A detailed hands-on look at Kodak’s new CES compact cameras.

Despite their financial woes, Kodak unveiled two interesting products at CES, both of which have sharing at their core.

The M750 Easyshare Wireless is a traditional compact with a 16-megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, 3” capacitive touchscreen and built-in Wi-Fi.

The delightfully named Playfull Dual combines a 1080p/60 fps HD video camera with a 12 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor. It also has an external microphone jack, built-in Xenon flash, and Share Button for easy upload to Facebook, YouTube, Kodak Gallery, email and more.

Take a close-up look at the two new cameras in our extensive photo gallery.

A detailed hands-on look at GE’s new CES compact cameras.

GE continue to undercut the competition with their range of well-specced yet affordably priced compact cameras. They’ve launched no less than seven new models at CES, top of the tree being the X600 ultra-zoom bridge camera which has a 25x wide-angle optical lens, 1080p video and 14.4 megapixel CMOS sensor, all for just $199.99.

Take a close-up look at the seven new cameras in our extensive photo gallery.

General Imaging has announced six new digital cameras at CES. The 14.4-megapixel GE X600 ($199.99) is the flagship model in the range with 25x optical zoom, 10fps continuous shooting at full resolution, improved HDR+ exposure blending and Full HD movie recording capabilities. The 16-megapixel GE X550 ($149.99) comes with a 15x zoom lens, optical image stabilisation, advanced subject tracking with continuous auto focus, and an electronic viewfinder. The 14-megapixel GE G100 ($179.99) is a compact bridge camera with a 28-420mm equivalent lens, optical image stabilisation 30 scene modes, 10fps continuous shooting and Full HD video recording. The ultra-compact GE E1410SW ($159.99) boasts 14 megapixels, 10X optical zoom, Full HD movie capture and is housed in a sleek and stylish body. Finally, the GE Smart series has been expanded with two 14.1-megapixel models, the AA-powered, GE C1440 ($69.99) with 4x optical zoom, and the 5x zoom GE J1458W ($79.99).

The Kodak Playfull Dual Camera is a 1080p/60fps Full HD pocket camcorder that can also capture 12-megapixel stills courtesy of a high-resolution BSI CMOS sensor.  It has an external microphone jack, built-in Xenon flash, and Share Button for easy upload to Facebook, YouTube, Kodak Gallery, email and more. The Kodak Playfull Dual Camera will be available from April for $199.

Adobe today announced Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 beta for Windows and Mac OS. Available as a free public download from Adobe Labs, Lightroom 4 beta is a preview of new features and capabilities that will be offered in the final release of Lightroom 4, The beta features refined technology for superior shadow and highlight processing, expanded management capabilities including enhanced DSLR video support and the ability to create photo books from within Lightroom. You can download Lightroom 4 beta from the website below.

The 128GB SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I card features up to 45MB/sec read/write speeds, making it the fastest 128GB SDXC memory card in the world. “Five minutes of Full HD video can consume one gigabyte of storage space,” said Susan Park, director, product marketing, SanDisk. “Our new SanDisk Extreme SDXC card can capture up to ten hours of Full HD 3D video, enough to film an entire day here at the Consumer Electronics Show.” In addition to videographers, the high-capacity, fast memory card can also benefit photographers who like to shoot in Raw+JPEG format. The 128GB SanDisk Extreme SDXC UHS-I card is shipping worldwide, priced at £239. Additionally, SanDisk released a 64GB version of the card, with an MSRP of £119.

The Tamaggo 360 imager is billed as “the first picture-taking device that captures the environment surrounding the user and creates a navigable record that turns physical experiences into digital events”. Tamaggo claims that this camera goes well beyond the 360° options in today’s consumer marketplace, from fish-eye lenses to mirrors and rotating-head attachments that require users to stitch pictures together to create panoramic images. ” The name Tamaggo, inspired by the Japanese word for “egg,” represents not only the camera’s shape, but also something new,” the company says..The Tamaggo 360 imager and accessories will be marketed internationally through major consumer electronics retailers and e-tailers beginning Q2 2012. The device, which will be previewed at CES (#15645 Central Hall, LVCC)  will be priced under $200.

Olympus has announced two new ultra-zooms, including the Olympus SP-620UZ with a 16-megapixel CCD and 21x optical zoom, and the Olympus SP-720UZ with a 14-megapixel CMOS sensor and 26x zoom lens. Both cameras feature sensor-shift image stabilisation, a TruePic III+ image processor, Eye-Fi memory card compatibility, Magic Filters, in-camera panorama stitchning and 3D photo shooting. In addition, the Olympus SP-720UZ records Full HD videos, boasts an “HDR Backlight Adjustment” function and comes with a 460,000-dot rear screen, while the SP-620UZ shoots 720p HD movies, offers.“Advanced Face Detection” and “Shadow Adjustment” technologies, and comes with a 230,000-dot display.  The SP-720UZ is available from late March for €249 / £229.99. The SP-620UZ goes on sale for €189 / £179.99 in mid-January.

Olympus has updated its SZ series of pocketable travalzoom cameras with two new, 14-megapixel models. The Olympus SZ-11 features a 25-500mm equivalent lens, while the Olympus SZ-14 comes with a 25-600mm zoom. Both cameras boast a TruePic III+ processing engine, sensor-shift image stabilisation, “Advanced Face Detection” and “Shadow Adjustment” technologies, a range of Magic Filters, in-camera panorama stitching, 3D photo shooting and Eye-Fi memory card compatiblity. Additionally, both the Olympus SZ-11 and the SZ-14 can shoot 720p HD videos with “Multi-motion Movie IS”, The SZ-14 is available for €229 / £199.99 and the SZ-11 for €199, both from mid-January 2012. (Note: the SZ-11 was actually announced back in 2011, but has hitherto been available via select distributors in a few markets only.)

Today marks the European launch of the Olympus SH-21, an interesting camera with a 24-300mm equivalent lens, mechanically stabilised 16-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor and a 3” touch-sensitive LCD screen with a resolution of 460,000 dots. Hitherto only available in Japan, the Olympus SH-21 boasts a 7fps High-Speed Continuous Shooting mode and a special HDR mode that allows the camera to capture images with less noise and extended dynamic range. Other highlights include a Hand-Held Starlight mode, in which the SH-21 takes four different photos with one click of the shutter and merges them in-camera; and a Smart Panorama mode that makes it easy to capture 360° panoramas without the use of a tripod. In addition, the camera can also capture Full HD movies with stereo sound. The Olympus SH-21 is available in gold, red and black for €209 / £189.99 from early January 2012.

The affordable 14-megapixel Olympus Tough TG-320 is the latest addition to the company’s line-up of ruggedised compact cameras. Waterproof to 3m, shockproof to 1.5m and freezeproof to -10°C, the Olympus Tough TG-320 comes equipped with a 28-102mm equivalent zoom lens and a hard glass lens barrier “for extra-tough lens protection”. Other highlights include a 2.7” scratch-resistant LCD screen, sensor-shift image stabilisation, AF Tracking, Magic Filters, Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment technologies, 720p movies, Eye-Fi memory card support, in-camera panorama stitching and 3D photo shooting complete with an Underwater 3D mode. The Olympus Tough TG-320 is available in blue and red from mid-February, at a price of €149 / £139.99.

The all-metal, 16-megapixel Olympus VR-340 and VR-360 come equipped with 24-240mm and 24-300mm equivalent lenses, respectively. Both are slim, compact cameras with a small right-hand grip, sensor-shift image stabilisation, 720p HD movie recording capability, Magic Filters, Eye-Fi memory card support and a 3” rear screen with 460,000 dots. Both VR cameras will be available in March 2012. The Olympus VR-360 costs €149, while the VR-340 will sell for €129 / £129.99.

The affordable, 14-megapixel Olympus VG-170 boasts a 26-130mm equivalent lens and a powerful built-in flash. While a guide number of 8.8 (in metres at ISO 100/21°) might not strike you as particularly high, Olympus claims that “regular digital compacts” tend to have flashes with a GN of just 4 or 5.6, making the VG-170 stand out in this regard. The Olympus VG-170 even has a so-called “Long Flash Mode” in which the camera automatically trades off megapixels against ISO sensitivity for a well-exposed, low-noise image. Other highlights include a 3” rear screen with a resolution of 460,000 dots Eye-Fi card compatibility, Face Detection and “Shadow Adjustment” technologies, a range of Magic Filters, 720p video, and a 3D photo shooting mode; all for less than €100 / £100. The Olympus VG-170 will be available from mid-February in a choice of black, white and red colours.

The 14-megapixel Olympus VH-210 is an affordable all-metal camera with a 26-130mm equivalent lens, which comes in a range of bold colours. Available in Apple Red, Grape Purple, Apricot Orange, Lychee White, Kiwi Green and “Black Berry” versions, the highly automated Olympus VH-210 features a 3-inch, 460,000-dot LCD monitor, 720p movie recording, Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Magic Filters and a 3D photo shooting mode. The Olympus VH-210 will be available for €89 from mid-February 2012.

The Olympus VG-150 and VG-160 are the most affordable models in the manufacturer’s new compact camera line-up. The 12-megapixel Olympus VG-150 is equipped with a 27-108mm equivalent zoom lens and a 2.7” LCD monitor, and shoots VGA movies. The 14-megapixel Olympus VG-160 has a 26-130mm equivalent lens and a 3” rear screen, and is capable of recording 720p videos. Both cameras come with an assortment of features including Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology, a range of “Magic Filters”. The Olympus VG-160 is available in silver, black, red or orange for €79. The VG-150 comes in silver or black for €69.

Tiffen is showcasing its new line of Domke RuggedWear and Domke clothing products at CES. The company’s new RuggedWear lineup includes a wide range of courier bags, slings and satchels, ergonomically designed for comfort and performance.Features include a soft, well-padded interior that protects camera lenses from scratches, a flap and oversized YKK zipper for quick and easy access, twin tracks of high-friction rubber woven into the thickest, toughest cotton webbing, allowing it to cling to the shoulder, and more. For a complete list of RuggedWear bags, visit the website below.

Sony unveiled four new compact cameras at CES today. The 16-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W630 (pictured) features a Carl Zeiss branded, 25-125mm equivalent zoom lens with enhanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilisation. The 14-megapixel DSC-W620 also offers 5x optical zoom, but without the Zeiss branding and the optical stabiliser. The W610 also has a 14-megapixel sensor but comes with a Sony branded 4x zoom lens, while the Sony DSC-S5000 is an AA-powered compact with 14 megapixels of resolution and 5x optical zoom. Sony’s Sweep Panorama mode is available on all models to capture an all-round view of landscapes, city scenes and more. The Cyber-shot W630, W620 and S5000 also add four Picture Effect modes - Pop Colour, Toy Camera, Partial Colour and Sof High-key - for easy in-camera creation of “artistic” images. All four new cameras come with PlayMemories Home software pre-installed. The Sony Cyber-shot W630, W620, W610 and S5000 will be available from February.

The Sony Bloggie Live pocket camcorder can capture full HD video with stereo sound, 12.8 megapixel stills, and offers live streaming via built-in Wi-Fi capability. The device camera works with any Wi-Fi hotspot including mobile hotspot services from leading wireless carriers, and is able to directly upload content to sites like Facebook, YouTube, and PlayMemories Online, a network service by Sony. For those who want to share right away, Bloggie Live cameras can stream your moments in real-time in collaboration with Qik Video, a mobile video sharing service from Skype. Once live streaming begins, friends and family can view the video instantly on a computer, smartphone or tablet no matter how far away they are. The Bloggie Live camera has 8GB of internal memory, and is available now for approximately $250.

The Sony Bloggie Sport is a tough pocket camcorder that shoots Full HD videos and 5-megapixel stills. Water-, shock- and dustproof, the new Bloggie Sport features four gigabytes of internal memory and a 2.7-inch touch-sensitive screen that can be operated underwater. The camcorder has a built-in USB arm that allows users to easily upload their videos and stills to a computer and charge the device’s built-in battery. Additionally, an HDMI port connects Bloggie Sport to your HDTV for a big-screen view of your photos and videos. The Sony Bloggie Sport will be available from March 2012.

Successor to Sigma’s earlier, slower 180mm F3.5 EX DG macro lens, the new APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is billed as the world’s first 180mm f/2.8 macro lens with a 1:1 reproduction ratio. In addition to the faster maximum aperture, the new lens also offers optical image stabilisation and a quiet “hypersonic” AF motor. Three “F” Low Dispersion (FLD) glass elements, which have a performance equal to fluorite glass, are included to provide correction for colour aberrations, while the Super Multi-Layer Coating is claimed to reduce flare and ghosting. The Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM lens has a rounded nine-blade diaphragm to create an attractive blur to the image’s out-of-focus areas. Note that unlike the two other Sigma lenses announced today, this is a “traditional” SLR lens. Pricing and availability to be confirmed.