PMA, the industry trade show for imaging products such as digital cameras and camcorders, joined forces with the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show this year. The result: Consumer Reports experts saw a lot of new trends in digital imaging.

Among some of the developments from CES our camera pros will keep watch for this year:

Connectivity. Digital cameras are up against hard competition as smart phones with improved quality camera optics and constant wireless Internet connections are becoming more popular with consumers. So, expect more digital shooters—such as the Sony Bloggie Live pocket camcorder—to offer wireless Internet streaming capabilites.

Micro 4/3. These small digital cameras offer large image sensors and the ability to swap lenses—but without the bulk or inner complexity of a full-sized digital SLR. Our experts saw new camera models in the format from nearly every major digital camera maker, save one: Canon. The Canon Powershot G1X seen at CES has the larger micro 4/3 sensor, but isn't set up for switching out lenses.

Watch Consumer Reports video on what's new in cameras for more information. And catch up with consumer electronics news gather from the 2012 CES trade show, including:

• Digital camera makers struggle to keep pace
• Panasonic introduces thinner cameras with long zooms
• Olympus offers cheaper point-and-shoots, new audio recorders
• Sony offers new cameras and projection camcorders
• First Look at Sony Bloggie, a camcorder that streams video
• Samsung bets big on connected cameras and camcorders
• Canon introduces point-and-shoot with large sensor