100.

Kodak will be filing monthly operating reports with the Bankruptcy Court and also plans to post these monthly operating reports on the Investor Relations section of Kodak.com. The Company will continue to file quarterly and annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which will also be available in the Investor Relations section of Kodak.com.

Up first is the Bloggie Live HD (also known by it’s technical name of MHS-TS55/S, for those of you who are more fluent in cyborg than I am). Starting with the hardware, you’re looking at a metal body, in which is housed a fixed 37mm equiv lens, a backlit Exmor sensor that does 1080p video or 12.3 megapixels for still, a 3″ touchscreen, 8GB of internal memory, a flip-out USB dongle, built-in interfacing software for Mac and PC, and a wi-fi card.

Using that wi-fi, you can do more things, like upload direct to social sites (YouTube, Facebook, etc). And going even further, it can now do live streaming (something a lot of the press could probably use out at CES this week). Honestly, this is probably the best spiritual successor to the Flip I’ve seen announced, and anyone who’s been looking to fill that hole in their life should gaze long and hard at this beauty. It might just be the way to go. Especially for the relatively painless retail of @249.97.

But, if you need something a bit more… durable, don’t worry, the Bloggie line now has you covered there, too, via the Bloggie Sport HD (MHS-TS22/L in the cyborgese). If you’re willing to trade down to a 2.7″ screen, a 5 megapixel still function, and the wi-fi, you can add on waterproofing down to 16 feet, and drop protection up to 5 feet. Which ought to make this a gem for adventuring types. For some reason I’m still thinking kayaks. I think I have a fixation, here.

And, because there’s apparently a law that waterproof things need to look sporty, the Bloggie Sport HD does indeed sport it up, though not without a certain sleekness. And it’ll do so for you in your choice of blue, red, or black (all adorned with black rubber trim). You also get to shave some scratch off the price, dipping down to $179.97 for this one.

It’s worth noting before we leave that both models also feature Sony’s sensor-shift IS, LED lights, and auto-focus with face detection. Which pretty much rounds out what you’d expect from a pocket cam.

The W610 starts us off with some pretty typical entry specs: 14megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom (28-114mm equiv), 2.7″ LCD, face detection, smile detection, blink detection, sweep panorama, dynamic range optimizer, and a rather curious “Natural Flash.” And five colors: green, black, blue, red, silver. No HD video, though. VGA only. Price will be $109.99 for this one.

The W620 is up next, and features the return of pretty much all of the above, except the lens moves up to a 5x zoom (28-140mm equiv), and the video mode goes up to 720p. You do lose some color choices here, though, with only black, red, and silver being offered. Still, if that’s fine by you, you can pick up that better lens and movie mode for a mere $10 over the W 610, or $119.99.

Lastly, we skip a few numbers ahead to the W650. And, as you might assume from such a jump, the features leap forward a bit as well. You get to keep the 5x 28-140mm zoom, but you upgrade to 16.1 megapixels. The movie mode remains stuck at 720p, but optical image stabilization makes an appearance finally. You also get a 3″ LCD. Firmware-wise, all the usual and previously mentioned Sony technologies stick around, so you can detect blinks and sweep panoramas to your heart’s content.  at least, you can if you don’t mind black, silver, or red and a $139.99 price tag, that is.

The VG-160 is the littler bro to the VG-320, at least in name. in style, it’s much more a traditional card-style compact. It’s got 14 megapixels, a 5x optical zoom (26-130mm). All pretty stalwart specs. It’s got a vaguely worded “dual image stabilization mode”, which might include sensor-shift as part of it. Either way, it gets a price point one penny under a hundred, at $99.99 initial retail. Colors here are orange, red, black, or silver.

Up next is the newest ultra-zoom (it’s like a super zoom, but with more zoom to zoom), the SP-620UZ. Interestingly, despite having the UZ moniker, this camera actually has less zoom than the plain-old SZ camera that was announced, and at this point the UZ is just telling you it uses the chunkier body style that once-upon-a-time imitated DSLRs, but has now got a different flair to it. Anyway, it’s a 21x zoom (25-525 equiv), and 16 megapixels behind that. The vaguely worded dual image stabilization strikes again, and a guded multiple shot 3D mode creeps in. If you guessed it probably has art filters, then you’ve obviously caught the hang of every Olympus camera announced since the E-P1. Street price for this guy is going to be $199.99, and you can have silver or black.

And last up is the very neat-o looking SZ-12 (seriously, Olympus has really upped its industrial design the past couple years. I approve.) This guy’s got 24x zoom (25-600mm), which ought be enough for pretty much anything. There’s a more conservative 14 megapixel sensor here, which is less good for tight crops but should help high-ISO noise a bit. The vaguely worded dual-IS once more strikes, and at this point I’m just assuming it includes sensor-shift, since it’s be unfathomable not to on a lens this size 9which makes the VG-160 up there even more enticing at that low price point). It can also chug along at a nice 7 frames-per-second. Everything else gets a yadda yadda (3″ LCD, art filters, etc), so, it’s really the lens’ show here. Well, that and the “retro-chic ‘smart grip’,” which does look pretty neat, though we’ll have to get our actual hands on it to confirm ergonomics. Price here is also $199.99, and you can have black, silver, or red.

With the all-weather (waterproof, freezeproof, crushproof) market being one of the fastest growing ones right now, it’d be easy to forget that Olympus is really the oldest player in the game. At least, until you look at yet another entry for them, where their many years of refinement to the style and design become a bit more apparent. Such is the case with the TG-320, a mere “mid-grade” entry into their famous Tough series.

As a cost-conscious model, it features a mere 14 megapixels, a 3.6x optical zoom (28-102mm equiv, f3.5-5), a 2.7″ LCD, waterproofiness (what? that should totally be a word) to 10 ft, shockproof to 5 ft, and freezeproof to 14 degrees F. In other words, about everything you need to survive every day life, be that bars, kids, or kayaking. All for a street price of  $179.99. And, if you’ve been waiting for just such a refresh to the Tough line, you can preorder it on our site now in red or blue. Or read the press release after the jump, if you like.

WORRY-FREE IMAGES OF LIFE’S SPONTANEOUS ADVENTURES ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE NEW OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-320

Active Families Appreciate an Ultra Durable, Affordable Camera 
That Can Keep Up With Them

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., January 9, 2012 – Olympus adds to its TOUGH line of rugged digital cameras today with the new 14-megapixel, 3.6x wide-angle optical zoom lens (28-102mm equivalent*), Waterproof, Shockproof, Freezeproof and Dustproof Olympus TG-320. Whether they’re in the water or enjoying the snow, families and active consumers want an affordable camera they can trust to endure all of life’s spontaneous moments and capture superior images anytime.

The rugged Olympus TG-320 is designed to take the hard knocks of everyday life, so you know that the memories it captures will be protected. It can handle five-foot drops to the hard ground, operate in freezing snowstorms (to 14 degrees Fahrenheit), and swim with fish (Waterproof to 10 feet) – lethal conditions for most other digital cameras. With Underwater HD Video, the TG-320 offers the reliability of the ideal vacation camera.

Throw the Olympus TG-320 in your backpack before heading out into the wild for the weekend; bring it along with your snorkeling gear to capture crisp, clear high-definition video of marine life at the touch of a button; even hand it off to the kids at family events to let them express their own unique vision. You won’t have to worry about accidents spoiling the fun.

Add more dimension to your photographs by shooting dynamic 3D photos in any mode from macro to landscape, and even under water. Express your inner artist with the Olympus TG-320’s in-camera Magic Art Filters that enable users to enhance and customize images as they’re being captured.

When you’re back from your adventures, the camera’s HDMI Control makes playback a breeze. Simply connect the camera to an HDTV with an optional HDMI cable and use your HDTV’s remote to control playback functions and navigate the camera’s menus from the comfort of your couch.

* 35mm camera equivalent.

U.S. Pricing and Availability
The Olympus TG-320 will be available in February and ships with a Camera Strap, USB Cable, USB-AC Adapter (F-2AC), Lithium-Ion Battery (LI-42B), Audio/Video Cable, Quick Start Guide, Instruction Manual and OLYMPUS [ib] Software CD-ROM and a Warranty Card.
Estimated Street Price: $179.99 (Available in red or blue)
For a complete list of specifications, visit the Olympus website: www.getolympus.com.

“NEW OLYMPUS VR-340 PROVES BEAUTY IS MORE THAN SKIN DEEP.” Thus starts Olympus’ press release for the new VR-340, a stylish upgrade to the also stylish VR-320 of yester-year. Key specs are a 16 megapixel sensor (up two megapixels from the 320) and a 10x superwide 24-240mm equiv zoom (down 2.5x from the 320). Otherwise, you’ve got a metal body, a 3″ rear LCD, nine art filters, the usual compliment of auto scene modes and auto-focus trickery, sensor shift image stabilization, and ISOs up to 1600. In your choice of black, white, silver, red, or purple. All for a very pocket-friendly anticipated cost of $149.99. If you’re in the market for just such a camera, you can put in for what ought to be a very short preorder wait here.

You can also read the press release after the jump.

NEW OLYMPUS VR-340 PROVES BEAUTY IS MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

Slim, Stylish and Full of Features, the Olympus VR-340 Offers a Powerful 10x Zoom and Cutting-Edge Performance Inside Its Sleek Metal Casing

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., January 9, 2012 – Olympus today announces the launch of a new V Series camera that once again proves you can have an affordable, great-looking camera with advanced digital technology all packed into an exquisitely attractive slim metal casing. Whether you’re out for a night on the town, a birthday dinner with friends or a weekend stroll, the Olympus VR-340’s 10x super wide optical zoom lens (24-240mm equivalent*) is ready to capture and share superb close-ups and group shots of life’s most important moments, like births or weddings.

The Olympus VR-340 includes all the technology you’d expect from more expensive compact cameras, including a standout 16-megapixel sensor, AF Illuminator and higher ISO for shooting in low light, designed to enhance your shots.

Add style and artistic flair to your photos with nine Magic Art Filters that work with videos and still photos alike. The new Beauty Make-up mode enhances the look of faces in your shots. Laid out like a cosmetic toolbox, it lets you apply everything from eyeliner and eye shadow to rouge for skin blemishes. You can even lift cheekbones and morph your subjects to give them a cover-model look.

A simple, one-touch button allows you to record video clips with amazing clarity in high-definition, right from your camera. With sophisticated AF tracking, you can have confidence in capturing fast moving subjects like kids & pets. Simply preview and share all of your images on the Olympus VR-340’s large 3.0-inch, high-resolution LCD for proof that this camera’s beauty is more than skin deep.

*35mm camera equivalent.

U.S. Pricing and Availability
The Olympus VR-340 will be available in March and ships with a Camera Strap, USB Cable, USB-AC Adapter (F-2AC), Lithium-Ion Battery (LI-50B), Audio/Video Cable, Quick Start Guide, Instruction Manual and OLYMPUS [ib] Software CD-ROM and a Warranty Card.

Estimated Street Price: $149.99 (Available in white, silver, black, purple and red).

For a complete list of specifications, visit the Olympus website: www.getolympus.com.