The camera on your phone may be fine for a quick Instagram pix, but if you want to take your skills to the next level you need to up your game.  New entries from Nikon, Olympus and GE have the perfect offering for any aspiring Terry Richardson shooting Kate Upton. And for that extra touch to make your shots pop, pick up the latest from Photoshop.

Nikon 1J1

When you’re ready to play in the
big leagues the Nikon 1J1 can be your first choice. This is a sophisticated yet
easy to manage camera. Here you have a versatile unit combining the portability
and convenience of a point-and-shoot camera with the superior image quality and
interchangeable lens options found on professional level Nikon D-SLRs. And if
you care about style it comes in white, black, red, silver and yes, pink.

The J1 is a luxury camera that
features extremely fast autofocus, Motion Snapshot technology and HD 1080p
video recording. A camera so versatile you can snap photos while recording
movies and so fast you get 10 frames per second speed in autofocus mode.

One of the best things about this
camera is that it grows with you as your capabilities increase. Nikon offers an
endless range of lenses, including one designed specifically for movie filming;
all engineered for fast and easy swap-out and stay photo-ready all the time.

 Thanks to Nikon’s EXPEED 3 you
get a dual image processor that delivers high-speed processing,
state-of-the-art phase detection autofocus and the fast data transfer rates.

With the J1 you get great shots
regardless of the natural lighting conditions but it has a build in flash if
needed. And see it all in a large high resolution, sharp, anti-glare, three-inch
LCD color display. From the ultra intuitive command and features buttons,
easy-to-understand menu and fast mount lens, you’ll be expressing your thoughts
and visions as never before.

(One-Lens Kit- MSRP $649.95)

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Nikon1/V27528/Nikon-1-J1.html

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Olympus PEN E- PL3

For the latest in technology from
a camera turn to the Olympus PEN E PL3. Here you have a versatile, portable
camera filled with the latest innovations. You have a high-resolution 3” LCD screen
that you can tilt to different angles to be sure and capture the best image.
The newer models from Olympus even allow you a touch screen to make sure your
photos pop. You get 12.3 megapixel Live MOS sensor is optimized to maximize the
performance of all m.Zuiko digital lenses in any shooting condition.
Improvements to the sensitivity and read-out speed of the existing sensor makes
ISO 12,800 shooting and Full HD movie recording possible.

The Olympus’ in-body image
stabilization technology makes it possible to use any Micro Four Thirds lenses
(or Four Thirds lens), from wide-angle to telephoto, for perfectly clear, crisp
photos no matter what the shooting situation, even in low light!

The new TruePic VI Image
Processor allows for a shorter recovery time between shots.

The new face detection AF employs
an “Eye Detect AF” that adjusts focus automatically on the subject’s
eyes during portrait shooting and can even be adjusted to focus on the right,
left or near-side eye. The Face Detection function captures up to eight faces,
reducing the chance of blurred subjects when shooting several people at once.

With the E-PL3 you can take
up to five photos a second, allowing you to easily capture that perfect shot,
especially when your subject is moving.

With the improved AF system, the
AF Tracking function locks your subject into focus and
continuously adjusts focus and brightness even if the subject disappears
from view momentarily.

Shoot up to 29 minutes of 1080
60i HD video and stereo sound in either AVCHD or AVI formats. A Direct HD
Movie Button switches you from still to movie mode with just the press of a
button.

To make you shoot like a pro you
have six in-camera Art Filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Grainy Film, Pin
Hole, Diorama and Dramatic Tone) are enhanced by new filter variations, art
effects and bracketing. Photographers can use Art Filters in all shooting modes
as well as filming HD movies.

Add a new dimension to your
photographs in any mode from macro to landscape with Olympus’ 3D
technology. By simply selecting the 3D Photo Mode, releasing the shutter,
and slowly panning, the camera will automatically take a second image from a
slightly different perspective. The 3D data is processed in-camera resulting in
an .MPO file, the universal industry 3D format, for easy display on 3D
televisions or laptops.

The E-PL3’s enhanced playback
functions allow you to employ effective fade-in/fade-out techniques, control
the movie/still mix and speed, add captivating musical soundtracks, and much
more.

This bright, 614k dot
high-resolution screen features a newly-designed touch interface that gives you
the ability to choose AF points, release the shutter, and navigate the camera’s
menus with just the touch of your finger.

iAuto automatically identifies
the scene you’re shooting – portrait, landscape, night portrait, macro, or
sport – and adjusts the settings to optimize results. The E-PL3 is also
equipped with 23 Scene-Select modes for effortless picture taking, including
Fireworks, Sunset, Children, Macro and Panorama, to name a few. There are even
three scene modes that are specific to shooting with Olympus’ conversion
lenses to optimize the performance of those lenses.

The E-PL3’s Live Guide system
allows you to preview effects as you adjust them – before the image
is even captured. Simply select Live Guide and turn the wheel on the back of
the camera to slide through numerous photographic effects, such as brightness,
color saturation, tone, etc.

No need for cables or even a
computer. Upload or email images directly from your camera with an
optional PP-1 PENPAL® or
Eye-Fi™ card. The E-PL3 is also capable of recording stills and video to SD,
SDHC, SDXC and UHS-I media cards.

(MSRP $599.)
http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/digitalcameras/e-pl3.html

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GE G100

For an easy,
no nonsense camera the G100 from GE fits the bill. With the High-Speed
Continuous Shooting feature you can shoot 10 frames per second in full
resolution, while the 28mm wide-angle lens and 15x optical zoom allows for wide
shots or extreme closeups. You get 14 megapixels, full HD 1080p Video and HDMI.
And with the HDR+ (High Dynamic Range) feature you can blend three
different exposures, combining the most detailed portions of each to create one
perfect image.

(MSRP $179.)

http://www.general-imaging.com/g100/
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Adobe’s Photoshop Touch

Adobe’s Photoshop Touch App for
iPad, the perfect gift for the on-the-go, young professional who wants to apply
expert photo touching skills to his photos using a consumer friendly, yet high
tech tool. Photoshop Touch is perfect for all levels, with a library of tutorials
that guide users through combining images, working with layers, adding fun
effects and more.

(MSRP $9.99)

 http://www.photoshop.com/products/mobile/photoshoptouch

Adobe Photoshop
Elements 11

It’s no
accident that this is the number one selling consumer photo editing software. Easy
to use – by anyone – regardless of their skill level. You can create the
perfect picture, regardless of what comes out of your camera. Fix what’s wrong,
create group shots, add patterns and effects, edit, enhance, and use Visual Search, find
similar photos, merge images. Use one-step shortcuts to whiten teeth; make skies bluer; and fix
color, contrast, and lighting–and then choose the best result from a group of
adjustment previews. Instantly unclutter photos, and use crop guides to improve
composition. Get
fun, fresh looks with new artwork and templates.

Now you can
show off your favorite photos and videos from your iOS or Android device using
the Photoshop Express companion app, which lets you browse the online
Organizer, find the media you want, and share in real time.

(MSRP
$99.99)

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html