Digital Camera Holiday Gift Guide - $400 - $600 Cameras

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In part 3 of our 2011 digital camera holiday gift guide, we looked at a series of $250 to $400 cameras that currently offer a step up in features from our first round of $150 to $250 cameras. In part 4, we will dive into the best cameras in the $400 to $600 price range. These cameras will introduce new models such as lower cost DSLR cameras, high-end prosumer cameras and higher quality lenses. This lineup of digital cameras are targeted at the upper end of the point & shoot crowd, ideally for those seeking cameras for outdoor use or cameras that offer more unique features than standard point & shoot models.  

So jump into the fourth part of our 2011 Holiday gift guide, the $400 to $600 digital camera range. Our following recommendations are based on quality, features and the best value available on the digital camera marketplace between $400 to $600 dollars (MSRP).


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Top Pick: 
Olympus PEN E-PM1 

The most affordable, and smallest in the series, is the PEN E-PM1, which will be available in six stylish colors (purple, pink, brown, white, silver, and black).  As with its more expensive siblings, the idea behind the entire PEN series is that they are both compact (like a point and shoot), but feature fast, high quality interchangeable lenses (like a dSLR).  All cameras in this series will feature a 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS Image Sensor, a TruePic VI Image Processor, a Dust Reduction System, 3.0" LCD screen (460K pixels), and a high 12,800 ISO capability.

Autofocus on the E-PM1 is handled by Olympus' FAST (Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology) Autofocus Tracking System, which uses 35 separate focus points to find sharp, clear, and speedy focus in any situation.  Not only a still camera, as most digicams tend to be these days, the Olympus PEN E-PM1 is capable of 1080/60i HD movie recording.  Because of this focus on movies, the whole PEN series features MSC (Movie & Still Compatibility) lenses, which are designed to provide "near-silent operation, enabling you to shoot HD movies in stereo with amazing clarity."  The lens for this camera kit will be the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm II R f3.5/5.6 II R zoom lens (28mm-84mm equivalent).    

Click on a color below to see the best price on the Olympus PEN E-PM1

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Canon EOS Rebel T3

The EOS Rebel T3 is a great unit to get you started on a higher level of photography. The T3 is the accolade of 2008's EOS Rebel XS, with all the fantastic features of the latter, plus with a string of new highlights. Atop of an 12.2-Megapixel CMOS image sensor, improved control layout, DIGIC 4 processor, Live View shooting mode, 63-zone Dual-layering metering system, and 1280x720 video mode; Canon supplements the T3 with a new Creative Auto shooting mode, a hands-on guide offering detailed descriptions of settings, a 2.7-inch LCD, EF and EF-S lens mount, and more. With all of these great features, Canon's new entry-level EOS Rebel T3 looks to be a great choice for a first dSLR. Pick this up if you are ready to upgrade to a more versatile camera platform, with a budget of about $600.

Click on a color below to see the best price on the Canon EOS Rebel T3

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Sony SLT-A35 - body only

While resolution is still set at 16-megapixels (like found on the α55), the α35 boasts a newly developed 16MP, Exmor APS HD CMOS image sensor. To help keep the α35 fast and responsive, Sony chose their proven BIONZ processor. This sensor/processor combination allows the α35 to offer impressive burst mode capabilities (up to 5.5fps at full resolution, or 7fps at 8M), a vast sensitivity range (ISO 100 - 25,600), and Auto HDR and 3D sweep functionalities; among others. 

Other impressive specifications include AVCHD video recording at full 1920x1080 resolution, a high-speed 15-point AF system with three "cross type" sensors, Quick autofocus in both movie and Live View modes, a high-quality 3.0-inch "Xtra Fine" LCD screen with Sony's TruBlack technology, Multi frame Noise Reduction, Creative Style settings, 11 new Picture Effects for both stills and video, built-in SteadyShot image stabilization, and much more.  

Click on a color below to see the best price on the Sony SLT-A35

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Nikon Coolpix P7100

The P7100 features a 10.1 megapixel 1/1.7" CCD sensor running through a 7.1x optical NIKKOR ED zoom lens (35mm equivalent to 28-200mm), which makes this camera capable of 720p HD movie recording.  A nice addition to this model and the movie recording mode is the "AE Lock & Hold," which prevents the camera from adjusting your exposure when you tilt and pan. This camera is capable of capturing pictures in RAW (NRW format) and features some in-camera editing for these files.  Lastly, the P7100 will include all of the P7000's artistic effects as well as three new ones: a zoom focus (it zooms the camera as the picture is taking to create an interesting effect), cross-processing (make your camera look like it was shot on an older, film model), colored filters for b&w (adjust any of your colors to adjust your b&w photography).

Click on a color below to see the best price on the Nikon Coolpix P7100

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Canon PowerShot SX40 HS 

The SX40 HS builds from platform of the SX30 IS from last year, incorporating some newer Canon technologies to help the camera produce even better results than its predecessors. Of these we have the addition of full 1080p (30p) HD video recording, and the inclusion of Canon's newer HS (High-sensitivity) system. This system combines a fast 12.1-megapixel CMOS image sensor with a DIGIC 5 processor, and a fast f/2.7 (wide) 35x optical zoom lens. Other new additions include an enhanced Smart Auto mode, increased burst mode capabilities (up to 10.3fps), Toy Camera special scene mode, Eye-Fi functionality, Super Slow Motion Movie mode, and Intelligent IS. 

The rest of the SX40's features remain the same as that found on the SX30, like a sweet 2.7-inch rotating LCD, an extremely versatile 35x optical zoom lens (24-840mm equivalent), high-resolution EVF, manual pop-up flash unit, hot shoe for external speedlites, HDMI output, and a plethora of exposure modes and options that will fit the needs of most any user; from beginner's to advanced enthusiasts. Pick this up if you are looking for one of the most well-rounded point-n-shoots on the market, and you're not quite ready for a dSLR or EVIL camera.   

 Click on a color below to see the best price on the Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

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