Samsung launched its new range of digital cameras for the second half of 2008 in Germany last week.

Among the new models available from the company is the NV 100HD, which is described by Steves-Digicams. com as the “flagship” for the new line.

The camera offers the highest resolution of any compact to date at 14.7 megapixels, as well as a three-inch hVGA LCD screen.

Photography enthusiasts looking for something to use while on the go may find the NV9 a more appealing option than the slightly larger NV 100HD.

In addition to its 10.2 megapixels and 2.7-inch LCD, this gadget also offers an MP3 player and text viewer.

Buyers looking for a balance between the two models may wish to opt for the 13.6-megapixel L310W, which features a wide-angle optical zoom lens, Dual Image Stabilisation and 11 different scene modes.

Those who wish to completely forgo paper may wish to invest in one of Samsung’s new LCD photo-frames, which went on sale on September 1st.

Sony has just released a new high-speed memory stick to deal with the increasing demands of high-performance digital cameras and camcorders.

The firm describes the item as the “ideal upgrade” stating that its 20 MB per second read speed will prove to be “more than capable of coping with the strain”.

Sony’s Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX comes with a USB adaptor and is available in 8 GB and 16 GB formats.

The company says that the increased demands of high-megapixel compacts, SLRs with continuous shooting ability and HD camcorders will be met by its new card.

It is claimed that the data transfer speeds offered by the new piece of technology will increase by one-third on those found in the Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark 2).

For those who do not need the new capabilities of Sony’s latest product, the Memory Stick PRO Duo can be purchased for flexible use in cameras, mobile phones and even the PSP.

Panasonic has revealed that it will launch a new digital camera to add to its Lumix range on September 12th.

Its new SLR will be the natural successor the successful DMC-L10 and will be a single lens reflex camera, reports NetworkWorld. com.

While no details have been released by the manufacturer, the product is going to take the number of Lumix digital SLR’s in the range to three.

The DMC-L10 was unveiled last year at the Photokina show in Germany and it is thought that at this year’s event, Panasonic’s new offering will feature prominently in its line-up.

A statement from the company said that its latest camera “offers unique features to set a new trend in digital SLR photography.”

The Lumix LX3 features a wide-angle lens, three-inch LCD screen and a 1/1.63 inch 10.1 megapixel CCD.

Panasonic’s website claims that this enables pixels to be 45 per cent larger, which results in sensitivity and saturation being up to 40 per cent higher than in standard models.

Photography enthusiasts will struggle to find better cameras than the ones on offer from Nikon and Canon, it has been claimed.

Those looking for quality images with sharp details and excellent colours and depth should look into purchasing a digital SLR from one of the firms such as the Canon 50D or the Nikon D90, according to experts at the Courier Mail.

Nikon’s new model allows users to capture video which can then be played back on HD TV and will enable photographers to track faces in the same way that compact camera does.

Those who opt for the Canon 50D will be able to enjoy the highest resolution in the industry at 15.1 megapixels.

Chris Macleod, brand manager for digital SLR’s at Canon, commented stated that the latest offering from the company is designed to integrate “both entry-level and advanced DSLR technologies”.

Nikon also offers the D60, which features 10.2 megapixel resolution and can be used either in auto mode or manual.

One digital camera owner has professed his love for the Canon EOS 40D in a new article for the Canwest News Service.

In a piece posted on the Ottawa Citizen website, Darren Bernhardt states that were it legal and possible to get married to his beloved digital camera he would currently be on honeymoon.

“Sure, I’d get weird looks while snuggling up to my Canon EOS 40D on the beach or gazing longingly at it across a candlelit table, but who cares when you’re in love?,” Mr Bernhardt comments.

He adds that the Canon Eos 40D is equipped with the manufacturer’s 10.1-megapixel complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor and this allows for a level of range and clarity that he states is exceptional.

The article concludes by suggesting that for those looking to upgrade from a basic point-and-click compact digital camera the digital single lens reflex-equipped Canon is a simple transition.

The manufacturer’s range of digital cameras also includes the ten-megapixel Canon Ixus 90 IS Silver.

The Panasonic Lumix FZ28 is a camera that boosts the company’s range by offering versatility and great performance, it has been suggested.

A spokesman for the manufacturer said this week that the “super versatile” 10.1-megapixel camera has a number of features that will make the most out of user’s photography skills.

Hitesh Ojha, Panasonic’s product marketing manager for Middle East products, said that one such innovation was the inclusion of a powerful 18x zoom lens that offers a number of choices.

“For an added boost, zoom power can be increased to 32.1x with the Extra Optical Zoom function and the 27mm wide-angle feature is ideal for both broad landscapes and tight indoor shots,” he added.

It is noted that the camera has also been given a new Intelligent Auto mode and AF Tracking facility, which helps capture movement.

The Panasonic Lumix FZ28 is available from UK Digital Cameras in two colours; silver and black.

A swimming mask equipped with a digital camera has been created and is thought to be the first of its kind, Forbes reported this week.

Hammacher Schlemmer has incorporated a waterproof digital camera into the mask, so snorkeling or scuba diving fans can now take photographs hands-free while plumbing the depths.

According to Forbes, the camera weighs in at five megapixels with a shutter button located above one of the eyes.

It can function up to depths of 15 feet and store 30 high-resolution images together with 52 seconds of video clips on the built-in memory.

In addition, it is PC and Mac-compatible and comes with an extra slot for more memory.

Reviewer Lauren Sherman described Hammacher Schlemmer, which was established in 1848, as a “maker of nifty gadgets”

It also offers consumer lifestyle gadgets such as the Ropeless Jump Rope and the Original Sleep Sound Generator.

A “decent amateur photographer” has discussed his use of a Canon ESO 450D for taking panoramic shots.

Writing on Gearlog, Geoff Fox said he recently snapped the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges in New York, producing what he thinks is the best photograph he has ever taken.

To do so, he took 11 shots using the Canon ESO 450D with a Sigma 30mm F1.4 lens.

And for budding panorama photographers, he gave some tips, including using a tripod at night and manually focusing the camera when possible.

Using a zoom lens was also recommended by Mr Fox, who said it is not necessarily a negative thing if the zoom lens produces some spatial distortion.

When it comes to actually taking the photograph, keep steady and make sure the camera is aligned with the horizon. After taking one shot, move along a little bit and make sure there is lots of overlap so there are lots of different choices for the final product.

Meanwhile, Canon has a range of compact cameras available for those who are looking for a new model, such as the Canon Ixus 970 Silver which has a ten megapixel resolution and a 5x optical zoom.

A new addition to the Sony Cyber-shot range offers “style and substance”, the manufacturer says.

The Sony Cyber-shot T500 includes 10.1 million pixels with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 5x optical zoom lens, a 3.5-inch display and touch screen functionality.

However, the camera also enables users to capture video clips in high-definition quality – something fans of beautiful images might be excited about.

Clips can be up to ten minutes long and use stereo sound to record audio.

The Sony Cyber-shot T500 is available in black, silver or red and the company says it is easy to switch between photo and video modes using a button at the top of the camera.

It also features a Dual Anti-Blur solution and High Sensitivity mode.

Meanwhile, another option for those looking to purchase a compact camera might want to check out the Canon Powershot A470 Grey, which has 7.1 million pixels and a 3.4x optical zoom.

Following the announcement of a new range of digital cameras, Canon has unveiled a number of other related products.

Pocket Lint reports that the manufacturer’s Canon EOS 50D was the main announcement that will be “hogging a lot of the attention” in the digital camera sector but added that its new printers and scanners were also noteworthy.

In terms of printers, Canon boosted its Pixma all-in-one photo printing range seven new models, including some that are equipped with the firm’s Auto Photo Fix (APF) Auto Scan Mode (ASM) and ChromaLife100+ (CL) technologies.

APF is described as an image correction facility, whereas AS is designed to make scanning images an easier process. CL, on the other hand, “is claimed to deliver longer lasting, fade resistant photos,” the article added.

Canon’s “trio of new scanners”, it concluded, also offer “faster scanning speeds and higher resolutions [than] their predecessors”.

The Canon PowerShot SX110IS, PowerShot E1, A1000 IS and A2000 IS are among the other cameras the company has also recently unveiled.