Capturing moments was never so easy before digital cameras came into the photography world. Ever since, there has been a big international market dealing with digital cameras. Japan, South Korea and China have been the main players in manufacturing new digital cameras since its inception. Today,we have started considering digital camera as a handbag’s must-keep item. It has truly given a new definition to the world of photography.

The varieties and features of digital cameras are so many that it becomes really difficult for a first-timer to select one.Here i have listed 5 great digital cameras which impart a whole new dimension to photography and they make it easier for even an amateur to click great quality pictures.

1. Canon PowerShot A590 IS

The Canon PowerShot A590 IS is a great little camera that packs in an 8 megapixel resolution, along with 4x optical zoom. It runs on 2 AA batteries and has a pretty large 2.5 inch screen. Some folks may not like those AA batteries, but if you can overlook that, it is definitely a bargain.

The PowerShot A590 IS will astound you with its power-packed performance and impressive value. It’s got 8.0-megapixels, a 4x optical zoom, an Optical Image Stabilizer and a large 2.5-inch LCD. A range of shooting modes - from manual to automatic including Canon’s new Easy Mode - make picture-taking carefree. A DIGIC III Image Processor with Enhanced Canon Face Detection assures natural-looking results, while Motion Detection Technology reduces blur.

The A590 is a little bit smaller than some of the earlier model power shot cameras, and the colors a bit darker gray as well. The finish looks a little more professional, and should stand up fairly well to the occasional scratches and nicks.

Unlike some of its competitors, the image stabilization is not a gimmick here. I was able to get pretty clear and concise photos, even when taking pictures several stops under the preferred shutter speed. The good news about this, is that it’s quite possible to get decent indoor pictures without resorting to the cameras flash even at 35-50mm f2.8 1/10.

The A590 provides some nice control when it comes to your camera’s flash. Not including the automatic flash, there are three separate levels of flash intensity plus a preflash option. If you happen to have some external flash gear from other cameras, you be able to use that gear with the A590.

The A590 doesn’t make the same mistake as many other compact cameras, and sacrifice the optical viewfinder for a larger LCD. So even if you’re in a situation, where using the LCD is not a good option the viewfinder will come in handy.

You won’t spend a fortune on batteries with this camera. According to the manual, with a couple of good rechargeable AA’s you should get up to 500 shots before during a recharge. All in all, a very good value for the money.

Main Features :

• 8.0 Megapixel Digital Camera with 4X Optical Zoom, optical image stabilizer, and bright 2.5 inch LCD screen
• Features Easy Mode for taking photos with simple operation, plus a wide range of shooting modes
• DiG!C III image processor ensures superior image quality
• Face detection technology sets the focus, exposure, flash automatically for improved images.
• Motion detection technology automatically determines subject movements and optimizes exposure control to reduce image blurr.

2. Casio Exilim EX-Z150

The EX-Z150 is a slim and stylish digital camera with mechanical image stabilizer, which means it’s a little camera that delivers big, clear pictures. With 8.1 Megapixels, 4X optical zoom, and 3.0 inch LCD Monitor, this camera makes it easy to capture great pictures on the go. The EXILIM Zoom EX-Z150 has the features and functions needed to meet the demanding requirements of today’s digital camera users, all in a slim and stylish camera just 20.1 mm thick (18.9 mm at the thinnest section) with a built-in wide-angle 28 mm (35 mm film equivalent) 4X optical zoom lens.

To complement the slim, stylish look, the new EXILIM offers all the premium functionality you would expect in a much bigger digital camera, including a CCD-shift anti-shake function and face detection technology. It also features a large 3.0 inch LCD monitor, a first for the EXILIM series, making it even easier to compose shots and adding to the fun of viewing the images taken.

The EXILIM Zoom EX-Z150 is available not only in silver and black, but also in colorful red, pink, and green. However, on the whole, I’d reckon this is a good camera.

Main Features :

• 8.1 effective megapixel model for high resolution photography.
• Slim, compact size: 96.7 wide x 57.3 high x 20.1 mm thick (18.9 mm at the thinnest section).
• 28 mm-equivalent wide-angle 4x optical zoom lens enables users to conveniently photograph scenes such as tall buildings or get shots of big groups of people in a small room, while still allowing zoom photography to capture distant subjects.
  CCD-shift anti-shake function for beautiful image quality, free from effects of camera-shake.
• Face detection technology that senses people’s faces.
• Large 3.0 inch, high resolution LCD monitor with 230,400 dots.

3. Pentax Optio A40

The Pentax Optio A40 is the latest model in the Optio A-series of advanced compact digital cameras. With 12 megapixels, Pentax Optio A40 offers three types of Shake Reduction including mechanical, digital and video. Each version allows Sharp, Blur-free shots where camera shake is an issue as Photography or action in low light conditions. The Pentax Optio A40 also includes the latest technology for facial recognition including a natural complexion and a form of half-length portrait mode, which automatically takes a head and shoulder photograph of subjects.

Main Features:

• Ultra compact and lightweight
• The 12-megapixel CCD and 3x optical zoom lens offers high resolution images
• The 2.5-inch LCD monitor with brightness and white wide field of view, makes it easy to share pictures
• High quality video capture MPEG-4 DivX (640 x 480) at 30fps with Anti-Shake and editing functions
• Shake three times the reduction of technology includes SR, Digital SR, and the film SR
• Improvement of facial recognition Auto Focus and Auto Exposure properly exposed portraits
• Wide range of automatic and manual exposure modes manual exposure and shutter priority modes
• With dynamic range adjustment, it highlights the areas of light and shadows are well exposed to show more details
• Intelligent zoom function increases the digital zoom

With Camra, include in the box :

• Rechargeable Battery
• Battery Charger
• USB Cable
• USB Audio/Video Composite Cable
• Wrist Strap

4. Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS

Motion Detection Technology automatically reduces blur Life doesn’t stand still for picture-taking. That’s why Canon included its advanced Motion Detection Technology in the Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS. This sophisticated feature works in the background to instantly evaluate how fast your subject is moving. Then it automatically selects and sets the optimal exposure and ISO settings to keep everything looking sharp and clear.

Red-eye Correction provides three options for removing red-eye from subjects in flash pictures.The new Red-eye Correction during shooting actually identifies and corrects red-eye in human subjects as pictures are taken.The SD1100 IS can be set to automatically detect and correct red-eye during image playback.The user can manually locate any red eyes in a scene during image playback on the LCD screen, and command the camera to remove them.

DIGIC III Image Processor for sharper images and improved functionality With DIGIC III, your images boast superior quality, the camera operates at top efficiency and battery life is enhanced. What’s more, DIGIC III enables Canon’s Face Detection Technology and Red-eye Correction to give you better, more true-to-life people shots.

Simply press the Shutter Button halfway down, and the camera automatically pinpoints the faces in the scene and chooses the ideal focus point. The camera controls exposure settings and flash to keep every face looking bright and natural. Red-eye Correction can be handled in-camera, in two ways.

The Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital Print/Share button makes direct printing easier than ever. Simply connect the SD1100 IS Digital camera to a Canon Pixma photo printer or Selphy compact photo printer or any PictBridge compatible photo printer, press the lighted Print/Share button and print! Also use the Print/Share button to transfer images to a computer (Windows and Macintosh).

Print your own ID photos in 28 different sizes or use the Movie Print function to output multiple stills from a recorded movie on a single sheet with a Canon Selphy compact photo printer.

Main Features:

• 8.0-megapixel effective recording
• 2-1/2″ color LCD screen
• real image optical zoom viewfinder
• 3X optical zoom (4X digital/12X total zoom)
• optical image stabilization * 35mm equivalent lens focal length: 38-114mm
• top JPEG resolution: 3264 x 2448

5. Nikon Coolpix S210

The Coolpix S210 is Nikon’s slimmest camera to date, so it slips easily into a shirt pocket or small evening bag. But this palm-sized camera also comes loaded with plenty of power and technology to help you capture stunning shots. Take detail-rich photos of vacation highlights, parties, and everyday family fun with 8-megapixel recording — ample resolution for cropping and enlarging key sections of your pictures.

Snap clear group photos with precise focus on each person thanks to this camera’s face priority mode and automatic red-eye correction. Portraits of your child’s classmates or shots of your relatives at a family reunion will reveal each individual expression in sharp detail. Use the S210’s high sensitivity setting when you shoot in low-light conditions, like in a museum or outside at dusk. And if a shot still turns out too dark, Nikon’s D-Lighting technology automatically enhances the underexposed portions of your photo while leaving the properly exposed areas intact.

Main Features:

• 8-megapixel effective recording
• 3X optical zoom (4X digital/12X total zoom)
• 2-1/2″ color LCD screen
• 35mm equivalent focal length: 38-114mm
• Top JPEG resolution: 3264 x 2448
• Face priority autofocus finds and focuses on up to 12 people in a group portrait
• In-camera automatic red-eye correction
• High sensitivity mode for better low-light and flash-free shooting
• D-Lighting mode brightens dark areas of recorded images
• Electronic image stabilization to prevent blur
• Movie mode with audio
• 15 scene modes including Sunset, Museum, and Sports
• 9-point autofocus for group shots and off-center subjects
• Built-in flash
• In-camera slide show
• Variable ISO (film speed equivalent) settings
• 52MB internal memory (holds approximately 13 photos at top resolution)
• Uses optional SD™ and SDHC™ memory cards
• USB interface
• Compatible with PictBridge-enabled printers
• 3-11/16″W x 2-1/4″H x 13/16″D
• Weight (without battery and media): 3.5 ounces
• Warranty: 1 year
• Want more peace of mind? Extended Service Plans Available

Supplied Accessories:

• Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery (EN-EL10)
• Battery charger
• Audio/video and USB cables
• Wrist strap
• Software CD-ROM

Conclusion
I hope this article has given you some good insight into some of the great camera deals you can find under your budget. If you’re on a tight budget (due to the current economic crisis) but definitely need to buy a new digital camera, then one of these models is certainly bound to fit the bill. Do check them out.

Tags: Canon PowerShot A590 IS, Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS, Casio Exilim EX-Z150, digital cameras, LCD screen., Nikon Coolpix S210, Pentax Optio A40, photography