Cameras For Christmas cont.

Add another $60 to your budget and you can take a huge step up in terms of image quality and camera controls with the Canon A570IS, priced at $153. This is an entry level camera for budding photographers who will appreciate the ability to control exposure settings, shutter speed, aperture, white balance, and focus, and yet it performs very well in the Auto Mode if all you want to do is point and click. In addition, the IS stands for Image Stabilization on the 35mm to 140mm zoom lens, a real plus. Best of all the images are clean and well exposed, with excellent color. The Canon A570IS is arguably the Best Buy on the market today.

Reviews: Digital Camera Resource ;DP Review ; Digital Camera Review ; Imaging Resource .

For another $50 you can opt for the 570's big brother, the A720IS which adds a few extra pixels and a zoom that extends to 210mm. Image quality is similar though there's some increase in chromatic aberration and purple fringing. These problems and more are discussed in my summary at the end of the article.

Reviews: Digital Camera Resource ; Imaging Resource ; Steve's Digicams ; ePhotoZine .

For those who want the simplicity of the above mentioned Nikon L11 but are looking for more features, the Olympus Stylus 830 may be the camera for you. With a built-in User Guide and liquid crystal display, the Stylus caters to to the novice and casual user. The 36mm to 180mm lens is more than adequate, and Olympus has combined a system called Digital Image Stabilization (found on its 820 model $215, which really just increases the sensitivity (ISO) in low light settings) with a sensor that is capable of adjusting to camera shake. Thus it is called Dual Image Stabilization. One distinct advantage is that both the 820 and 830 are weather sealed so it makes for a nice travel camera. Available in 5 colors for around $249.

Review: Steve's Digicams .

Cameras For Christmas cont.

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