Best Digital Cameras

When looking for the best digital cameras, it’s important to balance price considerations with the need for quality, durability, and advanced photographic features. Read on for a selection of affordable digital cameras for both beginning and advanced photographers.

1.

$225

 A 7.1 megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom

 Lightweight, stylish, and well made, the Olympus Stylus 710 is the best digital camera for the beginning photographer who just wants an affordable way to get great snapshots.

2.

$300

 An 8 megapixel camera with 4x optical zoom and a variable angle LCD

 A simple point and shoot camera with a few bells and whistles, the Canon PowerShot A630 works equally well for snapping pictures of your toddler’s first steps, your son’s first baseball game, and your daughter’s first prom dress.

3.

$350

 A 6.3 megapixel camera with 6.2x digital zoom and VGA movie capture of 30 frames per second with sound

 With features that automatically balance light levels and reduce visual static in low light, the FujiFilm FinePix F30 is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an inexpensive hybrid digital camera/camcorder. The 500-shot battery life is just an additional bonus.

4.

$400

 A 7.2 megapixel camera with a 56 megabyte internal memory and 3x optical steady shot zoom

 Since it has preprogrammed settings for a number of indoor and outdoor scenes, cuts red eye, and flashes a warning when your pictures are blurry, this lightweight and stylish camera lets you look like a professional photographer with a minimal amount of work.

5.

$400

 A 6 megapixel camera with 10x vibration reduction zoom

 Since it includes special features to fix blurring and red eye, plus great features like PictBridge compatibility, Face Priority AF, and Nikon's Pictmotion function, the Nikon Coolpix S10 is a great choice for people who want a user-friendly camera with plenty of room to grow.

6.

$400

 A 6 megapixel camera with 12x optical zoom and the ability to record 30fps VGA movies with stereo sound

 While it lacks some of the useful photo features of other digital cameras in this price range, the Canon PowerShot S3 is is the best digital camera if you need one multipurpose piece of equipment that will give you clear snapshots and up to an hour of video footage.

7.

$500

 A 7.2 megapixel camera with 12x optical zoom and a 32 megabyte internal memory

 Image stabilization, a 3-inch LCD screen, and a host of easy-to-use features for more creative control make this digital camera a good choice if you’re looking to take your photography skills to the next level.

8.

$500

 A 6.3 megapixel D-SLR camera

 One of the most affordable D-SLR cameras on the market today, the FujiFilm FinePix S6000fd offers the added bonus of a handy feature letting you rapidly snap two shots – one with the flash and one without.

9.

$800

 A 10.1 megapixel D-SLR camera

 Blending all the great features of a film SLR camera with the ease of digital photography, the Canon Digital Rebel XTi is the best digital camera for anyone who values convenience and creative control.

10.

$1,300

 A 10.2 megapixel, RAW-compatible D-SLR camera

 The Nikon D80 offers a host of advanced features, negligible shutter lag, and a battery charge lasting for up to 2,700 shots. It’s more power than the average shutterbug will ever need, but this impressive camera is perfect for the serious photographer.

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