Consumers get more camera for less money

— -- Consumers looking for new cameras have reason to smile: Prices are down, and features are more sophisticated as camera makers unveil spring models at the annual Photo Marketing Association trade show in Las Vegas this week.

For 2008, IDC projects unit shipments growing slightly to 35 million and revenue climbing to $9 billion.

Manufacturers "are focusing on price more than before," says IDC analyst Chris Chute.

They are also packing in higher megapixel counts (a measurement of a camera's resolution) and adding new goof-proof features such as "anti-blink" technology in point-and-shoot cameras.

In terms of pricing, for instance, Canon's PowerShot SD1100 IS, coming in March with 8 megapixels, image stabilization and a big zoom, will sell for $250. A Canon model with similar specifications but without the SD1100's advanced auto-focus features, the SD850 IS was introduced in June for $400.

Nikon's new Coolpix S550, available in early February, is also economy priced at $230. It has a 10-megapixel sensor and the new anti-blink feature. Shoot as many as eight people in a group, and if anyone blinks, a message pops up to alert the photographer to try again.

"It can't open a person's eyes, but it can warn you," says Steve Heiner, Nikon senior technical manager. "For someone who shoots a lot of family pictures, they usually don't see the blinks until they transfer the pictures to the computer, so this could be a big help."

Many point-and-shoot cameras now offer face-detection technology, which adjusts lighting and focus for multiple human faces (no pets yet — sorry). Sony last year introduced a "smile" feature that basically disables the camera if the subject isn't smiling.

Sony's new $400 Cyber-shot DSC-T300, available in March, has advanced face detection that can differentiate between child and adult faces. Select "child priority" or "adult priority," and the camera will adjust exposure and focus on the subject of your choice. Sony's face detection can automatically detect up to eight faces in the frame.