“how to find the best cheap products” — kiplinger

The features checklist for cheap digital cameras can run pretty long, so let's stick to the basics. Resolutions range from about 10 megapixels to 14 mp, which should be more than enough for the typical casual photographer who is not looking to print large photos. Optical zooms in this price range start at 3x and top out at 5x. When shopping for a budget digital camera, look for one with image stabilization -- preferably optical rather than digital. Memory cards are cheap, so experts recommend buying at least a 1GB card of whatever type your camera uses right away; even a 4GB card shouldn't cost much. As for the LCD screen, bigger is usually better. Just make sure the screen is easy to see even in bright daylight.

Resolution Optical/Digital Zoom Image Stabilization Memory Card Type LCD Screen
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 estimated price $80
14 mp 4x optical/4x digital Optical image stabilization SD, SDHC, SDXC 2.7 inches
Canon PowerShot A1200 estimated price $85
12.1 mp 4x optical/4x digital None SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC, MMC PLUS 2.7 inches
Nikon Coolpix S3100 estimated price $97
14 mp 5x optical/4x digital Electronic VR (vibration reduction) SD, SDHC, SDXC 2.7 inches
Kodak EasyShare Mini M200 estimated price $50
10 mp 3x optical/5x digital None SD, SDHC 2.5 inches
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