Best budget digital cameras
Want to go digital and still have some cash left over to pay the rent? All of these cameras are widely available for less than $200, and they're not the subpar bargain models of yesteryear, either.
Canon PowerShot A590 IS
7.8 Very good (reviewed 3/3/08)
The Canon PowerShot A590 IS's manual exposure controls and surprisingly sharp pictures make it a great choice for almost anyone looking for a sub-$200 shooter.
Read review of the Canon PowerShot A590 IS
Canon PowerShot SD750 (silver)
7.8 Very good (reviewed 4/4/07)
The Canon PowerShot SD750 has an attractive design, large LCD, and excellent photo quality for an ultracompact.
Read review of the Canon PowerShot SD750 (silver)
Canon PowerShot A570 IS
7.6 Very good (reviewed 3/21/07)
Despite excessive noise at higher ISOs, Canon's A570 IS offers an excellent value and an impressive feature set in its category.
Read review of the Canon PowerShot A570 IS
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W120 (Black)
7.4 Very good (reviewed 3/7/08)
It's not as feature-laden as higher-end models, but the Cyber-shot W120 offers plenty of style and substance for the price.
Read review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W120 (Black)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 (silver)
7.4 Very good (reviewed 3/27/07)
It's not the fanciest camera, but quick performance and solid images make this sub-$200 shooter a worthwhile pick.
Read review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 (silver)
Kodak EasyShare M1033 (Black)
7.2 Very good (reviewed 9/15/08)
Kodak's EasyShare M1033 is a better-than-average budget ultracompact.
Read review of the Kodak EasyShare M1033 (Black)
Fujifilm FinePix F40fd
7.2 Very good (reviewed 6/8/07)
Fuji's FinePix F40fd is a nice point-and-shoot that produces decent images, though it's a tad slow and lacks image stabilization.
Read review of the Fujifilm FinePix F40fd
Nikon Coolpix S50c
7.2 Very good (reviewed 5/22/07)
While it takes good pictures and it's nice to be able to access private Wi-Fi access points, the lack of a browser keeps this camera from rising to the next level.
Read review of the Nikon Coolpix S50c
Olympus Stylus 760 (silver)
7.0 Very good (reviewed 2/23/07)
The Olympus Stylus 760 is a great choice if you just want a small, light, weather-resistant camera, but beware of image flaws.
Read review of the Olympus Stylus 760 (silver)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX10S (silver)
7.0 Very good (reviewed 5/25/07)
The DMC-FX10 is a solid, well-priced compact camera that should satisfy most snapshooters.
Read review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX10S (silver)