A few weeks ago, we picked out cameras that most people would find more then adequate for their needs and pointed out those that stood out from the pack. This time we will look at two soon to be released cameras that have many of the features professionals like but at prices that remain at the high end of affordable. These cameras, generally, look more like SLR film cameras in design and provide an experience more similar to film as well with similar lenses and settings and all offer extensive automated capability as well making them acceptable for novices who just want to point and shoot.

Digimax Pro815

Topping the list is a camera from Samsung, the company that seems to be scaring Sony half to death at the moment. Called the Digimax Pro815 is it has a traditional SLR look coupled with an impressive spec sheet. It is an 8 Mega-pixel that uses the low cost CF memory format more common with the professional class of cameras. It has a 28 to 420 mm zoom lens with Macro setting for close-ups. It has two LCD screens, one large 3.5” screen on the back and a smaller 1.4” on the top so you can shoot from the waist. Shutter speed is up to 1/4,000s of a second to freeze most action you are likely to be able to see. As you would expect it has both a built in flash and provisions for a professional grade external flash. With a street price expected to be below $800 this camera provides one of the best values in the market.

FinPix S9000

Fujifilm is clearly moving aggressively away from their film roots with their impressive FinPix S9000. With a whopping 9 mega-pixels it is the first affordable camera with this level of potential image quality (generally, you are more concerned with the lenses in this class of camera). The FinPix uses the newer, less common, and harder to find xD memory cards and is a little less impressive then the Digimax in overall features with the exception of a more capable zoom lens, and it should have a street cost of around $650. It has a tilt screen LCD so you can also shoot pictures from the waist with it and it will also shoot VGA quality video at 30 frames per-minute. Another impressive feature is anti-blur which appears to do a nice job of cleaning up pictures of fast moving objects on the camera. Overall, this product is a strong value for the price and it is due in stores in September.

This is just the beginning; we will see cameras in this class announced every month until December to better capture your buying dollars. The cameras noted above would have easily cost several thousand dollars a few short months ago and now represent the best value in an announced semi-pro offering. Things will only get better but as they do use these cameras as baselines as you shop so, you are assured of getting a great deal. Good hunting!