Recommended Point and Shoot
Digital Cameras

Article Source: Best Digital Camera Discounts. Copyright 2008
Date: September 3, 2010

If you are looking for a first time digital point-and-shoot camera, the models featured on this page have been selected as most likely to meet your needs. In addition to my brief review of each model you will find the cameras compared at the bottom of the page, along with what is currently the lowest pricing found for that camera.

Norcent DCC-725

The old adage "you get what you pay for" certainly applies to digital camera models, and for around $100 the Norcent DCC-725 will get you a great little on the go camera.

THE GOOD: The Norcent is small, very user friendly, has a video mode, a 7 megapixel sensor, and is powered by easy-to-find AA batteries.

THE BAD: No viewfinder (but the LCD display is a decent 2.5 inches), the anti-shake feature is reportedly somewhat hit-and-miss, and the camera does not perform well in low light. But if you are shooting outdoors with sufficient lighting, or use the built-in flash indoors, you can expect great pictures.

Canon PowerShot A470

The next 7 megapixel entry-level camera on my list, one rung up the ladder at about the $130 mark, and with a real brand name, is the Canon PowerShot A470. Not a beautiful camera, but what it lacks in looks the A470 makes up for with brains.

THE GOOD: The A470 features Canon's genuine Face Detection technology which automatically singles out faces for focusing and exposure control, ensuring optimal images with or without flash. In addition to this, Canon's Motion Detection technology, which compensates for moving subjects, further reduces the chance of a blurred image. Conveniently powered by 2 standard AA batteries. Also has: a 3.4x zoom lens, 2.5 inch LCD, red-eye correction mode, and an extremely basic video capture mode. The camera can be found in basic gray, as well as hard-to-miss yellow, green, red, and blue colorings.

THE BAD: By no means the smallest compact camera. No viewfinder, but this is not uncommon for a compact model. For the same reason the flash is not particularly strong, and recycle time averages about 4 seconds. The zoom control is a little clunky.

Canon PowerShot A590 IS

In the mid-price range of compacts, at around $160, we find the 8 megapixel Canon PowerShot A590 IS and begin to see some really nice features that are hard to do without once you realize they are available, like image stablization.

THE GOOD: Like Canon's other compact models, the A590 IS uses Canon's DIGIC III processor for face and motion detection for improved images. But the big improvement over cheaper models is image stabilization in the form of a floating lens element which compensates for camera motion to produce sharp images. There is also an optical viewfinder, which can be handy if you are shooting continous drive mode, or when bright sunlight reduces the effectiveness of the 2.5 inch LCD display. The A590 also has 4x optical zoom, red-eye reduction, video mode, and is conveniently powered by 2 standard AA batteries.

THE BAD: The camera door takes some effort to close, and the zoom is a little noisy when repositioning. Like other compacts, the flash recycling time is an annoyingly long 5 to 7 seconds.

Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS

Here's another 8 megapixel compact from Canon. This one, which costs a little more than $200, is for all the cool cats who have to have the most stylish looking point-and-shoot on the scene. The Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS comes in 5 hip sounding styles, differentiated by color only: Swing Silver, Rhythm and Blue, Bohemian Brown, Golden Tone, and Pink Melody.

THE GOOD: The stylish metal alloy body encloses all the great features you find in the Canon PowerShot A590 IS, including the face and motion detection techology of the DIGIC III processor. You also have image stabilization built into the lens. So what more do you get for the extra cost? Well, the slim SD1100 IS will easily slip into any shirt pocket (or small purse). The LCD sports a new scratch and fingerprint resistant anti-reflection coating for bright light outdoor settings. A very short minimum focusing distance of 1.2 inches means that close-up photography works well if you need it.

THE BAD: The optical viewfinder is frustratingly small, so if you use eyeglasses you are unlikely to find the viewfinder usable. Fortunately the 2.5 inch LCD is bright and sharp. If you like the convenience of standard batteries you may find the SD1100's proprietary rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack a minor inconvenience. It requires 90 minutes to recharge (using the included recharger). Also the control of manual settings in this model is somewhat minimal.

Canon PowerShot G9

At the high end of the point-and-shoot genre, both in terms of photographic gadgetry and cost, at around $500, are cameras like the Canon PowerShot G9 which are intended to offer virtually everything you can expect before crossing over into SLR territory. With 12 megapixels at your disposal you can even blow up your G9 images to mini-poster size if you have the urge to do that.

THE GOOD: Although this little camera will still fit in the palm of your hand, like other compacts, it is built like a tank, constructed as it is almost entirely of metal. It features an optically stablized 6x zoom which extends smoothly and quietly. The image stablization, combined with Canon's DIGIC III processor for face and motion detection ensures that you'll have sharp images in all but the lowest lighting environments (wherein the large 3.0 inch LCD display automatically brightens). In that regard the G9 stands out because it allows for an auto-ISO mode where the effective sensitivity of the image sensor can automatically adjust to changing lighting conditions. This is not something you will find in cheaper point-and-shoot cameras (nor is it yet common in SLRs). The G9 also offers all the exposure, focus, red-eye reduction, and shooting controls that any camera enthusiast could ask for, including attachable flash using a hot-shoe above the optical viewfinder for situations in which the built-in flash is inadequate.

THE BAD: There really isn't too much to moan about here, with the worse problem probably being no zoom during video mode. Also, although this is par for a larger point-and-shoot camera, the G9 is powered by a rechargeable NB-2LH Lithium-ion power pack rather than standard batteries. It requires about 90 minutes to recharge (using the included recharger) and if it dies a new one will set you back about $45 or so.