Canon announced a new entry-level d-SLR: the EOS Rebel XS, which along with the recently introduced EOS Rebel XSi, replaces the popular Rebel XT and Rebel XTi cameras. The company has decided to rollout some of the advanced features in its XSi features, but left out others to reduce-costs and differentiate the new entry-level d-SLR. Sporting the company’s new Digic III processor and a new live view mode, Canon’s EOS Rebel XS has a 10.1 megapixel image sensor that is almost identical to that used in the Rebel XTi (short of the XSi’s 12.2 megapixels, but higher than the 8MP on the original XT); the new Rebel XS also features a 2.5-inch LCD, which is larger than the 1.8-inch on the XT but smaller than 3.0-inch LCD on the XSi).

Canon has not announced pricing and availability for the US, but the camera was officially announced in Japan. The US will likely see a debut next month and the camera is expected to ship later this summer at about the same price point as the current XTi (or about $200 less than the Rebel XSi).

Panasonic announced the HDC-SD8K digital camcorder. The specs remain the same as the cam records full HD video on a SDHC card it packs in a 10X optical zoom Leica lens and a 2.7 inch display. Along with the new red body color it has a matching grip belt along with an extra battery and a 8GB SDHC card so you dont miss out on any event at the Olympics. Only 150 pieces will be manufactured with each selling for 128,000 Yen ($ 1280).

Sony releases its champagne gold-colored DSLR α300. As a 500-limited edition, it offers a bundle of 18–70mm standard zoom lens(SAL1870) in champagne gold color.

The α300 offers Sony’s Quick AF Live View technology so you can frame photos on the camera’s 2.7-inch LCD without sacrificing auto-focusing speed common to other live-view systems. Sony’s innovative Pentamirror Tilt mechanism directs light to a dedicated live view image sensor, enabling fast and responsive TTL phase-detection auto-focusing, even during live view.

Fujifilm has announced its latest FinePix, the A850. This compact camera offers a 8.1 Megapixel CCD sensor, 3x optical zoom, a 2.5 inch LCD screen, a maximum sensitivity for up to ISO 800, a picture stabilizer, 14 different scene modes, and can capture video at 30fps. The FinePix A850 will be available from retailers from July 2008. Pricing will be announced nearer to the date of the launch.

Kodak comes back with a new M2008 digital camera that features the 10MP resolution, 3x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD, and 720p video recording capability. No word on a release ’round these parts, it seems, but those in China can apparently pick one up now for about $270.

The latest in the Pentax Optio V series is the V20 from Hoya a standard-class compact digital camera that has a zoom lens with increased magnification of 5X, enabling for the user to enjoy photography with further high-magnification. The Pentax Optio V20 comes with a high resolution, a 3.0-inch LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 dots that enables images and the text to be displayed largely and clearly.

The LCD monitor has a wide viewing angle of 170 degrees from all directions, making it easy to confirm images, even when looking at the screen diagonally. The LCD comes newly coated with an AR (Anti-Reflection) coat that suppresses outside light and reduces reflections.