When taking landscape photos, I often struggle with dynamic range. I have either a burned out skies or landscapes are too dark.
Now I'm reading on Wikipedia that some cameras can take 3 pictures with different exposures, and combine them automatically to one image with higher dynamic range.
So my question is, which cameras have this feature?
As far as DSLRs go, the Pentax K-5, K-7, most of the Sony Alphas, the newer Nikons as well as the newer Canons like the 5D-Mark III, 650D, and newly announced 6D all have HDR built-into the camera. In addition to DSLRs, a lot of point and shoot, micro 4/3s and mirrorless cameras also come with this.
For your purposes, it seems as though the Sony NEX cameras should be at the top of your list. They are equipped with large APS-C sensors and tons of in-camera processing tricks - both HDR and Sweep-Panoramas.
Olympus XZ-2
Panasonic Lumix ZS20
There are few options if you want to improve burned out skies on your pictures.
Most of DSLR can have bracketing option that you can set on the camera. Some can do about 3 pictures bracketing. One with normal exposure, one with lower exposure and one with higher exposure. You can usually set increment value for lower and higher exposure. More advanced DSLR which are normally full frame pro camera can do about 7 or 9 bracketed shots. For this option you normally need a tripod and do some post production to combine your shots in a software like Photoshop.
Newer cameras such as Nikon D600, D800, Canon 5DMark III and 650D(not sure) have built-in HDR function. I have tested on 5DMark III and it is awesome. The dynamic range is much improved and the images do not feel surreal.
Another option is to use 'ND Grad' filter. There are a lot of filters out there that you can use for your landscape. Cokin P is normally to start with but I use Lee filter but those are normally expensive. Hitech filters are reasonably priced and very good quality too.
From what I understand - in-camera HDR should generally be avoided as it is very limited in ability. For my money (and it is my money as I have invested!) shooting RAW and getting yourself a copy of Photomatix Pro would be a much better way to create HDR's. Also the latest Photoshop can merge RAW's into HDR, but again with less control than a dedicated app like Photomatix.
I believe that all modern dslr cameras can do automatic bracketing. http://www.pointsinfocus.com/learning/cameras-lenses/guide-to-auto-exposure-bracketing-on-canon-dslrs/ tells you how to do it with canon cameras.
