In addition to the enthusiast-focused Stylus XZ-10, Olympus has announced two new models in the Stylus Smart range, the VG-180 and the slimline VR-370. The entry-level, 16-megapixel Olympus VG180 sports a 26-130mm equivalent lens and a 2.7-inch LCD monitor with a resolution of 230,000 dots. The Olympus VR-370 (pictured) also uses a 16-megapixel CCD but comes with a 24-30mm equivalent optic, sensor-shift image stabilisation and a higher-resolution 3-inch rear screen. Both cameras are compatible with Eye-Fi’s range of wireless memory cards.

The Fujifilm Finepix S4800 is a new bridge camera with a 16 megapixel, 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor and 30x optical zoom. Featuring a 24-720mm equivalent Fujinon lens and sensor-shift image stabilisation, the Fujifilm FinePix S4800 comes equipped with a PASM mode dial and a 3-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. Features such as Instant Zoom, which shows your composition area as well as the area outside the frame, and Individual Shutter 3D, which creates 3D pictures by merging 2 images, provide an interesting twist for your photos. Powered by four AA type batteries, the Fuji FinePix S4800 will be available from April in black, white and red colours, priced at £149.99.

The Fujifilm FinePix F900EXR is a new slimline travelzoom camera with a 16-megapixel 1/2”-type EXR CMOS II sensor, 25-500mm equivalent lens and new “Intelligent Hybrid AF system” that focuses in as little as 0.05sec when employing the on-chip phase-detect AF sensors. The ultra-responsive compact boasts a start-up time of 1.1sec, shot-to-shot times of 0.5sec and continuous shooting at up to 11fps (albeit only for a maximum of 5 frames). The Finepix F900EXR also offers wireless connectivity, allowing you to back up your photos on your home PC or transfer them to your smartphone or tablet. Other highlights include Full HD movie capture at a smooth 60fps - with Intelligent Hybrid AF and optical zoom also available for videos -, Multiple Exposure, EXR-Auto, a 360° Motion Panorama mode, Film Simulation, Advanced Filters and Scene Recognition. Full manual controls, raw image capture and a 3-inch, wide-viewing-angle LCD screen round off the features list. The Fujifilm FinePix F900EXR will become available in April, at an RRP of £279.99.

The Olympus Stylus XZ-10 is a 12-megapixel compact camera with a 1/2.7-type backlit CMOS sensor and a 26-130mm (eq.) f/1.8-2.7 lens. Although equipped with a much smaller sensor than the Olympus XZ-1 and Stylus XZ-2, the new Olympus XZ-10 may still be of interest to serious photographers owing to its bright lens, full set of manual controls, 120fps high-speed HD video recording capabilities and 40% smaller size. Just like the flagship XZ-2, the Olympus Stylus XZ-10 has a customisable control ring around the lens for adjusting key parameters manually, without taking your eye off your subject. The 3-inch rear display offers a range of touch-based functions such as Touch AF and Touch Shutter. Priced at £349. the XZ-10 is FlashAir-compatible so you can connect to the cloud or a social network using your familiar smartphone interface and an optional FlashAir card. Availability is slated for March.

Nikon has refreshed its Coolpix L and P ranges with the Nikon Coolpix L820 and P520 models. The Nikon Coolpix L820 ($279.95) is an easy-to-use, AA battery operated 16-megapixel digital superzoom camera with 30x optical zoom and Full HD video capture. Other highlights include Vibration Reduction, Eye-Fi memory card compatibility, a 3-inch rear screen and a “smart portrait system.” The 18-megapixel Nikon Coolpix P520 (£399.99 / €479.00 / $449.95, pictured) is a more serious proposition offering 42x optical zoom, a vari-angle, 3.2-inch, 921k-dot display and full manual control over the shooting settings. An optional Wi-Fi dongle can instantly transfer images and movies to virtually any smart device. Other key features include an auto HDR mode, a customisable function button, a 1cm macro mode, Easy Panorama and 3D shooting modes, 7fps continuous shooting at full resolution, and the ability to use the optical zoom while recording a full HD movie.

Nikon has expanded its Coolpix S line-up with three new cameras. The new models include the 18.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S9500 (£299.99 / €359.00 / $349.95, pictured) with Wi-Fi, 22x optical zoom, 3.0-inch OLED display and built-in GPS; the similarly Wi-Fi enabled, 16-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S5200 (£179.99 / €215.00 / $179.95) with 6x optical zoom and a 3-inch LCD screen; and the 18.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S9400 (£249.99 / €299) with 18x optical zoom and a 3-inch OLED panel (but no built-in wireless connectivity). All models feature back-illuminated CMOS image sensors, lens-shift vibration reduction and Full HD movie recording. All three cameras will become available on 21st February.

The Nikon Coolpix AW110 (£329.99 / €395.00, pictured) is a robust 16-megapixel camera with integrated GPS and Wi-Fi. Waterproof to 18m, shockproof from heights of up to 2m, dustproof and freezeproof down to -10 °C; the Nikon Coolpix AW110 features a 3-inch, 614k-dot OLED monitor, 5x optical zoomand Full HD movie capture. An altimeter records the exact altitude at which you take a shotand a hydro-barometer measures underwater depth. The 10-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S31 (£99.99 / €120.00) is waterproof to 5m, shockproof from up to 1.2m height, and dustproof. Other highlights include a symmetric body design with centred flash unit, 3x optical zoom, a range of fun digital filters and 720p HD video recording capabilities. The Nikon Coolpix L28 (£89.99 / €109.00) is an easy-to-use, AA battery powered 20-megapixel compact with 5x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD screen and 720p video. Its little brother, the Nikon Coolpix L27 (£69.99 / €84.00), is a 16-megapixel camera with a 2.7-inch rear display, exclusive to Argos in the United Kingdom.

Canon has expanded its compact camera range with three high-zoom Ixus models and a new PowerShot A series shooter. The 12.1-megapixel Canon Ixus 255 (pictured) features built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, 10x optical zoom, Intelligent Image Stabilisation, high-speed shooting, Full HD video recording capabilities and a 3-inch rear screen. The 16-megapixel Canon Ixus 135 also comes with Wi-Fi and Intelligent IS, and offers 8x optical zoom, 720p movies and a 2.7-inch display. The Canon Ixus 132 is a similar model sans Wi-Fi, while the Canon PowerShot A2500 is an entry-level digital compact camera with a 16-megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, 720p video and a 2.7-inch monitor (but no optical image stabiliser).

International stock photography agency Alamy says it will now accept photographs for its Live News service from camera phones and digital compact cameras. Alamy’s head of news, James Hall, said: “When you think that the most popular smartphone cameras are now 8 megapixels it is obvious that good photographers using these devices will be able to capture and record breaking news and events with a quality that is acceptable to both on- and offline news agencies… We want to allow our contributors to upload stunning News, Sport and Entertainment images to us using the camera they have ready at hand – whether it is a DSLR, a compact camera or a smartphone.” News photographers can upload images to Alamy direct from their smartphone via FTP using existing apps. Note that all images uploaded to the news feed will still have to meet Alamy’s News Picture Guidelines.

Pentax Ricoh has posted a firmware update for the Ricoh GR Digital IV compact camera. Version 2.21 adds an Auto option to the dynamic range compensation function, improves the effectiveness of noise reduction at high sensitivity settings, and modifies the behaviour of the zoom feature in Playback mode. Additionally, it incorporates the following modifications and bug fixes.

The new Pentax Efina is a 14-megapixel digital compact camera with 5x optical zoom. The name harks back to the days of film photography when Pentax had two APS cameras with a similar designation (the Pentax Efina and the Pentax Efina T). The digital version comes with a 26-130mm equivalent zoom lens sporting 6 elements in 5 groups including 3 aspherical elements; a 1/2.3-type CCD sensor, a “self-portrait mirror” and 720p HD movie recording capabilities. According to Pentax Japan, the floral design on the front panel “appeals to young women photographers.” The digital Pentax Efina will be available in selected markets only.

Our eight and final award is for Camera of the Year 2012, which goes to the Olympus OM-D E-M5.

“Image quality is where Micro Four Thirds cameras have traditionally lagged behind their APS-C sensor rivals, but the OM-D E-M5 is the first MFT model to equal the results from leading cameras like the Sony NEX-7. Noise doesn’t rear its ugly head until ISO 3200 for JPEGs and even the faster settings prove eminently usable, although the E-M5 does apply some pretty aggressive noise reduction to keep the files clean as shown by the much noisier raw images. We never longed for a camera with a bigger sensor, and you’d have to step up to a full-frame DSLR to see an appreciable leap in image quality.”

Read the Full Review

Congratulations to Olympus and the OM-D E-M5!

Olympus has scooped up tow iF product design awards - one for the Olympus Stylus XZ-2 premium compact (pictured) and one for the Olympus OM-D E-M5 compact system camera. Established in 1953, and sponsored throughout by the International Forum Design GmbH of Hanover Germany, the iF product design award is recognised all over the world as a symbol of outstanding design and innovation. This year, the jury picked the winners from 3011 products in 16 categories.

Review: Read our in-depth review of the Olympus Stylus XZ-2
Review: Read our in-depth review of the Olympus OM-D E-M5

Our fifth award is for Compact Camera of the Year 2012, which goes to the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100.

“Sony have not only blurred the lines between compact and compact system in terms of the RX100’s features, performance and image quality, but somewhat inevitably perhaps also in terms of its price. $650/£550 is more than many mirrorless cameras and even some DSLRs too, but on the other hand this is no humble compact. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is the first truly pocketable camera to offer a DSLR experience, and in that regard it could almost be seen as something of a bargain - it’s certainly deserving of our highest Essential! accolade.”

Read the Full Review

Congratulations to Sony and the Cyber-shot DSC-RX100!

The Samsung WB2100 is a 16.3-megapixel bridge camera with 35x optical zoom. Featuring an optically stabilised 25-875mm equivalent superzoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/3.0 at the wide end and f/6.0 at full telephoto, the Samsung WB2100 is capable of recording moving pictures in full 1920 x 1080 / 60i resolution, in addition to capturing sixteen-megapixel stills. Other highlights include a sweep panorama mode, a 3-inch tilting screen and automatic scene recognition. Pricing to be confirmed.

The Rollei Powerflex 240 HD is a compact superzoom camera with a 16-megapixel sensor and 24x optical zoom. Featuring a 25-600mm equivalent f/3.0-6.9 lens with optical image stabilisation, the Rolle Powerflex 240 HD comes equipped with a 1/2.3” CCD made by Sony. In addition to capturing high-resolution stills, the camera can also record high-definition video clips at a resolution of 1280x720 pixels and 30fps. The Rollei Powerflex 240 HD will go on sale in mid-January at a recommended retail price of $149.95.

Want to see exactly what the new Canon PowerShot N camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of 34 photos of the Canon PowerShot N in both matt black and glossy white.

The Canon PowerShot N is a completely different compact camera with an unconventional square design, innovative zoom and shoot operation lens rings, built-in Wi-Fi, range of creative filters and a tilting touch screen.

Want to see exactly what the new Canon IXUS 140, PowerShot A3500 IS, PowerShot A2600 and PowerShot A1400 compact cameras look like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of 46 photos of the Canon IXUS 140, PowerShot A3500 IS, PowerShot A2600 and PowerShot A1400 compact cameras.

Want to see exactly what the new Fujifilm X100S camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of 32 photos of the Fujifilm X100S, including a side-by-side comparison with its predecessor, the X100, and its new stable-mate, the X20.

The Fujifilm X100S is a premium compact camera with a newly-developed 16.3 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor, EXR Processor II and faster auto-focusing than the original X100.

This claim was certainly borne out in our direct comparison of the two cameras, with the X100s focusing almost instantaneously despite running very early firmware. The X100 with the most recent firmware update lagged noticeably behind, so the X100S certainly promises to fix one of the few major criticisms of the original model.

Other interesting features such as focus peaking and the clever “Digital Split Image”, which displays dual images on the left and right to be lined up for manual focusing, weren’t working on the pre-production model that we tried, but things certainly look promising for the new Fujifilm X100S.

The Sigma DP3 Merrill compact camera features a 50mm F2.8 lens and a 46 megapixel Foveon X3 sensor. The Sigma DP3 Merrill’s high-performance 50mm F2.8 lens has the equivalent angle of view as 75mm on a 35mm lens. The 23.5×15.7mm full-colour Foveon X3 direct image sensor (Generation name “Merrill”), featured in the Sigma DP3 Merrill incorporates 46 effective megapixels (4,800×3,200×3 layers). The availability and price of the Sigma DP3 Merrill have yet to be announced.