by John Rendace

Created on: November 28, 2010   Last Updated: December 13, 2010

Whether you're looking for a digital camera as a gift or for yourself, it's very important to keep in mind that you get what you pay for. By buying a budget camera, you may not have the greatest photo quality or the highest resolution on the market. However, chances are that you really won't need it. There are many digital cameras that can take very good photos without having many of the features that drive up the price tag. Moreover, there are always exceptions to these rules. Some of the best budget digital cameras actually do have relatively high resolutions, though it will sometimes come at the cost of other options.

The Kodak EasyShare series has always been a leader in the category, and its M580 has been a fine performer this year. Unfortunately, the camera has ended up with a bad rap due to a firmware error. Kodak has released an update that corrected the problem, however. It may not have many manual controls, but it's 14 megapixel rating should more than make up for that. The microphone on the Kodak EasyShare M580 isn't the best, but this is a complete non-issue for photographers who don't really use the video recording function.

Though it's more expensive, there is another camera in the line that can still be considered a budget model. The Kodak EasyShare Z915 is certainly a step up from pocket automatic cameras, and features a fairly high 10 megapixel resolution. While it is fragile, the Z915 does have a crisp zoom function that separates it from a lot of the cameras in its class. Unlike many cameras, the Z915 switches on quite quickly.

If even base line features aren't much of a concern, the Canon PowerShot A3100 IS boasts a respectable 12.1 megapixel rating. It also can usually be found at very reasonable prices. The PowerShot is a perfect camera for entry-level users as a simple point and shoot unit. By featuring a rechargeable battery, the camera doesn't continue Canon's tradition of using AA batteries. This may be a boon towards some customers who prefer rechargeables over traditional alkalines.

Since most of the features found on more expensive cameras actually never get used, many amateur photographers will end up appreciating the lower initial cost of digital cameras like these models. However, even photographers with a need for a more expensive unit can find a budget camera useful. Since one can't always have a full photographic studio on hand at all times, an inexpensive digital camera can be an excellent take-along to fill in those gaps. That way, one will never miss a chance to take an important image.

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