Top 5 Photography Announcements of CES 2013

CES came to a close in Las Vegas earlier this week and the photography industry is left with a whole bag of new products.  While most of the products announced look like a waste, there are a few items that look like they could be a great addition to your bag.  Let's take a look at the 5 Best Photography Products from CES 2013 after the beak.

#5.  Nikon D5200 – 24.1 MP crop sensor (1.5x), 39 autofocus points (same AF system as the D7000), native ISO 6400 (up to 256,000 expanded), a cool flip-out screen that consumers love, and up to 5 frames per second continuous shooting.  All of these specs make for a great mid-level DSLR.  The best part about the Nikon D5200 is the price.  You can pick this puppy up for $799 (body only), $896 (18-55mm kit lens), or $1,096 (18-105mm kit lens).

If this will be your first DSLR, definitely spend the extra money and go with the longer 18-105mm kit lens.  You'll have a fighting chance with your kid's soccer games or your trips to the zoo.

#4.  Canon PowerShot N –  The Canon PowerShot N is definitely the oddball camera this year.  It's square, minimalist design make it stand out from the other point-and-shoot (compact) cameras that were announced at CES this year.  Is there anything special about the N?  Not really.  But it does offer a great 28-224mm focal length (equivalent), decent small-sensor low light capabilities up to ISO 6400 (the images should be decent enough for Facebook sharing), and a unique design that begs for creative photography.  The images coming out of this camera are going to be leaps and bounds better than what you can get with your iPhone.

I forgot to mention, the N even has Wi-Fi and Bluetooh for instant photo sharing, just find your local Starbucks.  You can grab a Canon N in Black or White to match your iPhone, iPad, and whatever other Apple product you own.  Be sure to watch CNET's video of the Canon N in action.

#3.  Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM – The new Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM offers a highly useful focal length, a massive fixed f/2.8 aperture, image stabilizer, and a budget price tag of $3,600.  What's not to love about the new Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 beast?

If you shoot sports or performing arts of any type, then the 120-300mm focal length is perfect for you.  Better yet, I can see this lens being useful for corporate events and weddings as well.  Compared to Canon's 300mm f/2.8L IS II ($7,299) and Nikon's 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II ($5,799) this new Sigma is a bargain!  Dear Sigma, I want to review this lens for you!

You can grab this lens in a Canon, Nikon, or Sigma mount.

#2.  Fujifilm X100s –  Fuji has really knocked the ball out of the park with the new X100s.  They made changes to the weak points of the current X100 and left the rest of the great camera alone.  Fuji added the 16MP APS-C (1.6x crop) sensor from the flagship X-Pro 1 for better low light performance, a new On-Sensor Phase Detection autofocus system for much snappier focus, an EXR Processor II for better responsiveness, a few new buttons and a better button layout.  The list goes on, but those are the key selling points for me.

If I were in the market for a street photography camera, I would definitely jump on the pre-order list for the new Fujifilm X100s.  Seriously, don't wait.

#1.  Fujifilm X20 – The Fujifilm X20 is Fuji's Grand Slam of CES 2013.  The X20 is in first place this year because it offers the most bang-for-your-buck goodness.  Image quality will be top-notch, your bank account will still be half full, and you will have one hell of a shooting experience.  With the new features, the X20 really is a gem for daily shooting, vacation, and travel photography.
– 12MP 2/3" sensor (not a large sensor, but larger than most other compact cameras).
– On-Sensor Phase Detection autofocus for quick and accurate focusing.
– 28-112mm f/2.0-2.8 lens with image stabilization.
– A small-but-adequate viewfinder that displays the selected AF point, exposure information, and other useful data.

While you won't be able to make the bokehlicious photos of a DSLR or the X100s/X-Pro 1, you will be able to create a solid gallery of photos and have a great shooting experience.  The Fujifilm X20 is the camera to have if you are looking for a do-it-all compact that won't leave you eating Top Ramen.  The optical viewfinder with information overlay, useful and bright zoom lens, and a slightly larger than normal 2/3" sensor make it a great compact camera to own.

You can order the Fujifilm X20 in black or silver today.

Are there any cameras, lenses, or other photography accessories from CES 2013 that are not on the list and you think they should be?  Share the item and why it deserves a spot on the list in the comments below!