You just can't expect a whole lot from a $200 camera. Budget-priced shooters might be reliable, but they very seldom offer anything unique or high-end. The 7-megapixel Nikon Coolpix L12 bucks this trend by including two premium features in its ...

Face-detecting autofocus, optical image stabilization good to see on a budget camera

No user control over ISO sensitivity ; painfully slow flash recycle time

This budget camera includes a few surprising features, but its flaws outweigh its benefits.

Canon's SD series, also known as the Digital Elph line, is an exercise in slow evolution. Since the company has hit on a very successful design, these compact point-and-shoots typically see only minor tweaks from year to year. This year's follow-up to ...

Great performance and image quality ; solid image stabilization ; face detection

No manual exposure controls ; on/off button a bit awkward ; noisy images at ISO 1,600

The Canon PowerShot SD 850 IS has just about everything you'd want in a point-and-shoot.

When you think about camera lenses, "zoom" is probably the first word that comes to mind. Lots of camera manufacturers focus on giving their cameras the longest zoom lenses available, but while 5x, 10x, and 12x lenses are all handy for getting up ...

I couldn't have asked for a better example of the evils of sensor-resolution specmanship than Sony's 12-megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-W200. This top-of-the-food-chain addition to the otherwise sensible W series--not exactly budget cameras, but reasonably ...

Compact, attractive design ; optical image-stabilizer ; manual exposure mode

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200's 12-megapixel sensor raises the price of an otherwise decent snapshot camera, with little benefit. The W90 and W80 are better deals.

Panasonic's FX series cameras have had a similar design concept for years now--small, but not extremely thin; solid metal casings; and a lens, mounted slightly left of center, that extends when you turn on the camera. While some companies might feel ...

Optical image stabilization ; comfortable design and solid build

Modest feature set ; artifacts and moiré detract from otherwise nice images

The DMC-FX10 is a solid, well-priced compact camera that should satisfy most snapshooters.

Some things never change. Some other things, such as Nikon's wireless S-series cameras, change a little bit at a time. Nikon's new Coolpix S50c is a whole lot like the S7c that the company offered last year. It boasts a 7.2-megapixel CCD imaging ...

Nice click-wheel ; sleek, slim design ; supports wireless 802.11b/g photo e-mail via T-Mobile hot spots and private access points ; optical image stabilization

While it takes good pictures and it's nice to be able to access private Wi-Fi access points, the lack of a browser keeps this camera from rising to the next level.

All too often, camera bags, especially backpacks, end up being geared toward professionals, with enough room for a battalion of lenses and every accessory you could ever imagine. That's great if you are a pro, but most of us need to bring along some ...

Budget cameras usually don't offer a lot of options. You can probably find an inexpensive camera that can take decent pictures, but you'll be hard pressed to find one with any flashy gimmicks or stylish design points. HP tries to buck this trend with ...

The HP Photosmart R837's disappointing image quality makes this otherwise handy, versatile shooter a mediocre model.

Nikon Coolpix P5000You've got to squint a little when looking for a camera equipped with a full set of amateur-friendly exposure controls that's small enough to fit into a jacket pocket; there simply aren't that many available, since most ...

A few performance issues with the Nikon Coolpix P5000 diminish the appeal of an otherwise nice compact camera for amateurs.

Every now and again, a company will make a product just to turn some heads; sometimes this is called a statement piece. Usually these products sport unusual designs and fantastical feature sets. With its PowerShot TX-1, which includes a 10x optical ...

10x optical zoom ; optical image stabilization ; 1,280x720, 30 frames per second HD video capture ; very close-focusing SuperMacro mode

Extremely awkward design ; so-so still image quality ; sluggish performance ; noisy at higher ISOs

The TX1's unique design is sure to turn heads, but it's also quite awkward to use, and its still image quality isn't up to Canon's usual standards.