CESpotlight 2015: Cameras

CES 2015 was all about every possible gadget under the sun, including cameras. However, there has been a growing trend of more compact photo-imaging devices rather than the bulky DSLRs. And of course, drones are picking up. This trend of smaller cameras might be attributed to the necessary tech shrinking (pixel sensors, processors, etc.), or people are growing tired of lugging around a bulky DSLR with a few extra lenses on a vacation where all they ever do is take selfies and groufies and jumpshots.

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We’ve picked out some of the noteworthy cameras to have been announced at CES 2015 this year and while they weren’t the real stars of the show (it’s the wearables, we think), there were still a few noteworthy ones.

Nikon D5500

This won’t be a camera round up without a DSLR, and the Nikon D5500 made our list. The D5500 marks the first DSLR from the brand with a touchscreen. It might be a little late in the game, but the small size of the D5500 (it almost fits in your open hand) makes it a little more carry-friendly. It has a 24.2 MP APS-C sensor and the latest Expeed 4 image processing engine doing the heavy lifting. The D5500 has a 39-point autofocus system and up to 5fps continuous shooting. What’s cool about the touchscreen is that it can be active while you’re using the viewfinder, allowing your finger to control where the active focus of your shot is while your eye never leaves its designated spot. You might want to mount the camera on a tripod when you do this, of course. The Nikon D5500 will be available in February.

Panasonic Lumix TZ70

Travel-sized compact digital cameras are picking up, and Panasonic’s Lumix line gets a new addition in the TZ70. The device easily fits in your pocket, ready to capture moments while on vacation. It sports an electronic viewfinder + touchscreen combo, although with cameras like this, we feel that looking at your subject on the screen is much better. It has 30x zoom and a really swift autofocus feature, something that has become a sort of trademark for Panasonic. It does, however, suffer from a smaller megapixel count compared to its competitors at only 12.1. It does have Wi-Fi, GPS, and the ability to take 1080p video. The Lumix TZ70 comes out around March of this year.

Canon PowerShot SX710 HS

Canon throws in its entry for a compact digital camera, the PowerShot SX710 HS. It sports a 3-inch screen like the Lumix TZ70, but no viewfinder. It also has 30x zoom, which may be the benchmark for good quality travel cameras nowadays. What edges it over the competition is the 20.3 megapixel sensor to complement the zoom capacity. The big megapixel count might be a little overkill, but there’s a tradeoff: the SX710 HS lacks touch functionalities on its screen, which is somewhat of a throwback. Still, the brand has been known to produce cameras that satisfy, and no doubt there will be powered down versions of this travel compact coming hot on its heels for those with a tighter budget. The camera comes out by February.