Some more experienced photographers will want an ultra-compact model too, usually as a complement to a high-end camera.

This system is employed primarily in high-end "professional" cameras in the West.

Should you bring a high-end digital camera on your vacation?

"I can't bring my high-end camera everywhere, but I would never walk into a shoot with a palmcorder."

Automatic settings have made high-end professional cameras as easy to use as a point and shoot or a camera phone.

Analysts said the issue was whether the market for consumer devices beyond high-end digital cameras would emerge quickly enough to justify the new small disk.

Right now that feature is available only in a fixed-lens high-end digital camera.

"They're just concentrating on sales of high-end digital cameras and other products on which they make the most money."

They can also bring down the price of those high-end cameras so they are available to more people.

However, it takes time to reach this thermal equilibrium: up to hours in high-end scientific cameras cooled at low temperature.