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Beginner Cameras
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Dave's Picks
Beginner
Best Selling Beginner's Cameras |
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| Camera Name | Res | Lens | Avg. Price | |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 | 10.1 | 12.00x | $305.11 Check Prices |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 | 12.1 | 18.00x | $342.22 Check Prices |
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Canon EOS 1000D Rebel XS | 10.1 | 3.00x | $526.06 Check Prices |
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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220 | 12.1 | 4.00x | $159.66 Check Prices |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 | 12.1 | 4.60x | $331.11 Check Prices |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25 | 12.1 | 5.00x | $190.27 Check Prices |
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Canon PowerShot A2000 IS | 10.0 | 6.00x | $157.95 Check Prices |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 | 10.1 | 12.00x | $256.62 Check Prices |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 | 12.1 | 5.00x | $173.14 Check Prices |
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Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 | 10.2 | 3.00x | $569.26 Check Prices |
| Editor's Choice | Res | Lens | Avg. Price | |
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Canon EOS 1000D Rebel XS | 10.1 | 3.00x | $526.06 |
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A pretty good SLR at a pretty astonishingly low price! The Canon Rebel XS is a bargain 10-megapixel, image-stabilized digital SLR kit with impressive low-light performance and great optical quality. Though it's not made for enthusiasts, the Canon Rebel XS offers a lot to the consumer photographer, with a 2.5-inch LCD, a 7-point AF sensor, and a very good quality 18-55mm zoom lens with optical image stabilization. The Rebel XS is light, with a good grip and an interface that is easy to learn and use. Image quality is tuned for printing crisp images straight from the camera, and you can print even without a computer thanks to the Canon XS's built-in Print/Share button. While Canon left a lot of high-end features in the Rebel XS, like Live View and AutoLighting Optimizer, the frame rate isn't quite as fast as its sibling the Rebel XSi. Autofocus, though, is very fast, and the Canon XS's high ISO performance combines with the sharp, image-stabilized zoom lens to make a great camera for both indoor and outdoor photography. The Canon Rebel XS is a quality consumer digital SLR camera worth a closer look. Click here for our full Canon Rebel XS review! (minimize)
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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W220 | 12.1 | 4.00x | $159.66 |
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An affordable, pocketable, EASY digital camera from Sony The entry-level model of their W-series digital cameras, the Sony W220 is a camera that grew on me the more I used it. I'm no fan of Sony's menu system, but once you're used to it, works well enough. When it comes to picture-taking, the Sony W220 does just fine. Like a lot of digital cameras today, the W220 is a result of the megapixel race: 12 megapixels in a consumer digital camera is just silly. Fortunately, at reasonable print sizes, output from the Sony W220 looks quite nice, despite the tiny pixels. Its "Easy" mode also delivers what many consumers want most in a camera: True "point & shoot" operation, able to capture good-looking shots under a wide range of conditions, with zero user input to determine settings, modes, etc. This makes the DSC-W220 a great digital camera for novices. The Sony W220 has its share of foibles (softness and chromatic aberration in the corners of the frame, for one), but at the end of the day, it proved itself well able to handle a lot of what the typical consumer will throw at it. Click the price link above to shop for the best price on a Cyber-shot W220, or check out our Sony W220 review for more details! (minimize)
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| Other Top Choices | Res | Lens | Avg. Price | |
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Canon PowerShot A2000 IS | 10.0 | 6.00x | $157.95 |
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Canon's latest A-series delivers great images, and is well-built and reliable
The Canon A2000 IS generally does a good job upholding the strong tradition of Canon's A-series cameras. Its 6x zoom lens shows very good optical quality, and its 10-megapixel sensor delivers plenty of detail at low ISOs. It does pretty well at high ISOs as well, as you can make 8x10 inch prints from its output up to about ISO 800, and ISO 1,600 images are usable at 4x6 inches. Important for family photography, the Canon A2000 IS also handles household incandescent lighting unusually well, producing very nice-looking images. The A2000 uses AA batteries, something many users look for in a camera, figuring they'll never be far from finding replacements when needed. Really, the Canon A2000IS has only a single defect, a slow flash recycle time. Still, there's no arguing with the high image quality, and the Canon A2000's ISO 800 setting ought to allow you to get good shots without a flash, making the Canon A2000 a Dave's Pick. (minimize) |
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Casio EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-H10 | 12.1 | 10.00x | $284.49 |
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With a few neat tricks up its sleeve, the Casio EX-H10 impresses more with its image quality
As 10x zoom digital cameras go, the Casio H10 is pretty slim. It's also feature-rich, as it turns out, with a remarkably unique mode that captures and overlays an animated image on top of a still shot, taking place right inside the Casio H10. With a 3-inch LCD, a 24mm lens, and a good quality 12-megapixel sensor, the Casio H10 competes favorably against other digital cameras in this class, and its image quality at lower ISOs really impresses. A 1,000-shot battery life makes the Casio H10 an even more intriguing digital camera that would be less trouble on long trips. Click here for more on the Casio EX-H10! (minimize) |
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Nikon Coolpix S630 | 12.0 | 7.02x | $240.83 |
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A 7x optical zoom with intelligent automatic features and 4-way VR Image Stabilization
The Nikon Coolpix S630 aims high with 7x optical zoom, a 12 megapixel sensor, an updated processor, and updated image stabilization technology. The Coolpix S630 also has face, smile, and blink-detection technologies for better automated control while portrait shooting. The Nikon S630 is capable of producing good snapshots under most average shooting conditions, and offers a continuous shooting option that can capture up to 11 fps. The Nikon S630 is attractive and easily portable, and worth a closer look. Click here for our Express Review of the Nikon Coolpix S630. (minimize) |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 | 12.1 | 5.00x | $173.14 |
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A digital camera with a small form factor, great Leica lens, and impressive ease of use.
Nearly identical to the FS25, the Panasonic FS15 is slightly smaller, and just as handsome and functional. The Panasonic FS15's improved Intelligent Auto mode, 5x Leica lens ranging from 29-145mm equivalent, and built-in optical image stabilization make it a no-brainer at the low cost. Like its brother, the Panasonic FS15's optical quality is good, and the camera processes out most of the distortion for sharper pictures center-to-corner. Click here to read our review of the Panasonic FS15, a good casual shooter for a low price. (minimize) |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS25 | 12.1 | 5.00x | $190.27 |
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A high-quality Leica lens with smart, timesaving automatic features.
The Panasonic FS25 is a simple, handsome digital camera with an improved Intelligent Auto mode, a 5x Leica lens ranging from 29-145mm equivalent, and built-in optical image stabilization. It differs from the very similar FS15 only in its slightly taller stature and larger, 3-inch LCD. You can let the Panasonic FS25 do the thinking for you by activating Intelligent Auto mode, or navigate a healthy selection of exposure variables and preset Scene modes on your own. The Panasonic FS25's image quality is good, with good color performance as well. Click here for our review of the Panasonic FS25, fine Panasonic quality at a good price. (minimize) |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 | 12.1 | 18.00x | $342.22 |
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Once again, one of the finest long zoom digital cameras on the market
Few long zoom digital cameras are as well-received as the Panasonic FZ line, and that trend continues with the Panasonic FZ35. As we expected, the Panasonic FZ35 is one fine digital camera, with a great lens, good image quality, and more than a few smart features. With a zoom range from 27 to 486mm, the Panasonic Lumix FZ35 will meet just about every need you have on your next outing, and do it in a small package weighing less than a pound. New to the line is HD video capture, allowing up to 1,280 x 720p movie capture, complete with stereo sound. A stack of scene modes, face detection, and several Intelligent exposure modes round out the Panasonic FZ35's features, but it's the relative speed and printed image quality of this digital camera that impressed us so. Click here for our review of the Panasonic Lumix FZ35. (minimize) |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 | 12.1 | 4.60x | $331.11 |
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Rugged never looked so good
Finding a good quality waterproof digital camera is one thing, but finding a waterproof digital camera that takes great pictures like the Panasonic TS1, that's another. Most waterproof digital cameras lean heavily on their rugged capabilities to attract users, but the Panasonic Lumix TS1 delivers better quality images thanks to its 12.1-megapixel sensor, excellent 4.6x optical zoom, and optical image stabilization. The quality is so high, in fact, that we're pretty sure Panasonic is doing special post-processing in the TS1 to nearly eliminate chromatic aberration and other forms of distortion. That translates into better image quality from center to corner, despite the 28mm wide-angle lens, supporting some pretty big prints. We haven't seen a better rugged digital camera than the Panasonic TS1. Click here to read our Express Review of the Panasonic TS1. (minimize) |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 | 10.1 | 12.00x | $256.62 |
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Pocketable 25-300mm zoom range with no frills and a low price
The Panasonic ZS1 looks like a simple pocket digicam, but when you turn it on you find a very wide-angle 25mm lens that zooms optically 12 times, out to 300mm equivalent. That makes using the Panasonic ZS1 a pleasant surprise. In terms of optical and sensor quality, the Lumix ZS1 is essentially identical to the very popular and more expensive ZS3, but without a few niceties that you may or may not want (like HD video). If still photography is your only requirement, the Panasonic ZS1 is an excellent choice, and offers VGA and WVGA video as well. The Panasonic ZS1's optical image stabilization is rock solid, and low ISO images print well up to 16x20-inches without sharpening. Click here for our Express Review of the Panasonic Lumix ZS1. (minimize) |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 | 10.1 | 12.00x | $305.11 |
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A great companion digital camera with a 25-300mm zoom that fits in a pocket
Panasonic practically created the pocket long-zoom digital camera category represented by the Lumix ZS3, and they continue to perfect it. Its 12x zoom and simple design will win you over right away, and the performance from its 10.1-megapixel sensor will make you want to take the Panasonic ZS3 along wherever you go. It's hard not to love a digital camera that takes you from a very wide 25mm out to 300mm, yet stashes in a medium-size pocket. Image stabilization makes the package even more compelling. Click here to read our Express Review of the Panasonic ZS3 to see how it measures up in image quality. (minimize) |
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Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 | 10.2 | 3.00x | $569.26 |
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Good quality, simple digital SLR with a very fast Live View mode
With two other choices in Sony's consumer digital SLR lineup, it's no surprise that it's the middle model that again finds the sweet spot: The Sony A330 has all that most consumers will want from a starter digital SLR, including a tilting LCD, a Live View mode that doesn't slow anything down, and a 10-megapixel sensor that can produce a very good quality 13x19-inch print at the lowest ISO. It's also not too bad as the ISO rises. The Sony A330 is also better in low light and has a more powerful flash than its sister digital SLR cameras, two important considerations for shooting indoors with any digital camera. Simplicity is its final selling point: You can get deep into full control of the Sony A330, or just point and shoot with ease. The menus are smartly designed and the revamped body design helps most functions flow. Click here for the full review of the Sony A330. (minimize) |
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