Snap up these digital cameras this spring

Price: $499.95

Availability: March 2014

The outlook: All the camera makers have big bridge cameras with crazy-long zoom lenses, but the FinePix S1 is the only one that has a dust- and weather-resistant body. For those who don't want to worry about standing out in the rain while shooting, this 50x zoom camera might be just what you need.

Price: $399.95

Availability: March 2014

The outlook: If you're considering a megazoom camera for sports or wildlife shots, this is one to watch. With fast-moving subjects it can be easy to lose your subject when zoomed in tight. The SP-100 has a built-in targeting system above its 50x f2.9-6.5 24-1,200mm lens, making it easier to focus and lock on your subject.

Price: $299.99

Availability: March 2014

The outlook: While Sony's Action Cams have been decent, they didn't have a feature set to compete with GoPro's top Black Edition models. That changes with the AS100V, which brings an improved lens, better image sensor, and a faster processor, allowing it to record video in Sony's XAVC-S format for 1080p60 movies with bit rates up to 50Mbps. It has built-in Wi-Fi with NFC and GPS, a splashproof body, and it can be controlled with Sony's Live-View Remote, which puts a small LCD on your wrist so you can see what you're shooting and controlling.

Price: $349.99

Availability: May 2014

The outlook: Canon melded the lens and sensor of its enthusiast-targeted PowerShot S120 and the design and shooting features of its snapshooter-friendly PowerShot N -- a combination that should prove pretty great.

Price: $449.95

Availability: March 2014

The outlook: Something more than just a point-and-shoot, the Galaxy Camera 2 isn't too far off from its predecessor featuring a 16-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, a 21x zoom lens, and a giant 4.8-inch HD touch screen. Setting it apart from Samsung's other Smart Cameras is that it's running on Android 4.3 Jellybean, putting a world of apps and connectivity at your fingertips.

Price: $1,199.95

Availability: April 2014

The outlook: Nikon ups the ante for its flagship mirrorless system camera, with a promised continuous-shooting rate of 20fps and autofocus to match in a newly designed body.

Price: $799.99

Availability: April 2014

The outlook: Sony's replacement for its excellent prosumer interchangeable-lens NEX-6 offers an updated autofocus system and potentially speedier burst shooting, this time with autofocus.

Price: $799

Availability: April 2014

The outlook: The PowerShot G1 X delivered really nice photo quality, but the slow lens simply didn't do the camera justice, especially given its high price. Canon remedies that with the Mark II, updating it with a faster lens and exchanging the not-terribly-useful optical viewfinder for a hopefully better electronic version.

Price: TBD

Availability: TBD

The outlook: While this trio of cameras -- the dp1 Quattro, dp2 Quattro, and dp3 Quattro -- follows Sigma's tradition of creating three models that differ only by the fixed-lens' focal length, the body has been radically redesigned and incorporates a new version of the unique Foveon sensor.

Price: $1,699.99

Availability: May 2014

The outlook: Panasonic's GH series of Micro Four Thirds cameras has become one of the favorite cameras of videographers, and the GH4 adds more video-friendly features, including 4K support, higher-resolution EVF, and an accessory dock with XLR inputs. It also boasts a new autofocus system that should be both faster and more accurate.