As any serious photographer can tell you, you aren’t going to get great shots from a point and shoot camera, no matter how many megapixels it has. Without the larger lens and sensor of a DSLR, they just aren’t equipped for it. So if you’re looking to take truly beautiful photos and not just passable snaps of your and your buddies out on the town, you need to upgrade to a DSLR.

The Nikon D60 10.2 Megapixel Digital Camera SLR Body and Lens Kit is one of the most popular and affordable DSLRs on the market. It delivers an excellent value while also not skimping on features or quality. You’ll be able to take amazing shots, be they portraits, landscapes, action shots or anything else you can imagine. The lens on it will allow you to zoom in without losing quality, and the 10.2 megapixel sensor will take pictures large enough for you to blow up to poster size without blurring. It’s the perfect camera for someone who wants all the power of a DSLR without paying a huge price.

On Tuesday, Canon announced an entry-level model to their Rebel DSLR series, the Rebel XS (aka EOS 1000D). Beginning with the original Digital Rebel in 2003, Canon’s Rebel line retains its #1 place as the highest-selling consumer DSLR line. With the addition of the Rebel XS, Canon’s focal point is on the amateur or casual photographer wanting more flexibility and features than their compact camera offers, while still making basic point-and-shoot photography a snap.

The XS is nearly identical to its bigger brother, the Rebel XSi EOS 450D (don’t be confused by the lower model number), but with a lower megapixel count (10 vs. 12), smaller LCD monitor (2.5” vs. 3.0”), and missing several other more advanced features. For the first-time DSLR user, these disparities are probably insignificant. And those upgrading from a compact camera may be relieved that there is live view for composing pictures using the LCD. It also has a 7-point wide-area AF system and an unlimited burst rate of 3fps when shooting in JPEG.

But there are areas where the XS outperforms its bigger brother. It uses Canon’s latest Digic III image processor, which should show improvements in image quality, especially when using higher ISOs. In addition, the XS has a longer battery life.

Like Canon’s previous Rebels, the XS will be available in black or silver, and sold as body-only or as a kit with Canon’s new 18-55mm with IS. Although Canon has not yet officially set a release date, it will likely be available in the US in July, with a price range similar to the XSi right now.

It’s summertime, which means lots of fun times spent outside, maybe by the pool, at a cookout, or at the beach. It’s a great time to start taking some home videos or just plain videos, so why not get on board with the digital video revolution?

If you grab yourself one of these hot Sanyo VPC-E1W Xacti E1 Waterproof Camcorder, you’ll do just that. It’s a tiny camcorder, fitting easily in the palm of your hand and even in your pocket when all folded up. It shoots great, high quality video and can take still pictures as well. It has a 2.5-inch flip-out screen so you can see what you’re doing, and as an added bonus it’s completely waterproof. You can bring this thing up to 5 feet below the surface and shoot video of your kid learning how to swim from down below. It’s an awesome, versatile camera, a perfect way to start shooting digital video to share with family and friends online. When’s a better time but now?

Point and shoot cameras are incredibly popular, and with good reason. They’re small enough to keep in your pocket when you go out, and with a decent sized memory card, you can take hundreds of photos without deleting any of them. The problem is that they’re delicate pieces of electronics, and if you accidentally drop it or get it wet, the chances are good that you’ll be out an investment of a few hundred dollars. Bummer.

That’s not the case with the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW 10.1 Megapixels Digital Camera. This rugged point and shoot is shockproof, waterproof, crushproof, and freezeproof, making it virtually indestructible and safe from your clumsy hands. Yes, if you accidentally drop your digital camera in the toilet or leave it in a snowbank overnight, it’ll still be perfectly functional. In addition to its toughness, it’s a great digital camera in its own right. It’s got a 10.1 megapixel sensor, a 2.7-inch LCD screen on the back, and a 3.6x wide-angle optical zoom lens. Why settle for a camera that you might end up breaking in a few months? Get insurance against your clumsiness with a camera tough enough to handle some drops and spills.

Generally speaking, there isn’t much innovation in the digital camera world. Sure, with new cameras come new features, but they’re usually just improvements to what are already there. It’s rare that you find a camera with features that you’ve never seen on a camera before.

That’s what makes the new Casio EXILIM Pro EX-F1 so incredible. It’s unlike any digital camera you’ve ever seen before. What makes it so unique? Well, take the fact that it can shoot video at up to 1,200 frames per second, allowing you to create Discovery Channel worthy slo-mo videos. Or the fact that it can shoot full-quality stills at 60 frames per second, allowing you to choose exactly the right moment to capture. Or that it records video in high definition. It’s so much that it almost makes all other cameras see bland and boring in comparison. It’s the kind of camera that’ll feel like a new toy when you get it, making you want to use all its fun features all the time, seeing what kind of cool shots you can capture.

When was the last time a camera made you feel like that?

Now you can take wide-angle pictures of your humongous family reunion, then zoom way in on a single face. The new Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ4 and TZ5 digital cameras are something special. The Leica 28-280mm wide-angle lens is capable of capturing a broad landscape photo, and the exceptional 10x optical zoom setting can bring far-away subjects close.

In addition, MEGA O.I.S. optical image stabilization makes it easy to take clear, non-blurry pictures, even when you can’t use a tripod. And the Lumix TZs have other good stuff, like Intelligent ISO Control to prevent motion blur, and ultra-compact aluminum bodies. The TZ4 has an 8.1-megapixel lens and the TZ5 jumps to 9mp; the TZ4 has a 2.5” LCD and the TZ5 has 3.0”, otherwise the two cameras are similar. And don’t forget last year’s Lumix DMC-TZ3; there are excellent prices on this 7.2-megapixel model with a slightly larger body. The TZ3 and TZ4 are available in black and silver; the TZ5 is available in blue, black, or silver.

What really sets the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ series apart from other digital point & shoots, however, is the tremendous zoom and wide-angle capabilities. Get one in your hands and test it out yourself.

Panasonic recently stopped by one of our “Lunch n’ Learn” seminars to show off some of the cool features of the TZ series:

It seems like every digital point and shoot camera out there looks exactly the same. They have the same shape and the same proportions; who can tell them apart? If you’re looking for one that’ll stand out a little bit more and not be confused for someone else’s, allow me to recommend the Canon PowerShot SD40 7 Megapixel Digital Camera.

The Powershot SD40 is longer and thinner than most other cameras like it, making it stand out from the crowd. It also comes in a wide selection of colors that you can choose from. And it’s not just a pretty face, either. It’s got a 7.1 megapixel sensor, a DIGIC III Image Processor, can shoot movies in addition to stills, and records it all to SD memory cards. It’s the perfect camera for the casual photographer who’s looking for something that doesn’t look like everyone else’s camera.

No longer do you have to ask strangers to take your picture. No longer do you, the photographer, have to sprint over to take your place in the frame. No longer will your priceless picture be ruined by the camera falling over.

Enter the Quik Pod Pro+, the hand-held tripod from Fromm Works. It works two ways. Just attach your camera or camcorder to the universal fitting, extend the Quik Pod, hold the handle, then hit the self-timer. The self-image positioning mirror helps you compose the picture and you’re not out of breath trying to be in the shot. The Quik Pod Pro+ also has tripod legs for a more conventional picture. It is constructed of high-quality polycarbonate and aluminum so that it is both strong and portable. The total weight is just 3.5 ounces and the extended size is 18.5 inches.

The Quik Pod Pro+ is packaged with pocket clip, hiking clip, wrist strap, carry bag, and tripod legs. The same Quik Pod also comes as a package without the tripod legs. For cameras and camcorders that are heavier than 16 oz., we recommend the Quik Pod DSLR.