Best Digital Cameras Under $200

Thanks to technological advancements, today's cheap, budget digital cameras are as powerful and feature-rich as top digital cameras from a few years ago. You don't have to spend a lot of money find good cameras. Here are the top 5 inexpensive digital cameras for less than $200, listed in alphabetical order.


Canon PowerShot A1000IS, $179
With 10.0 megapixels of resolution, optical image stabilization technology, and a 4X optical zoom lens, the PowerShot A1000IS from Canon offers a few features that outshine other budget-priced digital cameras. The A1000IS has a few drawbacks, but it will serve beginning photographers well as a point-and-shoot model with good all-around features. It also runs from two AA batteries, making it handy to replace batteries while away from home.

Casio Exilim EX-Z85, $179
The EX-Z85's feature set for still photos isn't going to "wow" you: 9.1 megapixels of resolution, 3X optical zoom lens, and a 2.6-inch LCD. However, Casio has included with this model one feature rarely found in budget-priced digital camera, as it can create videos and upload them to YouTube with the need to log into the YouTube server. The EX-Z85 also has 41.2MB of internal memory, which is handy when your memory card is full.

Nikon Coolpix S50, $199
Because the Coolpix S50 from Nikon is a little older digital camera model, its price has dropped in the past several months, placing it in the sub-$200 price category, if you shop around. Its feature set will work well for beginning photographers, offering 7.2 megapixels of resolution and a 3X optical zoom lens. However, its best features are its bright and sharp 3.0-inch LCD and its size. The Coolpix S50 measures only 0.8 inches in thickness.

Samsung L210, $199
The L210 budget digital camera from Samsung performs surprisingly well in low-light conditions, which is an area where many inexpensive point-and-shoot digital cameras perform poorly. With 10.2 megapixels of resolution while measuring only 0.8 inches in thickness, the L210 compares favorably to other sub-$200 digital cameras. This Samsung model also offers a 2.5-inch LCD and a 3X optical zoom lens.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W150, $179
The 5X optical zoom lens on the DSC-W150 from Sony is a great feature for an inexpensive digital camera, and, with a 35mm equivalent of 28-140mm, the DSC-W150 offers limited wide-angle capabilities, too. With 8.1 megapixels of resolution, basic video capabilities, and a 2.7-inch LCD, this Sony Cyber-shot point-and-shoot model will provide enough power for most beginning photographers.