If you are in the market for a digital camera on a budget, there are several cameras available which are both high quality and affordable. The top three, while similar, each have special features that separate them from others in their class.

One such camera is the Canon PowerShot A3100 IS. This pocket sized, 12.1 MP camera, features a 4x optical zoom with image stabilization, and 2.7 inch LCD viewing panel. Available in multiple designer colors, the camera also comes with a completely rechargeable lithium-ion battery, making it not only more cost effective than many of its competitors, but also more lightweight. It has 18 custom picture settings, and is SD card compatible for expandable memory.

Sony offers a similar product in its Cybershot DSC-W220. A slightly less compact camera than cannons power shot, this is also a 12.1 MP camera, featuring a 4x optical zoom with image stabilization. Its use of Bionz image processor technology guarantees minimal shutter time, increasing your likely hood of capturing the most precious, and most fleeting moments, and insuring the highest quality action shots. The camera also features face detection software, and has a 15MB onboard memory. Should you wish to expand this memory, it is Memory Stick Duo compatible.

Finally, one cannot discuss the cameras of this class without making mention of the Nikon Coolpix S570. The most compact of this lists top three, the Nikon is a 12 MP camera with a 5x wide angle optical zoom glass lens, and vibration reduction technology. It features both a movie mode, and Smart portrait technologies. Like the cannon, it has both a 2.7 inch viewing screen, and is SD card compatible for the instillation of additional memory.

Pictures from any of these options could be expanded to a 16 x 20 inch poster print without visible distortion. They are the best of their class, and are all available for $200 dollars or less. The most important thing to remember when selecting a camera is to look at the specific features it has to offer, and buy the model most suited to your individual interests and needs.

My top pick is the Canon PowerShot A3100IS. Grab this pocket sized, 12.1 MP camera, featuring a 4x optical zoom and image stabilization today, it offers everything you need for under $200.

Digital Cameras FAQ:

Question: What make of digital camera do you recommend?
I want to buy a digital camera. I don’t want anything too expensive and I don’t really need more than 10 mega pixels but if you know a reasonably priced camera with more than 10 please suggest. I want a camera with a rechargeable battery. I also want a camera with a fairly large screen (no less than 2″). Please can you suggest a good camera.

Answer: I do not know what is your price range, so I will suggest a few options.

Recommendations:

Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS (estimated cost $150)

Canon PowerShot A480 (estimated cost $99)

Question: What is the best digital camera for previewing pictures from Bushnell Trophy Cam trail camera?
The Bushnell Trophy cam uses SD cards, and so does my camera. My camera also has a preview screen. I want to use a digital camera to view the pictures taken by the Bushnell Trophy cam, but they don’t see it. Is there a digital camera that will work?

Answer: No. Each brand of camera has it’s own file structure. Nobody but Bushnell cares where Bushnell puts it photos. Depending on the control in your camera, you *may* be able to point it to a different directory on the SD card. Not all cams will let you do this, and even if they do, they may not like the Bushnell shots anyway.

Question: What digital camera offers the highest picture quality?
I love digital arts and graphic design and I’m looking for a camera that takes pictures with higher resolution so I can more easily edit them on PhotoShop, Gimp, etc. I’m not quite sure where or how to start looking. I wouldn’t want to spend more than $700, though.

Answer: You certainly should invest in a DSLR camera. It is an investment but it can be well worth it. DSLR cameras have the larger sensor so you get a higher quality image. You can change lenses which can be valuable, by allowing to adjust to different needs.

There are a number of good brands so don’t be sold on the idea one brand is better than another. I would keep your costs down. I would get a DSLR with a short zoom (like a 18-55mm) to start. No reason to spend more than $425 to $550. Either a 10MP or 12MP (MP means mega pixel) will do just fine.

Pick a price range, some features you know you want, and even consider which camera feels good in your hand as a factor. Plenty of great cameras, get one you like and start learning the principles of photography and you will be on your way to making some great images.

Question: What should I look for in a digital camera?
My friend is looking into getting a digital camera and he asked me to help him out. What are the main things to look for in the digital camera in order to make the best/most informative decision? (I know about megapixels, but I’m not too sure about the rest)

Answer: For me in choosing a point and shoot, the bottom line has to be image quality. Then camera has to have image stabilizer, aperture/shutter priority, a viewfinder and very good on battery life. If I didn’t own a DSLR, lots of zoom would be very important.

Question: What would be a good professional-quality digital camera to find online?
I am looking to spend around $400-600 on a nice high-quality digital camera. People have told me Nikon makes a quality camera for the money. I am just looking to take some professional quality pictures of my children.

Answer: If you want to go with Nikon, the Nikon D40 is a very good camera for the price. It’s a very compact camera, and easy to operate.

Getting professional quality pictures isn’t as easy as people think it is. The camera doesn’t do all the work (unless it’s on full auto mode) – in fact, you should be doing most of the work if you really want professional looking pictures. To get really nice, quality pictures, you need to know at least the basics of exposure.

Question: Can I retrieve pictures that were deleted from a digital camera if there was a memory stick in the camera?
Its a sony digital camera and I pressed the delete button and it deleted from the camera and memory stick. Just wandering if I can pull those pics back up somehow.

Answer: Most users of P&S cameras never use the internal memory and place all their images on their memory card.

Since you deleted all your images, you will 1) have to stop using that card any more and use a different card and 2) use an image recovery program like Lexar’s Rescue3 to try to recover all the image files on the card.

When you have recovered the images and copied them to your computer, remember to format the old card using the format feature on the camera … to this after each time you transfer image files from our memory card to your computer. This above all will prevent corruption of memory cards. Never use you computer to format memory cards.

Question: Is there a certain printer for the nikon digital camera?
I just bought a nikon s70 touch screen digital camera and I want to buy a printer for it, is there a specific printer I need for it and if so what’s it called?

Answer: Any printer that can print photo quality prints and uses archival ink. Epson and HP make such printers. There are also dye-sub printers make that can produce excellent photo prints.

Question: How do you use the webcam feature on a Polaroid i633 digital camera?
I have a Mac OS and I wanted to know if anyone can give me a step-by-step process in how to use this feature. I don’t have the box it came in. I was just given the camera.

Answer: This camera does not have a “web-cam” feature according Polaroid. The ability to use a compact digital camera as a web-cam is quite rare, and where it does exist is often a little cumbersome. Sorry I can’t help you any further.