Great digital cameras for less than $250

Which digital cameras provide the best bang for your buck? That's an important question in these tight times; and to help answer it, we've rounded up some of the best compact and ultracompact cameras that US$250 can buy, according to the numbers from our PC World Test Center lab evaluations and our own hands-on field testing.

Even in the bargain class, these cameras cover a lot of ground, from slick and fashionable (Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, Pentax Optio A40, and Nikon Coolpix S210) to teen-focused and YouTube-friendly (Casio Exilim EX-Z150) to bulky best-in-show (Canon PowerShot A590 IS). If you're looking for a low-cost point-and-shoot to do all of your snapping--or for a secondary, pocketable camera to complement your big, bad digital SLR--one of these sub-$250 models should be at the top of your wish list.

Canon PowerShot A590 IS

Despite its bargain-bin price, Canon's PowerShot A590 IS has a lot of features: 8-megapixel resolution, 4X optical zoom, optical image stabilization, face detection (which recognizes faces in the frame and optimizes the autofocus accordingly), and a smallish-but-serviceable 2.5-inch LCD screen. And conveniently it runs on two AA batteries.

Rock-bottom price notwithstanding, the A590 IS scored significantly higher in our image-quality assessments than point-and-shoots that have higher megapixel counts and cost more than twice as much.

Casio Exilim EX-Z150

The slim, 8-megapixel Casio Exilim EX-Z150 aims for the sweet spot uniting slick looks and solid functionality. It also has an impressive 3-inch LCD on the back. Our chief complaint is that the camera takes its time focusing and suffers from a bit of shutter delay.

To its credit, the EX-Z150 earned a high score for overall image quality during the PC World Test Center's lab tests. Color accuracy and exposure quality were this camera's strongest suits; it earned middling marks for sharpness and distortion level. Still, this camera holds its own and looks awesome doing it--not a bad choice for people looking to look good without spending a fortune.

Pentax Optio A40

At 2.5 inches diagonally, this camera's screen is smaller than the ones on some competing models, but we found that it worked just fine indoors and out. Getting into and around the menus is fairly simple, too, even without consulting Pentax's detailed manual.

Unlike many other digital cameras that are priced under $300, the Optio A40 delivered outstanding image quality. Photos looked sharp and did a nice job of avoiding halos and artifacts. Don't expect miracles, though: Like most digital cameras, the A40 is not completely immune to noise.

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