NEWTONVILLE, MA (PRWEB) February 24, 2005

Coinciding with this year’s Photo Marketing Association (PMA) show in Orlando, FL, Lyra Research’s Digital Photography Advisory Service has issued its worldwide digital camera forecast. Digital still camera shipments surpassed 63 million units worldwide in 2004, up more than 35 percent compared with 2003. Worldwide digital still camera shipments will surpass 100 million units in 2008.

In 2004, for the first time ever, Europe became the largest market in terms of unit shipments, taking the top spot from the United States, which is now second in terms of shipments. Japan is the third-largest market.

The 3-megapixel category remained the most popular digital camera segment in 2004, but shipments are increasing in the 4-, 5-, and 6-megapixel segments. Most point-and-shoot cameras now shipping are 4- and 5-megapixel models, and Lyra expects that, by 2005, 5+-megapixel cameras will account for more worldwide shipments than any other segment.

“The desire to produce prints from digital cameras is now a key factor in the consumer purchase decision. Many new camera buyers do not go to the store looking just for a digital camera—they are looking for a total photographic solution,” says Robert Palmer, director of Lyra’s Digital Photography Advisory Service. Camera and printer bundles proved very popular last year, and Lyra expects these solutions to gain further momentum in 2005. “Explosive growth in digital camera sales will fuel the market for photographic prints,” says Palmer. “More than 18 billion prints were produced from digital camera images in 2004, two-thirds of which were produced in the home.”

Lyra Research’s Digital Photography Advisory Service (DPS) is an online competitive research tool for marketing and product managers in the digital camera, photo-quality printer, and online photo-service industries. The DPS provides the advice and insight necessary to tap into the possibilities of today’s digital imaging market.

About Lyra Research

Founded in 1991, Lyra Research is recognized worldwide as the leading provider of market, product, and technology information and analysis focused on the imaging industry. Lyra Research provides targeted information on printers and copiers, digital photography, and imaging supplies to more than 2,000 clients in more than 40 countries. Lyra’s portfolio of services includes leading industry newsletters, special market reports, advisory services, conferences, and custom consulting.

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Since the introduction of its first camera in 1952, Pentax has been consistently delivering constant photography innovations to the people. It has always been a technological leader in the ever changing technology. Its prominent contribution has been the 35 mm SLR camera. The dedication and development of Pentax as a camera company has always been on the winning note and it continues to be stronger than ever. So, Let us study about the digital cameras of this company which it has offered to the world.

Pentax has released many cameras over the period of 80 years. It has helped people capture precious moments of their life with new and improved cameras. The legacy of Pentax Digital Cameras continues to grow with pride. Well, talking about the legacy, Pentax has basically two categories of cameras. The first is known as the Optio Digital Cameras and the second is known as the Pentax’s *ist Digital Cameras. So let us take a look at each of these categories one by one.

The Optio Digital Cameras are perfectly suited for novice camera users and photo enthusiasts. The various cameras under these categories are very easy-to-use and some of them are highly sophisticated and advanced. These cameras provide many user-friendly features and many image-enhancing options as well. The usages of these cameras elevate the experience of real time photography. Let us study some of the specification these cameras offer us.

These cameras are available in a range of 2.0-6.0 megapixels resolutions. These cameras have a 1/ 2.5 inch interline transfer CCD. The LCD monitor is a TFT 1.8 inch color screen with 100% LCD resolution and a resolution of about 130,000 pixels. These cameras are available in different picture modes like landscape, portrait, sports, night scene and many more. These cameras have an in-built setting for language preference from English, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Russian, French and Swedish. The computer system requirements of the system for data transfer through these cameras are a standard USB port, Windows 2000, XP, Me, 98, 98SE.

The other category of Pentax Digital Cameras is known as Pentax *ist. This category marked the second entry of the company into the market of digital SLR consumers. These cameras are available as 6.1 megapixels resolutions, an APS format sensor and 2.5 inch LCD display with 210,000 pixels resolutions. These cameras have an in-built option of ISO setting up to 3200. The storage format of these cameras also includes the RAW file format along with the JPEG and TIFF formats.

The white balancing modes in these cameras are auto, cloudy, daylight, shade, fluorescent light, tungsten light and manual setting. The storage media of these cameras is SD card. The camera allows depth of field view before clicking the photographs. The LCD monitor of the camera provides slide show, digital filter and image rotation capabilities. These cameras also have a single and all delete function. These cameras would certainly cater to the needs to the advanced camera users and amateur enthusiasts.

So if you are thinking of buying a new Pentax Digital Camera, you should definitely consider choosing the one from the above two categories.

Review on Disney digital cameras for kids

This Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is a good digital camera for kids to operate around for shooting their favorite photos particularly using the added function associated with the Disney pictures into the photos. This is a hit part! The camera that come with Disney characters is really an enjoyable feature and also the software offers many fun stuff for kids to play along with. However, the disadvantage is if you have downloaded the photos from camera into the software, all the photos from the digital camera will get removes so the children cannot take a view at the actual photos on the digital camera anymore.

Review of Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera for Girls

This is one of the best digital cameras for kids. You can buy this kid tough digital camera for your kids to play around. The kid tough digital camera is suitable if your kid is more than 7 year old and is in preschool. Preschoolers able to learn the art of kids digital photography via this children’s digital camera specially designed for them.

The kid’s digital cameras contains a bigger rubber handle which can hold tight by kids. In order to prevent the kid’s camera for breaking, these children’s digital cameras have built with tough one just like what its name called. It is sturdy enough and not going to turn out or break to become dysfunctional even if kids throw or drop it down.

Review of Vtech Kidizoom Camera

This can be a best kids digital camera which lets the children connect it to a Television or a personal computer. Many kids digital cameras lack of this function but not for Vtech Kidizoom Camera. It has inbuilt of some fun games, as well as viewing movie in this digital childrens camera that will definitely cheer the kids.

Review of Crayola 2.1 MP Digital Camera

This Crayole kids digital camera is simple and easy to use. It has an EZ grip handle which serves as a camera with a color preview screen. There is a rope like strap attached on the camera that allows kids to carry around. There are software that come together with the camera why you do your purchase. The software can install in your personal computer and allows children to create games, stories, frame and many others.

If you happen to bring your kids to beach often, then you may consider to buy a waterproof kids digital camera as it can bring a lot of funs by shooting picture at the beach. Anyway, I do hope this kids digital camera review able to help you to pick your best camera for kids.

Digital cameras come in many sizes, colors, brands, zooms, resolutions, playbacks, etc. There are so many features and qualities that are being placed in the devices that buyers especially first timers become overwhelmed and dizzy with these outstanding arrays of gadgets. This is even without including the various advertisements and different ratings that are used to promote these products. Visit here now - http://www.how-youcan.com/How-To-Buy-Digital-Camera.htm

So what are the things to look for if you want to buy digital camera? To be able to answer these, there are 2 sets of information you have to know before you can decide. The first type of information is defining what YOU need and want in a digital camera. To do this, you can ask yourself the following questions:

- What do you want to take with your digital camera? Before you buy digital camera, it is important to determine what kind of pictures you want to take with it. If you are a digital photography enthusiast, any digital camera will not just do. You have to look for features that can support the zooming you need, the resolution, etc.

- How much is your budget? This is a very important question any person who intends to buy digital camera should ask. Because no matter what your needs and wants are for the device, your financial resource will play a huge part in dictating the type of digital camera you will buy.

- What are you resources? When you buy digital camera, sometimes the spending does not end there. You also have to consider the capacity and the power of the computer and the printer you will be hooking your camera with for your editing and printing needs. Editing software are already included when you buy digital camera but other devices aren’t. Aside from a printer, ink and paper for printing, you might also need additional memory cards for your camera and a more powerful computer to support image editing and image storage and retrieval.

After answering these 3 questions, the second set of information you need to know before you buy digital camera are the features that you need in the device. These are:

- Resolution. Before you buy digital camera, check first its capacity to produce high quality photo images. The number of pixels indicated determines resolution. The more number of pixels, the higher the resolution which can make photos to be enlarged without losing image quality.

- Built-in memory. Digital cameras need memory cards for picture storage. When you buy digital camera, make sure that the gadget that you buy does not only have a “built-in” memory but should also have a card slot for external and additional memory. This allows you to change full memory cards conveniently while shooting your pictures.

- Look and feel. It is essential for you to feel comfortable holding your digital camera while shooting. So, before you buy digital camera, it good to test and check if you are comfortable holding it and using it. Consider where the buttons are located and how they are spaced out and see also if you feel comfortable using the viewfinder.

- Battery life. Digital cameras use up batteries fast and batteries are expensive. Before you buy digital camera, consider if the camera’s batteries are rechargeable. This way you can recharge them. Take also into consideration an AC adapter when you buy digital camera. You can attach this to the camera when you are viewing your pictures or uploading them

- LCD. The LCD is a special consideration you have to look into when you buy a digital camera. This is a small screen located at the back of a digital camera that allows you to preview the pictures you took. This has to be considered when you buy digital camera because it uses up a lot of battery power.

- Special features. Special features that will suit your needs should be thought about, too before you buy digital camera. If you want your camera to have good zooming, you can opt for those with optical zoom lenses. A diopter adjustment on the digital camera’s viewfinder will also be beneficial to those who regularly wear glasses and wish to buy digital camera. Other features such as remote control, tripods, etc. can also be considered when you buy a digital camera.

With these information, you can now figure out what you really need and want before you buy digital camera. If you want to see ratings and rankings of these devices based on price, resolution or other features,How To Buy Digital Camera : Things You Need to Know Before You Buy Digital Camera check out various websites that have these in the Internet.

The following is a list of some waterproof digital cameras that are commonly used for underwater photography.

The first one of waterproof digital cameras reviewed is Sea and Sea DX-1 G Compact Digital 10.0 MP camera with underwater housing set. This waterproof digital camera has ten megapixels (which is pretty good photo quality), a polycarbonate underwater housing (which makes it waterproof) and a ‘sea and sea’ mode which optimizes digital photography under water. It also has some other features that are advanced, such as manual control over exposure and focus, an extra flash light and the camera also has the ability to shoot videos.

Intevac IC700 7.0 MP Digital Camera with Underwater housing falls under waterproof digital cameras, which provides a pretty good image quality (with seven megapixels) and is affordable as it is under the $300 price range. It is considered a good waterproof camera and is rated for underwater photography to a depth of 180 feet. To emphasize this opinion, the camera comes with features such as macro mode with a built in flash which can reach up to about five feet when underwater.

Olympus SW series may be the best well rounded waterproof camera at the moment. This camera completed with 10 Megapixels, ISO1600, and a 3.6x optical zoom feature and you could diving with this camera as depth as 6.6 feet.

Pentax Optio W30 is another waterproof digital camera design you should consider. Released with 7MP – ISO1600 and 3x optical zoom image recording feature, Optio W30 supported with both SD and SDHC, videos in this model is of 640×480 in MOV QuickTime MJPEG format.

Another one of waterproof digital cameras is Sealife SL320 Reef Master Mini underwater digital camera. Weighing about eight ounces, and being a compact camera, this is very useful for those who want a light weight, easy to use waterproof digital camera. The camera has underwater exposure and sea modes and has six megapixels. The shutter speed of this camera is within a range of 1/60th to 1/1000th of a second. This waterproof digital camera has a rating of 130 feet depth for underwater photography.

With an underwater photography rating of 50 feet depth, VuPoint DC-WPC-ST531TBLK-VP Underwater digital camera is another recommended waterproof digital camera. It has five megapixels and also has video capturing ability. It features digital zooming and has the ability to shoot in macro settings and control aperture settings. Also, it is less expensive compared to other waterproof digital cameras.

One of the best designed waterproof digital camera for up to 5feet depth of water is Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1. With 4GB memory card, and MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 at 640×480 powers, the Xacti E1 could work with an approximate record time over 5 hours. This small and easy to handle video camera also offers a solid 5x optical zoom with a 6MP CCD at up to ISO1600 power for still images, so beside video you can also take a pictures every moment. With flip out view screen and special key feature of this video digital camera will saves you from the risk of bumping in underwater objects while diving around.

By choosing wisely from the wide range of good waterproof digital cameras available in today’s market, you can chose a good quality waterproof digital camera at an affordable price, to make the next underwater experience – an unforgettable one.