budget cameras

Guide to buying a cheap camera

It seems like every year there's a glut of point-and-shoot cameras getting put out at ridiculously low prices for the holidays, all touted with the same three specs: megapixels, zoom, and screen size.

It's understandable, too, since those are things manufacturers and retailers can attach larger and larger numbers to and people will think they're getting a better camera. However, just look a little more closely at those specs and they could make the difference between a winner and a loser.

So, if you're going to pick up a camera based mainly on price, do yourself a favor and take a quick look at some key things to see if what you're getting is actually a good deal.… Read more

Nikon Coolpix L24 review: For casual use only

The Nikon Coolpix L24 is nearly identical to the model it replaces, the Coolpix L22. The only difference is a resolution bump from 12 megapixels to 14 megapixels. The rest of the camera remains the same: easy to use with a 3-inch LCD and AA batteries for power. Pop in its batteries and the camera has a nice weight to it making it feel like a sturdy, well-built camera. And, like most in its class, the L24 is very much a fully automatic point-and-shoot with little to adjust except for maybe picking an appropriate scene mode.

However, like the L22, … Read more

Canon PowerShot A2200 review: Good photos and video if not much else

The Canon PowerShot A2200 is basically filler in Canon's A-series PowerShot lineup and, despite that, it's one of the most popular cameras on CNET. It's a step-down from the A3300 IS, getting a shorter lens, smaller LCD, and no optical image stabilization. (It's also lower resolution: 14 megapixels compared to the A3300's 16-megapixel resolution.) Below the A2200 is the A1200, which is basically a 12-megapixel version of the A2200. It has the same shooting options, LCD, and lens, but the A1200 has an optical viewfinder and AA batteries.

That's not to say the A2200 … Read more

Is a $110 camera worth buying?

One of the best $100 cameras you could buy in 2009 was Canon's PowerShot A480. It had minimal shooting options and features and shooting performance was slow, but its photo quality was great for the money. That model was split into two models for 2010: the A490 and the A495.

The PowerShot A490 is about $20 less expensive than the $129 A495, but it's available in silver only, sacrifices some shooting features, and has a less powerful Auto mode. Fortunately, though, they both have the same excellent photo quality; does that make them worth buying?

It really all … Read more

What Canon sells you for $150

Like most compact-camera manufacturers, Canon offers point-and-shoots at a range of prices; its PowerShots start at $109.99 and edge up every $20 to $30. The A3000 IS sits right at $149.99. It's a good, if basic, snapshot camera designed for people who really don't want much beyond taking a nice picture.

Optical image stabilization is probably the biggest feature highlight since it's a rarity in a new camera at its price point. It also has a couple of new creative shooting modes--Super Vivid and Poster Effect--but its shooting options are otherwise bland.

I'm not … Read more

Casio refreshes budget-friendly ultracompacts

Though budget cameras aren't exciting news, they are what a lot of people end up buying--especially as gifts for friends and family. Casio's low-end models are better than most, too, which is what makes them even more worthy of coverage. The EX-S7 and EX-Z35 are updates to 2009's EX-Z33 and EX-S5.

The 12-megapixel S7 uses Casio's Exilim Engine 5, improving image processing and battery life (it uses a rechargeable lithium ion). On its front is a 3x f3.1-5.6 36-107mm-equivalent lens. On its back is a 2.7-inch LCD and, along with the camera's … Read more

Nikon Coolpix L20 Quick Take

The $129.95 Nikon Coolpix L20 is a budget-friendly compact camera with a 10-megapixel resolution, 3.6x zoom lens, and 3-inch LCD. It's a very basic point-and-shoot, but it does have a few extras--such as that large LCD--to make it worth considering.

The L20 is small at 3.8 inches wide by 2.4 inches high by 1.2 inches deep, but it has the added convenience of AA batteries as its power source. It's fairly lightweight, too, at 4.8 ounces without batteries and SD/SDHC memory card. You'll only get about 240 shots from two … Read more