This feature enables fine-tuning of the focus in macro, composition selection when shooting, and exposure adjustment all without looking away from subjects.

ENGADGET: Olympus Stylus XZ-2 is a digital compact stuck in a mirrorless camera's body, we go hands-on

Otherwise, it's aimed more at the casual carry-around crowd with a 40 percent smaller body, touch-screen focus selection, control ring exposure adjustment, a 3-inch 920k dot TFT LCD, art filters (in the smartphone app), image (or film) stabilization and 1080P 30 fps HD video.

ENGADGET

We really appreciated all the manual controls on the RX1 -- from the aperture ring to the exposure compensation and shutter adjustment dials -- as they allowed for speedy adjustments on the fly and kept menu fatigue to a minimum.

ENGADGET: Sony Cyber-shot RX1 sample images and video Hands-on

In low-light, HDR Backlight Adjustment takes a collage of images at various exposure levels and blends them into one perfectly exposed photo.

ENGADGET: Olympus SH-50 iHS touts 5-axis video stabilization in a compact, $300 camera (update: hands-on pics)

The patent application also covers what could be controlled using the touchscreen, including settings like the focus detection area, flash adjustment, ISO, white balance, and exposure correction, to name a few -- all of which will surely be welcome to some, but we just hope the touchscreens will be accompanied by at least a few buttons and knobs for us old curmudgeons.

ENGADGET: Canon patent application points to touchscreen DSLRs

The STYLUS SZ-16 iHS's blazing fast autofocus and HDR Backlight Adjustment combine to take a collage of images at various exposure levels and blend them into one perfectly exposed photo regardless of difficult lighting.

ENGADGET: Olympus reveals SZ-15, SZ-16 superzoom cameras with upgraded sensors