Technology Blog

With PMA behind us, scores of new digital cameras will hit store shelves in the coming months, but now is the time to scoop up a deal on a top-rated camera you can get today.

The Photo Marketing Association show (PMA), wrapped up last week, and we got a good look at the cameras that will hit stores later this year. Honestly, though, when it comes to compact point-and-shoot cameras at PMA, there wasn't a lot to report. It's the perfect example of a category of products that's mature enough that you don't need the newest model on the market to enjoy a solid shooting experience—especially if you're a casual photographer.
That's not to say that pocket cameras won't continue to evolve in 2010 with improved software, the inclusion of bigger, better sensors, and 1080p video capture in many models. Even so, in most cases, there isn't a single must-have, cutting-edge feature worth holding out for. In fact, if you're looking for a new digital camera now, it's a great time to find a deal as vendors prepare to make room for newer models.
Below you'll find eight capable compact cameras we've reviewed over the past year. Naturally, feature sets vary, and some models perform better than others, but they all take solid photos, are widely available, and can be had for less than $200.  
 
Point-and-Shoot Cameras in this Roundup:

Canon PowerShot A1100 IS

Was: $199.99
Is: $129 with free shipping at Buy.com
Savings: $71 (35 percent)
Why you want it: Canon's PowerShot A1100 IS, the successor to the Editors' Choice-winning PowerShot A1000 IS, delivers an identical experience: top-notch image quality, fast speeds, good controls, and features that simplify shooting for newbies.


Canon PowerShot SD780 IS

Was: $279.99
Is: $199 (with $2.99 flat-rate standard shipping) at NewEgg.com
Savings: $81 (29 percent)
Why you want it: We really liked The SD780 IS when we reviewed it last year. Canon's least-expensive HD-capable point-and-shooter isn't just smaller than many smartphones, it pumps out beautiful images too. What's better? It costs even less than before.


Canon PowerShot SD960 IS

Was: $329.99
Is: $199.99 with free shipping at BestBuy.com
Savings: $130 (40 percent)
Why you want it: The 16:9 LCD on the Canon SD960 IS lets you frame your shots to match the format of HDTV and widescreen laptop displays, and it records excellent HD video. Unfortunately, back when we reviewed it, the sky-high price prevented it from to being a point-and-shoot superstar. But at 40 percent off the original price, it's easy to recommend.


Casio Exilim EX-FC100

Was: $349.99
Is: $195.95 with free shipping at B & H Photo Video
Savings: $154 (44 percent)
Why you want it: The Casio Exilim EX-FC100 has some impressive features that we haven't seen in many other compact point-and-shooters. You can snap 30 6MP images in 1 second. And it can capture some of these before you hit the shutter release, so you'll have the image you want even if you didn't push the button in time. It can also record high-quality slow-motion video. But a high list price at review time prevented us from rating it higher.


Kodak EasyShare M1093 IS

Was: $159.95
Is: $129 from Amazon.com
Savings: $31 (19 percent)
Why you want it: Kodak's EasyShare M1093 IS delivers much more than you'd expect from a budget camera, including a large LCD and HD video recording. Even at its original price this camera impressed us enough to earn our Editors' Choice, and an additional 30 bucks off list only makes the deal sweeter.


Nikon Coolpix S630

Was: $279.95
Is: $ 172.36 with free shipping from Amazon.com
Savings: $108 (38 percent)
Why you want it: As long as you don't need a ton of features, the Nikon Coolpix S630 is a good choice if you want a fast, well-designed compact camera with a powerful (7x) optical zoom.


Pentax Optio W80

Was: $299.95
Is: $174.95 with free shipping at BuyDig.com
Savings: $125 (42 percent)
Why you want it: Typically, waterproof and ruggedized cameras come with compromises. You don't often get the same caliber of image quality you see with a traditional point and shooter, and they're often big and bulky. But the pay-off is a camera that you can abuse and even swim with, and the Pentax Optio W80 delivers on those accounts. This attractive camera is waterproof to 16 feet, freeze-proof to 14 degrees, and shock-proof to 3.3 feet—and its just .9-inch thick, so it's easily pocketable.


Samsung SL820

Was: $279.99
Is: $169.95 with free shipping at Adorama Camera
Savings: $110 (39 percent)
Why you want it: Samsung's SL820 point and shooter is far from svelte, but with a 5x zoom lens, a beautiful 3-inch LCD, and HD video capture, it isn't short on features. And at almost 40 percent off list, it's even better.