Snap-happy: Digital cameras come in all shapes and sizes. With their interchangeable lenses and reasonable prices, entry-level digital SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras are a halfway house between a cheap pocket-size point-and-click camera and a full-on pro shooter. The best-selling of the entry-level beasties of late has been Nikon's very successful D40X model. Nikon is now bringing out a new entry-level model, the D60, essentially an upgrade of the D40X. It has virtually the same smallish body with only a slightly bigger 10.2-megapixel photographic sensor. The key enhancements are the addition of a built-in dust-fighting system and a new antishake (VR, or vibration reduction, in Nikonese) version of its 18-55 mm lens as the D60's "kit lens" — the lens that you can buy as a set with the camera body. The D60 is due to hit the shelves on Feb. 22 with a price tag of ¥74,800 for the body only, ¥89,800 for the body and kit lens combo, and ¥119,800 when the Nikon 55-200 mm VR lens is thrown in with the kit lens to form a zoom lens combination.

Canon, Nikon's main rival, is releasing a new consumer model, the EOS Kiss X2, due out in March, following on from its popular predecessor the EOS Kiss X. Canon has upped the sensor from 10.1 to 12.2 megapixels, adding live-view ability (which lets you aim through the LCD screen on the back of the camera, rather than the viewfinder) and changing the memory-card format to SD card. They've also boosted the size of the camera's LCD screen from 2.5 to 3 inches. The new Canon will carry a price tag of ¥89,800 for the body only. The X2 kit set comes in at ¥99,800, with an updated version of the Kiss X's old 18-55 mm lens, with image stabilization added. Adding a second lens, the 55-250 mm with image stabilization, takes the price up to ¥129,800.

Pentax is replacing its capable and popular entry-level performer, the K100D, with the K200D, due out this month. The two share essentially the same body and built-in antiblur or stabilization system, but the 200D will pack a 10.2-megapixel sensor, an improvement on its predecessor's 6.1-megapixel version. The newer model is also notable for having weather sealing to protect it from dust and other climate invaders. The K200D hits the shelves this month priced ¥89,800 for the body-only option and ¥99,800 with the standard DA 18-55 mm kit lens.