A sneak peek at 2005 cameras

9. MORE MEGAPIXEL Kodak is updating its EasyShare line with the new DX7590 ($500 expected street), raising the EasyShare resolution bar to 5MP. Like its predecessor, the DX6490, it sports a Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon 10X zoom lens (38-380mm equivalent, f/2.8-3.7), an EVF (311,000 pixels) instead of an optical viewfinder, and uses Kodak's Color Science image-processing chip, which is claimed to help keep colors accurate.

10. SMALL BUT STABLE Panasonic was one of the first companies to build image stabilization into its compact cameras. Now, it's proving that IS can come in really small packages. The 3.7x1.9x1-inch, 0.3-pound 5MP Lumix DMC-FX7 ($499.95 MSRP) not only has image stabilization, it also includes a 3X (35-105mm equivalent) Leica zoom lens and 2.5-inch LCD. Panasonic has also unveiled three new 12X zoom IS digicams: the 3MP DMC-FZ3, 4MP DMC-FZ15, and 5MP DMC-FZ20 (MSRPs: $399.95, $499.95, and $599.95, respectively).

11. ALL ZOOM, NO VIBRATION Earlier this year, Nikon took the Coolpix line to 8MP and 8X zoom with the 8700 EVF. Now Nikon is adding a step-up 8MP-the Coolpix 8800, with Vibration Reduction (VR) technology and a 10X zoom lens (35-350mm equivalent, f/2.8-5.2). Nikon's also adding the 3.5X zoom (24-85mm equivalent), 8MP Coolpix 8400 EVF and 8.3X zoom (36-300mm equivalent), 4MP Coolpix 4800.