Looking for the Most Affordable Digital Camera?
So you want a new digital camera but you don't want to spend big. In fact, you don't want to spend more than $100. Well, this page can help you find the best cameras under $100.
If you want a new camera, versus used or refurbished, there are a few models out there that perform well as long as your photographic needs are basic. We have selected the ones that have received the highest customer satisfaction ratings (per Amazon customer reviews) and left out all of the others. We'll also give you tips for the features that you want to look for to assure your satisfaction. Affordable digital cameras aren't a "bargain" if they don't perform well after all.
The pricing on the cameras below will fluctuate from time to time and thus they may sell for slightly over $100 at any given time.
Choosing Cameras Under $100: Image Quality
Affordable cameras really aren't that hard to come by; however, you need to assure they can do the job to your satisfaction.Cameras under $100 aren't going to offer the same quality and controls that cameras over $300 offer. However, they can still be quite good for the average, casual user and can be very easy to use.
Two basic things to examine that reflect image quality are the camera's megapixel rating and the sensor type, size, and number. Generally a 5 megapixel camera is quite sufficient for sharing images online and for producing good prints that are 4x6, 5x7 or 9x10. Larger prints generally require 6 megapixels or more.
Larger sensors and cameras with more than one sensor as well as higher quality lenses are also better but this comes with an increased price tag.
Choosing Cameras Under $100: Memory
Memory
SD and MMC card slots are common. Some offer up to 2 or 4 GB of memory.
You can learn more about how many pictures you can take with a given memory card by visiting Digital Camera Memory.
Choosing Cameras Under $100: Features
There are a number of features to consider if you want the best camera under $100 or for any price for that matter.Any form of stabilization can help reduce blurriness due to unintentional camera movement when the photographer isn't able to stabilize the camera. Optical (mechanical) stabilization is preferrable to digital (electronic) stabilization but again, it's more expensive.
Zoom allows you to take an up close shot despite being physically further away from a subject. Optical zoom is superior in quality, but digital zoom can be useful without degrading image quality in smaller print sizes (4x6).
Many point and shoot cameras give automated controls to users that help adjust exposure, shutter speed, and/or white balance to capture better shots despite changes in lighting and more challenging situations. Look to see if the camera you are considering offers a variety of scene modes to help you out.
Many casual photographers have situations in which they want to be in the shot. A self timer can allow you to do this.
One of the most common complaints when using a flash is that subjects end up with red eyes. This feature helps to reduce this effect.
For those who want to learn more or have more experience, manual controls are important. The ability to turn off the flash at a minimum is critical.
An affordable camera lacking in many of these features may be attractive, but it probably won't meet your needs.
Choosing Cameras Under $100: Sharing Photos
The images stored on a digital camera are generally downloaded to a computer, printed, and/or shared online.Shoppers need to be sure they understand how they will transfer their photos to a computer. A USB 2.0 or firewire connection is faster but both the camera and your computer must have the appropriate connections and the camera must be compatible with your operating system.
It is possible to use the memory card and a memory card reader to transfer pictures also.
To print photos at home a compatible printer is needed but for those who prefer, various stores and kiosks can do this work as well. Learn more about Photo Printing here.
The key point is that buyers need to be sure they know what they want to do with their photos and assure they have the connections and compatible devices they need.
Panasonic LS85
Click on pictured item for further details or to buy
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS85 8.1MP Digital Camera with 4x MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5 inch LCD (Black)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009)![]()
The Panasonic Lumix LS85 is an affordable camera for those who have basic photography needs. It has an 8.1 megapixel CCD and 4x optical zoom. It features a 2.5" LCD display that automatically senses the lighting situation and adjusts screen brightness to help you view it while composing shots. Other features include face detection technology, intelligent ISO to help supress motion blur, intelligent scene selection to be sure your shots are properly exposed each time, and optical image stabilization to help eliminate blurring due to camera shake.
The LS85 has a f2.8 Lumix DC Vario lens, the equivalent of a 33mm-135mm in film cameras. Users can also record video at WVGA, 848x480 resolution (30 fps) or standard VGA 480x640 resolution. Users can shoot 1920x1080 HD photos and view them on a 16:9 widescreen HDTV. This camera even lets you procuce your own slide shows with music.
This camera operates off of AA batteries.
Canon Powershot A480
Canon PowerShot A480 10 MP Digital Camera with 3.3x Optical Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD (Black)
Amazon Price: $99.95 (as of 12/16/2009)![]()
One of the most affordable Canon cameras on the market, this A480 gives you a 10 megapixel sensor, 3.3x optical/4x digital zoom, an optical image stabilizer, and motion detection to give your photos clarity. It also features face detection technology, red eye correction, and 15 shooting modes/12 special scene modes allow you to get the right exposure and focus with the push of a button.
This camera has a 2.5" LCD that helps to frame your shots and ISO settings from 80-1600 allowing you to get better photos even in low light. Users can also record standard definition video (640x480) at 30fps. It's price on sale, is around $100.
Canon Powershot A480 Review
Canon Powershot A480 Digital Camera
With its streamlined silhouette and smoothly curved edges, the Canon Powershot A480 Digital Camera has the compact sophistication and relaxed simplicity that make it a natural for beginners and everyone else who craves style and convenience. The 10.0-megapixel resolution and 3.3x optical zoom make it easy to capture the action in dazzling color and brilliant detail. The DIGIC III Image Processor keeps it all looking sharp. While a bright, bold 2.5-inch LCD makes shooting and playback a genuine pleasure.
Runtime: 400
22112 views
61 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Nikon Coolpix L19
Click on pictured item for more details and pricing
Nikon Coolpix L19 8MP Digital Camera with 3.6 Optical Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD (Silver)
Amazon Price: $99.00 (as of 12/16/2009)![]()
This Nikon Coolpix L19 is another digital camera costing under $100. It provides a good basic camera which is very easy to use. It's an 8 megapixel model with 3.6x optical zoom, a Nikkor glass lens, and a 2.7" LCD screen. It features red eye fix, face priority, a smile mode which helps snap pictures at just the moment when your subject smiles and a blink warning which tells you if a subject blinked.
There are plenty of automatic settings to assure your photos turn out right with the least amount of effort on your part. The L19 has a variety of shooting modes including sports, night portrait, macro for close ups, and a number of others. You can even adjust the ISO up to 1600 to improve the quality of night shots. This camera will even record video with sound at VGA qualtiy 640x480. It operates off of 2 AA batteries and accepts high capacity memory cards.
Nikon Coolpix L19 Review
Nikon Coolpix L19 8.0 Megapixel Digital Camera
http://www.jr.com/nikon/pe/NKN_CPL19SILVER/?JRSource=yt The Coolpix L19 is a great camera for beginners just getting started in Digital photography. Easy to use and fully featured camera will delight its users with great pictures, fun features and an incredible, bright 2.7-inch display at an amazingly affordable price.
Runtime: 274
1705 views
1 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Fujifilm Finepix Z20fd
Click on pictured item for further details or to buy
Fujifilm Finepix Z20fd 10MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Ice Blue)
Amazon Price: $164.09 (as of 12/16/2009)![]()
This Z20fd is under $100 when on sale. It's a good camera for those seeking simplicity. It's a 10 megapixel model with 3x optical zoom, and face detection. It houses a 2.5" LCD screen and offers users 16 separate scene modes to assure they get the right exposure and focus for any type of shot. In fact, this camera will allow you to adjust ISO up to 1600 to get better low light shots.
It offers an anti-blur mode and with the touch of a button you can record up to 60 seconds of JPEG4 video. Dual shot mode allows you to capture two images at once, one with flash and one without. Then you can decide which shot is the one you want to keep.
Fujifilm Finepix Z20fd Review
Other Finepix Digital Cameras Under $100
Panasonic Lumix DMC LZ8K
Click on pictured item for details or to buy
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ8K 8MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
Amazon Price: $109.00 (as of 12/16/2009)![]()
This Panasonic Lumix DMC LZ8K is included on our list of cameras under $100 while it's on sale. (The price vascillates so we're sorry if it's a bit more at the time you see this!) It offers an 8 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, 32mm wide angle Leica lens, and optical image stabilization. It also features face detection and Intelligent ISO for creating blur free images as well as a 2.5" LCD screen to help in framing shots perfectly.
Other features include Intelligent Scene Selector, the ability to add text to photos, and the ability to record WVGA video at 30fps in 16:9 aspect ratio. This camera gives users more creative control through manual adjustment of aperture and shutter speed but allows a novice the convenience of special scene modes such as portrait, sports, landscape, and night portrait.
The DMC LZ8K also includes a SD memory card slot to assure you have the storage you need for your photos.
Panasonic Lumix LZ8K Review
Samsung S860
Samsung S860 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Black)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009)![]()
This S860 is also on the list of cameras under $100. It's an 8.1 megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom and digital image stabilization. It also features a 2.4" LCD screen, face detection technology, 11 scene modes, and even allows you to resize or rotate images, fix red eye, adjust brightness, contrast and saturation levels, and manipulate color.
This camera will even allow you to shoot video at either 320x240 or 640x480 resolution, at 30 frames per second in AVI (MJPEG) format.
SD Memory Cards for Your Digital Camera
Affordable Digital Cameras: Did You Find What You Wanted? Let Us Know!
If you didn't find the digital camera you want be sure to visit our full service home electronics store.
-
Reply
- lasertek lasertek Dec 10, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
- Exactly what I needed! It is pretty difficult to find the perfect camera . By perfect, I mean having good quality and an affordable price tag. But thanks to this lens, I have many options. I have already shared this lens to my family & friends and they too were ecstatic.
Rated 5* Hope you could visit my lenses and become a fan of my fb page . Thanks again
-
Reply
- Laniann Laniann Nov 3, 2009 @ 12:13 pm
- Nice to see some great cameras that can be purchased for under $100. Good presentation. 5*s
-
Reply
- electronicdeals91 electronicdeals91 Oct 31, 2009 @ 10:45 am
- Our favorite digital cameras are from Sony and Nikon, however you're presenting some really affordable alternatives here. Nice work!
-
Reply
- amatuer camera guy amatuer camera guy Oct 18, 2009 @ 11:52 pm
- This is exactly what i have been scouring the web for for.Precisely what i need to know. ya know?.Thank you so much i intend to take full advantage of this!. My days of searching are over!
-
Reply
- AndyPo AndyPo Aug 12, 2009 @ 5:19 am
- Excellent lens. It's incredible how inexpensive these cameras are now.
-
Reply
- Tipi Tipi Aug 6, 2009 @ 4:45 pm
- Great information. I'm thinking of getting a different camera. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to afford one that takes great pictures where we could count the hairs on a bee's legs. Wow!
A person could make some money with a high end camera. ~ I'll be looking for the low end though. ~ A Great lens!
Susie
-
Reply
- TheGreenerMe TheGreenerMe Feb 2, 2009 @ 11:33 am
- I have the Panasonic Lumix, I highly recommend it! It's a great lens...and this lens is great, too!
-
Reply
- nathan nathan Feb 1, 2009 @ 3:10 pm
- I've had bad experiences with the Kodak desktop software. It slows down your computer a LOT, and frequently brings up annoying messages. They might have fixed this in new versions, but I still recommend Google Picasa (picasa.google.com) and an SD card reader.
-
Reply
- chefkeem chefkeem Jan 20, 2009 @ 1:02 pm
- Great values to be found here! 5*s
-
Reply
- fighthunter4 fighthunter4 Jan 7, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
- I think you would want to buy the cannon or the kodak because it has a lot of times zoom in and its really good looking.The kodak easy share is easy to get a software to your computer.I also like cannon because its kind of the kodak a little but it has good lenses and easy to get a software for your computer and the panasonic is cool too.It has a darkness and brightness buttons to make it bright or dark.
- Load More
Photo Credits
Introduction: Egan Snow.
This site is listed at LensMasterWorld.com.













