Are you on a budget but still want to buy a good digital camera? Well, that's great because I've compiled a list of the top 10 digital cameras out there going at under $300. When choosing a value-for-money digital camera, remember that it should offer great features and excellent photo quality, all at a reasonable price. That said, let's have a look at that list of cameras. Here we go …
Nikon Coolpix 5200
The Nikon Coolpix 5200 has a 5.1 megapixel resolution and a 3x optical zoom. With its excellent picture quality, battery life and camera optics, this is one of the best-selling cameras out there. The body of the camera is also very well-designed - you'll find that it's very comfortable to hold it while shooting pictures.
Canon PowerShot A95
Another hot seller, the Canon PowerShot A95 is a 5 megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom. Photo quality is excellent, with sharp and vivid colors. Overall, this is one of the best point-and-shoot digital cameras you can buy. Highly recommended.
Fuji FinePix E550
The Fuji FinePix E550 is an interesting camera with 6.3 megapixels image resolution and a 4x optical zoom. There's a nice, big 2 inch LCD screen, though the camera body itself is slightly bulky. Still, a good value given its price.
Sony CyberShot DSC-W1
The Sony CyberShot DSC-W1 one of the most popular digital cameras at the moment. It is compact and looks very stylish. With a 5.1 megapixel resolution, 3x optical zoom and a very generous 2.5 inch LCD, you'll be hard pressed to find a better camera in its price range.
Canon PowerShot S500
I currently own one of these babies. The Canon PowerShot S500 is a wonderful point-and-shoot camera with a 5 megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom. It's a great camera for traveling and snapping pictures on the fly. What's more, its one of the most stylish cameras too.
Pentax Optio S5i
The Pentax Optio S5i comes with a 5 megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom. Its capable of taking very good pictures and there's a surprising number of features packed into its small, compact body.
Olympus C-765
The Olympus C-765 is a 4 megapixel camera with an amazing 10x optical zoom. There is a nice feature set, including a wealth of white balance settings. Very good camera to buy if you want to avoid the standard Canon or Sony models.
Kodak EasyShare DX7630
The Kodak EasyShare DX7630 is a great camera with a 6.1 megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom. The small, yet feature-packed body allows you to take great pictures and video too. It also runs on rechargeable batteries, making it one of the best point-and-shoot cameras out there.
Casio Exilim EX-Z50
With a 5 megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom, the Casio Exilim EX-Z50 is one of the smallest digital cameras out there. I found that it's got a pretty big LCD screen, fast response time and decent battery life, Recommended for those who want a very small, compact camera that takes good pictures.
Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z1
This is a 3.3 megapixel resolution camera with a 10x optical zoom. The powerful optical zoom is a big plus - it's tough to find a camera with a 10x zoom in this price range. It also runs on rechargeable batteries and shoots great looking pictures. I highly recommend it.
Conclusion
Ok, we've gone through many good-value digital cameras in the above list. Which one would I buy if I were in a camera shop? It'd be a tough choice between the Canon PowerShot S500, Kodak EasyShare DX7630 and Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z1. When you head out to buy your own camera, do bear in mind that digital camera prices are dropping everyday. So shop around, it should be easy to find a model that suits your needs and yet fits within your budget.
