Top Holiday Picks: Cameras, Camcorders and Accessories

The holiday shopping season is upon us once again and that means it’s time for our Gadget Gift Guide, the only resource you’ll need to find the perfect presents for your tech-loving friends and family. Or, just shop for yourself (everyone does).

This is the time of year when family members clamor for pictures and videos plus better ways to display and cherish them. Indulge their whims or enable a budding shutterbug or filmmaker with a gadget from our lists:

Cameras — Know someone looking to up their photography game? The Pentax K-x is on the pricey side but is one of the least expensive DSLRs to shoot 720p video and includes HDR processing for more detailed pictures.

Though DSLRs are tempting, I’m no budding Mapplethorpe, so I love the Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z280 because it’s packed with features (mechanical image stabilization, 4X zoom, 720p video recording) but still easy to use and understand if you’re just a casual photographer.

Pocket Camcorders — Easy to use and easy to upload, the Pure Digital Flip MinoHD will make holiday dinners seem more vibrant and interesting. At least that’s what you’ll tell yourself when they end up on YouTube.

Digital Photo Frames — These make great gifts, but I’m partial to frames that can do more. The Toshiba Digital Media Frame connects to your household wi-fi to stream pictures from the cloud (via FrameChannel) or the household PCs. Plus it can play music and video (holiday dinners, vibrant and interesting!).

Photo Printers — There will always be those who like to frame hard copy prints in traditional frames, thank you. Release those digital pictures from their memory cards with the all-in-one Epson Artisan 810.

Connected HDTVs — If 8-inch photo frames are too small a stage for the media you create or buy, then check out the 47-inch Vizio Via. This slim set can play 1080p HD video, connects to a dozen or more Internet services, including video on demand, plus delivers amazing sound without external speakers. All for under $1,000.

There are more cameras, camcorders, screens and accessories to explore in the Gadget Gift Guide.