Tank Sale: Pentax K10D
Who? DSLR types demanding more than "sturdy polycarbonate." What? Pentax K10D. Why? What would you pay for a pro-level DSLR body? $1,200? $1,400? More? Here's what you get in a K10D: a rugged, heavily sealed body with shutter mechanism rated for 100,000 cycles; a high-magnification viewfinder with glass pentaprism; in-camera image editing that allows conversion of edited RAW files into JPEGs; self-cleaning CCD sensor; sensor-based image stabilization that will work with any lens. Image quality from the camera is routinely Excellent, particularly when using RAW mode. Go on, how much? Now! $795, street, body only.
Distance Specs: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H7
Who? Long-zoom enthusiasts. What? Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H7. Why? When we tested the $470 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 (August 2007), we found it outstanding. But give up a little in the way of features, and save a lot (around a hundred bucks). With the H7, Sony subtracts the NightShot mode (of very limited use), and substitutes a 2.5-inch fixed LCD (plenty big) for the H9's 3-inch tilting one. You get the same sensor, processor, superduper 15X optical zoom with image stabilization, and accessories. The clincher is the imaging performance -- the best we've seen so far in a superzoom. Expect DSLR-quality shots through ISO 800. Now! $370, street.
Steady Long Shot: Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS
Who? Distance junkies for whom a 3X (or 5X or 10X) zoom just isn't enough. What? Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS. Why? Kodak's latest long-range zoomer gives you about as much for your money as any camera in this class: 36-432mm equivalent f/2.8-4.8 Schneider 12X optical zoom, lens-based image stabilization, fast click-to-capture speed (a claimed 1/4-second), 2.5-inch LCD monitor, eye-level electronic viewfinder, 32MB internal memory backup to the SD card slot, QuickTime MPEG-4 movies with mono sound, and very adept panorama-stitching. When you're finished shooting, set it down on a Kodak Printer Dock and effortlessly pop out 4x6s. Now! $300, street.
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