New digicameras zoom in

Camera makers have been showing off new or about-to-be-released products in readiness for the Christmas market and this month's big Photokina show.

Most varied was Fujifilm's Finepix range, where each model looks different, though many use the company's SuperCCD HR sensors.

The range includes the 4megapixel S5500, which looks like an SLR and has a 10x optical zoom, and the F440 which crams a pop-out 3.4x optical zoom into a body measuring just 74.5 x 62.3 x 21.3mm.

Fujifilm also released details of it S3 Pro digital SLR, due to launch in October. It will have a 'film emulation' mode and a dynamic range adjustable up to a claimed four times that of a conventional CCD sensor.

Meanwhile Casio announced three new credit card-size cameras: a revamped entry-level 3.2megapixel EX-S100 and the 5megapixel EX-Z5 and EX-Z55. The 7.2megapixel EX-P700, has a 4x optical zoom.

Canon claims its latest digital SLR, the semi-professional EOS 20D, gives better picture quality than film. It replaces the EOS 10D, and uses the same Digic II processor as Canon's professional EOS-1D Mark II. It uses an APS-C size 8.2megapixel CMOS sensor shooting at 5fps (frames per second).

The EOS 20D should be in the stores by late September, with prices starting at £1,279.99.

There are four new Canon Powershots. The 7.1megapixel £599 inc VAT G6 has a fast f2.0 4x zoom and 12 shooting modes. The 7.1megapixel S70 (£449), has 15-1/2,000-second shutter speeds and manual focusing. The £319 A95 has a 5megapixel sensor, and the entry-level product offers 3.2megapixel-quality for £149.