CES 2012 Preview: Exciting New Pro DSLRs and Mirrorless Cameras, Same Boring Point-And-Shoots

By

CES-Press-Pass-screenshot

I’m wearing a big shimmering wrap on my head with a jewel in the middle. There’s incense going, and I’m now ready to make these CES 2012 camera predictions: new pro DSLRs from Nikon and (possibly) Canon will reign supreme; it will be another good year for small mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras, like the new Nikon 1; and in-point-and-shoots, I see more of the same blah.

I also see this year’s PMA show (Photo Marketing Association) being combined into CES, bringing with it imaging accessories galore — but that’s not a prediction — it’s on PMA’s website.

DSLRs

DSLRs aren’t replaced by sexy new models every year like point-and-shoots are. Pro DSLRs are only released once every 2-3 years, so when new models do come out, it’s generally something most photographers get excited about, and boy, are we all giddy.

Friday, January 6th, 2012, Nikon will unveil its new flagship pro camera: the full-frame, 16 megapixel, soon-to-be-king-of-low-light-photography, D4. You may have already heard about it, it’s been leaked here, and strangely, here. And if Lord Xenu hears my prayers, Nikon will have the D4 ready to show on the floors of CES. Chances are they will, I doubt the pre-show announcement is a coincidence. There’s also a glimmer of hope that Nikon will announce their new ultra-high resolution D3X replacement, another pro model, the D800.

Also hotly anticipated is Canon’s new pro DSLR, the EOS-1D X. Canon’s 18 megapixel dreamliner was announced back in October, and is a departure from Canon’s usual cram-those-pixels-in-there methodology. With the 1D X, Canon is forfeiting some millions of megapixels in order to attain better low-light performance, a strategy Nikon has been pursuing for years. I’m sure many Canon fans will welcome the move.

It’s unclear, though, if the EOS-1D X will make an appearance at this year’s CES. There have been murmurings it will be present, but it doesn’t actually ship until this spring, a ways off, so I’m guessing it’ll be a no-show.

Mirrorless Cameras

Moving on to more consumer-grade imaging, expect an ample showing of mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras this year, especially from Nikon.

Nikon surprised many some in September with the announcement of their totally new, built-from-the-ground-up camera, the Nikon 1. And I expect the 1 to have a big presence at this year’s CES. Available in two flavors, the 1 is similar to other Micro Four-Third cameras out there, like the Olympus Pen, but it uses Nikon’s own proprietary sensor and system of itsy-bitsy lenses. And Nikon has a lot riding on the new 1; consumer camera’s account for a majority of its imaging product sales. And with iPhone 4 eating the point-and-shoot business, Nikon is looking to the 1 to help them stay in the game.

Micro Four-Third cameras like the Olympus PEN E-PL3 and the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 are also going to have an important place at CES this year. People are excited about them — they take much better photos than point-and-shoots, which are being replaced by mobile phones anyway, are less expensive than DSLRs, and their compact sizes and airy-weights make them easier to carry around.

Consumer camera companies know that small mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras are likely going to be driving their sales in the years to come, and this year, all the majors players are finally in the game.

Point-and-Shoots

Here’s a category that get’s me yawning like Spaceballs’ Prince Valium: point-and-shoots. Are there going to be any noteworthy models in this dying-wasteland of a product category? Well Samsung will be featuring its just-announced DV300F, a “Dual View” (screens on the front and back) point-and-shoot with Wi-Fi abilities so you can upload photos straight to Facebook. And Fujifilm will be debuting no less than 16 models, including its new FinePix F770EXR, a biggish camera with a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, on-board GPS, and 1080 HD video.

I’m sure there’ll be more, CES is generally flooded with new, smaller, more feature-rich point-and-shoots. But the question is: will consumers care about any of them? Smartphones cameras are pretty good these days, and you can immediately do something with those smartphone photos, like Instagram them or put them on Facebook. Yes, a point-and-shoot might offer better image performance, especially in low light, but it comes with all the hassles of then actually doing something with those images.

Will this year’s point-and-shoots’ have any noteworthy tricks worth getting excited about? Maybe. But I doubt you’ll care.

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.