Crave

Canon's PowerShot S90 is one of 2009's best cameras.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

If camera phones have got people thinking twice about the need for a decent snapshot camera, no one's told the camera manufacturers. Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Kodak, Pentax, Casio, Samsung, and Olympus all continue to produce point-and-shoot cameras in a wide array of shapes, sizes, and abilities. The variety is amazing, bordering on downright silly.

This is why the question "What's the best point-and-shoot?" is difficult to answer; while one camera might excel in low-light conditions or photo quality, it'll more than likely come up short in design, usability, performance, price, or in some other area. Sure, I can stack up some cameras with some similar features and prices, but with so many variables it's very difficult to be specific. But, I'll give it a shot.

Below is a list of the best cameras--or at least those worth considering--that fall under a particular type, size, or feature. These are ones that left a strong enough impression on me to make me recommend them again and again to readers, friends, and family. None of them is perfect, but they have pluses that outweigh the minuses.

While I'm at it, there are a few things you should keep in mind when shopping for any point-and-shoot camera. For capturing kids, pets, or any other fast-moving subjects, you really need a digital SLR. A couple here are pretty quick--the Panasonic ZR1 and Sony WX1 come to mind--but if you're regularly shooting things in motion you'll want to step up to at least an entry-level dSLR. I suggest the same for those wanting the best in low-light shooting without a flash (though again, there are a couple here worth buying).

Optical viewfinders are all but gone from new models. Canon still has a few, but the rest of them are nothing but LCD. Lastly, most of these models use proprietary something or other: a memory card, cable, or, most typically, a battery. It's irritating, occasionally frustrating, and adds to the overall cost of a product--definitely worth keeping in mind when you're shopping.

This morning, Kodak introduced two new models to its collection of all-in-one printers. The ESP 3250 and ESP 5250 both take aim at consumers who need a printer in the home for light-duty snapshot and document printing, but don't necessarily need extra features (like an auto-document feeder or a duplexer) that typically push printers past the $200 threshold. As such, the new models are essentially stripped-down versions of the ESP 3 and ESP 5 printers we reviewed last year, but with a few updates:

Kodak ESP 3250

• 1.5-inch LCD Display
• Manual duplexing for double-sided printing
• Low Power Standby Mode saves energy during downtime
• Built-in memory card reader

Kodak ESP 5250

• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi enabled (802.11n not supported)
• 2.4-inch LCD Display
• Intelligent paper tray (included with 3250 as well)

The Kodak ESP 3250 and ESP 5250 are available now on the Kodak Web site, but look out for full reviews from CNET coming soon.

A couple weeks back, Kodak announced new products for this fall, including the excellent Zi8 minicamcorder. At the same time, the company was touring the guys in the video above--Brett Westcott and Cameron Brown--up the East Coast trying to get people to smile by complimenting them.

The two are known as the Compliment Guys (go figure) back on their campus at Purdue, where they started doing their thing to cheer people up. Kodak decided to put them on a 10-city tour, coinciding with its latest marketing campaign, "It's Time to Smile!"

So what does this have to do with Crave? Well, it's my own curiosity about whether marketing like this or things like viral videos have ever gotten you to buy from one tech brand over another? Does anything unrelated to the tech itself guide who gets your money? Is there still brand loyalty beyond Apple? Let me know in the comments.

I can't say a compliment would get me, but that's because I'm cynical and basically dead inside. However, seeing the video did get me to write this post, so I guess on that level they got me.

It's rare enough to find a standard-definition pocket camcorder like the Creative Vado or Flip Video for under $100, but a high-def model? Schwing!

Geeks.com has a refurbished Kodak Zi6 HD camcorder for $69.99. Shipping will run you about $8.

Before I go any further, here's the catch: It's pink. Now, I'm secure enough in my manhood to bring a pink camcorder to my kid's soccer game, but you might--aw, who am I kidding, no I'm not!

The Zi6 is widely regarded as one of the top models in its pocket-cam class. CNET gave it a generally positive review, griping mostly about the paltry onboard storage. You have to BYO SD card(s).

I consider that a plus: the competing models from Creative and Flip don't have SD slots, so you're stuck with whatever storage is built in. And here's an 8GB SDHC card for all of $17.99 shipped. That'll net you well over 2 hours of high-def shooting.

Speaking of which, the Zi6 captures 720p video at up to 60 frames per second using a 16:9 aspect ratio. It sports a 2.4-inch LCD (way bigger than the Flip's) and the obligatory built-in USB connector for quick uploading to your PC, YouTube, etc.

It comes with a pair of AA rechargeables and a charger, but you can always swap in a couple Duracells in a pinch.

Given that the Zi6 still sells new for upward of $125 (and higher), $70 is almost too good to pass up--especially considering that you get a full one-year warranty, just like new units! Take that, refurb haters! :)

My track record this week suggests these will sell out in about six minutes, so if you want a dirt-cheap, pocket-friendly camcorder and don't mind the color pink, get clicking.

The $180 Zi8 comes in three colors and is capable of capturing 1080p video.

(Credit: Kodak)

Over the last few years, as the pocket camcorder market has taken off, pioneer Flip Video has narrowly hung onto the lead it built by offering models with arguably superior designs and slightly better video quality. A few companies, including Creative, Sony, and RCA, have been nipping at its heels for a while, but none has been able to overtake Flip's offerings. Until now. While Kodak's Zi8 may not be perfect, it has a lot of the little extras we've been asking for--including electronic image stabilization and external mic support--and delivers very respectable video for a minicamcorder well under $200.

Read the full review.

Note: The Zi8 hasn't be released yet, but it is available for pre-order at Amazon.

First we said good-bye to Polaroid, now it's Kodachrome. What's a film sentimentalist to do? After 74 years of making the color film used by many of photography's greats, Kodak announced Monday that it's ending Kodachrome's production.

(Credit: Kodak)

Kodachrome makes up less than 1 percent of Kodak's total sales for still film, according to the company. Digital cameras are obviously the main culprit contributing to Kodachrome's demise, but photographers are also using newer kinds of color film that are easier to process. Only one photofinishing lab in the world still processes Kodachrome--Dwayne's Photo in Parsons, Kan.

Photographers like Kodachrome for its warm colors and fine grain, which are perfect for shooting portraits. The famous portrait of the Afghan refugee girl with the bright green eyes that graced the cover of National Geographic in 1985 was taken with Kodachrome film by Steve McCurry. But even McCurry has moved onto digital and other still film.

Photos: Saying goodbye to Kodachrome

Even though Kodachrome is largely known as still film, it has also been made for movie formats, including 16mm. In the past three years, Kodak has come out with several new professional still films and motion picture films.

Kodak is donating its last rolls of Kodachrome to the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film in Rochester, N.Y. One of these last rolls will be shot by McCurry, with the photos donated to the museum. Dwayne's Photo said it will continue to process any leftover Kodachrome until 2010.

(Credit: Kodak)

I still remember a conversation I had a couple years ago with a digital camera product manager about movie recording in his company's cameras and why it was limited to clips only 30 seconds long. His response was "our research tells us consumers don't use the movie mode or don't even know it's on their camera so it's really not a concern for us." YouTube and other video-sharing sites weren't exactly a secret at that time so the answer--regardless of research--seemed pretty off to me.

Since then, camera makers have been steadily rolling out improvements to movie recording. The main thing they've gone after--no surprise--is resolution. Slapping "HD" on a camera is the video equivalent of megapixels. Put "full HD" on a model and you'll really grab some attention. Squeeze an HDMI jack on the camera and you're in even better shape to sell some units to consumers interested in getting one product that takes good photos and videos and can play them back instantly on an HDTV.

One of the biggest missteps in this quest for the perfect movie mode, however, seems to be whether you get use of the optical zoom while recording. Kodak was one of the first, if not the first to add HD capabilities to its cameras. Its longest megazoom, the EasyShare Z980, is currently under review and like most of its other cameras features HD-quality movie capture with full use of its 24x zoom lens.

So, is a good movie mode crucial to a purchase decision these days or is it just one more thing manufacturers can slap on the box to up-sell you?

See the latest reviews of digital cameras in all types and sizes that capture HD video after the break.

The Kodak EasyShare M820 can be had for less than $100.

(Credit: Kodak)

Kodak offers a number of digital photo frames, including models that feature built-in wireless connectivity and even cutting edge OLED display technology. However, its 8-inch EasyShare M820, available for less than $100, is an attractive option for consumers hoping to balance affordability with some advanced features in a reasonably sized frame.

Some digital photo frames have real wood or metal finishes, but this is strictly a plastic affair. With its simple, slim black border, the frame looks elegant enough from afar and comes with two stick-on decorative mattes (one is red, the other silver) that allow you to customize the frame's look. The kickstand on the back swivels, giving you the option of locking the frame into horizontal or vertical orientation. On the back of the frame there are keyhole slots for mounting the frame to a wall with screws, along with a threaded tripod mount if you want to prop it up with a tripod.

In terms of features, the M820 is a step up from the basic package found in the entry-level P820 and P720--but you don't get the wireless connectivity found in Kodak's W-series photo frames, which include the W820 and W1020. The main upgrade here over the P series is support for video and MP3 playback (you can play music in the background of slideshows) and some built-in memory. There are two small speakers built into the back of the frame.

Read the full review to get all the details.

Compare to competing frames that cost under $150.

(Credit: The Kodak P720 costs around $60.)

Kodak offers several digital photo frames, including models that feature built-in wireless connectivity and even cutting edge OLED display technology. But its P720, a 7-inch frame, is about as basic as you get and sits at the entry-point of the Kodak line with a street price of less than $70.

Some digital photo frames have real wood or metal finishes, but this is strictly a plastic affair. With its simple, slim black border, the frame looks elegant enough from afar and comes with two stick-on decorative mattes (one is red, the other silver) that let you customize the frame's look. The kickstand doesn't swivel, but you do have the option of propping the frame up in a horizontal or vertical orientation. On the back of the frame there are keyhole slots for mounting the frame to a wall with screws along with a threaded tripod mount if you want to prop it up with a tripod.

Read the full review to find out how well the P720 performs.