The Casio EX-S5 is a new compact camera designed to be both sleek and sturdy. The 10 megapixel EX S5 has a control panel, frame, and rear casing in contrasting colors, and a widescreen 2.7 inch LCD monitor. Available in March 2009, the Casio EX-S5 will cost $179.99 in blue, black gold, silver, pink and purple.

The Olympus SP-590UZ ultra-zoom digital camera has a 26x wide-angle optical zoom lens that covers an amazing 26-676mm focal length. Add the optional TCON-17N Teleconverter and CLA-11 Adapter Ring, and the SP590UZ can reach up to 1149mm. The 12 megapixel SP-590UZ also offers a 2.7 inch LCD screen, Dual Image Stabilisation, P/A/S/M exposure modes, and built-in flash and wireless flash control. The Olympus SP-590UZ will be available in early March 2009 for $449.99 / £360.

The Sony W220, W210 and S950 are three new additions to the Cyber-shot range of compact digital cameras. Both the Sony W220 and Sony W210 offer 12.1 megapixels, 4x zoom lens, 2.7 inch LCD LCD screen, maximum ISO 3200, Smile Shutter, Face Detection and Intelligent Scene Recognition. The W220 features an Optical SteadyShot stabilisation system and 430 shot battery life, and the W210 has an Electronic SteadyShot system and 370 shot battery life. The entry-level Sony S950 has 10.1 megapixels, 4x zoom lens, 2.7 inch screen, Easy Shooting mode and 330 shot battery life. Sony have also unveiled a new GPS unit kit (GPS-CS3KA) features higher sensitivity, built-in memory card and SD slots and an LCD display. The Sony Cyber-shot W220, W210 and S950 will be available from February 2009 for £176, £157 and £118 respectively.

The Samsung ST10 is the world’s first digital camera to feature face recognition. The ST10 can recognize the people you’re taking photos of, prioritizing friends, family and those you photograph most, and classify photos according to the most recognized faces. The 9 megapixel ST10 also features a 3 inch hVGA Touch Screen LCD, in-built PMP (Personal Multimedia Player) with integrated MP3 player, Digital Image Stabilization, Smart Scene Recognition and Angle/Composition Guide. The Samsung ST10 will be available from February 2009 in various colours, priced at £179.

The Samsung HZ10W is a new 10 megapixel digital camera with a 10x, 24mm wide-angle zoom lens. Offering both Optical and Digital Image Stabilization, the HZ10W (also known as the WB500) has manual controls and can also capture 720p high-definition video. The Samsung HZ10W / WB500 will be available in black or silver in January 2009 for $299.99 / £229.

The Samsung TL100 is a new slim and stylish 12.2 megapixel digital camera. Measuring just 16.6mm thick (excluding the lens), the TL100 (also known as the ST50) features a 2.7 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens. Smart Auto automatically selects one of the TL100’s 11 scene modes, while Smart Album automatically organizes your images. The Samsung TL100 also offers Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection, and Beauty Shot technology. The Samsung TL100 / ST50 will be available in Spring 2009, priced at £179.

The Samsung SL420 and SL102 are two new entry-level digital cameras. Both the SL420 (also known as the PL60) and SL102 (also known as the ES55) feature a resolution of 10.2 megapixels, offer Face Detection and are powered by rechargeable Li-Ion batteries. The Samsung SL102 / ES55 has a 3x optical zoom, Digital Image Stabilization technology, and a 2.5 inch LCD screen, and will be available from February 2009 priced at £79. The Samsung SL420 / PL60 features a larger 2.7 inch LCD display, 5x optical zoom and Dual Image Stabilization, and will be available from March 2009 at £129.

The Pentax Optio P70 is a new 12 megapixel camera with a 4x, 27.5-110mm zoom lens. Also featuring a 2.7 inch LCD screen, 720p video mode and triple anti-shake protection, the Pentax P70 is as thin as 16.5mm in some sections. Available in five colours, the Pentax P70 will cost £179 in the UK and $199.95 in the US, shipping in February 2009.

The Pentax Optio E70 is a new entry-level 10 megapixel camera with triple anti-shake protection. Powered by AA-size batteries, the Pentax E70 has large buttons, icons and Green and Auto Picture modes for beginners. The E70’s face-detection mode can detect up to 32 faces in a single image in approximately 0.03 seconds. The Pentax Optio E70 will be available in champagne gold, deep blue and red for $139.95, shipping in February 2009.

Panasonic have released a firmware update for the DMC-G1 camera. Version 1.1 improves the usability of the AE Lock and MF Assist features, and you can now make colour adjustments to the LCD and the LVF (Live View Finder). Additional performance updates are also included in this new firmware.

Website: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Firmware Update 1.1

Kodak have unveiled four new digital cameras - the Z980, M380, M340, M320 models. The Kodak Z980 has a market-leading 24x zoom image-stabilised lens (26-624mm), 12 megapixels, 3 inch LCD screen, and detachable vertical grip, available for $399.95 from Spring 2009. The new Kodak M380 camera boasts a 10 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, and 2.7 inch LCD ($179 from March 2009), while the Kodak M340 offers a 10 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, and 2.7 inch LCD. Finally the Kodak M320 features a 9 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, and 2.7 inch LCD. UK pricing and availability for all four new Kodak cameras is still to be confirmed.

Olympus is introducing a new range of Mju Tough compact cameras in January 2009. Likely to be unveiled at CES 2009, Olympus’ new range of freezeproof, waterproof and shockproof cameras will be renamed from Mju SW to Mju Tough (and from Stylus SW to Stylus Tough in the US). “Since some of our cameras even go beyond shockproof and waterproof – certain models are freezeproof and crushproof as well – we needed a name that was more reflective of the true nature of the SW series. The Mju TOUGH brand lets our customers know what these cameras truly have to offer: strength that’s always ready to go, even in the most extreme conditions”. explained Miquel Angel Garcia, Managing Director Marketing at Olympus Imaging Europa GmbH.

Ricoh have released a new firmware update for the GX200 compact digital camera. Version 1.20 includes the following bug fix:

When you playback a 1:1 image in the playback mode, the small window may not move to the right edge in the position display window that is shown in the right corner in the LCD.

Website: Ricoh GX200 Firmware Update 1.20

Panasonic will be releasing a new firmware update for the Lumix DMC-LX3 compact camera on 15th December. Version 1.1 includes a compatibility update for the optional FL220 flash unit, and improves auto white balance performance.

Leica are offering a $150 rebate on the D-LUX 4 digital compact camera, and $100 off the C-LUX 3. This mail-in rebate offer is valid in the US and Canada until January 1st 2009. The rebates will be processed 6 to 8 weeks after the product has been registered. Also the warranty on the D-LUX 4 and C-LUX has been extended to 3 years.

Ricoh have released a new firmware update, version 2.20, for the GR Digital II compact digital camera. Version 2.20 adds a number of new features, including the ability to use the AF target shift function in all shooting modes.

The Japanase toy company Tomy has unveiled the world’s first digital camera to feature a built-in printer. The 5 megapixel Xiao camera can produce a 2x3 inch print with an adhesive back in 45 seconds. Developed in collaboration with ZINK Imaging, the Xiao looks very much like a run-of-the-mill compact camera that has been literally stuck on top of a small printer, resulting in a product that could just about be described as hand-held. According to The Telegraph, the Tomy Xiao camera will be available in black, magenta and green and will be available in Japan on Friday for 34,800 yen (around £240).

Website: Telegraph.co.uk - Digital camera with built-in printer launched

Ricoh have released a new firmware update for the Ricoh R8, a 10 megapixel digital camera with a 7.1 wide-angle zoom lens. The new firmware update, version 1.26, modifies the following phenomenon:

- If you make the [Level Compensation] in the playback mode to a captured image with [N640] (pic. quality / size) and with [Date Imprint], the numbers of date in the picture may blur.

Website: Ricoh R8 Firmware Update 1.26

Ricoh have released a firmware update for the R10 compact camera. Version 1.15 fixes the following issues:

1.  At enlarged display in the playback mode, if you press the DISP. button to switch the position display window off, the right side frame of the window may remain.
2. When you use an 8 MB SD card that has not been formatted in a camera, if you playback the first picture in the card in a camera, the picture will not be displayed correctly.

Website: Ricoh R10 Firmware Update 1.15

A new range of Rollei compact cameras is being launched in the UK. The Rollei Compactline 80 and the Rollei X-8 Compact sell for £59.99 and £69.99 respectively, offering 8.0 megapixels, movie mode, 3x optical and 4x digital zooms, plus smile/face and shake detection. Mid-range models cost from £79.99 to £109.99, and the top-of-the-range Rollei XS-10 inTOUCH with 10.0 megapixels and 3.0” touch control screen costs £139.99. The all-action Rollei X-8 Sports is crash proof, frost proof, waterproof (up to 10 meters), available for £149.99. The new Rollei compacts are distributed exclusively by Sonic UK Ltd.